Hello all!

I have found this site to be very well organized and helpful!! I'm new to this site and am currently considering an '06 TL AT. I have read a lot of posts having to do with vibration in 04 & 05 TL's, with some references made to the '06 models also reporting the same. I would be a first time ACURA owner, having owned mostly Toyota's, which have been pretty reliable. I don't care for the current Toyota Camry or Avalon's and really like what the TL package brings to the table. An aquaintance of mine purchased an 06TL MT w/o navi; loves it. Only 5k miles so far and hasn't really noticed anything. I rode in it, seems sweet.

Here are some general questions I'm hoping to hear more on:

1. Vibration: Seemed like there was a lot of activity around this topic. I want a higher end vehicle, with that comes expectations for comfort and a quality ride. I do about 120 miles/day highway. This would be very annoying after ponying up 33+K. Is this still an issue on 06's? Any TSB's?

2. Winter/Cold Weather: I'm in snow country (upstate NY) and would upgrade tires to snows regardless. How does the car run during cold weather (0-20 degrees F)? I understand engines need to warm up, but in general...

3. Engine Block Heater: ditto from above...I would imagine this option is there for a reason? 11.0:1 aluminum...any other input on this?

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!

 

Even with aggressive-treaded snows, this is not the best car for winter driving in the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse snow belt. There is too much horsepower, though the front wheel drive helps a lot compared to RWD. In this price category, AWD, like a Subaru, will better fit your needs.

My commute was Rochester-to-Geneva on the Thruway, and a good ol' (new, circa 1978) Pontiac-POS Grand LeMans with a small V8 made the daily trek. While I feel this year-long experience made me a better snow driver, in retrospect I consider this to have been among the more wasted resources of my life. In short, there are some things in life you don't need to become better at doing.

Another aspect is that the front windshield is too steeply raked for snowstorm weather and slush-spray driving. If you currently use a gallon or more of washer fluid a month in the winter, you want something with more upright glass. Easier to clean, easier to see out of.

Finally, the rear and side visibility from the driver's seat are probably average for sedans, but not the best for adverse weather driving. It's hard to sense the sides and back of the car.

Test drive -- put a dime on the ground in a parking lot, then back up until you think your right rear is on top of it (or right next to it). After 10 tries, if you can't get within a couple feet, this is not the car for you. (You can do this test much better in a TSX, I found.)

>>> Engine Block Heater: ditto from above...I would imagine this option is there for a reason? 11.0:1 aluminum...any other input on this?

You have answered your question by the very form of your question. Some day they may make better alloys. We felt that, really, when the Chevy Vega was rolled out in 1972.