I know it's just personal preference, but the verdict is in. Being the owner of an 03 TL-S and having driven the 04 and seen many pics and cars on the street, I don't think the 04 TL looks as nice (externally) as the TL-S. The body looks bubbly in places, the roof looks high, the back end is huge, the headlights too small, etc. It just looks like you see way too much body without much accent by other external features. The previous style looks much more sleek and horizontal. Hard to explain. Does anyone agree?

 

I agree...I actually had a 04TL owner come up to me and tell me the same thing. He loves the car but likes the previous models better. A few people have told me the same thing.

 

I LOVE the interior of the 04's but the outside of the TL-S is so much more luxury/sporty/clean looking.

 

I agree with Wonderboy. I would like a new one, but every time I take a look at it, especially the back, I feel that the '03 is much better looking.
While the designers stressed the '04's aggressiveness, I think that the '03 looks much more aggressive, but in a passive way.

 

is it me, or does anyone else feel like acura tried to make the new TL look like a BMW? If they did, they failed miserably.... But, the interior of the 04, is hot....

 

I don't know what they were trying to do. It's hard to put my finger on it, but something about the look is not right. Someone mentioned it looks a bit like an A4 as well. I see way too much uninterrupted body space. I do love the new RL though. THey should have gone more in that type of direction.

 

I've always felt the same way...that the '03 TL looks better in relative and absolute terms than the '04 TL. By relative I mean, the 2nd gen TL looked better in its day than the 3rd gen looks today. Sometimes a new model looks better than the old, but for it's time, doesn't look as good as the older model. Not so for the TL. And by absolute, I think the 2nd gen is still better looking than the 3rd if you were to park them side by side today.

Interior is nice though. Good thing Acura went a different direction with the upcoming RL, let's hope little changes until its release.

 

At the previous car meet in Toronto, a bunch of us 2nd gen TL's took a look and said, "Hey ... who's TL?" It ended up being a TSX!!! The TSX looks like a 4/5 scale TL at a quick glance. There is a definite sharing of shape along the product line. Not only the front nose/grill ... but the whole body?!

That was my impression. And yes -- the 3rd gen interior is so much more than the 2nd gen ... as one would expect.

- derrick

 

Agreed on the Interior, but only a select few get to see it. Besides, we like things for the exterior, and not as much for what's on the inside, if you know what I mean.

 

I'm in with ya'll on this...the 2nd gen exterior really hit the right balance of classy styling with an assertive stance and excellent proportions. (But the interior is inferior, of course.) And the TSX looks too much like the 3rd gen TL...in fact, I think it may actually look better because it's tighter and not as..."bulky" with that huge butt. I'm hoping the new RL ends up "hot" rather than too "lux" ...imho.

 

Ha ha ha. Huge butt is right. Oh well, maybe they'll fix it in 2008 or something.

 

The third gen's interior is great, but I still like my interior a lot. And let's not even argue about the exterior.

Basically, there is no way in hell that I would give up my car for a 3rd gen, unless it was a turbocharged AWD version with a 6-speed running high-13/low-14 stock with great mod potential. But it's not, so I'm sticking with my beloved, beautiful '03 TL-S.

 

To me the interior is good but the exterior looks too much like mazda from the front. Rear i don't mind that much. second generation looks more agressive than the third generation...
jitu

 

i agree that the interior of the 3rd gen is better than ours, but that is to be expected, but the 3rd gen exterior really doesnt do anything for me. its aggressive, but its shouting, LOOK AT ME IM AGRESSIVE, where ours like mentioned earlier, is agressive, yet passive, elegant and classy at the same time. the 3rd Gen lacks elegance and modability.

hey jitu: kemchoa bhai!

 

I absolutely hated the 3rd Generation exterior but it is beginning to grow on me... I can actually tolerate looking at the tail end of that car now. However put it side by side with a 2nd Generation TL and forget it. Acceptance is no substitute for total love.

 

 

Has anyone drove both cars? which one do you think drives better? I want to go test drive at the dealer but just haven't got time...
jitu

 

I test drove an '04 6mt. It's a seriously fast car, and with the limited slip it really gets after it. The downside is gobs of torque steer. I have not driven the auto, but I hear you don't get as much torque steer with it. Also, the '04 has a very high cowl and waist compared with the 2d gen. And the outside mirrors look on the small side. When I got back into my 2000, I found myself appreciating the visiability I get with the lower cowl, which is more in keeping with Honda tradition. (BTW, I sat in the passenger seat of the '04 just to check it out. I'm 6' tall and I felt like the dash was up to my nose. From the passenger seat, you feel like you are peering over a ledge when you look out the window. Since the driver's seat is height adjustable, you don't get this feeling as much there.)

 

you're talking about the new bmw's right? acura failed miserably at making the 04TL look like ASS? i agree

 

Wow! I'm surprised how you guys think that the exterior is not good. Actually I loved TL since it's inception but never liked the exterior and that is why I stayed away from TL till the 3rd gen came out. I love the 04 TL exterior and interior as well. BMW look, no way. But each their own.

 

i like em both. The 2nd gen for it's classy, passive look, the 3rd gen for it's aggressive stance.

I drive a 99 but it'll be traded next september for a RL, if they keep it like the proto that is. Otherwise it'll be a TL A-Spec 6mt.

Tracer

 

It does look too much like an attempt emulate BMW. The ass end is too large which makes the rear wheels look disportunate. Plus the rear headrest sit up too far and obstruct view.
Just my .02, I love my 03 MUCH better.

 

The 03 is more traditional conservative which I prefer over the 04. I just can't get past the HUGE rear bumber with the jetta taillights on the 04....yuck!

 

Anyone know how they decide whether to approve/reject a design? Is there any public opinion involved?

 

I personally think the 04's look A lot better due to the sides and rear. I think the front could use some more work but overall the 04 looks much more luxury sport.

 

You like big butts and you cannot lie.

 

...You other brotha's can't deny...

 

..when a girl walks in wit an itty bitty waist and a round thing in ur face...

 

Here, I'll take it from there:


You get sprung
Wanna pull up front
Cuz you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she's wearing
I'm hooked and I can't stop staring
Oh, baby I wanna get with ya
And take your picture
My homeboys tried to warn me
But with that butt you got
Makes me so horny
Ooh, all of that smooth skin
You say you wanna get in my benz
Well use me use me cuz you aint that average groupy

I've seen them dancin'
The hell with romancin'
She's sweat, wet, got it goin like a turbo vette

I'm tired of magazines
Saying flat butts are the thing
Take the average black man and him that
She gotta pack much back

Fellas (yeah) Fellas(yeah)
Has your girlfriend got the butt (hell yeah)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake that healthy butt
Baby got back

(LA face with Oakland booty)

I like'em round and big
And when I'm throwin a gig
I just can't help myself
I'm actin like an animal
Now here's my scandal

I wanna get you home
And --, double up -- --
I aint talkin bout playboy
Cuz silicone parts were made for toys
I wannem real thick and juicy
So find that juicy double
Mixalot's in trouble
Beggin for a piece of that bubble
So I'm lookin' at rock videos
Watchin' these bimbos walkin like hoes
You can have them bimbos
I'll keep my women like Flo Jo
A word to the thick soul sistas
I wanna get with ya
I won't cus or hit ya
But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna --
Til the break of dawn
I got it goin on
Alot of pimps won't like this song
Cuz them punks lie to hit it and quit it
But I'd rather stay and play
Cuz I'm long and I'm strong
And I'm down to get the friction on

So ladies (yeah), Ladies (yeah)
If you wanna role in my Mercedes (yeah)
Then turn around
Stick it out
Even white boys got to shout
Baby got back

(LA face with the Oakland booty)

Yeah baby
When it comes to females
Cosmo and got nothin to do with my selection
36-24-36
Only if she's 5'3"

So your girlfriend rolls a honda
Playin workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got motor in the back of her Honda
My anaconda don't want none unless you've got buns hon
You can do side bends or sit-ups, but please don't lose that butt
Some brothers wanna play that hard role
And tell you that the butt and gold
So they toss it and leave it
And I pull up quick to retrieve it
So cosmo says you're fat
Well I aint down with that
Cuz your waste is small and your curves are kickin
And I'm thinkin bout stickin
To the beanpole dames in the magazines
You aint it miss thing
Give me a sista I can't resist her
Red beans and rice didn't miss her
Some knucklehead tried to dis
Cuz his girls were on my list
He had game but he chose to hit 'em
And pulled up quick to get with 'em
So ladies if the butt is round
And you wanna triple X throw down
Dial 1-900-mixalot and kick them nasty thoughts
Baby got back

 

^ aww man u spoiled it :p

 

start it again...

 

I have to agree that I like the 2nd Gen exterior better than the 3rd Gen. The rear end and rear quarter panels are definitely fatter like the Maximas and Altimas. I can't stand that look. I do like the interior of the 3rd Gen a lot more though.

 

I'm a prior 2G TL owner (see .sig). The best thing about the exterior of the 2G TL is its understatedness. It simply doesn't look like what it can do--hustle.

The more aggressive look of the 3G TL took me a little time to get used to, but it looked hot by the time I decided to buy it, including its fat booty (I'm "old", but...."baby got back"). I won't say the 3G exterior is better than the 2G, but just as good in a different way. The interior simply blows the 2G away. There's just no comparison. The stereo simply blows the "Blose" 2G system away in 2-channel stereo. Again, no comparison.

I get far more compliments on the 3G than I ever did on the 2G.