bobt

My ’04 5AT TL at 75,000 miles.

Many of you use this form to question the longevity of your TL. At 75,000 miles I can tell you mine is doing just fine.

Pluses –
• It still averages 28 – 30 MPG at 70 – 75 MPH on the highway, depending on the temperature.
• It is very comfortable for trips and long commutes.
• The navigation is a big time saver. I use it all the time because I am constantly going to different client sites. The best feature, for me, is the estimated time it will take to get to an address as you never want to late to a new client. This helps you to schedule your time.
• Likewise, the Bluetooth helps a lot while driving. Holding a cell phone while driving is not good.
• The XM radio and CD/DVD player are the best in any car I’ve owned.
• I get compliments on from anyone who rides in it.
o BTW – Every Lexus/Toyota owner who has been in it is jealous of the navigation screen’s size and coverage (Toyota forces them to use multiple “coverage” DVD’s vs. our single one).
• It has proven to be very reliable.
• I’ve never exceeded 130 MPH, but it is very stable at 125!
• Living in the north, the traction control, heated seats, and dual temperature controls are welcome additions.
• I’ve used 2 different dealers due to job moves. Both give me outstanding service.
• I use Mobil 1 5W-20 oil and replace it when the MID says it is time, which averages about 7K miles. The car does not use any oil.
• I am still on the original brake pads (highway driving). I checked them 2 months ago and they are less than 50% warn. These will probably last to 100K.
• With all the air bags, traction, VSC, etc. the car feels like you are in a vault.
• I use Zaino on the car and it compliments all the time. My TL is usually the best looking car in the parking lot.
o Tip – use Zaino “Leather in a Bottle” to keep the interior smelling like new leather.

Minuses –
• I managed to get 52K miles from the OEM Bridgestones and replaced them with Yokohama knock-offs (called Mohawks). BIG MISTAKE! These are uni-directional V-rated tires but they are incredibly noisy. Don’t do this – you will be very sorry.
• Acura replaced the driver side interior door panel under warranty due to shutting the door on the seat belt latch. It cracked the panel and knocked a hole in it. The problem now is that I am getting a lot of road and wind noise from the door. The dealer is planning on adding extra insulation during the next service.
• The only other problem has been a burnt-out side marker light.
• I do get squeal when lightly applying the brakes.

In all, this has proven to be a very good car. I got the 100K warranty due to my high mileage driving. Other than the door panel I have not needed it. I have always gotten mine serviced at the dealer because I do not want to get into any issues about warranty coverage.

The problems I’ve had are minor and were (or will be – door noise) easily fixed. I fully expect this car to go 300 – 350K miles and would recommend an Acura to anyone.

TriniBwoy

Glad to hear the car is doing so well for you. From reading your post, I've decided it's best to use Mobil 1 5w-20 (probably synthetic though). One thing that's a bit hard to believe is that you didn't have any sort of rattle (if any) problems...espiecally for a 2004 TL.

AcuraTL06

wow, 75k miles already!

Legend2TL

Wow 52K on the EL42's, mine are almost used up by 20K!

Glad to read it's been reliable, my wife's 2003 Pilot has been similar at 89K miles (original brakes and replaced the original tires at 80K).

csmeance

if you have a navi, why did you have the bridgestones on there? Aren't the bridgestones for the non-navi cars?

bobt

It came with the Bridgestones, probably because of the AT.

csmeance

at comes with the michelins or the falkens. The non-navis come with the bridgestones.

sixsixfour

I have an AT w/ Navi and I have michelins.

ILLustriousUA6

iTrader: (2)

^^ same here.. 06 a/t w/ michelins..

kenny5

I believe O4 AT with or w/o nav all came with Bridgestones. It was only in 05 and 06 that Acura put the Michelins on the navs.

jimmyl729

thank you for this post...strengthens my confidence in TL's long term reliability since i am planning to own this car for at least 4+ years

KJSmitty

TRUE..

In 04 all you got was the EL42's unless you opted for the summer performance tire option... (Navi or not).

I made it to about 13K with the shaking "flatstones".. Tossed them in the trash for a set of Michelin PS2's. Truly sad that I wasted 13k miles in the TL with such crappy rubber.. Shouldn't of had to but it was the best $900 I ever spent.

Congrats on your 04 Bobt - thanks for posting!
I have less than 30K on my 04 but am on my way to nearly a maintenance free experience like you.. So far the only warranty has been the drivers seat back.. Had a strange "melted" area. I as well treat the TL to Zaino, inside and out.

"Drive -on"

MichiganRich

Yep, my '04 AT/NAVI came with the Bridgestones as well. They were flat spotting sons of bitches and I put the Avon M550's on at Tire Rack. They feathered really bad and caused a warbly moan which annoyed the crap out of me so I just a couple weeks ago got the stock Michelin MXM's put on at the dealer, along with an alignment. It wasn't cheap but it feels like brand new now, like dead smooth and cushy. Great wide rim protector bead like the EL42's had, as well.

I drive past dealerships, and I know the payoff on my car in the back of my mind. I play that 'would I trade for XX?' game in my head, and there is just hardly anything that catches my eye, and pretty much nothing at all in the payoff price range. So much tech-y goodness stuffed into the TL, it's a great sedan and hard to compare to.

jackasswhy

u drive it hard?

MichiganRich

Who me?.... sometimes. There's enough spirit in the chassis, though... I don't want the tires to be uncomfortable in any way. I've lived with performance tires of many brands and tread patterns (on my previous cars) and I just can't stand road noise or increased ride harshness.

octl

Thanks for the 75k review, looking forward to the 150k

DMZ

75K already? WOW!

After 2½ years, I've only got 18,500.

I did trash the Bullshitstones for the Falken 512's however right at the end of the 600 mile break-in. After 3 flats (in the 1st 600 miles!) plus the non-existent wet road handling, I just couldn't wait.
.
.
.

chill_dog

Huh, someone who's had their car as long as I have and uses it as a daily driver (I'm assuming based on some of your posts) but has less mileage (I have 19,800).


I had a little over 8k miles on my EL-42's when I got new wheels/tires. The EL's had even wear, plenty of tread left, and had not given me one problem. If I had kept them on, I probably would've gotten 30-40k miles out of them.


bobt - thanks for the post...doubt I'll see 75k miles (even with keeping the car 4 to 5 more years), so it's great to know it should be worry and trouble free as long as I have it.

gotjesus

WOW
75000 ALREADY?
I THOUGHT I HAD A LOT,
HITTING 60000 SOON.
I BOUGHT IT USED THOUGH, 2004 MODEL.
IT HAD 47000 WHEN I GOT THIS CAR BACK IN APRIL.
IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS AND I PUT 13000..
I ALSO HAVE AN 2000 ACCORD AND IT HAS 155000 ON IT. 26000/YEAR AVG.
FINALLY THE BRIDGESTONE GOT TRASHED AND REPLACED IT WITH '
KUMHO ASX. TRYING TO STAY IN LOW BUDGET. I HOPE THIS WORKS OUT FINE.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOU GUYS AND YOUR RIDE.

DRIVE SAFELY

noah82

I thought I was high at 54,000...you guys must have some serious commutes!!

K-Shawn

That is true 04 thru 05 at came with Bridgestones EL42s.....the 6spd came with Bridgestones summer tires.

Final

And I thought I was over my mileage lol.

SuperStar

Sheesh 13k on the Yokohama's and now I am fighting with Acura for them to pay the replacement.

acurasofla

My dealer recently offered to replace my poorly performing Bridgestones with Avons at no cost but I opted for Michelins Pilot Sports at my expense and I like the car more than ever. I took delivery December, 2003 and only drive my SSM TL locally with occasional Interstate driving. At this rate, it will have less than 20,000 miles when I trade it or sell it in two years for an all-new 2009 TL. I love the SSM but was looking to go with Anthracite for a change however it looks like that color has been replaced with something similar but not as good.

neuronbob

WOW.

The OP owns the record on the original 2004 Bull$hitstone Terroranzas. And you live in Illinois, where the weather is not that different from in Ohio. I am truly impressed.

Actually, I'm glad you posted...as my TL is gone...snif...I'm glad the original 2004s still in service are doing so well.

I still have to post my terminal TL review and thorough comparison with the RL. I just haven't had time because of work.

SPDSHFT

Ok...everything is good now, but.......

I have an 04 AT with 79,425mi. (as it sits in the garage). Only three problems, and they all surfaced in the last 4k mi.

The first was the brake, VSA, and triangle w/! in the middle warning lights came on all at once (changed the brake light switch per the dealer...didnt fix it.) ; the second was a check engine light that the OBD said was the rear O2 sensor (the engine light went out on its own, never changed the sensor), and third, today, at start up, everything dims as the car cranks slow a couple times then fires up. The last start up this evening, it turned over SEVERAL times before starting. Everytime, it locks out the radio like you disconnected the battery. I dont think its the battery or alternator, but I know it will be expensive. I love the car, but I wonder what's next. I HIGHLY recommend the exstended warr. if you still have the chance to get it. I didnt, and it will cost me more for these three things than the warr would have cost me when I got the car last year.

neuronbob

Michelins were not available on the TL until the 2005 MY. It was because of the qvetching from people like me (I was the FIRST to complain about premature wear on the Terroranzas, mine hydroplaned at around 10k miles, got rid of them FAST!) that Acura changed first the formulation of the Turanzas, then changed the tires on the navi models to Michelins.

Taylor is Legend

mines at 57,000 and my left headlight just blew. thats really the only thing that went bad. my rear deck panel came up, but that was because of the subs. otherwise its lasted better than any of my homies cars. yo

Ernie Golfs

Probably the 5AT and all the highway driving is the reason his brakes and Bridgestones lasted so long. Most tires last longer if driven mainly on highway. I got 58K on Goodyear Eagle GTs and 100K on brakes when I drove mainly highway on my 1992 S-10 PU.

xristos

BOBT:

Have you done any replacement/flushing of the transmission, radiator or brake fluid's???

I am at 50,100 miles & just wondering about when the MID will recommend changing the fluid's mentioned. I also have about 45% left in brake pad life with my 2004 AT. I still enjoy the performance & comfort in my TL everyday I commute.

2K2SilverTL-S

seriously.....mine were gone at 15,000 miles....


Good luck with your TL.......

bobt

xristos -

Yes - when the MID called for the big service, everyt thing got done by the dealer. I don't remember the exact mileage, but you are getting close. When it comes time - do it.

BTW (and you won't believe this but its true) - I also have a '98 Ford Taurus with 203K miles. It, too, has spent most of its life on the highway at 70 -75 MPH. Basically the car is doing pretty good. It still averages 26-27 MPG. So far:
• Just put on 3rd set of tires
• 3rd set of brake pads and 1 set of front rotors
• New struts and fuel pump at 175K
• New wheel thrust bearing at 150K
• Oil changes every 5k (Mobil 1 syn)
• Trans and radiator flush and fill every 25K
• Keep all belts and hoses changed.
The secret is to keep the fluids changed and the rubber fresh. Today’s cars will then keep working for you.

BTW – Your wheels look great.
Bob T

riored3

I am going on 40,000 miles and my 04AT Navi runs great. I have Toyo Proxes 4 tires for the last 14000 miles. The EL42s were bald at 26,000 miles ! I ride with 35lbs. of air in the tires. The roads are smooth where I travel and am hoping to get more miles out of these tires. They are 100% better than the OEMs. I am curious how you service your vehicle. Do you change the tranny fluid every 15,000 miles ? I have been using Castrol Syntec Oil in the motor.