MToker

Okay after hearing various stories and reading about everyone's aftermarket mod's I am wondering is there any modification you can do to the TL that will increase power/performance but won't take away the luxury of the ride.

The first two I think of are springs and headers. Am I wrong and what are the additional ones? Looking for everyone's expert opinion Sorry for the long winded post.....

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

Rice1304

springs will decrease ride quality. but who cares. there's not much of a difference on comptechs unless you ride around on 42 PSI in your tires like me.

AC

Agreed! My springs feel very close to stock. As long as you don't do the Greddy set up I don't think you'll lose any luxury. The CAI got loud at very high RPM and the headers will give you more torque as well without addtional noise.

Oh, I just realized that I'm up to Freak status. Man, no idea I was posting this much. I'm a loser...



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2000 TL Taffeta White
Factory Body Kit and Spoiler
18' DAZZ MATIZ
Tenzo 700X Fogs
Custom Mesh Grille
Custom Mesh Bumper Center
Comptech Headers
Comptech Springs
AEM CAI
Greddy CatBack Exhaust
Inspire Tails
Inspire Steering Wheel
Burlwood Knob
Apexi V-AFC

SLVR TL

Define "luxury of the ride." It really depends on how you define "luxury".

I was going to list out all the mods and describe how they are good perf adders... but strike that. Any mods that are not too extreme (ie: too low, too loud, too big o' wheels) should not sacrifice your ride's comfort.

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Y2K silver TL, non-navi
Factory style full body kit + spoiler
38% window tint
Valentine 1

MToker

So you would recommend springs ?


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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

SLVR TL

I would... but just don't go too low.

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Y2K silver TL, non-navi
Factory style full body kit + spoiler
38% window tint
Valentine 1

MToker

Well help me out give me some ideas of what those are? You don't have to go into great detail


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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

SLVR TL

This is purely my opinion... others might have their own thoughts/opinions.

1. Lowering Springs that lower less than 1"
2. Aftermarket adjustable shocks (ie KONIs)
3. Intake system
4. Exhaust system that is not too loud (Mugen, maybe?)
5. Header if you don't want the "bottle neck effect".
6. Big bore throttle body
7. Port/ polish
8. Forced induction (Turbo/Supercharger/NOS)
9. Spark plugs/ wires
10.MSD Ignition
on and on and on... what did I miss out? There are lots to do. It all depends on your budget and taste.

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Y2K silver TL, non-navi
Factory style full body kit + spoiler
38% window tint
Valentine 1

PhiTL

Ah man, I noticed no one mentioned the sway bars. The do not add power but they do inhance the handling of your car. Plus do they do not impede in the luxury department. Unless you consider body roll a characteristic of luxury.

So I say Sway bars would be a must have.

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'00 White Diamond Perl w/Nav
Wings West Spoiler
Rear Comptech Sway bar

SLVR TL

Oh yeah... I knew I left out something. Anti-sway bars! Those reduce body roll... so you can take tight turns with ease. Only thing though... install them right; otherwise, the bars will rip off of the underbody. It happened to my 93 Prelude... the rear bar came apart from the underbody, ripping part of the underbody panel where the bar was bolted onto... I had to have the bodyshop weld a piece of metal on the bottom of the car.

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Y2K silver TL, non-navi
Factory style full body kit + spoiler
38% window tint
Valentine 1

PhiTL

oh man you are scaring me...how were they done incorrectly on your 93 prelude?

SLVR TL

First of all, I'm not trying to scare you away from Anti-sway bars. I, myself, know those work great in tight corners!

This happened when I was still in college and had limited budget. I had one of my friends' friend to install it for me. (He installed springs and the sways at the same time.) I don't know what he did wrong... but a year later after the install, it just ripped off of the body. I really wish I knew what was wrong.

My guesses are that he poorly installed them.. as in he over-tightened the bolts? Or I'm thinking it might have had something to do with how the bars are stiffer than stock and that part that the bar is bolted onto are not desgined to withhold the amount of pressure that the anti-sway bars apply to the body. Sorry, those are just my guesses... I really don't know what was wrong. I ended up taking them off and putting back the stock bars after the guy welded the metal.

I'm sure there are those ppl with anti-sway bars out there who've had no problems with them.

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Y2K silver TL, non-navi
Factory style full body kit + spoiler
38% window tint
Valentine 1

yu888

I was one of those with no probs with sway bars and HIGHLY recommend them. I upgraded my Accord with... damn, cant remmeber which they were now, but anyways they made a great difference in side to side motion, and made tight turns smooth as butter.

As Silver said tho, defintely pay the money and have a reputable shop/tech do the work, it can definely make or break your day.

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1999 Satin Silver TL
Dunlop SP9000 215-45/17 mounted on CL-S 17" Rims
H&R Springs
Inspire Tailights
20/30/40 tint

Y2k Honda S2k Roadster
- no mods ...yet!

Nate

Ah c'mon, how hard could putting on sways be? Couple bolts out, couple bolts in, you're done!

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Alumapro BP-10, ZX400TI Phoenix Gold, Python 1500 ESP (remote start, all windows up & down, sunroof closes, prox, etc), burlwood dash kit and shift knob, factory spoiler, factory body kit, Inspire tails.
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<A HREF="http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000106.html" TARGET=_blank> Nate's ride!</A>

MToker

So I got the following

Comptech Headers
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sways
Exhaust ? Whats a quiet one?
Intake ?

Thanks for all your help guys.

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

PhiTL

Too late, you cant scare me away from the Sway bars...I already have them. And Nate is absolutely right. They are very easy to install. Just that I did them myself and I was just worried.

I guess, once I hear a big metal rod drop, I 'll know for sure its my sway bars.

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'00 White Diamond Perl w/Nav
Wings West Spoiler
Rear Comptech Sway bar

bahreeTL

what about NOS???
i don't think vtec controller causes loss in luxury.

MToker

Ya but I don't have alot of trunk room for a nos bottle with my system back there.

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

TITAN3.2TL

MToker - You are right on track with you mods list. From what I gather, the Mugen exhaust are the quietest. I got the Comptech exhaust orginially, but they were a little loud for my taste, although there are many people who do like them. I have a set of Mugen exhaust on order! The intake you want is the AEM Cold Air Intake with the Bi-Pass Valve (to protect from water intake). I have everything else you listed but the sways. They are currently on backorder, and I can't wait to add them to my mods!

I think you will be pleased with the results

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This photo is "pre-mods"; "post-mods" photo coming......
1999 Acura 3.2TL
Black with Ebony/Bridgestone Potenza RE730 (size: 225/55ZR-16 on stock rims)/Comptech Headers/Comptech Exhaust (switching to Mugen)/AEM Cold Air Intake and Bi-Pass Valve/Comptech Sport Springs/Comptech Swaybars (on the way)

MToker

SWEET. Let me know how the mugen sounds. I am looking for something different but not loud....

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

haha98

I agree for the most part with SLVRTL, except for the 4,8,9 and 10 largely due to the noise factor (the added noise doesn't bug me, i still consider it luxury with the exhaust of forced induction, i just crank up the stereo)...The gen 2 ignition is so good that MSD and Jacobs can't promise gains so don't waste your money...The Gen 1 ignition needs work so buy a jacobs if you have a gen 1...There are no plug wires in the gen 2 TL... and the added noise of forced induction and the hidding the bottle for NOS takes away from the "luxury" in some people's books, not mine but some people...

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1996 2.5 TL Dark Green
HKS Powerflow, HKS Fuel Pressure Regulator, Sebring Exhaust, Jacobs Pro Street, Apex-i AFC, Jet ECU, Powerslot Rotors, Axxis Metal Master Pads, PIAA 1100x, Clarion 9255, Tube Driver Amps, Boston Pro 10's (2) , CD Technologies 6-4-2, Clarion MVA6491 (3), Valentine 1, Cliford Avant Guard 4, Monster Capacitors (2), Jacobs Accuvolt, Trunk, Underdash and Underbody Neons
No nav yet but soon!!!

MToker

Luxury to me is the ability to have a quiet , smooth ride and especially with the windows up and radio off...

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

BrightTL

MToker, I have the Laguna Green 2000 TL as well.

I am a professional accountant with an image to maintain and I really love a quiet comfortable ride.

I have stayed away from suspension changes but what I have done has been really successful (but expensive).

I was starting to get bored with my stock car and was actually considering changing it until I found this site. Then I went nuts!!!!

My Mods:
225/55 16 Z rated performace tires - terrific upgrade. I think handling improved at least 25%

AEM cold air intake with the bypass valve - LOVE the sound it makes, a really cool hiss that makes you feel like the car is alive.

Comptech Headers - no extra noise from these that I can tell.

Mugen exhaust (very very expensive) - silent exhausts.

Results: increase in HP as measured by my Gtech Pro of 26 horsepower at the wheels. If factoring in the average loss of power to the transmission I figure my hp at the "crank" to be between 250 and 260.

Most important of all is the way the car feels. It feels like it is waiting to be unleashed.

Ride quality - unchanged.

Noise: A slight hiss from the intake under normal conditions. Normal driving the car is not much different from stock. Accelerate and from 2,700 to 3,700 rpm the car is a bit louder, more of a deep sound. When Vtec kicks in, the sound level rises but in a very pleasing manner. Personally, I love it. I actually fall asleep at night thinking about it (my wife thinks I am completely nuts)!

I ordered everything from Tim at this site. His service has been very good.

Sorry for the long post. Once I get started on my car I just can't stop

Good Luck.

yu888

Cool Bright, when i grow up I wanna be just like you, said my TL. =)

Nate- I did not mean that the Sway bar install was difficult, but if someone is getting lots of stuff done, then I'd recommend someone checking it all just in case.

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1999 Satin Silver TL
Dunlop SP9000 215-45/17 mounted on CL-S 17" Rims
H&R Springs
Inspire Tailights
20/30/40 tint

Y2k Honda S2k Roadster
- no mods ...yet!

MToker

Can you post pictures of what your car looks like with the exhausts? And who makes those tires you bought?

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

BrightTL

The tires are Bridgestone Pole Position SO-2 Z rated. Check them out on tirerack.com for reviews.

Pictures of tires - large size http://www.geocities.com/brighttl2000/tires.html

Very bad picture of exhaust taken from under the car at night - sorry for quality. http://www.geocities.com/brighttl2000/exhaust.html

MToker

SWEET tires! Ya i was looking for a picture from a far see if you can notice any difference from the rear with the exhaust....

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

BrightTL

I have another picture but again, I was in a hurry and I didn't really want to use it. The engine is also running so you can see exhaust. the tips aren't level but there have been posts to the site on how to fix.
http://www.geocities.com/brighttl2000/5.html

The pictures don't really do the exhausts justice. My company has 3 TLs and we park them together. IMO the Mugen looks much better than stock when viewing side by side. Also, stock turns black. Mugen is stainless steel and really nice quality.

MToker

My tail



Yours.

Yours make it so nice and agressive...

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

MToker

We are both though beggin for inspire tails....

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura

BrightTL

You know, I really don't see the point of the inspire tails...

I'm more interested in performance over appearance. If you want an aggressive look, the Potenzas tires combined with the exhausts is just great. Then you hear the intake over 4500 rpm and you KNOW your aggressive.

Of all the upgrades, I would rate the tires and intake as the best bang for the buck. I don't regret any of it.

MToker

Not hunting for aggressive look. Just like how the mugen's make my 30k sedan look mean . I think the tails look good on dark colors. Kinda adds a intresting appeal. I love the tires though. hmm 17 inch CL-s rims with those tires. SWEET!. Ya you just made my mind up on what exhaust to get! It looks so SWEET! Did I mention it looks Sweet

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2000 Laguana Green / NAVI, Burlwood Shifter, 35% Mirror Tint all over,2 x JL12W6s, Pioneer Premier P920R, MB Quarts Coaxial, PPI 2600.2 and 4400.2 , Pioneer 620 6Disc
My Acura