mcintoshmc

I'm thinking about getting an 04 TL. How different is the 04 compared to the 08?

THTL

iTrader: (2)

why don't you just wait for the 09

mcintoshmc

gotta stay within my budget. Is the 09 supposed to be real different?

AcuraTL06

09 is suppose to be a complete redesign, so yes it should be different.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I just got an '04 TL with 39k miles on it and it looks brand spankin new. Love the thing, a lot better than my '94 integra lol. There really isn't much difference at all in the '04 vs '08 models. The '08 tail lights have a litle white lens pattern in them... no big deal. The engine is the same, inside is pretty much the same except the '08 offers an aux in plug or whatever so you can plug your ipod directly into the radio. Honestly there's not much difference at all. You seem just like me. I wanted a new one of course but I also had a budget. Why not pay $15k less on a car with only 39k miles? I know it will last forever... after all, it's japanese!

GLowrdr

I was in the same exact boat, except a couple years earlier. I bought my 04 in 06. Saved about 8k for the same car, but with low mileage.

Personally - just go for the 04, unless you want to get a type S (since we didn't get those back until 07 I think)


As for the 09 - would be nice, but it would also be nice not to have to think twice about picking up a 35,000 car.

mcintoshmc

How much did u guys get your 04's for??

saturdaysaint

I just got an 04', although after I signed the purchase agreement, I seemed to notice an awful lot of complaints online about vibrations and rattles that had me wishing I'd given 05's a little bit of a closer look. The consensus is that after the first year, fit and finish quality improved (fewer rattle reports), but I'm still all smiles after a few days with my 04' (no noises are popping out at me).

Also, off the top of my head:
05' also added oil pressure gauges and a heating/cooling system that takes into account whether or not you're in the sun (if you've got Nav).
06' saw an updated Nav system, tire pressure monitors and the addition of a line input in the armrest compartment (very handy for iPods!).
Those were the only years in my budget, so you'll have to look elsewhere for later changes.

Frankly, I did a poor job of negotiating (it was my first car buying experience), but I'm willing to say that I paid 22,000 for a certified/warrantied 04' (with Nav) with 40,000 miles on it. Well below retail, but not exactly pushing the value envelope. In the future, I will always look up the make, model and year (or range of years) I'm looking for up on autos.yahoo.com and expand the search radius to 200 miles - you'll be surprised and enlightened at the difference in sticker price for nearly identical mileage and it should be a valuable bargaining tool.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I paid 23k for mine which was acura pre-certified and had 39k miles but I also got an extended b2b warranty on it. Plus the inside had a nice acura brand carbon fiber trim which i just loved and the outside and inside (with the some minor leather creases etc..) = like new.

btw the dealership I bought it from... when it listed all their cars... the "trim" for the one I bought was the only TL that said "premium"... so I dont know what all that entails...

godizus

I would definitely suggest buying used if you have budget concerns...it just makes good sense. I would also say to definitely get the nav...I didn't think i needed it, but I am glad I have it (also, the 04's with nav do actually have a heating/cooling system that takes into account whether or not you're in the sun). I have an 04 with nav and have never had a single regret...

Black_dc2

I paid 19.5k for a Acura Certified Pre-Owned 04' 6mt w/nav with 53k miles. I am extremely happy with my purchase. I bought a 04 because the consumer reports said that the 04 and 05 have 270hp and the 06, 07, and 08 have 258hp.

godizus

Just an FYI...the 04 - 08(base) all have the same motor, they just changed the way they rated them. If I recall, they accounted for the power lost to the water pump and that dropped the rating by 12 HP...

case31

I got my '04 TL in Sept. 2006. It had 16k miles on it and I paid $25k. At the time, I couldn't find an '04 for anything less than $27k...if it had nav, the price bumped up to about $29k. I've had no problems with mine, I love it. Now if I could just keep my wife from putting door dings when she gets out of her car in the garage...

oOLaDYBuGGOo

Hehe. Door dings are a pain. Thats why I park far if I go to any store, especially places like Wal-mart!!

Well, they're selling a 2006 Black on Black for $28,998 w/Navi and has A-Spec kit at Carmax in my town. It's still on the website so if you know anyone who might be interested, the link is at the bottom.

It only has 17+++k miles on it (the site lists at 16k last week but I test drove it days before I went over to the Acura dealership and decided to buy a brand new 2008).


http://www.carmax.com/dyn/factsheet/...eet.aspx?KNo=0

GLowrdr

I bought mine right around the same time as yours. I ended up paying 31,xxx out the door. That included navi, and an extended warranty.

I probably could have done better, but this was my first dealer bought car, so I was drooling the moment I walked in the door, and before they finished asking if I liked the car, I pretty much blurted out I'll take it.

But - all in all, I don't plan on selling anytime soon - so there's really no second thoughts on my part about if I could have gotten a better deal or not. It's my car and I plan on keeping it.

Once it's lived out it's useful life, or I decide to buy something else - I will probably still keep it and mod the hell out of it until it's no longer a daily driver. That's my current plan though, I may be singing a different tune though if I find something else and they offer me $10k for the car in 5 years.

scotterson

iTrader: (4)

I got my 04 with 26k miles for $21,000.

TLAdvanced

iTrader: (4)

Absolutely NO change in HP output between 04-08 except the TL-S

Oswald Vater

I just traded my 04 in on an 08 due to lease expiration. The 04 was a good car but it had its share of rattles especially in the console area. The only repair needed outside of routine maintenence was the HFL module replacement under warranty - (everyone, get it done if you haven't). However, I must admit that the 08 is a better car all around - NO rattles (as of the moment), Michelin tires standard, nicer instrument panel graphics, low-mounted fog lights, turn signal mirrors, tire pressure sensors, and my new one is a navi. It's amazing how 4 years of production can refine a good car into a great one. FWIW.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

errr. I knew there was a difference and looked up the specs per year. According to FORBESAUTOS.COM ...

04 & 05 base have 270hp

06 & 07 & 08 base have 258 hp; type s has 286 hp

blkaspec

this is an incorrect statement. the horse power NEVER changed, its the way they calculate hp that changed.

godizus

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

k

rajunwild

I paid $24K for my '06 with 11k miles on it in '07. I had just paid off my '02 Accord and saw this at the dealer while I was getting gas and I just had to get it. It was listed at $30K and with my trade in thats what I got for it. I priced everything from carsdirect.com and also from other dealers and the price they were asking was right on the money. I used that website for 3 vehicle purchases and they saved me 2k off of the dealer price each time.

madpoz

I just bought my 2004 with 45k, auto & nav for 18,900. Love it, no rattles whatsoever. There is a slight vibration at 50-55 mph, but I'm normally over 60 so it really doesn't matter.

MrBostonTL

I just got an NBP 04 6spd about 3 weeks ago....it had 29K on it and I picked it up from a friend of mine who is a dealer for 20K after some ass ran a stop sign and totaled my IS300.

Anyways. the TL is in absolutely mint condition,. He took a bath on it but he wanted to free up some cash so he made me a great deal.

saturdaysaint

With much of the talk in the main room (naturally) being about more recent models, it's cool hearing that other people are having fun with their 'new' 04' TLs. My rationale for getting it was that it would pack %90 of the power, comfort and quality at about %60 of the price of a new one, and so far, I think that's been a pretty accurate assessment (not that there isn't something cool about rolling out with a shiny new TL). A TL aficionado would definitely be able to point out some improvements, but the only comments from my passengers seem to be oohs and aahs, and I think the styling will stand up nicely for a few more years still.