I'd say add an mp3 player and AWD. Other than that I'm more than happy with the car. I'm besides myself really, I could buy a car with this much quality, luxury and performance for $33,000. Not everyone has $60,000 lying around for a Lexus or MB.

 

The new 5 looks very agressive, moreso than the TL, it has those tilted in eyebrow things over the headlights.An old 5 to a New TL, that doesnt make them the same Class. A new 5 to an RL, that is more like it.

 

There is no doubt that the TL is the smartest car bought by the samrtest people(there is a study showing TL owners have the highest IQ).

Its such a gr8 car well almost, i still think that they always lack in something as basic and easy to do- DESIGN, (I own a 03 tl and its a average looking car ,and i know 04 TL owners love their car, but we all know its there but almost)why can't they just have a Awsome looking Car??, granted they have improved a lot in terms of design but yet they have a long way to go to become an Awesome looking car, but by the way they r going the 4th Gen might well be, if the new Accord and the coming Civic(06 Hybrid) are a indication of the things to come, the 4th Gen should be a CLEAR wiiner, I wish many changes would be done in the 06 TL but it in my heart of hearts I know thats wishful thinking, John Mendle has been around for a very shot time(the guy behind the Mazda change) to do any major Design change, lets hope 4th Gen come out as a clear winner and may in 07...please.

 

Agree with you, TL makes a compelling case for value, my point just a few samll changes can make it absolutely untouchable.

in 06
aggressive grill
remaorte key
better paint & tires
less rattling

next year

AWD(but really probably will happen in 09)
optional DVD palyer & optional hybrid

 

 

what do u mean by clear headlights, do u mean larger?

 

but r u completely satisfied with TL's looks as it is, don't u think just a little bit of a push will put it in a different class(in looks), i don't disagree that it is at present the Best car package period.

 

Key-fob integrated into the key...that is not too much to ask for.

 

one thing and onyl 1 thing, AWD. so itll be heavier but the TL has soooo much to make up for it which is what all the reviews want too, does "the TL would have won if it had AWD" ring a bell. and it shouldnt make the price THAT bad. everything else is just good to have, but the TL NEEDS AWD.



P.S. the TL NEEDS AWD.

 

Sometimes I wounder RL got the AWD 1 yr ago, will they do it for 06 tl??, but then again its too much to be desired too soon, may thats in store for 07 or for 4th gen in 09??, and that will be a shame, are in ACURA execs reading, as for better paint, tires, key remote and aggressive front grill(07) they better do it in 06.

 

7 and 9 is not important at all to me
it will be great if they have 9 but i don't really care

 

Sinca I traded a 330ci for the TL, I think it ia 3 beater already. One thing no has mentioned is the speed, the TL will smoke the 330i. The other is the ride. Yes, the 3 handling is amazing, but the ride sucks for a trip. You also mentioned leather quality. Have you sat in a 3? The pleather is a joke and hard as a rock. It also shows wear very quick.

 

By clear the headlights I mean get rid of the orange stuff.
Here is a great pic:

 

crazy
you know how you can do this?
but not clearing the orange thing to white but orange to black?
is it possible?

 

Yes, when you have the headlight all opened up, you put on spray or stick on tint, it is best to have a tint shop do this. If you use the search you can find in depth instructions on how to do this, I am sorry I do not have a link in front of me now.

 

but wat about the yellow
and i am not sure would the tint cover the light of the turning signal?

 

Thanks to all of you for depressing the hell out of me.
I just bought a TL and now I find out it will rattle, the paint sucks, the tire sucks.
Great. I guess I did some shitty research
Here's mine for what's it worth. The biggest thing Acura does wrong/leaves out etc.
Is the handling. For a car of this power it's it's way understated. I was going to get a
9-3 Areo which handles better and the it's AT shifting is smoother. But Saabs have
a shitty track record. And hands down you can't beat BMWs on handling.
But if you look at what comes standard on a TL and compare that to a 330 the 330
would be around $42,750. That 10k more! That's huge! I just priced it out on
BMW's site before this.

And actually the TL in the 325 class according to some of the car rags and if you price out all the options the 325 is still around 6500 more.

My bro is a big Bmer guy 330, 540, z4 and now x5 he had the M suspension
on the 30 & 540 (SICK!) but the leather and the over all comfort I feel is
just as good in the TL if not better.

As style goes (which is subjective) the TL has a aggressive front, rear and 3/4
but loses it on a straight profile and the wheels are could use better styling.

Also the TL is tailered toward a little more middle of the road.
Bottom line over all the TL rocks and you can't beat the bang for the buck.

Peace.

 

then you are not depress
u r good with you car

 

agree with your point it looks much better.
het how to insert pics on the board??

 

I dont like the front in the first place, i think the back is excellent, and now that u mentioned that the straight profile looked bad, i paid attention to it and i think that was worst than the front, i think the weak headlights from the side were largely to be blamed along with the thick mid sction, hope they do something in 06...?

 

do u think awd is coming in 06??.

 

AWD in the TL is NOT coming in the 06 model. It will probably be here in the 4th gen, but do not expect it at all in this 3rd gen. There are many reasons acura will not do this:
1. That is one of the best things they have going for the RL, the DO NOT want to ruin competition by having a 15k difference for a few gizmos
2. Putting in AWD would require they re design the entire undercarraige, suspension, and engine, it would be a different car with the same cabin, a whole new set of first year quirks
3. It would drive the price up initially 4-5k for the bigger engine and SH-AWD(if they used that), again putting it to close to the RL which one can get at about 43k if they know how to talk to the dealer.

 

it makes sense, how about an optional type s with awd option at 3k more??, may be they'll do that in 06-07. RL by the way was never hot and will never may, it competes in a class were snob appeal is paramount, they're already selling it at invoice, sad but true, plus the exterior is flat too.

 

q

 

I think TL is still comparable to 3 series even though the engine profile matches 5, yet 5 is a different beast, TL compares to ES lexus. But only fair comparision is G35.

 

New issue of Road and Track lists the New 2006 3 series sedan only 20 # less than the TL. Also take in account the as test price of $42,000+ for the 3! Imagine if Acura threw $3-5000 of upgrades on the TL? Mind you i love the New 3, but I lack $10000 in additional funds...

This confuses me "9-3 Aero which handles better"? TL skidpad .087, Aero .083,
TL Slalom 65.8MPH, Aero 63.3, TL braking from 80MPH 210 Ft, Aero 224 FT. Add in price as tested TL $35,395 vs Aero $40,112, mind you with the GM discount, things change allot, they give Aero's away. I looked and test drove the Aero, not even close to the TL in value, performance or handling. This is not a beat up session at all

 

i believe all cars will have tpms by 2008.

 

I completely agree, i think whats they should do, come up with a Tyep-s with AWD and few moew upgrades and bump the price 3-4k more, with a base TL still around 32-34, i think that will completely seal the show.

 

i didnt know leather quality was an issue...i actually prefer the soft, smooth leather of the TL as compared to the hard, tough leather in my friends 330

 

strangely many people report a squeeky noise coming out of front leather seats, strange but true, besides the dash rattle is a well known problem, hopefully they'll take care of these problems in 06.

 

Which lexus??.

 

Probably the upcoming IS350. That will be a SERIOUS competitor to the TL. 310hp, Lexus (GS like) interior, 6-speed manumatic, and Lexus dealership network. It will definitely steal many many sales from the 3 series, G35, and the TL.

 

had no idea lexus has such grand plans for IS, are u sure it will be as loaded as TL??, if yes at what price, IS has been so small more like TSX??. Iam not sure it will compete with Lexus, but if your info is reliable that will make things interesting, and u know what may be my wish list for TL upgrades will become true then.

 

It looks as though the IS will be a much more serious contender than before!

http://www.lexus.com/2006is_preview/index.html

 

The IS350 will be more expensive than a comparably equipped TL but not so much more that people won't cross shop. Since it is RWD, it will compete more heavily with the G35 and 330. But for 310 hp and 0-60 under 6 seconds with just the auto, its a very powerful contender in the sports sedan category.

 

Forget that! I would rather have Keyless Access. Just walk up, pull the handle, get in and turn a switch all with the remote/key in my pocket.

 

He took Tom Ellot's place as the Head guy for Honda USA. Tom was very much the driving force behind current Acura products and fought with Honda of Japan on such issues as dual exhaust for the second generation TL ( with Japan officials didn't want).

John's role at Mazda is what we see today in their great looking and smart handling products. John has walked into designs that were already in the cards (ie new Civic, Ridgeline, RL) and may influence new designs (RDX and next gen Accord).

Seeing what John did for Mazda gives me good feelings that Acura will continue on the trend of great looking cars and SUVs. Maybe he can influence the JDM side of the company to make Acuras AWD (RWD would be nice but I'm not holding my breath on that one).

 

Even if it is a good idea, acura won't be putting AWD on the 3rd gen. I also believe Aspec is replacement for type S, this is pretty much the Max power you can put down on a FWD car. At the rate car manufacturers(sp?) are putting in AWD systems, expect it on the 4th Gen though. The TL is reaching its halfway mark in production, they don't do major changes at this point. TPMS is mandated to start in 08, so at the end of the 3rd gen one may expect to see it.(I hope it can be added onto an existing acura and plugged into the MID).

 

I have the same feeling not many major upgrades until 4th gen, now if they come under pressure they might consider some major changes in 07 3rd gen, atleast lets hope so, Iam sure they will get some heat from new IS,G35,9.5, 330i and may be 300C.

 

Well Acura of Boston called and said they would not expect acura to make any changes that major on the 06 model(AWD).(they also informed us they have 3 anth eb gps ATs on the lot.