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Acura TL 2005: The Weekly Driver Review
Acura TL 2005
Drivers have more stress during the holidays, alcohol consumption increases and patience in busy traffic can quickly wane. A 200-mile roundtrip, therefore, is a less-than-ideal way to spent part of Thanksgiving. It's potentially more problematic knowing the crowded, late-night return trip could include a stretch of interstate infamous for its thick, late-night fog. But visiting family outweighs the inconveniences of potential driving hassles. And if the journey is made in a vehicle with a commanding and secure road presence, such concerns are sufficiently eased. So it was during my weekly test drive of the 2005 Acura TL.
The vehicle was successful for several years, but Acura redesigned it and added more features in 2004 to offer BMW and Audi drivers another choice for a luxury sports sedan that combines performance with value. There's little change in the TL from last year. The vehicle is based on the Honda Accord platform but has different styling, a different powertrain and more upscale features. Performance to ride quality to instrumentation, there's a lot to like about the TL, which is why it's a recommended best buy in the premium midsize category by Consumer Guide, among other publications. The car's performance begins with a 270-horsepower, 3.2-liter, 24-valve V6 engine with a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. My vehicle had an automatic transmission. It shifts smoothly into all positions and was tested at 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds. The manual transmission was tested at 6.2 seconds.
Just like it has been for the past several years, the 2005 Acura TL is a nicely combined sport and luxury car with great attention to refinement and workmanship. It's a perfect car to drive to a late-night jazz club or at least to fantasize a similar journey. And it's a perfect vehicle for managing holiday traffic in any kind of weather. 2005 Aura TL Safety features -- Driver and front passenger and side curtain airbags; Antilock brakes; Traction control system. Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 20 mpg (city), 29 mpg (highway). Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,00 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles; 24-hour roadside assistance: 4 years/50,000 miles. Base price range -- $32,650-$34,850 James Raia is a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, California, who writes about sports, fitness, travel and lifestyle topics as well as the car review colum, The Weekly Driver. To read more car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver ...
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