Let me first say upfront that I think the 2004 TL is a georgeous automobile. From what I've read in auto magazines it is a true mix of sports sedan and luxury sedan. And when I do finally get a new car, I'm pretty sure the TL will be the one proudly sitting in my driveway.

But I've been scared off by the comments made by more than what I feel is a minority regarding the quality of this car. Yes, forums like this are typically a place for people to complain about their cars. Yes, the folks who have the problems are more vocal than those who are extremely pleased with their TL. Yes, the majority of TL owners are basically to overwhelmingly pleased with their TL purchase. But it seems to me Acura and the TL have some major teething pains to get over.

I will say this forum has convinced me the TL is the car for me and NOT the G35x. I wish all you TL owners many enjoyable, problem-free miles in your TLs, but for now, I'm going to wait until the 2005s make an appearance.

Plus, to be completely honest with all of you, my wife has put her foot down on letting me get another new car within the past year. I'm thinking a year from now she'll be more acceptable to the idea of getting a TL, plus the TLs will be better engineered and assembled.

 

your logic is understood. Although they could make minor changes for 2005 that could also toy with the fitment/finish of other items that are GOOD right now. There is NO perfect car, or trouble free. Every stinkin car will have SOMETHING wrong with it. Never had a "PERFECT" car...and Ive had 9 now in 6 years. Thats including Lexus, BMW, Acura, and Toyotas in my fleet. a memory seat issue or shitty tires is hardly not a reason to buy the car IMHO. Demnad different tires when you buy the car. Clearly inspect the headliner before leaving the dealership. every manufacturer has problem vehicles...hell we had a 95 LS400 that had a FAILED tranny after 6 months of ownership. these things happen and are to be expected. and you thought Lexus was perfect? think again!

good luck to you with whatever you choose...and for crying out loud, put YOUR foot down and tell the wife to BACK OFF!! LOL :argue:

 

Vegas,

Nine cars in six years! You are my God! What is your secret? How can I convince her I need a new car when the one I have (2004 Toyota Solara SLE) is not even a year old?

Thank you for your comments. You are absolutely right...no car is perfect.

 

my secret is NO WIFE LOL!!!!

Not to mention Im 24, and no babies, and I am not anyone's "BABY DADDY" for that matter LOL. I have my girls that I party with, and I get all the benefits I need (HEHE..without all the drama and commitment). Had my first 40K Bimmer at 19, and my first 86K car at 23 (my 745i). I have a good job (and no mommy and daddy didn't buy the cars). And I have all the toys gadgets I want, and noone can tell me not to buy anything, when, how, and for how much LOL!!!

but i actually think I will keep this TL. I really do like it. GIve it RWD or AWD, and the damn thing would be just about perfect!

 

Vegas - If the choice was forced on me, I would drive a Yugo if the trade was for my wife and my daughters. There has been no car that has given me the absolute pleasure and completion of being a dad. Enjoy the freedom now, but don't ever trade it for the chance to nurture a new human being into this world.

 

understood. but i am a selfish guy...and don't feel the need in my life for a wife, 2.5kids, and a dog living in Suburbia. I totally respect you for that, and lately I find myself enjoying being around (albeit certain, very few kids I KNOW) kids.

i want to do what i want, when i want. and YES< the freedom is AWESOME! i dont think i would (or could for that matter) trade it.

 

Hey - I'm 46, so at a different stage in life. Coming up on 25 years of marriage this summer but the eldest is 17, so we had a few years before responsibility hit. The 20's are a great time for freedom and fun - no doubt. But I am sorry for the folks that carry it to their 50s.

Enjoy the toys!!

 

Wow, I didn't know that being a crack dealer was so profitable!! Damn, I chose the wrong profession. Do you take apprentices Vegas, I am only 3.5 hrs away?


Just kiddin' Vegas, don't go all psycho on me ....

 

Best wishes on whatever you decide upon. I myself can honestly say that I should have waited. However, I needed a vehicle to get around since I no longer work for a company that will allow me to rent where I go.

In hindsight, I should have bought the TSX 6MT Navi. Would have served its purpose for less and it's (engine/chassis) is based on a platform used previously in use in Europe. I then would have been able to buy all the Mugen and Comptech goodies and still be under what I paid for the TL.

Dissappointment is an understatement for this TL, IMHO. Before the TL purchase (having owned Honda before), I had absolutely no doubt that it would be a great investment, quality build, and reliable. Now, going on two months and numerous issues (albeit fixable and warrantied), I am so unsure of new Honda/Acura's that it has extended into my decision making on the new CBR 1000RR motorcycle. That decision is, I will not be buying the CBR 1000RR this year. I will go bikeless or hunt down an 03 CBR 954RR in the meantime.

Consumer Reports and boards like this one rank Honda/Acura very well. So I don't know that I can bring myself to buy anything else except Honda. Well, maybe the M3 or 545i I've been eyeing (pricey though). But if I reach my limit (see signature), I suppose I'll start asking about the TSX or something else within the Honda line.

Again, best wishes.

 

Fotodad:

Is this your first experience with an online product forum?

There are like, what, 30,000 TL's out there and because 10 people have "horrible quality issues" like bumpy cold tires, sticky tape, and a rattle you're going to not buy a car?

LOL.

The happy people don't come to product forums. Only the troubled ones. And the troubled ones post a hell of a lot more than the happy ones.

Piere Salinger did not solve the TWA 800 mystery. Al Gore did not invent the internet. Bill Gates is not going to send you $1 million for answering an email from him. The Acura TL is not a car affected by quality issues because 10 people have an aluminum scuff.

 

Ahhhhhhh.....the REAL reason for your not buying a TL is SWMBO (she who must be obeyed). That's OK, we whipped married guys understand your reasoning, and a new car is not worth getting a divorce over.

Just work on a better excuse. :diablotin

 

ok vegas at this point in my book you have idol status, and if you tell me how the hell you do this youll jump straight up to legend.

seriously...how do u make so much dam money so dam young? im 16 and im now in the stage where im considering colleges, considering what im going to be, etc etc and id like you to show me the path you took with that shining light at the end. and please dont tell me porn or strip clubs cuz my parents would disown me. well maybe not my dad .

 

If you think the TSX forum is not having the same conversations about quality you should check out www.acura-tsx.com. They are talking about the same interior quality issues of rattles etc on their board and some are questioning their purchase of the TSX. IMHO, you do have to be careful of these type boards. Not in the same league as a car but I bought a $3k Apple powerbook about a year ago and after I bought it I started reading a forum on powerbooks like this forum. I soon read how terrible the powerbook was and how everyone was going to take apple to court over it etc etc. I was freaking thinking I just waisted 3K on a piece of crap computer. Well, over 1 year later I've had not one issue with my powerbook and I wouldn't trade it in for anything, except maybe a brand new one. So, just a quick story to say watch out for these forums when it comes to making a decision. Yes, there are quality patterns that will show up on these forums such as the tire issue and some of the rattles, but most of us who read these every day are very anal about our cars and voice compalints very easily when 1 thing isn't perfect.

 

Bolt,

Apparently you did not read my original post in its entirety. The points you made about online product forums, as you can plainly read, were prefaced in my original post.

I understand the nature of the online forum beast. Certainly much information needs to be read between the lines and understand its source. If you find it necessary to "LOL" over my decision, I'll take that for what it's worth as well.

Enjoy the ride. You folks own beautiful automobiles. In one year I hope I am welcome on this forum.

 

Fotodad, you made the right call, to wait a year, there are some issues with the first year TL, some people see them, some are blind to them, to each thier own.

Even the mighty BMW has issues, as does MB (as can be seen in the declining quality reports), however, we never expected it from Honda/Acura, that is why there are so many complaints.

I know for fact that Acura/Honda know of the issues, and are working hard on resolving them and keeping thier customer base, Honda is not only worried about Acura, but the whole Honda world of products (Cars, Motorcycles, Lawn Equipment, Generators, Wave Runners, Snow Mobiles, etc), they have a lot of other sales to loose when they have a dissatisfied customer, and they know it.

Enjoy and relax, and wait for the 2005 TL

 

I'm not sure if this is going to change anything or not, but I just found out from my tax guy that I'm coming out pretty good on my taxes! Yippy!

Now, the questions are:

Do I still want to take a chance on an 04 TL, or wait a full year?

Can I talk the misses into letting me spend that money on a car?!

Ahhh, problems, problems, problems!

 

Just buy the car.
"It's easier to ask for forgiveness, then permission".... haha.

I for one, have not had one issue with my TL... yes, I probably should not have said that. WoOD??? Knock knock... hopefully I'm okay now.

 

WOW, what happened to the 745i? also according to the cars you bought. you could of bought a 120k car, why tl?

 

BMW 745i was stolen and recovered a week later completely totalled very recently. Bought the TL to hold me over until the 05 BMW 7 comes out, or the new 3 series in 06. i did not care for the interior of the new 5. I like the TL alot, and will prolly keep as a fun daily driver to mod and toy with. I don't know what I'm getting next, but the new S-Class will be out in 05 as well. Decisions...decisions...

 

fotomom:

Tax check or not, you are hereby not welcome to buy an 04 TL. Listen to the wife and buy an Odyssey. It's a 5th generation vehicle that's perfect in every way. Who cares is the brand-new 05 Ody is right around the corner in three months? Play it safe. Get the old one with no, sniff, double-stick tape "issues".

Okay.....okay.......disregard that right there (although it was pretty funny) and think about this:

Let's say there was no internet. Let's say you didn't know how to type. Let's say that this forum didn't exist.

What would you be doing? You'd be reading the car magazines and reading "A+" reviews for the TL, correct? You'd be seeing reports on TV about very safe crash test and more rave reviews. You'd be reading the newspapers and hearing about Acura's record-setting single-month sales due, in large part, to the "exciting new TL".

You'd be whipping out your checkbook and making a TL buy right now! You'd be so desperate you'd buy that ugly champagne one with the quartz interior *and* the Puffy Bumps From Hell on the sides too!

The greatest percentage of posters here seem to be youngin's looking for a step-up Accord. Pre-riced with some extra features, if you will. Manual tranny's? Cold air injection? Blue interior lighting? Racing against Z cars? A-Spec? Come on.....reconsider the audience, will ya?

So stop reading into the negativity that comes through this board already. Go buy the TL. Tomorrow.

BJ

 

Wow, BJ, you make it so easy for me. I'll "let's say" I can't drive. There, now I can use your "ignorance is bliss" philosophy to the extreme.

But thanks for the assumption I'm young. If it weren't for my bald head and my grown kids, I'd believe you. Prejudice is a terrible monster. Avoid it, BJ, at all costs.

"Fotomom"? Name calling...nice BJ.

 

Can you read up there in Wisconsin? Take a breath, start at the top, and read. Slowly.

 

ooooh you got jokes

 

Vegas TL

this is your friend from southern california im pretty sure i dont have to tell you my name. i was reading through the posts here and came along this topic about your cars and started to think about the nine you had. let me try to list them and see if i can get them all right.

1. old POS toyota truck
2. 1995 Lexus LS 400
3. Previous gen Acura TL
4. 2000 BMW 323ci (silver)
5. 2001 BMW 325ci (silver) ? not too sure on this one
6. 2002 BMW 325cic Convertible (black)
7.2003 BMW 330ci (blue)
8. 2004 BMW 745i (black)
9. 2004 Acura TL 6sp/Navi

i hope i got them all correct pls fix if i had any errors.

 

WRONG! LOL....
(1) 1985 POS Toyota Truck
(2) 1991 LS400
(3) 1999 TL
(4) 2000 323ci Silver
(5) 2000 323ci Silver
(6) 2000 323cic Convertible Black
(7) 2002 330ci Blue
(8) 2002 BMW 530i Black
(9) 2002 BMW 745i Black
(10) 2004 Acura TL

See you in May bro!

 

why the switch between 4 and 5

 

#4 was my first 00 323ci coupe. It was the FIRST RUN in July/Aug of 99 production and had a braking/vibration problem that they could not fix. they put on new rims/tires, new hubs, 4 sets of brakes, etc, even flew a tech out. BMW ordered me a brand new car free of charge, BMW Financial did a susbstitution of collateral and simply put the new VIN# on my existing loan. I got a FULLY LOADED ONE (minus navigation) with only 11 miles on it, for NO COST TO ME. the car they couldnt fix had 24000 miles on it when they took it back and not very many options. i put about 7-8 grand in my pocket for the inconvenience. i was very impressed how BMW handled the entire transaction, and BMW Financial as well

And, with the theft and destruction of my 745i, BMW Financial again came through and covered the negative equity on my lease. i was about 10K in negative equity between what State Farm paid BMW Financial, and BMW Financial absorbed the rest, with no questions asked. Phenomenal company to deal with, even though my Bimmers had their fair share of problems, Desert BMW, BMW USA, and BMW Financial was always there and never treated me poorly. I would highly recommend to anyone BMW Financial or Desert BMW in Las Vegas. Good people! they would probably be heartbroken after everything we have been through to know I dont have a BMW right now. I am waiting out all the upcoming changes, and will NOT buy a first year BMW again...PERIOD.

 

bah!
at least i was some what close ^^