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← Acura CL · 2001-2003 · YA3

Acura CL 2nd Gen (YA3) Type-S 6MT

The 6-speed manual Type-S is one of the great forgotten Acuras. 260 hp, helical LSD, 3,514 ever made.

Verdict
B
BHP
225-260 bhp
0–60
6.0 s
Top speed
150 mph
MPG
21.0 mpg
Used
$5,000-$22,000

First Acura designed, engineered and manufactured entirely in the US. The 3.2 CL used a 225 hp J32A1 V6, but the Type-S got a higher-output 260 hp J32A2 — the most powerful FWD car Honda had ever built. For 2003 only, the Type-S was offered with a close-ratio 6-speed manual and a helical limited-slip differential, sharing its powertrain with the 2001-2003 TL Type-S. Just 3,514 manual CL Type-S units were built for the US, plus 331 for Canada — true production rarity. Comptech, working with Honda Access America, developed a Roots-type supercharger package in 2002 taking output to a claimed 369 hp at the crank, dropping the 0-60 from 6.0 to 5.7 seconds. Automatic CL Type-S models suffer the same notorious 3rd-gear clutch pack failure as the contemporary TL — verify a post-March-2005 transmission replacement. Manuals are unaffected by this. Slowly being recognised as a collector car.

Strengths

  • 6-speed manual Type-S is genuinely rare — 3,514 US cars
  • Helical limited-slip diff standard on manual
  • 260 hp was the most powerful FWD Honda at the time
  • Quiet collector status — values starting to climb
  • Comptech supercharged examples take it to 369 hp

Weaknesses

  • Automatic transmission 3rd-gear failure is endemic (manuals fine)
  • FWD with 260 hp = significant torque steer
  • Modified examples dominate the manual market
  • Touchscreen DVD nav is now obsolete
  • Last year only for the 6-speed (2003) limits supply

Notable tech

  • J32A2 V6 making 260 hp on Type-S (most powerful FWD Honda ever at the time)
  • Close-ratio 6-speed manual on 2003 Type-S only (3,514 US cars)
  • Helical limited-slip differential on manual
  • Honda Access/Comptech supercharger pkg (369 hp)
  • DVD-based navigation system
  • First Acura entirely designed and built in the US

Common issues

  • Automatic transmission 3rd-gear clutch pack failure (manuals not affected)
  • Power steering pump leaks
  • Drive belt tensioner failure
  • Door lock actuators
  • VTEC solenoid gasket leaks

Used-market budget

$13,000

6-speed manual Type-S clean examples now $15-22k and climbing. Automatic Type-S $7-12k but transmission must have been replaced post-March-2005. Standard 3.2 CL automatics from $4-7k.