jgj925

I'm looking to buy a 3rd gen TL. Hypothetically, if I found a 2004 TL with 45k miles and a 2008 TL with 90k miles, with the 08 costing about $1k more, which would be the more logical choice to pick? Basically what are the differences between the two, if any?

Scratch the 90k miles, I meant 70k.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Outwardly, the '04's have no fog lights.


There's a host of other differences, but just by looking, you won't see fogs.

splew

Acura steadily improved the 3G over its lifetime, so the 08 has all the improvements.

A list of some of the revisions by year:

05: Slightly revised interior. Different front seat stitching, non-navi displays changed from black/white to blue/white. Different steering wheel badge. Other very minor changes.

06: Tire pressure monitoring system. Revised Engine management and VSA programming to reduce torue steer.

07: Mid cycle refresh; major changes:
-Softer suspension tuning on the base model
-Daytime running lights
-Fog lights moved from the headlight housing to the lower bumper.
-New front and rear bumpers with a larger front grille.
-New rear taillights
-New automatic transmission (apparently much more reliable than the old one)
-Turn signal mirrors
-New gauges
-New (much improved) non-navi radio/climate display.
-compass (non-navi)
-Revised radio with aux input and MP3 CD compatibility
-Improved navigation system with backup camera.
-New 3-spoke steering wheel with more ergonomic buttons.
-foot-well lighting
-revised interior trim (darker wood)
-other minor changes

08:no change

For tl;dr, the 08 has a ton of improvements over the 04.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Yessssssss we doooooooo

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

google is your friend

NetoAzul

07 & 08 Do look better imo. small details make a huge improvement. Glad i bought an 08 over the other 05.

truonghthe

wikipedia is your best friend

Drudis

My dad gave me his old '04 and got an '08 a while back. He swears that mine is faster. I think his looks better, and one other thing I noticed (beyond what's mentioned above) is that his has some kind of tint on the side mirrors.

And BTW mine does have fog lights.

aBe 024

^ The 04-08 has fog lights, the fog lights for the 07-08 are on the bottom and the 04-06 are in the headlight housing.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

There's a thread on this already actually... but it's buried deep within our forums.

the 06+ TLs switched to a newer slimmer ballast.
07+ TLs have new styled headlights.

Due to the change in front bumper, new a-specs were introduced.

can't forget about the addition of the TL-S

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

The mid-cycle refreshed 07-08 models are well worth any additional costs.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

I said the same thing after I drove friends 08 Type-S couple years ago.
That car looks heavy to me, I don't know why

jgj925

And whats up with the 04 TL being 270 HP and the 08 being 258 HP?

GKinColo08TL

Actually they are the same motor, changed the way HP is "determined". The motors were rated with little or no load and when the changed occurred the were rated under load. Kind of simplistic but that is it essentially.

GKinColo08TL

More reliable tranny is really the number one upgrade.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

if you would have google it then you could have answered your own questions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_TL

jgj925

thought the acurazine community would be of more help than wikipedia. but thanks for the suggestion

IamaTL

truonghthe

after I got my Type S, I m glad that I didn't go out and get 04-06 model.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

Acurazine IS very helpful however, this car has been out for a long time now and this question is very simple to answer with a little search. Before I bought my car, I goolged Acura TL and the wiki link came up first. I read the generation that I was going to purchase and went on from there.

JoeChege

No one is answering his question on which is more logical to pick. If the 08 had proper and extensive records of service, that's what I'd go with. These cars last a lifetime and the 04 at almost 10 yrs old, you're due for timing belt change etc. The 08 has a more robust tranny and it's overall a better car albeit slightly.

zachlone

since the 04 was the first production year of the 3G TL, they really have no idea on how the car is going to last. As the years go by they make updates and improvements so its typically always smarter to go with the newest of the same model. 1 BIG improvement would be the transmission. go 08!

splew

The engines are identical and there's no difference in output. The 270hp number advertised for 04-05 was a bit of a lie. In 06 Acura started conforming with the new SAE J2723 test standard which is a bit more stringent and provides more realistic output figures.

Consequently the advertised horsepower numbers dropped to 258hp. I believe the advertised 233 lb-ft of torque didn't change though.

mrsimeon

Some people ----> evilvirus-----are just no help, sarcasm and telling people to search google or wiki is no help.

Not sure why- but if you can't help or answer someone's question do not respond with negativity. We are all here trying to troubleshoot our problems, and get advise.

Get THE car that has better records or has been maintained well, do not pay a high dollar for the newer model, since its newer.

I have an 2004 6spd and it's been flawless and very good to me.
Both cars are very similar exterior- I'm talking both are base Acura TL 3G
07-08- has blinkers on the outside mirrors.
07-08 - added the lower fog lights.
04-06- has fogs and they work great- in the headlights.
The wheels on the 04-05-06 solid 5 spoke look best in my opinion.

07-08- wheels are split 5 spoke
07-08/ grill is larger and most are chrome, but you can't tell that's its slightly bigger.
Looks the same. To me.

Main difference outside.
04-05-06 front bumper looks like it has a happy smile.
07-08- front bumper looks like it is frowning.
07-08- rear lights are the same except they are not solid red. They have a bit of clear or grey outline around the red. Actually brake lights look pink

04-05-06- front headlights has a longer yellow reflector on the corner of the headlights.
07-08- front headlights are more clear and a small section of the reflector is yellow.

Interior

Driver dash meters are different,
04- had a different front seat stitching- 2 sections.
05-06-07 front seat stitchings - 3 sections.


All the extra features like rear view camera are just options.
Not sure if the 2008 your looking at has that.
Or if it has the rear beep sensors on the rear bumper.

Drive both. Beat on them both. See if it shifts fine. And launch hard on a turn see of the cars ride smooth.
Get on the brakes hard as well.
Just drive it hard make sure nothing's going to fail after you buy it.

It's a great car. Smooth reliable. Honda. You can't go wrong.

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

07 and 08 models are the same. period.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

But yet you thanked me?? All the info is there it wont hurt to get some info on your own. If OP is debating on which to get then test drive both. When it comes to differences check out wiki it has all the specs of what change for each model. The point is to get some understanding for yourself so you can decide which is better for you. kthxbye

Drudis

I still don't see how it's possible, I mean same car, same options, everything. I'd think that the newer one would be at least slightly faster. But my dad is a G so I don't argue with him about it.
Oh and I forgot his has different leather seats that will last longer without splitting.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

I like all TL's, but the only thing is you see 04-06's like atleast 5 times a day, you see an 07-08 base TL maybe once, and you see a Type S 0 times a day...maybe once a week. I also think the 07-08's look more updated. That front bumper on the older ones with no fogs in the lower section of the bumper just looks outdated. This is all personal preference, but I also think the base 07-08 wheels look a lot better, they have a cool design for a stock wheel. The interior updates are worth it as the older gauges look a little old school and cheap.
The vehicles weights are basically no different between the years. The lightest 04-08 TL you can buy is a base model 04-06 manual, followed by the 07-08 Type S manual, then the automatic base models and Type S. Even the differences between all of those aren't huge so it doesn't even matter anyway. Performance wise the fastest 3G you can buy is a manual Type S, but its not worlds faster than any of the others. I know because I have owned a few of them ;-)

GKinColo08TL

Depends on where you live...I see 2 different Type S cars almost every day. Mine is a base, damnit.

THEReeM718

iTrader: (2)

2004 TL started it all, lol.

supraru

Depends on what you like. I like the extra stuff in the 07's and 08's as well but in the end they had higher mileage then what I was looking to buy. I'm usually more inclined to buy a car that has a huge chunk of miles lower then another car but that's just me. Also depends on which one is all around better condition too. Just depends on what you wanna deal with.

jgj925

thanks for understanding haha

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I see more Type-s' in my area than base models.

zachlone

at least you guys have TLs running around in your state. There arent many acura dealers around here so thats prolly y I dont see that many...

truonghthe

really? out of two week during my vacation in Houston I saw three Type S total, 1 NBP (Houston out let mall), 1 WDP and 1 ASM locate in Bellaire blvd near china town. WDP and ASM has Taupe interior which make the car look weird. BMW 335i, G35 and IS350.

kpc2593

04 had their call of transmission problems, go with the 08. It's newer, and mileage is just a number. If properly maintained, that car will last a lifetime.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

When you coming back out, man!?

TrustinHFDJ

One difference, which I am sure upon is that the 04-07 have PFI system.

The 08 Model base or S has MFI system

nttstt444

iTrader: (1)

Heck , I hardly ever see 3G's in my neck of the woods. Maybe a base once a week, a TL-S a few times a year on the turnpike when they are coming up from Mass. Certainly no A-Spec or modded ones. Plenty of 2Gs running around tho.

supraru

They are a dime a dozen around me. I will see 3 or 4 on my regular commute to work. Then a couple more on my lunch break, then a few on the way home. Lol. Don't see to many aspec kits though.