As some of you might know, I am not familiar with the car too much yet, seeing as my build date for my ABP 6MT is not until 8/23.

So, sometimes when I am looking at the great pictures you guys and girls post of your TLs, I think to myself "I hope I did not buy a bulky, big looking car"

I realize that it is not a compact sports car, but at the same time, I want that sport look.

Any other ppl's view would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

I moved from a 2nd generation TL, which was a much longer car, and owned a Dodge Intrepid (over 200" long) before that. To me, the new TL is smaller and this is best expressed in the loss of trunk size (2 cu ft loss) compared to the older one. It's not as small as a BMW 3-series, though--trust me, it's nice to have rear legroom.

In sum: it's just right for me.

 

it's definately not big.. looks very tight and small till you get inside
then it fits nicely..

not like it's a Buick or anything

 

Pictures are deceiving. I just got my ABP a few weeks ago. Some side shots make the TL look long and big, however, if u see it in person, it looks good cause the rear end is like cut off...making it look sporty. It's far-fetched, I know...but compare the back-end of the TL to the back-end of the new C6 Vette. The Vette's new rear is kinda sliced off. The TL has that affect...just not as much as the Vette. It's sporty alright. I had an RSX before. The TL isn't as sporty at first glance than the RSX, but it has a stylish sport look to it.

 

everyone has their own definition of "big" and "small" car. For me, 04 TL has big enough interior room, but very small trunk space. But compare to BMW3 and Lexus IS, TL is much bigger in both.

 

I agree with neuronbob . . . it is just the right size.

About 80% of the time I am in the car by myself, and it is very comfortable as a 'personal'
sedan. I traded in a 1995 Maxima which felt cavernous when I was alone in the car. Yet
the TL is also very comfortable when I have my family in the car.

As I said . . . just perfect :-)


Rachel

 

I was worried about the same thing, coming from an older camaro, 94 mustang, 94 probe and an 02 IS300. I think the car is literally 13 inches longer than the IS300. It's not a big car, I think the size is perfect, very sporty looking, especially with the body kit. You have nothing to worry about! Enjoy the car when you get it!

 

Maybe it's far-fetched, but I'd like to dream of driving a C6 one day...lol.
Taken from NCRS website.

 

Before I got my TL, I downloaded a screensaver and desktop background from this forum. Both are 3/4 rear views, so I get to see the rear and sides of the car. When viewing from my couch or easy chair, both of which are off to the side, it looked a little dumpy, and my wife said the same thing, but that was due to the computer screen distorting the image, which we knew.

We got the car in February, and it didn't take us long to really appreciate the styling and lines of the car when viewing the real thing. Believe me, it is not too big or too small (well, the trunk opening could be a little bigger, but that is common to most cars these days).

I owned a 96TL before this, and this is a completely different car, but for the better, of course.

Be sure and read up on the 3G garage, especially the thread about adjusting the mirrors. Here it is in case you don't find it right away. When you get the car you will know what the people are talking about in the thread, and it may help you get used to the car a little faster. http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83972

I don't know how you can stand to wait until 8/23, but it will be worth it.

Welcome to the forum and hope to hear from you again.

Ron

 

when i was looking at the car online for the first time, i imagined it to be much larger. then when i saw it in person for the test drive, it looked tiny to me in comparison.

 

rsxbond-nice pictures. I didn't see them until after I posted my reply, but the cars really look good.

 

The GS300 I traded in on my TL was big. The TL is just the right size, and IMO the styling looks great from every angle.

 

If you want to talk about TOO BIG, let's talk the 03 Accord. My best friend has one and it looks like a TL that has over eaten all it's life! This car is simply too bulky and has about the exact same size interior (minus a little headroom) of our car. I think the TL has set a world record if not held by BMW (crappy interiors) for the most awesome combination of luxury and performance in this price range.

 

Yea, I am not happy about the wait. Order went through back on 6/16 and not getting until 8/23. I think that is why I am questioning my purchase.

No worries, I am sure once I get it, all worries will be forgotten.

 

I, like neuronbob, came from a 2nd Gen TL (ABP TL-S) and I agree. My old car was longer but narrower. I can tell because of the way the cars fit in my garage (1 car garage).

The shorter length makes the car look more sporty along with the more clearly defined wedge shape. The slight increase in width makes the car handle better and gives extra shoulder room. (I need it as I have relatively broad shoulders)

I think it's just right for me also. It's a good mid-size car... I think the 3-series and IS300 and Audi A4 are all compact cars so the TL shouldn't even be compared to them. That says a lot since, for the same price as the Beemer or Audi or even MB C320, we get more room and comfort and all the gadgets to boot.

I love my car and it fits me to a T!

 

Douglas Colt posts:

It's a comfortable, roomy car, even for 6+ footers but on the outside, I'd say the body lines are crisp and tight; it definitely doesn't give a "big" impression.

Isn't this the kind of issue you would raise when you are looking at the car at the dealership and taking test drives? JMHO :P

 

Yea, like I said before -- I am probably just second guessing myself due to the long wait.

But thanks

 

TL is a "tweener" like the G35.
IS/C-clas and 3 series are about 178in in length
The TL and G35 are about 185 in in length
GS/E-class/5 series are about 190 in in length.

TL/G35 takes approach of the 1st Dodge Durango. Bigger than Explorer, smaller than Expedition.

 

Ahh yes, it's always a temptation to second guess yourself on a big purchase like this but trust me, the TL looks sharp and tight from the outside. It doesn't give that "floating" impression synonomous with all too many American cars (or a number of German ones for that matter.) Good luck on the wait! I know I was frustrated to wait 3 days waiting for my financial paperwork to be finalized!

 

Actually, according to www.cars.com the G35 is small enough in dimensions and cubic volume to be considered a "compact sedan" (A4/C/3) while the TL is slightly bigger all around and considered a "mid size sedan" (E/5/A6). Even the RL is still in the midsize category. TSX is defnitely compact. FYI

 

ummm didn't you see the car in the show room before you ordered it?

 

Stoutman,

I had a 3-4 week wait after I ordered my AM/Ebony/Navi TL. In the interim, somebody here
posted some fabulous pictures of a silver TL. I tortured myself for the next few weeks about
whether the Anthracite was the best color for me, after seeing the silver pictures.

You will love your TL when it arrives!

Rachel

 

My 2 cents:

If you want your TL to look larger, go with a lighter color. The TL looks the most tight in black, then blue, then anthracite. The TL in silver and white looks positively larger to me for some unkown reason.

Also, interestingly, the TL seems to change its look on color much more than the TSX does. Weird.

And I agree that angle of the silver TL in all the billboard ads looks dumpy. The marketing people at Acura have always been weird. Nothing new there.

Jon

 

I am in the not too big group also. I had a 2000, 2001, and a 2002 Type-S. They were longer and narrower, and not nearly as tough looking as this car - the deep character line and the rake from back to front are agressive and classy.

Many of us think it has some of the lines of the great looking 1987 Alfa 164
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/...e/164super.jpg

 

IMO the TL looks different in different colors more because the fact that the body has more distinctive lines along the side. there are more bevels and curves to catch light. certian colors enhance the edges and push-back the flat surfaces, others bring out the surface and put the edges on the backburner.

its all about how light and dark colors do that to your brain.

 

Interesting comment: my brother does industrial design (takes a new Black & Decker can opener and designs its external package, cybernetics, etc). He has an eye for design.

He said that the TL, the Toyota 2000 of many years ago, and the S2000 are the best Japanese designs ever. He also said that most Hondas look best in silver, because they lacked strong character lines, and interesting design details int he sheet metal. Your comments support that from a different perspective. My DGP looks greyish sometimes, and golden green in the butterscoth light in the morning and the sunset. That Abyss Blue looks very nice to me also, but Green over Camel reminds me of my first car, a Triumph TR-4a in British Racing Green. Plus, the right color for those Fall weekends in Hanover, lamenting the loss of a great football program to the imperative of co-education. There was a time when the Big Green was ranked in the East - now they lose to Columbia, for cryin out loud!

 

thats funny beacuse when my friend saw mine he said it looked small.

 

How'd you get a build date that far in advance? Are you absolutely sure the dealer isn't just blowing smoke up your butt? I've been told by multiple dealers that Acura doesn't build to order and that they just get a print out that tells them when a car that matches your color/interior/options will be coming down the line... (but it doesn't go that far out).

Are the dealers in Austin blowing smoke up my arse?

 

i was an art major. go figure

but, yeah, the new acura vehicles that have been replaced (Integra->RSX 03TL->04TL 04RL->05RL) all go from slightly smoother and rounder to a more aggressive design with some more light-catching creases and some sharper points.

differences between the TSX and TL are obvious. more shape. more curves and lines to look at.

funny as well. my friends dad still has an old green triumph in the back yard. god that thing was ugly

 

I am 6'4" and the interior of the '04 offers more usble space than my '02 TL-S. From the outside it is and looks shorter and stouter, the wider tires help that look as well. The '02 TL-S had more of an MB S class shape

 

I used to own a 4th gen Prelude. It was a lot smaller so it totally depends on your past experience. But then TL is definitely something that you can learn to enjoy. It will be a lot fun

 

yea, if you would read some of the messages before in this thread -- you would see that i am just second guessing myself since I have to wait so long.

thanks anyways though

 

Well i would not say they build to order. I just went to the dealership, testdrove, and saw that they obviously did not have the car I wanted on the lot. It was the same story at all of my surrounding dealerships. Therefore, I told him what I wanted and he came back to me and said that they order from Acura every 2 weeks.

About 2 weeks after that order was placed, he called me and told me that that car is scheduled to be built 8/23. I hope he not messing w/ me. I will give him a hell of a time if he is.

 

Seems a reasonable amount of time to wait, based on others. There's a thread here somewhere asking for average wait times...

 

All that I know color wise is that darker colors definitely hide body panel lines and such better, making the car look smoother and sleeker. This is why I got NBP. Happy shopping!

 

i think it's just perfect!!

 

The TL is only a few inches longer and a couple of inches wider than my '99 Civic Si. The outside looks small and the inside seems large. Some of the interior roominess is due to side crash standards putting the doors further from the driver (seats closer to centerline of car). This makes the door armrest more than useless, but the center console armrest makes up the difference.