I'm browsing local used cars and I can easily find 02-03TLs for around $18~20k.
04TLs, I can only find them for around $28~31k.

Is the 04 TLs THAT much better than the previous generation? Looks wise, it's fresh and slicker, but what about the rest? Let me know what you guys feel about this. Thanks

 

I drive a 2000, 2003 and 2004 TL on a regular basis (I own the 04, my mom has the 2000 and my roomate has the 2003) and the 04 is a major improvement. While i have no complaints about the 2000's and up...the 2004 is such an increase in everything...power, comfort, ride...etc....wont be dissapointed with the extra 10k spent.

 

YESYESYES!!! the 04' is worth the extra 10gs its !!!
its features r awesome and consumer reports made it its best sport sedan!!! its a great invest/buy!!!

 

There is no difference in power between an 02-03 Type S and the 3rd gen. However, the 3rd gen is certainly nicer with respect to features and fit and finish.

The thing is that the value of the TL bottoms out once you get a lot of milege on the car. There are alot of fairly high milege 02-03 TLs out there, and that's why your seeing them go for so cheap. Regardless, if you are going to buy a previous gen TL, I would definitely go for the Type S. You will be happy with either the 3rd gen TL or a 2nd gen TL. Both are great cars.

 

Thanks for the perspective 2K2SilverTL-S... Good to get this kind of information from someone who has intimate knowledge of both vehicles (and based on your sig, it appears you still own both!)...

 

2k2....nice acura :-)...u needs a spoler on there!

 

um.... actually, there is a slight performance boost, in both fuel efficiency and power.

 

On paper, you have 270hp vs. 260 hp. However, what Acura did was shift the torque curve in the 3rd gen to a higher RPM than the 2nd gen. Just look at the dyno graphs between the 2 engines. The TL-S made its peak torque from 3500 to 5500 RPMs, while the 3rd gen now has a later surge at a higher RPMs. You have to remember that in a dyno, its the area under the curve that matters, not just peak numbers that are advertised. Couple that to an increased weight in the 3rd gen over the 2nd gen, and the power difference is negligable.

Trust me, I'm one of the few people on this site that gets behind the wheel of the TL-S and the 3rd gen back to back, and I know these engines inside out. The TL-S is simply stronger down low, while the 04 is smoother/weaker down low with a torquey surge in the higher RPMs (which explains why people are suddenly complaining about torque steer in the 3rd gen vs. the Type S).

I actually plan on racing my TLs (with my brother driving one of the TLs) and taping it with my new digicam. I'll post the video when I do get around to doing this.

 

Funny you mentioned the torque not kicking in until higher RPM's. I still have my 2000 TL and I notice that its power is really felt at lower RPM's. Honestly, for day-to-day driving, I find it more useful to have the power peak at lower RPM's. In fact, my 05 seems to act like a turbo. I call it Vtec lag.

Still like the car much more than my 2000.

 

Sorry to disagree-but- I disagree. We had an 01 CL-S since new and traded it for the 04 TL in August. I think the 04 feels stronger all through the rev range.......and smoother. The 01 had a coarseness thats gone in the 04.
I never dyno'd either car nor did I run either I a track. I'm just a car enthusiast who's driven and owned every thing from a 500KR Shelby to a Hyundia Elantra. I've turned a wrench or two in my day and I think, in driveable terms, the 04 pulls stronger all the way up to red line. You might find a rev range between 2 very close speeds in certain gears where that might be some barely perceptable difference, but in every day driving the 04 is a stronger car.

 

Search for the type-S for the second generations, however if you opt for second generations, anticipate tranny problems for it is way too common to ignore it.

As for the third generations, it's much more refined, but I favor the second generation over the third generation in exterior stlying, especially w/body kits.

 

I bet 97, 98TLs would get much less $$ in comparison with 99TL (2G)...

 

I had an 03 type S. Traded in on 04 TL. I agree. The 03 felt much stronger in the lower RPM's. I think the 03 was much more responsive. I blame most of it on the drive by wire. Most times, I prefer my old TL for performance over my 04.

 

I got teh same feeling... DBW seems to be a factor... it's not i-Drive...