I'm planning to join the TL family and would like to ask you guys a question. Whats the changes in the TL from the year 99-01? I need to know before i buy one. Thanks

 

99 4 speed auto
00-01, 5 speed auto, the confirm that you locked your doors go from a cheap sounding horn, to an expensive sounding beep...Anyone else?
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?

 

Cup holders are slightly better between on the 01... 99 gauges are italicized... 99-00 floor mats are optional... 99 has some sort of cooler in the intake...

Did me and Shoof miss anything?

 

the navi unit is different...99's have a hard disk and the 00-01 have a DVD based one...that way, you have the whole US on the disk as opposed to only your region of the US on the hard disk.

 

I think :
99-5 speakers
00 and 01- 4 speakers and 1 sub.... am i right?

 

Different font on the guages, brighter odometer lights.

 

All 99-01 TLs have the four door spkrs and one sub in the rear deck.

99's have one extra coat in the paint process too, I believe. They got cheap on the 2000 and up. But 2000 & up have better low-end torque along with the 5-speed SS transmission. Also the window switches illuminate on all doors on 2000 & up. 99s only the drivers switches light up.

 

Damn, I forgot about the window switches! I think only the 01s light up? Could be wrong.

 

99 doesnt have side air bags

 

2000 TL window switches light up also.



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2000 3.2TL Nighthawk Black/Ebony/Navigation/ Optional Factory Chrome Multi Spoke 16" Wheels/Factory Underbody Kit/Factory Spoiler/Moonroof Visor/Factory 6-CD Changer/Trunk Mat/Factory Black Wheel Well Trim/Clifford IG8000 Alarm System w/add-ons/%51 Tint/Weathertech Floormats /Michelin Arcctic Alpin Winter Tires on Stock Wheels/Factory Car Cover/Factory Gold Emblems Grille & Exhaust Tips

 

Expensive beep? That part probably cost 50 cents.

 

99 was 4-speed transmission, while 00 and 01 have 5-speed tranny. Also, 00 and 01 have a different intake, which provides torque throughout a broader range of revs. However, the intake of the 99 looks "cooler" in my opinion. Small trade off...

All of the above translate into a nearly 1/2 second improvement in 0-60 time for the newer models, although peak hp and torque figures are the same for both engines.

Another consideration is that the 99 was a first-year model, and assembly quality was somewhat improved in subsequent model years.

There were colors that are not available for all model years, although I forget which are which. There was a nice dark silver/grey on the 99-00 that was dropped in 01, as I remember.

Compared to the newer models, the 99 does not force a 1-2 shift in manual mode, as do the newer models.

Also, the 99 doesn't have side airbags, but has heat on the backrest of the passenger seat which was lost with the addition of the side bags. All models have driver's butt and back heat, and passenger butt heat. The side bag on the passenger side adds sensors which preclude the use of backrest heat on the seat.

Get a 00 or 01, and you'll be happier.

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'01 White Diamond Pearl 3.2TL
-Wing, tint, wood and Whistler

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Gomez on March 20, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

Damn! You guys covered just about every square inch of the car. Dont forget that if you own a 2000 that your cars value may be a bit more then the average value says just cause it was a car built on the Millinum (did I spell that right?). People may consider that while looking for a car, when you want to sell it of course.

 

'01 TL comes with 'in-the-trunk' trunk release. Now your girlfriend can escape when you lock her in the trunk. Damm..

 

I think my TL has the "in the trunk" Trunk release, too! I thought it was an emergency pull if the gas tank cover gets stuck, but nothing was happening when I was pulling the lever(Duh the trunk was open, so I wouldn't know if it was doing anything)
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?

 

I got the 2000 model at year end and was comparing it with the '01. One feature not mentioned yet is the power mirror switch in the '01 is backlit.

 

Don't forget about the baby chair hooks in the center rear??? '99 don't have them!
Also, the engine cover is different in the '99 vs. the rest! I believe '00+ is ULEV???

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1999 Dark Emerald Pearl TL w/ nav
Factory underbody kit and rear spoiler.
Comptech springs, sways, headers and exhaust.
RS Akimoto Funnel Ram III Intake.
18x7.5 +48 5Zigen Heidfeld wheels with 225/40ZR18 Nitto NT-555 tires.
Inspire Tail-lights with Polarg M-23 P8711R signal bulbs.
DEI Viper 550ESP Alarm
Pics of my TL
Pics of my S2000

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by socal28 on March 22, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

I have a 99 TL with no engine mods. I would like to race a '00 or '01 in the Houston area with no engine mods either. I don't believe that the 60 time is truly faster. Half a second because of an intake gimme a break. You don't even hit 4th gear when doing 60mph anyways. I do believe that is what Acura may have reported, but car companies mis-report ALL the time. For example, I read in Autoweek magazine that the new M3 should be as fast as the M5 but that BMW won't report that because it may hurt the 5's sales. I wouldn't be surprised if the same goes for the TL.

 

Yeah, as you can see, if you're going to buy used, get the 2000 atleast. There are some tremendous deals on 2001's right now, and that's why I got a 2001 instead of a 2002, so you may want to consider that route too.

 

The half second difference is most contributed by the 5-speed SS, in addition to the revised intake. What happened is that the transmission gear ratios are completely revised because of the extra gear. As a result the new gear ratios are much closer between gears, thereby keeping the engine rpm in the peak torque range all the time.

 

1/2 a second when you are going 60 mph is actually 1.5 car length ahead at that checkpoint.. think about it.

 

When I meant a half second gimme a break i didn't mean that that is small. I meant that that is too big of a difference. Of course the ratios are different, i agree with that completely, although i wonder how much of a difference that would have on a race restricted to quickest to 60 mph. As far as the improved intake what i dont' get is if its improved why is the hp and torque the same? maybe someone can clarify

 

well, I will try to explain the torque thing... Yes, the maximum output of the engine is the same, however you get more torque at the lower rpm... e.g.

with 99 you might get 190 lb/ft@2500 rpm

with the 00+ you might get 195lb/fe@2500rpm

So even the highest torque output remain to be 214lb/ft... but the curve on the dyno will show the difference....

 

If you look at the TL's engine torque and hp curves, you can see that both the torque and hp numbers increase with increasing rpm. Recalling off my mind, the torque curve rises gradually from 1000 rpm and peaks at 3500 rpm up to 6000 rpm, then starts to fall off. In fact the torque curve is almost flat between 3500 and 6000. The hp curve rises steeply from 1000 all the way up to the maximum hp at 6000. What that means is that you must keep the engine rpm in the upper rpm range in every gear for maximum acceleration.

For the 4-speed auto, because the gear ratios are further apart, there will be a sharp drop in rpm during each gear shift. For example, when you accelerate from stop in 1st and mesh the gas paddle to the floor, the rpm climbs to 6000 and the transmission shifts to 2nd. Then the rpm will drop to, say 3000 rpm, and start to climb again. Same for each shift to a higher gear. However, the closer ratio in the 5-speed auto will keep the after-shift rpm much higher, say 4000 rpm. As a result, the 5-speed auto is using more torque and hp (= faster) than the 4-speed from gear to gear during the accelerating run. So there goes the 1/2 second difference from 0-60.