Looking to buy a new 02 TL-S but I have a few concerns. This will be my everyday car. Drive to work, 30 miles each day mostly stop and go city driving. In Pa. we get rain, snow, ice etc.
1. How does it handle in rain and snow? Those performace tires scare me. I'm not sure the bite is there on wet roadways.
Is this a car you park in winter and take the bus?
2.Are those tires prone to punctures? Again city driving with glass, nails etc.
3.The TL-S looks great. That's another problem. Living in a big city, is this a carjacking magnet?
4.The engine is the same as in the TL but tweeked. Is that going to be the weak spot in the car? Will it often be back in the shop just to keep it up to spec?
5. Can this car really just be your regular car? Go to work, sit in traffic, dodge pot holes etc.

This is a great cite. I want the TL-S but I'm just not sure it for a boring guy like me. THANKS

 

1. The tires should handle fine in the snow as they are all season radials. also they are considered all season high performence touring tires, not high performence racing tires.
2. All tires are prone to puncture unless you get run flat tires.
3. The only thing that seems to get stolen from a TL-S are the pricey xenon hid lights. it seems they fit accords well also so they are more commonly stolen. the sound system and nav system have a system in which if electricity is disconnected you need a serial number and code number provided by acura in order to use it.
4. The engine has been tweaked but i highly doubt it is going to be a weak part of the car. honda/acura make some of the most reliable engines in the world and the TL-S is no different. the extra horsepower is achieved through many different ways (read the press kit for details) and of course the car is covered with the 4year/50,000 mile warranty.
5. Most importantly this car is fun to drive and it does everyday stuff well. You can comfertably fit 4 adults in the car and there is plenty of trunk space. My daily commute is fun thanks to a great car with sportshift. acura intended this car to be a sport luxury sedan not a dragster. of course acura could make a dragster and make me a lot happier . most everyone on this board is pleased with their car and the acura service/name.

 

IMHO:

#1 - Snow/Ice - Front wheel drive has a reputation for better handling.

#2 Punctures - Tires are tires; flats occur whatever you have on the vehicle.

#3 Carjacking seems to follow whatever the current trends are. The best defense is a 1960 Ford Edsel. They aren't making a Hindenburg model anymore (but it would be a good second choice)- "The Humanity!!!

#4 "Tweaked". Honda/Acura seems to have spent a lot of time/research to get this level of "tweak".

#5 "Regular car". I hope so, for my sake. My alternative is a pony that's damned cranky getting out of the barn on inclement weather days.

There's nothing perfect out there, so get something fun to drive!!!

 

I know this will piss off some people, but it has to be said...

If you are worried about carjacking, get a concealed handgun license if your state offers it, and carry a pistol in your car in an easily accessible location. You may not always be able to get to it if someone is carjacking you, but your chances are better than if you have no protection at all. And if you live in a state that has denied you your right to defend yourself, then lobby your legislature to pass a concealed carry law. Look at the states that have passed them - there are no negatives and lots of positive effects.

Sorry to get on my soapbox, but I hate to see people shying away from getting the car they want because they are afraid some jerk is going to take it from them. Fight for and exercise your right to defend yourself.

 

Yeah, and those blood stains come right off with just a little bit of vinegar mixed with Pine-Sol.

Just kidding, man, just kidding.

 

I'm not too worried about it, since 99% of the time a crime is averted by simply brandishing a firearm. It's very rare that you actually have to shoot someone in self defense, most of the time they run away when they see that you are armed.

But if that's the case, I'm glad my dealer threw in the paint and interior sealant (just kidding).

 

I just got back from a 1000+ trip and it was raining 90% of the time and my TL-S performed like a champ. Also, I use my TL-S as an everyday car and so far, I love it!

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Those who know, don't talk.

 

Keep your brain dead pro-NRA comments off this board. Carrying a concealing firearm in a car is simply inane and an accident waiting to happen. If you want a own a firearm, try using some common sense and act responsibily. The last thing we need is a bunch of morons driving around with loaded firearms in their cars.

And BTW, I was in the military, used to own lots of handguns, and have plenty of friends who are avid hunters. Difference is they know how to be RESPONSIBLE gun owners.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Xorg on May 29, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

Steady as she goes, Mr. Sulu, keep 'er on topic... Steady...

 

Tai Kwan Do my friend.

 

Sorry to go off topic again, but I can't let this BS go without a defense. I'll refrain from using personal attacks like Xorg did - that's what people usually resort to when they don't have facts to back up their arguments.

First - how is carrying a concealed weapon in a car an accident waiting to happen? I have done it for over 4 years, and never had an incident. The state of Texas has allowed it for 5 years, and there have been no cases of "road rage" involving firearms, i.e. the tired argument of people shooting each other over minor fender benders has been proven to be false.

Second - you say to "use some common sense and act responsibly". I agree, and that's what I do. There is nothing irresponsible about carrying a concealed weapon - I have been licensed by my state to carry a weapon. I had to go through 12 hours of classroom safety training (I think that has been reduced to 8 hours, but that's still a lot) and pass a shooting proficiency test to get this license, not to mention a thorough FBI background check to make sure I was not a criminal or had a history of mental illness. I also have to be recertified every 4 years. This isn't like getting a driver's license - I feel very confident that anyone who can pass the requirements is a law abiding responsible citizen, and the facts have borne this out over the last 5 years. And if you act irresponsibly, specifically get convicted of a class C misdemeanor or worse, then you lose your handgun license - permanently.

Third - you can demonize it all you want, but gun ownership does reduce crime. Over 1 million times a year a crime is prevented by the victim being armed. In 99% of those cases, the victim simplies has to brandish a weapon, and the criminal flees without a shot even being fired. And that's according to the FBI - according to the NRA, it's more like 2.5 million times a year, because they estimated that the majority of theses incidents go unreported.

I think the problem is there are a lot of people like you out there that think that the only "responsible" gun ownership is none, or maybe the occassional hunter who owns a rifle, keeps it locked up in a gun safe, and takes it out once a year to go hunting. Well, you are entitled to your opinion, and it is your first amendment right to voice it, just as it is my second amendment right to own a weapon. (And don't try that "second amendment only applies to the militia" argument, because the interpretation by the supreme court has always maintained that it is an individual right).

Anyway, my original point was that we shouldn't have to live in fear of people taking our property or worse, and our constitution has provided us with the right to defend ourselves, and I stand by that.

Enough said. Now let's see some good race stories or something.

 

Check out good race stories @
http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001206.html


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Those who know, don't talk.

 

I had the same concern about driving on snow/ice with the stock TL-S tires. Since the car was only introduced this Spring, no one has yet had the opportunity to experience how it will handle. So, I went over to the CL forum and searched through the archives to see what got said about the CL-S (same tires/horsepower). Seems that they worked out just fine. Nuf said - I ran out and got my TL-S. I'm now a happy, happy man!!!

 

If you suspect that the TL-S might not be the right car for you, perhaps the plain TL may be a great alternative. A toned-down version of the TL-S, the TL-P is fairly powerful, a bit more cushy, and generally also alot of fun to drive. Also cheaper too.

 

In New Jersey, there are abundant laws regarding weapons possession. A little known "loophole" is the "concealed custard pie" rule, allowing this alternative without permit. Volkswagen, in taking advantage of this ruling, has advertised that the Passat has a "cooled" glove box (an option that is missing from the TL, I believe). One can legally carry a conceled pie (only for self defense such as car-jacking). Offensive pie-carrying is a Class "B" misdemeanor, with the associated consequences. Please carry with responsibility!!!

Peace!

 

Thank you for saying that. This isn't really an appropriate forum to display ones feelings on firearms. Wow , the carjacking is another show entirely !! And it was only 1 point of interest. ??

I don't have anything against people with guns , unless they're pointing one at me. Ha, Ha. I think my car is a great weapon !

Anyway , I think everybody will agree that the TLS is one of the best buys on the market for it's class .. and then some !

 

Having lived in both Connecticut and the South, I can verify that when it comes to handguns, Yankees and Rebs must agree to disagree.

I would say that vilifying all members of the NRA based on a differing opinion is about as valid as calling all German ancestry people Nazis!

Having been on the tail-end of a name calling episode on this Forum, let me please remind Forum members that civility is a cultural indice.

This is all about having fun with our cars, ain't it?

Now back to TaLeS from Forum, already in progress...