HondasOnly 2005 TL Budget Upgrade - Progress Thread

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Old 08-31-2016, 03:52 PM
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HondasOnly 2005 TL Budget Upgrade - Progress Thread

Wife demanded I finally get rid of my 1992 Acura Vigor before car's 25th birthday, so I decided to get the same car, just 13 years newer. Enter my 2005 TL Base NBP/6MT.

Here she is from the original owner - bone stock, 92k miles. This owner kept everything from the manuals/case to the demo DVD.



Our lives are packed and our garage isn't fit for anything but storage, so I'm taking the cheap & lazy route to mods. Whatever I can do from my couch and within $1K (plus any pennies from Vigor sale) is what will get done. Thanks for all the tips and info received during my lurker phase.

Here's the list:

Cosmetic
  • 35% Suntek CXP all around with tintprotector moleskin
  • Plasti-dip front grille, rear emblem and trim in gloss black
  • bmwoemusa roof spoiler and rear lip spoiler kit - painted
  • Interior LEDs, blue in door, white everywhere else
  • Repaint front bumper (serious scrape from original owner you can see in pic)
  • Re-vinyl worn trim under driver's side window
  • Full 3-stage detail & polish with headlight restoration and de-badge rear emblems
Performance
  • Progress Anti-sway bar
Other
  • 2014 Navigation upgrade DVD
  • Swap 12" JL sub/amp from Vigor
  • Trailer hitch for bike rack
Old 08-31-2016, 03:57 PM
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looking forward to the progress.
Old 09-03-2016, 10:56 PM
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Well, the basic cosmetics are done. I think it fits my vision - a bit more aggressive, but still classy.

I like the blacked out circle around the "A" in Acura. Not a big deal, just something different. Like how the 35% tint came out.





I definitely think the spoilers give a bit more aggression without going overboard. Had to use the a steel wire bit with electric drill to clean those tips. I can tell NBP is going to be a pain to maintain, but she looks beautiful.



Here's a pic with the other two Honda's in my life. The Vigor in the distance is on the way out of the stable though. WIfe's 2012 TSX is absent.


Thanks again to everyone that helped me research this stuff, so I could pull the trigger with confidence and get it all done in a week.

Swaybar goes on soon . . .


Old 09-03-2016, 10:59 PM
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I like it.




She demanded.....really????
Old 09-03-2016, 11:21 PM
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I literally just came from a Vigor thread...
coulda had the antique plate!

Nice thread, I'll be checking in...I dig it...simple and cheap!
Old 09-09-2016, 07:36 PM
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No more pics, but just got her back with the progress swaybar. WOW!!. As everyone has said, night and day difference. Everything feels "tighter".

Had no shifting issues, but the ACDelco Synchromesh "Friction Modified" definitely seems to help. Also had all other fluids replaced (oil, clutch, brake, coolant, steering). They even drained the engine block without me asking first.

Paying someone to do all those fluid swaps knocked me out of my "budget", so I'm done modding and will enjoy driving for awhile.
Old 09-09-2016, 10:07 PM
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