Well, here is the run down.....1st, let me start by saying I am not a TL owner. Not yet, at least. I am waiting for the new year for tax purposes to buy. Last night, my friend and I went out. She just bought a brand new TL, Silver '01, no nav(what was she thinking?), and it has 1450 miles on it. She wanted me to drive it, so I did. We get out on the freeway, and she starts telling me to put that thing in "manual"(SS). and go fast. I was so shocked. It's like the girl next door, so prim and proper, telling you to come over while her folks are gone for some action!! Anyway, being the gentleman that I am, and not wanting to upset her, I said, "as you wish", and really got on that rascle. WOW! I had no idea that the Aucras were so solid, and so well put together. I would say we were steady at 115mph for about 2 minutes, and that car was solid. No feeling of the car getting light on its wheels or any of that business. The car was ready to do more, but I was afraid a deer or officer would be in my near future, so I finally got back off of it. Car was suprisingly solid. Very solid. Today, I went to the Acura dealer, and bought the TL service manual in order to study the systems of the car before I got one myself. The TL is certainly a systems nightmare, but, you can see that in its complexity, it is well put together. My complaints about the TL are few.
1) Why are there no factory foglights???????? My dad has the '01 RL, and it has Fogs stock. I could not believe that Acura would over look that.
2) They do not push for the use of Mobil1. Unless the car is leased, there is no excuse for not using Mobil1 in a car such as this from day 1. Look, if Aston Martin, Porsche, Vipers, BMWs, and Vettes all use mobil1 from day 1, I think any TL that I would own would be good enough for it as well. Mobil1 retains its viscosity better than any other motor oil on the market. Starting is a breeze, as is cooling. One guy on another part of this board says his oil drains after using Mobil1 are very black. That is crap. Any oil, no matter the age, will look dirty after the plug is pulled and the oil is draining. I would suggest to this guy that he look at his dipstick just before changing the oil, and he will be able to read right through the oil and see clearly the markings on the dipstick. Try that with any conventional oil. Notice, mobil is the only oil company that does NOT make a synthetic blend. That is because they know that is crap. Blends are not 50/50 like some marketing brain thought people would think. he was right on the $!
3) last complaint is the choice of exterior colors to interior colors is too limited. That is silly. If folks were smart, they would let people build their own cars, not just TLs, to their exacting specifications, and make them readily avaible. Just my 2 cents.

A pre-oiler option would be nice as well. Not to mention a separate guage to tell you the oil Temp. A HUD would be nice with all critical information being displayed, along with a master caution warning that blinks and is audible.......

Finally, 1 tip for saving your tranny. When you park any car that you care about, rental excluded, no matter the incline, put the car in neutral, then put the parking brake on. next, take your foot off of the brake and let all of the weight of the car fall onto the parking brake. Now, put the car in park or in gear if it is a manual. When you go to leave, do it backwards, and see how easy your tranny is to put in and out of gear, and your car will appreciate it. No claking or crashing of the tranny. Works like a charm. Well fine folks, I better go. Have a great new year, and I look forward to talking with you all much more.....

 

Your observations are quite good, and your tip on the parking brake is something everyone should know (parking brake on first, off last).

Regarding color options: I think the color selection is very good for a car that only comes in one style and two trim levels.

As for pre-oiler, oil temp gage, etc. The manufacturer has to decide what most people want in this particular car. Typically the less confusing and cluttered the dash is the better. Also, if they outfitted the car with everything we all want our TL, it wouldn't cost less than US$30K.

And of course the fog light thing chapps our a$$ fer sure!

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2000 3.2 TL, Paper maps.
Comptech axle-back exhaust.
225/55ZR-16 RE730s on OEM alloys.
205/55QR-16 Alpins on steel wheels w/covers (winter).

Pictures

 

I don't know if the first time I drove a car that I would take it to 115 mph not knowing how the car would handle/react. At least you got to experience the joy us TL owners experience being able to drive such a great car every day (except for this weekend for me because of the 10+ inches of snow and I refuse to take the car out). Hopefully we'll see a post from you in the new year telling us that you just picked up your own TL.



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2000 Acura 3.2 TL w/ Navigation
Satin Silver/Ebony Interior
Factory Spoiler; CD Changer; Burlwood Shifter
20% Tint, No Mods, Just Insanely Clean (Very Difficult To Do Right Now)
My 3.2TL Gallery

 

I have a question. What I usually do to put the car in park is:

Put the car in park while the brake is pressed down. Then while the brake is still pressed down, apply the parking brake. I usually press the parking brake till the third click.

Is the third click sufficent and shouldn't this be sufficent without placing in neutral?

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

 

What do you think this is the 60's?
Ed

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Acura-TL.com - Forum Moderator

'99 TL Satin Silver/Ebony, Non/Nav, Comptech lowered, Comptech Air Filter Element, Inspire Tails, AEM Brake Pads all around, Comptech Axle Back Exhaust, "Guy Smiley" doll on the dash as my Co-driver...

Pics of my TL
Pics of my Miata! Wadya think?

 

he thinks he's james bond driving a TL.

 

LOL!
Ed

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Acura-TL.com - Forum Moderator

'99 TL Satin Silver/Ebony, Non/Nav, Comptech lowered, Comptech Air Filter Element, Inspire Tails, AEM Brake Pads all around, Comptech Axle Back Exhaust, "Guy Smiley" doll on the dash as my Co-driver...

Pics of my TL
Pics of my Miata! Wadya think?

 

wow.....it seems like you know more about TL than ME, a 2000 silver TL owner. Anyways thanks for the advice.

 

Bah, ignore these guys mcr1.

PhilTL, I have done the same. When I let off the brake, after the e-brake and parking brake is on, I think it still settles on the parking brake. Try leaving it in neutral, setting e-brake, then letting off the brakes and you'll feel it settle a bit differenty.

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2001 Silver TL, non-navi, Alumapro BP-10, ZX400TI Phoenix Gold, Python 1500 ESP (remote start, all windows up & down, sunroof closes, prox, etc), burlwood dash kit & shift knob, factory spoiler & body kit, Inspire tails, Polarg M-12 front signals, super bright blue alarm LEDs, Mugen grill w/ custom mesh.
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"Every man dies, not every man lives."

 

hey. this guys funny.

 

wow! you brought back a 4 year old thread!

 

I am in a quandry as to what to do. My window for purchase is September and October. I have chosen the dealer, chosen the color, but am uncertain concerning the conventional wisdom of buying an 04 late in the year or waiting to purchase an 05 early in its production year. My salesman told me that he would sell me the 05 at the same price as our 04 agreed upon price PLUS any price increase, which to me seems fair. Does anyone have any knowledge regarding changes and prices of the new TLs? If choosing the 05, would I have to order it now so as to have it by October?

I realize that my salesman can answer some of these questions for me: however, I realize that his occupation mandates that he move cars at the most profitable and speedy manner.

Just looking for ideas, experiences, that might help me to decide 04 or 05.

 

Someone, please.

 

Generally speaking, it's usually a good idea to wait till the 2nd year of a model makeover. They can usually work out the bugs(if there are any). As far as when to place your order, not sure on that one.