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Comments
If I set the system to a normal 72, the car never really goes cool. I notice that if I'm in non-freeway speeds traffic the situation gets worse. The dealer has told me twice already that everything is fine. This is the 3rd car I've owned (ok leased) that has automatic climate control, and this is NOT normal.
As for the console lid, mine started popping up on day 1, they just replaced the latch (I pick the car up on Monday) and we'll see if it fixed it.
Pat
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The valve cover gasket was easily fixed - though I'm concerned that this may be a harbinger of other engine problems in the future.
The rattle in the dash, however, has proved elusive to the service manager and tech. The car has been to the dealer twice now for the rattle - each time for a full week.
Because the car is so wonderfuly quiet the rattle really does bother me. It seems to happen after the car has been driven for about 30 minutes and the cabin is fully warmed up.
Any suggestions?
In terms of "robust", the TL overall seems more solid than our previous 90 Maxima but it also feels more ponderous and less nimble. True the TL has 60 more horses than the Maxima but also several hundred pounds more weight.
Finally, it is too bad that the foglights that we were all clamoring for (even as an option) will now be standard equipment on the new TL. By the way, except for the grill/headlight/foglight area, which looks similar to the CL and the semi-clear tail lights, the new (2002) TL looks just like the current model. However, Acura is planning for some dramatic remodeling in the very near future that will make this generation (1999 through 2002) look obsolete.
But nevertheless, I do not agree with Rolex/Seiko similies for the simple reason that Rolex/Seiko are not direct competitors - not even close. These particular models from Acura/Lexus (TL/ES300) are DIRECT COMPETITORS to each other. More like 2 similar products from Aiwa and Panasonic. The Acura MDX and Lexus RX300 are also direct competitors to each other. Lexus has products like the GS300/430/SC430/LS430, where there is no competing model from Acura. The 3.5RL from Acura is a joke compared to the LS430. At the same time, Lexus does not have anything that even approaches the $88,000 Aircraft Aluminium alloy bodied mid-engined pure sports-car, the Acura NSX, sporting innovations like drive-by-wire and titanium connecting rods. The NSX, for people not in the know, single-handedly put Ferrari on the defensive and forced them to improve the reliability of their products. But Lexus has better Luxury name recognition than Acura, since (inspite of the lack of something at the level of the NSX), their mainstream products go head-to-head with mainstream products from companies like BMW and Mercedes, which is what common people identify with Luxury. They also have fantastic customer service. Lexus, which took birth AFTER Acura, started off well with the presence of the LS series, with the ES250 providing the volume backup - and from the word go, Lexus went after the established Euro players like BMW/Mercedes by providing high quality products, pretty cheaply (the "Citizen" alternative to established "Seikos" ??). That woke up the Euros and put a lot of pressure on them to reduce prices and match up, to the quality/reliability of Lexus products.
Acura on the other hand(till the recent years), had been floundering without direction, with lack-lustre products (high quality mind you, with reliability comparable to Lexus) like the previous generation 3.2/2.5 TL etc. Luckily, the recent products from Acura, due to intelligent design and listening to the market, have been consistently putting Lexus on the defensive by being value priced to move - the exact same tack that Lexus employed on the Euros when Lexus first came into the US - when the Lexus name had zero recognition (to be a Rolex, it takes a lot more than a decade, BTW, regardless of the quality of the product, FYI).
The next generation RL from Acura is rumored to be a RWD vehicle with a 5-valve per cylinder DOHC V8 engine, which is the first vehicle from Acura, that would be a direct competitor for the Lexus LS430, and is supposed to be in an advanced state of testing/development. There is also rumored to be, an AWD variant for the next generation RL, with sport tuning. Going by the tenor of the past couple of presentations from Acura (3.2TL, 1999 and beyond, and MDX), I predict that Lexus is going to have a hard time when that model hits the streets. Lexus would have a harder time, if Acura were to bring in a small sedan based on the RWD Honda S2000, with a small DOHC V6, to compete with the IS series.
Basically, my take is that competition is good. The consumers like you and me would be the winners.
Cheers !!!
Later...AH
My in-laws who have a 2000 Mercedes S500, also have a few squeaks and phantom rattles, that occur periodically, especially noticeable when the weather is cold. The dash (of the S500)is particularly squeaky. A friend had recently purchased a similar Mercedes S430, which also suffers from an off-and-on "squeaky dash syndrome" and a faint rattle from somewhere. But the Mercedes dealership experience had been fantastic and they are pretty happy, in-spite of the un-acceptable noises that emanate from such a premium car. My in-laws who ride with us, once in a while, are amazed at the fit-and-finish of the Acura....they had trouble believing the price at which I purchased this car.
Touch wood, but my 3.2TL has been tight as a drum since the day I bought it. Absolutely no imperfections whatsoever, except for the original touring tires (exactly the same as the one on the Lexus ES300) that came with the car. I replaced the OEM tires with Ultra-high performance all-season Michelins, and the transformation of the car is well-nigh miraculous. The car accelerates, brakes and corners fantastically now. The only disadvantage with the new tires are that they are a bit noisier (only noticeable by a TL owner with the stock tires) when compared to the stock TL tires and the mileage reduced by a mile or two on the highway.
Four of us, including my wife and I, along with assorted light luggage, had taken the TL on a road-trip from NJ to Chicago/Rockford IL, via Cleveland, OH, a few months back. The Navigation system was fabulous, guiding us through thick fog and pitch darkness, through un-familiar streets like a guardian angel. Before the turns approach, the NAV warns us about the turn with a countdown like 1000 ft.... 900ft.... 800ft.... 600ft.... 200ft... 100ft.... etc...you just cannot miss your turn. Our overall mileage during the approximately 2500 mile trip with Automatic climate control set, was about 32 mpg. Hell, that is almost Honda Civic mileage territory. I just love this fantastic car.
Later...AH
If I were to believe them, then the acceleration improvement between TL and TL-S would not seem to be worth the extra money.
P.S. I am glad people backed me up re: leather seating surfaces in the Lexus ES. turbotc - you have to buy a very expensive Mercedes or a Rolls Royce in order to get full leather seats.
Ok, OK, you got me on the Rolex vs Seiko thing. So how about we agree on the Citizen vs Timex. Cool? I do agree with you how lexus entered the market and offered quality cars for a lower price forcing the Europeans to lower their prices and improve on the quality of their cars. Maybe now Acura is doing the same by offering so much car for so littler money (TL). I don't really know Acura Customer Service but I must say Lexus has a darn good customer service. We purchased our car on a busy Saturday afternoon and they had a storyteller at the dealer reading books to the kids and had pudding and ice cream and our kids loved it. And a week after delivery of our car, we got a call from the sales manager saying that we can expect a survey in the mail soon and that we should fill it out to however we thought the dealer had treated us. He wasn't like trying to bribe us and offer free oil changes or things like that. The car has been running really well. Quite floaty on the highway reminds me of my dad's Lincoln Town Car.
ruski,
What do you mean by the seats no being fully leather? It looks to me like it is all leather. Even the back of the seats and the door trim felt like real leather. i could be wrong though.
The TL-s has got certain things the TL does not have, including a much more sportier suspension that includes stiffer springs & dampers, stiffer rear anti-roll bar etc., in addition to differences in the Anti-lock brakes, Traction Control System and VSA. Due to the above, the TL-s would be a much better handler than the TL. Also, it costs less than a couple of thousand dollars more than the regular TL.
I think if I had a choice, then I would emphatically go for the TL-s over the TL, and that would definitely not be, for its acceleration prowess (which is plenty good enough for me).
Later...AH
This leads me to believe this car will be hitting the dealerships by the end of March.
Originally, I wanted the Acura 3.5RL, which is truly a Luxury automobile (albeit a gutless one, when it comes down to the basics), unlike cars like the ES300 or the 3.2TL, which can be categorized as near-luxury. While at the dealership, I got caught up in the TL, took the car for a spin, went home, researched it further, took the TL for a few more spins, and then the RL was history. Did a cash purchase of my 2000 TL with the Navigation system. Best way I have spent my money, in a long time. The ES300 was briefly considered but the driving characteristics never appealed to me, to put it mildly (no offense to ES300 owners). The Lexus GS series had what I wanted, but then for the money I had budgeted for my car, I would have had to settle for the GS300, since the GS400 (now the GS430) costed a lot more than what I was willing to spend while purchasing for cash (I was never a fan of Financing/Leasing).
Later...AH
They said that they should start hitting dealerships in March.
When it comes down to it, I think my only decision will be TL-S with Navigation System or not ... not which vehicle! For the price, I don't know how you could beat it.
Good Luck.
Ask for Abe, and tell him Raj referred you.
2110 Ogden Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
630-960-2100
www.continentalmotors.com
They're dumpin' their '01 TL stock, and they're a great bunch of people -- very courteous and polite.
Lemme know if ya need more info!
Later...AH
But I did that only for major services like 7500 mile oil change, 15000 mile oil change etc. For the minor ones (3000 mile changes), I used to visit the local lousy Honda dealer.
Later...AH
Are there any fixes for lowering the seat in any way to accommodate taller drivers?
Thanks.
I'm ticked about the alarm though - they claim $500 for a chip (just the chip) to make the alarm active - I could get a P4 for that amount. I just had a full one installed for less and kept their system so now I have two alarms activated with one remote. Pity they make you get leather seats and a sunroof, heated seats and they skimp on an alarm system. I would gladly trade any of those for the alarm.
The residuals on the 2001s have dropped because the car is at the end of its cycle - so in 3 years it will be worth less. This is not a dealer scam. The new 2002 TLs will have higher residuals but the money factor (interest rate) will not be as good as the 2001s. The 2002 TL (w/o nav) will also be selling at MSRP initially (1st 3-6 months) which will be about $30K. I felt that the differences between the 2001 and 2002 model line were not worth $3800.
Dealers around here (New York - Westchester) have told me that they expect the 2002 TLs to be in within the next 3-4 weeks.
If you are willing to take what a dealer has sitting on the lot now (2001) you should be able to get close to invoice.
Later...AH
Happy Touring
Furthermore, why did you decide on the ultra-plain TL? You seem to imply that the 300M does handsprings all over it. I'd be very interested to read an objective, convincing argument on why the 300M is a superior vehicle if you are comparing it with the TL. The challenge is yours for the taking....