Hi all, I'm new to the community and want to thank everyone on this site for providing such incredible information without which I would never have been able to confidently buy my TL. I bought my 2008 Carbon Bronze Pearl (I think that's the color... it's greyish) just east of St. Louis for $16000 ($18995 sticker, talked em down and got a 2 year 24k warranty as well) with 78000 miles on it. I felt pretty confident that was a good deal, but I'd like your opinions. It's in stellar condition visually (only one minor chip in the finish on the hood and the driver door handle has some paint worn off on the inside portion) and has an excellent care history with records of all maintenance performed. No accidents evident or reported.

My initial concern was that it was a little high in mileage (driven about 17k per year) but the reliability and endurance record of Honda/Acura quelled that quickly. The transmission can shift a little awkwardly at slow speeds from time to time. It's like it's anticipating my moves before I do them and slowing me down while I coast and sometimes shifts a tiny bit rough. Not very hard... just harder than I'd expect from luxury sedan (but I'm being very picky). Especially from 3rd to 4th gear. The 08 has the CL transmission upgrade in it, should I still change the pressure switches? I've read that this is probably just the nature of the transmission and that Honda transmissions can feel a little rougher with age but that it's not a sign it's going bad. Thoughts? I did do a 3x3 with a mixture of Redline fluids (racing, lightweight racing, and D4 as described on this forum) and it helped a lot. The old fluid was burnt. The previous owner had changed the fluid around 30k. I know the stiff shifting is normal with that kind of mixture and I like it - just wanted any thoughts on the tranny to help settle my mind or give me advice on better maintaining it.

One more thing, the ride is stiff. How stiff is too stiff for this car? I don't mind the stiffness as long as I know nothing is wrong. I can definitely feel the shape of the road beneath me well enough to draw you a picture of it but when I hit an actual bump the car takes it surprisingly well and smoothly. The insides of the tires are a bit worn though and I'm wondering what I should have the mechanic look at in the suspension that may be old or showing signs of age at 78k that might cause the tire wear. Of course an alignment will help too but I've been reading scary things about the back wheels causing extreme wear on the inside half of the tires. Is there a fix for that that's been established? I've only seen some conflicting opinions

 

hjmm...i've had 3 x 08 bases and now a typeS.

The 08 base has the 'softest' ride of all 3G versions... mind you, i dont know the quality of your streets and all... but i' never found the ride to be stiff at all unless i was driving on a terribly beat up street.

 

I should mention that the tires are a bit worn and I attribute some of the light vibration I feel to that. Should have had them throw in a new set of tires... I'm new to the car buying game :P I want to get the Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires next. I like the reviews and like the price even more

 

It all depends on where you are coming from. If you transition from Honda to Acura or from other Acura to Acura it feels like TL is the best and softest luxury, BUT if you come from a luxury car it feels like you just stepped in poop.

 

Haha well I'm coming from an old 2000 Chrysler Cirrus with 148k. The ride in that car wasn't quite as stiff (but it was hardly tuned to take hard corners... heck it had 134 hp) but it didn't take true bumps and pot holes nearly as well as the tl. Also, I was borrowing an '89 Buick Le Sabre recently that felt like a hovercraft. I could have gone off the road and not have felt it lol

 

Acura TL is a great car and you'll love driving.

 

Welcome Applescrappler.

 

at least... I think its CBP... can anyone verify what color this is? the CBP and the PMM look so similar to me

 

look inside your door, the color code will be there.

 

DOH ok. didn't know thanks!

 

from the pic looks like cbp to me

 

Yeah i think so too... Can't find the color code in the door. What am i looking for?

Nvm find it. Cbp it is

 

Welcome

 

It does look CBP but I do not see the carbon in the light but hard to tell by those pictures.

Good looking car.

 

welcome to the site, you can register your color here https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/tl-owners-please-chime-855960/ thnx.

 

Welcome-congrats on your new ride.

 

Thanks for all the responses and welcomes guys! I hope to contribute to this forum for a long time to come