mu1980

Case in point.. the red interior lights for the TL-S. What were they thinking? The steering wheel may as well have a Mazda or Pontiac badge on it.

cM3go

I think it looks great, good job

mu1980

Yes, in spite of the differences in our tastes, Kennedy, I think your mod looks good.

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

Well, we can agree to disagree on a few subtleties... I'm cool with that.

Couple of answers to your questions and comments.
On the doors, the CF/Wood and silver is a single piece. To replace thoe door trim you have to remove the door panel and remove about 12 screws that secure it to the panel. Not difficult at all.

When it warms up, I'll be pulling mine again to install the silver (TL-S) memory buttons, replacing the stock speakers with Infinity's, and dynamatting.

I firmly believe Acura is going after the German market with the TL's styling... If you've ever sta inside a VW at night, the entire dash console is illuminated in red. I actually prefer the blue/white as well... but the red is not "insulting" to me... Both are attractive.

mu1980

I thought VW's interior lighting was more a mix of purple, blue, and red (purple being more a thing with the previous generation Jetta, I suppose). The new Jetta and Passat, for instance, have red read-outs for PRNDL, mileage/odometer, etc. but the other gauges are blue. I don't mind some red.. but *everything* red is annoying.

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

My MKIV Jetta had gauges that we're blue backed with red needles (similar to the TLs), but everything else ont eh dash lit up red...

mu1980

If, as you say, Acura is trying to compete in the German market.. I think there are far more important areas to imitate than red interior illumination. They should've skipped the red treatment.

mu1980

Red is harder to read at night and tends to be too bright, which is the major problem I have with it. Is it "insulting"? Not really.. but it doesn't belong on the TL, IMO.

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

Actually,
That's not true at all. Scientific studies have shown red and green to be the EASIEST on your eyes at night, as they have the least impact on your night vision. This is why tactical aircraft have green luminescense, and ground soldiers use red lens in thier flashlights during tactical scenarios. As a former US Marine, I speak form experience.

And if German reliability was 1/3 of what Honda's was, I'd still be there... red interior and all. It's not that bad, not sure why everyone dislikes it so.

mu1980

Actually, red is not easy on my eyes at night.. regardless of what any scientific study says. It drives me nuts. Green is fine, though.

The red rings around the gauges on the 07 TL-S wouldn't bother me.. but the red everywhere else on the dash would. They should've kept it the greenish color that it was.

mu1980

I think people dislike it because it's quite a contrast with the rest of a car's interior at night which is mostly absent of illumination. A brilliant red stands out quite a bit, making small or narrow text on buttons or controls a little harder to read. Personally, I dislike red interior illumination because red is too intense. I prefer subtle and mellow colors.. or a nice soft white like my '04 Accord's gauges featured.

A couple years ago the Mazda 6 was on my test drive list and while I liked everything about the car's exterior styling, its handling, power, etc.. I was turned off by, among other things, the all-red interior illumination. The Accord also felt more refined, so that's what I went with.

I'm not a fan of the orange-ish illumination you find on Nissans and some Infinitis, either.