Hi everyone. My wife needs to upgrade her '98 Honda Civic. She loves my M3, but we have 2 kids (one a newborn) and she needs a 4 door. Also, for the first time in her life, she thinks an automatic would be more practical for her right now (she still refuses to drive a minivan, SUV or station wagon). However, she's still a driving enthusiast (also has her own sport bike), and I was thinking that the 03 Type S TL would fit the bill for what she needs. Of all the other cars in the TL's category, the 3 and 5 series BMW's are the only ones she likes besides the TL. Based on my research, the TL makes a lot more sense in the practicality and money dept. I read here that the TL's main weaknesses are the tranny, rotors and some annoying squeaks. I always upgrade my brakes and rotors when they go, so I'm not overly concerned about that item. I'll probably get a used 03 model and hope the tranny lasts. Is there anything I might be missing? Thanks again.

 

Sounds like you have it scoped out pretty well. The TL-S is hard to beat for bang for the buck.

Acura has extended the warranty on the tranny to 7/100k, so you are essentially covered in that department.

 

you covered every thing and like kennelm said they extended the warranty on the tranny to 7/100k, so you are essentially covered in that department.

 

The 7/100K warranty on the tranny is for ALL 2002 models and only SOME 2003 models. You're best bet imho is to buy a new 2003 TL-S that was manufactured after February of 2003 when Acura put the last of their modifications on the tranny. A tranny that was built after Feb of 2003 stands much less of a chance of failing. Those built after May of 2002 also will have a lesser chance of failing, but all of the fixes to the tranny were not implemented until Feb of 2003.

You may also want to wait until September or October and checkout what the new '04 TL looks like. It maybe more your style, and if not prices on a new 2003 TL-S will probably have dropped a lot by then.

Anyway you go, good luck with the purchase!

 

Good point, LiQice. Not all trannys are covered by the extended warranty.

 

Go for the '03 TL-S! I've had it for 2 weeks and couldn't be happier! The build date was 5/03 so I'm in the clear, knock on wood. If you don't pick up a TL-S, then go for the BMW 330i, 6-spd. It's the more practical choice (over the AT) Good Luck.

 

If price is a selling point, you can't go wrong with a TL Type-S. They not very expensive considering what you get in return (a nice car for $30k). If you want a 3-series, I wouldn't get anything less than a 330i, get the ZHP package (Performance Package) if your wife don't mind driving a stick. However that will quickly put you in the low $40k. As for 5-series, your talking mid $40k on the low end. You may get them to cut down on the price of one seeing how the new 2004s are well into production and the E39s are no longer being built. The wife and I were gonna get a new 5 in September when they will finally be shipped over here, but we needed a nice car that we could put miles on. You may find that TL-Ss don't have all the things we are used to but they are nice none the less.

P.S. Is your M3 an E36 or an E46? Just curious. I was going to get an 02 M3 instead of my convertible, but the only one they had on the lot that wasn't spoken for was stick. And my wife can't drive stick so that ended that.

 

M3....... lucky bastard........ nice car

 

TL is a great car, in price, performance, ride, everything. Is she likes bimmers greater, she would have to go with a 540, cause as im sure you know, 525, 528 and 530 couldent get out of their own way if they tried. but 540, even used, is still $35-45K for 2000-2002ish. TL is a great car man. dont worry about the known problems, we talk about them alot here but their really not that bad at all. every car has its ups and downs. like your M3 with the god damn window buttons on the center console and that half-assed arm rest otherwise, sweet car ehehehehhe

good luck mang!!!!

 

Thanks for all the input. I showed my wife the possible '04 TL, but she likes the look of the current generation better. Also, she's always driven stick, but thinks it's time to go w/an automatic in the family car. The Bimmers are nice, but pretty expensive in comparison to what you get w/the TL-S.

Unionjack, my M3 is the E46 version (2002 model). I've always wanted one of those, and my wife talked me into getting that over the G35 Coupe. She said something like "You've always wanted the M3, and you'll regret not getting it." She was right. Cool wife.

Thanks again.

 

nice combo...the TL-S is a great car to have if you already have a sports car...it doesn't drive like a BMW but its good nonetheless...

 

LOL... Sounds like you are just married to the perfect woman, there... If you decide on the <2K4 TL-S, I can assure you that if like you say she is into the sport thang, wants an auto (that can attempt to be a stick once in awhile), likes the space in her life, and needs the most bang for the buck...She (ultimately you too) will NOT be dissappointed.

Want to make brownie points: Get the NAVIGATION. Get the NAVIGATION. Get the NAVIGATION... Wouldn't want her lost with the kids on a lonely road in the middle of a stormy night, not knowing where to go... you know what I mean? and avoid lowering the WHIP untill your kids loose the diapers, for the person putting them into the child seats's sake...

also... girls look real sexy in a TL-S, specially when it is a NBP one...

 

Honestly, if she is still more performance oriented (than not), and you do want to stay under $40k and really won't mod the car, I'd look to Infinity again but look at the G35 sedan instead. I love the TL-S, and it's price and options sold me as well as it's known aftermarket support for things I wanted to do to it. But if I didn't mind the extra $7g's (plus costs for future mods), I woulda picked the G35 for it's RWD and handling...

 

Extended the warranty on which ones, I have yet to get a letter. 03"TLS?

 

I'm sure if the tranny dies they'll cover it even if you didn't get a letter. I'd consider the G35s, TLS, used GS4xx, and new Accord. Sounds like you've considered all the options and she either wants the TLS or a 3/5 bimmer. Get the TLS if thats the case.

Wife sounds like a keeper...drives manuals, doesn't like SUVs or minivans, and likes the TLS. My fiancee is the same way (except she hasn't learned manual yet...nor have I sadly enough) but she wants the coupe in the family. She has an accord coupe now and her next car she wants either an M3 or a corvette. We prefer the M3 but she still loves the vette. I've also got her interested in the G35c in case money is an issue in the next few years. I'll be the sedan owner in this family, which is fine by me.

 

Thanks. Definitely want the navigation. I noticed that the '03 w/nav comes w/onstar, which is a big reason why I'm looking at the '03's. Looks like it has a lot of good safety aspects to it.

Wife didn't like the look of the G35's (sedan or coupe) nor the new Accord. Appears that she doesn't like the rounded look (most cars out there) nor the geometrical shape of some new cars like the Volvo. That makes it easier for me to narrow down the choices. The kicker is that my wife's initials are TLS, so it must be destiny.

Now, all I have to do is find a low mileage '03 TL-S in Silver w/nav and I'm golden. If anyone knows where one can be found in the NJ area, I'm looking.

 

So you can get her a vanity plate TLS TLS!

 

Definitely get the navigation. It really makes the TL-S a much classier/cooler car.

 

Hell on wheels might be more appropriate. I had a 3rd gen RX-7 that she absolutely loved and could drag with quite well with.

Sometimes I wish my M3 had nav, but I've got nothing to complain about.

Found a new silver TL-S at Springfield Acura. Might go see them tonight or tomorrow. Hope to find a used one, but might have to suck it up and buy the new one. She did just pump out my child.

 

Is price a BIG concern? Because as far as I can see you own a M3 so I dont think a couple more grand will kill you..

I would tell her to wait it out 2-3 months and check out the 2004 TL, Let her drive it and try it out, if she likes it, it will be a better choice, and if the price is not good, than the 2003 TL-s will BE CHEAP!!

Anyways I would suggest waiting couple months because the price of the 2003 TL-S will go down because new model will be out, you might get a new one for the used price because they are trying to get rid of them

 

They are already cheap!!! $28,500 w/o navi and about $30,300 with it is WAY cheap!

 

But when they REALLY REALLY REALLY need to get rid of the TL because the new ones have already arrived, than it will be a LOT CHEAPER!!

I mean now they are just preplanning, but if they have any old left TL's and the new ones come in than they really need room!

also the old model's value will be less because it will be a old Gen..

Look at the old Maxima's, They are selling CHEAP!

 

some guy at maxima.org , got new 2003 maxima 6-speed for 19k and another guy a 95 for 1.8k with 300k miles:wow:

 

Yup its believable

did u say 300,000 MILES!?

 

Wife didn't like the probable look of the 04 models, so I'll save the money and stick w/the 03.

2004TL, the M3 was expensive, and we also have a late model fwd pickup in addition to the Civic that I'm selling, so I'm just trying to keep things reasonable. If I was really smart, I would have just made due w/the Civic and the truck (it's a 4 door quad cab) and been happy w/that. Or I could have saved the money and just gotten the g35 coupe I was eying up.

 

Delta447, Since you live in North Jersey like I do, I would definitely recommend the TL-S because of the FWD. I don't know if your M3 is your daily driver, but if it is, I bet this past winter really sucked for u.
Just another consideration.

 

Yes, I read a complaint or two on this board about the handling of the TL b/c of the front weight bias, but that can only help in snow. I didn't get my M3 until this past April (it replaced a 328i), but my Dodge Ram is a four wheeler, so I had a great time this winter. It's like you need a car for every occasion. You should have seen what an a$$ I looked like at the hospital yesterday trying to put the car seat in a 2-door M3.

 

Delta, you might be interested in checking this link out:

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=58922

Not sure if you checked in the For Sale forum so there you go.

 

Thanks!