New TL, comments, questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 123
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From: nj
New TL, comments, questions
Just picked up 04 TL on 11/29, Anthracite/quartz, 5AT, Navi, wing spoiler, aero-kit, trunk-tray & wheel locks. Demo car, 3k miles, $35,400 (including destination, before tax). My 2 month old 03 TL-S was badly damaged in an accident on 11/19, likely a totally loss (see my thread in 2nd gen forum if anyone is interested). Since I'm a repeat customer, was offered $34K for a brand new car, but had to wait till 1/04 for color I want, no dealer in N. NJ have Anthracite/Navi in stock, & virtually no discount on cars w/ nav. Need car for work so I took this demo. Would love to hear any comments on the price, especially those who bought or got offers recently.
I still like the more conservative look of the 2nd gen TL slightly better, w/ Full chrome front grill & chrome detail around windows, the rear appearance, especially the emblems, looks higher class. Also have 97'CL, sheet metal are thicker, especially noticeable on trunk lid, makes the older cars appear better made. But the 04 grows on you every time you look at it or drive it, especially w/ the interior & all the new features (too bad no more on-Star though, which was helpful in the accident). However, not happy about the location of fog lights, no stop light in spoiler, the integration of functions make future mods more difficult. Simply MHO. Love to hear any comments.
Also, some questions, appreciate any responses:
1.)The Aero (ground effect) kit that came with this car looks same as the others in pics in forums. Will take some pics & upload. Is this $1500 list kit part of the A-Spec package?
2.)Do they need to remove original body parts (front/rear bumpers, panels below doors on both sides) to install the aero kit? Since the kit was already installed, I want the original parts, but got different answers: manager told me parts were removed & mostlikely cut-up & discarded, but promised a set of all weather mats if can't find these parts. A friend who's into mod cars said these kits just install over the original body, but not positive on 04 TL.
3.)There's a circular cut on passenger side front bumper, below the headlight, about 1.5" diameter. You can see it in the pic in TL brochure. Any one know what's that for?
4.)Did anyone notice the headlights, particularly the lo beam, have yellow band around beam pattern? At 1st, I thought was fog lights, almost like the output of my PIAA Plasma-ion yellow bulbs, but the fogs were off.
I still like the more conservative look of the 2nd gen TL slightly better, w/ Full chrome front grill & chrome detail around windows, the rear appearance, especially the emblems, looks higher class. Also have 97'CL, sheet metal are thicker, especially noticeable on trunk lid, makes the older cars appear better made. But the 04 grows on you every time you look at it or drive it, especially w/ the interior & all the new features (too bad no more on-Star though, which was helpful in the accident). However, not happy about the location of fog lights, no stop light in spoiler, the integration of functions make future mods more difficult. Simply MHO. Love to hear any comments.
Also, some questions, appreciate any responses:
1.)The Aero (ground effect) kit that came with this car looks same as the others in pics in forums. Will take some pics & upload. Is this $1500 list kit part of the A-Spec package?
2.)Do they need to remove original body parts (front/rear bumpers, panels below doors on both sides) to install the aero kit? Since the kit was already installed, I want the original parts, but got different answers: manager told me parts were removed & mostlikely cut-up & discarded, but promised a set of all weather mats if can't find these parts. A friend who's into mod cars said these kits just install over the original body, but not positive on 04 TL.
3.)There's a circular cut on passenger side front bumper, below the headlight, about 1.5" diameter. You can see it in the pic in TL brochure. Any one know what's that for?
4.)Did anyone notice the headlights, particularly the lo beam, have yellow band around beam pattern? At 1st, I thought was fog lights, almost like the output of my PIAA Plasma-ion yellow bulbs, but the fogs were off.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 398
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
Re: New TL, comments, questions
Originally posted by jshih57
I still like the more conservative look of the 2nd gen TL slightly better, w/ Full chrome front grill & chrome detail around windows, the rear appearance, especially the emblems, looks higher class. Also have 97'CL, sheet metal are thicker, especially noticeable on trunk lid, makes the older cars appear better made. But the 04 grows on you every time you look at it or drive it, especially w/ the interior & all the new features (too bad no more on-Star though, which was helpful in the accident). However, not happy about the location of fog lights, no stop light in spoiler, the integration of functions make future mods more difficult. Simply MHO. Love to hear any comments.
Also, some questions, appreciate any responses:
1.)The Aero (ground effect) kit that came with this car looks same as the others in pics in forums. Will take some pics & upload. Is this $1500 list kit part of the A-Spec package?
2.)Do they need to remove original body parts (front/rear bumpers, panels below doors on both sides) to install the aero kit? Since the kit was already installed, I want the original parts, but got different answers: manager told me parts were removed & mostlikely cut-up & discarded, but promised a set of all weather mats if can't find these parts. A friend who's into mod cars said these kits just install over the original body, but not positive on 04 TL.
3.)There's a circular cut on passenger side front bumper, below the headlight, about 1.5" diameter. You can see it in the pic in TL brochure. Any one know what's that for?
4.)Did anyone notice the headlights, particularly the lo beam, have yellow band around beam pattern? At 1st, I thought was fog lights, almost like the output of my PIAA Plasma-ion yellow bulbs, but the fogs were off.
I still like the more conservative look of the 2nd gen TL slightly better, w/ Full chrome front grill & chrome detail around windows, the rear appearance, especially the emblems, looks higher class. Also have 97'CL, sheet metal are thicker, especially noticeable on trunk lid, makes the older cars appear better made. But the 04 grows on you every time you look at it or drive it, especially w/ the interior & all the new features (too bad no more on-Star though, which was helpful in the accident). However, not happy about the location of fog lights, no stop light in spoiler, the integration of functions make future mods more difficult. Simply MHO. Love to hear any comments.
Also, some questions, appreciate any responses:
1.)The Aero (ground effect) kit that came with this car looks same as the others in pics in forums. Will take some pics & upload. Is this $1500 list kit part of the A-Spec package?
2.)Do they need to remove original body parts (front/rear bumpers, panels below doors on both sides) to install the aero kit? Since the kit was already installed, I want the original parts, but got different answers: manager told me parts were removed & mostlikely cut-up & discarded, but promised a set of all weather mats if can't find these parts. A friend who's into mod cars said these kits just install over the original body, but not positive on 04 TL.
3.)There's a circular cut on passenger side front bumper, below the headlight, about 1.5" diameter. You can see it in the pic in TL brochure. Any one know what's that for?
4.)Did anyone notice the headlights, particularly the lo beam, have yellow band around beam pattern? At 1st, I thought was fog lights, almost like the output of my PIAA Plasma-ion yellow bulbs, but the fogs were off.
The aero kit is simply installed over the factory body panels. Hence the seam gaps reported by many on the front air dam.
The circular cut you noticed is for the hooking up a tow chain to tow very short distances such as getting stuck in sand, mud or snow. You use the towing hook which is in your tool case.
Have not noticed the yellow band but I will look for it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 123
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From: nj
Re: Re: New TL, comments, questions
Originally posted by HacksawHilliard
First off, there is no brake light in the spoiler due to already having one near the roof line of the rear window. The previous model had the center brake light on the bottom of the window.
The aero kit is simply installed over the factory body panels. Hence the seam gaps reported by many on the front air dam.
The circular cut you noticed is for the hooking up a tow chain to tow very short distances such as getting stuck in sand, mud or snow. You use the towing hook which is in your tool case.
Have not noticed the yellow band but I will look for it.
First off, there is no brake light in the spoiler due to already having one near the roof line of the rear window. The previous model had the center brake light on the bottom of the window.
The aero kit is simply installed over the factory body panels. Hence the seam gaps reported by many on the front air dam.
The circular cut you noticed is for the hooking up a tow chain to tow very short distances such as getting stuck in sand, mud or snow. You use the towing hook which is in your tool case.
Have not noticed the yellow band but I will look for it.
What you said about the rear brake light make sense, but I guess I'm so used to the spoilers with lights on other/previous cars I owned.
The circular cut out for towing is new to me. In my case, since I've the front air dam over the stock bumper, I hope the holes are aligned! Also, if I ever need to tow this way, I pray that the Airdam/bumper won't be damaged. Also, why not on both sides of bumper, like most cars (under bumper), & to make it look symmetrical? Or at least 1 hole in center instead? Finally, after towing, can the piece of the cut-out be used again to cover up the hole?
The yellow band or hue on top of headlight beam pattern is very noticeable when aimed at white surface, at close distance. I've never seen any HID headlights like this, wonder is it just my car?
TL-SHAWD 6MT Rocks!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
some people recommend removing the front air dam before using the towing hook. And yes, the round plug can be placed back to cover the hole.
The HID lights are very similar to the BMW HID, after all they used the 5 Series as the model for the new TL. That's why it looks so good. They are both similar in a way.
The HID lights are very similar to the BMW HID, after all they used the 5 Series as the model for the new TL. That's why it looks so good. They are both similar in a way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: nj
Originally posted by NOX 3.2
The HID lights are very similar to the BMW HID, after all they used the 5 Series as the model for the new TL. That's why it looks so good. They are both similar in a way.
The HID lights are very similar to the BMW HID, after all they used the 5 Series as the model for the new TL. That's why it looks so good. They are both similar in a way.
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