Hey guys what's up? My name's Ricardo and I've sold my old rustbucket integra and am ready to move up a little (despite gas prices!)

I understand that the 3.2TL has transmission issues... but they look and drive is superb!

But... I've also test driven the 3.5RL, and those cars are incredible as well. They don't handle as well, but are MUCH smoother.

I'm not too concerned about handling, as I live in a congested city with no mountain passes to carve, just a TON of potholes to encounter

__________

So here's the deal:

I've been to a local ACURA dealership. They had 2 cars on the lot that interested me. BOTH are 1 owner cars, full maintenance records only at that dealership since day 1 and were trade-ins for new Acuras.

Option 1:

2001 Acura 3.5RL- black interior and black exterior. Premium package- electric steering column, htd/memory seats, bose 8 speaker, 6 cd changer sound system. Has a dealer installed remote starter Looks like new, premium package. New ball joints, new rad, good hydoedge tires, newer timing belt and waterpump, 7 month old battery. Mint overall. No accidents. 1 lady owner who apparently travels alot as a manager of some tax company. Clean carfax. Has 179K miles, but drives amazing. Has 2004 tail lights (clear)- I was surprised! A few door dings though. Price: $3400


Option 2:

2002 Acura 3.2TL-P- black with beige leather. Premium package. Memory seats. Transmission replaced by Acura 2 years ago. It has 159K miles. Alpine aftermarket usb headunit. Body is mint! No door dings like the RL. Drives well and smooth transmission. Has a remote start too! No electric steering, but bose stereo, sunroof, and heated leather. Timing belt is due in 30K miles, and has had no other work done but routine maintenance. Previous owner was a man, haha but it's stock besides the stereo. Tires are michelin harmony and are in great shape! Again, clean carfax, no accidents. $3000


Which would you pick if you had the chance? Here are a few pics (not actual) for comparision.


TL:















RL (this is an 04, but mine has the newer style tail lights with no yellow)











The RL seems a little mature for me, but its a helluva ride for sure. It seems less common than the TL too. Which would you pick??

Help!! lol thanks for reading my long post and helping this n00bie

 

I'd buy the RL, having owned a 2003 TL I would never buy one again.

 

that is INSANELY cheap for an 02' from a dealer..

i like RL's, but that generation is too Paw Paw for me..

now if it was the next generation

 

IMHO

The TL is a Faster and parts are more Available and the Trans Sucks.
But
The RL is a Hell of a Sexy car everytime reminds me a Benz, I dunno if they have wierd Problems I would check it out first in the RL side.


If you dont travel enough The RL will feel Slow, Clumsy and BIG.
If Daily Driving is in City the TL is the choice for you ALSO the Price is Incredible coming from the dealer.

But Rememer with Great Power, Comes the Big Responsability of Changing the Trans every now and Then.

 

on my second 2g TL, its a love/hate thing. my vote is the RL

 

I think it also kind of depends on how you feel about front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive

 

do what now?....

 

TL is rated 17-27 city/hwy and RL is rated 16-22 city/hwy. The RL is a gas guzzler IMO and i would stay away from it. The TL is ok but has some maintainance issues (transmission, crappy tires and paint chipping/flaking).

 

FYI: The 1st Gen of RL is FWD ONLY, You are Mistaking it Vs the Newer Gen that had Optional AWD.

Who Stays with OEM Tires anyway?? Chipping/Flaking Paint? Never heard of it.

 

look at the pic its the crappy oem michelin tires. and its not just me many others experience fading/peeling/flaking paint. just serach the forum...and youll see stuff like this:



or this:

 

Yeah I now about that but I forgot the Red Line, Dumb 5 Minutes edit screw it.

But adding Up I have my OEM Painting and Its a little toasted by the Sun but it has never Flake, Other than that with a Good Polish it looks brand new.

Rolling on Yokohamas S. Drive or YK520 put those michelins out of their misery.

 

ya well I'm hoping to get these yokohoma trz just have the convince the woman of the family and justify the expense. this is the hardest part, I rather rim up install those tires myself than bring it up to her. The tl will be taking a nice long nap in the garage until then.

 

Thanks for the feedback all!

I'm pretty sure both are FWD, and that the 05 and newer RL has all wheel drive as standard.

The RL is built in japan, so it's quality should be higher, no?

I'll be honest, I'd be pretty upset if the transmission took a crap on me.

Will 159K on the TL and 179K on the RL, a difference of 20K miles make a huge difference, given regular maintenance, and RL was 50 yr old lady driven lulz

Crazy how expensive the RL was new (rip off!), but it does feel higher quality I feel and is solid feeling.

But the TL is nice to toss around, as per my test drive, the on ramp was a lot more thrilling- more steering feedback.


I'm taking the plunge this weekend, since I'm without a car right now The only thing I see is that the RL has a newer timing belt.


Would you buy your 3.2TL again? I'm a skeptic after reading these forums, especially the trans failure thread..... is it really THAT bad?!

By contrast, the 1g RL forums seems to point towards a more bulletproof platform, minus egr issues. hmm

Everyone I've talked to says the RL is more ballin. I just want tint. I'd keep both of them stock, given the mileage

 

Is the RL worth the extra 400 bucks? The TL transmission was replaced back in 2009... dunno what to do :eek

 

The TL gets pretty nice gas mileage though. I'd be putting regular in both though. Synthetic oil and a quality filter, but regular gas, since I'd never really pass 3500 rpm

 

RL leather was higher quality for sure (damn I can't use the edit function!) I'd prefer a TL with black interior

 

I Would Buy my Car Again 2G TL-S anytime of the Year blindfolded....
I really dont consider that the Tranny outweights the Good things of the Car, BUT If you arent prepared (BECOUSE IT WILL) for a Tranny Failure dont buy it...

ALSO: If you swap (Another 1.5Kish) the Accord V6 tranny from a 05-07 you wont have to worry about a Tranny Failure ever Again and you will have a REALLY Reliable Car, Cuz aside from the Tranny Failure? The car is Flawless for Me.

My 2 Cents.. L8ters.

 

I would go for the RL. I would not buy my TL again.

 

My TL-S has been fantastic to me with no problems thus far, and only regular maintenance needed. She has been always good to me and a great all year driver. I think that generation of RL is ugly, bland and nothing special. I personally think the 2G TL (especially with the kit) can still look phenomenal 10 years later (look at my car as an example). And if you're interested at all in adding to your car at all down the road the TL does have some aftermarket support where as the RL will have none.

Ultimately it's your choice, but my vote clearly would go to the TL.

 

I would buy my 02 TL s again, for sure. Bone stock it's a car that is fun to drive, and gets a lot of compliments. All while keeping a low profile.

 

dont you dare.
treat those cars well.

 

I don't see many RLs and never paid any attention to them. The affluent side of this town is just covered up with Lexus, BMWs, Mercedes, 3rd & 4th gen TLs, Audis, Jags, , Porsches, etc., but I rarely see an RL.

I thought the RLs were Acura's answer to the RWD Mercedes for some reason........

 

if those RL's were RWD, there would be a lot more of them being modified.

 

So I bought the RL today.

Reasons for purchase:

1) Timing belt + wp were MUCH newer
2) much nicer interior IMHO (quality of materials, and build quality/sturdiness)
3) New rad + ball joints
4) elderly lady driven (actually met her at the dealer lol)
5) Manly styling haha (if I debadged, ppl would think I drive a benz, my friends called the TL a fancy accord)
6) MAJOR: a reliable transmission design, similar to the 1G 3.2TL and tried and true from back to 1996 in the RL.

Thanks for all your help guys. I'm happy with my choice, and that's all that matters ahaha.