Hi all,

I currently own a 98 CL with 167,000 miles on it and still going strong.
I am looking to get a used third gen TL with navi.(not Type-S I prefer a softer ride)
Anything/ any year to watch out for and avoid?
Any real advantage to buying the 07 and newer other than for the subtle changes in the looks department.
Thanks in advance for the feedbacks.

Thanks
Alex

 

Hey Alex,

I'll be brutally honest, try to acquire a Type-S; it will save your modding fever in the long run, and you will be satisfied. If you think base TL is much softer ride, you'll be surprised as it isn't. But then again I see your mods list on CL as stock, base maybe more of an efficient choice for you.

07-08 updated navi, minor tweaks, turn signal in the mirrors... Also I believe above 2006 you have your mp3 player.

There is a list out there by AJ that lists ALL major differences...

A 2004-2006 TL with a 6 speed manual will have huge brake calipers in the front that are black.
A 2004-2006 TL with 5 Speed Automatic has silver small brake calipers all around.
A 2005-2006 TL have an extra line of stitching on the inside
A 2005-2006 TL have the seatbelt anchored to the seat and not the floor
A 2005-2006 TL has a A symbol that is part plastic chrome, the 04 has a full plastic one.
A 2004-2006 TL has solid RED tail-lights
A 2004-2006 TL with Quartz and Ebony interior have Carbon Fiber trim
A 2004-2006 TL with Parchment or Camel interior have ORANGE WOOD trim
A 2004-2006 TL has a 4 spoke steering wheel
A 2004-2006 TL says HONDA ON WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR PARTS
A 2004-2006 TL has FULL AMBER reflectors in the headlights
A 2004-2006 TL has RED rear side markers
A 2004-2006 TL has satin exterior
A 2006 TL has a rectangle indent in the rims to have the TPMS sensor

A 2007-2008 TL has euro blinkers on the side-mirrors
A 2007-2008 TL has Fog lights at the bottom of the bumper with DRL's where the fogs were on the 2004-2006 TL
A 2007-2008 TL has a honeycomb cutout on the rear bumper between the muffler tips
A 2007-2008 TL has larger grills on the front
A 2007-2008 TL has clear lenses Tail-lights with red parts within
A 2007-2008 TL has a 3 spoke steering wheel
A 2007-2008 TL has ACURA ON THE WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR PARTS
A 2007-2008 TL BASE has fake black wood interior trim
A 2007-2008 TL BASE has a clear middle section of the tail-light


A 2007-2008 TL Base has satin trim on the exterior
A 2007-2008 TL-S has a fake Carbon Fiber interior trim
A 2007-2008 TL-S has half clear, half Amber front reflectors
A 2007-2008 TL-S had grey rear side markers
A 2007-2008 TL-S has Chrome Trim instead of Satin Trim
A 2007-2008 TL-S had Huge Black Capilers in the front, both on AUTO AND MANUAL
A 2007-2008 TL-S has metal racing pedals


A 2007-2008 TL has a 10 spoke 17 inch rim while the 2004-2006 has a 5 spoke star rim
A 2007-2008 TL-S has 17 inch GUNMETAL rims.
A 2007-2008 TL-S has black rear calipers
A 2007-2008 TL-S has gunmetal in the tail-lights
A 2007-2008 TL-S has quad exhaust
A 2007-2008 TL-S has vertical stitching on the door-panels
A 2007-2008 TL-S has TYPE-S embossed into the headrests

the smaller things:

2004-2006 TL ALL, the underside of the headrest, and rear arm-rest side (near the door) is vinyl
2007-2008 TL ALL, the underside of the headrest is felt, along with the rear arm rest

2004-2006 TL NAV uses 3.xx version, XM RADIO ONLY
2007-2008 TL NAV uses 4.xx version, XM NAV TRAFFIC, MP3/WMA, AUX, Dobly Prologic 2 added
2007-2008 TL-S ANC added
2004-2006 TL ALL - gauges are black with blue semi-ring, red needles and white, MID in right, PRNDML in left cluster
2007-2008 TL BASE - Gauges have brushed background, blue rings around, white numbers, red needle, MID in center, PRNDML in right cluster
2007-2008 TL-S - Gauges have brushed background, RED rings around, white numbers, red needle, MID in center, PRNDML in right cluster
2004-2006 TL NAV- HFL, Navi buttons in bottom left corner of steering wheel
2007-2008 TL NAV- HFL, NAVI, MID buttons directly on bottom of steering wheel face

2004-2006 TL NON-NAV - radio display and temperature display together in 1 unit, NO COMPASS, Manual Clock adjustment, Blue backlight added either in 2005 or 2006
2007-2008 TL NON-NAV - radio display and temperature display appear to be 2 units, Compass, Manual Clock, white text, no backlight

2004-2006 5AT TL ALL black leather shifter standard
2007-2008 5AT TL BAse, black leather shift knob
2007-2008 5AT TL-S Black Leather with carbon fiber center shift-knob

2004-2006 TL Standard suspension firm, yet soft
2007-2008 TL BASE- Suspension softer than 2004-2006
2007-2008 TL-S - Suspension firmer than 2004-2006, but less then 2004-2008 ASPEC

2004-2006 TL 3.2 ALL engine cover simple plastic with manifold uncovered
2007-2008 TL 3.2 BASE engine cover plastic covering entire manifold with A symbol
2007-2008 TL-S 3.5 Engine cover plastic covering entire manifold with A symbol, 3.5 In red on cover

2004-2006 TL Battery cover clips on
2007-2008 TL ALL battery cover has different attachment system with knob

2004-2006 TL Air box rectangular
2007-2008 TL Air box With cut on one side

2004-2006 TL, Headliner and pillars are grey
2007-2008 TL BASE - Headliner and pillars grey
2007-2008 TL-S- Headliner is ebony along with pillars

2007-2008 TL (ALL) has switchblade keys
2007-2008 BASE TL has regular brakes
2007-2008 TL-S has Brembo Brakes (big black ones with acura on them)

The thanks goes to AJ

 

Around here the Type S don't demand a whole lot more money than the base - most people just simply don't care about mods and that kind of stuff... and the people that care probably already have one. If you want a S, then look around for them, be patient and a deal will come to you. They seem to start higher, but always get marked down. Example, 2007 type s with 80K started around here for 19K, but is now down to 17K and has not sold yet. It will end up selling for 15-16K (or less) like the rest of the TLs of this year and mileage.

I have an 04 and a 06. The only real difference that I care about is the TPMS and it is not that huge of a deal. I avoided the 07 and 08 because of the price. I originally hated that the 04-06 does not play mp3s or have a aux-in, but I figured out DVD-Audio and I am cool now.

I would buy any year if the car and deal was right - the differences are just nit-picky unless you are a super nit-picky person.

Watch out for the 2004 early transmissions. They required a dealer-installed modification to the transmission to make it oil correctly. If this was installed early, then the transmission will be fine (by all accounts so far) - mine had this installed at 22K and now has 100K with no issues yet. If not installed, then the transmission is likely a time bomb.

The 2006 have issues with the HFL that the dealer will not remedy through various TSB that honda has put out. Check the HFL carefully if you want a 2006 ...and try it again after the car is warm - mine would start sometimes if it is cold, but not after the circuit board heats up.

 

Thanks for the very through replies gentlemen.
I am by no means against more power.
I will try both the base and the Type-S and if Type-S is not too much stiffer, I'll go with that. I guess I pretty much ruled out 04-06.
Thanks again.

 

What did you figure out about the DVD-audio? I am looking at an 07 base TL which does have the aux in, but I would eventually like to have a direct connection to my iPhone/iPod.

Great post. This is extremely helpful.

 

I went to Best Buy and had them install a Ipod Aux cable attached to the the radio itself so you don't need a clear station to play it. It cost $150 installed and it also charges my Ipod, works really well for me. Just an idea for you on the Ipod angle. I also live in MN and the TL-S are much more expensive than the base TL. If you can afford it I would get the S, I just couldn't afford paying that much extra money. I didn't want a higher mileage TL-S because I was afraid it was gonna be beat up.

 

Welcome Alex. The '07's and '08's seem to have most of the bugs and kinks worked out of the 3G TL's. Techno is right-if you can find a Type S at the right price-grab it.

The DVD Audio discs sound terrific in these cars, but they're difficult to find now. The audio format is dead, for all intents and purposes.

On a side note, JDA, I see you're from the Kansas City area. Be sure to join our Mo/Kan TL Social Group here.

 

2008's are coming off lease now and are the TL's you see in quantity on dealer lots.

If you are looking at 2007's, try to buy one that has an "in service" date of April 2007 and later. This gives you 2+ months to find non-powertrain problems and get Acura warranty service for it. The basic warranty is 4 yrs/50k miles.

 

How do you determine the service date? I am looking at an 07 TL and this would be very helpful. Thanks!

 

04/05/2007 51 miles

New York Motor Vehicle Dept.
West Harrison, NY Title issued or updated

First owner reported
Registered as
personal vehicle


CarFax or Autocheck are 2 sources. Ask the dealer for a copy. You will see an entry like the sample above.