KeithL

Ok I know I am a sick puppy. I have had 34 3G TLs, and just unloaded my 08 Type-S last week. Long story am thinking about a G35, but I was offered as much as a new one goes for so i sold it. So I decide maybe i'll go with another 08 Type-S. I go to the dealer and of 4 TLs i look at 2 have leather seats (driver's) that have bunched up side thigh bolsters that will crease when sitting on them. 2 others have paint issues, one has big paint drip/run down the back edge of the left rear panel, the other has a front bumper that looks worse that a newbie body shop over spray job and it also had a door wetaher stiping that was folded over. There is no excuse for this stuff, clear Honda built the US factory using the same technology or newer than some of their Jaoanese plants. I woudl think 99% of the painting is done by robots. So how come Acura can't build a US car as good as a Japanese car? Even the Type-S I got rid of has some visible paint defects, which is what has me nit picking the new one.

blkaspec

34 TLs in 4.5yrs, yes....you are sick

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

I feel the same way too, well sort of. My 3G TL seems to have low quality paint. It chips and cracks very easily.

KeithL

Sorry 4 3G TLs (04 base, 06 Navi, 07 Navi, 08 Type-S) I'm sick because it is such a SICK RIDE!!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Keith, I just bought my 2007 TL Type S on New Year's Day this year (2008) with just 700 miles on it. It was a Type S that was purchased in St. Louis in July, but the owner turned the car back in because he didn't like the paint job. To make a long story short, it was shipped to my dealership and I purchased it at a great price. I looked the car over and couldn't see any visible paint blemishes or defects. I actually talked to the original owner and asked him where the paint blemished were, but when I looked at the car, I couldn't see what he was talking about. Plus, I polished and waxed it and the Type S looks outstanding, so I was happy with my purchase.

blkaspec

ok, i thought that sounded high. i have the leather issue too, but my paint looks great.

why did you get rid of your last Type-S, same issues or is it just part of your sickness?

the paint sucks because they no longer use harmful additives like lead, i dont think that is Acuras fault.

AMIC

It sounds like you are someone who is never satisfied. What's to say that a new type-S won't have something small wrong with it that you won't like. I think maybe public transportation is in the cards for you .

DJSlim

Get off the gas Keith. Acuras are great cars and last a hellova long time. I must admit, when I saw that the TL is made in america with mostly american parts, I kind of cringed up. But that has nothing to do with their quality because the TL isnt the only car by Honda/Acura thats made in the US. Sure there will be some flaws...if you dont like it..take it back and get another one until your satisfied.....since its such a sick car and all. I just cant bash Acura's quality when I know for a fact that this car will last well over 200,000 miles...paint job and everything.

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

^ boooh mass transit sucks... lol... I think you need to stop and take a breathe... then have a shop repaint

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

How would you fix the leather lining at the driver's side door? Would 3m tape work there? Looks like some sitching came off...

TL1999

i like my 2005 3G TL, no paint chip issue as of yet....

shooter

You are the poster child that Acura adores .... LOL ..... so many Tls already in such a short time ... heck, the dealership wants to be your best pal too ....

I admit I'm lazy/busy alll the time, so my paint is covered by dust ... and having a NBP doesn't help either ....

esolouki

yoo man i feel u on the low quality thing
my paint is absolutely horrible and my leather suks too.
my big bro always bags on me sayin.."u shoudve got a german car"
but i still love my TL

KeithL

PArt of the sickness ;-)

As for the paint, I'm not talking paint material quality, I'm talking paint applications. On the one the bumper was clear sprayed wrong that casued a very strong over spray look, the other has a long paint run/drip. Those are application issues. Also the third I assume what ever idiot attached the grill to the bumper nicked the paint and bumper. Again I attribute this to poor QA and/or US assembly vs. Japan. I looked over several G35s and say perfect panel alignment, and paint application.

FiveLiterCheater

You're buying an Acura, not a Bently. Its a mainstream production car just like Infiniti's, BMW's, Audi's, and Mercedes....And guess what? All of those manufactures have their problems too!!

Radcliffe1

34 TL's!!! I was gonna ask you to post pics of them..LOL. Then I saw it was only 4 but, yes you need help.

BLUE07TLS

Sounds to me that the dealer is repairing cars which may have been damaged on their lot. A couple of my friends work at new car dealers. (One Audi, one Pontiac); when the cars get bumped or scratched on the lot, there are 'mobile bodyshops' which repair on the premises. These applications rarely look "like new" because the painting is done in a tent, by a college-aged kid with a paint-gun you could purchase at Home Depot. I will admit that there are a few issues with the TL which could use improvement, but i find it hard to believe that cars (especially more than one on the same lot) would come "from acura" with such visible flaws. Check out a different dealer!

Just My

T-EL

I just did the whole wash and wax on my 08 WDP with 500 miles on it and getting up close and personal with the paint, I noticed that there were 2 small imperfections. It was like there was something under the paint when they painted it, Its hardly noticeable and Im not complaining at all ???

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

LOL...the paint was thin on my black 2001 CLS back in 2002 when I bought it with 23k on it... never have been happy with the paint...

JetJock

So get an Infinity...stop bitching about Acura if you don't like them...don't buy one.

FRST4DR

I know what you’re talking about as far as over spray look on the front bumper. My 07 Type S has it but I only notice it if the sun is hitting it just right. If I rub my hand over the bumper it's real ruff. Leads me to believe there was something wrong when it was sprayed at the factory.

KeithL

Yeah and if things go well tomorrow TL 35 (or actually TL-S #2 will be picked up). Damn G35 is real nice, but in the end the TL-S ride is just awesome and the way the TL-S handles even compared to a G35s was great. The G35 steering feels a bit vauge and numb lack of feedback.

powerflow

You most likely have a partial panel spot repair on your bumper. Its a common small damage repair when they only paint a small portion and blend into the existing clear. New cars often get bumped around during transportation or careless lot kids.

I use to paint for a shop that specialized in Honda/Acura, did all the work for an Acura dealer. Their OEM paint jobs are hit and miss and don't have much clear build. I've seen a MDX straight off the truck w/ a factory repainted QP, tape lines in the jam and everything, among many new warranty jobs I've done. Their acceptability judgment is poor.

GeorgeTSX

Ditto with my 2004 TSX.

mickey3c

Ah no, you cannot compare this to the other models. The acura paint has been worse than my infiniti or audi. I was thinking ok well maybe it was the 99 model I had which had paint issues, but no later cars had it as well. Do not get me started on rattles and other issues.

Some of the mentioned manufacturers have problems too but no where near as many. Don't get me wrong I like the styling and the performance that acura provides, but the trips to the dealer with hard to reproduce issues or issues that you knew were there but the mechanic would say no, I do not hear it or it is characteristic of the model...

KeithL

OK I know I'm picky, but I flip my cars fast and get top dollar for them, and part of that is getting as near perfect cars as possible and keep them that way. Yeah all cars have their issues, but honesly put a TL or TL-S next to a G35 and look at the way body panels fit and paint blemishes and the overall build quality and you will see Infiniti is better. Sure the TL is an awesome car and yeah I just bought 08 Type-S, and yeas overall Acura builds a damn good car, but it is clear they cut there costs in things liek fit and finish and such. The TL is geared more toward the upscae Accord buyer, the G35 is not. The TL audience overall is probably more concerned with value and reliability than overall fit and finish. I know Infiniti has there share of issues, more are in the elctronics and stuff, things peopel don't "see or touch or sense", they are more things that just break, and get fixed. I also think the Acura will hodl up better (and I mean with less over all repairs) in the long run, where the Infiniti may look nicer and feel better longer, it will require more fixes.

KeithL

Oh and yes you saw it right , I picked up 3G TL #5 (Type-S #2) tonight so I do love Acura, just wish the fit and finish were better. I paid $33,221 +TTL of $35,869 OTD. I sold the 08 Type-S I had with 8,300 mils on it for $34K. So for a net $1869 I have a refreshed car and BTW my interest rate is a full 1% less so my payment actually dropped $12 so like I drove the other one for 7 months for free!

trancemission

thank you. about to call a waaaabulance