05ATL40

I have to say this. I was one of the masses who did not like the new look of the 4th gen TL. Literally disgusted at the new look and scratching my head at who gave the go ahead of the design.

Until recently I have been seeing a few more TL's on the road. I have to say it has grown on me.

So today I brought in my MDX for service expecting a TSX or a RDX as loaner they gave me a TL. When they drove it up I said to myself ( which i never would of when it first came out) "this car is pretty sexy".

From the start I'd always like the interior, but it was the exterior that drove me away from it. I told my service guy that at first when the new TL came out I thought it was hideus. He told me the same thing, but than he said it just grows on you. They was really worry when it first came to the dealer ship because it was really tough to sale the new look to customers. Until the past six month sales have picked up alot. They had to although do some minor custom work like painting the grill. He believes that is the only reason why it had such a huge back lash.

I had a 05 TL and loved the car. Still think it is Acura's best design next to the NSX. So when the new TL came I had a back lash like how a kid would get a new step mom or step dad.

So today I noticed while I was driving around I notice people looking at the car every where that I would drive. Maybe it was a dejective or a wow nice car kinda of look. I had flash backs of when I drove my 05 TL off the lot. I think it was mostly good looks. I even had a person at the park tell me the car looks good.

The interior is by far one of the best that I have been in, although the steering wheel I think has a just one to many buttons.

Like I think what all of us do to loaners I ran it like a freaking mule. One word "this car hauls ass". Just like 3rd gen TL a lil bit of over steer, but who cares. I put it on S drive and once the red light turn green it lifted off and all i can see was the other cars in the rear view mirror were just standing still. Cool thing is that it goes from 1st gear to 5th. In the 3rd gen it started off in second.

This car has lots of potential. I just started to imagine it on the drive way dropped with some 19's a nice lil lip kit on it.

I hate to bring it back tomorrow, but due to this loaner today I just might pick up the TL in a year or so.

Thanks for reading. Just thought a put a positive thread in here and give you my

tmnhs81

Nice review. But I don't agree with 3rd gen TL being the best design after NSX. 2nd gen Legend Sedan and Coupe are still one of the sexiest and timeless machines out there.

05ATL40

You know you could be right about that one. I was "like whoa" when the legend coupe came out.

Melba Toast

Every time I see a 2nd gen Legend coupe, I still crank my head around to stare!!!!

05ATL40

Thought i bring us back some memorys.

[IMG][/IMG]

tmnhs81

tmnhs81

Damn it can't edit it...

But I promise last pic of Legend Coupe I am posting in this thread...sorry for the

crxb

when you bring it back test drive the SH-AWD TL - and see what you think

venom550pm

CraigMacDTA

What he said! You'll shiet yourself if you thought the FWD was nice.

Dizave

I like the old school legend pics!

laidback93

Just got a base TL with Tech package for a loaner as well. My 08 TL-S is in the shop.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/about-had-acura-734587/

Read the thread above if you want to know the gory details.



The interior is definitely an improvement. No question about it. The exterior is starting to grow on my as well. But I still can't get over that ugly beak!


The other thing I noticed is that my TL-S seems to pull a lot harder than this 09. There is only a 6hp difference. Is it because the 09 is heavier?


All in all, it's a very nice and luxurious car. But that may be what is turning me off about it. I love my TL-S because of the sportiness of it.

venom550pm

this may sound like a broken record, but drive the SH-AWD

23109VC

i also just had an 09 base TL w/tech as a loaner when our MDX was in for service. My wife and I have been shopping for a second car and we had settled on getting a used CPO 07-08 TL or TL-S. I was pushing for the TL-S, she thinks it's too bumpy. I don't mind the base/w nav, but thought it was a tad underpowered, especially aftering driving a sportier Type S.

Having done quite a few recent test drives of a Type S, the base, and then driving the 09 - all in a very short span of time - I felt like hte new car was very very nice. almost to the point that now i'm thinking maybe instead of buying a CPO 08, i should just lease an 09.

the new car grows on you. looking at it online, i hated it. first seeeing it at the dealer, i hated it. seeing the first few one on the road, I still hated it. I finally sat in one and liked hte inside, but still hated the outside. back at a dealer, i saw some more, and hated it less, thought it looked okay from certain angles, but still wasn't sold on the exterior styling.

got one as a loaner, and drove it, and liked how it drove. once it was parked in my garage, I was starting at it, and for some reason, it looked better in my garage than it did on the dealer's lot.

you know thing - when you see it at the dealer, parked next to all the other TLs, you focus on how the styling in general is so extreme... and you either love it or hate it. but once you start seeing it on the raod, in parking lots, etc..and you see it parked next to all the other cars...you start to see how the styling is very forward thinking and edgy...not sure what the word is..it's bold and aggressive. when you start to look at an 09 TL pakred next to older Camry's, Accords, maximas, even the BMWs....it seems to look better.... it stands out, but not in a bad way.

the m ore i look at it the more i am starting to like it.

i think this happens a lot when new cars are introduced with bold styling. people hate it at first, and then as time goes by, people warm up to it and eventually start to embrace it. i can remember when the Bangled 5 series came out. i hated it, as did a lot of others. I thought the previous gen 5 series was beautiful and timeless,and it's still anice looking car, but NOW, you see Bangle 5 series everywhere, and they look cool. the "older" gen 5 series, now looks dated and obsolete...still a nic car, but when you see it, you KNOW it's an "older" car....

in two years, the 3G TL will be considered "old" and the 4G will be "cool". just watch.

zeezz

great post 23109VC. I think it's the same way - everyone hated bangle's designs, but now they are almost considered pretty good looking (5 series). everyone hated the audi grille when it came out (the larger one that envelops the license plate) but now it's a recognizable sign of audi's everywhere. acura is definitely going in that direction- although it's a bit more extreme, i think in the end the cars look pretty good.

1fsthatch

the cl's are nice also and dont forget integras

t0talacuratl

iTrader: (3)

Got a chance to drive the SH-AWD TL for a loaner while my car was at the dealers. The car drives great! Love the tech package. But I'm still not a big fan on the looks. It looks too bulky for my taste. My present TL is the perfect size for me. The 09 is pretty torquey, but can't compare to my modded TL 6MT. The car will be fine for me when I get older, but for now I'm happy with my 04.

crxb

I had an 04 5AT - I bet your just waiting for the 4G to come in DGP (rare 3G color)

t0talacuratl

iTrader: (3)

Even if they do, I would not trade. Still not crazy about the look.

laidback93

After about a week of driving the 09, I'm still not sold on it. I'm starting to miss my 08 TL-S.

It's a nice car, I will admit, but it's just not for me.

If the dealer ends up buying my TL-S back, it might be the end of the road for me with Honda/Acura. Sad but true...


I'm starting to look at the Audi A4 and maybe an IS. We'll see.