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Other than the motor/trans/shocks/brakes (which are a whole different story due to converting the car to a 3.7 and manual trans ) everything on my TL is original and its got 650k miles on it. Ac, windows etc all original and work just fine.
Love hearing stuff like this- damn...650K miles! That's very impressive. My 00TL was sold at 190K by my brother in CO and now he has my 06- loves the car and plans to drive it til it or he is dead (it has a little over 120K on it now). As for me, my drivers are a 2004 MR2 and a 1993 Nissan 300ZX convertible. I sometimes get the itch to look at new, but no payment is just too sweet to pass up. We're payment free all the way- no mortgage, no car payments, no CC debt. I'm basically bad for the economy car wise since I don't get/ won't get anything new anytime soon.
2006 TL owners manual, page 176 @ http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/p...u/TL0606OM.pdf says it's a "recommendation" not a requirement. Maybe Honda doesn't know the difference between the words "recommend" and "require," and are using them interchangeably?
Looks like a semantic change.
The "recommendation" wording used in 2006 is obviously meant to be equal to "required." No one on this forum would say that it is perfectly fine to run 87 octane on 3G TLs since it is not "required," In emergency, obviously it's fine to run 87, but in daily driving its gotta be premium.
But looks like with the TLX gen, there is a separation of "recommendation" vs "requirement." If you're buying a luxury segment car, even an entry level one like the TLX, better to go premium I say.
Originally Posted by AZuser
Even if that $3000 in repairs only got you 3-5 yrs with zero future major maintenance, you'd be winning even more if you invest that $27,000 into an index fund or something.
For example, average annual return of Vanguard Value Index fund over past 15 yrs is 5.6% (YTD return is 9.11%). At a 5.6% return, in 3 yrs, that $27,000 would become $31,794. In 4 yrs, it would become $33,575. In 5 yrs, it would become $35,455.
Better off spending that $3000 to fix car and drive it for next 3-5 yrs and invest that $27,000. At the end of that 3-5 yr period, you'd be way way ahead... even after deducting initial $3000 to fix car.
Exactly. This is how I think about the opportunity cost of money as well.
People always bring up another example that irks me: "Oh hey I want to make payments since my car is at such low interest rate!!! I can make more by investing the money."
But rarely, if ever, do I think people actually take out spread sheets and see if their investment is beating their car note rate.
In your example it is a great example of what opportunity cost can be lost if one invested in a depreciating asset, like a TLX, vs an appreciating asset, like a Vanguard index fund.
The "recommendation" wording used in 2006 is obviously meant to be equal to "required." No one on this forum would say that it is perfectly fine to run 87 octane on 3G TLs since it is not "required," In emergency, obviously it's fine to run 87, but in daily driving its gotta be premium.
Sorry my friend but you are playing the semantic game. Their wording is correct and they didn't mean anything else.
The very same powerplant of TLX V6 is also featured in the new Pilot, for which Honda recommends... regular. The only "major" impact is a loss of 3% of power, 10HP @ 6200rpm. *Big deal*.
In this era of fully electronic controlled engine, there is no risk of using regular instead of premium in this engine.
Sorry my friend but you are playing the semantic game. Their wording is correct and they didn't mean anything else.
The very same powerplant of TLX V6 is also featured in the new Pilot, for which Honda recommends... regular. The only "major" impact is a loss of 3% of power, 10HP @ 6200rpm. *Big deal*.
In this era of fully electronic controlled engine, there is no risk of using regular instead of premium in this engine.
I can understand the newest V6 engines being able to run regular, as you mentioned they use the same powerplant in Honda models which usually people associated with regular gas. Modern timing/ECU management can handle the lower octane without issue, but with some small loss in HP as you mentioned.
So then the question goes back to the 2006 TL motors. Now I do not claim to be the most technical knowledgeable about motors (many forum posters are clearly vastly more knowledgeable in this arena) but from a quick search and read...it seems that Honda used the J32-series engines in the TLs and J30 in the similar year Accords. There appears to be no whole-motor-sharing in this year range between the Acura TL and the Honda Accord V6 (aside from probably various support parts). The Accord rec is regular, while the TL rec is premium. Hence my thought that the meaning behind "recommendation" is that Honda recommends/requires premium in the TL V6 vs the regular in the Accord V6. Cursory research shows possibly more aggressive VTEC, cam, and higher CR in the J32 (TL) vs the J30 (Accord V6)
I always welcome more technical debates/contributions and of course the changing meaning of the word "recommendation."
If we are to assume that "recommendation" IS different than "required." Then the conclusion must be that Honda is okay with you using 87-octane in the 3G TLs all day long since there is no "requirement" to use premium in the 04-08 TLs....
Exactly. This is how I think about the opportunity cost of money as well.
People always bring up another example that irks me: "Oh hey I want to make payments since my car is at such low interest rate!!! I can make more by investing the money."
But rarely, if ever, do I think people actually take out spread sheets and see if their investment is beating their car note rate.
In your example it is a great example of what opportunity cost can be lost if one invested in a depreciating asset, like a TLX, vs an appreciating asset, like a Vanguard index fund.
Frankly - I've never once considered an auto purchase an investment. I consider it a lifestyle purchase.
If you appreciate a car that does not vibrate on a highway, has a transmission with a mind of its own, has smooth, lag-free, intuitive and feature-rich entertainment system this might not be a car for you.
Some of the major quirks with the tranny were resolved in newer models, but it is far from smooth and perfect even for 2017 model year. As far as the vibrations, the TLX is going onto the 3rd year, and Acura is clueless on how to fix it. the entertainment system hasn't changed in 3 years and at this point, it is inferior to the one that Honda puts into Civics and Accords.
I would carefully read opinions and complaints on this forum to make sure that you have a better understanding on what kind of car the TLX is.
And beware the strongly worded opinions of those who don't actually own or drive the car. I would focus on the opinions of those who actually own a 2016 or 2017 3.5 with the 9 speed. I actually owned a 2015 3.5 SH-AWD, but moved into the 2.4 because I prefer the 8 speed. However, I have driven the 2016/17 3.5 and find the transmission tuning to be much improved. However, that's a personal evaluation to be made after extensive test driving. As for the "Vibration", what little there is is imperceptible unless you pay very close attention to it. It's a feature of VCM, as it is in most brands similarly equipped. I did not notice it on the highway with my 3.5, and only a little if I paid attention to it when cruising around 60 -70kpm. Finally, regarding infotainment, I chuckle when a non owner talks about Honda's superior system. Yes, they have Apple/Google play, and that's great (I have owned many Hondas and love the brand), and I wish the TLX had it. But honestly, for most of us, having a considerably better sound system and superior climate control system is more important, IMHO, including a HD to store music which takes the most advantage of the ELS sound quality. Again, it's all about individual priorities, so try it out.
Frankly - I've never once considered an auto purchase an investment. I consider it a lifestyle purchase.
Indeed. For probably 98% of the public, an auto purchase is a lifestyle/luxury item and definitely not an appreciating asset. Investments you hope to appreciate over time. Unless we were either very wealthy or very smart in picking out market trends and pick up cheap collectibles....most cars are not going to be worth much years down the road.
I have a 2016 and like it a lot, but I'm also wanting to see what changes the 2018 MMC has. If there's a big power upgrade or a hybrid version, I'd get that myself. If I were you, I would wait until at least next year. You just put $3k of repairs into your car, just keep driving it for another year and then re-evaluate.
Indeed. For probably 98% of the public, an auto purchase is a lifestyle/luxury item and definitely not an appreciating asset. Investments you hope to appreciate over time. Unless we were either very wealthy or very smart in picking out market trends and pick up cheap collectibles....most cars are not going to be worth much years down the road.
There is also pure dumb blind luck. Bought these new except for the FORD & StingRay, All are currently pretty hot on Mecum & Barrett Jackson. 57 FORD retractable hard top, 62 409/409 Impala SS, 66 GTO TriPower Ram Air (Royal Bobcat), 67 StingRay Coupe 427 TriPower 435HP (kept for 25 years). Had some other nice ones but these are worth quite a bit today for cars, except the StingRay $4200, that were under $3500 brand new.
What's more important is having a place to store them long term. Mine always had to go to make room for the next one, Was renting a two car garage & racing a series of British sports car during that period which tied up half of it. Lived in a city that you did not park an interesting car on the street. Bought a house & moved out of the city in 69 but then was a Volvo wagon & a series of FORD Country Squires for a growing family with no race cars for a long time.
Being an old fart will just run Auto-X, track days & an occasional trip to the Drag Strip. Will run in a regional Auto-X points series organized by THSCC next year. Think there was one TL in a stock class there this year. Only had a chance for a mechanical shake down of the car this year.
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Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 10-13-2016 at 05:56 AM.
09-29-2016, 09:25 PM
