jazzpicker

I own a 01 TL and a 04 TL auto non navi. I took the 04 in for HFL service yesterday and while waiting for the service, a salesman came out and invited me to test drive an NBP 05 6MT Navi. After 15 minutes of driving, I reaized that I was going to trade in the 01 (an easy way to get out of transmission hell) and drive this "bad boy" home and give the 04 to my wife for christmas. The manual transmission was really smooth and I felt more in control of the car than when driving my auto. I was in love!!!! The 6 speed feels faster and makes driving fun again. We retiurned to the dealership got the numbers right and just before we were ready to make the trade the salesman was informed that while we were on the test drive, someone called from out of state and put a deposit on the car...The fricking thing was sold... I was crushed and pissed!!!
The salesman searched the entire southeast region for a similar car but none was found. Now we are talking about ordering a similar car from Acura but the salesman is giving me shit about the price being higher to place an order since my 01 will be a bit older..Typical car salesman bullshit.
They didn't have the parts to fix my 04 and sent me home in a 05 TL non navi 6MT and I spent the evening enjoying the stick shift. It's a different car with the 6MT.
I will talk to the salesman again Monday and see what he is willing to do but if he raises the price, I will walk away.
Bottom line, anyone that buys a TL should drive the 6MT before making a final choice.

SouthernBoy

Yep, yep, yep. That's why I have a manual transmission.

Actually, I never would have even considered the car were it not for the fact that a manual could be had. The day I bought mine, there were at least a haft dozen other 6MT's with Nav on the lot (2 blacks, 2 anthracites (I bought one of those), a blue, and a silver). Plus there were more coming it the following week (which actually arrived the following day, a Sunday. I went back to see them.

Manuals are pretty easy to find in my neck of the woods because they are in strong demand for more serious cars.

A-TLvic882

MR1

I'm hatin' this thread. I refuse to drive the 6MT cause I know I'll love it! Have to buy the 5AT so wifey will be able to use it sometimes. No chance she will ever drive a stick. I tried years ago. Show me a little love, make me stop reading about all your fun.

Road Rage

I did not feel the need to drive a 6MT before making my decision. The TL is primarily a commuter car/errand runner for me, and I have a decent manual tranny car already (my 2004 S2000). The TL has a specific purpose for me, and the S2000 quite another - no need to compromise, or to try to make the TL something it isn't - a performance car. It is a better than average sport sedan, from a mfr I respect (unlike BMW). But it is not a class leader, as the S2000 is in its market segment.

I had driven an Accord 6MT, and did not like the clutch uptake - perhaps the TL's is better, but if I do not like a car's feel in the first 5 minutes, 5 years of it are out of the question.

I also wanted the better fuel economy of the 5AT, and a car anyone in my Family could drive in an emergency (my wife is great with a manual, but others in the clan are not). While I had some uneasiness about the TL automatic, I researched the issue and determined it was not much of a concern, and I intended to use a fluid that addressed heat better, anyway.

I did not want the added complexity and maintenance costs of the Brembos, as the 5AT braking system is more than adequate for my needs as stated in sentence one.

fast-tl

Sentence 2, but point taken!

deandorsey

i like my my 6spd tl better than my s2k...but like you said- two different animals...

i wish i had both !

SouthernBoy

Right now, the dealer where I bought my Anthracite/Ebony/6MT/Nav has 11 2005 manuals on the lot.

jazzpicker

Well, things change fast in the car business... After losing the 05 MT Nighthawk Navi last week to an out of town buyer, the salesman called me this morning and informed me that the guy that put the deposit on the car last week backed out of the deal. I got all the crap out of the 01 TL, hit the car wash and met with the salesman this afternoon. He came off the sticker $2,000.00 and gave me $14,000 trade in for the 01. (Thank God the tranny issue is a goner..I hope.)
Maybe the trade-in offer was a bit low but I went ahead with the deal. THe only doubt I had was that the 05 had quartz interior (I see 90% of the guys here have ebony) but with the hot weather in Florida, the lighter interior is fine and it looks great with the nighthawk. Anyway, I am now driving the new 05 trying like hell to figure out this navi voice command thing.
I gave my wife the 04 Auto to replace her 01 and now she is complaining bitterly that the "new" 04 TL is not as comfortable as the O1 TL but it beats the shit out of the Dodge dart she was driving when we got married and I am enjoying shifting gears again..

JoganJani

All in the signature.

BrandNewTL

I drove the manual first and fell in love with the car. I test drove an automatic just for comparison purposes. These are two different cars IMO! The manual is just plain fun to drive. The automatic is IMO, well...., kinda boring.

The TL body style is kind of "boy racer". It just goes with the 6MT.

I had a Mustang Cobra and it had super high clutch effort and a clunky shifter. The TL shifter on the other hand shifts like "buttah".

Drive both before you decide!

Cosmo Kid

I just wished I lived in an area that I could justify the MT. Driving in Northern NJ is no fun with a stick.