My engine has no hope. I had a couple guys look at it from HiTech Automotive/Goodyear and a couple mechanics from my Dodge dealership and they deemed it done for. I could buy a used one for about $600-$800 or a new one for around $4-5 grand, but I'm going an alternate route. I am still young and have alot of cars to go through so more than likely I will be entering the tuner scene and will be buying an SRT-4 from my dealership. It's a very nice ride. I met the guy that traded it in for a Charger and its comforting to know that a mid-30 yr old business man was driving it with no performance mods than some kid that drove it to crap. It has two Kicker subs in the trunk, Viper-style racing seats with embroidered SRT-4. It also has a python custom alarm. It should look really nice in the summer when I get a stage 2, throw on my black 18" Voxxs, and tint all the windows 20s. I feel like changing it up and want to see how my luck goes. Plus I'll get free servicing . So, if this is the last of me on this forum, I'd like to thank all of you for your impute and this is truly the best forum I could ever belong to...Wait...makes me think...I'll test drive a stick RSX-S or CL-S for kicks and giggles and maybe I can stay close that way...Well, I'll let you know within a week or so.

Thanks everyone

 

im trying to get rid of my tl as well....not goin for import this time...im getin me a cobra mustang ..

 

You took your TL to a Dodge dealership service dep't? Did they tell you what's wrong to indicate why you need a new engine? Not to say the Acura dealership would be a more definitive answer but just confuses me why you'd take it there ... just to help you get into a SRT-4 easier?

Not sure why you'd want to get into a glorified Neon but that's your money. Faster than a TL -- absolutely yes ... but I think there are better cars with higher reliability than that. Guess you're at that age where you want more "go" than "show". Just watch out how much your insurance premium will be ...

 

ok...I guess I shouldnt have came out and said directly that I am getting an SRT-4 and getting rid of my Acura, because I talked to my dad last night and we worked out a deal to try and ride it out with this car and hopefully it will get me through winter, because a car like an SRT-4 would be a real pain to drive throughout the Chicago winter. It's making my decision on waiting much easier, because the guy I bought this silver 99 TL-P from was my dad's boss. He sold it to us and bought himself a black 04 TL and is now looking at selling that one, so the idea of putting my black 18s on that black 3rd gen and tinting the windows looks quite enticing, and I'd rather have a 04 TL then an 04 SRT-4. Besides that I don't get into the whole "Even though it's an SRT-4, it's still a Neon" hype, because realistically an Evo is also a lancer.

 

Oh man dude, Neon hmmm I don't know if I could ever pull the trigger. I would rather get a RSX Type-S or like a used high mileage M3. Don't dooo the Dodge lol

 

Hmm...maybe that used motor for 600-800 isn't such a bad idea or even a swap to 6MT if it's an option. However I think you should take the car to either an Acura dealer or an independent honda/acura specialist shop and get a 2nd opinion on the motor issues.

 

My 02 TLS is Stock and I LOVE THIS CAR!!!! The way it handles, the way ot moves..they way it looks... I will never leave import.

 

well the srt-4 has the potential to be faster than any TL could ever be, so i say go for it. I sold mine and got a ss/sc cobalt and i'm loving the additional power, with a slight decrease in luxury.

 

I'm not one of those people who think an SRT-4 is a glorified Neon, BUT it still is a Neon, and that won't change. Neons have terrible reputations as it is... would you be caught dead driving a base Dodge Neon? Exactly. But you can't deny its one hell of a deal, I don't know how reliability is on those things but it hauls ass and handles pretty well on paper, and is very cheap pricewise. I wouldn't be caught dead in a SRT-4 either, but if you like it then go for it. You have benefits from working at a Dodge dealership anyway so why not? Better than driving a Stratus.

Doesn't mean you have to leave either. Like me and Hockeyman, there are a LOT of members who haven't owned Acuras for YEARS and still post on Acurazine. There are other forums on the site.

 

LOL "mid 30's businessman that babied a neon and traded it for a charger."

I'm 39 and just rented a 300 a few days ago... Here's what happend in the first few minutes of that ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvqr1BibesU

 

The colbalt is fast, but I would say the luxury sacrifice is more than just slight...I guess it's a matter of priorities though...I'd get a cobalt ss over the Neon.

 

Ramblings and car talk FTW!

 

What are you going to drive in the wintertime

 

wow.. i dont know how someone can do this.. luxury car/sports to a sport car..

 

the srt-4 is definitely fast and sporty, but the TL itself aint no wagon either. but what's enticing about the srt is the potential. you can definitely outmod a srt vs a tl. but some things wont change, you'll be missing heated seats, climate control and omg the srt has roll down rear windows oh and not that our TL's trannies even know what the word reliable means, im sure the entire srt has never even heard the word
but it's your money, your car and your life. all we can do is throw around what we would do, what you ultimately decide to do is up to you.

 

His NIKEs! or his Uggs who no's

 

Slight decrease?!?!

 

lol no kidding

 

WOW, from a TL to a Neon. I strongly advise you to take that car on a long test drive. They are very noisy, harsh, buzzy, and rattle boxes. I'm not going to get into reliablity issues. Yes, they are fast, but once you get over the 300whp area traction becomes an issue. So unless you want an all out track car look elsewhere.

The Cobalt SS isn't that much better in any catagory. If you want to stay with the sport/luxury compact car area, then look into an 06-08 SI, or 02-06 RSX-S. (yes I'm honda/acura bias) Can you blame me? lol

 

There is a BIG difference between the lancer and evo. The SRT-4 is still just a neon with a turbo motor in it. Sorry, but Its still a pos

 

Yeah don't get a neon. I was thinking about it but my friend is having horrible problems with his neon that is only a few years old. Now he is having trouble passing smog because the engine won't stop smoking. I know maybe not every neon has these problems but that was enough to make me stay away.

 

srt-4

you fail.

 

i think all american cars are POS. they just dont have the brain to make their car last long and drive smoothly compared to japanese cars. i rather get a 08 civic si.

 

 

I see Batman is in the Christmas spirit.

 

As everyone else has said stay away from the SRT-4 and domestic cars in general. I used to work at a Dodge dealership and they were always in there getting repairs and most of them still newer models. Oh, and they're ugly.

 

I do plan on taking it to an actual Acura dealership, but I do intend on getting a new car before I go to college anyway. Along with the SRT-4 I was looking at....just guess......the 02-06 RSX Type-S or the 06-08 Civic Si.....LOL. It's funny that I had to mention the SRT-4 first before the other two. Stupid me. Sometimes I need to get a little more clarification on such matters. Well that's what forums are for, right? LOL

 

^^^ the man's right. im not gonna lie guys, i was a mopar/dsm fan(eclipse and talon and hell i even got a tattoo for it), until my talon crapped out completely, granted i didnt pay much for it but that was way too much hassel my dollar. i kno for a fact the neon is a close cuzin to the old clipse and talon and i have heard nothin but trouble. ford, chevy, and dodge built the escort/cavaqueer(lol)/and the neon to be a throw away car not lastin more then 3 years. talk to almost ne one of those owners and they will tell u the same thing.
i got smart and bought my first honda which was a 95 accord ex and i loved that car but i knew i could afford a lot more car so i went got my SSM TL-P and i couldnt be happier. these cars are damn reliable(besides the tranny). honda/acura are more known for issue's with power windows and cv axle's(mainly the boot's). everything else is amazing in reliablity and the only other manufactory'er that is better is toyota. i would seriously think about that motor and hell swap to for a type-s motor if u got that kinda money to shell out. i think in the long run

 

Not all. GM is on the come back and has cars i would rather drive then acura/infinity etc.

 

yes, slight decrease. My cobalt has heated seats/leather/auto windows and mirrors, sunroof, etc...almost every feature my TL had. The only thing would be road noise, but i was used to that since i had 18's on my TL and the cobalt has the factory 18's. So yes.... ....SLIGHT decrease.

 

You really can't compare a 2g TL with a Cobalt in terms of luxury.

-HID lights
-Duel power seats
-Memory seats/Mirrors (02-03)
-Auto climate control
-Rear A/C-Heat
-4drs vs 2
-Fog lights
-NVH (noise vibration harshness cancelation)
-6 in dash CD changer
-225/260hp vs 205
- Navigation (optional)


The Cobalt is more suited to compare with the RSX-S or Civic SI. The TL-P/TL-S is an entry level luxury car, not a boy racer coupe. Although it is nice to have heated seats in any car

 

I'm not trying to say my car is more luxurious, just saying the TL compared to newer cars is not as luxurious as you may think.

And just to argue a bit more, i have the 6CD in dash, fog lights, and your horsepower ratings are wrong. Even though GM states i have 205, people actually dyno in the 210-215 range stock. Not many stock type S's will dyno that high. I wanted 2 doors since i rarely have passengers, so i could care less about vents back there. Non-power seats make it easier for passengers to get in/out when i do have them.

Now i really wish i had HIDs, and i'm planning on coverting soon. As for navi, my garmin takes care of that.

sorry for ranting a bit more

 

I totally agree. A cobalt, no SS or not, is an economy car. Not even a sports car. Maybe an economic sporty car. Same with the SRT-4, a Colablt SS is still a Cobalt no matter how you look at it.

Now, I didn't say they weren't nice cars. My friend has one, and it is pretty nice, but luxurious? Not in the least bit. The Cobalt is in an entirely different class than the TL. You are comparing apples to oranges.

 

well the thread starter is asking if he should trade in his TL for an srt-4, so we are comparing apples to oranges here. I do agree they hardly compare.

 

And by no means was I trying to insult you, or your car. Its just, they are VERY different. I think they are pretty cool, I just prefer my TL-S. To each his own.

 

The overall quality of the car/materials used makes it MUCH more luxurious over a Neon, Cobalt, G6, or any BASE american car with a turbo/SC on it.

So anyone that decides to go from a TL 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gen TL to something of LESS quality is downgrading. I don't know about everyone else on here, but since I have started owning cars I have upgraded with the next one.

If you like a more sporty car and 2drs thats fine, and you purchased the right car. I'd rather have a Chevy over a Dodge (chrystler crap) anyday.

 

I've been on low about this whole "getting a new car" deal, especially since its not until the spring. But Hockey Man makes alot of great points desipte the fact he is outnumbered so heavily...LOL I do like the Cobalt ss's tho. I would rather have a supercharger than a turbo. Put in CAI and upgrade that pulley and that SS will be whining like a banshee.

 

exactly what i did

 

I'm not gonna defend the colbalt SS in terms of luxury, refinement, or looks, but I will say that the colbalt SS is def. an entry level sports car, not an economic sporty car. In the SCCA and on the *drag strip they are able to win against Mazda RX-8's, Honda S2000's, Audi TT's, and Subaru WRX STi's.
*When properly modded.