Hi folks! I'm a long-time Honda owner and new Acura owner. I recently inherited my father's 2008 TL Type S. My father was the original Honda enthusiast in our family. He bought a 1975 Civic CVCC station Wagon for my Mom...and then he kept "borrowing" it to drive instead of his 1972 Chrysler, which was no fun at all to drive...or to park.

So when Honda came out with the CVCC 5-speed, he traded in his Chrysler. That yellow 5-speed ended up being my brother's first car. One of my first cars was a 1977 Accord coupe which was originally Mom's. Through the years we lived in different states and Dad kept buying Hondas, usually Accords with the 4 cylinder and 5-speed manual trans. In the 1990s he got a Prelude S, immediately regretted not getting the Si, so he traded it for the Si a few months later.

I was in Florida drivng a Honda CRX-HF. I loved that car. When the Acura CL Type S came out, Dad bought that and sold me his Prelude Si. I loved that car even more. That was my first really sporty Honda, and I loved the way it handled and ran through the gears. I didn't buy the CL from Dad because I had a Miata at the time, but I did buy his next car, a 2003 Accord Sedan EX with 4 cyl, 5-speed and Navi. That was a really good, reliable and fun car which I kept many years.

Dad was in his nineties when he stopped driving. He wanted me to have his last car, the 2008 TL Type S 5AT. It's the first automatic transmission car I've had in many years, but I was getting to old to enjoy driving a stick shift in constant stop-and-go traffic, so I was ready for an automatic. Don't get me wrong; I would thoroghly enjoy wringing out a TL-S with 6MT and I understand the 6-speed is the only way to experience the 07-08 TL-S for the true enthusiast. But the kind of driving I do these days, short trips, stoplight to stoplight, parking lot to parking lot, the auto is the best choice.

When these cars came to me from Dad they looked like they were just off the showroom floor. Dad kept all his cars immaculate. The 2003 Accord had around 30k when I got it in 2008. The Acura had 50,000 miles on it in 14 years. It should take me 10+ years to put another 50k on the TL. I'll keep it garaged and dealer maintained. It might be my last car, too.

 

Welcome to Acurazine! Post some pictures of the ride! You have a phenomenal car, even if it's the 5AT. The 5AT is more than adequate due to SS mode allowing you complete control over all of the gears.

 

I'm happy with the performance of the 5AT. It stays out of the way in normal driving and respends quickly and well when punched. I'm trying to think of the last auto trans car I had. It was an 80s-era Chevy Caprice. Before that it was a 1968 Valiant 318-V8. So maybe I don't know what a modern auto trans is supposed to feel like. YouTube tells me my 5-speed auto is primitave compared to modern 8 and 10-speed autos.

One thing I was wondering...this car looks and drives great but is 14 years old. I'm thinking I should replace the timing belt a lot earlier than 105,000 miles. What's the consensus on that?

 

I would suggest you have a properly trained Acura technician take a look at the belt, at the very minimum. Their opinion will either help give you peace of mind that the belt is adequate for the time being, or if it's in your best interest to replace it. Either way, don't just have the service done without inquiring about a visual inspection.

I am close friends with the Master Technician of the primary Acura dealership in my area, and rely heavily on his expertise.

 

Welcome to the forums.

This thread has been moved from the New Member Introductions Forum to the model specific forum for better response.

 

Although the TB & components are probably OK with only 50K on them, if it were my car I would change them all.
I purchased a S/C'd automatic 03 CL-S back in 2019 with 51K from an elderly gentleman, who with his son, used it as a project car back in the day.
Upon delivery, after one day of spirited driving, in the garage it went to receive its first TB change in 17 years. Mainly because I had no idea how bad the engine was thrashed by father / son due to the power adder kit. Upon inspection the 17 y/o 51K factory TB had no cracks and components looked new. However, I find the TB job easy enough to DIY; therefore, in went a new kit for piece of mind. Besides, I wanted to recoup the sale price of the car by removing & selling the 'go fast parts' ASAP, in fact making a profit resulting in a free car when all was said & done.
Good Luck with your dad's gifted TL 6MT.

 

congrats and welcome! There are plenty of resources here to help keep your TL-S running and looking at it's best! With the FL heat, I highly advise a sunshade to avoid the dashboard cracking early on; both my Factory and replacement dash cracked within 8-9 years.

 

Thanks for all the advice, guys! I'll have the dealer look at the TB the next time I go there.
What product should I use on the dash to keep it from cracking? I guess Armor All is useless. Anybody tried Flex-Seal?

My Dad had a 2003 CL Type S that ended up going to his stepson. The stepson LOVED that car and put 300,000 miles on it. I think one of his kids might still be driving it. I don't think I ever drove it except maybe around the block the day he got it. They both said the CL just wanted to run...it wanted to do 80 no matter where you drove it.

 

The dealer is a great way to drain your wallet! A good independent shop can take the inspection cover off and peek and see how it looks.

As far as the dash, I did everything in my power to stop it and the only product that seemed to help was 303 Aerospace Protectant. But unfortunately, the material under the dash separates due to temp fluctuations so there is only so much the 303 can do. You can always buy a dash cover or dash mat. I haven't made the plunge yet to do it.

Also PLEASE never buy parts for your car from ebay or amazon, so many fake components on there such as spark plugs, timing belt kits, etc.

 

So that's a no on the Flex-Seal?