Guest

Now that the the 2002 has been out for a while, what is your overall opinion versus the 2001? To keep it "apples to apples", exclude the "s" model due to it's obvious differences. Vote your preference (2001 or 2002) for each.
(1) Overall appearance
(2) Wheel appearance
(3) If buying either new today, would you buy 2001 for $25,500 or 2002 for $28,500

mikester

I had an '00 TL which is identical to the '01 (except for the cup holder), and I now have an '02 TLS, but I'll leave out the type S features.

1) Appearance - I really like the front end on the '02 a lot better. It's much more aggressive, and looks killer with the body kit.

2) Wheels - I can't remember what the regular wheels look like. I love the wheels on my TLS, though.

3) That's not a fair comparison, because you can get the '02 for a lot less than $28,500. You will be able to deal on the '01 a little better, but I bet they will be within $1000-1500 of each other. I think the CD changer and the memory seats alone are worth that. Those would cost you about $1000 as options in most other cars. Also, if you buy the '01, you will take a bigger depreciation hit, because it will be considered a year old vehicle, even though it's only been out for 6 months.

Edub-TL

I would love to have a TLS.
But, between the two, I'd get the 02.
Memory seats, Fogs, 6-disc changer, clear tails.
I'm not sure about the 3K in price though..

But price is always negotiable..

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June 10, 11AM - N. Cali / Bay Area Meet - Click Here!
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/phanthavong/mytl.html" TARGET=_blank>


</A>2001 SSM. 02 tails, 02 vent trim, burlwood knob.

Mods? What mods? I can't afford mods, I'm getting married!!
Vin says 2001, but it's really a 2000 with an upgraded cupholder!!

swhtech

2002....just for the memory seats!
But add on the fogs, 6-disc in dash, clear tails....it's no question....but I still love my 2000.

BlackShadow

Get the 2002 because it has all the features that wasn't there in 2001.

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Binh

UTChE96

I like the front end of the 2002 better than the 2001. The round headlights and new taillights are pretty sweet too.

Plus all the other extras listed above.

DDubb

Not to mention the sideview mirror tilt...

VTEC Animal

I'd say that the front end redesign as an inprovemnt. I also like all the other updates that occured expecially the tilt down passanger mirror and auto up on the drivers window. Appearance I think it better, although I like the 2001 so very much.


I think Acura missed the mark here. I DON'T like the 2002 TL Premium wheel at all. I know my dealer has a whole mess of new '99-'01 wheels and the first thing I'd do is swap for those if I bought a 2002.


I faced this exact situation, only it was about 40 days before the 2002 was due out. I new I could either wait for the 2002 or buy the 2001 at a huge discount. $3000 is a pretty nice savings, but with it only being $3000 I'd be thinking harder about it. If you take the Type-S out of the equation, then it makes the 2001 option a lot more attractive because you don't have that for an extra I could get this option looming around. Personally I'd never buy a Type-S because I think the Premium seats are more comfortable for me, and so it put me into this exact situaution but with a better margin, and as you can see by my signature I choose the 2001.

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2001 Acura 3.2TL Non-Navi
Satin Silver
FormulaOne Premier 35
(Metalized 35% Tint)

Turboara

I too went through the same thought process before I finally decided (I've been shopping for a car since December).

Looks: '02
Wheels: don't like either (tie)
I was going to buy an '02: looks, rear tail lights, cd changer, fog lights. I was prepared to pay $2K more for an '02 ($26.5 vs. $28.5)

25.5 is a darn good price for an '01 though.

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- Nick
2002 Type S (Satin Silver)
1990 Eagle Talon tsi awd (barely stock)

Guest

Best price in Chicago for a 2001 with Navi seems to be about $28,600. I'm getting at 2002 TL with Navi with the gold package, wheel locks, and mud flaps for $30860. I test drove the 2001 vs. the 2002 - and the 2001 felt like a smoother and more comfortable ride for some reason. But with all the 2002 new features, and for about 2k more - I figured I'd go for that. Seems like California and PA/NJ people can get their cars for less than here in the Midwest.

Gomez

Can't say I like the new headlights.

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'01 White Diamond Pearl 3.2TL
-Wing, tint, wood and Whistler

SLVR TL

2002:
Pros: Newer is always better. A year difference will probably give you a big difference in the trade in/ resale value. Does anyone know how to forecast how much difference there will be in resale value?

Cons: I don't like the fascia of 2002.

2001:
Pros: Nice front fascia. But the appearance is outdated by a year. But wait, there is always a remedy. Put 02 tails and nice wheels. That'll take care of the appearance issue for 2001.

Cons: It'll probably give you less resale value.

I'd probably go with 2002 despite the ugly (IMHO) fascia and mod it anyway. The last thing you want is a car that look outdated when you buy it brand new.

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Y2K SiLVeR TL, non-navi
SLVR TL Homepage Last updated 6/6/01

liutang

Didn't someone say that the new headlights are actually dimmer than the older ones? So are the fogs. They're pitiful compared to my 1700x's.

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kuan48

Oh really!

Guest

I'll take the 02 model simply because I like the front MUCH better than the 01 model.

92legend

I thought at first that the 02's big headlights and front end just looked goofy and it made me like the 99-01's better. But now they are growing on me(considering I dont own one).

liutang

Really

Guest

I had that choice and opted for the 2002 for many of the reasons stated above such as resale value,cd changer etc..

I could have been driving the 2001 already and the dealer who did not have any 2002 tried to push me into one but I insisted on waiting for a 2002.

I was supposed to take delivery yesterday but the dealer told me there was a recall on the seatbelts and the car was held up by Acura Puerto Rico for a week for the repair. (At least that is their story. Anyone know if this is true?)

I'll be taking delivery next Friday.

BLEXV6

The 6 cd player, memory seats, and front lights give the 2002 TL a big advantage, over the 2001. However I really liked the 2001 mags, and think the 2002 mags suck. I might just have to get a TL-s for those amazing mags. BTW, the 2002 front end is much more agressive than the 2001. In fact, sometimes when I saw a 2001 TL coming up in my rearview I often thought it was an Accord .

2001TL4KCdude

Go with the 2002.
Apples 4 apples;
2001 = $25,500 then add;
6 disc CD = $500
memory seats = $1,000
Side mirrors that tilt on reverse = $300
clear tail lights = $250
foglights = $200
1 year depreciation when driven off the lot = $2,000
total = $29,750 for your 2001TL.
Go with the 2002 for $28,500. I was disappointed when I got my 2001 in September, it didn't have memory seats and all the goodies.

(the prices are what I perceive as value, I do not know what the actual cost of memory seats is, or that you can even retro fit it. It is worth $1,000 in my mind to have it and not try to find that spot again after a professional carwash.)


2001TL Black/black, Navigation,
Spoilers, 26 piece wood-trim,
Wood knob, Splash guards,
35% Smoked Tint,
No A C U R A
No 3.2TL Stickems on back,
Just black chrome logo & Jayhawk Licence Plate.

Pimpin_TL

liutang:

that was me. I posted this like a month ago. I saw a Type S and noticed how my HID's were brighter. A Type S owner agreed saying they used a different technology. if you want you can do a search to see the specifics. I'm too lazy. i think the memory seats, and cd changer are a big improvement. my friend with an Accord EX thinks hes the shit now cuz he's got a 6 disc in dash and i don't. it would be nice, but i don't think that makes the car. its maybe a 2% benefit IMO. how hard is it to change a CD that not even a foot away. i do like the seata a lot better, and the other cool features like memory, auto side mirror on reverse, fogs, etc.

doopstr

I must say that the biggest reason my wife got the '02 and not '01 was memory seat. She is 4'11", I'm 6'5" (damn my hair rubs the roof). Anyway, a car with manaul seat is no problem for us. She pulls it forward I pull it back. But damn, with all the directions of the power seat it would take each of us 10 minutes to readjust the seat to where we want it. Then the outside mirrors! Now if just the inside mirror was power with memory. Atleast that's an easy adjustment.
I'm glad she rarely drives my Maxima because it has a power seat with no memory.

rockinTLS

I also like the 2002 better because of the added features. I would have loved to save some $$$ and get the 2001, but wanted the memory seats and 6 disc changer. The 02 grille does make the 99-01 look older now.

IMHO the TL-P wheels are not for me and the wheel upgrade that Acura offers is even worse.

I ended up with an S for 260 reasons. Incidently, the S has more headroom front and rear because of the dished seats. At 6' tall, that was also a big selling point.