lakeman

I have been a car nut all my life and when I retired (earlier than I planned due to the high tech bubble) I was looking for the sportiest best handling sedan I could get. The 5 series BMW was at the top of my list with the G35 next. But when the TL came along it blew them both away when it came to features, value and looks.
The TL has a unique split personally that appeals to both us car nuts and to older non car crazies. There is no car I know of that provides as high a level of refinement, quiet, smoothiness and comfort with excellent handling, great power and fun to drive as the TL.

Toenails

Didn't really want to buy a TL but I needed a faster way to get to Walgreens to buy my Metamucil.

TLer

Are you really being fair in your opinion here? This is one heck of a great car and the fact that a senior finds it as appealing as you do speaks loads about this car. And besides how would you feel one day when you're 65 and find some car (which you will) sweet enough to buy and some younger dude gave you nasty looks for driving one? Well I think you would not give a horses a$$. So just enjoy your ride man and don't think about these petty things.

LessisBestmakingendsmeet

I would think older people buy a safer and easier to drive, FWD, Accord based TL. Its a huge selling point being off the Accord, since that car is always a 10 best winner and comparison winner.
Hoenstly, I would think most younger people buy a much funner car or one you can modify any way you want. The G35 coupe and IS 300 and 3 series come to mind for younger people. I never saw the TL as a young persons car.

Some of it is people are tires of buying unreliable or unattractive Caddys and Lincolns. So when they get retired or want to treat themself, they get one of the new entry-level luxury cars from Japana. Like the TL, ES 330 or G35. As I've seen my share of old people in G35 sedans.

Last, price. People at this age want to treat themselves to a nice badge and the cars I mentioned before I cheap to buy if you have made some smart financial moves.

Dkrudop

Tell you what....you don't complain about "geezer's" driving TL's, we older folks won't complain about the "young punks" driving them and bringing down the car's "luxury" reputation, 'k?

Merry Christmas!

svtmike

It bothers me to see anyone who is not exactly like me driving a car that is the same model as mine. It bothers me even more if it's not the exact same color combination as mine. And worse is if it has a Navi - then I know the person shouldn't even be driving. And don't even get me started on factory wheels and body kits.

In my day, we all drove black Ford Model T's - and we liked it!

Mike

LessisBestmakingendsmeet

Great point. Stickers, adding tasteless mods, driving them 100k miles in a year. Those Lexus lights in the back. Scion and Honda is a young persons car. This is a 35k car here.

Bud427

As another "old man" driving a 6spd. tl I can only apolgize to you younger drivers for decreasing the cool factor of your rides. I traded in my 350Z for a tl to get a little more room and a better ride. But in the garage beside my cobra roadster the tl dosen't look nearly so cool. If it makes you guys feel better you can hardly decern my age through the 20% tint on the windows.

SouthernBoy

I wrote not too long ago on this forum that I tend to be drawn to cars that are a little more on the ragged edge. Such as Mustangs or Ford GT's or Z06 Corvettes or CTS-V Cadillacs or especially mid-60's American Supercars. While I would not classify the TL as being at all on the ragged edge, I would say it IS a little bit of a sleeper.. something else I like in a car.

I know, as does my wife, that even when the day comes that I'm in my mid-70's (God willing), I'll still be of the same mind. And if all of the parts are still working (my parts), you can bet this Southernboy ain't gonna be driving no humdrum point-A-to-point-B car.

neuronbob

Funny!!!!!!

TLOBLLC

Not so much as young hs and college kids driving them. I'd rather have a car kids aspire to, rather than one they can actually afford.

mrtgman

Best point so far!

Vanwall

Words to live by.

To grow old is inevitable, to grow up is optional.

03CoupeV6

The TL is not a limited production vehicle.. nor is it a vehicle Acura designed to sell to just one age group. If an old couple is driving a TL, then they have made a wise decision. If a teenager is driving a TL, their parents made a wise decision in that they want them to be safe. The TL is fast for what it is, but for $35k they could have put them in something much faster and in a way gave them permission to play Russian Roulette.

If you can't enjoy your car because you can't handle that someone else would have the nerve to buy it, then you're the one who doesn't need it. Buy a Chevette and restore it -- have almost total exclusivity.

jayz3000

im 20 and i live in florida i see alot of seniors driving the TL always since the 2001-2003 models were out as well..

tlram

Just want to say that for a seemingly flammable thread, this has been surprisingly civil, compared to some other 'BMW vs TL vs G35' threads. Holiday spirit?

Happy holidays, people! Drive that TL safely, whatever age you are!

tommyy2

The old folks don't bother me, it's the young punks with the big mouths that piss me off.

GoBruins

If you want to see a car with a younger demographic, get yourself into a 350z or something. The reason more grown up folks want a TL (and reasons for you to get one as well) is because it's PRACTICAL, RELIABLE for the most part, COMFORTABLE, and sporty.

If you sacrafice a couple of the first reasons I listed, and go for SPORTY, well that's more of a younger demographic thing. If you want a car such as the TL, which is definitely a very pratical choice in the 35k range, of course you'll find other like-minded people who wants car they can do a lot of stuff in. Let's talk correlation here; you may (falsely) find a correlation between a TL and people of all age groups, thereby frustrating you because you're trying to fit the TL into the late 20s-late 50s group. However, a better correlation to look at within the population of TL buyers is what I stated, that the most common thing TL owners have is that they want a good mix and balance. If you want a "younger" car, get something that's more sport dedicated, and less practical. Heck, if you can barely fit groceries in your trunk, I doubt a lot of family oriented folks will go for your car.

On the other hand, my co-worker is, let's just say, quite my senior, and she and her husband both own the new Zs, in stick form for both cars. Now that's just plain cool.

mitchflorida

No question about it . . the TL has old person's styling written all over it. I really prefer it with the wing spoiler, makes it looks a million times sportier, but few people here seem to like them. The deck spoiler is kind of wimpy looking, but who can account for taste?

DAVERUBINO

I just turned 53 lately. Being an old fart, I wanted to share a picture of me with my old persons bike.

Yep that' really me. Of course I was only 52 when the picture was taken....
And here's my old man car.

You're only as old as you let yourself be.

Eduardo

Very well said!

Snowwolfe

Would anyone consider a Corvette to be a young persons car? The average age of a buyer is in the middle 50's. I believe also about 35% of corvette buyers pay cash. People drive what they acan afford. Money talks, BS walks. Thats why you see older folks driving TL's. Its simply a good car. I pay cash for my toys. If I could afford an Ferrari Enzo for 650K I would be driving it. I am 51. Cheers!

Alan Barreuther

This question has been rolling around for years! "What is a sports car?" I go down the road and see trucks, mini vans, station wagons, golf carts, milk floats, Jazzy trickes, and Razor push scooters with the term "sports" emblazoned on them! What does it mean? I know what it means to me and NONE of those uses meet my expectations. If you have to ADVERTISE you are a "sport" car or vehicle you are probably NOT one!

F23A4

Nice.

midas69

Hey I'm just glad that the kids don't think us 50 year olds are seniors yet

But even I wonder at times when I see some people driving some cars. I necessarily look at the age alone but also the way they drive. I see a guy that's 70 years old driving a TL and it doesn't bother me that much. When I see him doing 45 in the left lane of the expressway it starts to bother me. When I see he's got the A-Spec package, then it really bothers me.

But it bothers me because I know some sales guy ripped them off.

Dkrudop

Thanks! I consider that high praise coming from a fellow Mac guy!

F23A4

For the record, my teenaged daughter screams "YOU GUYS ARE SOOOO OLD" whenever I kiss my wife (her mother)......and we're both 36 y/o.

producrdel

As someone in their twenties who drives a TL I don't think it's a bad thing to have a lot of older people driving the car. They are established and seasoned and because they are driving it, I think that marks the TL as a great car and brands it as an ageless vehicle.

Burgman

Most seniors that drive the TL probably got it as a graduation present. At least it is still rare to see sophmores and juniors driving the car.

mrtgman

NICE BIKE. I AM PICKING UP MY 2004 YAMAHA YZF R1 THIS WEEK! WISH I KNEW HOW TO POST A PIC.

midas69

Funny you mention that age. 36 was the only birthday that bothered me, for 2 reasons. First, I got married at 18 so I was officially married over half my life. Second, when I was 13, I thought my father was OLD. Of course, he was 36 at the time.

Now of course I'm 50 and have socks older than 36.

F23A4