I love the handling of this car. So far it has been very reliable and has been a perfect car for all around use. Good acceleration and excellent stock sound system.

It needs a spoiler and, although the stock rims are nice, I would prefer to get some 17's, even though that may affect handling. I have also noticed some wear on the brake pads and the steering wheel apolstry.

Not as good on gas as I would have liked, but if you use premium you will actually save money compared to regular.

I would recommend the CL for anyone who wants a fast car that is very dependable and a good mix between sport and luxury all for a great price.

Definitely worth the extra money to get a 3.0 as opposed to 2.2 or 2.3

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It's very fast, handling is pretty good, the classiness the car has is tremendous, the inside has a lot of room, i love the leather interior, the wood dash kit looks beautiful,knowing its a 6-cylinder makes me feel powerful

What happened to the gas?? gas goes in and goes out very fast, turning is a bit stiff

This is a great coupe , it's worth the money and luxury is great, it's not very pricey either

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Reliable, always started in the morning, good air conditioning. Doors closed properly. No significant engine repairs required.

Brake pads had to be constantly replaced in first year of use. Poor feel to front end. Repeated re-alignment and tire changes required. Transmission failed in later years. Leather seats wore easily and subject to sun damage.

In my opinion is a highly over rated automobile. I averaged 12000 miles a year. Had constant and expensive front end maintenance problems. Numerous problems from 6-10 years out. Did not take the wear and tear of around town, stop and go, driving as well as other Japenese cars that I have owned at its stage in life. Still moderately superior to U.S. autos. Smoother on long distance runs. Car is better for long distance, no traffic, highway commuters than city drivers. Would not buy another Acura.

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Built by Honda Motors but doesn't compare to Two Toyotas I have owned.

Handling. Styling (subjective). Comfortable seating. Seating memory includes side mirrors.

Most dealers wanted MSRP; try greenlight.com to get better price. If you like a soft ride, not for you. Premium gas.

260 hp V-Tech engine. Handles real well. Nice auto mechanism to let rear passengers in for 2-dr. coupe. Wanted to get away from feeling in previous car (which was otherwise excellent) of car driving itself. Accura has real good road-feel, tracks excellently and responsive steering.

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Prev. car was Infini i30, tried Lexus IS300 which was excellent, but went for stiffer ride.

Power of 260hp V6, dual stage intake, vtec, navigation system, nice leather interior, simple yet attractive interior, understated elegance, quiet interior, non-fwd like handling, VSA, 17in wheels, xenon lights.

Small rattle in rear (i fixed it in 2 minutes though), dealership woes (during purchase and after), too conservative in style, "road lamps" instead of real fog lights.

Considered MB clk430, but didn't like waiting. Price was $25k more than the Acura, but for only 15 more horses (about same 0-60mph though) and a tad plusher ride, it wasn't worth it. I am also uncomfortable with driving a car that says "I have more money than you are...I am better than you."

The Acura is fast yet luxurious, and has an understated elegance with subtle styling that "grows" on you. The interior is very comfy and simple, the speed is excellent, and the price left a bigger chunk of money in my account...and you can't forget the reliability of Hondas and Acuras.

Just wish the car came with real fog lights instead of "road lamps" which are just marker lamps. That and the fact that I can't find a decent dealership to go for service. Lexus and MB dealerships are head and shoulders above any Acura dealership I've been to in both service and treatment of customers (after paying $32k for a car, you don't expect to be treated like crap). Dealership also said that first 2 navigation updates are free, but later denied the fact (this was a factor in deciding to buy the navigation system).

So for anyone that wants the best combination of luxury and performance, you can't beat this car...if you can put up with the dealerships.

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'96 Honda Civic EX coupe - This car is a go-kart!
'94 Mercedes Benz sl500 - People stare, too many problems (electrical, ignition, etc.)
'91 Mercedes Benz 560sel - Much much larger, plusher, but still too many problems (electrical mostly)
'94 Toyota Landcruiser - This car drinks gas like I drink beer.

Smooth ride, comfort in front seat, acceleration at high speeds, design and styling. Good brakes.

Auto-trans a bit jerky in lower gears. Smaller turning radius than I am used to compared to the Integra. Somewhat cramped in back seat (it's hard to pur the baby in the back of a 2dr coupe.

I paid well under what the dealer wanted for it. It was a '97 3.0 CL with 32K in near-excellent condition. I paid under %18k. For me, it's a very comfortable commuter car. I've seen people complain about the brakes - I seem to have little problems. The power/ABS has stopped me very well in the rain. In my history of owning Acura's, brakes have always been a strong feature.

I look forward to really taking the car out of the city and into the country. Despite some of the weaknesses posted, the car is still an excellent value for the money and overall quality.

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Accord EX V6, Nissan Maxima V6, Toyota Camry XLE. All are very comperable to the CL. I would have chosen the EX V6 if the price was right. Ultimately, the CL drove and handled better than the non-Accords.

Engine
seats
stereo
handling
safety

Faux trim
Minor rattle from raer brake light
lack of door trim to prevent dings

This is a great car. Handles great for a front wheel drive. Comes with many options that are extra on BMW,Audi,Lexus and Toyota.

Car comes with 5 year warranty and is backed by Honda!! Who could ask for more.

I recommend to anyone who wants a sports coupe for thousands less than BMW.

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Styling, reliability, elegant interior, features for price, stereo, surprisingly roomy, uses regular unleaded gasoline, low maintenance costs

4-cylinder engine noise, gas mileage unimpressive for a 4-banger, non-folding rear seat (it has a pass-through that works for skis but not for my snowboard)

I traded my old Diamante in on the 2.3 CL. I paid about $23,000 new for a red automatic with the premium interior. I had wanted the cloth but my dealer couldn't get one, so I got the leather for free. DARN!

Even though the car debuted in 1997 I think the styling still looks fresh. I think the old model is more unique than the new one (the new one is too easily confused for an Accord coupe).

As would be expected with any Honda product, I have had zero problems with it. Oil changes and routine maintenance prices are very competitive with other brands (and much cheaper than German brands!).

The best mileage I have ever logged with my car was about 30 miles per gallon. I think it should be better, considering it's a 4-cylinder. The 6-cylinder models get about the same mileage with better, quieter performance. The car does not require premium fuel, which could be a consideration given today's gas prices.

A few people have made comments regarding the car's turning radius, but I never noticed it being an issue during the 2 1/2 years I owned the car, which I recently traded in on a new 3.2 TL.

The car stereo sounds excellent and has good reception. In fact, I swear it sounds better than the Bose system on my new TL.

My only real criticism lays with the fact that Acura does not put fold-down rear seats in its better cars. Maybe this has something to do with structural rigidity, but other luxury brands have this feature. To transport my snowboard, I would have to buy a rooftop rack or let it lay next to me in the front passenger seat.

If you run across a used one, it should be an excellent, reliable buy. Highly recommended!!!

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Acura 3.2 TL, Mitsubishi Diamante

Great styling, a smooth, quiet ride and, decent fuel economy for a six cylinder. Great looking interior and a lot more room than I expected.

I only wish this car had xenon HID headlamps. Turning radius leaves a litle to be desired. Automatic transmission shifts a bit harshly in lower gears.

Subsequent owner. Vastly under rated car. Makes an excellent used car for those looking for something a little different.

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Accord coupe. Great car but too mainstream for me. Not many CL's (especially 3.0's) around here to be considered common.

Styling, Performance, Interior

Headroom, No Manual Transmission

I went out this evening to test drive an Audi A4, VW Jetta, Nissan Maxima, and Acura 3.2 CL. The Audi/VW dealer was closed for some odd reason. Anyway, I went directly to the Acura dealer and absolutely fell in love with the car. However, as soon as I sat in the driver's seat it all went downhill. I'm 6'5 - 6'6, anyway my head hit the ceiling unfortunately. The salesman didn't know what to say, it was funny.