mamboking

Why in the world a 35K TL could not have some of the features of a 12K car?? :rippedoff

Nissan Versa:
Coming in a sedan and Scion xA-fighting hatchback, the vehicle starts out at an estimated $12,000 and packs a 1.8L four-banger. The Versa supports Bluetooth, has an auxillary input for an MP3 player, and is wired for satellite radio. On the drivetrain side, the SL trim offers continuously-variable transmission (CVT), a technology we’ll no doubt see more of as gas prices continue to rise.

2k5_AcuraTL

ugh to that.

Prolanman

Are you looking for the perfect car? If so give up the search, it doesn't exist. No offense intended but the TL offers much more than these cars. I wouldn't brag about a 1.8 4 banger. These brands have to add these little things to attact buyers. They're in totally different classes. If you would rather have a little econo-box with these features then you might want to consider selling your TL and buying one of those cars.

PoochaKannInc

Well for one the TL doesn't look like a small Nissan Quest. I consider that an accomplishment, and I'll take my badly designed TL over that monstrosity.

chill_dog

1) That car is soooo going to be riced out.
2) MP3 players weren't as big in 03 when they were planning the TL as they are now as they're planning the Versa.
3) Same goes for fuel economy concerns, which I'm sure is why it will have CVT.
4) What DOESN'T it have that the TL has? I bet a lot. Tit for tat.

crazymjb

CVTs suck, cant take a lot of torque, and are no fun . I personally dont like the lack of MP3, and that my 05 doesnt have TPMS. But I hardly would call that being ripped off. those 12k cars dont have ELS, Navi, HIDs, the size, the power...

mickey3c

well maybe but you can buy 3 of them for the price of the tl...lol One winter car and one summer car. One to spare!!!

mamboking

Ahhh hello!!!!!!! Are you saying MP3 wasn't popular in 2003 as of today?? Where you in a comma back then or something.....


Obviously, the TL has a lot more than the 12k car. That is the point, 23K should buy you more and not less.

ndabunka

Your doing all this crap talk over an MP3 interface? Get REAL!

crazymjb

They did the Ipod thing. I hope I will be able to pic that up for my 05!

socal16

We do have an aux input for a MP3 player. It's called the tape deck. Why else would they put a tape deck in a 35K car.

bluenoise

It sounds like you're saying the TL has less than the 12k car. Does the 12k car come standard with...

258 hp?
DVD-A?
Leather Seats with driver memory?
Seat warmers?
Full set of airbags?
Very high crash safety ratings?
HID headlights?
Navigation?
Voice control?
Dual climate control with auto?
In-dash six disc changer?
Lighted Steering wheel controls?
LED taillights?
Shoulder belts for all five passengers?
...

I understand the frustration about lack of auxiliary inputs, but to say that other car has "more" at 1/3 the price is pretty silly.

Thorin78

Let's see.....
in 2003, I don't think any type of luxury car had an auxillary jack...

thanks to the nissan website.

for a 2007 (not a 2003 designed car) Nissan 1.8 SL hatchback...


Standard Features

• 15" aluminum-alloy wheels
• AM/FM audio system with in-dash 6-disk CD changer & auxiliary input jack
• Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls
• Power windows, door locks & remote keyless entry
• Vehicle Security System
• Xtronic™ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
View all standard features
Transmission
Xtronic™ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Packages
ABS and Curtain Air Bags Package $700
Audio Package $300
Convenience Package $700
Satellite Radio $300
Sport Package $700
Sunroof Package $600
Base Price $15,450.00
Total Packages, Options, & Accessories $3,300.00
Destination & Handling $605.00
Total Price† $19,355.00

Standard Features

Mechanical

1.8L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine
Xtronic™ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Electric power steering
Power assisted vented front disc / rear drum brakes
Independent front strut with coil springs
Torsion beam rear suspension
Front and rear stabilizer bars
13.2 gallon fuel tank
Tachometer

Exterior

P185/65HR15 all-season tires
15" Alloy wheels
Multi Reflector halogen headlights
Fixed roof antenna (short rod type)
Body-color dual power remote-controlled outside mirrors
Body-color door handles
Energy-absorbing, body-color front and rear bumpers

Interior

PRNDDS Display (CVT equipped)
5-passenger seating capacity
6-way adjustable driver's seat
4-way adjustable front-passenger's seat
Adjustable front head restraints
Woven cloth seat trim
Woven cloth door trim with soft pad
Front-door map pockets
Rear-door map pockets
Floor and trunk carpeting
Full side and rear trunk trim
Split fold-down 60/40 rear seat
Rear-seat center armrest with built in cup holder and cover
Instrument panel soft pad
Fluid Printing: Instrument Panel, Door lock switch, Shifter finisher
Overhead console

Comfort and Convenience

AM/FM audio system with in-dash 6-disk CD changer, & auxiliary input jack
6 speakers
Digital clock
Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls
Power windows (with illuminated switch)
Power door locks and remote keyless entry with rear hatch open
Passenger-side visor vanity mirror with cover
Driver-side visor vanity mirror with cover and strap
Tilt steering column
Variable intermittent windshield wipers
Intermittent rear wiper with washer
Dual front and rear cup holder(s)
Rear window defroster with timer
Day/night rearview mirror
12-volt DC power outlet
Remote fuel-filler door release
Power rear liftgate-release
Battery saver
Cargo area light
Map light
Glove compartment light
Tonneau cover
Front and rear passenger folding assist grips

Safety and Security

Dual front air bags, Nissan Advanced Airbag System (AABS)
Front-seat side-impact supplemental air bags
Front-seat active head restraints
Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
Pipe-style steel side-door guard beams
Front seat belt(s) with pretensioner(s) and upper adjustable seat belt anchor(s)
3-point seat belts in all seating positions
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) seat belt system for all passenger seating
Child safety rear door locks
"Fasten front seat belt" warning light
Seat belt warning chimes
Front and rear crumple zones
Vehicle Security System
Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System
Rear center high-mounted LED stoplight


I'll pay the extra $15K to have enjoyed the car for 3 years and then some.

ndx2

Acura's market research probably showed that the average TL buyer wouldn't even know what MP3 is, or how to burn MP3's onto CD's. The TSX has MP3/CD player option, because they're aimed towards younger, hipper crowd, just like this Nissan.

I'm sure if you can afford a TL, you can afford aftermarket MP3/CD players or pay a shop to install an AUX input... that is, if this is big enough a deal to make you b*tch and moan about it.

Oh, and CVT does suck, and I wouldn't buy one.

caball88

cvt's are good in theory but in real life has not been successful at all. Maybe when the technology is more mature it will be more advantageous but right now its not moving any mountains. besides the only car i would buy has to have a manual tranny so i could care less what type of automatic they put in the TL. If you are really concerned with gas mileage cvt's are only going to slightly improve upon that(if at all). going with a hybrid would definitely net more mpg.

Scribesoft

Mp3 player growth chart for review (units and $$):

Ken1997TL

So my '96 Civic with a portable CD player with MP3 capability in the year 2000 is better than my '05 TL?

Gotta love the logic.

BTW, nearly all snowmobiles have a CVT.. does that make them better??

03CoupeV6

Actually, that thing sorta looks like a snowmobile with a body kit.

crazymjb

I wouldnt even consider in the very least a CVT unless they got rid of the belt system and replaced it with the toridial system, which still couldnt handle what I would throw at it.

Bounce

Any other car with ELS for 12K, sign me up -- you cannot touch that feature...

this is definately a musicians car :-)

Bounce

that car is ugly

KilroyR1

The only people I know who like CVT's are the people who have never driven them. They are very odd to drive. The car accelerates while the revs are falling - very odd.

An MP3 audio input would be nice and I would like the choice of XM or Sirius.

Thorin78

the hatchback is better looking than the sedan. oh god that's an ugly car

mamboking

For the record, I am very happy with the Acura TL, otherwise I would not have bought it. MP3 capabilities were not a make/breake deal for me. However, it is odd that they put such an technologically advanced cool stereo with surround sound yet they miss a feature that IMHO was a no brainer (MP3 playing capabilities). Now, before the flaming starts I do understand that taking a car to production is not an endeavor that takes months, but years. They have designed these cars years in advance before they get to the production line, plus I also understand that probably the true demographics of this car probably point to middle age men/women who do not care to have an MP3 player in their cars.
As far as the CVT is concerned, I don't really care for it either, but I do wish that car engineers as a whole would improve on the loss of energy that a car suffers from the explosion of the air/fuel mixture to the transfer of that energy to the front/rear wheels. Has anyone heard of Somender Singh? This poor Indian guy improved performance and fuel efficiency by milling a groove in the block head and on top of the cylinder heads thus improving the turbulence of the fuel mix inside the chamber and creating a complete burn which eliminates the loss of energy inside the chamber due to unburned fuel. You can read about it on the Popular Science website or on the dude's website at http://www.somender-singh.com.

bigman606

Personally, I'll take High Resolution Audio over MP3 any day. MP3 has it's place (I have owned iPod's since the first generation was announced), but give me hi-res. All I can hope for is that the market will continue to support hi-res audio or at least I've a way to make my own from DVD recordings.

And yes, when the iPod module is released, I do hope it works with the '05 TL cause I'll be there to add it to my car.

TampaMike

It's all about choices....

Acura chose to offer the features / products that best suited their intended market.

You chose to buy the Acura knowing it did not have the feature that is apparently so critical for your happiness. Whose fault is that?

You can build your own car if you like. Let us know if it comes close to the cost of the TL. Even if it does, I bet some people out here will be disappointed with your choices of features and content.

The differential cost of the car does not guarentee it is total, complete and all serving. It is up to you to make that decision, not the car company. They choose to offer it. You choose to buy it.

I would never fly to Paris for soup du jour if I was happy to settle for Cup O' Soup at the corner market.

It's all about choices. Take responsibility for the choice you made.

z06girl

Several reasons
If Acura-Honda offers you everything possible in the TL, then what could they possibly offer in terms of RL?
If Acura-Honda offers you everything today, what could they come up tomorrow? It's a marketing strategy, by adding additional features each year to keep the customers coming back.
If Acura-Honda offers you everything, so will other car manufactures.. in essence all the cars will be the same... besides the exterior look.

mamboking

TampaMike, you probably did not read my second post. I guess the :rippedoff was really meant as a joke and not true reflexion of my feelings, but it didn't come across that way! That's my fault.

I am doing the xm/relay mod this weekend to get my MP3 player aux-into the system and become a very, very, very happy Acura TL owner

TampaMike

Coolios. I guess I better start looking for reading glasses.

By the way, I just bought a second home in TN. Pretty place... I remember thinking 'these roads will be some nice twisties for drivin' the TL!

1sweetTL

I'm pretty "Freakin" Aggravated too!!!

How could this 35K automobile not come with an 8 track player option?

Sorry, I guess I just have too much time on my hands...

But seriously if you wanna complain about lack of options..
Why didn't ACURA put Automatic headlights on this car?

That is a true crime...

acutee

Honda has the Aux input on the Element, why didn't they add it on the 05 TL...

Scribesoft

Honda also makes lawn mowers, why didn't they include the bagger on the back of the TL?? .. Different applications have different features.

Seriously though, I think the TL and Element radio's are made by diff. manuf. I doubt the Element has 5.1 ELS Surround..

chill_dog

As ndx2 said, demographics...Element was targeted to X-Games type folks, although I don't know of too many who bought one. White Middleclass Suburban Man most likely doesn't own an iPod...his kid does.

The one that really surprises me is the people that worry about it when there's a mod that allows you to accomplish it. needs to be standard ...just do what you need to do and quit whining.

soopa

Well, the $385,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom doesn't have an MP3 player or CVT either... sooo...

Shit, it doesn't have Bluetooth or XM either. It doesn't even have a voice activated navigation system! For shame!


Just goes to show ya, if you want it all... build it yourself.

Scribesoft

I did build it myself, but everyone laughed (hey, it's NOT rice ):

TampaMike

Did you have to use moleskin for that window tint?

PoochaKannInc

^ At least he won't complain about the Bridgestones flatspotting!

HEK

You know I see topics like this one and makes me think I'm freaking old...shit it was a luxury to have a car with rear speakers or even FM when I bought my 1st new car....lol..., did I mentioned that having a cassete player on a car was the most cool thing..and as far as MP3's, sure you can put gazilion songs and or entire albums on one CD but really, I have enough trouble finding what I have already loaded on my 6 CD changer.... , MP3's are good for jogging in the thread mill.... ( BTW I'm dying to try out the cassette player in the TL...has anyone done this?)

chill_dog

You mean to play tapes? I have...have quite a few old tapes (AC/DC, Suicidal Tendancies, Motley Crue, Ministry, etc.) from when I was a kid that I like to listen to every now and then. It works great.

shaneo

hey crazy mjb didn't your parents buy that car you keep calling yours?