1999 Acura 3.2TL...Continued

Our Impressions
of the Drive:

Engine Response: Climbing curvaceous mountain roads with the new Acura TL in B.C. was pure pleasure. The 3.2-liter VTEC V-6 engine on the new TL produces 25 more horsepower than the previous TL's V-6 engine. The added power also provided confident passing power on two-lane mountain roads.

Shifting The Gears: Complimenting the TL's sporting nature, the standard automatic transmission features a SportShift mode. This automanual puts gear selection in the hands of the driver, much like a manual transmission, but not quite. Some enthusiastic press corps drivers said they enjoyed the driving involvement the SportShift provided. This driver found it awkward, even though it does go fore and aft somewhat resembling an actual manual transmission. The four-speed automatic took care of all the necessary shifting, thank you. That's because this transmission employs the Grade Logic Control System, a state-of-the-art mechanism that automatically adjusts the shift to hold the engine in lower gear for better climbing power, increases downhill engine braking and decreases shift frequency.

Handling: You know this is a sports sedan when you take a corner "slightly" above the recommended mpg. Granted, this is a front-wheel drive car and cornering is not its finest quality, but the handling of the TL is admirable and enjoyable.

Ride: The mountain roads surrounding Whistler are paved, but have a gravel-like texture. We didn't have another vehicle to compare, but the TL certainly produced a smooth ride over this surface. Also, we were never on a high-speed freeway, but traveling briskly on straight stretches, there was no wind noise to spoil the pleasurable ride in the TL.