galfert

I went to service my 02 TLS and when I got my car back this past week there were a couple 04 TL cars parked out front. So I parked my 02 TLS next to one and took these pictures with my Nokia 3650.

galfert

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galfert

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driver

From the front I like the look of TL-S with the aero kit but like the wider tires of the new TL.

I wounder how they compare from the side and rear?

NsX Pilot

pretty good for a phone cam

galfert

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driver

Can't compare the rear from that photo.

I bet that TL-S would like much better with those fat tires on new TL.

galfert

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Master-G

Now that I see them side by side, I have no doubt that the TL-S looks much better, IMO. Now if I could only get the new TL's interior in my 02' Type S........

galfert

Those are all the pictures I took.

Yeah not bad for a camera phone. It is nice having a camera always on you. The Nokia 3650 is one of the best camera phones out there. Same Phone that was used in the very first Spy Shots of the 04 TL in Torrence CA.

I hadn't seen any side by side comparisons so I decided to post these pictures. To those getting the new 04 TL best of luck to you all. For me I'm keeping my 02 for a while. I personally think the 04 has great things to offer but as for looks I think the 04 is a step down ...for me personally anyway. I'm a gadget freak and believe me I would love the new Navi, and Bluetooth and Brembos, XM built in, and all the other improvements.....But to me anyway the 04 is not as classy looking. It is smaller (although bigger inside), and the lines are sportier but not more elegant than my 02. All I'm trying to say is this....to a lay person if they were to see both of these cars side by side they would think the 04 was less expensive, too much like the TSX and the Accords (because of size and design).

Oh well don't anyone flame me. Just my opinion and maybe just because I own an 02 and I want to still feel good about it. But I have shown not just these pictures but brochure pictures to my folks and they thought 04 was a lesser car just based on looks and they wern't trying to be nice. My 02 is 100% paid for and I could jump into the 04 if indeed I liked it better.

driver

I own a paid off 2002 TL-S too and I'm with you. Although I believe the new TL is better car I just don't think it's worth it to upgrade especially the trade-in $ offered by the dealer I been seeing on the forum.

Tommy

I would echo Galfert's and Driver's sentiment. I own a 2002-TL and I just love the front look. I thought the 02 back could be more aggressive, but I don't think I like the big ass of the 04. I also like the 02 being 6-1/2 inches longer. I am keeping my 02!!

EmuMessenger

Wow, those pictures did not make me feel so bad about having an 03 TLS-Navi. Minus the rear spoiler and moonroof visor, I thought I was looking at my car.

I think I like the current front a little better.

Great pics. Gets me excited for the 3620, it will have 4x digital zoom.

BTW, Galfert, do you have a belt clip/holster for your phone?

1SICKLEX

Hey, this is great work. Not bad for a camera phone. Great idea!

Sundance CL-S

I think they both look great!

galfert

No I don't have a belt clip. I just stuff the phone in my front pocket. I have big pockets. A bit bulky but I don't mind. I can't wait for the Nokia 6600...it will be smaller.

Looking back I realized that I missed a good side view shot of both cars. I only really got front and rear shots, and partial side shots. Oh well.

neuronbob

I think both cars look great. I love the new one's gadgets and interior more, though. If I had a) bought a TL-S/navi in the first place (upgraded from TL-P), and b) had the interior of the 2004 in the 2002, I wouldn't have upgraded.

ntls

These picture prove what I thought when I went to see the 04. It lacks the prestige and class that got me to buy an 02TL-S. The new TL is hot, don't get me wrong, but it's the kind of "hot" that should be the new Malibu, or the next Camry. There are so many cool features that got me excited about it, but over all, I don't think the exterior design stacks up to the comp. It so American!! The TL and CL coupe will always be a a timeless classy design that also has that sport appeal. 04TL is only sporty... no class.

acuraddict

I agree with this guy and all the others that favor their cars to the 04. I'd love to trade in my '02 Type S for something that really excited me, but unfortunately Acura failed to come up with it.

I kind of like the current Infinity M45...perhaps a certified pre-owned one will entice me at some point. Hell, I'll probably end up keeping my '02 for a few more years at this rate.

galfert

It seems that we are not getting very many people trying to argue the general concensus that has been expresses in this thread so far. So either everyone is agreeing that the 04 TL is not as nice looks wise....or the 04 TL lovers are just choosing to ignore this thread.

I'm not trying to knock the 04 TL. I think it is a fine automobile and it has a lot to offer that I think would definately be nice to have in a car and it is offered at a good price and all the important things like company reliability are definately there. The only point I think we are all agreeing on here is that looks wise it may be sporty but not elegance nor class.

hooked2TL

I think that if you were to show the front comparison photo to someone knowing nothing about the TL, they'd say that the 04 is the "older" design looks wise. The 02 03 is more distinctive from the front. The 04 front just doesn't stand out as much, and the back, don't like the license plate up there.

waymay1305

What was the interior color of the 04 TL? How did it look, in your opinion?

drgn65

Personally, I like my 03 TL better than this one. I'd love to have the interior and engine of the '04 but I really love the exterior of my 03 TL.

jmichaelp

Here's how I would rate them:

Front = TL-S
Rear = 04 TL
Side = tossup
Overall = 04 TL (the design is loking a little dated)
Interior = 04 TL
Power = 04 TL

sc354

honestly guys, the '02 TL-S from the front is 10x nicer. I can't believe what they did to the '04, they slottered the front.

hehehehe, I'm so happy I have the '03.

fsconsult

Having had both the 2nd generation and now the 2004 TL, I can definitely say that the 2004 blows the 2nd generation under water. Picture does not do the 2004 justice. Especially on a dark car. It does not show the curves on this car. Look at it in person and then decide...(by the way...I'm not saying that the 2nd generation was an eye sore...it was very nice...just more conservative) 2004 definitely more on the sporty side. Matter of taste I guess...

my 2cents

sc354

I've seen the '04TL not only in pictures, but in two of probably the most popular colours, the Nighthawk Black, and white diamond pearl, and I can safely say, the A-Spec blows it out of the water. Sure maybe your interior is nicer, but I think when my A-Spec is shining after I polished, waxed, clayed etc...there's nothing like it!

steve29

i like the 02 better styling wise

ABLUETYPES78

02 tls better exterior for sure

vtechbrain

I just traded in a Tl's for a 6spd. I'm happy to say the new car design is much nicer than the old one from every angle. While my old TL brought only one positive admirer the entire time I owned it 2.5 years. Everywhere I stop with the new one people want to hear about it. I liked my previous TL, I love this 6 spd. Congratulations Acura on a job magnificently done!

garylee55

Actually, I think the '04 really makes the '02 look old...even if the '04 is rather bland looking. But, in person, the '04 looks sharp, even with the Pontiac rear on it.

JonDeutsch

The old TL was too "Oldsmobile" for me. Extended front and rear overhangs screamed "soccer dad" -- not an image I want to portray at 34 (no kids ).

So, for me, the new TL design is a breath of fresh air. It's really sporty, but has that touch o' class that Acura finishes their designs with (Pontiac front plate and wrap-around rear tailights aside :\).

Ultimately, Acura has a new look, and it's the look of the 04 TL/TSX. I expect to see this trickle up and down over the years, just like BMW and Mercedes do.

The 02/03 TLs were never for me, but they obviously were for many, many other people who may not really like the new TL for the same reasons they chose the OLD TL!

To that end, I'm frankly shocked that they kept the TL name. It should be the TLX.

Jon

HHH

From the exterior stand point, it would be better if both cars were the same colour (say SSM to bring out the curvers more), and if BOTH cars either had the skirt package or both DO NOT have the skirt package.
The aero kit enhances the look by a lot IMO ...

Tajam

IMO the 04 is better in every angle..... I parked next to a 02 TL the other day, and the 04 blows it away, Acura did a good job changing it.
Also the pics posted, I think are the worst pics of the 04 TL I've seen. The 04 looks alot better in person.

vtec 6300

I think the '04 TL front end looks like a more chiseled up version of the '98-'00 Accord front end. The front end doesn't spark up any emotions. It looks as if the front end is frowning at you just like the rear end of the '03-'04 Accord sedan. The '02-'03 TL front end is alot more aggressive and I like it alot. The '04 TL headlights look kinda small and the dual openings of the front bumper looks weird and ugly in my opinion. The side profile of the new TL needs some chrome around the window like that of the 2nd gen TL because without it, it looks downright cheap. The rear end styling of the new TL is somewhat bland, although the '02-'03 TL is rather bland as well from the back and I too do not like the license plate up there as it cheapens the look of the car. The square-shaped dual exhaust outlets are too American looking and doesn't look right on a Japanese car. And some of the members are right about the comparison of the green '04 TL next to the silver '02-'03 TL. Dark colors don't show the lines and curves of a car well. I think the best colors that bring out the natural beauty of the car is Desert Mist Metallic and Satin Silver Metallic.

samzilla

that's the Courtesy Acura in sanford, right? yeah, that's TL they test drive... pretty sweet, i want to check out the new nav ... they don't have any in stock nor do they have any TSX's

SLVR04TL6PD

I like the front of the 03 TL because of the lower fog lights. I like the sides of the 04 because the lines are neat and the handles fall into place, as well as the side marker lights. The overall shape of the 04 is nicer because it flows from one piece to another nicely. I like the flared wheel arches on the 04. I Love the crystal clear/ red TL type S '03 taillights. But I like the high back flat bumper of the 04.

To those of you disappointed with the 04, it could be worse. Acura could have hired Chris Bangle as the designer :lol2: ( he is BMW's chief designer and designed the new 5 and 7 series into that ugly Korean-car look-a-like)

galfert

YEP thats where the pictures came from. I was waiting for someone to recognize it.

lamster

I think this was Acura's intention when it re-designed the TL. They've made the car sporiter because they wanted to target a slightly different group of buyers.
Personally, the old TL looks too traditional and long for me. Very classy but the shape makes it look old and slow.

sc354

It only looks old and slow, but s*it this car flies. It's a sleeper man. You get these kids who pull up in their Civics running a CAI, and they think they're gonna rape you off the line. As soon as the light turns green, you stay with him for about 1.5 seconds, and then he becomes ever so small in your rear view mirror, and that little wannabe TL guy turns left to avoid racing you a second time.

that's the thrill of owning a TL.