I know you guys probably hate these things, but i am having a hard time deciding on this.

Ok, i have been looking for a car that...

• Can go year round, even in MN.
• Pref. a Manual
• Has a nice interior.
• 4 doors
• Under $20k
• Under 100k miles.
• Has a decent amount of power.

I know this is the wrong place to compare to the other cars i am looking at, but i was wondering if you guys could give me your opinions.

I am looking at a Silver (dont know the codes yet) 2004 6mt Navi TL, with just about 90k miles. The lowest the dealer will go is $14,000. It is a very clean car, but i just dont know what i can do with silver looks wise. I've spent a month looking at cars and have only found 3 Manual/Navi TLs within 200 miles of me. I know that there is a spendy 100k mile service coming up, but i can do it all myself.

To give you an idea of what im coming from, this is what i just sold



The cars im comparing to are, Mazdaspeed(6 or 3), CTSv (need to keep my jeep then), 2008+ Accord, Newer WRX's ...etc

Ok now tell me why i need to buy a TL!


Thanks,
Garrett

 

you need to buy a TL because you want to.
I have a silver 06 6MT with nav and I find the color awesome.
Please, no black wheels on the silver tho!

 

There are many things that make a 3G TL great...browse a little if you haven't already.

check out this link...maybe it will help with ideas. I personally think Aspec wheels look great on ASM!

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-photograph-gallery-96/got-asm-alabaster-silver-metallic-602244/

Welcome by the way.

 

1sickTL06

 

Nice GTO looks like I see a nice little intercooler sitting behind that bumper :-) I too had a slow under powered GM product myself lol pictured in my avatar <-----

As for the TL there are plenty of reasons to get one. I can probably give you great examples as well since im in Chicago so we need a car that can be used year round as well and in the snow sometimes. We dont have winters as bad as you, but a reliable car if it gets snowy would be a requirement. That is exactly why I bought the Acura TL because its FWD and can get me through snow without much hassle. I have had RWD cars in the winter and its just not fun unless you like going sideways down the street, or no ways because you cant even get the car moving.

So besides the FWD being key in regions that have to deal with snow, the TL has amazing styling inside and out. Its excellent on fuel especially the 6mt's. I average 25-26mpg in my 07 Type S 6mt and thats without even touching a highway. All far suburban miles and on the highway she will do 31ish. Even though the TL doesnt have some of the newer cool options such as ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, or keyless access and push start, but for its time it has lots of good stuff. Since you have not yet purchased one I will say make sure you hold out for a TL with the factory nav. Sure some guys will say its not good and to get a dash board one, but IMO thats just stupid. The TL looks VERY nice with the factory nav and it is useful. Not only that but I couldnt imagine that upper display just being a digital clock only.
Your price of under 20K will easily get you a mint 04-06 TL. It will be a stretch, but if you can do it for sure get an 07 or 08 as they had many improvements inside and out. You can even find a Type S in your price range but it will have to have some miles on it. The Type S wont get you much more speed or power than the regular TL's, but a lot of people like the different styling that the Type S offers.

So to sum it up I recommend the TL because:
-good all year round and in snow
-reliable (its a honda afterall)
-good on gas
-available in 6mt where as other similar cars are not
-amazing styling in and out
-great options
-somewhat quick although not compared to what your selling

 

On my 04 TSX SSM (Satin Silver Metallic) I had a silver/blue theme going. Also blacked out the tails. Plus silver is probably the easier color to keep looking clean. Other than the 105K maint coming up the TL is very easy and cheap to maintain.

 

This actually helps a lot.

Im pretty sure all my doubt is coming from the little kid side of me that wants to run lows 11s in a Procharged car. Then there is the responsible side that is making me get a year-round 4 door, that gets 29mpg. (I really hate this side )

 

Another thing i like, this forum responds very well and fast. Ha. I post and have to look back above my post to see three others that did at the same time.

 

Well, with 467 currently viewing the TL 3G section, it's no wonder. And that's kinda low.

 

its still early. by 10 there should be 20000000000000 views

 

I dont know if you actually clicked the link I originally posted..

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602244

At least 30 ASM TLs in there to get ideas from...maybe you can add yours one day?

 

get the 3G TL because it's timeless! i have owned several cars and this might be the only one that I never truly got bored with or tired of looking at. i got my 05 new as a grad present from my parents and it's the best damn gift I ever got! i still LOVE my TL and i will keep it till it dies

check this thread out as well: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/what-do-you-love-most-about-your-tl-829989/

 

Yeah, ive been through every page on there a couple times before i even signed up. Im very used to forums, i am on way to many of them.

 

Lucked out on my 04 6MT Abyss Blue Pearl with Navi for 14k @ 51k miles back in Feb '11

Chose it over other cars including the 06+ wrx, TSX, G35, Mazdaspeed 3, 06+ Suby Legacy 2.5GT for the following reasons:

vs. subaru wrx/leggies - MPG, refinement, features, increased maintenance, (leggy) danger of blowing the turbo and ruining the engine, awd tire replacements, difficulty self servicing engine (flat layout), dated wrx interior.

If there wasnt the lingering danger of blowing the turbo in the leggy i prob be driving that right now. I was doing 100 mi a day at my old job.

vs. TSX - marginal increase in MPG (tsx), size, it's an accord (EU), safety ratings.

vs. G series- Refinement, interior, mpg, oil consumption on early years, from what i've heard a tricky clutch (though some consider the TL tricky. I do not), gauge cluster is an ugly orange at night.

vs. MS3- having to drive the car a certain way to avoid lugging the engine and bending rods. According to their own forums CC has the potential to lug and damage the engine. Interior's nice, but the ride is a bit stiff and a lot of road noise. Friend has a non mazdaspeed mazda 3.

Pros for the TL: a ton of standard features, even more so with Navi. 6MT is typically smooth and gates are well defined. magazine tested 0-60 just under 6 seconds. Clutch effort is light, making stop n go a bit easier on the legs. "no scheduled engine service till 105k" < YMMV. LED tails and HID projector headlights keep the TL looking modern 7 years later.


If you can find a deal on a 6MT which is a rare bird, jump on it.

 

Adrenaline, welcome to Acurazine.

If you want to see what you can do to a Silver TL, you can:

1-click on this thread, which is a Gallery of Silver TL's

2-click on my signature below to see what I've done to my Type S

 

I find silver an easy colour scheme.

Gun-Metal A-Specs on silver:

 

Compared to the cars you listed, a 3G TL is going to blow them away in terms of overall refinement, features, reliability, interior room in most cases, and ease of maintenance. The newer Accord may come close (can you get one in a manual?).

Coming from a GTO I suspect you're going to lose a lot as far as raw torque and straight line performance is concerned. If that's important to you, you may want to look at the CTS-V, but in your price range I'm guessing you're going to be looking at an older one (I could be wrong, I haven't really researched them).

I cross-shopped a bunch of vehicles (all used, 2-4 years old) in the $30k range when I bought my TL-S: BMW 3-series, Audi A4, Infiniti G35/37, Lexus IS. For the price, the TL-S was an easy decision for the wife and I for the reasons I stated above.

Deciding on the right car is an extremely personal decision - although owners opinions are important, they are just one factor. Do your own research and go out and actually look at and drive a bunch different cars to find what's right for you.

Good Luck with your search!

 

Hope you choose the 3G. Great community, reliable car, and wealth of information to fix, if any, of the flaws that the TL has.

Before I'd buy that TL, I would make them do the 105k service which is the timing belt, water pump, plugs, tensioners, etc...

Or tell them to drop the price by a thousand if they don't cause tell them it cost $1400 to do it in 15k miles.

Where are you located? I bet I can find a 05/06 for $14k.

 

As far as I know you can only get the newer Accord coupe with a 6mt. If you want 4 doors, a V6 and a manual then you will have to get an 05 or older. Unless you want the 4 banger