So if the Acura TL is supposed to be Luxury... Why don't the lights turn on automatically and the doors lock when tou put the car in drive??

The reason I ask this is because I had a 2001 Camaro before the 2004 TL and it did all of that.

What do you guys think? Hell this may even be something it can do but just needs to be programmed! If anyone knows or has any insight to this let me know.

 

using the controls under the gauges you can set it so that the doors lock according to the gear you're in. unfortunately there is no auto feature for the headlights

 

Auto headlights for years has been something GM has done. Honda only recently made this standard in US cars.

Auto doorlocks are programmable in the TL, once again something GM has been doing for years.

Personally I don't like either feature, I'd rather be in charge of my vehicles operation.

 

We do have auto headlight. Just leave them in the Auto mode and they will turn off by themselves when you turn the engine off and when you start it back up the lights will be on. As far as the doors locking, that you can program in the setup screen.

 

The early models didn't come with the Auto headlights. That is just something that we 08 owners can enjoy (not sure if the 07 models have it too... the probably do)

 

my 07 Type-S has auto headlights. also auto door lock/unlock. OP time to upgrade to a newer model.

 

all 2004-2008 TL's can be programmed to either have the locks engage when it is either shifted from park or when it reaches 10MPH. As well, they can unlock when the shifter is returned to park.

Honda's view on the auto headlights is probably the same as my views; is it that hard to reach over and turn the knob when it is raining or when it's starting to get dark out? Is it worth the extra cost to the consumer, I doubt it. However people are making huge deals about this missing from an entry luxury vehicle so honda added it in in 2007. My 7 has it, however I just turn the lights on manually....

 

I hear ya! My 1997 Camaro had DRL and automatic headlights. (And Camaro's aren't known for lots of features..) But does my 2005 Acura TL come with it? NO! kinda screwed up aint it! but however the doors do lock automatically at 10mph which is where I set it.. However, for almost 10 years of progress, the Acura TL actually "digressed" in technology when it comes to headlights.

 

i never really liked the auto headlight system.

i was taught to always have my headlights on, day, night, rain, snow, zombies.... doesn't matter, i will always be seen.

i don't get why people don't just turn on their lights. i don't buy the "to save hid hours" because that doesn't really matter... if you have them use them.

 

Acura's HID system in the TL are probably the 2nd best in automotive history! The projector the HID system uses are unbelievably powerful, that's why many TL's have their headlights stolen! Turn your HID's on next to another non-acura car and you'll see the difference in light output and sharpness. Acura has far progressed in the category of Headlights. However they did take a step back in accounting for laziness....

 

omg what about auto wipers!!! What if it rains but you as the driver don't know it? Always leave the wipers running so your always prepared. And for headlights turn them off or use high beams.

sorry couldn't resist but some options on cars are retarded in my opinion. The auto headlights are crap, I tested with mine and in pretty heavy rain they don't come on. And people should have some judgement when driving if rotating a knob for headlights is too much ride the bus.
To me a luxury car is the quality of the ride, the powertrain response and the fit and finish. You want gadgets get a hyundai and save yourself some cash.

 

Yep the HID's are great...My friend uses the projectors from the tsx and tl for his retrofits on other cars.

 

 

Auto door locks are NOT a luxury feature. They are a nuisance and I disabled that feature in the keyless settings. Because with a luxury car, you can choose

 

yes I do like the HID headlights too. just seemed weird there is no DRL until you get into the 07 model. but I guess there some advantage to turning them on the old fashioned way. Because you can run with you parking lights on at anytime and not have the headlights come on automatically, so at dusk, you can be extra cool. haha

 

people here are misinformed. i think cars now have the auto headlight feature because i have seen numerous drivers forget to turn their lights on when needed and forget to turn their lights off when needed. so when the driver forgets, the car remembers. its not really a matter of laziness to turn a damn knob lol.

 

I'm guessing that 1st best is Range Rover, cuz the HIDs on that car are unbelievably bright and sharp, with a very cool purplish tinge.

But yeah, the TL's have great HIDs for a car in this price point.

 

ya, you're right, forgetting to turn your lights on when you need them isn't lazy it's retarded, I appologize for calling those drivers lazy, I should have said retarded.

as far as leaving the lights on when you leave the car, well I can see how that can happen, but there's this thing in my car, cuz it's a super extra mega luxury model, that goes "ding ding ding" when i leave my lights on and they key is out.

 

We Canadians have DRL but no fogs

 

The auto lights is kind of annoying, but I could give a shit about the doors automatically locking.

 

IMO auto lights are annoying. Some drivers just dont pay attention I guess? I will admit I have forgotten to turn on my headlights once or twice when I first got the TL because of the gauge cluster. its tricky. Coming from my old car my gauge cluster would dim when I turned on my lights the TL's is consistent lol. But anyway I usually catch it by the time I get to the exit of the parking lot.

 

my 05 has auto lights off, if i leave the lights on and lock the car, the lights will go off

if i unlock the car, the lights turn on...

who said we didn't have auto lights.. they are auto ON all the time

 

Go to C&D and read about Auto wipers in their long test on the Lexus IS F... the auto wipers got screwed while in the car wash...

They broke it and had to bring in to the dealership to fix it....

 

This topic surfaces every once in a while and normally the same replies, so I'll add to my post count.

The older TLs are way behind times without the Auto Headlights that has been out for decades. We can all say it's retarded as has been stated, but why have power mirrors, the older cars had stalks that could be adjusted manually, why have automatic climate control, that can be done manually, why have power seats as they can be adjusted manually, etc. It's all about convenience. As this was the first car in 15 years that didn't have the auto lights, the problem I found getting used to the manual lights is to remember to turn them on, especially with the lighted dash during the day, as that gives an impression that the lights are on.

 

People who "can't remember" to turn on their lights when it gets dark really shouldn't be driving.

 

Think ourside the box! Didn't say when it got dark, the lights need to be on with the wipers, it's a state law here in NJ.
Your avatar serves you well.

 

auto headlights are stupid I think. if you forget to turn your headlights on then seriously what are you thinking about while you are driving? If you are not thinking about driving you are a danger on the road IMO.

 

My 2006 has a Headlight auto-off timer setting in the MID: 0 seconds, 15, 30 or even 60. Can't you use that to accomplish this purpose?

I don't think it's such a hardship turning on the lights manually. I guess you can just leave the lights on and have the car turn them off for you. The weak battery and extra on/off cycles for the HIDs will be a cost issue over time, but at least you don't have to turn on the lights any more.

 

nope, the last time I checked I think it was the Lexus LS projectors (430) because what it does is take the light that gets cut off and diverts it to the sides so you can see all the way on the side of the car for better pedestrian saftey.... Plus it looks better.

Projectors are rated highly not just due to their sharpness/brightness, there are tons of factors...

 

Auto headlights are annoying. I do like when the go on when im in a tunnel. But driving under the shadow of a tree should not turn them on... off on off on off

 

Most features that you would get on BMW and Mercedes are stupid though. Like the lights that pivot when you turn the wheel. Thats useless. LAne departure, sideview cameras, rain sensing wipers, massage seats, coolbox in the backseat etc etc. All these are meant for two things. To rip you off and for incompetent drivers.

 

eh... my car does this already.

 

I guess you don’t practice what you preach. You could have killed somebody:

Talk about brain fade!

 

You want some cheese with that whine?

What next, maybe the car should auto detect when there's a curve up ahead and steer itself, because I can't remember to turn the steering wheel myself!

 

LOL..

[sarcasm]My life is sooooooooooooooo much better with the Auto Light feature on the 08 TL [/sarcasm]

You should know when you need them and just turn the darn switch on..

 

Actually the pivot cameras are not bad ideas. Deusenburg (sp?) was the first company to use it as I recall. Not all features are meant to "rip you off" as you state. Some features are actually useful. Its nice to have headlights that pivot a bit when your turning into a blind corner. Sideview cameras are useful if you live in a congested area or need to park in narrow areas and cant see a curb or parking at the side of a mountain (hey you never know lol). They used to be controlled by sirens or bumper poles for clearance on older vehicles. But the rest of the stuff in your list I find useless.

 

You know what 2 things really get to me...

#1: you drive around in some rain everyone has their wipers going thanfurther up your out of the storm, dry pavement no precipitation for over mile and you still see some imbecils with wipers on low and even hi. I mean seriously the driver is too figgin preoccupied to realize the rain stoped? That just blows me away.

#2: there is some rain enough that I have my wipers on low and headlights on, then you find mr. Or mrs panic with wipers fullblast their retnas glued to the windshield whine knuckles holding on to that wheel and no headlights, oh and preferably in a silver car staying properly in someones blind spot.

I also don't understand why people turn on their hazard when it rains but still keep driving with traffic (including speed and lane changes). Hazards are if your on the side of the road people!!!! When driving, signaling lane changes is a lot more usefull to other drivers. And obviously headlights on!

For a few years I had a long commute to client sites and man I saw all sorts of stupid people driving through rain. Here in Florida it seems like both rain and beautiful sunshine brings out the worst in drivers.

 

Sorry, but if you need all those "safety features" that I listed to drive a car, then you should surrender your license. Therefore, they are a means for car companies to charge more for their product. I don't need 6 cameras on my car to see around me. I don't need night vision to see at night. And I sure as hell don't need that "head up display" to see what is right in front of my face.

 

Good for you. Maybe I should? Coming from old ass cars with no assistance maybe I should...You might be Michael Schumacher but the other 90% of people that dont pay half as much attention on the road dont care about whatever you think....When consumers demand something the dealer will work it in a vehicle...Its all about money. Anyone can say something is useless it still does not matter as long as the dealer is making money. Side mirrors sure I would gladly take one if I had some big ass truck or car where I had to squeeze in a small spot. And I wouldnt mind some safety features in my car...The only time I dont need those is whenever I go to a road course if not the local autocross...Im not gonna be paying the price with a car with no safety when some dumbass that cant drive hits me on the street...You might think your the best driver on the road but just takes that one dumbass next to you to slip and fuck your day up. So yes maybe I should surrender my license for these pointless safety features.

 

I love these threads, 99% of the time the features that are said to suck are the very ones you don't have. There is a similar one running on the 4G board about air conditioned seats.

Interesting thing my Ford Expedition, basically a 6,000lb truck, has the following things you really don't need that are nice to have but not available in my 06 TL & to be fair some of which are not available on my BMW's either.

BTW things you really don't need but are nice to have are generally described as luxuries & the TL is a wannabe luxury car.

Auto headlights, Power auto pedals, Air conditioned seats, Seats automatically move back for entry & exit then return to the memory position, Power fold side mirrors, Rain sensing wipers, Heated second row seats & 6AT.

Thing on the rain sensing wipers that is nice in not that they turn on/off automatically but that they constantly adjust to the amount of water on the window, great in fog or light rain