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Hi my dad has driven his 2004 TL for 200K + miles and wants to get a new car. He would prefer a TL again. I did some research on the car. Back in 2004 it was one of the highest rated sedans, now it doesn't seem to be the case by the rating numbers and reviews at most sites.
We have had many Honda's and Acura's in our family because they seem to be the best reliable engines and have a good set of features at a good price.
Reading some threads it seems like the 2015 TLS had transmission problems. Has that been fixed in the 2016 models or should I still be careful when purchasing one? I'm looking at the 2016 TLX V6 P AWS-With Advanced Package.
If Acura TL is no longer as reliable as it used to be any recc'd in this price range. We just bought a V6 accord 1 year ago, so dont feel like getting another one. Thanks.
Although I don't own a TLX (yet), I follow the TLX thread pretty closely. Appears as though the '16 models have resolved the '15's transmission woes. The owners of the '16 TLX are singing its praise. Take your Dad and go for a test drive.
Welcome to AcuraZine and best of luck in your new car hunt.
Thanks for the info.
One more question. I guess test driving will help also. My dad is a conservative driver. All his cars have been FWD. Alot of people on forums are saying handling of SH-AWD is much better. We live in california. So don't really need AWD, but does the SH make a decent difference in day to day driving? Thanks.
The SH-AWD will "grip" the road better, but for a conservative driver that may make no noticeable difference.
If we ever get our el Nino rains it will help on the oil raised freeways. IMHO, those are worse than any snow I have driven in. Somewhat like black ice. I also like the tech that comes with the SH-AWD Advance model.
rimmi...I agree with others. It appears the 2016 is a much more stable machine which is reassuring. The MMC of teh TLX (Next year) will bring some decent changes and likely the new face of Acura and the return of the dual exhaust and MAYBE, just maybe, their new tranny. If he can't (or doesn't) want to wait, then the 2016 will be a much more stable vehicle....Some are still having some motor mount (VCM) vibrations but overall, much better time to get a TLX than 1 year ago.
If you guys can afford the SH-AWD, get it, you will not believe how confident and securing the ride will be.
If he's a conservative driver, why does he want the V6?
He likes the power/longevity of the V6 engines. They tend to keep good even after many years of use, but we wont be turning corners at high speeds like I might do at times.
I test drove both the SH-AWD and FWD today and I agree the handling of the SH-AWD is very nice. I drive a CLS550 and the SH-AWD handles much better in my opinion. Gave the car a very luxurious feel. Definitely worth it I think.
rimmi...I agree with others. It appears the 2016 is a much more stable machine which is reassuring. The MMC of teh TLX (Next year) will bring some decent changes and likely the new face of Acura and the return of the dual exhaust and MAYBE, just maybe, their new tranny.
Ha - anyone who rushes out to get an Acura with a "new tranny" at this point should be banned from posting here!
He likes the power/longevity of the V6 engines. They tend to keep good even after many years of use, but we wont be turning corners at high speeds like I might do at times.
I test drove both the SH-AWD and FWD today and I agree the handling of the SH-AWD is very nice. I drive a CLS550 and the SH-AWD handles much better in my opinion. Gave the car a very luxurious feel. Definitely worth it I think.
As an SH-AWD owner myself, I feel the SH-AWD is TOTALLY worth it. And so is the Tech package.
Here is Chicago, I am getting some crazy low quotes for a advance awd tlx. 39 out the door. They are quoting a 16 for 44. I am sure I can get the 15 down even more.
Here is Chicago, I am getting some crazy low quotes for a advance awd tlx. 39 out the door. They are quoting a 16 for 44. I am sure I can get the 15 down even more.
Is it worth it getting the 15?
I don't own a TLX, but based on what has been reported on this forum alone would make me stay away from a 2015.. Hold off if you can and I'm sure the prices on the 2016's will come down..
The "crazy low quotes" you are getting on the 2015's is because of the known issues some of them have. This is causing the dealers to be very aggressive in trying to selling them.
The "crazy low quotes" you are getting on the 2015's is because the 2016's are out and in 7 months time the 2017's will be out. The longer the 2015's sit unsold on the lot, the more value they lose and less desirable and harder to sell they become. The limited color combo and trim selection doesn't help either. This is causing the dealers to be very aggressive in trying to selling them.
Here is Chicago, I am getting some crazy low quotes for a advance awd tlx. 39 out the door. They are quoting a 16 for 44. I am sure I can get the 15 down even more.
Is it worth it getting the 15?
Depends on the build date, my 15 AWD TLX is a 9/15 build and is pretty good, biggest complaints with tranny look like they will be addressed with the just released TSB for 15 and 16 TLX 9 speeds.
This was surprising to me as I recently learned this and with a luxury car in this price range personally my minimum standard is at least "Good" in all categories.
FWIW I purchased my 15 TLX P-AWS Advance last week. It was built 5/2015, and I have no issues with the transmission. While the dealership was installing the aero kit I had a 15 P-AWS tech, which was built after mine and only had 66 miles on it. The transmission was flawless as well. I've driven 5 different TLXs and the only one that had a transmission that I hated was an SH-AWD Advanced, but it was a very early build. The vin ended with 00099.
Depends on the build date, my 15 AWD TLX is a 9/15 build and is pretty good, biggest complaints with tranny look like they will be addressed with the just released TSB for 15 and 16 TLX 9 speeds.
For the 2015's you should buy from the VINs listed here or later.
Something I learned recently on the new TLX. It only has a "Marginal" rating for the IIHS small front overlap crash test:
link here: ....
This was surprising to me as I recently learned this and with a luxury car in this price range personally my minimum standard is at least "Good" in all categories.
The 2015 tested better. Not sure why they tested again in 2016. I think they made some minor change. These are one-off tests. It only takes some minor anomaly in the test to be downgraded. The test dummy's ankle may have gotten injury in one test and not the other (for example).
If he's a conservative driver, why does he want the V6?
Not my place to answer, but I believe that the older you get, the more you treasure features like smoothness, refinement, quietness and effortless power. (Remember the Lincolns and Buicks were popular with the older group at least in the past). The TLX V6 engine delivers on all those over the 4 pot. It's not just for performance. Of course having great performance wouldn't hurt.
If you are getting a good deal on a 15, and have no problem with a 15 vs a 16; take that specific car for a drive. If it drives, and shifts fine, do the deal, and enjoy the savings.
I have an early build model, and my tranny is just fine. After the most recent TSBs performed, I don't even notice shifting behavior anymore whereas before, I'd occasionally notice the 2-3 shift.
To the OP, he doesn't need AWD for weather reasons, so if torque steer, or understeer have never been an issue for your dad, he'll be perfectly fine with the FWD model.
Not my place to answer, but I believe that the older you get, the more you treasure features like smoothness, refinement, quietness and effortless power. (Remember the Lincolns and Buicks were popular with the older group at least in the past). The TLX V6 engine delivers on all those over the 4 pot. It's not just for performance. Of course having great performance wouldn't hurt.
I hear you. Part of the reason I got a TLX at all was because I want refinement. I felt the I4 was plenty refined as well. Effortless power is something it doesn't have though.
rimmi...I agree with others. It appears the 2016 is a much more stable machine which is reassuring. The MMC of teh TLX (Next year) will bring some decent changes and likely the new face of Acura and the return of the dual exhaust and MAYBE, just maybe, their new tranny. If he can't (or doesn't) want to wait, then the 2016 will be a much more stable vehicle....Some are still having some motor mount (VCM) vibrations but overall, much better time to get a TLX than 1 year ago.
If you guys can afford the SH-AWD, get it, you will not believe how confident and securing the ride will be.
Do you mean next model year or calendar year? I think the MMC of the TLX should be 2018 model year if it follows all the previous TLs.
This was surprising to me as I recently learned this and with a luxury car in this price range personally my minimum standard is at least "Good" in all categories.
The 2015 TLX had an acceptable rating in the IIHS small front overlap crash test. Honda wanted it to get a good rating, which was necessary to get a Top Safety Pick plus rating in 2016. In an attempt to get a better rating, Honda made minor changes to the car. It looks like that backfired, since the 2016 TLX received a worse rating.
Wow, I realized after I got my 15 that it did not do well, but for the 16 to God in the wrong direction. Shame on me me for not checking before getting mine, but I made the classic mistake of assuming Acura would ace the tests like they usually do. This is not the Acura I have known all these years.
The 2015 tested better. Not sure why they tested again in 2016. I think they made some minor change. These are one-off tests. It only takes some minor anomaly in the test to be downgraded. The test dummy's ankle may have gotten injury in one test and not the other (for example).
Thanks for sending this. The PDF seems like a very recent update. Its dated 02/17/2016. So I guess we'll find out soon if it starts fixing problems.
When it is saying to update cars:
"19UUB3…FA007728 and later" how do I interpret this as the full VIN? Thanks.
Are the transmission problems more common in AWD vs. FWD or present in all V6 regardless of drive type. We don't really need an AWD, but was planning on getting it because I liked the way it handled on the road.
Overall it seems though that the consensus is that these problems have been ironed out in the 2016 and it is safe to buy right?
Seems like every respectable maker is having transmission/engine problems these days. Found a 2012 BMW 750Li at carmax for $39k with 27K miles on it. Still had 9 months of BMW warranty. Really liked the car and did some research and found out they had all types of engine problems.
Are the transmission problems more common in AWD vs. FWD or present in all V6 regardless of drive type. We don't really need an AWD, but was planning on getting it because I liked the way it handled on the road.
Overall it seems though that the consensus is that these problems have been ironed out in the 2016 and it is safe to buy right?
Seems like every respectable maker is having transmission/engine problems these days. Found a 2012 BMW 750Li at carmax for $39k with 27K miles on it. Still had 9 months of BMW warranty. Really liked the car and did some research and found out they had all types of engine problems.
The transmission issues were in all V6's. The 8DCT in the I4 had some issues of its own as well. Both seem to be ironed out for 2016.
Nobody really NEEDS AWD, but it's very nice to have, especially in SH-AWD form. I will never get tired of pushing this car around corners. It's that much fun for me. I look forward to gassing it in every corner, even run of the mill stop signs. It rotates you around the corner and to me I just love it. I have a 2016 by the way. Transmission is good. Due to the way it's set up though physically, it requires a lot of stuff happening to shift from 9 to 4 on the highway. Be sure you can live with that before buying the car, because it's a physical limitation of the transmission design (dog clutches x 2). I have no problem with it, but some people can't stand it.
If you're going to get FWD you might as well get the I4. That 8DCT is a pretty sweet transmission. I would seriously drive both before making any kind of final decision. And make sure when/if you're very serious about buying, that you test drive the exact car off the lot that you put a deposit on, because you want to make certain it has no issues (some manufacturing defects can happen, etc).
The transmission issues were in all V6's. The 8DCT in the I4 had some issues of its own as well. Both seem to be ironed out for 2016.
Nobody really NEEDS AWD, but it's very nice to have, especially in SH-AWD form. I will never get tired of pushing this car around corners. It's that much fun for me. I look forward to gassing it in every corner, even run of the mill stop signs. It rotates you around the corner and to me I just love it. I have a 2016 by the way. Transmission is good. Due to the way it's set up though physically, it requires a lot of stuff happening to shift from 9 to 4 on the highway. Be sure you can live with that before buying the car, because it's a physical limitation of the transmission design (dog clutches x 2). I have no problem with it, but some people can't stand it.
If you're going to get FWD you might as well get the I4. That 8DCT is a pretty sweet transmission. I would seriously drive both before making any kind of final decision. And make sure when/if you're very serious about buying, that you test drive the exact car off the lot that you put a deposit on, because you want to make certain it has no issues (some manufacturing defects can happen, etc).
Thanks for the detailed reply. What happens with the 9-->4 gear drop. How can I test this out? From what speed to what speed should I try to drop to feel it? Thanks.
Thanks for the detailed reply. What happens with the 9-->4 gear drop. How can I test this out? From what speed to what speed should I try to drop to feel it? Thanks.
During the 9 to 4 gear drop, it takes about 2 seconds to execute everything. What it needs to do is change the position of 2 dog clutches (dog clutches require that engine power be removed briefly to line up the teeth), release a brake within the transmission, and release a clutch. Basically it'll 9-4 shift if you're in 9th about 65 mph and push your foot right to the floor.
02-15-2016, 11:24 PM
