SPUDMTN

I'd almost (ALMOST ) garuntee that if ventilated seats are going to be in the production RL, they'll be in the concept shown at Tokyo in October. That's only about two months away It'll fly by...

A couple of the big auto magazines have been speculating for a while that the new RL will have this...I think we'll see it, now that the technology is being spread throughout the auto industry. Acura/Honda is sometimes late to the game, but they do a great job at perfecting it!


SPUDMTN

RJC RSX

I don't think you'll have to worry. I talked to a parts packaging guy who works for Domestic New Model Packaging for Honda of America Manufacturing, and he told me, "The car should be a great machine for drivers. A lot of time was spent getting the suspension just right..."

He also informed me that the car will be over 98% domestic parts, and production begins Sept. 15th

SPUDMTN

I wish that Acura would just produce all of their vehicles in Japan...I mean, I'm sure the car will be well built, but it seems that when auto makers try to manufacture their vehicles away from their homes, the products have some atypical quality issues.

Don't get me wrong--I'm sure the car will be top-notch...I just sure hope that domestically made parts won't hurt the product at all.


SPUDMTN

larchmont

I got it:

(1) Wet bar

(2) Hover mode

VtecMW

VtecMW

Sounds quite remniscent of SCMav07's comment.

I don't know about you all, but I guess I've built up a tolerance for the hype and speculation after seeing the photos. I'm pleased with what I've seen. I just want to see it in person, test drive it and buy it!

I'm cool with waiting another week or two. We've waited this long! I hope the October car mags have some good info on it. And, I hope Acura brings all the vital statistics when 9/1 rolls around.

Thanks again Justin!

EmuMessenger

I cannot wait for next month's mags. Luckily, I get Automobile, R&T, C&D and MT, but do not get Autoweek, which may be the most important as far as the TL is concerned.

Justin, thanks for the update today.

Will the RL have ventilated seats?

RJC RSX

let's find out who gets what auto mags and has a scanner so we can divide the responsibility.

i volunteer car and driver and popular mechanics.

SPUDMTN

I get Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and Automobile. I don't have a scanner, but I can take a picture w/ my digital camera


SPUDMTN

RJC RSX

well since mailings will differ by a few days according to where we live in respect to the circulation points, it's probably best we all just scan as we receive, being sure not to repeat anything. It won't take long to assemble an archive of all the magazine reviews.

SPUDMTN

Oh, but aren't multiple threads on subjects like, I dunno, say the TL, a lot of fun to sift through? Can we please have 3 or 4 threads on the same subject? PLEASE?! PLEASE?!


SPUDMTN

RJC RSX

yeah i could probably read the same TL review article 3-4 times and not realize it

VtecMW

I get Autoweek, Automobile, Motor Trend and Road and Track. I'll cover Autoweek, and any others that haven't been posted by the time I receive my mailings.

EmuMessenger

Nice! AutoWeek will probably be the key here!

planman

I've never understood this US-made-is-automatically-inferior mentality. What makes people think that Honda doesn't apply the same quality control methods/standards at US factories that they do in their domestic (JDM) shops?

I can see the argument that Honda's US-built models tend to have more quality issues than those assembled in Japan. But there is also a relationship to volume. High-production cars like the Accord and TL are bound to exhibit more QC glitches than low-volume models like the TSX or NSX.

What about everyone's darling the BMW 3-series vs. the 7? The 3 tends to have more little QC annoyances than the 7-series. But they're both German-built. Higher volume breeds quality issues, period.

LeeLee

I'd trade "hover" for "loiter", for all those times when you can't find a parking space and the car will just sort of inch around in front of wherever you are making a quick stop, such as the post office, airport, or a favorite hole-in-the-wall, not really standing or parking, but loitering. It'd be an evolutionary version of the adaptive cruise control. Will come in especially handy with the wet bar feature.

princed

Hopefully, this list will also include:

Helical LSD on 6MT
Brembos on 6MT
Tire-pressure monitor
A few months of free service w/ the XM

Only two more long, agonizing weeks of waiting...

RJC RSX

Since the CL had an LSD, I would pretty much expect the 6sp to as well. Brembos, at least on the front, are already confirmed on the 6sp, as are 90 days free XM service. As required by federal law for 2004, it seems to me it must have a tire pressure monitor system.

Skull One_RENAMED

I was told that the minimum for XM would be 3 months free with a possibility of 6 months. But then again that is based on a salesmen, so who really knows

But since I plan to convert all my CDs to 5.1 audio using channel separation software, I don't think I will even bother with XM.

As for the extras for the 6MT, I am going to guess you won't see them. I just have a feeling that Acura won't want to jack the price on the 6MT over the 5AT by any large margin.

Tire pressure monitoring is anyones guess. Acura could go either way on that one, because we don't have a clue what their production costs are.

JeffPhx

Does anyone know if the projector beam xenons have auto leveling?

ryder1650

What performance stuff are you talking about? By shifting do you mean sequential? In the pics from seattle, the automatic had sequential. I think this TL will have everything the 03 type s has with sooo much more.

Skyhawk

Please clarify. I have not heard about any federal mandate on tire pressure monitoring systems, and the 2004 TSX does not have this that I know of.

phile

Yes, there is a mandate on tire pressure monitoring to be available on all new cars. I think it starts for 2004, and by 2006, it is expected that everyone will be in compliance.

huskerfan

Compared to the 2003 base model, the type "S" has a stiffer (sport) suspension, 17 inch rims, wider tires, Vehicle Stability Assist, a larger stabilizer bar in the rear, perforated leather seats, special badging, etc. Both have the same sequential sportshift transmission, so I wasn't talking about shifting, I was talking about the increased sportiness of the Type "S". My concern is that since there won't be a type "S", the 2004 TL may be marketed to appeal to a wider audience. Some of the sport features may be eliminated to appeal to the Acura buyers that would normally buy the base model for the smooth & quiet ride and not the performance.

acuraman_RENAMED

That was well said. We can't forget that the '04 TL is geared for the masses who want a 'near-luxury' sports sedan, not just for the extremely fanatical car enthusiasts who frequent this board (me being one of them).

We should be thankful for the resources we have in this forum. I visit the other boards and they are basically clueless as to what is going on. Justin and others don't owe us anything. They are on this forum because they love cars (Acuras in the case) just as much as we do.

Until Sept 1, we 'gotsta' chill!!!!!

justinjsw

Ok enough of the thank you Justin stuff...really. You guys don't need to thank me everytime. Im really just doing my job. It is my job to inform you of the products you may be interested in...which in turn will help in your buying process. And that's the bottom line.

acura_driver

At this point I'm looking forward to final specifications (dimensions, features, etc.) on September 1, and performance/driving impressions from enthusiast magazines within a couple of weeks after that. A test drive in early October will be the final input before I make my decision.

-r

princed

I'm sorry if this has been answered already, but did we ever come to a consensus on the cupholder issue -- will they be covered?

RJC RSX

yes, of course

ProZach

Thanks justin.

Raheel

Good for thinking positive..

I thought it wouldn't be covered because my friend has a accord and the cup holders aren't covered, but I looked at the interior of the TSX and the cup holders are covered, so I am guessing the TL's cup holders will be covered, or else it will look GHEY!

RJC RSX

we've already seen the stoppers, they will be covered

larchmont

Yeah, cupholders!

Reminds me, we really ought to give an extra bow to acura_driver:

http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/show...=9888#post9888

acura_driver

I'd forgotten about that one... Yup, the ol' HPCH. Of course the HP implies that they are indeed covered. The material used for the cover is classified, and won't be revealed until September 1st.

Let's hope that isn't one of the new features that Justin has alluded to!

-r

RJC RSX

HPCH use special hydraulics, and are voice activated.

larchmont

Hey, a_d, I think you have a fan club!

acura_driver

You were not supposed to say anything about that 'til September 1st!

-r

EmuMessenger

Aren't we still really guessing. Justing never gave the definitive yes, right?

RJC RSX

about cupholders? We saw the stoppers in the pics, and it wouldn't make sense not to have covers.

RJC RSX

238 lbs torque...