Used Acura TLs in New York will likely benefit from the positive exposure they recently received in a reputable magazine.

In late fall, Consumer Reports asked its 380,000 subscribers whether or not they would buy their car again if they had the opportunity to make the decision a second time. The Acura TL was high on the Yes list, which Automobile Magazine says is unsurprising.

The TL first appeared in 1996 to replace the Vigor and eventually found itself in second place on America’s best-selling luxury sedan chart, according to Forbes. The 2007 TL illustrates Acura’s desire to maintain the vehicle’s popularity, as this generation was built to compete with the likes of the BMW 3-series, Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS – three formidable foes.

Acura was selling roughly 80,000 TLs a year when the first 2007 rolled out of the factory, according to Inside Line. Since the automaker wanted more out the four-door, instead of offering it with a limited list of options for the fourth year in a row, Acura decided to build the TL Type S, a sportier version of the sedan that made the stock model’s 258-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 seem puny.

Although the 2007 Type S came with a motor that was 0.3 liters bigger, a displacement increase the added 28 HP to the TL’s power rating, Acura chose to make some other upgrades as well, reports the publication. First, the five-speed automatic was swapped for a six-speed manual gearbox, in a decision that probably made many motorheads smile. Individuals who couldn’t drive stick also got what they wanted, since Acura mounted F1-style paddle shifters to the steering wheels of some of its TLs.

Under the hood, Acura considered more than size, says the news source. The engine found in the 2007 Type S wasn’t only bigger, it was also better built. Acura, a subsidiary of Honda, took advantage of its parent’s VTEC technology, which outfitted motors with high-lift and long-duration cams. Combine those with cold-air induction, a dual-stage intake manifold and a heavy-breathing exhaust system, and the Type S wasn’t only faster than the TL, it sounded angrier too.

Japanese car enthusiasts might start paying more attention to used Acura TLs in New York and elsewhere when they learn of the Consumer Reports survey. If the publication’s research inspires car shoppers to buy a Type S, it’s likely their readers won’t regret the decision.