I'm thinking of buying a used 2002 TL-S, but am having second thoughts after reading some of the posts here.

If you could do it all over again, would you still buy a TL?? If not, what would you buy?

My primary concern is the tranny, not to mention the resale value once people catch on to what is going on with the tranny and other problems.

If I don't buy a TL-S, I'm looking into a 2002 Maxima, Lexus IS300, Lexus ES300, Nissan Altima. Any opinions of any of these??

I really like the TL, and I believe Acura makes quality products, but I'm wondering if buying the TL would be a mistake?

I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Thanks.

 

NO!!
I'm very happy with my purchase.
ALL CARS HAVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS!!

 

I love my TL to death... But I honestly wish I had waited until this fall so I could get the G35 Coupe with side skirts and dual power moonroof, six speed manual of course. Still might get it, who knows... Should be a worthy replacement to my venerable Prelude.

 

My tranny is still fine after almost 2 years and 20,000 miles of hard driving. I get 33+ MPG going 80 on the highway and I have plenty of power to abuse or hang with most cars that want to challenge me (including all of those that you mentioned). I would buy this car again.

 

I think the TL is the best decision I made. I haven't regretted it yet. Don't be freaked out with the trans problem. Yes it is a big issue but when something breaks more people complain then if everything was alright with their car.

 

Still happy with the TL, even if it is a big baby sh*t hole now. Damn, kids can make a mess. Puke is nasty and hard to get the smell out.

The car still runs and drives great and is still rattle free (after sunroof fix applied).

Might not hurt to check to see if the one you want has had the tranny replaced. If you are buying it from an Acura dealer perhaps they can tell you.

 

I buy my TL-S all over again...I haven't had any major issues with it. And who's to say the next car won't have issues. In every batch of cars there are always a handfull that have problems.

 

I have had my 03 TL almost a year (1 year July 1st) - and I love it to death!! Would never give it up! (Almost 15,000 miles on it and not ONE prob with the tranny {yet} so it's ALL good!)

 

I just purchased a used 2002 TL Type-S two weeks ago! I'm so happy with my purchase. I strongly debated myself the tranny issue. I think that it WAS a problem that was evedent for a while for a good bit of people since some had several trannys replaced. I think they finnally figured out the problem from what I've read. So if it happens to you then it will happen before the car hits 7 years and 100 miles (which is the warranty on the tranny - dont quote me exactly on these numbers but it is something like it). So getting a used 2002 would be a good investment because you are not only get a great car but you also have piece of mind. My used 2002 TL Type-S had 28,000 on it and it was in mint condition and I got it through an Acura dealer and it was a certified preowned car. For $890 I was able to extend the original Bumber to Bumber Warranty to 7 years 100 miles (original warranty is 4 years 50,000). I'm not worried about resale value. If resale value was an issue because of the tranny then it would already have been apparent in the current resale value of these cars. I think it was a realtively low number of trannys that have failed and it was a problem till they figured out where the fault was. It is only a big deal because of the Acura/Honda name and its associated quality record. I don't think you should pass up a great car just because of the Tranny incident.

 

GET IT!!!!

 

should definetly get it....dont regret it at all...the other car i would recommend would be the 2003 accord v6...240 hp....rides great.

 

In hindsight I would probably not get the TL because there are just so many on the road. I probably would of gotten an I30 / I35.

 

In hindsight I would probably not get the TL because there are just so many on the road. I probably would of gotten an I30 / I35.

 

I know I'm bias, but maybe there are more TLs on the road because its a better car and a better deal. It is a mass produced car. If you want something that noone drives, go buy a Mercury Marauder (one of the worst selling cars for 2003).

 

i probably should have gone with the Chrysler 300M as I really wanted a larger can than the TL, and mine has had even more rattles than my last Chrysler product (which was the reason i went with the Acura instead, go figure...)

I also should have looked at the Audi A4 3.0, but i think the Audis fall apart and get expensive to repair past 100k miles. I drive alot and expect to get 135k-150k from a car. The Infinity G35 sedan looks like a frog from the front and i hate the tails so i wouldnt have bought it regardless of how many magazines have rated it 'car of the year', and the I35 styling is so boring The new Maxima is unstylish and its built on the Altima chassis, so that would have been out.

In hindsight, maybe a year old low mileage Bimmer 330 would have been the best bang for the buck. After all, everyone on this site is always comparing their TL to the 300, so might as well buy one rather than wishing the TL was one.

 

i guess i would do it again, if i had to choose somethin different it would def. be an integra type R

 

Something RWD, more POWER... like the Bimmer....

 

2002 Maxima: it's about the same as the TL except if you do the brand comparison, Nissan VS Acura... Acura wins IMHO...

Lexus IS300: I'd take this over the TL... RWD, not as fast in auto, but in the manual with a somewhat skilled driver, it could hang pretty good. It handles better in the stock form, the only downside is it's smaller and it's not a luxury sedan, more of a sport sedan.

Lexus ES300: This current gen is actually pretty nice, I'd think twice before I make a decision compared to the TL. It's no comparison in speed but it's much much more luxurious. As for the last gen... TL wins.

Nissan Altima: last gen? don't even think about it... This gen... Same thing as the Maxima I think.

 

id change it for a type s. wished it came out sooner

 

I have an 02 TL and it is by far the best car for the money in my opinion. I have a 45 minute commute each way and the best part of the day is time I spend behind the wheel. I have 31,000 miles on it with no complaints. My only regret is that I didn't get the type S.

 

for the money, YES i would buy it again because it is a bargain!

knowing what i know now about the tranny, maybe not because i like to keep my cars a long time.

also knowing what i truly want now, i think i would have probably got a used LS instead because i want something BIG with 4 doors, a good aftermarket in terms of styling and rwd (v8 power too). i wish i could buy new though ...

 

If i had to do it all over again, i would have purchased an 03' CL-S 6 speed instead of the TL, would have been more fun. Oh and i also would have gotten the navigation system option.

 

I'd buy another TL in a heartbeat. I love my car.

 

i have 113000 miles on mine and love it, would i trad it for something else? yes i woulda waited a few mor months for the type s.

 

OK, pull out the :tflamer: .... I like the Marauder, especially the Marauder S. Would I take it over my TLS, no, but I still like the car.

 

Thanks for everyone's input!!

I do think the TL is quite a car, and plan on purchasing one soon.

I'm sure I won't be dissapointed.

If anyone's looking for a nice BMW 325, check out what I'm going to be replacing...

1992 BMW 325i

 

 

Well its been over 3yrs with my 2000TL the car runs great with no rattles. This car has given me no more problems then my last 2 cars. They were a 90 & 94 ACCORDs & they were great cars. I just wish the Type S would have been out when I got mine. There are some things I would have love to had on my car. The extra HP the VSA are some of them. But I am happy with my choice At the time of my purchase there were no cars around to match the TL. All other cars in its range did not come with some stuff as standard or if you added as option the price was way higher. For example the 300M at that time did not come with HID,TCS,NAVI. The BMW3 sedan was way to small for my needs did not come everything the TL had. The ES300 LEXUS did not come with NAV had less HP & other option like heated seat & HID would have pushed the price up. The Lincoln LS was the only thing to come close to the TL at that time. I did not have Nav but could be had with other luxury features. The problem with that car was the V8 was the better choice. If you got that it was out of my price range also.

 

The only other car I think I would have entertained if it had been out two years ago would be the Infiniti G35 coupe. I really like the styling and luxury and its sporting nature and being that I have no wife or kids, I kinda wish I would have bought a coupe. As a matter of fact, the only reason I went to an acura dealership is becuase a buddy of mine bought the CL-S when it first came out and I was drooling all over it. I went to the dealership with the "intention" of only looking at the coupes. But there were no coupes in stock so the dealer let me sit in this absolutely beautiful eternal blue TL with gold trim tan leather and a navi to boot. I couldn't resist. They wanted the sale so bad that I did not even have my trade in with me and the deal still got done and I bought my car in the next day. Sweeeet!!!

 

Who would buy your old car if this beauty is listed on the same page???

"BUICK CENTURY, 2003, 19K, power windows/locks, $9900. 893-6455"

 

I didn't say I wanted a car nobody drives...I just don't like driving down the road with three other TL's near me and with old ladies driving them.

 

where i live there are like onle i was the 2nd person in town with a tl, now 3 years later there are only around 4 or 5 of them, the tl isnt a car like a ford tarus or explorer which every one drives