Richard_P_Harvey

Please no flames.......I purchased my 08 a month ago after looking at a new 09 first. There was something about the front and rear of the 09 that just did not work for me so I went with an ultra low miles used 08.

Saturday on the way into the city my son and I were following an 09 and I commented how I really did not like the look. But he nailed it for me, he said both the front and rear kinda look like something from the movie Transformers, Bingo.....

I know Acura was looking to freshen up the TL for 09 but in my opinion they totally missed the mark on cosmetics. AWD is a huge win however.

chairguru22

The "beak" is what does it in for me. On the MDX is looks nice since it's a bigger SUV, the TSX it's OK since it doesn't take up the front grill/hood space as much. On the TL it just takes up so much of the front. If only it were more subtle, all the lines on the TL should be more subtle and not as sharp. I feel the same about the new Accords too. The dealers paint that front grill a little bit now because so many people don't like it, I've seen it and it looks a little better. There's gotta be a mod out there eventually because the car would look decent otherwise.

It's really just a matter of personal preference but for me I don't like any of the changes they made to the 09 TLs, from the front grill to any of the interior (e-brake placement, nav, ceiling door handles...).

Viper45

If I get a chance to I will take a picture side by side of both. My father picks up his new 09 TL w Tech pkg and 19" and I pick up his 04 TL with aspec kit on saturday. the new TL looks are ok. it looks much better with a light colour like his(white).

powerflow

Check out Acura's new commercial for the 4G TL.

They clearly avoid showing the front grille head on. I lol'ed my ass off.

I would be at the Infinity or Lexus dealer if I was looking for a brand new car, to say the least.

chairguru22

EXACTLY. The car looks pretty nice without the center "beak" on the front grill. There's gotta be a mod eventually.

LoveMyTL-S

Some dealers I heard offer to paint the grill to help with the looks.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

The front looks like the mouth carved in a Halloween pumpkin, and the back isn't much better, especially with the chrome, stainless bar, that needs to be painted the same color as the car in my opinion.

blkaspec

there is way too much chrome all over that beast. at certain angles i really like, but my opinions change as i continue my walk-around....

psheu

even if you paint the front beak, it's still fugly... cuz it turned into a Toyota Camery... as for the ass, it's even more hopeless.... it look just like a Saturn... why would you wanna spend $38000+ for a Camery/Saturn hybrid??????

the interior for the SHAWD and tech package and the NSX computer controlled steering (no more power steering pump) are nice tho.... that's all I can say about the car.....

trancemission

The 3G was such a good look to work from and they ruined it in my opinion. Hell Ive seen photochops that some of you guys have done that I know would sell more then that thing.

I hate the new look so much that I emailed the sales manager at my dealer Ive been going to for years. Told him that it looks like hammered dog shit and that it was a major let down for me.

Ever since then hes been emailing me all these offers on them....... what an ass!

Hes actually a pretty cool guy, Ive known him for a while.

nut854

'09 TL and Flavor Flav - separated at birth?

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Boy Richard...there was a HEATED debate on this very subject in the 4G forum in Q4 of last year. In my opinion, the 3G is a MUCH better looking car than the 4G. The "beak" is a mess, but painting it saves the look of the car! Psheu is right about it looking like a Camry. (shit...I almost bought a Camry before I got my TL. I had a downpayment done on one and everything! But I backed out of it-thank goodness).

Viper, I'd be interested to know if your father's new TL has a painted beak or not. But just realize that Acura seems to be leaving the Sport Sedan class and moving towards the Luxury Sedan class instead. For us the like the sporty look, I would never trade mine-even for an all wheel drive....the looks kill it for me.



2009 Kansas City Acura Meet-May 17th

https://acurazine.com/forums/midwest-312/kansas-city-2009-spring-all-acura-meet-may-17th-12pm-%40-jay-wolfe-acura-714994/

RC51Ryder

I thought I was the only one that noticed that. It looks exactly like a Saturn in the rear.

RC51Ryder

I think this is because they are killing the RL soon and the TL will take it's place. If we want to keep what we have, we will need to downgrade to the TSX since they are finally adding a V-6 to it.

HONgDA

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't mind being behind the 4G TL. It's growing on me, of course after some slight modifications. Saw a white one yesterday and I must admit, I turned to take a glance and said "damn they look sweet".

ChanR

I have seen them next to each other, there is no comparison. I would say the new TL is definitely focusing on difference audience group.

TLin401

As others have said the grill is all that does it for me.

wasupdog

iTrader: (2)

i think it's extremely bloated and fugly even not considering the beak. it's just not the same thing at all compared to a 3g...but i think that acura was trying to appeal to a different market anyway. the recession, and not the 4g, tanked the value of 3g's but now ppl are holding onto their 3g's because they're not moving up within the acura line.

snake134

iTrader: (1)

doesn't RJ have a grill delete kit....looks much better imo

EDIT: ok it's somewhat of a grill delete

leedogg

This is an old debate that started as soon as people saw the new 4g TL. I would say it's generally understood that the new 4g is fairly polarizing.

Bottom line, you're not thinking or saying anything new here, a majority of folks think the 3g looks better.

chairguru22

^ that doesn't look half bad. Plus the rims and body kit... looks pretty sporty to me.

Lazer187

iTrader: (1)

:b anana::ban ana::banan a: :b anana::ban ana::banan a: :b anana::ban ana::banan a: :b anana::ban ana::banan a: :b anana::ban ana::banan a: :b anana::ban ana:

psheu

Now would someone tell me this kinda ass worth $38000+..... this is the link to Saturn Aura..... now our Acura might get mistaken for "Aura"..... wtf were they thinking

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...&ct=image&cd=1

And this is sexy??????:yuc k:

Long live the 3rd Gen TL...... and my RL

ducati748R

Third Generation all the way, but I do like the interior of the '09s. You made the right choice. With RJ's kit it does look better.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Dog, I would like to respectfully disagree. Yes, the economy has hurt sales of the 4G TL, but I think the economy plus the looks of the 4G TL has made the value of the 3G's even better!!! Heck, in my view, the new 4G's look has made the 3G's more sought after-not hurt it at all. I see on Acurazine so many people desperately looking for 3G's, not 4G's. If you want a sporty look-you'll buy a 3G, but if you want more of the "luxury" look-not a sporty look, you'll go with the 4G.


This grill is not available yet from RonJon.





2009 Kansas City Acura Meet-May 17th
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=714994

bimmerman

I think once the grill in color matched the car actually looks really good.

jjz626

iTrader: (1)

is it just me? or does anyone else think that it looks like a toyota camry? especially with that grill cropped off. i gotta say i get confused when i drive at night all the time when i see one of these

Walshstl

Everyone, and I really do mean everyone, who spotted the 4G with me commented on how ugly it looks compared to the 3G. The 3g is a bit outdated now in my opinion but still looks great. The 4G gets dissed by everyone. By now actually has got to notice the negative opinions its getting on the looks of the 4G. It's funny though because I really like the new TSX.

Lol you're not enough of a car nut. I never mix up cars, and I can name just about every model of any brand when I see it. Besides american cars haha.

RC51Ryder

Same here. I can name most cars at night in my rear view just by the shape of the headlights. I ride a bike so it helps to know the outline of a crown vic, Impala and Charger. I'm trying to teach my son but all he knows is those stupid video games. Oh yeah, and the 4G is still ugly with the painted grill. I think us on the forums will be moving away from the Acura line in the next 4-5 years if they keep this up.

georgegiorgio

I agree with you, Acura should had done a customer survey while designing their line... they should asked their customer for feedbacks...

After all that's how Lexus did from the beginning and they've learned so much...

I wouldn't trade my 07 TL-S for new 4G TL. Not even if Acura ever release a Type-S on 4G TL.

Cuz, I just can't see myself driving such ugly exterior design and such not useful interior space design... And dislike the hideous interior design and so many crazy button...

I believe there are actually lots of owner of 3G TL, both base, A-Spec, and Type-S.

That's a huge number of owners that might not upgrade/trade their 3G TL for a 4G TL....

Acura604

i think the 4G TL is so radically different that it's almost viewed as a
different car altogether.. this is great for the 3G because it retains
a very timeless design and still a very noticeable presence on the road.

STICK WITH 3G..you will never go wrong!

You can't help but admire the sheer beauty of the 3G design from
front to back. It is a breed apart from the hundreds of other
sedans on the road and in itself highly distinguishable.

1075

I waited to see the 4the Gen, but as soon as I did I bought a new '08 NBP Navi. Hated the grille when I first saw it, still do absolutely ruins the car. I have always liked the looks of the 3rd Gen and when Acura did the re-design they completely abandoned any styling cues from the 3rd generation.

Apparently, they want the Acura brand to be recognized by, and associated with, a huge piece of aluminized plastic instead of subtle cues carried over from successful predecessors within the TL line.

1fsthatch

well at least we can expect a newer model mayb they might tone down that grill & ass

RC51Ryder

I fell in love with the 2G back in 2002. I thought it had clean lines and timeless design that reminded me of the old Legend. I am still mad that Acura quit making that car. When the 3G came out, I thought it was a radical departure from that styling. It was different but in a good way I thought. Maybe the looks of the 4G will grow on me like the looks of the 3G will but I don't see myself driving something like that. My personal taste

Funny story - One of my neighbors has a 4th Gen. I'm not sure if it is the tech package or not but him and I were talking once after I washed mine and I asked him about it. He really likes it but is new to the Honda/Acura line coming from Toyota. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I don't like it so I compliment him on his good wash and wax job and that's about it. My other neighbor down the street just bought a NBP 3rd Gen a few days ago so you know we had to compliment him on his purchase. The guy with the 4G asked why he didn't get a new one and the other guy says "Cause the new ones are hideous!!!" not knowing the other guy had one. I chuckled inside but the 4th Gen guy was not amused.

psheu

well amuse or not, I guess your 4 gen neighbor was blind folded or really drunk when he made that purchase.... woke up next morning and said 'what have I done'..........

I'm keeping my 3rd gen TL for it's worth lot more in look than the 4th gen.... and got myself an earlier 2nd gen RL (05-08) for the SH-AWD and look.... both the RL and 3rd gen TL beat the new fugly TL hands down

dj5

I bought a 2000 TL and then traded it on a 2002 TL-S. I thought I was going to skip the 3G model and wait for the 4Gs. When I first saw the 4G, I made a b-line to the dealer and traded my 2002 TL-S for a 2008 TL-S. I really line the Honda brand but with the new TL design my next car will probably be an Infinity G37S sedan.

Anansi

I feel like I'm piling on, but maybe someone on here can explain to me why they put a cowcatcher on the front of the new TL? The new grill makes me think of an old locomotive! With the exception that the locomotive didn't use cheap plastic for theirs.

bukjoe15

iTrader: (1)

Well i was at the dealer the other week just bull S****** and i asked to drive the 09 and he let me drove it.. it was real nice BUT i hated the front grill, its not right and it does reminds me and everyone of the transformer movie lol... and the salesman showed me one of the car with a moded grill. it was a crome mesh grill with the big A in the front.. it looked like it was chicken grill lol it was ugly. but i would say Acura did the inside of the 09 good. i think the 4G has the 3G beat in the interior part but the exterior its going to be hard to beat the 3G body style.. even some Technicians at acura said that

whudini3000

iTrader: (1)

The Only 4gen TL I would ever consider purchasing in this one... non others. NBP FTW!!!!

oarichard

iTrader: (3)

3g tl all day EVERY DAY