I am considering purchasing a 2004 TL. My question is, this late in the year should I wait until October when the 2005 model will be out? Does any one know if they are changes planned and if so what? Any insight would be great thanks!

 

While no one knows for sure, Honda usually follows the same pattern every time they introduce a grand slam home run product:

If it worked successfully in Year 1, do nothing to it in Year 2.

There won't be any discounts as Acura can barely keep TL's in stock and it is likely that the only difference between the '04 and the '05 is the number "5" in the serial number.

So....summer just started and the TL is a fab car to drive with the windows open. Get yourself to a dealer tomorrow and buy whatever they've got on the lot. But make sure it's got navigation and isn't silver.

BJ

 

Whats a reasonable price to pay for one w/o the navigation? Most dealers seem pretty stuck to sticker?

 

It really varies so much by color / state / etc, but $1000 to $1500 off sticker is customary.

BJ

 

with the way they are selling cars (6200 a month) I doubt it they will make any changes. Plus they have been concentrating on the RL.

It won' suprise me if they do makes changes will see.

 

Props to those of you who still have the patience to respond to this question sincerely.

BJ, welcome back.

 

Have they atleast fixed the seats? Every TL I see at the dealer has crappy leather with lines and folds all over it. I understand that a lot of people have sat in it, but no where near as many times as I will in 15K miles.

 

The leather isn't "crappy." :shit: That's the way it gets over time.

In January, I paid $32,000 even, for my 04 TL (sticker was $33,195).

 

If possible, never get a first-model-year car! Although there's tons of pre-release testing, the best feedback and testing a car company can get is having real drivers use the car day-to-day - as the '04 drivers have been doing.

So I say: wait to see if Acura has corrected any of the complaints/issues people have been experiencing with the '04 and if they decide to do any revisions or improvements of their own. It is quite common to see a second-model-year car with some minor changes from the previous year. October isn't too far off.....see if anything changes. Oh, by the way, just because they often change a few minor things here and there from year to year (especially in the first two or three years) ---- doesn't mean you will find all of them to be positive!! So if you don't like the '05 in October, you will still have the opportunity to get yourself in an '04, if that is what you prefer.

 

Over time? The TL's were hardly in the showroom for a week when they started looking like crap. I've heard complaints all over the place including this forum about the seats lookig like crap after a month. That isn't over time.

 

If you are going to lease your TL, wait for the 2005. The best time to lease is in the beginning of the model year. So, therefore, the worst time is at the end of the model year.

Joe

 

Rob63,

I'm in the same boat. Here's what I decided: if I can get a 2004 for $1400 to $1500 less than where I might buy a 2005, I'll get the 2004. I would expect to be able to get an Ocotober 2005 at an all-in, pre-TTL price of about $200 under sticker (discounts of $200 + remove dealer prep). Acura usually takes the sticker up about $200, so right about at '04 sticker with no dealer prep charge. That would be 35,200 for a 5AT Navi. So, I need to get a 5AT Navi for 33,800 or less. I have been unable to get one at 33,800 in Colorado so far. I may just get one shipped in to beat that.

I came up with the $1400 to $1500 range by looking at the present value of the resale difference. For reference, I looked at the value of a used '99 versus the value of '00 on Edmunds = $2100.

Do other folks think that the '05s will be within $500-$700 of sticker to start out the new year?

 

I was hoping to wait for the 2005s for the reasons mentioned--but with interest rates rising and my current lease right at mileage, it seemed prudent to go ahead now.

I paid $31,590 in L.A. a couple of weeks ago for a 5AT non-navi in SSM/ebony. I'd have preferred the navi, but it would have cost $3400-3900 more. Also, resale is not great on those. The next-generation Acura navi system in the 2005 RL is going to make the current system obsolete. They probably won't put the new navi in the TL until 2006.

I bought a nice computer with the difference. What the heck, it's all gonna depreciate!

Prices should be pretty close to sticker at the beginning of the 2005 model year except in those areas of the country where pricing is weak now. I have read that Acura is planning to up the production of navi cars to get closer to the demand. L.A. is one of the hardest places to buy a navi car because they are in such great demand.

BTW, if you can get 2.9% financing as opposed to market rate (4.1% or so), that is the same as getting a $1000 discount on the car. Acura runs brief weekend promotions now and again. Maybe July 4th weekend?

 

I hear your situation. I am in no rush to get a TL right now but interest rates are what I'm keeping in mind. I was going to buy a TL with Navi from Santa Monica Acura (at 2.9% financing) but they were firm with the MSRP! Maybe I'll wait for 4th July weekend or labour day...maybe Acura will run another promotion.

Boy, living in Los Angeles has its drawback!!!


By the way I think for those awaiting information on the 2005 TL news should hopefully reach dealers by August/September (look at the news coming out recently about the 2005 Infiniti G35; 2005 Mini Cooper's; 2005 Volvo's etcetera).

 

I was in the same position debating whether I should buy a 2003 TL in June of 2003 - and as you can tell, I'm glad I waited for the 04 model to come out. Not only was the price fairly close, but the car is so much better.

However, this isn't a new model year, but they most likely will have taken the time to improve on the fit and finish of the car since once they see a trend in rattles, etc, they will adjust their production lines accordingly (however it does take up to 6 months to do this adjustment as is the case for any major manufacturing facility).

Unfortunately for us current owners this means that we're guinea pigs for them and won't see any of the fruits of this labor.

 

2005 will come with a dozen hot chics in tight leather pants STANDARD.

Knew I bought too early...

 

I think they'll need to make SOME changes. The G35 is getting some significant upgrades for '05, so Acura will need to do something to keep up. (maybe it's just wishful thinking!).

How about 18 inch wheels as standard?