I'm looking at buying a 2003 TL-S with navigation within a week or two. And I want to find out some more about the car before I make my decision.

1. Whats a reasonable price to aim for?
2. Should I install front, side, rear, and wing spoilers from the dealer? or should I do that after I get my car?
3. Whats the 0-60 acceleration and 1/4 mile time of type S without any mods? (is it faster than the IS300 5 speed?)
4. Are there any other cars around the same level (as in price, speed, and quality) that I should also look at?
5. Any other advice I should know about?

Thanks!

 

Hey wilz, i am glad to hear that you are seriously considering joining the awesome family of TLS's....TO answer your questions, here goes:
1.Car should not be a cent over 33,710 for one without any accesories like spoilers, body kit, etc...All non navi's are stickered at 31,710, and all navi models are exactly 2G more at 33,710.

2.Depends on wether you want to get ripped off or not..The dealer will charge more for install as well as more for the product. I recommend getting the kit somewhere else besides the dealer. My recommendation is getting it from autocarparts.com...The entire body kit is painted and shipped to your door for 829.99, if i'm not mistaken.

3. I just read car and driver today, and i looked up all the performance numbers because i was comparing the TLS to the G35..Funny, but the G35 is no faster in 0-60, and is one tenth of a sec slower in the quarter mile. Anyway, 0-60 time was posted as 6.2 and the quarter was posted as 14.8...I am not 100% sure, but i think that blows away an IS300.

4. There is simply no car on the planet that gives you as much for your money as the TLS..No other car can touch one with navi and all the standard features for 33,710 sticker. And i mean sticker, because if your a good haggler, you can get one with navi for even less.

5. Good luck on your decision, and i want to emphasize that you shouldn't let all the people that had tranny problems stop you from getting a TLS, because the car is suberb in every way, and the tranny problem really affected alot of early production 2002 models, so if your looking at a 2003, you should be fine.

 

1. http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=38727 That's a pretty good deal.
2. Definitely don't get them from dealer. They'll tear you apart on price. Get them from this site (painted) and install it yourself. Took me about 3 hours to do everything. I didn't do rear spoiler cuz I'm not too confident in drilling holes in cosmetic areas, so I just had the dealer rip me off there.
3. The 0-60 speed varies greatly...depending on who you talk to, what mag you read it from. It all depends on the driver. I would say high 6 seconds would be a good number for 0-60 and 15ish for 1/4 mile(bone stock of course). I test drove the IS300 auto and definitely felt more power in the TL-S (don't know about the manual). Besides, you get more car for your money with the TL-S.
4. Also consider G35, Maxima SE, and maybe even the Altima. But you won't find a more bang-for-the-buck car like our TL-S.
5. Definitely get the TL-S with the Nav. system. I made that mistake when I went with mine without Nav. I'm regreting it everyday. Check for squeaks in the moonroof (very common problem in our car).

There's alot you can do in terms of mods for the TL-S if you decide to get it. Hope you'll join the family soon. Good luck.

Axleback

 

advise????

YES!!! you should definately get it. You'll NOT regret it.

Let me see another TL bro from Southern Cal.

 

Anyone else want to advise me?

 

Well, since you're still looking for more replies... I'll build on what everyone else said. They pretty much answered your question, but I'll reply anyway

1) You should be able to get one with a NAV for around $32k - $33k depending on how good of a haggler you are

2) Buy the kit here and install it yourself, like it says above. The kit is around $830 from here, I think the dealer is around $1100.

3) Acura reports 0-60 at 6.28 in their Acura Style mag.... I'd say anywhere from 6.28 - 6.6 is possible. There are a lot of factors which affect 0-60, so you'll always see a range. I don't know much about the IS300 manual b/c I really consider it in a different class. I mean, when you load that car with what the TL-S has, you'll probably spend another $5,000.

4) Like was listed above..... G35, Maxima or Altima. I also considered the WRX, but went with the luxury over the performance rally car.

5) That's pretty much it. Like everyone said... dollar for dollar, you can't beat the TL-S. Drive one, see if you like it, then go for it if you do....

Good luck

 

I remeber the auto IS having the 0-60 time of 7.1 sec.

 

Well, I'm in the same boat as you, I need to get new car within the next month or so and the TL-S is on the top of my list.

Other cars I've considered and why the TL is still on top of my list.
1. Maxima SE. I have had two of these that I loved, however, the current generation just does not do it for me. I don't like the way it drives and the resale sucks. Also, I have hears the car is going to be completely new for 03.
2. BMW 3 series. The 325i is the only one that is close to comaparable in price but if you add similar options it is more than the TL and the resale sucks. I know BMWs are the best driving sedans as I had one two years ago but, they are very small inside and you have to get a 5 speed for the 325 to have any balls. The 330i is just to damn much money with any good options.
3. G35, love it but I refuse to deal with the local dealers and their BS about "It's a new model that's in high demand everyone is paying over sticker for them."
4. I had a 2001 TL and loved it until it was wrecked.

 

You definetely are doing the right thing by checking everything out- I have had three Lexus's in my time and swear by them- they are great cars-

I just picked up my Type S and it has been a blast thus far with the tranny in place.

I will warn you- shop the hell out of you local dealers - some are very arrogant knowing they have a good car at hand- they tend to walk away from you during negotiation knowing they can get someone elses's penny at a higher premium especially here in Chicago-

Good Luck-

Silver with NAV

 

I paid 31,700 with tax for a brand new 2003 Acura Tl Type-S Aegean Blue with soiler and body kit. Brand spanking new. I got a great Deal cheaper then the last one I bought which was a 2000 acura tl for 32,000 with the spoiler and ground effects so u can get a great deal on the new TL type s 2003

 

Damn you read my mind except for NO WRX. ES300 maybe, 330CI, but G35 definetely another to look at.

 

If you've been chcking out the various web sites and car reviews you'll already know that there is nothing that can compete from a value perspective. I was comparing I35 and Lexus ES300. Lexus has better ride, but not as fun. You just have to decide what you want in a car. We've had our TLS for 6 weeks and so far it's been great, a nice blend of performance and luxury. I think Edmunds had a 10 car comparison in the near luxury segment back in February and the TLS was their "winner" - do mostly to the value issue.

--------------------------------
03 TLS NH black with parch, no mods....yet

 

I got my '03 TL-S with Navi and full underbody kit from the dealer for around $34,500. I also did test drive the IS300 (auto) and the ES300. Well, I ended up with the TL-S! The IS300 was a cute little car that could be fun to drive, but like I said....it was a cute little car. I would definitely buy it for my wife. It is fun to drive, the auto seemed ALOT slower than the TL-S in the 0-60 mph range when I drove them and I felt like I did not have a lot of room in the IS300. The ES300 was a real nice car!! It had plenty of room, nice smooth ride, but seemed like a dog compared to both the IS300 and the TL-S. I did want a 4 door car (for convenience) and ended with the TL-S because of all it had to offer for the price as well as a SWEET sporty look, especially with the underbody kit and spoiler. The ES300 was somewhat comparable but looked to much like a "family car" for my taste and again, was slow! I liked the firmer ride of the IS300 and the TL-S but IS300 was too small and I could not get the navi! That navi has saved my a$$ plenty of times already and I have only had the car 3 weeks! No regret in my decision!!!!

 

i paid 30,790 for a 2003 tl-s nothing on it,,,,,,,600 for the factory spoiler and i got the mud guards from the tl site,,,,,,i bought it from westchester acura which is the number 1 volume dealer in the united states,,,,,,,,,,originallly he agreed to my asking price of 31,500 which i was already extremely happy with but then when i came back the next day he was like ....look if u take this car b4 the end of the month which was that week,,,,he said ill give it to u for 30,790. Because as u know if they dont move the car out b4 the end of the month its another months insurance and who knows what else on the car,,,,,,well good shopping to you and dont be afraid to name ur price

 

are those prices posted in the last two including or not including tax?

 

I got my 2003 TL-S with Navi and underbody kit and rear spoiler for $33780 before tax, tags, title, etc.

I got the TL in Houston from Charlie Thomas Acura. Hope it helps!!

 

I got my silver 03/Nav type S this past week- It is a sweet car. I have driven Lexus's and Toyotas for a while and I needed a change. the Acura came in first place. Due to budget restrictions I had to rule out the BMW 540i sport- it was hard

Although this car is very solid- I paid 33,150 with nav-

It was a battle to get it here in Chicago as this market here is solid and they will walk away from a bad offer that they can hold the car for someone else to add more to their bottom line-

Don't give in on excitement ! Stay firm and be prepared to walk away from these rats they don't care about you- they are ALWAYS out for their best interest-- Good Luck

(Objects in Mirror are closer than they appear-)

DAY:wow: