1997 Acura CL User Reviews

Not A Bad Little Coupe — i like like car. acceleration isn't bad considering it has 320K KMS, braking is decent, handling is great especially at lower speeds. the appearance is decent, although i liked it a lot more when i first got the car. . interior is very nice for a 97. the transmission fluid is not cheap. however, car gets 850 kms highway per tank. overall, 3.5 stars sadly its governed to around 185 kms per hour.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Great Overall Car — This is probably the most practical car I've owned. Good MPG, very cheap to maintain, minimal issues. I changed the oil regularly and that was about it. Good MPG for long highway commutes. If you have the 5 speed manual it's pretty fun to drive, though its definitely not a fast car. Two door design may draw complaints if you tend to pile the friends in.

Not Bad For A First Car. — I liked the fact that you can put stuff in the trunk from the back seat by putting down the arm rest. Also, I could fit a lot of different things up at the front with me, inside the driver arm rest and within the front console.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Sweet Cl — I love how this car drives. Its has a nice exhaust tone when you start it up and its fast. Getting to where I need to go is never a problem. Having 200 horsepower and a slick automatic gives this car some crazy pick-up. The car brakes when it needs to and handles excellently. Besides all that, the car is comfortable as well. It has plush leather seating, heated seats and mirrors, moonroof, BOSE CD, wood trim and enough room for 5. It can whip around corners and its relatively easy to park. The quality of the car is solid. It's needed normal maintance repairs as well as wear items such as the timing belt. The car still feels solid and new for a 12 year old car. The car looks like nothing on the road. The front looks like a Honda Accord, but the back is its own. There is a distinctive crease going from the front of the car, down the middle, to the back of the car. The slick roofline gives it a distinctive design as well. The interior and the exterior has held up beautifully for its age. After getting the fuel system cleaned and other maintenance, Ive been able to consistently get between 19-22 m.p.g. (mix of city and highway). As for the fun factor, this car is definitely fun. Slamming the gas from a stop and hitting the V-TEC is like no other. Even on the highway, getting to 80 is easy. Its like a rush like no other and its an awesome, reliable and gorgeous car to drive.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

Not Bad. — Not bad until the transmission died at 80,000 miles. THe successor I had, the 2001 CL Type S was even worse.