scrapface

So, I took my mom's 2008 Lexus IS250 AWD out for a little spin tonight to compare it to my 2007 TL. Comparing the IS to the TL got me thinking ..... If you were a project manager for Acura and you were designing the 3G TL back in the day, what two FACTORY features would you add to the car to make it even better?

I'm not talking about aftermarket mods. I mean which two factory features/improvements would you have added to the design of the 04-08 TL. A few choices to choose from that come to mind would include, all wheel drive, factory turbo or supercharger, 6 or 7 speed AT, adaptive cruise control, heads-up display, adaptive headlights, cooled/ventilated seats, heated rear seats, real wood trim, higher resolution Navigation screen, higher quality interior materials (especially higher quality leather), etc.

Don't get me wrong, I love my NBP 07 TL 5AT! I prefer to drive it over the 2008 IS250 any day of the week. However, I could help but notice how much softer and higher quality the leather in my mom's IS250 was. The dash and the steering wheel of the Lexus also had a much higher quality feel to it.

Obviously, adding certain factory features to the TL would price it right out of it's target range, so the point is to be reasonable, just for the fun of this discussion. I think my two factory upgrades to add would be:

1. All Wheel Drive
2. Higher quality leather

What say you???

Bearcat94

Why?

We're two years away from the 5G, 'changing' the 3G TL doesn't even qualify as wishful thinking. The 3G TL's pros and cons are well known; we don't need to rehash them and or make up more do we?

M3F3

well ^^^.........? I thought it was a good idea for a thread... I think if I had to pick 2 options for my 3GTL it would definitely be AWD and believe it or not, a larger selection/nicer designed stock body kits to choose from. I've never been a fan of the A-Spec front lip, if anything I think the 07-08 stock bumper is a lot nicer. If I had to cheat and pick a 3rd I definitely think it would be better quality leather, but that goes unsaid because I think EVERY 3GTL owner would say that haha

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

If I wanted AWD, I would have gotten an AWD car
If I want better leather, I'll install better leather

Everything I wished it had...is on it now.

IamaTL

a damn aux port in 06 models! that is all

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

USA Spec Interface. DO NOT use soundgate.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I like my i-simple...but that's not my answer.

1) RWD
2) 100 more HP and 20 more mpg.

Hey, if we're living in a fantasy world, I'm going to ask for fantasy sh*t!

scrapface

Bearcat, my intent was not to beat the dead horse that is the "pros and cons" of the 3g TL. I agree with you that that is well documented on this forum.

I can only speak for myself, but sometimes I sit in my car (or someone else car), and think, "Damn, this is a really nice vehicle ... But, I wonder why this feature or that feature didn't make the cut as either an included option or an available option on that specific model". I find it interesting to think about how car manufacturers produce so many models and how each manufacturer tries to both share features between their models AND keep certain features available for only their most upscale models.

In the idea of keeping the thread realistic, I would not say I would like to see a supercharged V8 with an 8 speed AT that achieved 35+ mpg. However, a couple other features come to mind:

1. Adaptive cruise control
2. Cooled front seats

Anybody have another vehicle with adaptive cruise control? How handy is it if you do a lot of miles on the highway???

Bearcat94

This is kind of what I was getting at. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade.

What I'm trying to say is that this car has been out for quite a long time. It's only available on the used market. If you want different features than what the 3G TL offers, there are many other cars you can shop .... BMW's, Audi's, Infiniti's, Lexii, etc.

So if AWD is on your "wish list", maybe an Audi or BMW xi is the car you should/should have looked at.

Buying new, the options might've been more limited based on your budget - the 3G TL was a very good value new. But in the used market, I think, there are more options that may have those "wish list" features AND still be affordable.


Carry on fella's; no offense intended.

BeezleTL85

Auto pilot, a BJ machine, and a panini press.


wait thats 3

pohljm

Mine are way more practical in nature.
folding rear seat!
tighter turning radius!

scrapface

No offense taken Bearcat

I think one point I'm trying to make, albeit not very clearly, is that sometimes car companies could make a car sooo much better by adding just a couple, sometimes minor, features.

I love the TL, that's why I got it. And I agree it is a great value in it's segment!

Bearcat94

:hmmm:

You should've got the Type-S, 'cause I got all that.


Well, the panini maker was a gift from the salesman, not built in, but the TL-S has the other stuff.

Healingduck

RWD and rear folding seats off the top of my head.

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

Get rid of the retro tape deck and make an ipod/iphone dock.

mY sLOW UA6

Arosemore07

heated steering wheel.

that is all

DaeHanMeenGuk

^This. AUX cable is nice but it'd be nicer to have the ipod integration without having to buy and install aftermarket products.

BukvaMan

More low end torque and rwd

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

The car is perfect as is.

Now my wife wishes it had vibrating seats.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

RWD and less torque steer.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I wish the TL could fly.

parasitius

Wish I could use it to somehow get chicks,

Also, the nav display should have factory HDMI in.. common, an additional plug adds what $.30 to the car cost?

And finally, the g-damn "5.1" DVD-A system should be able to play my freaking Opeth 5.1 DVD's which only after they arrived I found out they are DVD-Video inspite of the fact that it is JUST MUSIC. So now I have to find a way to make copies that are DVD-A format compliant, really annoying

(In fact out of all the DVD audio cd's I explicitly ordered for this car, only one is actually DVD-A compliant: Katatonia)

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you're doing it wrong.

subinf

Folding rear seats and auto headlights

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

i wish the TL had a mini fridge.

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

+1

parasitius

you're doing it wrong

I haven't mucked with a headlight switch since the day i bought the car... 3G TL right? Dont' tell me it is TL-S only feature

LockDots

RWD and a magic exhaust that poops little rabbits on the race track

jeeva86

One year away :P

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

Run for President!

opboarding

hahahaha

We had a thread on the 2G tsx with almost the same topic, and it basically turned into "I hate my car because it doesn't have *insert unrealistic feature* ". So I ended up saying almost the same things as you justin.

I like how you 3G guys are so happy with your cars and aren't listing out every imaginable tiny thing that isn't perfect. Acura obviously did way more right than wrong with the 3g tl.

Fatfrii

how bout a normal freaking ECU!!!!!!!

geekybiker

RWD and about 1000lbs lighter without giving up any of the size or luxury.

Pghpizzaman

power folding mirrors i hate that my maxima had them. this car has heated mirrors that i will most likely never use.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Some felt padding between interior panels so the car wouldn't sound like it's going to break at the seams every time I hit a bump in the road. Damn rattles........

one4all

Just got my TL and love it! The two (biggest) things I would change:

1. Aux audio input (big gripe!!!)
2. An SS auto that doesn't shift from 1st to 2nd at 2,000rpm in 'manual' mode

Another very minor change would be to have the auto on/off headlamps that my mom's MDX has. Otherwise it's as close to perfection as possible for the $$$.

LaCostaRacer

I like that one- haven't heard about any rear wheel drive cars with torque steer before.

When I was buying my car in 2006, I patiently waited for the Type-S to come out and wished it had AWD so it was desirable to me then and still is.

My picks are: AWD & Lexus like quiet interior (no road noise in particular).

Everything else is great. I have learned to cope with the lack of a folding seat over the years and it's less important than it seemed in 06. The interior design is still very good with the exception of the tape deck.

cpm06wdptl

What's all the hype about auto on/ off headlights? My old Grand Prix had them and I hated them. Also it's really not too hard to turn on your headlights manually On that note I guess I would like to see cooled seats and bluetooth streaming audio capabilities

Healingduck

I have a Type-S and it has it, but I thought it was a feature for all 07-08 models.