gainful

1. Engine Start:

03 TL only makes hissing sound and no vibration is transmitted to cabin, while 05 TL sounds like flushing a toilet, with a feel of shock from the floor when the engine starts.

2. Gear Shift:

03 TL has no shock when shifting from P to N. 05 TL shocks, engine mount not as good.

3. Trunk close:

05 TL trunk rattles when closing, making a very crappy sound, no matter how you tighten the liscense plate screw.

4. DVD slot door:
05 TL is a piece of foam, while 03 is an motorized plastic door.

5. Seatbelt lower anchor:
05 TL has them on the seat, causing it very easy to get caught when closing the doos, and sometimes get in the way people enter the seat. 03 TL seatbelt can completely hide away in the space btween seat and B pillar.

6. Ride:
05 TL transmitt every ripple on the pavement to the cabin, while 03 is a perfect blend of comfort and handling.

7. Stability:
Driving an 03 TL on the highway you can even release the steering wheel, and the car stay straight even when there is slight imperfection on the road. 05 TL not as stable and takes more effort to stay straight.

8. Vibration/ Idle:
05 TL has a tad more vibration at 1500 rpm, while 03 TL has the tranquility.

Anybody wants to add to the list?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Um, sounds like you should go find that '03 you traded in and get rid of your '05.

I've owned a TL Type S for 40,000 horrible miles... (three tranny failures) and I think the A-spec TL handles better than the TL-S NIGHT AND DAY .. the engine start...???? who cares?? The seat belt issue has never BEEN an issue for me.. my gear shift doesn't cause the car or engine to jerk/jar when shifting .. sounds like it's your car, not everyone else's.

Best of luck

crazymjb

1. I can take it for those 2 or fewer seconds

2. 03 didnt offer a manual(so all those manual drivers instantly disagree), I don't notice a shock with my AT.

3. I hear no rattle

4. Something else to break off

5. Probably more effective there

6. New TL is more sporty then old TL, want handling and comfort, get a bimmer

7. See Above

8. A whole tad?

tzakiel

Rather than a flushing toilet most people think my 05 TL startup sounds cool. Most don't even notice however once they see the navi light up with that great outer space scene.

zhalvaje

I have one thing to say!
05TL body style is a lot better than 03TL

MichiganRich

A list of things that make this irrelevant-

1) Your opinion

2) My opinion

3) Everyobody else's opinion

Mike_TX

Ummmm ... let me guess ... ummm ... I'll guess that gainful doesn't have an '05 TL.

Now, I could be wrong but he sounds like he has an '03 and can't afford an '05. Or has a lot tied up in his '03 and is a little bitter over how much sportier and shaplier the '05 is.

DVD slot door? You gotta be kidding.

lilfeat

My only complaint is that water pools in and around the license plate trim on the trunk when washing, and drips when drying the car. Usually takes several closures of the trunk before it is dry enough to not drip on the bumper. Also, the fact that the plate is on the trunk lid, and not cut into the bumper is a negative. I had an 01 CLS and it had the plate in the bumper, trunk lid looks nice and clean. But, most cars seem to be gong to the plate in a higher position.

Now that is some real quality nit pickin!

GIBSON6594

Profile says white 03 TL

crazymjb

If he wants a smooth riding acura get an RL(I would have preffed an RL, but my dad didnt want to spend 10k more).

MichiganRich

I would prefer that your Dad insist on your ass getting a job and stop talking about 'your' Acura on these forums like you know half a shit about real life and paying for a car of any sort.

Just sayin'

crazymjb

Thanks. I have a job. If it werent for me my father would be driving another used ford taurus. I know very little about paying for a car, but I do know my father wasnt going to spend 10k more on an RL. I also know that I know A helluva lot more about this car than you, so why dont you shut your fuckin' trap? You pathetic "hopeful"

Just sayin'

Dkrudop

soopa

wow, having owned a 2G TL, two 2G CL's (still own one), and now an 05 TL, i could not disagree on more points.

astro

mjb, this is your final warning from us here at AcuraZine.

i don't care what you think you know, until you can express yourself, while still showing respect for the other members, i don't think we need you as a part of our community.

rgr

Having recently traded my 99 TL for an 05 AT Navi, I have only one complaint: in sport-shift mode the car automatically shifts to 2nd gear, and I can't shift from 2nd to 1st (ie when making a left turn - stuck at low revs in 2nd). Everything else is purr-fect, at least until the new car smell wears off and I get my first ding...

6speedv6

03CoupeV6

crazymjb has the same right to an opinion as he does to a car payment on "his" TL.

Anyway, I own an 02 TL-P and these points are totally moot. I test drove at least 20 different 2nd gen TLs and CLs (both Ps and Ss) before I got mine, and the fit and finish is a disappointment. Coming from Accords, I expected at least the same level of quality - but it just isn't there.

I haven't had the opportunity to test a 04+ TL, but from everything I've read, it's a much better car than its predecessor. I don't want one, as the nightmare experience with my TL has soured me on Acura for now, but I do think the new TL is just a better car... how could it not be.

Disclaimer: My opinion on the Gen2 TL reflects my experience and only mine.

kyles32vtectl

i agree. i wish in ss you could shift up and down into 1st. but i can live with it. i love ACURA!!!

Shaqs2002TLS

Did I miss what MJB said? Did you delete the post? Was it the RL comment?

03CoupeV6

Yeah but the auto upshift from 1->2 was present in all 5AT TLs.

avs007

I had an 03' TL that we traded in for our 05', so here's my opinion:

03 TL only makes hissing sound and no vibration is transmitted to cabin, while 05 TL sounds like flushing a toilet, with a feel of shock from the floor when the engine starts.

To me the 05' sounds like a deep rumble when it starts. I actually like it. Reminds me of my G35.


03 TL has no shock when shifting from P to N. 05 TL shocks, engine mount not as good.

I actually have no idea what you're talking about.

05 TL trunk rattles when closing, making a very crappy sound, no matter how you tighten the liscense plate screw.

Tis' true. But at least it has a handle. Our 03 didn't, so it was real awkward to close, unless you liked getting fingerprints everywhere.

4. DVD slot door:
05 TL is a piece of foam, while 03 is an motorized plastic door.

I never removed the DVD. I like it better when it's in cabin like our G35, but I'm not complaining either way.

5. Seatbelt lower anchor:
05 TL has them on the seat, causing it very easy to get caught when closing the doos, and sometimes get in the way people enter the seat. 03 TL seatbelt can completely hide away in the space btween seat and B pillar.

I don't know about the belts getting in the way, but I do notice it's much harder to enter/exit the rear of the 05' then our 03' was. (I have some herniated discs in my back, so my back is sensitive)

6. Ride:
05 TL transmitt every ripple on the pavement to the cabin, while 03 is a perfect blend of comfort and handling.

I didn't notice.

7. Stability:
Driving an 03 TL on the highway you can even release the steering wheel, and the car stay straight even when there is slight imperfection on the road. 05 TL not as stable and takes more effort to stay straight.

I didn't notice either. But I do know our 05' handles much better in the twisties than our 03' did.

But as a whole, I still love our 05' better than our 03'. Besides, our 03's tranny blew up, so that is much worse than anything I can nit-pick about our 05'

jmbnova

Right now my wife and I are trying to decide between these two cars... I gotta tell you for the difference in price, I would rather have a SECOND 05TL.... All those things mentioned are just opinions. Seems like everyone here disagrees and thinks the 05 is much better. Wonder how this thread would do in the 2nd Gen forum.....

elsensei

I've had both, an 03 Type-S and now an 05 TL. I do notice the ride is a little harder in the 05, might just be the tires, remember they are lower profile and wider than the 03's.

The steering is more sensitive or tighter, usually I like it but yeah I guess sometimes it does not track as easily?

The 03 did seem quiter to start, also I have noticed the 05 seems to idle rough when cold, whereas the 03 was always really smooth. Really no big deal.

The 05 oveall is a better car. But I still miss the white Type-S gauges, separate fog lights, and perforated leather on the steering wheel. Oh well, progress.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

I had a 3G TL loaner just last week and it was a battle to keep it stable on the highway compared to my 2G. Every time I hit a major bump, I could feel the car trying to step out sideways, especially the rear. I seem to recall a toe problem when the suspension is under compression. Either way, I wasn't too pleased.

Other than that, I absolutely loved the interior, the seat, seat position and angle relative to the rest of the interior, etc.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

I love how you describe it as "my" car.

kthxbye

astro

Rob, your 2g is lowered with suspension mods, comparing the on center feeling between the two is not a valid comparison whatsoever.
the on center feel in both my CLs and TLs completely changed once the ride height had been altered.

2LOW4U

Yea the car's suspension from the factory sorta sucks imo...

Comptech springs and RSB and it feels as stable as a BMW 540i.

abirvalg

that's why it was my very first DIY project
i took that plastic POS out
and put RTV silicone inside and all around
then i epoxied two clear plastic screens over the lic. plate lights
and now that whole area is 100% water tight
no water inside the trunk lid for me!

lilfeat

thanks for the input, might give it a shot.

ediddy

I never even considered to buy a TL until the 04's came out.......I went cold turkey on acura for a long time......but if you like the 03 then stick with the 03 you have every right to your opinion........but I sat in 03 and 04 and the 03 doest compare to the 3rd gens.........thats just my opinion though

gainful

one more thing, the door handle of 05 TL is not tightly connected to structural beams, so when you pull on it, the whole piece of plastic trim bulges out.

03CoupeV6

This thread is so


Acura owners should have respect for other Acura vehicles, regardless of personal preference, IMO. :gheyhug:

crazymjb

The 2g TL looks like an old man car, not that I dont like it, its just not my style. I would take the 3g over the 2g any day even with the quirks, My 2Cence.

03CoupeV6

There is nothing old man about this.



I'm a rational person and I've already put my in about the whole 2nd VS 3rd gen debate, but even I prefer the front end of the 02-03 to the 04+. The front end ONLY, however.

crazymjb

err, thats debatable.
But there is definatly nothing old man abotu this:


The older gens are too boxy imo, not streamlined enough.

03CoupeV6

I'm certainly not going to debate a 15 year old on car designs, but car companies make progress. Without the 2nd gen design, there would be no 3rd gen. I can clearly see the resemblance between the two, and both are good looking vehicles.

crazymjb

No, I know they are both nice cars. But as A younger person I must say that the new design appeals to me more.

6speedv6

Here is one in almost the same angle.

SebringSilver

Oh, I can't wait till we see the thread that explains why the 2nd generation TL doesn't feel as refined as the 1st generation TL.

This is gonna be good.