A 'quick' reflection of the ACURA's I've gone through since 1999...
12-05-2012, 11:28 AM
#1
2021 RDX A SPEC
Thread Starter
A 'quick' reflection of the ACURA's I've gone through since 1999...
So...why do i call myself Acura604? Thought this would be 'amusing' to some... dis dere some crazy brand loyalty!
Started with this handsome 1999 Acura 1.6EL 5spd...The EL went through a few different mods....H&R springs to Eibach Prokit. All sorts of different rims as well...and of course, the mod of the time was clear corners and signals. Was definitely a solid car!
Next stop...after 3 years, I set my sights on the newly announced RSX...and so I went ahead and leased a 02 premium 5spd. Absolutely loved the car...fun and sporty. Minor mods such as the eibach prokit but who can forget the whole DIY blackout headlights mod? I wrote up a DIY back in 2003 which is still posted on as a sticky.
Next stop...2004 rolled around and I got uber excited with the newly announced TSX...it was sharp, sophisticated and very polished. Landing a job with a corporate culture, I decided to trade in the RSX for a 04 TSX 6spd...met my future wife while owning this car and to this day, this black beauty is still her all-time favorite. With standard HIDs, I would never do halogens again.
2006 rolled around and again, I got excited with the newly announced CSX...it wasn't so much the car but the technology...this was the first car I experienced with navi and 'compact flash' mp3 playback. This was a ill-thought out move on my part but alas, I traded the TSX for a 06 CSX tech 5spd. Tried some minor mods such as 17" SI wheels but the car was just not exciting to me...
Within a mere 6-8 months, I could not handle the economy feel of the CSX and decided to get rid of it and go back to the smoothness and luxury of another TSX. Went with a 2006 TSX 6spd in graphite pearl. Let me tell you, the 6spd TSX has got to be the smoothest shifting car I've ever driven.
By now, you can tell that Acura dealers were starting to love me....
2008 quickly came up and there was a little 'acura604' growing in my wife ...so I kinda figured that the TSX wouldn't do as a baby hauler. Went to Acura and traded the TSX for a 08 RDX tech.
The RDX was a great overall compact SUV but it also being my daily driver, the jarring rough suspension finally wore me out in less than 1 year...so, back to the dealership. This time, I didn't trade in the RDx...rather, arranged a lease takeover from someone off Craigslist. At Acura, doing the lease takeover paperwork, I arranged to snag yet another TSX...this time, an 08 but in auto. The TSX would not disappoint yet again with its smooth, comfy ride.
The TSX was barely sufficient for transporting a baby in a rear facing seat. I kept thinking...how do I retain the smooth suspension and luxury but in a bigger sedan.... .... .... YES! The 08 Acura TL!
The TSX was sold...however, the 08 TLs were running pretty scarce as it was the last model year... I settled on a 08 base / non navi auto...
The TL was exactly what I was looking for...amazing comfort...amazing interior space for front and rear passengers...LED rears, HIDs, XM radio....BUT...the lack of navi was killing me...the TL non navi dash looked terrible IMO so.... ....not even 5 months had passed, I transferred the lease and took over a lease on a 08 TL with Navi...( on a car this size, the back up cam is invaluable )
Then along came a friend who offered to sell me his 07 carbon grey TL navi for dirt cheap...it was an offer I could not refuse and saw it as a opportunity to end leasing and start owning....so...the WDP TL was transferred away to my tenant ( the TL is his 'dream car' so it was a win win ). I went ahead and purchased my friends 07 TL which had 25000 lower KM than the white one.
...now this is where it gets wierd...the TL above was a great car...but something swayed me back to a SUV and another ill-thought out move was made. Went to a Honda dealership and traded the TL in for another 08 RDX. This time around I really wanted to like the RdX... I equipped it with all available OEM options from skirts to wheels to roof racks...
But yet again...the crap bumpy-ass suspension killed it for me. In less than 9 months, I trekked to a Acura dealership and traded it in and went back to a 08 TL navi. Yet again, I felt the relief of having a smooth suspension with a quiet V6.
Being very content with this TL, I realized however...the finance rate I was paying was high ( utilized personal line of credit )...so I thought it over and realized that the 3G TL was probably my all-time favorite vehicle ...and with its design discontinuation and limited 'low mileage market availability'...I decided to find something quick before they were allllll gone and treat myself to the highest trim and go back to the sexiness of a 6speed MT...so off i went to another Acura dealership and traded in the 08 above and purchased the 08 TL-S 6Mt at a much lower Acura finance rate....knowing that this will be my last 3G TL.
So that's it for now....what's next? I dunno ...maybe a refreshed 2013 RDX in 2015 now that they put in a V6 and a smoother suspension but I feel that present Acuras are just not as 'cool' anymore. The beak ? No thanks! The lack of LED drls?
In any case, although it took a few years..i've learned that at this stage of my life...priorities have changed and i've gotten over the need to change cars so frequently.
So...it might be time to move on in a few years to a different brand but I am going to thoroughly enjoy the TL Type-S...it may lack when compared to current technology but hands down, still one of the nicest cars on the roads today.
I do have to say...NONE of the above cars ever had a problem...Acura's solid reliability is real!
Started with this handsome 1999 Acura 1.6EL 5spd...The EL went through a few different mods....H&R springs to Eibach Prokit. All sorts of different rims as well...and of course, the mod of the time was clear corners and signals. Was definitely a solid car!
Next stop...after 3 years, I set my sights on the newly announced RSX...and so I went ahead and leased a 02 premium 5spd. Absolutely loved the car...fun and sporty. Minor mods such as the eibach prokit but who can forget the whole DIY blackout headlights mod? I wrote up a DIY back in 2003 which is still posted on as a sticky.
Next stop...2004 rolled around and I got uber excited with the newly announced TSX...it was sharp, sophisticated and very polished. Landing a job with a corporate culture, I decided to trade in the RSX for a 04 TSX 6spd...met my future wife while owning this car and to this day, this black beauty is still her all-time favorite. With standard HIDs, I would never do halogens again.
2006 rolled around and again, I got excited with the newly announced CSX...it wasn't so much the car but the technology...this was the first car I experienced with navi and 'compact flash' mp3 playback. This was a ill-thought out move on my part but alas, I traded the TSX for a 06 CSX tech 5spd. Tried some minor mods such as 17" SI wheels but the car was just not exciting to me...
Within a mere 6-8 months, I could not handle the economy feel of the CSX and decided to get rid of it and go back to the smoothness and luxury of another TSX. Went with a 2006 TSX 6spd in graphite pearl. Let me tell you, the 6spd TSX has got to be the smoothest shifting car I've ever driven.
By now, you can tell that Acura dealers were starting to love me....
2008 quickly came up and there was a little 'acura604' growing in my wife ...so I kinda figured that the TSX wouldn't do as a baby hauler. Went to Acura and traded the TSX for a 08 RDX tech.
The RDX was a great overall compact SUV but it also being my daily driver, the jarring rough suspension finally wore me out in less than 1 year...so, back to the dealership. This time, I didn't trade in the RDx...rather, arranged a lease takeover from someone off Craigslist. At Acura, doing the lease takeover paperwork, I arranged to snag yet another TSX...this time, an 08 but in auto. The TSX would not disappoint yet again with its smooth, comfy ride.
The TSX was barely sufficient for transporting a baby in a rear facing seat. I kept thinking...how do I retain the smooth suspension and luxury but in a bigger sedan.... .... .... YES! The 08 Acura TL!
The TSX was sold...however, the 08 TLs were running pretty scarce as it was the last model year... I settled on a 08 base / non navi auto...
The TL was exactly what I was looking for...amazing comfort...amazing interior space for front and rear passengers...LED rears, HIDs, XM radio....BUT...the lack of navi was killing me...the TL non navi dash looked terrible IMO so.... ....not even 5 months had passed, I transferred the lease and took over a lease on a 08 TL with Navi...( on a car this size, the back up cam is invaluable )
Then along came a friend who offered to sell me his 07 carbon grey TL navi for dirt cheap...it was an offer I could not refuse and saw it as a opportunity to end leasing and start owning....so...the WDP TL was transferred away to my tenant ( the TL is his 'dream car' so it was a win win ). I went ahead and purchased my friends 07 TL which had 25000 lower KM than the white one.
...now this is where it gets wierd...the TL above was a great car...but something swayed me back to a SUV and another ill-thought out move was made. Went to a Honda dealership and traded the TL in for another 08 RDX. This time around I really wanted to like the RdX... I equipped it with all available OEM options from skirts to wheels to roof racks...
But yet again...the crap bumpy-ass suspension killed it for me. In less than 9 months, I trekked to a Acura dealership and traded it in and went back to a 08 TL navi. Yet again, I felt the relief of having a smooth suspension with a quiet V6.
Being very content with this TL, I realized however...the finance rate I was paying was high ( utilized personal line of credit )...so I thought it over and realized that the 3G TL was probably my all-time favorite vehicle ...and with its design discontinuation and limited 'low mileage market availability'...I decided to find something quick before they were allllll gone and treat myself to the highest trim and go back to the sexiness of a 6speed MT...so off i went to another Acura dealership and traded in the 08 above and purchased the 08 TL-S 6Mt at a much lower Acura finance rate....knowing that this will be my last 3G TL.
So that's it for now....what's next? I dunno ...maybe a refreshed 2013 RDX in 2015 now that they put in a V6 and a smoother suspension but I feel that present Acuras are just not as 'cool' anymore. The beak ? No thanks! The lack of LED drls?
In any case, although it took a few years..i've learned that at this stage of my life...priorities have changed and i've gotten over the need to change cars so frequently.
So...it might be time to move on in a few years to a different brand but I am going to thoroughly enjoy the TL Type-S...it may lack when compared to current technology but hands down, still one of the nicest cars on the roads today.
I do have to say...NONE of the above cars ever had a problem...Acura's solid reliability is real!
12-05-2012, 12:07 PM
#2
good imfo bro. could'nt agreed more TL cam out top. the imazing things is you still kept the TL. my 04 ssm at 125 xxx+miles=ZERO problem, atleast for now hehe. not to even said i was an aggressive driver>.<
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CLtotheTL32 (12-05-2012)
12-05-2012, 01:10 PM
#5
HE>i
iTrader: (1)
Nice story! BUT, am I the only person who didnt know what a acura CSX was?!? I literally had to google it 
I have bought only two cars since 2002 (99 TL) and in 2008 (05 TL) and still have both cars today.
I have bought only two cars since 2002 (99 TL) and in 2008 (05 TL) and still have both cars today.
12-05-2012, 01:19 PM
#6
2014 Jeep SRT
That's a shitload of cars to go through in 13 years. I don't even think I've owned half that many since 1999. Your current TL is the best out of ALL of them. Keep it!
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12-05-2012, 06:47 PM
#13
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I see a pattern here.....
12-05-2012, 07:06 PM
#14
Your Friendly Canadian
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I like your current choice the best. 
But damn... FIVE TLs, all made within two years!?
Quite the journey! You're probably on a first-name basis with your sales agent by now
But damn... FIVE TLs, all made within two years!?Quite the journey! You're probably on a first-name basis with your sales agent by now
12-06-2012, 12:28 AM
#17
2021 RDX A SPEC
Thread Starter
The lease takeovers surprisingly went well. Most likely due to me advertising on Craigslist a very aggressive rate that was attached to the lease. I usually got the loyalty rate which reduced whatever rate by a certain percentage ...not to mention I bargained hard to get a good deal before the lease began. The only time I ran into an issue was with folks who applied to take over the lease and got rejected due to bad credit. But yah, it's a lot of work....and I sure as hell am not doing that anymore.
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