ACURA CL TYPE-S FOR SALE

FIND THE ACURA CL THAT FITS YOU

2001-2002 CL TYPE-SThe 2001 model introduced North American buyers to Acura’s Type S performance philosophy. Its 3.2-liter VTEC V6 produced 260 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, a substantial increase over the standard CL, while quicker steering, sport-tuned suspension, and 17-inch wheels gave the coupe a more purposeful personality. The five-speed automatic included a manual shift function, allowing drivers greater control without giving up the smooth operation expected from an Acura luxury coupe. Acura carried the basic formula into 2002, preserving the combination of performance, comfort, and restrained styling that established the CL Type-S in the first place.For buyers today, these early cars can be especially appealing when they remain close to their original specification. Many have accumulated substantial mileage or changed hands numerous times over more than two decades, which makes preserved examples stand out. Paint quality, interior condition, factory wheels, trim, maintenance history, and overall originality deserve careful attention. A low-mileage 2001 or 2002 car offers a particularly interesting snapshot of Acura’s earliest Type S era, especially for enthusiasts who remember when the badge was still completely new to North America.
2003 TYPE-S AUTOMATICThe final model year brought several exterior revisions while retaining the five-speed Sequential SportShift automatic as one of the available Type-S configurations. Acura updated the front bumper, grille, taillights, and exhaust finishers, giving the 2003 CL a slightly more aggressive appearance while preserving the overall proportions of the second-generation coupe. Under the hood, the familiar 260-horsepower VTEC V6 remained, allowing the automatic Type-S to maintain the smooth power delivery and everyday usability that had defined the model from launch.For someone who wants the final-year styling without specifically searching for a manual transmission, the automatic 2003 Type-S can be an attractive choice. It retains the luxury equipment, performance-oriented chassis, and distinctive character of the earlier cars while representing the last evolution of the CL before Acura discontinued the model. Because many enthusiasts concentrate their attention on the six-speed, a particularly clean automatic may offer a different opportunity, especially when it combines low mileage, desirable colors, strong documentation, and exceptional preservation.
2003 6-SPEED MANUALThe rare six-speed manual is the configuration that changed the character of the CL Type-S most dramatically. For 2003, Acura introduced a close-ratio six-speed specifically developed around the performance characteristics of the coupe. The manual version also received a gear-type limited-slip differential that redirected torque between the front wheels to improve traction and cornering behavior. Acura stated that the transmission reduced the CL Type-S's 0-to-60 time by more than half a second compared with the automatic version.
That combination makes the six-speed particularly appealing to enthusiasts and collectors today. It takes the naturally aspirated VTEC engine, luxury coupe proportions, and understated styling of the regular Type-S and adds the level of driver involvement many performance buyers wanted from the beginning. Condition and originality become especially important on these cars because their rarity and enthusiast following make heavily modified or hard-used examples more common than pristine survivors. When an excellent six-speed becomes available, transmission condition, clutch operation, limited-slip differential behavior, maintenance records, factory equipment, and previous modifications should all be evaluated carefully.
TYPE-S VTEC PERFORMANCE & CHASSISEvery CL Type-S is powered by Acura's 3.2-liter SOHC 24-valve VTEC V6, producing 260 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 232 lb-ft of torque. Acura achieved the additional output over the standard CL through changes that included a higher compression ratio, dual-stage induction, revised airflow, and a freer-flowing exhaust system. The engine delivers its performance without forced induction, giving the coupe smooth throttle response and a power delivery that becomes more rewarding as the revs rise.
Acura also treated the Type-S as more than an engine upgrade. Sport-tuned suspension, quicker steering, 17-inch wheels, and performance tires helped create a noticeably different driving experience from the standard CL. Automatic models incorporated Vehicle Stability Assist, while the later manual version added its limited-slip differential for additional control at the front axle. The result is a performance coupe that remains comfortable enough for long drives but still feels intentionally engineered for the enthusiast who wants more than straight-line speed.
LUXURY & FACTORY EQUIPMENTPart of the CL Type-S formula was preserving the refinement expected from an Acura. The coupe offered leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, automatic climate control, a power moonroof, an Acura/Bose audio system with an in-dash six-disc CD changer, xenon HID headlights, and other premium features that made the car easy to use every day. Navigation was available as well, giving the CL an unusually comprehensive technology package for an early-2000s performance coupe.
Those features contribute significantly to the character of a preserved car today. The traditional gauges, physical controls, leather surfaces, straightforward center stack, and relatively simple technology create an interior that immediately feels different from a modern performance car. Buyers should evaluate the condition of the leather, dashboard, trim, switchgear, audio components, moonroof, climate-control system, and other original equipment. On a remarkably low-mileage example, a well-preserved cabin can be just as important to the ownership experience as the mechanical condition underneath it.
LOW-MILEAGE SURVIVORS & COLLECTOR APPEALThe second-generation CL was offered for only three model years, from 2001 through 2003, and the Type-S was part of that brief run. Acura later identified the 3.2CL Type-S as the model that introduced the Type-S performance line to North America, giving the coupe a historical connection to the later TL Type-S, RSX Type-S, and modern revival of the badge.
That history does not automatically make every CL Type-S collectible, but it does make unusual examples increasingly interesting. Mileage, originality, documentation, ownership history, factory paint, interior preservation, mechanical condition, and transmission choice all influence how desirable a particular car may be. An untouched low-mileage survivor offers a very different proposition from a modified driver, while a rare six-speed has its own appeal among enthusiasts. Buyers searching for these cars should therefore focus less on finding any CL Type-S and more on finding the example whose condition and specification justify preserving it for the years ahead.