So I'm into my third week of my AWD+tech and really love the car. But one thing I really notice that wasn't present in my 99TL is exhause noise. If I've just started the car and it's idiling, I hear the engine exhause noise coming from the back seat area. Kind of a low grumble like a Mustang.

I also hear what sounds like transmission 'whine' or 'spin up' noise when I'm accelerating. Not loud, but certainly never heard such a noise in my old TL.

Besides these two distinct sounds, the car is really quiet. Are these sounds normal, or is something defective that I should have looked at?

 

Pretty sure the trans whine/spin up is normal - it exists in the 3G and in later model 2G TL's.

 

Last year while researching the new TL I read somewhere that Acura intentionally made the exhaust 'note' on the AWD a bit deeper and louder...

 

That's true.....it's louder than the FWD car.

 

I wouldn't call the transmission whine normal though. My 3G TL had a whine and it slowly got louder and louder. Had some problems switching from P to Reverse and the dealer ended up replacing my tranny. Keep an eye on it, or drive a few other ones from the dealer and see if they have it too. If it gets worse, it could be the first indicator of a bad transmission.