Pulp Free

Without a doubt I’ve always enjoyed Acura cars (and SUVs). Probably back to the Legend and Integra days they really set themselves apart. When the MDX came out - my mom was right there almost first in line. My sister picked up an RSX a few years after that and I found myself in a brand new TL when the updated 3rd generation showed up in 2004. After a nice few years the TL was moved aside (front-end T-bone totaled it) for a really nice 2005 RL (shout out to Buddy even if his voice has changed a bit lately.)

But c’mon, Acura. What are you doing with the “refreshed” RL & TL lines for 2009? They’re just fugly.

Acura TL Before:

And after…

How about the RL for this year? The old:

And the new…

A face only a mother could love… Honestly now… At least they kept the interior the same… Which is already impressive enough… (They did add cooling seats… Hello 2002 Lexus?) I will say they also got the back end dead on…

Why they messed up the new TL so badly who knows… So the RL wins out over the TL by a long shot… But it’s still two “L’s” in the losing column. The new wide grill, otherwise known as “Dynamic Power Plenum” grill just destroys any appeal for me…

We all held our breaths for a while… Waiting to see if the cars most of us had grown to love over the years would be “betterfied” by Acura - even if they haven’t been selling for years (just 6262 RLs sold in 2007). The wait is over and I’m just not sure with what’s left that I’d trade up my current Acura for a new one… Makes the Audi A5 look awfully good next year…

Here’s hoping that the NSX can save Acura’s image…

Ugh. I hear about this all the time. My last 3 cars all needed higher octane… And I could tell the difference in performance… So please use this as a reference (you’re welcome, Buddy… Even though I did just give you another $52 at the pump…)

Myth: High Octane is better.

NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek knows this. “Believe me, I’ve pumped gas in about every gas station there’s been in my personal cars. Whether it’s around town or on vacation or wherever, you put the regular in there it keeps on running,” he said. The NASCAR drivers, mechanics, and car makers will tell you that for 90 percent of the cars sold today, high octane is no better than regular gas. It won’t give you better mileage, more power or a cleaner engine. NASCAR crew member Lisa Smokstad told us what every expert told us.

“It is a myth that cars run better on premium gas,” she said.

Some cars do need higher octane — older cars that knock, and cars with high-compression, high-revving engines like Ferraris, Bentleys, Jaguars, Acuras, Mercedes and Corvettes.

But 90 percent of new cars don’t need it — check your owner’s manual.

Source: ABC News 20/20