Alright, I'm new here. I just bought a black '03 TL. It has the Type-S badge on the trunk. I have 16" wheels, and Navi, but TCS instead of VSS. Is there any good way to make sure its a Type-S, or have I been had? Also, should there be a logo on the shift knob?

 

what color are the guages, white or black, the tl-p is black, and the type S shuld have 17" wheels, and im pretty sure the type s has VSS ans TCS while the tl-p only has TCS. there shuld be a logo on the knob, but that can be changed as the wheels culd also, but sounds like you've got a tl-p.

 

Are your seats and steering wheel perferated (little tiny holes in the leather)? Is your headreast kinda triangle shaped? Those are only on the S.

 

Well the seats are not perforated, I have black guages, and I dont have VSS as far as I know. This car was originally a leased vehicle, and then owned by an accountant, so I dont know why there'd be incorrect badges on it. Is there a code in the VIN for the type-s, or anything different under the hood?

 

thats teh TL-P. Not the TL-S

 

Yep, yep...the TCS is a dead giveaway. Only the Type S has VSA.

 

Also pop your hood. Look straight down from the oil filler. You will see a flat part of the block with a stamping.
If you have the type-s it will say J32A2 If it says that you have the type-s If it says J32A1 you have the regular

 

That's foul, you been had, lawyer up and sue.

 

No VSA = No Type-S; probably the easiest more sure way of knowing.

You don't even have to bother checking the other 100 things that separate a Type-S from a non Type-S.

 

yeah...easiest way to tell is just the gauge color

black = non s
white = s

i was once fooled on a CL too...he had the type-s wheels on and the type-s badging....but then i end up buyin my TL-p...

 

sue sue sue, u will win win win

 

did they represent it as a TL-S when you bought it? If so then sue,yell or whatever you have to do...

 

There's your answer. Cheap bastard probably put the badge on there to fool everyone that he has a Type-S.

 

yup court thats about all you can do.

 

Check your paperwork from the sale. He could have just been mentioning "Type-S" throughout the process to get you to buy the car. The paperwork (RMV1 form i think its called) should tell you the exact model of the car.

And BTW, you can tell the difference between the two by the HP ultimatelyTL-S >TL-P .. you just cant do that by looking at the car though...

 

thats the most vile, repulsive thing i've ever heard of. Sue him or castrate him

 

Well if you have never driven them both, it would be a little hard to tell the differnce

 

Funny enough I wanted to make sure mine was actually a Type S too. I believe the 6th or 8th digit is supposed to be a 6. The 6 is for the Type S model.

 

8th digit of the VIN should be a 6 if its a Type-S (or 7 if you have Nav)

 

i once bought a used can with "low miles". Once I got a copy of the title, i saw the the title had more than what was on the meter ... obvoius rollback. I asked the guy about it and he quicky offered to give me my money back.

I assume you got this car from a person and not a dealer ... Give the guy a call and tell him what is up and that you'll either like your money back or a few grand $$$ back. Or threaten to sue his ass.

 

You should go to www.ahm-ownerlink.com, register, then enter you VIN #. It will show whether your car is TL-P or TL-S.

 

it was probably in an accident, and they got a used tl trunk from a tls. that was the first thing i assumed.

 

LOL dude you bought a car because of the badge on the trunk? Why dont you put a BMW M5 badge on it and sell it

 

I have seen a 99-00 Tl that had the trunk replaced and it had the type S badge...i was like WTF

 

wouldnt only Type-S have redline on 6900 rpm?

 

You've been had. If you had done your proper research, you would have been able to tell the difference right off the bat. What an expensive lesson.......

 

I can't believe everyone is saying all these little details for him to look for. It has TCS instead of VSA. To hell with the redline, the rims, the trunk, the seats. TCS means TL-P, end of story.

 

the little things matter too

 

Like putting ASPIRE on the trunk

 

Yeah, that would be REALLY stupid!!

 

OOPS, meant INSPIRE

 

Inspire = TL

Premium =/ Type-S

I don't think it's the same as putting a Type-S badge on a Premium.



Speaking of which... I have an Inspire badging sitting in my room upstairs... well, it's been sitting there for like 6 months now. Still not sure if I want to go through with the JDM badging.

 

Don't.

 

If you wanted to go JDM you'd need to change out the airbag with the Acura symbol, otherwise the look is inconsistent. Unless that sort of thing doesn't bother you, then go for it.

 

I feel your point..i've been looking into replacing the steering wheel,but dont know if that money could be spent better elsewhere...........I think having a Acura Inspire would be worse technically,since that car doesn't even exisit....or for that matter painting your grill and saying your have an Aspec,would be worse too..

 

But why have an "Inspire" looking car at all? That's like having a regular Camaro and putting Z28 badges and stripes on it. It's still a clone.

 

Thanks for that link. I'm about to purchase a TL-S (if all goes well, tomorrow ) and I was able to look up my car to make sure it showed up as an S, which it did (phew).

-Joe

 

The honest answer for me is the uniqueness of it..........I love getting asked "Hey Where You Buy that Car" (as I speed away of course.leaving a trail of smoke) And I know it sounds juvenile..........But I like different,tastefully done things......

 

C'mon this one is a Type S