Well, sorta. We just inked a deal today for a 2009 TL Tech for the wife (FWD).

I traded my '06 TL a good while back, and when the current-gen TL appeared I was among the detractors. I love everything but the much-maligned nose. I don't know if I'm getting used to it, or if I've just become willing to overlook it for the goodness that lies underneath.

Whatever the case, we're back in the Acura family, and I'll be checking in occasionally to see what's going on.

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welcome home.

 

Mike didn't your mom tell you if you did not stop you would go blind.

 

Mike, I just saw your sig, you had a TL, RL and MDX and you got rid of them all. WHHHHY? So how is the wind noise in your LS460? Any cold knocking sound with it too?

 

Why I got rid of the previous Acuras is a different story for each one. But I've always admired Acura vehicles - especially the tech behind them.

The wind noise issue in the LS is way overblown, IMO. The car is so quiet, you're bound to hear things you wouldn't in other cars. Some people might have a legitimate problem with theirs, I don't know. But mine is great.

The LS has a direct-injection V-8, and the high-pressure injectors make a "ticking" sound. It's the same in a Cadillac CTS or any other DI engine. That's the nearest thing I have to a sound at idle.

Thanks for the welcome ... and as for going blind, I promise to do it just until I have to wear glasses.

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how does your wife like the car??

 

Well, it's being prepped today and then getting tinted and getting the BSM's installed. And because of some previous commitments, we won't be able to pick it up until Thursday. But the one she drove she loved. In fact, she is so excited to get it that she can't stand it.

Interestingly, this will be the first import she's ever owned. Of course, she's spent tons of time in my cars - German and Japanese - so she has a healthy respect for them. But this will actually be her first.

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Please post pics mike, thanks.

 

I hope you were joking in knocking the LS460 lol. It'll be a cold day in hell when Acura puts something out that can compete with such a sweet car. I'll take the wind noise and an LS460 over my quiet ass TL any day of the week lol.

 

Well, to our surprise, the car is in, and they rushed it through make-ready and even tinted the windows. We picked it up a couple hours ago. I'll try pics tomorrow, as it's stormy and already dark now. We got it home just ahead of the downpour.

I have to say I am really impressed with this car. Now, I may not be saying that in a month, but for now it is amazing for a TL. That is to say, compared to my '06, this thing is a spaceship. The nav display makes my old TL's screen look like a kid's toy ... it is bright, contrasty and crisp - no jaggy lines anywhere. And that wonderful Acura voice recognition ... if ONLY my Lexus had VR so good!

And of course, the gauge cluster is more grown up, too. The LED interior lighting is excellent, and the seats and interior surfaces in general are very, very nice. I like the wheels, too, although they're not the wife's faves. The tail lights and stoplights - at night, especially - are awesome. No mistaking this car for anything else. And it does draw stares, doesn't it!

I have been a real critic of the grille, and I'm still not a fan, but it's getting less offensive. And with the silver color, it seems to retreat into the paint. But when you consider how good the rest of this car seems to be, the grille is not an issue any more.

BTW, we drove a demo yesterday that had over 4,000 miles on it, and it was as tight as a new one. I recall that my '06 started making buzzing and ticking noises from the interior trim after ony a couple thousand miles. I hope they fixed that, and it looks like maybe they did.

All in all, this TL makes it really questionable in my mind why anyone would pay the extra bux to get an RL right now. And I'm a former RL owner and I loved it.

Lookin' good!

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i pick mine up next week, good reviews make me

 

congrats and welcome back mike!!

 

Welcome back, Mike! I agree with you that other than the fugly nose, the TL is a solid contender. The interior is damned near perfect.

I still drool when I see the Big Lex you're still driving, though....that is what Acura needs to be aiming for in the next RL.

 

One big thing I don't like in the TL is that the gauges just look cheap. They kinda remind me of the old Mazda 3 gauges. The blue/red gauge is old now. I'll try and take a pic of my dad's ES350 gauges and they just look higher quality. Even though the ES350 feels more luxurious that thing is a rattle magnet. In the winter the dash chirps like a bird. Other than the guages and leather, the TL trumps it.

 

I can't argue that point - but I WILL say the gauges on my pld 2006 TL were really, really simplistic, to the point that they looked like cartoon gauges to me. I know others disgree, and that's okay, but I thought they were cheapie-looking.

I've had a good bit of experience with the ES350, too, as loaner cars while my Lex is being serviced. I'd like to say it's impressive and luxurious, but to me, it's ... meh. I know it's partly because I'm accustomed to the LS, but on the next redesign, the ES will have to move upscale a lot to remain competitive.

So I tend to look at the '09 TL's gauges as so much better than the old ones that they look good.

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Someone wanted pics?









After spending some wheel time with the car, I'm a little surprised how firm the ride is. Maybe it's because my butt has gotten used to creamy Lexus ride quality, or maybe I'm just getting old (or both).

Still, it's a nice rig, and my wife is still all giddy over it. It's replacing her '06 Cadillac STS, and she doesn't seem to feel like she's giving up anything. In fact, with the nav and other goodies, she's actually gaining ...

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^^ that is hot especially with your house in the background! Nice neighborhood Mike!!

Since I complained about the gauges(hate complaining about petty things) I will say this, that thick steering wheel is awesome. Coming from a wood steering, that thich but soft, supple steering wheel is plain awesome! It even thicker than a FWD steering wheel!

 

It's beautiful Mike! Congrats to you and yours. The rims ruin it from being perfect! Great choice on the side moldings, I'm one that thinks it break up the big door, and they do help on dings too! Go for the splash guards next, it brings the contours of the design closer to the floor giving a sense of lowered without lowering it. Nice tint too! I'd still paint the grill and bumper, but that's just my two cents. This color is close enough that it doesn't protrude.

 

Thanks for the favorable comments, guys.

It's Mama's car, and as long as she's happy with it, I'm happy.

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Am I the only one here that actually likes the FWD rims? Sure, they'd look better in the wheel wells if they were 18" but I think the split fork design is gorgeous. And they have real depth so they look like the serious rims that they are. If I'm not mistaken doesn't the AWD- HPT car come with 19" rims that are exactly the same (other than being 19") as the 17" rims on our cars?

 

Yeah, Doc your the first to like it. It says Honda Accord to me, not a $40K luxury sports car, ya know? The 19" are not the same, look closely and you'll see the differences!

 

Actually, I like the wheels, too. They look like a fresher interpretation of the A-Spec rims - which I've always liked.

And I know this will amaze some folks, but I think the car looks more substantial with the 17's than with the bigger rims. I guess the rims being smaller makes the car look hunkier or something.

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Do any of you guys know what the 2009 BMW 535xi rides on? 225/50-17. Yup. The same size I hear so many here complaining about on our cars. Same sidewall profile and two sizes skinnier.

So what do you say about that? The mighty, iconic 535 rides on the same size tires as our cars. And they're not even as meaty.

I can't wait to hear the replies,

 

Welcome back to the family Mike_TX. I bought a TL late last year also. Still have the RL. I agree with your earlier comment (and have stated such already) that the current RL is probably not worth getting with this new TL in the lineup. You can get a TL SHAWD for considerably less with almost all the RL's features PLUS the features that it shares with the RL are all next generation and better. They need to come out with the next gen RL fast or the sales will be approaching zero soon (they're already close to that now).

 

Thanks, Mikey.

Probably wobbling off topic, but isn't the RL still slated for 2011? if so, that's a whole year and a half out!

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Regardless of the 5 series's price, it has smaller exterior dimensions than the TL. The immense wheel wells in the TL are practically begging for 18" rims. Unlike the 3G TL, 19" rims can also easily fit.

 

I've never read anything official. Just rumors. I'm expecting something sooner but that's just my gut feeling

 

That's without the Sports Package. Those standard wheels are too small for the 5 series......not as bad on the smaller 3 series. The last 4/5 BMW's I've owned all came equipped with Sports Packages....it makes the car handle better and look much nicer at the same time.