gwlaw99

I am thinking of buying a 2000 TL automatic, but the transmission problems are scaring me. Is there anyway to know if the car is a lemon before buying if it hasn't had any problems yet?

TypeSDragon

Check with carfax and have a trustworthy mechanic with you to check the car out before a purchase.

2007AcuraRL

Personally, I'd pass on the TL if i hadnt already bought one by the time i first read about the failures. It failed on me at 30k miles and its a scary ride going from 5th to 2nd gear at 70 MPH.

If you still gotta have a TL I'd still pass unless the tranny warranty extension is good for 2nd owners and the car has low miles so that its going to be covered for a while.

fsttyms1

i would buy the car but hav it checked out by a mechanic

ChucksCL-S

I have 139,300 MILES on mine (salesrep) and the tranny is still fine and I think I'm rough on it. I change the fluid at home every 20K miles- it's easier than changing the oil. I have a 2000 TL-P with I/H/E.

SilverUA5

I know you guys are going to hate me for this, but I seriously think I should of gotten a Maxima for the price I paid for my TL. A fully loaded SE model with nav. is only around $28k. I know the resale stinks, but overall it's a good deal right?

FLAME ON :flamer:

2007AcuraRL

Candidly, resale is only a factor if you are buying a car and planning to sell it within 3 years. Naturally a lease isnt for everyone, like those that drive more than 12-15k/year. If you are buying the car expecting to run it out to 150-175k miles, then resale wont matter much by then. The car wil have served its useful life and it wont really owe you much back. About the only car thats still worth much of anything at that kind of mileage is a S class benz.

Personally, the Maxima is a boring looking car (only its brother the I30 beats it at being even more boring), and the styling hasnt changed much in almost 10 years so thats the only reason i didnt consider it when i was buying. But if you could get one for $28k loaded, that seems like a real value.

FTM-1

I have been on this board quite awhile & before this one the other TL board that most of us came from when this was this got up & going. The problem is more common on the 2002 models than 2000-2001. If you see all the memebers on here that have had problems most have 2002 models. This is not to say that 2000 or 2001 do not have this problem. ACURA extended the Transmission warranty on the 2000-2002 models & some 2003. But on here they have been alot less problems with the 2000-2001 TL with this issue.

SilverUA5

I tend to agree with you on the boring part, and I also think the Maxima being put side by side with the TL, the TL looks more luxury. Another thing I forgot to mention is that the new Maxima, 2004, I believe is so ugly that I sometimes think designers at Nissan are on drugs. Nevertheless, value wise and power wise compared to the TL-P, the Maxima wins IMO. You can do a price check on www.carsdirect.com I clicked on almost every option and packages and it came out to be $28+, another thing to mention is that the Maxima comes with 6 speed manual.

Bitium

In my personal opinion, don't buy it, but you should have 7 years 100k miles, so it might be a good buy.

Tip....Used the transmission problem to your advantage by letting the seller know about and you might get a cheaper price.

oblio98

To be on the safer side, I would not get it. However, it would be much wiser getting a used 99-01 TL than a used 02 TL. I would not reccomend to anyone to get a 2002 TL or TL-S. Sorry, I think the car is great, but it is getting to the point where it may be unsafe.

Better to wait and see what the 04's are like, or go somewhere else.

:-jon

fahoumh

the '00-01 and '02-03 TL have the same transmissions, don't they?

Monte TLS,MAX

I agree but I think that my TLS is more boring looking than my 02 Max.

2007AcuraRL

The other Glitch with a new Maxima is the factory Altezza tails. I've always felt altezzas look hideous --- kinda looks like some kind of crazy space alien is in the trunk peeking out....

fsttyms1

if your that concerned about the transmission dont buy the car. every one keeps talking like the whole TL line is bad. many people never had a problem with it. every car has issues you just take them as they come. i personally am going to get another TL as soon as im done with payments on mine, weather it be the new 04 or a 03

SilverUA5

I totally agree with you. There's nothing wrong with a TL and the number of people that has the tranny problem are so minimal, I'm not even concern. Especially now that Acura has extended the tranny warranty, the TL should be considered. If there is a car that has no problems at all, I mean none, zero, not even a rattle, someone please tell me what it is because I've never heard of one.

LeftCorner

iTrader: (1)

The '99 is a 4-spd w/ an external ATF cooler via the radiator as well as an external speed sensor. The '00-'03 TL-P has a 5-spd w/ an ATF cooler on top of the trans. and an internal speed sensor. The TL-S has the same attributes as the '00-'03 TL-P's except it uses a different clutch pack for 3rd gear.

fahoumh

I knew about the '99 TL's having 4-speed trannys, but I didn't know there was a difference b/w the TL-P and TL-S 3rd gear clutch packs