After reading posts from this board and the a cura-h onda. net board, I have become worried over whether or not to go for the Acura TL 99.

After my Accord, I feel loyalty towards Honda, and an Acura TL is practically my dream car, but with these Tranny issues, I have a big decision to decide on - Do I want the 2000 with the warranty but more recorded problems or the 1999 with fewer problems but no coverage. Either way, it's a worry, which makes me wonder, should I settle for the second car on my list- the 99/00 Audi A4?

An extended warranty is not really in the budget after buying a car, and I worry that even after I get a mechanic to check out a prospective TL purchase, and it gets a good bill of health, that later on the tranny will go out (on the 99), or if I get a 2000, that after 100,000 miles have passed, that it will decide to go out then. Why is Edmunds and Consumer Report and Consumer Digest praising this car's reliabilty if these tranny problems are such a rampant nightmare?

Tell me if my worries are enough to look twice at an Accord or Passat, or still believe in the TL and if so, which year?
(also considering any purchase would be with 60k +)

-Joe

 

99/2000 Audi A4 only comes in 1.8T or 2.8.

Is there any other cars on your list? Between the TL and the A4, even though the TL has a transmission issue, I think it's still a difficult decision...

 

Also considering:

Honda Accord EX V6 Coupe
and
VW Passat V6

but I really want the TL if I can be sure it will work passed 100k

 

i would say 00 tl

 

how has your 00 Tl worked out for you?

 

best advice would be to get a 2000+ thats already had the tranny replaced, BUT the replacement needs to have been done after Sept. 2002. That was the time frame when Acura finally figured out what the defect is (the third gear clutch pak) and changed both the 3rd party remanufacturer of the trannys (the new company turns out rebuilds muh quicker) and the refurb process (now all internal parts are replaced). Before Sept. 2002, the replacement trannys that were getting out still had the original 3rd gear clutch assembly (the post Sept 2002 trannys have a redesigned 3rd gear assembly). With the new parts and repair, you should be good to go.

As far as the TL goes, the tranny seems to be the only serious issue people post over and over about. The other problems with the TL are just rattles and squeaks which are annoying but can all be fixed if you search for the info on these boards.

 

Definitely get the TL, my wife had an 00 A4 before i got her the MDX.. thing loved the dealership's service garage more than my own, this was a V6 version of the A4.

Tracer

 

Thanks, I am going to continue searching for a TL!

-Joe

 

You dont have to worry about the tranny cause its covered to 7yrs 100k. Also some people got there trannies replaced even over 100k without charging. So Acura is well away of the problem and doing the right thing by taking care of the customers even after the warranty is up...

 

Go for 99 low millage! 2000 way to risky if you buy it used... they don't sell these cars for nothing thnk about it

 

In three years of daily use my 00tl has had a window switch replaced. Reliability issues are way, way overblown!

 

i know someone with an 01 tl that has had 2 trannies replaced since september 02, so that is way overblown as well. there are owners with 00-02 with over 2 trannies replaced and there are 99 owners with the same thing, so with this car, no matter what year, you are not safe.

 

If you're worried about reliability I'm not sure why you'd even consider an A4 - people I know with them seem to have non stop problems.

 

The words "reliable" and "Audi" uttered in the same breath?

If reliability is your concern, you want a TL.

 

Oh, and...

Extended warranties are a scam.

Because they are very very reliable. The transmissions have been a nightmare for certain individuals... the vast majority of us have suffered no problems at all.

 

the only time I'd get a European car is if it was brand new and still under warranty...the general consensus is that they have minor electrical querks. And last time I checked, it's hella expensive to get that stuff fixed if you're out of warranty.

go for the TL

 

OK how about this:

As far RELIABILITY- 99/00Honda Accord EX V6 or the 99 TL?

-Joe

 

I'd probably say equal

 

HONDA EX

 

My brother has a 96 A4 2.8 and he has electrical problems up the A$$HOLE... He has shelled out tons of money to fix the problem and they just keep on coming back.

Audi's are only good for one thing and that is Quattro. Other than that I would never touch a Audi...

 

Thanks for the info

-Joe

 

the car i owened before my 97 3.2 TL was a 91 Audi V8 and my audi had over 100k and then i started to see several problems.. my Acura is at 91k and so far the only problem i've had is a bad starter \.. the car has had no tranny problems (knock on wood) i plan on keeping my car for about 2 more years and getting a ///M3

 

i heard about the tranny probs with the 99-02 but what about the 03's? has anyone heard of anything? i have had my car for about 7 months and i already have 11500 miles on it and i havent had any problems (knocking on wood)

 

yeah, therez some problems with the 03's i'm sure, cause when i went to the dealer, i asked them if my 03 TL was included under the transmission recall list. They said it was and that if i had any problems, i should bring the car in. But you're right, i've had the car for over a year, bought in March 2002, and i haven't had a problem with it yet, except for the time when i accidentally shoved paper in the CD changer. Lol, bad story. Had to get the CD player changed twice after that

 

I think I am pretty set on getting the TL.

Now can someone tell me: How does TL do as far as not only reliability but resale value?


-Joe

 

And has anyone has any experience (or know anyone who has) with buying a vehicle off Ebay. The car would have to be inspected first, of course.

-Joe

 

I've heard that the TL, and pretty much all Acura's for that matter have excellent resale value.... depending if its screwed or not (major crashes, etc.)

 

The TL is a very reliable car. There are 2 minus points. Transmission and brakes (rotors). For Rotors the only cure seems to be a complete upgrade like brembos big brake kit. I have gone through slotted, crossdrilled, factory, etc and different pads and different calipers and they still warped. I know I'm a crazy driver, but man the brakes should last a little longer.

All I could say about the transmission is CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 15k MILES.

 

But I should be safe(er) with the 99 as far as tranny reliabilty, right?

-Joe

 

audi is in bmw class, acura is in nissan class.

 

Really?? I have always considered Acura to be a luxury car.

Hopefully I'll be safe in a 99 as far as tranny problems..


-Joe

 

Acura and Infiniti are in the same class

 

Would Acura cover a problem on a 99 if the transmission went out- like if I went through Customer Service? A transmission is such an expensive and vital part of the car- if they care about quality and reputatable reliability, they should at least help out in the cost area.

-Joe