This is probably a silly question (I know, there are no silly questions, just silly people). But, if there was one performance modification to be had, what would you recommend? The same question holds for a beauty component. And, yes, money is an object! Please restrict the beauty issue to hardware related items, not the driver/operator. (it's probably the same for "performance" issues as well.)
Thanks for your advice!

 

And apologies in advance for mis-spelling "modifications"!

 

springs.

 

I really like the burlwood shift knob and it is only a tad over 100 bucks. I'll leave the performance question to the experts but you may hear headers a few times.

 

Closer..How'd you do that? What program are you using. Pretty cool!



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2001 Acura TL Laguna Green Metallic
Stock for now...
Wood Grain kit/Wood Knob/Rear Spoiler/Inspire Lights/K&N Filter ...More to come very soon!
djalliance@acura-tl.com

 

Paintshop pro with animation shop.
It's really easy to learn

 

performance: springs
beauty: body kit for more money or tints for a lot less.

 

darla, best thing to do is to don't start modding. once you start, you'll never be satisfied with what you have.

 

Closer, you have the power to move the earth!!!

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.

 

I agree with most owners here.... Spring is the first mod you should do. I would leave Beauty-Related mods to the last.

If you are going to keep moding your car, here would be my suggestion...

Spring/Sway Bar - Rims/Tires - Brakes - Header/Exhaust - Beauty Mods

Andy Kuo

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'92 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
Pearl Grey/Black

'02 Acura TL-S
Satin Silver/Ebony, w/out NAV

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

 

Nitro

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'02 TL Type-S Satin Silver
* * * * *

 

Springs/Sways would be nice. Agreed.
They also enhance look beauty of your car as well.

But if you want strictly beauty, the kit does the trick. Makes your TL stand out from all the rest. But the kit kinda looks funny w/o the spoiler IMO. But since you have the mud gaurds and if you live in an area with snow or bad wheather conditions this might not be the best.

For me, performance is cool but just having a nice clean car that is distinctive from others but still classy is what I am looking for. I don't race, and if I had a TL-S, that would be enough power for everyday driving.

But really, just do what will make you happy.

Warning though.. the more time you spend on this site, the more you will start modding.

This will be my FIRST/LAST Acura anyway. Honduh lost me as a loyal customer when they released the 01 and 02 so close together.

 

Hey Darla... if you want a mod that will take care of BOTH performance and beauty, get the springs! A lowered TL looks great. I would say it is the #1 mod you can make to enhance the looks of a car, in my book. A body kit is nice, but its not that great without springs. Springs are 300 bucks and will make your car look great, AND it will handle a lot better. That is definitely the best choice for you.

After that, you can think about a bodykit from Tim (under a $1,000, painted, uninstalled) or a spoiler (looks great without one, though) for looks.

For performance, look at sway bars to add to the springs.

But if price is a factor (and I'm sure it is), then just get the springs and enjoy the fact you only spent a few hundred and your car handles a lot better and looks a lot better!

 

So I am sort of surprised that the expert consensus seems to be springs and sways over headers. Is handling improvement that much better/important over power enhancement?
I realize that springs add to looks, too, and headers don't.

Thanks for the input everyone, Darla asked the question I have been waiting to ask.

 

Forget the springs!!

Here is what you should do to your TL like this CL guy did!



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<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/phanthavong/mytl.html" TARGET=_blank>
</A>
Vin says 2001, but it's really a 2000 with an upgraded cupholder!!

 

Many thanks on the advice from everyone. I'd appreciate any additional "stuff" you'd care to offer. Knocking off the top seems to be a bit radical, but who knows???

 

Not sure what you guys think... but that droptop is HORRIBLE looking. YUCK! Glue the top back on!

About the headers vs. springs/sways, I think the handling mods are better because the TL-S is not lacking in power. It has plenty of it. But from what I hear, it could improve on the handling... and improving that would also take care of her other need. Just my two cents.

 

Hey Darla, everyone is saying springs, sways & kits. I say a good tint job does beautiful things to any TL! As far as performance, either a CAI or maybe Mugen exhaust are "simple" perf. mods. Hope this doesn't get addicting (ha ha ha )

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2000 3.2 TL Laguna Green
29% window tint, Clear bra, no nav
225/50/16 Aqua-Flow GTW's on OEM wheels
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lrpba300?...l=fld3&.src=ph

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Lrpba300 on May 03, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

For my money, performance ALWAYS wins out over appearance. The car looks fine to me as it is - I want MORE power and better handling. If you don't want to lower the car, sway bars are great for cornering and are inexpensive.

 

What, if any, are the ramifications of swapping the sways without doing the springs? And vice-versa?

 

And...what about getting the springs but with the OEM shocks? Should they be swapped out too?

 

Using stock shocks with aftermarket springs works, but it's usually recommended that springs/shocks should be changed together, to get the best out of both....

Just a note: Handling/Braking should always come first before you are thinking about Headers/Chips/Exhaust....The former mods are more important, IMO..

Andy Kuo

------------------
'92 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
Pearl Grey/Black

'02 Acura TL-S
Satin Silver/Ebony, w/out NAV

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

 

Darla i think springs make a big improvement in both performance and looks.

The TL's non type S at least suck at handling, i presume Type S isn't much different. if it isn't, get the springs, lower center of gravity, its simple physics, you'll be able to corner a lot better.. even if you're not an aggressive driver, good handling is just as much a safety issue so don't forget that.

About beauty, the most dramatic thing you could do is get a bodykit. IMO, it makes the car look almost twice as good, especially since (in Houston at least) out of 10 TL's maybe 1 will have one. Since money is a consideration though, I would do two things and two things only if i were you:

burlwood shift knob, Springs

I presume you already have a rear spoiler? if not screw both springs and knob and get the spoiler instead. if so, get springs first, then knob.

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'99 3.2 TL

Black/Black
Burlwood Shift Knob
Bodykit
Spoiler
Tint

 

Is it assumed that when you guys mean springs, that you should also get the sways? Anybody just have springs and not the sway bars? I do notice that the car does lean a lot.

 

Springs, rims (bigger and wider) and tires drastically improve performance (handling) and beauty. I think the stock TL and TL-S could use more handling improvements than power improvements.

 

Any suggestions on what kind of springs I should look for? Name, model, type, where.

 

ssshhhhh! secretly saving for comptech springs!