This question has probably been asked a hundred times before, but it's always interesting to get other people's opinions. I've been driving around in a few 05 TL's while my 03 TL-S has been in for various things. My question is whether you guys like the styling of the 3rd generation as much as the 2nd? I saw a really sexy black 2nd gen car today that had different wheels, OEM spoiler, etc. To me, the 3rd Gen cars are interesting to look at. They have nice lines, but I wouldn't necessarily call them sexy. The interior though of the 3rd Gen doesn't really appeal to me. To my eye it looks like so many other cars these days. I'm not bashing the 3rd Gen for any of you guys that own them, and I'll probably buy one someday. What do you guys think?

 

Personaly I don't think the 2G compares to the 3G, it's not bad looking but I don't know, it just doesn't do it for me, I never thought about buying a TL before the 2004 came out

 

Pretty much the same here.....I test drove an '03, but it didn't come close to swaying my initial plan to buy a G35. However, those plans pretty much disappeared once I SAW the 04 TL. After I drove it.......the deal was sealed. I like the '03 ok....but I think the '04 has it together, appearance-wise.....and most car design experts agree.

 

Stock for stock, the 2G is more classic and conservative. The designers went Italianate on the 3G and it looks good stock and stands out.

But I don't think the design is as flexible as the 2G. The 2G can be made to look great in various ways, whereas among all the modified 3G's I've seen so far, I can count with one hand the ones I actually liked. You have to do the 3G "right" to make it look good, whereas the 2G has more flexibility and can look great in more different ways... If that makes sense.

Bottom line is that I won't be trading in my '03 for a 3G any time soon. It was great until my younger brother moved to Colorado, because I could drive his '05 6-speed basically any time I wanted to, and enjoy both the 2G and the 3G. Oh, well.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head Pure Adrenaline. That is how I feel. Even though I own a 2nd Gen car, I always appreciate the beauty of one that passes by. To me it is a very classy design both inside and out. I like the look of the 3rd Gen, but I have a hard time telling a TSX from a TL.

 

2nd Gen is much more elegant and can be made to look classy and sporty= sexy!

 

I have had both, the 2nd Gen and of course the 3rd Gen. and I have to say I liked both. My first Acura was a 2002 TL Type S and I loved it, but there is something about moving along in technology for me, I just had to have the "new" Model, and I got what I wanted. I will not knock the 2nd Gen because it is still a great car by any means, but I absolutely love my 05, and will probably keep it until the 4th Gen comes out.

 

I absolutely agree with you, plastikman. The 3rd Gen is improved in many ways. I always say that I don't know much about cars, but even I can tell it has a better chassis, better brakes, etc. Also, I think the 3rd Gen is about the best looking new model sedan available (without spending a fortune), and puts the 06 "ugly duckling" BMW's to shame appearance wise. Still, there is something about those 2nd Gen's...

 

this is all about oppinion....everyone's gunna be different.

personally i like the 99-01 better than the 02-03.

but i would take the 04-up over both

and i own a 2000

 

I would certainly hope the 3rd gen have a better chassis, brakes, etc...since the 2nd gen is a 5 year old design.

But I wouldn't mind the 3rd gen technology in my 2nd gen TL.

 

I love the 2nd gen TL-S, stock (maybe a little tint). I think that the car is beautiful. I'm not a fan of the new 3rd gen body design... especially the rear end. However, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the 3rd gen RL... mmm that car is amazing. For sure my next ride...

 

3rd Gen all the way

 

3rd gen gots my vote!

 

I love my 2nd Gen. If offered, I doubt I would trade it for a 3rd Gen right now. IMO the 3rd gen does not mix sportiness and class in as good a way as the 2nd Gen did. I'm going to ride my 2nd Gen all through college modding it to perfection

 

The 2nd gen has a longer body and a more classic sedan feel than the 3rd Gens. I love my 2nd Gen, and i think the 3rd Gens are nice too. But haven't you noticed that the new cars all somewhat look alike? The TLs, TSXs, Scion TCs - all the cars have a similar round shape compact sports sedan appeal. At least when the 2nd Gen TL came out, it didn't look like any other car.

 

2nd gen tl kinda looks like a 2000ish camry but better

 

As several others have mentioned....I also was never attracted to the TL until I saw the 04's come out. Love the style, interior, pretty much everything about it. Just my opinion though

 

2gen over 3 gen IMO. I cant get over the back of the 3 gen, it looks like someone chopped it off with an axe. If for the 4th gen they stretch the car out a bit and do something about the back then maybe we might be in business, till then I will have fun with my 99. Wish I had a type s though but that is another story all together.

 

The classic "Long Hood Short Deck" Italian design doesn't quite work on sedans, especially Japanese sedans. I like the long sloping trunk line of the 2G, finished off with the Mugen spoiler for a slight lift at the end. Hotness

 

Yeah, I have the same plan here. Keep and mod the car all through college. I personally think the 2g is the best looking of the generations, however, that doesn't mean the 3g isn't attractive. I just realllly like the look of the 2g. Especially the rear. I like how the plate is in the bumper making the rear look real clean, especially if you debadge the 3.2TL for symetry. The rear of the 3g just looks crowded with the plate in the trunk lid.

Both interiors are plush, but obviously the 3g's will have better technology.

I have a 2003.

 

I'm biased with this comparison ... the TL-S is the first car I owned (ie my name on the title)so it will have sentimental value and memories. Trying to be unbiased, I definitely give the 3rd gen the upper hand with interior design and looks. However, I don't like the exterior design as much ... looks like a little bloated TSX. (I used to have a hard time distinguishing a 3rd gen TL to a TSX from afar but realized the indentation along the sides ...)

When I change cars, I seriously doubt I'll look at another TL ... sports car or Lexus IS / Infiniti G. Mind you ... the TL is the best value in its class (which inspired me to get it when I bought it 2001).

 

I like my 2nd gen It feel like it has more interior room but i do like the modern styling of the 3g can't wait to see what happens fo the 4G maybe DOHC ?????????

 

Please don't have your entire post in bold. It gave me a headache simply reading the 4 lines of it.

That being said, I really like both generations. The 2nd Gen, to me, has more classy, elegant lines, where as the 3rd Gen. has a more athletic, agressive look. The redesign from the 2nd to the 3rd gen model was quite drastic, especially when compared to the redesign from the 1st gen to 2nd gen. As a current owner of a 2nd Gen., I doubt I will purchase a 3rd gen TL, simply for the fact that I want my next car to either have AWD or RWD-preferred. The handling characteristics of a RWD car vastly improves the "Fun Factor" in a car. Hopefully, the 4th Gen. TL will be offered with a choice of AWD or RWD, as well as have a DOHC engine, as pzero23 suggested.

 

Here are some opinions I have between the two...

Funny you mention that because I never lusted over a TL (let alone any other Acura model) until the 2nd gen TL, particularly the Type-S, came out. As for the 2nd gen mid-life model redesign, the '99-'01 front end didn't catch my eye, however, I think the lower hood offers a more pleasing side profile than the raised hood required for the 2-stage induction in the Type-S.

As PureAdrenaline mentioned, this (even more apparent on the TSX) can only be rectified by adding the A-Spec bumper lip or the equivalent . And on the front the headlight/bumper spatial area is way out of proportion. There's too much bumper and too skinny of a headlight (same for TSX rear).

Sadly, the classic long sedan look had it's time and will probably never come back. The new trend is sports appeal, which means shorter overhangs, shorter decks and hoods, higher belt-line, and cab forward design, to name a few. And don't forget about the newly mandated worldwide "passenger-friendly" impact absorbent hood, which will save lives, but raises the hood even more.

I think the designers were more interested in the rear-seat headroom improvement that came with pushing the C-pillar further aft than for a visual appeal. This is one trend that is becoming commonplace for all sedans and I can't stand it! Look at the new Accord, Altima, even the Maxima from the side. It's hideosity (new word!) at it's best.

Everyone has to admit that either you like the 2nd gen or the 3rd gen TL more than the other. If you're into typical subdued sedans, you're into the 2nd gen. If you're into sports cars or like to stand out, but need the 4-door hauler, you get the new one. I'll also bet that this same discussion is going on in the BMW forums over the E39 M5 and the newer E60 M5 lookswise! I still like the E39.

 

I love a nice hooked up 2nd gen, but stock for stock, the 3rd gen definitely makes the 2nd gen look dated when they are side by side. Loved my baby though.

 

Man! that car is sexy - long and lean - like a supermodel (and just as mean). I haven't seen a 3rd Gen that was anything but 'pretty'...

 

Oh, don't tell me we're going back to this straight cut-off rear windshield design, in the name of more rear head room. (The very first car I learned to drive in, by the way... and also the very first car I spun tires in, albeit not on purpose. Regardless, I haven't stopped spinning tires since then. Stolen and totalled, rest in peace.)





Acura made the 3G shorter overall than the 2G. If they wanted to, they could have extended the trunk a bit more, but plain and simple, they wanted the Italian style. Does it look good? Yes, it's grown on me and I like it. In fact, I was a strong advocate of my younger brother picking up his '05 TL 6-speed. But I would never even think about trading my TL-S for one. It doesn't do anything for me.

 

Hear!! Hear!!


Good post Roger.

 

The classic long sedan look had it's time?

The classic long sedan look is exactly that. CLASSIC.


Mr. Hyde's Blue TL does the 2nd. Gen justice. Ron Jon has a very nice kit for the 3rd Gen IMO. I'm just glad Acura builds cars that last longer and are more reliable than other cars out there.

The funny thing is 10 or 15 years from now ricers will be pimping out these 3rd gens like crazy, just like those who still hardcore modify integras today. The price and reliability of Acura automobiles is what has made them appeal to the youth.

I never imagined an Acura (RL) that would cost $50,000.

 

Mr. Hyde, I always loved the overall look of your car, it is pretty much the as good as they get. BTW, how's the Bimmer treatin' ya? And what have you all done to it?

 

3G, definitely. Now that I've seen more modded 2G's here, I like it more than I used to, but before the 3G, I never viewed a TL as a car I would buy.

 

My only pet-peeve w/ the second generation is it looks identical to its little brother ACCORD.

 

I purchased my 03 TL-S in August 2003 which was 1~2 months before 3G TL came out. I've looked at the pictures of 3G prior to my purchase however I liked 2G styling better than 3G and I still do think so in my opinion. Unfortunately, I didn't research and didn't know about tranny problem because I was not into cars as I am now. If I knew that and my purchase was limited to TL as before (I wanted G35 initially but limited to 4-dr sedan around 30k), I would've waited to get 3G TL.

so to answer the question of the thread, I like styling of 2G better.

 

i had the choice of getting a 3g tl, i really like the lines and the sidemarker. but it just didn't look sporty enough for me, it look more like something my father would drive. I been in tl before, regular tl, but once i took the type s for a drive i was hook.

the 2g does look better if you do some work on it, and mine came with some work already done, which help to sway my decision, and i plan to do some more to it. Any regret that i got a 2g instead of 3g, nope, none at all, plus, this my second car i bought on my own, i figure i would be trading up in about 5-6 years anyway. by then we see what kind of styling acura or other maker has to offer.

 

Haha...no, I didn't say 80's domestic styling. I meant this...



Although on the new TL it looks better. That Maxima looks too damn bloated.

 

So you're saying you don't like how your TL looks?

 

No, I'm saying that I do like how my 2nd gen looks, but more importantly, it's cumfy. And long sedans actually fit 5 people in them, unlike these newer midget cars.

Although these new cars have navigation and other goodies, they're much smaller than the classic long sedans. If I adjust my seat so that I fit comfortably in my car, there's barely room for someone behind me, and in the 3rd generation models, it's worse.

It depends on your taste, really. If you want to be comfortable, buy a Lincoln Town Car. You can actually fit your family inside. Some people could care less and would rather have a car that looks good from the outside, regardless if it's a "driver's car"or not. Acura is inbetween IMO.

 

Wow, I don't even want to know what you do in your car.

 

[QUOTE=Pure Adrenaline]Wow, I don't even want to know what you do in your car.


I know. Kind of sick, aren't I? That's what tint is for.

 

[QUOTE=Back In Black]So you got tint for the same reason I did lolzx