I had been a very successful Acura salesman few yrs ago and I also own a 03 TLS-NAV.
Acura has already been the smart little guy standing behind the big guys (BMW, MERC, LEXUS&AUDI). I just don’t understand why they always leave something as basic as design to be desired, you know that’s the easy part.

I strongly feel that if good sense prevails and they step up to change a few things. TL will truly be a BMW-3 beater.

1. Aggressive front grill design
2. Better Paint quality.
3. Better Tire life.
4. Less rattling.
5. AWD
6. Key remote
7. Improve the leather quality.
8. Optional DVD player for the back passenger
9. Add an optional hybrid and that will be the killing punch.
10. Bump the price by $2-3000.00 if needed( plus options).

Edit by Mod Ron A: This thread was merged with another thread started by the same member with the title "TL can beat 330i but only if ???"." Some of the later replies are addressing this subject, and the earlier replies are addressing the original subject.

 

I wouldn't mind 8, 2, 4...in that order. The rest I could live without.

 

2, 4, 5

 

TPMS and add RearView Camera to the Navi; as well as the no rattles already listed.

 

[SIZE=4][COLOR=RoyalBlue]
Iam a Doctor, I had been a very successful Acura salesman few yrs ago and I also own a 03 TLS-NAV.
Acura has already been the smart little guy standing behind the big guys (BMW, MERC, LEXUS&AUDI). I just don’t understand why they always leave something as basic as design to be desired, you know that’s the easy part.

I strongly feel that if good sense prevails and they step up to change a few things. TL will truly be a BMW-3 beater.

1. Aggressive front grill design
2. Better Paint quality.
3. Better Tire life.
4. Less rattling.
5. AWD
6. Key remote
7. Optional DVD player for the back passenger.
8. Improve the leather quality.
9. Add an optional hybrid and that will be the killer punch.
9. Bump the price by $2-3000.00 if needed.

 

I think what some fail to consider is that Honda/Acura does not have the resources to go head-to-head with most other car makers. They create their own sub-set of the market instead. Of course some of your suggested changes will be made but I think they have found a sweet spot for the TL and are doing quite well.

The rattles will hopefully disappear, looks are subjective, I like it now. I am much more conserned that they get the 5AT to the bulletproof class than adding more gingerbread. We all have the opportunity to select the car that best serves our individual ideal. For me, the G3 TL has done that just fine for now.

 

The omission of the rearview camera is a big oversight. The TPMS will have ot come in 06 per the government.

O/T - MSUGT82, have you pulled the trigger yet on a TL? As much as you have loved your MDX's, I'm surprised that it is taking you a while to make a decision!

 

So, for $2-3000 you think they can add AWD, a DVD player and make it hybrid? Honda charges 2k just for the DVD player in their vans. Adding all those puts the TL in the low 40k range. Personally, I already think it's a BMW 3 beater.

 

NO I put both of those as OPTIONS, extra 2-3K is for other improvements and upgrades, good paint, leather and wood is expensive my freind.

 

No amount of techno wizardry can take the place of a well designed chassis. Many BMW enthusiasts won't ever consider a TL just because of driving dynamics and the "feel" of a BMW. If you add AWD, you are further adding a significant amount of weight to an already porky vehicle. The TL will never truly be a BMW beater because it doesn't try to be a BMW. Its different by being bigger, fwd, and value oriented.

 

I agree....they only way the TL beats the 330i is the value, price, and standard options.

 

TL is about 300 pounds heavier,6" longer and 4"wider,1" taller and 1" more ground clearence.
Now if they lower the ground clearence and lower the center of gravity and add a AWD i think the though the Beamer will still have a "marginal" handling edge, it would be largely offset by its overall BRAINS, and it will be almost impossible for the beamer to saty ahead. As for the snob appeal, acura has ground to cover.

 

I am not a Doctor.

 

so?.
U have gr8 car though.

 

Shouldn't someone be closing this and/or the identical one with a poll attached to it? At the minimum, merging it with the 2006 thread?


Edit by Mod Ron A: Good call. Threads merged.

 

Ur right....identical one with a poll

 

I'd be happy with:

1. LESS RATTLING and RELATED NOISES FROM PLASTIC & VINYL PARTS RUBBING TOGETHER
2. Better gas milage (I only get around 14 City, 27 highway w/ no lead foot)
3. MP3 ability in the CD player/changer
4. Turn signal mirrors ala TSX/RL or front fender side markers that blink with the turn signals
5. Radio station info displayed like the GM's
6. iPod integration
7. The sunglass holder back on the overhead console where it belongs.
8. A rear seat that folds down
9. A 3rd option for both side mirrors to tilt down in reverse
10. Availability of a rear backup camera
11. Availability of the same Steel Blue Metallic color that's on the '05 MDX

 

For me the crucial change would be AWD or RWD. To talk about 270hp, aspec options, and the TL as a true performance sedan the FWD has gotta go.

peter

 

In order to beat the 3 we just need to fix up the paint and have AWD as an option, the interior already kicks its ass. As for technological additions I would like TPMS, ventilated seats, and auto leveling headlights with cleaners. If you keep going you start to reach the RL, and break away from TL. Now the RL would be perfect if they stuck in a V8 and ventilated seats. As far as agression, I think the TL looks meaner then the new 3.


Both would look better with cleared headlights.

 

2,4,6 and 5 as an option. They gotta put TPMS in, but I don't think we will see any of these except fewer rattles until the 4th gens come out, which my folks will get and give me this one .

 

Gotcha. I thought you wanted it all for 2-3k more. If that were the case I would have to see what online website you received your Doctorate from.

 

Exactly . . . completely irrelevant.

 

so what do u think of the new A4 AWD??.

 

 

1. opinion of course
5. coming
6. That would just be stupid. If anything, it would have keyless like the RL
7. yeah ok

Big Money Waste oh please germans don't even buy BMW's all the BMW's I see here are stupid americans driving them. On the autobahn I only see MB's and Audi's passing me and maybe a 7 series sometimes. I work with germans and none drive BMW's neither would they want one. Most europeans drive little cars and they people that can afford nice cars drive MB's or Audi's.

BTW: Acura already sells more TL's than 3 series, so acura don't have to do anything to be more competative nor they will at least not beacuse of BMW's

 

so see competition here means numbers of units sold... yet another opnion...

 

 

Honda already has a ton of features they offer over seas but not here. Just look at what the JDM Inspire has or the JDM Accord. If our TSX had close to what the JDM Accord had then the TL would have to be stepped up a bunch. The only problem with added stuff is added weight and cost. Acura is somewhat cautions about adding too many things to jack up the cost of their products.

This would be a problem if Acura got in the game of offering option packages like M-B, BMW, Audi, and Lex does. A $60k LS430 tops out in the $70 range when you added the Ultra Lex package that cost $10k or better.

If Acura added option packages with stuff we all wanted a TSX would be priced at TL Navi prices, a TL would easily hit in the low 40's and the already heavy and somewhat overpriced V6 RL would be pushing 55k or better and that is with out adding a V8 to the mix.

As Acura slowly raises prices, then we will see the things we want and stuff we didn't expect (XM Navi Traffic, Acura Link). The only problem is that the world doesn't stand still. The new S-Class is going to raise the bar and Lexus will counter with the new LS 460/LS 600 Hybrid. The GS will get better as will the M45/35 as the Q (if there is one) gets better. Hey the rest of the world is using 6 spd Autos (M-B uses 7) and Acura has a 5 spd that goes out on some people.

My prayer is that John Mendle will inject some vigor into Acura the way he did Mazda. Only good things can come to us now!

 

I total agree what you guys . One more thing to improve is dealer service. Acura need to treat their customer better. Send them to Luxus and that is what a good service suppose be.

My next car would be Luxus.

 

But what about Infiniti's service. I thought it lead the industry. At one time it did.

 

Hay, Precision Crafted who is John Mendle?

 

2, 4, 6

 

Having worked in Acura sales let me tell you that Customer service though reflects the quality of the personel it also reflects the quality of customers, in my mind many Acura customers stoop too low when buying the car, in fact most of the customers are of the popular economy class car segment mantality rather than true luxury class mentality like Lexus,MB,BMW etc, its due to the price range they cater.

Iam not saying it justifies the bad behaviour, but it partly explains how they get to behave in a certain way. When you are used to arguing with certain cheap customers who the Technicians clearly know lie about some fault in the car which is not a manufacturers defect, they get into that frame of mind even with genuine people.

whats the solution, may be slowly increasing the price, getting to the elite clientale, will it happen, probablt not.

 

Ok I agree about the paint quality, it sucks. Why did you tell us your a Doctor?? did it make you feel better about yourself?

 

AWD is not "coming" for the 06. I wish it was though, but it would require a giant overhaul.

 

not at all, what i wanted to say was Iam not a acura salesman anymore and this is not a biased opinion, and that Iam away from sales now.
though when i read the thread it did come out arrogant, i tried editing it, but it won't let me(2nd time), i have already emailed the moderator to change it, guess it would be done after holidays.

 

I agree i think 06 will have may be changes in the Navi, remote key, mp3 capability,and thats it, I wish new front grill but it wont happen.

 

I dont know about you all. But i seem to compare the 5 series and the TL . When my dad was purchasing it was between a 2002ish 540i vs. the new TL.

 

The S4 is a very nice car but I don't like the big chrome outline they did on the new grill. It looks like a Chrysler 300 grill now. Personally I stay away from German cars now. My wifes Benz has been nothing short of a nightmare and I have decided that for now Japanese cars are the way to go. Between Acura, Infiniti and Lexus I should have no problem keeping my garage filled with low maintenance cars that can still generate pretty good HP to the wheels.

 

so what do u think about the 05 TL, does the front look aggressive enough to u??, do u think they should re do it and make it more aggressive??.
Ovberall do u think TL is better than Beamer?.