Kalin

The body kit doesn't look that great. Calling it A-SPEC is :ghey:

They should go with simple nomenclature and lower prices. ~$30k is the right price for an Acura. Anything above that and other brands are more appealing.

Shawn S

Why would they give you the OEM parts if you buy the car NEW with these MODS?
Or are these dealer installed options?

1SICKLEX

41k for a TL is absolutley Ridiculous. Reminds me of that ridiculous IS 300 L-tuned price that make the car I think 42k.
A-spec sounds like they watched too much Grand Turismo.

I thought the Type-S TL for what 32k was a smoking deal. The new one STARTS at 32k and yeah it has better features but it is smaller and the styling is new but not better than the old model.

Crazy Bimmer

and people say BMW is overpriced.

DeezNutz

when people say our cars have borderline too much power for front wheel drive, i don't follow. guys on here with the SC kit and headers/exhaust/etc aren't struggling with it, and i'm at around 300hp at the flywheel with zero problems. more power=good.

scalbert

We are not struggling because we know what to expect. However, put the general public in a car with 300 FWHP and there are bound to be mishaps.

You cannot go WOT in 1st; even in a straight line. Cut the wheel and it is worse. And this is in the dry. When wet you might as well start off in 2nd.

DeezNutz

Off the launch I can't go WOT in 1st without problems, but at the track all of us non-FI guys WOT after it bites without problems, so I don't really follow I guess.

kansaiwalker1

Way overpriced, and no extra HP too! I'll pass on this "A-spec."

I'd rather have a new "Type-S" with 300 hp.

Dizzy

Here's a pic I took at the SEMA show. Unfortunately, I was running of out room on my CF card and didnt take more pics.

http://www.v6performance.net/gallery...cat=523&page=5

Dizzy

scalbert

My point is that the average driver would potentially loose control; more so than a RWD counterpart.

Before the blower I could roll on the throttle in 1st and hold traction except in a turn. But now anything over 50% throttle; even with gradually increasing throttle, results in spin and hop. When cold out 2nd exhibits this same issue and may occurs at 50MPH.

I don't mind and expect it. But it is certainly not for everyone.

However, one trait which has been always a stickler for FWD is not present; there is no torque steer; or at least none worth noticing. That does negate part of the argument though.

mrkite

the a spec is great looking... but i would not want to spend for that.
anyway I have a 2003cls6... so I'll wait a couple of years when they make a type-s or something out of it.

sidemarker

Now when we see a 04 tl with the A-spec package rolling down the streeet are we suppose to drool or call him an idiot for spending so much $$ on something that is not worth???

if only they upgraded to brembos and have super lightweight forged wheels then i could see it being worth it...

sidemarker

vinarnold

i think it should have been around 3 gs instead thats a good price.

DISRUPTV

wtf? u havent posted how u like/dislike ur tl...get on it man!!!

shaHn78

Lets all send this thread to Acura so they get a hint and come down from cloud 9.

DISRUPTV

I doubt they can even get to cloud nine w/o their trannies blowing up :P

Black CL-S 4-Life

I just don't get Acura. The car should come with these features stock, then they would have a winner. No way I would pay that much for the A-SHIT.

kansaiwalker1

werd

YuppieCL

chungkopi

werd

blk_coupe

Stop fucking crying. The new TL is probaly the best car acura has ever made. I guess if acura still made the Legend none of you would have an acura. Which was around 40k. I feel the new TL A Spec is worth the extra change. Most people complain about rwd when most people don't even know the real differents. Try purchasing a new gs300 & 530i for 41K with the same features. The only reason acura might now sell alot A-spec because of it's name. Let mb or bmw come out with thoes same features and people will be going crazy. Just b/c you can't afford the car right now you don't have to bash it.

EZZ

Let's put this in perspective. You can get a Twin Turbo G35 Coupe for the price of a A-spec (which is pushing 350 to the wheels). You can also get an AWD G35 sedan and SC it for the same price too You also begin to creep into M3, S4, Volvo S60R categories. Kinda crazy if you ask me.

1SICKLEX

40k is another realm. I would still get a GS 300 or 530 over it because of their build quality. I can appreciate the TLs new features, great stuff, but paying 41k for an "Accord" does not fly well. I wouldn't pay 40k for an ES 330, nor a I35, nor a C-class.



Or turbo an IS 300. 41k is A LOT of money. Only diehard Acura fans are gonna buy that for 41k.

Even a loaded G35 sedan with TRUE sports sedan credentials (but lacking lots of the TL luxury features) is 38k tops with the aerokit.

blk_coupe

G35 coupe has 2 doors not 4 so you really can't compare the two.
Yeh right find me a 2004 M3 or S4 for 41K out the door. Matter fact find me one with one with half of what the acura tl has in it for 41K. The average price of a M3 is around 55K- 60K.
To be honest I wouldn't buy a gs300 or bmw530 over a new TL.
Even though my wife has a gs but it's not all that great. What better quality you speak of? I guess because their made in another country make them better? Give me a break.
RWD on those cars doesn't make up for the fact that there slower/have less feature/ plus I feel the new TL looks better than both. The accord thing is starting to be a bad joke. The gs's Lexus rides just like a toyota camry. fluffy as shit. Ok sick

SickCL

A-Spec?

That looks like a TL with all the accessories installed.

Crazy Bimmer

Its called fit and finish. Which at least my TLS didnt have and had put a sour taste in my mouth on buying a american made car again.

blk_coupe

More BS. I'll go out on a limb and say that the TL interior fit and finish is better than your 330 and my wife gs300. I know for a fact it looks better. imo

Crazy Bimmer

Looking better sure, but there is no way my TL had a better fit and finish than my 330. Sorry but acura used cheap materials and everything felt thin and too basic. Sorry you can think what you like but I have nothing to gain by telling you my situation. But i seen all this firsthand. Stop trying to convince yourself that acura is god.

scalbert

I'm looking for the true, or at least the percieved, definition of fit and finish?? It appears that it means different things to different people so a comparison if irrelevant.

I know both of my CL's have had excellent fit and finish. All peices were fastened appropriately. All seams were even and minimal where applicable. Where there shoud be no gaps there were none and the materials met at nearly the same load levels long the length. Lastly, all materials and switch gear felt solid and appropriate. This is my defition and having owned both a BMW and Lexus I have a basis for comparison.

blk_coupe

Your compare the old TL to your current car. This discussion is on the 2004 TL. Sorry I don't feel no car company is god.

Crazy Bimmer

How do you know the 2004 is sooooo soild? To me all cars feel soild when you test drive them, takes awhile for you to see its true colors. Oh well.

Glad you like it, its a nice car.

blk_coupe

True I only tested drove the TL. Which is why I said I'll go out on a limb and say the TL fit and finsih is better that the 330 & GS300.
It's good to have a conservation without anyone take things personal.

EZZ

A g35 sedan can also be twin turbo charged for less than $41k. The volvo might not have as much toys but it is around the same price with AWD and MORE HORSEPOWER. You actually think the TL has a nicer fit and finish than the GS300

scalbert

What you are describing, IMO, is not fit and finish. It is the material selection which falls more into overall quality. You can have an economy car with the same level of fit and finish as luxury class vehicle. They may not have the same quality of materials but both are assembled as well with regards to their design.

I would agree that the BMW has better material quality in many cases. My E46 328i had marginally better switch gear and marginally better dash material. The leather was noticeably better.

However, it also cost me nearly $10k more for a vehicle with less interior and trunk room and a smaller, less powerful motor (which was more than made up for with a fantastic chassis). It is all about trade offs. In some cases the items installed in my BMW, although nice and I loved it (such as wiring harnesses and underhood connections, etc.) may have been over engineered. That is one of the reasons for cost differences; something a little less would suffice but BMW decided that is was necessary.

Also, some of the perceived material quality differences are based on subjective opinions. Some may prefer a firmer material where as others prefer a softer touch surface; such as in the case of the dash material. The E46 3-Series has a firm dash surface where as the CL/TL has a softer texture. This is a preference in some cases.

However, this is still not fit and finish. At least to me, fit and finish is about how it is put together. Regardless of material selection; how does it come together? Are the seams of minimal gap and even? Are the plastic pieces assembled in proper fashion, etc? In this regard, both CL's I have owned were assembled just as well as my BMW was and hopefully what my new (in a few months a new X3 3.0i 6-Speed) BMW will be.

As for the new TL, the one I recall sitting in copied the Germans in interior material selection. The firmer textured dash is very similar to what the BMW has. The form of the carpet and including the carpet material is very similar. It seems that the Japanese are moving from their traditional softer styling and material, at least for the USDM, and following the Germans. But I did notice that the fit and finish was again equal.

Jens H.

BAHHAHHHA HABAHHHAHHHAHHA 5200 dollars ???????
BAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHH .I think the big fuse finally melted over at Acura central command .

Jens

1SICKLEX

The GS 300 won it's initial comparisons until the newer competition came out and it still finishes respectable. In fact, the car is slower than the competition and handles more luxo than sport but it's interior and fit and finish is always stated above the competition.

Your right the Accord thing is starting to be a bad joke. Stop posing Accords as sports sedans for 35k.

Sitting in my friends TLs/CLs there are panel gaps the size of the Grand Canyon, fake wood you can peel off with your fingernails, popping out AC vents. One hood is not aligned. You can scratch all parts of the interior with some paper and the paint chips all over the place (Finish). These are things to expect with the value of the cars, for 30k, you can't expect more with all the standard features.
Though these are their cars. Yours and obviously Scalberts are better built.

I HOPE the new TL is better built, for 33k starting and 41k loaded.

blk_coupe

I guess your friends purchase a terrible car unlike my past 2 cl's.

What initial comparisons? The gs300 has been out since what 98? It's 2004. The gs300 is a nice car and I prefer to drive it on long trips but I just don't feel the car is superior to the new TL in any kind of way.

As far as the accord joke goes. I thought the TL share under 15% of the accord parts? I guess it's a shame Lexus makes a 4.3 liter engine that doesn't really outperform Acura’s 6 speed 3.2 engine. But those two cars are aim at two different crowds? Well not really. For the record I love Lexus luxury side but I always said they needed to step it up in performance. If Lexus didn't sell 3 different types of SUV they wouldn't sell any more cars than Acura.
Acura/Lexus come up some AMG/M Power.
Well-let me end by saying Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

scalbert

Which panels had large gaps?? About the only place I can think of would be the glove box?? The A/C vents poping out, they are in there very tight and takes some force to remove. Maybe your friends shouldn't purchase salvaged vehicles.

JRock

We've been putting a set of those hot 18" wheels/tires on one of our showroom TLs and whichever TL we do that to always sells quick. When they sell we give you the stock ones with their tires too since the wheels/tires are a dealer-installed accessory you are charged for. Actually works out nice because you now have two sets of OEM-spec'd and approved wheels and tires - hot ones with stickier tires, and decent ones for wintertime. =)

Damn that car looks hot with the 18s though. wooo-eeee.

Seen it now on Anthracite (the best), black (hot), red (whoah!), and silver (eh....).



And there's no need to HOPE about the new TL's build quality - it's there for all to see, stop by the showroom. Take one for a drive and understand why it's easily worth the asking price, especially compared to the competition.

Now if you go in with the mindset of wanting a sportscar of COURSE you're going to be disappointed but that's your fault for looking at a 4-door family sports sedan instead of an actual sportscar.

If you want a true luxury sedan for a family it's right on target, especially with all the neat technology and features it offers. You really need to find a good dealership where the sales team is actually knowledgeable about the car or you'll never know half of the amazing things about the car.