2004-2008 Acura TL for Wife...Thoughts?

[KarlCarrera]

I'm looking to get the wife a "newer car" prior to retirement. The Acura TL is high on the list. She now has a 2001 Impala which is absolutely trouble free, acceptable power, 49,000 miles, and 30mpg @ 70-75 mph. Currently I am considering both foreign and domestic. I have always had a flavor and very good luck with German, GM and Nissan (Datsun). Reliability has always been key for me. I've done the research, am very familiar with all the imports, and their quality, but am looking for some real world stories. More expensive for scheduled service?(yes) Can I change the Oil and Filter? What are the weak points? (Brakes, tranny, interior space, trunk space, electrics)? Regular stuff I can do, Timing belts I need to turn over to my son.

Thoughts? The purchase will happen in 6-8 months. (I'm never in a hurry when purchasing a car)

Thanks
Karl
88 Targa

[Tobra]

Honda makes a solid vehicle, well screwed together.

I have an integra with 11 years and 150+ on the clock, I am truly torn between buying another car and replacing the clutch, CV joints and suspension on the integra and driving it another 10 years.

[VaSteve]

I like the TLs prior to the more squared version that's out now. But that's only visual.

[VincentVega]

Nice cars. I think they have the best Nav in that era, nice bluetooth integration if that matters. It's basically a tarted up Accord though, if you dont want the bells and whistles save some scratch and get the Accord.

[kaisen]

Careful of the automatic transmissions. Otherwise great cars

[Noah930]

We have an '05 TL. It's had 50K trouble-free miles. I think the leather wears a little quickly on the side bolsters of the driver's seat. Others have reported similar issues when I looked on Edmunds. The blind spot is fairly sizable. And that's it for complaints. We love it.

I think the newer TL model looks awful. Like it's wearing that prototype body cladding factories are so fond of...only they forgot to take it off once they made the real thing. The older car looks like the graceful car BMW should have built instead of that fugly Bangle-butted thing they've got going for the 5 series.

[ikarcuaso]

The auto tranny issues affected the early 2004 TL models only. There was a recall, and the problem was resolved by mid-04 model year. This is something I had to be sure of before I bought my '05.

Noah930 sums it up fairly well. These are common gripes on the TL forum. I need to be fairly diligent when changing lanes on the freeway; can't just half-ashe it when glancing over my shoulder. I just passed 60K w/o any issues. It's easier to change the oil/filter when jacking up the car, although I've managed a couple oil changes without jacking it up.

I'll agree with the glofified-Accord comment, as well, for better or worse. I believe they share the same engine for most of the 3rd gen model years. I don't have NAV (mistake on my part), but the handsfree technology is great. Decent stock sound-system, as well, but I think a standard iPod interface didn't come w/the car until 06 or something. Good luck.

[RANDY P]

my buddy had an 04 "S"- it was tight, drove well and made some cool noises when you stomped on it. It is a good looking car.

Then the tranny took a dirt nap at 60K - it went away for an xterra shortly thereafter.

rjp

[aigel]

Three words:

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

There are excellent deals out for BMWs of the same vintage. I'd buy that instead.

George

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by aigel

Three words:

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

Four words:

He lives in COLORADO!


If you like Nissan products, why not an Infiniti G35 (x?), or a late-model Altima 3.5 or new Maxima?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by ikarcuaso

The auto tranny issues affected the early 2004 TL models only. There was a recall, and the problem was resolved by mid-04 model year. This is something I had to be sure of before I bought my '05.

Good luck.

Well, they certainly affected 2005's as well. They changed the algorythms in the shift logic of 2006 models "to reduce torque steer" but it also helped the transmissions survive the shock.

The same transmissions failed in other Honda/Acura applications such as the MDX, Oddysey, and Pilot. Being a 'clutch-to-clutch' transmission it is a much smaller design and shifts differently than most other automatics. Worked great for them until they got over 200 lb-ft and over 3500lbs.

[89911]

Originally Posted by Noah930

We have an '05 TL. It's had 50K trouble-free miles. I think the leather wears a little quickly on the side bolsters of the driver's seat. Others have reported similar issues when I looked on Edmunds. The blind spot is fairly sizable. And that's it for complaints. We love it.

I think the newer TL model looks awful. Like it's wearing that prototype body cladding factories are so fond of...only they forgot to take it off once they made the real thing. The older car looks like the graceful car BMW should have built instead of that fugly Bangle-butted thing they've got going for the 5 series.

The Tl is not a bad choice if you need reliability, front wheel drive, and your wife is the primary driver. I own a 07 MDX and it drives great and has all the features,(sat radio, blue tooth, navigation) that I have grown use to from our other Honda. I looked at the TL briefly when I was shopping around for a 4 dour vehicle when the 911 won't work for hauling kids around. A 2003 540 is what I choose. A more practical car is a 530 with a 6th speed. Great handling and great looks in my opinion. Then again, your wife may not care.

[mgatepi]

I had an 05 TL for 3.5 years and put about 60K on it. The car was great with the only issue being the torque steer. Under normal driving it was fine, but if you needed to "punch it" while turning....better use both hands!! The only thing I ever needed to do was have the oil changed!!! Great car!
mg

[jhynesrockmtn]

I have a buddy with an 04 or 05 TL-S, he's on his 3rd trans and just spent $2,000 + when he took it back in complaining of "weird noises" again. Motor mounts were shot. I have an 05 MDX with over 60k on it with no mechanical issues. I do have some persistent rattles that should not be the case in a vehicle this expensive. Overall, I'd buy a Honda instead.

[hardflex]

2004-2008 Acura TL for Wife...Thoughts?

Sounds like a fair trade. I'll see if the wife will go for it. badda bing

[t951]

We had a 2005 TL A-Spec. It was AWESOME. The ONLY flaw with the car was that it was FWD. If it had been a rear-driver it would be listed as one of those cars that people love forever (like the 88 BMW M5).

We had ZERO problems with it, and I drove it all over FL as an engineer. Absolutely great car. It is one of the few cars we have ever regretted trading in. (We got an MDX for the wife and dogs).

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Oh, and the new ones are hideous. The old ones look great.

[RKC]

No direct experience - had an '04 MDX with no problems. And agree that new Acuras don't quite give enough "more" to justify their price over a similar Honda. But used? A great buy! I've owned a Civic, an Odyssey and a MDX and none of them ever caused any problems whatsoever.

And, FWIW....I always thought the last TL was one of the prettiest sedans out there - sat in a new blue one with a black/tan interior when the MDX was being worked on, and, frankly, it reminded me of a really nice interior on a modern Maserati (or Ferrari of the mid-1990's). Just a beautiful car inside and out.

[vash]

amazes me how everyone always prefers a BMW.

for TL money, i would opt for the Lexus IS 250 or 350, of the same vintage. i like them better.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by vash

amazes me how everyone always prefers a BMW.

A co-worker traded his E39 BMW for a TL because he was tired of BMW issues. His thought is that the TL gives you 90% of the BMW fun, with 0% of the hassle.

Karl wants a reliable, trouble free car for his wife that is cheap to maintain. I like BMWs, but compared to a Japanese car they are not reliable nor trouble free.

[89911]

Originally Posted by vash

amazes me how everyone always prefers a BMW.

for TL money, i would opt for the Lexus IS 250 or 350, of the same vintage. i like them better.

As far as driving experience, they are hard to beat. There is no comparing a front wheel drive car to a rear wheel. Some are willing to risk reliability to drive these (Bmw's, Audi's, and even Porsche). The interior of a 5 Series is much roomier then the Lexus IS if you are a bigger person also. Like the salesmen say, there is an @ss for every seat.