Exit Interview-- Sold my TL S Type
 

Sold my 2008 TL S-type after 160,000 miles. Bought it brand new.

I shouldn't complain. 160k would be a huge cause for celebration for one of my 1980's GM products when I lived in the rust belt. But I live in the south and I bought Honda for a perception of quality and was, in some respects, disappointed.

My issues, in no particular order:
1) had a pulley fail in the first month of ownership. seriously? My previous car, an FCA product (300C) did better than that!
2) The navigation buttons went out within 3,000 miles of the warranty expiration. Ridiculous cost to replace with a new copy of the same flawed unit. It didn't get fixed. At least I had voice controls, until:
3) The HFL battery drain bug. Nice surprise, after 2 new batteries and being stranded 3x, to learn Honda knew about the flaw and kept their mouth shut. Honda dealer still was "kind" enough to charge me a ~$100 diagnostic fee (plus the cost to fix) to detect a problem they already knew about. Again, for a high cost I could've had it fixed with a new copy of the same bad part. Ergo, no more nav system. Still get emails imploring me to upgrade my nav disk.
4) torque steer. RWD is just better in a performance car (sorry - Civic R). It just is.
5) motor mounts- disintegrated at 125,000. This is to be expected, I guess. Was able to replace front and side myself.
6) Power steering rack -- started failing at 130k. Made it a little tougher to steer but not a huge issue. the $4k dealer quoted me to fix would've been an issue.
7) Transmission started slipping minimally at 158k.
8) Leaks -- steering rack, main seal at 130k. No big deal.
9) interior quality -- poor. Seat leather particularly bad. That being said, Interior---especially the red gauges at night, was really attractive-looking when new.
10)paint- the color (Moroccan red) held up much better than I expected. The clear coat (I think) was soft. Much more susceptible to swirls, for example, than wife's dark colored hyundai. On the plus side, it was much easier to fix with compound than the hyundai.
11) plastics - many of the under hood plastics were completely disintegrating when I sold it. Important items -- like relay box and less important -- intake tube from air box.
12) the timing belt--- $1,000 maintenance item. ugh.

For a while, I'd say I enjoyed the car. the engine was bullet proof. But when a Lexus IS could've been had for the same price, it seems like I was ripped off. Further, the luxury features that distinguish Acura from Honda were of particular low quality.

I suspect Acura is just cruising on reputation alone- my buddy has a 2000 Integra, which he bought new, with only minimal problems.

Skimping on details will catch up with Honda / Acura.....I bought a Highlander instead of a Pilot for a daily. I was offered a great price on a new NSX and went with a Lexus GSF (not comparable cars, I know) and used the extra money to get my wife a Q7 instead of the MDX she wanted. (No, I don't expect reliability from Audi).

Sorry to hear about you loss.

Some people need a Toyota due to their driving/maintenance habits.

Sounds like you had bad luck. I have had none of these issues with either of my TL's other than wear items and the HFL issue.

Savage

who keeps a car for 160k miles that they dislike so much? Sounds like you enjoyed the car and you've moved on. The 3G is a solid car, but honestly we'll never know how you treated it, drove it etc. Enjoy the new whips! :bitelip:

*sips tea*

I haven't heard of a tranny that doesn't slip at 150,000 miles, or a timing belt that doesn't need to be replaced at 100,000, or motor mounts that make it past 100,000 miles, or a FWD without torque steer if there is over 200 hp.

The timing belt service costs less than $200 for me.

And wow, 1 single post to come on here to complain? at the end of your ownership?

Motor mounts are known issue on these cars, plus the V6 Accords and Odysseys. People want their engines to feel smooth so the rubber in the mounts is soft. And most new car owners trade them in before 100k miles. Pretty typical of most car manufacturers, they figure the original owners will have sold the car long before those issues show up and the current owners will simply attribute the problems to it being a used car or the previous owner not taking good care of it.

sounds like bad luck to me but I sold my 07 Type S about 3 years ago with 130K on the clock and she looked great maintenance and up keep is key to making current Acura’s last.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...4d594d7d4.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...2b9a50cf3.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...bb49e4b82.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...85c204ac3.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...16bd4af8f.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...30d822d21.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...7e87b7b13.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...46aa38188.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...32846317f.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...e3bfcb476.jpeg

Tell me more :precious:

I have 262K miles on a 2007 RDX on the original transmission. It never slips!


To my understanding, tranny slipping introduces the subject of near future death! :rip:

An IS350 walks over this car all day long in every stat with the exception of interior room. and as far as fit and finish goes acura isnt in the same ballpark as lexus. our 07 RX looks brand new still (minus the cracked dash)

OP's car looks well maintained though.

aren't you guy is the one who posted trans solenoid code? lol Lexus is all fun until thing starting to break, ask me how I know until you owning a used LS460 lol.

Those pics aren't of OP's car, but a car by another user that was actually taken care of.

Which goes for many things in life - Take care of something, it it will often reward you for doing so....regardless of manufacturer :)

Walk back to the Lexus forum before my old TLs put buses on your new IS350.

It's a love hate relationship. I'll have a hard time letting mine go given the relatively low resale value in consideration of the "getting cheaper by the day" cost of ownership especially when basic service is manageable as a garage mechanic hero. Regardless, sorry for your loss and thanks for the exit interview insights.

I remembered way back in 07 when CL cry all over because their "superior RWD platform" loosing to a FWD "inferior platform" and under power at Willow Spring hot lap and the driver was drift king himself.

LOL at everyone so mad.