Hey guys my wife has 03 WDP TL-p. we are thinking to upgrade to 3rd gen. I know if the eallier 04 has the tranny issue. Do I need to know anything else beside the tranny issue? We want the type S, but we don't know if we can afford it. Maybe 06-08 base. Are there any problem or issue with those year? Because after we got the 03 TL, we found out if there have tranny issue. And we just had the tranny replaced 3 weeks ago. But 669 miles later the tranny take a shit again. That's why we thinking to get the 3rd gen. Thanks

 

stick to a later model year and you should be fine..

 

What year?

 

Do it. 3rd Gen is better in almost every way you can think of.



(Ask the guy who has one of each vv )

 

Let me just tell you that I came from a 03 3.2 TL myself. A month ago, I upgraded to an 07 Type-S and I've never been happier. I might sound like I'm over exaggerating but it's a whole new driving experience compared to the 2G. I love the car so much that I don't even care if I'm stuck in LA traffic.

 

+1

 

Avoid 2004. They used the same trannys as the 2nd gen TL so they are just as prone as to getting transmission problems (if you are unlucky). Go for 2005-2008 and you should be fine. If you aren't on a budget you should opt for a 2007-2008.

New things include fog lights, turn signal mirrors, interior ambient footwell lighting, refreshed gauge clusters, the resolution on the navigation screen was improved so it looks a bit better and more clear than the 04-06, the navigation for the 2007-2008 also comes standard with a back-up camera while the 2004-2006 with navi DOES NOT come with a backup camera.

Not really big of a deal, but just thought i'd point it out to you.

 

Get an '05 or an '06 or a Type-S.

The '07/'08 base models have a softer suspension than '04 - '06 Base (AT).

 

^^ thanks Bearcat, I never knew that about the 07-08 base suspension. However, to OP this is one issue that can be fixed easily with aspec suspension or aftermarket parts. Also, I never drove a 2g TL, but can tell you that the 3G is a great car!

 

True. If you're modding it, it doesn't matter as much.

 

This is nonsense, the 04 did NOT get the same tranny as the 2G, it's based on the same design but is not the same, furthermore the 04 and 05/06 have the same tranny, it wasn't until 07 that the trans got modified again.

 

similar to the OP, i'm in the market of upgrading from a 2G to a 3G TL. But it seems like the only ones i can afford are the 04's (at least the ones that are available right now in my area)

Worst part is... having an 11k cut off for budget. seems like everything is over 12k for the 04-06's.

Recently, I found an 04 with 104k miles for 10,000, but i decided not to get it because my mother and I got goosebumps, and personally felt like I had a heavy chest. Didn't like the vibe of that one i test drove one bit!

 

Maybe if your mother is still buying your cars for you you should stick with an older car.

 

Get it if you can. I've had mine for over a month now. I look for any reason to drive these days. It's great.

 

well I got some insight on this one. I had an 03 WDP TL-p as well. even with 90k on it, I didn't have issues. I ended up wrecking it, and picked up an 06 AM base with the 5AT. so far, no tranny issues and I'm very pleased with it. Type S' are pretty sweet, but I can't really complain in getting a base model rather than the S.

 

I would say going from second gen to third gen is a replacment more than "upgrade".

 

^it's an upgrade, considering the base 04 is a better performing car than the 2G TL-S

 

I've owned an 88 Legend, 92 Vigor, 02 TL, and I highly recommend a 3rd Gen. I bought an 08 Base/nonNav, WDP/Ebony, AT, TL, 47K for $19,500, after driving an 03 350Z Touring for 2 years. This 08 TL id most definitly the best car I've ever owned or driven. Like a poster above, I look for any excuse to drive it. Yes, the suspension is softer than my Z, but for a sports sedan, this car handles very well and has plenty of power. The interior is very is very nice, seats are very comfortable and it has all the bells and whistles except for the Nav of course. My tranny shifts very smoothly, albeit you can definitely feel when it shifts and I believe that is intentional in the tranny design. The reliability of the 07 and 08 models is excellent and with the 70K powertrain warranty you have piece of mind. Make sure when you read this forum you pay attention to which year car the poster is talking about. I've noticed that many of the issues you see are with the 04 and 05 models. Also, some of the guys doing electrical mods with new lights have caused issues too. One othr thing, my son has an 04 Base/nonNav, AT and has had absolutely no problems with it. Enjoy your new purchase.

 

I heard some where in the forum, if you need to flush the tranny fluid and change the pressure switch every other time or every 3-4 times you do the oil change. Is it True? Because to do flush on the tranny isn't cheap. The only concern I have, just the tranny issue. Most of the people said stay away from 04. But some of them said the 05 have the same problem.

 

I'm never know if the 04-06 doesn't come with the back up camera on the navi. It' would be nice having the back up camera. thanks for the info

 

In my reading of the forums those issues are with the 04s for sure, perhaps the 05 and 06. 07s and 08s have a different tranny, and you never want to flush the TL tranny...that will kill it, you want to do a 3 x3 or a 4 x3. You can avoid by getting a manual tranny with the early years and my son has an 04 with 52K miles and has never had a tranny issue.

 

What is this 3x3 or 4x3? Because you said "never want to flush the tranny". I got confuse now. Sorry... And I can't get the manual tranny, because my wife can't drive stick shift.

 

The 07-08 Front suspension is only 8% softer than 04-06. Nothing was dont to the rear. I honestly can not tell the differene in mine and the 06 my mom had 6yrs ago.

You're correct. The 07-08 tranny is a hybrid version of the one in the RL.