AzNTL

What do you guys think the most disappointment thing of a TL is? like what is the worst part about the car?

To me the most disappointment thing is either the BOSE system or its our damn 4th gear!

jps

I'd go along with both of those AzNTL, and add:
the difficulty in upgrading the stock BOSE system. I'd simply like to upgrade the speakers, but ya pretty much have to tear the dash apart to bypass the BOSE equalizer.

NighthawkBlack

The Vinyl trim with the leather. Other than that I am very happy with the TL and the TL-S got rid of all the things I thought needed to be worked on in the TL.

TL-S Man

I kinda like the Bose system: no, it isn't the best, but it is listenable, and I try not to get TOO involved with my music when I'm driving. I EQ the bass a couple notches up and the treble 3 notches and things sound ok. It could use some more treble than the flat setting.
For me, it is the lack of complete instrumentation that I miss most: I believe all sporty vehicles should have an ammeter, tach, oil pressure and water temperature gauge as a minimum array. These keep you posted on conditions critical to the engine, and could well save its a*s should something go wrong. Idiot lights don't cut it. ACURA ARE YOU LISTENING??!

stevebo

For me the only drawback is the lack of headroom. It bugs me every time I get in the car that my hair rubs. I guess given time I will be bald but until then I wish I had another inch of clearance.

I still think that it is amazing the amount of features at this price point.

steve

Acura3200

I don't like that my seat parts have been replaced 4 times and they are squeeking bad again.

daverman

What I miss is a real trip computer. I'm sure the data is easily computed from the available inputs to the on-board computer already.

TLSMan: I kinda like the minimalist gauge approach that Honda takes. I dislike the convoluted "gauge within a gauge" design that the Lexus IS300 has, for example. It's nice to not get distracted by too many gauges and indicators while driving normally. Maybe the trip computer display can also simulate a particular gauge or two.

AzNTL

I agree! they Honda/Acura should of made a trip computer built into the TL/TL-S like they did with the MDX..

monkeymato

In the '99 TL theres no memory seats! Pisses the hell outta me. :o

rayman009

i don't like the stock taillights on the 2000 tl, or the stock rims. The 2002 tl has all the good stuff. Nice taillights, 17in rims, 6 disc cd changers, more powerful engine, and comes in type s! I wish i would of waited a year and gotten the 02 tl

AzNTL

At least u didnt get the 01 TL then you'll feel even more stupid..... Dats how i felt... i got my TL in sept 00 then several months l8r the 02 came out

TLover8888

for the '00, no memory seats, no fog lights, no trip computer, the BOSE system is weak and you cant just simply replace the back subwoofer since NO DAMN AFTERMARKET SUBWOOFER FITS THAT 9 INCH(?) SPACE!!!! other than that, the car is fine...

TLover8888

i didnt know that the '02 TL has a more powerful engine than the '99-'01...can someone confirm this?

AzNTL

What he meant by more powerful is that in the Type S engine. other then that the TL-P is exactly the same

2K2 TLS

1: cheap leather (not soft enough)
2: fake a** wood interior
3: no dual climate control
4: cheap tires
5: ACCORD platform!!!!!!!!

thats all

chiawei

quality.

BDI

TRANNY

neuronbob

I definitely dislike the Bose stereo. I think the sound engineer who created this system was older and definitely didn't like bass, or just liked muddy sound. I don't like hearing that it's difficult to upgrade the system....

As for the other comments:
--I don't mind that the TL is based on the Accord platform. After driving a whale of a car in the Intrepid, I'm happy to be driving a smaller car again...the TL is "right-sized" for me.
--I find the 4th gear (on SportShift) useful when I need enough juice to pass and I'm already at 60+ mph. If I'm slower than that, I just use 3rd.
--I continue to be amazed that Acura put so many goodies into a $30k car. No one else, apparantly, can do this. Sure, it meant that they had to use vinyl trim for the "leather" seats, and that there's fake wood and more plastic than some would like, but if you don't want those.....spend the duckets and buy a BMW 5 series. Those things don't bother me enough to spend extra money, I'm just thankful that I have a powerful engine, traction control, memory seats, seat heaters, alarm, 6-CD changer, moonroof with tilt, and a manumatic tranny for less than 30k.

Just passed the 1000 mile mark today (have had the car for 20 days now) and am still loving the car. I have decided that I'm going to keep the car pretty much stock except for bigger rims and a rear wing. I love this car.

BlackShadow

My only complaint is the lack of OEM fogs in my 99 TL.

BLEXV6

No complaints here, and the fact its on the Accord platform, for me is a plus. I have the 1998 Accord, and the reason I wanted the TL, is that it is an upgraded Accord. I love the Accord. I had 5 of them.

MikesTypeS

I would have to say that the rear part of the headliner rattles, the outside temperature display is never correct, the wheels should have been wider with better performance tires, the rear seats don't fold down for items such as a snowboard.

stevebo

I agree with the trip computer comments, except I go a little further. Wouldn't it be great to have a small screen that would diplay a number if engineering data? Like timing set points, temps through the system, and knock sensor. It seems as though they already have this data they would just need to develop a software interface.

The newish c class mercedes goes down this path a little ways.

hooked2TL

1) Could have come with wider tires.

2) Get rid of the pleather and go with all leather. This pleather cheapens the look, and pls, use real wood.

3) No memory seats for 00, Acura u coulda put that in but u chose not to, and no lit controls on the wheel, come on, even my 96 Caravan has this.

4) Oh....for Canada...NO NAVI!!!!!! Come on Acura, we'll pay for it but please have this available to us too!!

tls988

Only five speakers and no tweeters while other cars in the same price range offer a better sound system. I wish the next TL will also offer wider tire/wheel combination.

AzNTL

My first impression of the car when i got it that when the Salesman said it was BOSE i was like damn high end speakers.. Oh Boi was was wrong!

neuronbob

Actually, I find the outside temp display pretty accurate. It's usually within a degree or two of what the weatherperson on the radio says it is. It's a useful tool in chilly Cleveland.

daverman

Yeah, forgot the narrow rims. I want 7.5" wide 17" rims on the TL-S so I can buy some decent tires. Virtually nothing will fit on that skinny 6" wide wheel.

Outside temp can be compensated as needed, see your manual for details. I adjusted mine by a factor of -3 deg. and it's extremely accurate now.

I don't mind the pleather and fake wood. It's not worth another $10k to get the real stuff. Same thing goes for the vinyl dash, etc.

Sound system could be much better, maybe with the addition of two A-pillar-mounted tweeters. But I find it more than adequate for easy (not anal-audiophile quality) listening.

RiCE-DaDDy

im kinda confused on the fake leather. So the stuff used for the seats, fake or real leather???

thanks

pianoman41

Both. The center perforated sections (with the holes in it) are real leather. The edges, sides and back are fake.

2001TL4KCdude

The seating area is real leather, where your butt and your back touches the seat, the rest is not real. I realyl don't mind this feature, otherwise the price will go up $3-5 grand for real leather all around.

2001TL4KCdude

Dave, define accurate? radio station? Billboards with time and temperature readouts? my is also off a few degrees..

AzNTL

you can adjust your outside temps. Just look in your manual and it tells you how to do it

TL-S Man

Hi 2001TL4Kdude,

It is usually within a couple of degrees of my radio station; the weathermen have a little more sophisticated stuff, but its accuracy is close enough to let you know you should have a sweater on when it says thirty two. Then again, we all have a built in thermometer that goes BRRRRRR when it is cold out. I like the climate control temp INSIDE the car, which allows me to set it to my liking. Outside the car, only God can change the thermostat : )
I should say that it is somewhat important to know the outside temp when the thermometer says, say 35 degrees. It alerts you to possible freezing conditions. There are areas that can be 32 or below in some stretches of road where the ambient temperature is a little higher.

daverman

It's accurate to 2 deg. of the NPR's report on the radio and the Weather Channel and KHSB 41's temp (basically airport readings) when I leave in the morning. KSHB's station is about 20 miles from my apartment, I think.

city001

the quality assurance group is not doing their job right..

that's the only bad thing I don't like about the TL
squeek, lose here..there..not align right... etc

hope u r seeing this ACURA

city

TLS RULZ

Since there is talk about the temperature sensor... here how to adjust it !

With the car on, press and hold the select and reset buttons.
After 10 seconds the temperature display will start to go through a cycle of 1, 2, 3, 0, -1, -2, -3.
These represent correction factors. Just let the buttons go when you get to the number you want.
You can repeat this at necessary until the temperature reading is correct.

I have to give credit to this site for the info.

http://www.geocities.com/gamesmgr/chod/acura/

doopstr

My '02 TL-P review.

The Good.

1. 225 HP is plenty for me. I'm past the racing stage
2. Engine sounds great! Doesn't sound like a sewing machine like my Maxima. Sounds quite "americanized" if I may say so.
3. I really like the NAVI. More than I thought I would. Navi sucks though when you got grandma in the back telling you "the faster way to get there".
4. Bose system is okay. Not great. Not bad enough for me to care about. It's a bit muddy like all Bose systems. I think this falls under "I'm past the racing stage" as well
5. HID lights are great. Fog lights really light up the road nice in the rain. I may get the "super white" fogs so they match the color of the HID more.
6. Car gives a nice ride. It is basically quiet but you can unleash the beast at anytime.
7. Overall great value.

The bad

1. Not enough headroom. Good thing it's not my daily driver. I should have checked out the Type-S because it's supposed to have more. But wife didn't like the Type-S anyway.
2. Don't care too much for the Sport Shift. It auto shifts from 1-2 which I feel takes out the fun. Plus it's a bit slow to respond.
3. Power outlets turn off with the car. Can't leave a cell phone inside to charge. Dealer can aparently fix that.
4. Dome light fades to black too quickly.
5. Traction control has no fuel cutoff.

Ways to improve
1. Auto rear sunshade.
2. Random play between the 6 discs not just a single disc.
3. HEADROOM
4. Idiot light that tells the idiot (me) that the sunroof is open when you turn off the car.
5. Add fuel cutoff to traction control.
6. Control knob that would let me set the "fade to black" time.

CH-TLS

I've only got a few gripes:

Bose system needs tweeters in the door or A-pillar

The paint is lousy. My bumpers/mirrors don't match the sheet metal, and I've got way too many chips on the hood after only 9K miles. (Our 92 Accord had lousy paint, too, so I was hoping for some improvement by now)

The rims stick out beyond the tires, which leads to scrapes and scuffs.

Other then those 3, it's a great ride for the $$

RAdams

Mine has been doing this for a couple of months now and it's starting to drive me insane. Other than that, the car has performed flawlessly. I still enjoy the hell out of driving it.

sparky57

No, there was a change to the intake plenum in the base motor when the five speed auto debuted. Didn't that occur in '01'? The car mags reported that while the horsepower was the same, the torque curve was flatter. Combined with changes to the gearing, it meant better performance. An '02 TL-P will outdrag my '99.