I am seriously considering the A-spec conversion for my 5AT, and wanted opinions if this is worth doing. Thanks.

 

I think it is worth doing if you like the look and are willing to have a more "sporty" ride. If that's worth $5-6k to you, do it, there are many happy people on this forum who have done it.

I didn't care for the appearance package and only wanted the performance of the suspension, so I found that alone (miraculously) and had that installed alone.

 

Yes, I definitely think it was worth it.

 

I plan on installing the ASpec suspension in a few months, I am adding wheels and tires this month (hopefully) and have wait a little bit :'( before I spend more money (spent too much on my vacation last week) .

I already have the body kit and deck spoiler.

 

Did you read Bob's review? Sorry I don't have the link, look up ASPEC. I found that very informative. I have test driven an A-SPEC and although slightly more road feel, it is nice. Corners better, and that is something I need coming from RWD. I have done a side by side comparison with an A-SPEC at my work, and the body kit is not worth the money, but the suspension/springs/ whatever you want to call them is. I plan to get the just the suspension (hopefully) like Bob, and most likely the lip spoiler. The wing spolier looks fine, but too eye catching and Pontiac Grand Prix reminiscent for me. FUnny thing, my car got in an accident 2 weeks ago, and so did the ASPEC.....look out NBP owners

 

i dont have the aspec and i personally cant say wether its worth it or not. but i gotta imagine(someone back me up here) for the same money you can piece together some aftermarket with some stock parts and have something faster, nicer and sporttier. for example, spend 2-3K on aftermarket 18's or 19's. spend 1k, on stock or aftermarket suspension. then spend 1k on brakes and another thousand on intake,exhaust, headers etc(when avaible) you wont have an "aspec" but for the same money as someone who did go with the aspec, you have a nicer more custom car

 

HECK YES

 

Waste of money, IMO. I definitely like it more than no A-spec, but 5k-6k is a waste for getting no added performance.

My recommendation is to take the 5k-6k and buy CAI, the body kit, the spoiler, 18 inch Ron Jon rims (or something else), Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires, and comptech springs. A car like that would out-handle and out-perform an A-spec car (CAI, comptechs) and you wouldn't spend nearly as much.

 

I guess you know more about suspension tuning than Makoto Tamamura who designed the NSX chassis, because the TL A-SPEC is his baby...

It's called cognitive dissonance, you employ it to justify what you have or don't...

And another thing...

A-SPEC can be purchased under your original car loan (no cash outlay after the fact) and is covered under the factory warranty.

 

Comptech parts are convered under the warranty and the CAI won't void anything because the dealer can't refuse service unless it is clear that the CAI caused the problem (IE water in the engine).

In fact, I could afford the A-spec kit, so I'm not badmouthing A-spec because I'm jealous of it. There are just better options out there. The A-spec wheels look horrible on SSM (most people agree with that), the CAI actually adds performance, the kit/spoiler could be bought online for a huge savings, and the Comptech springs give the car a full inch drop and give it better handling. They were designed specifially for the 04TL as well, by a respected aftermarket company that knows what they're doing. They may not be as "refined" as Makoto Tamamura, but they are sportier. Acura didn't make the A-spec suspension as sporty because they wanted to sell more of them and people wouldn't buy it if it dropped the car more and made it an even stiffer suspension, and good decision on them, because they would have sold even less.

Just for kicks;

CAI - 215 shipped.
RJ 18s - 1000
Comptech Springs - ~250
Body Kit - ~1000 installed
Spoiler - 350 installed (wing)
Tires - ~700 (?)

Thats about 3500 bucks, and installing all of it definitely wouldn't cost 1500 (and the body kit I listed the installed price). I'm not bashing your decision, I mean its offered for a reason and people buy it for a reason. I was just looking for more, and designing my own A-spec kit will give me that. Aftermarket companies exist for a reason, because they give you more than the factory will give you. You'll never be able to find an Acura OEM CAI or anything. And things like the wheels are personal preference I guess, but I don't love them, and wouldn't put them on my SSM.

I guess its all subjective really. If you're willing to buy performance tuned parts and put them in one by one, and even pay less but use more time, then you don't get A-spec. If you want a quick sporty addition to your car, without going over, I guess A-spec is worth it. I just don't think its worth 5-6k, for any reason at all.

 

I just took delivery today of a 6mt navi A-spec and must say I am VERY VERY pleased!!! The car turns heads like no ones business, handles great, and rides like a dream. I have a buddy who just took delivery of a 5at no A-spec, and while it is nice, it is not an A-Spec :fingerfawk:

All in all a VERY worthy update to an already great car!!!

 

I saw A-spec on ebay for 4000 but thats still without install. I guess that is reasonable though if you want A-spec. I still don't think its worth it unless you get it cheaper. /shrug

And like I said, I agree its a great update and I bet it does the job, its just not worth the price tag, IMO.

 

 

i'm going with just the ground effects, comptech springs and some aftermarket lightweight 18inch wheels...... and and and and maybe brembos

 

Add up the parts list and compare to aftermarket equivalents and $4K is a pretty good deal. If you don't want all the parts (steering wheel, body kit) or want different parts (wheels), then that's another story. I think it's a good value for what you get when dealers price it fairly.

 

A-Spec TL's like CAI's too.

 

One word of advice....use Ebay to your advantage! I printed out and brought in the Ebay add and told the dealer they could match it or I would walk, needless to say they matched it.

Also as a side note all of the parts are now available seperately on Ebay as well. I would recommend the suspension, it is quite a bit tighter than the stock offering.

Either way you can't go wrong!!

 

NO CAI FOR YOU! j/k :P - Once you add CAI you're spending another 215-250. But anyway.

I guess A-spec just isn't for me. I love it, and I would definitely take it, but there are parts I don't like (wheels) or parts I don't want (steering wheel/brakes). I know what wheels I want, and I am going to buy a body kit eventually, I have the spoiler, I am adding CAI very soon, and I will add the Comptech springs this summer because they're cheap and I *WANT* a sportier ride than A-spec suspension.

Like I said, its all personal preference. I guess if you bought brake pads and a steering wheel you might be looking at a little over 4k, but still, not as much as A-spec is installed to get all your aftermarket parts installed. If I liked everything in the A-spec conversion, chances are I would have bought it. But as I said before, I don't want to spend as much, and I want more, and going aftermarket delivers both of that.

Lets me customize too

 

Yeah, I called the dealer up that I bought my car from and they "swore" to me that the A-spec body kit cost them like 1200 or more or something. I called Curry Acura up and they quoted me something like 1k for the kit installed. I bet all dealers can match eBay prices, I mean dealers sell parts on eBay... its just that they don't want to match it.

 

Can anyone tell me who sells the A-Spec upgrade separately

 

eBay

 

I was on eBay, didn't see the suspension separately

 

You'll have to find a dealer willing to part with it then. Good luck.

 

Sunnyvale Acura will sell the suspension separately. Currently, they only have the 6MT kit... but they have had the 5AT kit in stock.

 

http://www.acuraparts247.com/sunnysi...ec+Accessories

SunnySIDE acura, not sunnyvale, forgive me.

 

I agree with GaleForce.
As comptech builds them I will get them.

 

IMHO - It's only worth doing if they either give you credit for the duplicate parts or hand them over to you for you to sell yourself. If you let them, they will charge you for 8 wheels, 8 tires, 8 springs, 8 shocks, 2 steering wheels and 2 sets of front brake pads (5AT only). And, you get to finance or lease those items you don't need. Don't let them get away with this. That is a rip-off. Keep them honest. I think most get to keep the parts.

 

I've decided on getting A-Specs, but how much should I expect in credit for letting them keep the extra parts? This makes sense to me, but I've never seen anyone else with A-Spec mention getting credit.

 

A few have posted that they received the parts and no credit. I know of no one that received a credit. This is the only reason why I didn't get the A-Spec. It's a jack.