I purchased my 2000 3.2 TL a couple months ago with 31k miles on it. It was certified pre-owned from the Acura dealer, silver, and has the navigation system. Truthfully, it was the integrated nav system that sold it for me, and the dealer threw in the 100k mile warranty. I traded in a 92 Acura Vigor, which I had bought earlier this year, but it turned out to be a complete lemon and had its miles rolled back. I also test drove some BMW 323's. I wanted something 2000 or newer, but under $30k. The BMW's are nice cars, but I felt the TL offered a much better package for the price (especially with the nav system -- I was told none of the 300 series BMW's had nav systems, unless it was aftermarket).

Plus, I'm a Honda guy at heart My other car is a turbocharged del Sol with a modified B18B (Integra LS) motor (Eagle rods, Arias pistons, stainless steel valves, etc), pushing close to 300whp at 14psi, plus it has an automatic transmission. Serious custom stuff, all designed to go after things like Corvette's and Cobra's. But believe me, I know Honda makes weak auto trannies. That one has gone out twice already, due to burnt clutch plates.

Anyhow, I don't have any real complaints about the TL. If I were a fat ass, I could see it being a tad too small. But the TL fits me just fine. Performance wise, it's not too bad. By the numbers, I'd expect a stock TL to run high 15 sec 1/4 mile times. But on the highway, it has enough get up and go, with its little growl when you stomp on it. What I really like is how it is so quiet, like how you can't even hear the engine at idle (except I can hear when the radiator fan has kicked on). In the corners, the TL does have some body roll -- not nearly as bad as my friends Malibu. But for a factory car, and being the non-TL-S version, it's satisfactory.

One complaint I have is that the wind noise seems excessive, particularly on the passenger side. But it's only sometimes. I don't know if it's just when the wind is blowing a certain direction relative to the car. All the windows are definately all the way up. But the noise is like the passenger window is slightly rolled down. Does this happen on all TL's, or should I have the dealer take a look at it? (I think it'd be cover under warranty). Or should I get some side wind deflectors? (if they're available?) Any suggestions??

My second complaint is that on some road surfaces, the road noise is very excessive. I think it's just because of the tires. Does anyone know what the OEM tires are for the 2000 3.2 TL?? (so I can see if the tires I have are the originals or not -- if they are the original, then they have about 35k miles on them now). With some new tires, I'm sure the road noise would be reduced. On most surfaces, it's fine and quiet. But on less ideal surfaces, it's roars like crazy.

Last question: What should I clean the nav screen with? I was told there is a little towel that should come with the car, but my owners manual package didn't have one...

 

You raise interesting points in this post...most of which have been covered in one form or another. Lend me some time to provide my .02 :-)
1) Wind noise is bad in these cars (I too have a 99). One thing that helped a little was to treat the window insulation with baby oil. It actually helped "expand" the insulation to draw up closer to the closed window. I ahve done this on my 300ZX as well with similar results. It's not foolproof but it did help a little!
2) OEM Tires SUCK @#$%. When they are at a point where they need replacing, definitely change them out. Do a search on tires for posts that list pros/cons for different brands.
3) The NAVI should have come with a towel but apparantly your did not. Therefore, go to an optomitrists office and get a cleaning kit that is designed for eyeglasses. The kit will come with a VERY soft towel and some solution that helps get rid of prints, smudges, etc. That is how I treat mine and it has worked well.

Good luck with the car. I feel that we both own the best car for the money spent.

Axe out

 

Um I wouldnt recommend using the spray or liquid solution with the Eyeglass cleaner kit. You can use the Towel but the cleaner substance is not made for LCD's and may Eventually eat up your LCD by making it yellow.. I read this a lot of places because I have a laptop and people told me the only stuff to use is this stuff called Klear Screen which is for LCD's... never use any liquid on LCD except Water and use proper towel, you can use Klear Screen its a pretty good product.. I might be wrong about the TL's Navi but I was just relating the Navi LCD with all other LCD's so I may be wrong, anyone wanna back me up here?

 

I have a 99 and been using the eyeglass cleaner kit for the past 3 years and it's great!

 

the original tires are Michelins, P205/60 R16 91V All-Season radials. Think about relacing them. I upgraded to Dunlop 225/55-16's. Way better.

 

The 3-series BMW has and had NAV as a factory option but it's rare to find cars with it installed. The BMW NAV is also pretty lame compared to Acura's. I'm guessing a salesman told you this so you wouldn't shop elsewhere?

 

just go to the dealer and tell them the towel is missing... ask them if the tires on the car are the original tires... Mention the windnoise and tell them to resurface all exposed rubber components with silicon spray... If they fail to satisfy you, report them to acura customer service....

 

Thanks for the replies!

ExOwner: actually it was the BMW salesman who told me that BMW's nav system wasn't available unless you got into the more expensive series (like 7-series). His impression was that a lot of people didn't really desire the nav system. But I'd disagree, and wouldn't be surprised if the newer 3-series have them. I looked at 3-series at 3 different lots, and didn't see any with nav. At the Acura dealership, it seemed like the salesman didn't really want me to look at their TL with the nav system (at the time it was the only one they had on the lot with nav). But then I noticed they wanted $22k for the Silver 2000, 31k miles, w/ nav option. But wanted $24k-$25k for a white 2000, 22k miles, no nav system. I wanted white, but for $2k less and includes nav, I grabbed the silver one. Screw the $28k 2000 BMW 328's with no nav. But yeah, later I realized that white one was just overpriced, the silver one I got was an ok deal after they threw in the 100k mile warranty too...


malibu1: Thanks for the tire info, I guess mine are the OEM Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, 205/60/16. I found info about them at http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ergy+MXV4+Plus
The opinions on them seem to vary a lot, but the overall rating is decent. I dunno, maybe mine are just noisy. Looks like they should last over 60k miles by the numbers, but mine seem pretty worn at 35k miles. I'll see how they last thru the winter, and probably change them next summer.


I tried looking in the TL owners manual or Nav manual about caring for the LCD, but didn't find anything. My screen was getting pretty smudged up, so I used ArmorAll Glass Wipes since I had some left. It cleaned it up just fine, but I read in a post here NOT to use ArmorAll on the dash. Anyhow, I agree, an LCD screen can be sensitive to certain chemicals, and I figure Acura would have some overpriced Acura-labeled stuff just for this purpose I'll track down the salesman and see if he'll give me that towel thing.

The wind noise I'm hearing just seems too excessive to be normal. I think the previous owner was some old man who leased it, or maybe he really just got tired of the wind noise, eh? The Acura dealer I dealt with (MacChurhill Acura in Fort Worth) does seem pretty nice and into good customer service, but they just moved to a new location. We'll see if they can help me out.