1) The hand emergency brake.
2) The license plate moved up on the lid.
3) Looks like a TSX/Chrysler... i.e. about a $23K car.
4) Has a general plastic look about it.

I have a '03 (wife's) and was thinking of trading my '97 Accord in this year for an '04 TL until I saw the pics... too bad. I will only be buying a Merc or Lexus now.

 

I agree, I think the interior is awesome thought... It's the exterior styling... UGLY!!! UGLY!!! UGLY!!!

The front end, with the acura on the bumper is cheezy...

The rear, huh... just like the front, looks like an american car... Why not copy from Lexus, and copy from Nissan/Infiniti instead....

 

I think the car looks very simular to the New Grand prix but a more refined flare to it. I like the styling though looks very sporty.

 

I can't stand the styling of the 2004 TL, I think it's hideous. I have a 2003 TL and I am so happy I got it before they released that 4 door box on wheels!

 

Its gonna grow on you. I said the same thing on the 03 accord. I now think it looks pretty nice in the right color.

 

the styling is ugly? i actually liked the styling of it. the interior could be sparked up a bit but otherwise it looks decent.

as for the handbrake, im more anti-foot brake so i wanted the handbrake there. there are a lot of fun things u can do with the car with the handbrake.

a few things i dislike are the fact that it is going to be FWD (while competitors are all RWD and AWD) and all that power is going to go to waste. also, that engraving of ACURA on the bumper has to go

 

I like everything about the car and think it will look a lot better in person. The only thing that I have negative to say about it is that it looks too much like the TSX. This car needs to be RWD too.

 

I think you guys will be singing a different tune once it actually hits the streets. We'll see, we'll see!

 

see i think majority of us are biased to give honest opinions, because even if we like it we dont wanna admit it, because we love our 2nd gen tl's lol, but i think you guys are raggin 2 much on it as well, if those new 04's got no tranny issues and no rotor probs, and no rattling or creeking, no p.o.s. bose system, it may be a better buy, i mean it'll all personal pref, and so far all the little things one may dislike can easily be changed as well, think of it dropped,rims,kit like the 2nd gen, my 2cents, but i still like my '02 betterr lol:p

 

I like the fact that it is a hand brake. But it should have leather, not cheap ass plastic.

Radio knobs need to go.

Other than that, sign me up (but give me the 37k first please)

 

Even if it's dropped all done up... would you get a designed in US, build in US 2004 TL that's basically a Caddy CTS with a Japanese name tag on it?

I think a lot people would... Acura is targetting a different market now I guess It's sad with how the car looks...

I have some serious problem with the design lately in the industry. Maybe I am just too old school for something new, but the new Accord, new TL, new BMW 5/7/Z4 and faced lift 3 with new headlight... All look ugly to me...

 

i think the 04 is great looking. i too think some are biased cause they have a 2nd gen but the car has all the clean lines i like and nice styling cues. i think it will grow on people as soon as its on the street. some times pictures never do a car justice.

 

I don't necessarily buy the biased opinion theories since it is also common for people to perceive something new as "better". So in other words, opinions can go both ways.

If you're not too keen on the new design of the 04 TL (like myself), then maybe it's because of the emphasis on a sporty design as opposed to a more luxury look the current generation TL exhibits. I don't believe that the 04 TL is ugly by any means, but it does seem evident that Acura is targeting a different audience with the new design.

 

You are so right, people are just jealous of the new TL, because it makes there TL look old

O ya dont forget about the theft prob on the Current TL

 

Um, What do you drive the TL your driving? a PURE japanese car?

 

It's just a change in style for the TL. Yeah it has some things that aren’t exactly perfect. But 6 Speed, bigger Navi, sporty interior, good looking rims and finally some good optional tires. Yeah I agree the E brake location could have been better but hey it’s a new look. I’m just happy to see that the 04 got out of the old simple look and into the new aggressive look.

 

the handbrake is a big plus guys... Its the only thing you can to to a FWD car to make if feel like a RWD is when you go around a corner you pull that handbrake and the rear whips out and you get all sh|tty with it! Try that with the 2nd gens foot break. you'll probably wreck because you can't control it. hand brakes are also very fun when theres ice out you can whip the car all over the place.

The embossed acura name in the front is totally lame. Like they need to tell any dumbasses its an acura. DUH! The license plate on the trunk lid just plain sucks. When you drop in a couple subs all anybody on the street is gonna hear is just a bunch of rattles. -at least they didn't put any taillights on the trunk lid, that would have really pissed me off- kinda like the last gen accord...

The car looks like a pontiac or a chrysler from the front and a VW from the back.

It does look like their targeting a different market - a younger age group that is. I don't think it will sell as good as the current TL has because the current TL is targeted toward the middle aged group and looks a bit more conservative - thats what older people want they don't want a super flashy, aggressive car that all the ricers stare at everywhere...

 

I also agree that they are targeting someone else with the '04.
With the current TL they were going after Lex ES300 buyers. With this one they are going after the G35/BMW/Audi group.

I expect TL sales to go down because the TL is not RWD and to compete against those guys you need to be.

Expect ES300 sales to go up.

 

^ as far as targeting the younge age group? im not sur on that one especially the price range. and that my dad who is in his mid 50 and saw pics of it and cant wait for it to come out cause he likes the looks of it and might possibly buy one also

 

It just looks too bulky

 

I completely agree. I'm in the group of people who would look at such excellent cars. As much as I love my 2k2 TL-P, the features of the newer TL make it a worthy upgrade once the initial buyers (read: beta-testers) work out the bugs. The look didn't excite me at first, but it is growing on me. To those who say it looks like a Pontiac.....at least Acura has good sense not to use plastic everywhere on the exterior! Ewww, whose idea was THAT at GM?

I respectfully disagree. Most people I see driving the TL are "older" (50 +), and they want a reliable, sporty upgrade to the old model. They'll come along, and for the same reasons I would--more features, more sport.

 

Let's just hope Acura wised up with the HID lights so we don't have to worry about thefts/black eyes..
Ed

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Shoofin'TL
Let's just hope Acura wised up with the HID lights so we don't have to worry about thefts/black eyes..
Ed [/QUOTE



Yeah the dumb@sses wised-up... no fog lights on the '04. At least you want have to worry about those getting ripped-off.

Another thing to add to my hate list.... no fog lights.

 

fog lights will obviously be an add on on the 2004 tl...if and when they come out with the type s...you would think it would come standard...only time will tell.

still think 2002-2003 looks better

 

I just bought my TLS 3 months ago... ppl told me to wait for the new 2004 body style but from what I saw and heard I didn't think I would like it. Now that I see the pics I am glad I didn't wait.

 

i think it depends, i mean if u want a sporty lookin-luxury car the 04 is great, if ur like me and wanted a sporty luxury(not sporty lookin) than the 2nd gen is great, i dont think of tl as a sports car at all i have a vette which is use for pleasure use thats all the sport i need, i chose the tl because it's classsy and sophisticated looking somethin the 04 tl has lost in it's face lift, but if i had no vette and just wanted a nice combo of sporty looks,feel,and luxury than i mite like the 04 more.

 

Nope, I never said I am driving a Japanese car... It is still made in the USA and which is why I think the quality suck ass...

I personally just don't like the styling cue of the 04 TL. But the 00-01 front end is a lot more elegant if you get what I am saying.

I think the 99-01 by far looks the sportiest... But then that's JMHO...

 

from looking at the pic's of the interior...the new tl's interior looks like a cross between the 2003 accord v6 and the new tsx......it just doesnt blow me way like my 2002 tls did when i first saw it.....who knows might be something that grows on you.

 

I think the interior is much nicer than my 03 TLS-Navi.

It would be great to see the 04 interior in the current body!

 

I don't 'hate' the new styling... but I'm not fond of it either

the car looks smaller... I dig the size of my 02's.

there are alot of things on the new TL that I do like...
1. bigger NAV screen!
2. Door handles, love the door handles!
3. I'll bet anything that it would come will aluminum door sills too!
4. Duel Climate Zone...
5. it will probably have fold down seats...

basically, all improvement found on the TSX can be seen on the new TL...

the exterior looks alot like a larger version of the TSX too, that is why I called the new TL as the "6 cyliner version of the TSX w/ a civic style taillights"... they might as well call it a TSX-L

 

The new TL IS smaller then the 2nd Gen TL. Just like the 2nd gen is smaller than the 1st gen. But in the end, I'm sure actual INTERIOR room will be just as much. Its all about being more efficient and reducing overhangs (keeping as much weight as you can over the wheels rather than "hanging" behind or in front, giving you better weight balance).

 

Here is where I land on this issue...

Acura sees their mid market going away. Sadly, since I love my TL, there isn't really any room in the near-luxury class like there used to be. Customers are buying more SUVs now than ever, and what used to be a "working man's vehicle", the SUV is now falling into the luxury market with the likes of Lexus, Infinity, Mercedes, and even Porsche tapping that market. Thus Acura has focused on making the MDX a luxury flagship with the RL...
Pushing for a more "refined" rather than "sporty" TL, would have forced the issue of the necessity of the RL.

The TL obviously had to head in a new direction, either to compete with the luxury geared MDX and RL, or to add to what in my opinion is an already full "sporty" line (the RSX, TSX, and NSX)

I hope that the TL has a future, but I'm not really sure where it fits anymore. Frankly, I love my 03 TL, so I am a little biased. But I don't know what Acura could have done differently in this case.

 

**** this Tl just by a bimmer or benzy

 

Any chances of getting the lights stolen in the new 04 TL ?

 

Any chances of getting the lights stolen in the new 04 TL ?

 

I think if everyone had money your statement would be correct, but the TL is popular because its a GREAT Value..

 

my BIGGEST pet peeve

I love teh car almost 100% It is great!!!

I can't get over the turning radius though, it really irritates me

and y wouldn't they make the engine DOHC?

not sure I like the tape deck either

 

I still think You guys will like it better once you see it on the roads..

I thought the Accord Sedan was ugly and the Maxima were ugly, but they look pretty nice after I have seen TON OF THEM!

 

Is it just me or do you see a bit of Mazda 6 there on the 04 TL....I absolutely love the car....was about dead set on a 04 Accord EX V6 w/ Navi...but I might have to see if I can afford another 10g's

 

Ya the TSX looks like a Mazda 6 from front and the TL is like a big brother of the TSX

MSRP for Accord EX V6 w/ Navi is around 28 and the TL will be around 32-34 with Navi So how do u its a extra 10 G's?