Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options

Older Acura TLs

1…2425272930…175

Comments

  • argolferargolfer Member Posts: 2
    Recently I have noticed that when I am about to slow down for a stop, I apply the brakes and momentarily just before I stop there is a free wheeling sensation as if the brakes cease to make contact with the discs. Could this be something to due with the ABS? Has anyone else experienced this problem?
  • neuronbobneuronbob Member Posts: 43
    Sorry for the delay. I have a 2002 TL-P. All TLs 2000 and newer have the 5-speed.

    If I were buying again, I'd probably buy the TL-S. The only reason I didn't buy it is that I don't buy first-year models because they always have SOME kink that needs to be worked out.
  • neuronbobneuronbob Member Posts: 43
    You're welcome! I've gotten some good deals there.
  • jtsulljtsull Member Posts: 5
    My very first tank of gas yielded 24.7 MPG mostly highway ranging at different speeds. (break-in) Gotta love that out of a 260HP engine.
  • kclkkclk Member Posts: 11
    Is there room in the rear seat room for a 4 year old child in booster seat. We now have older 94 legend and it works great, but need newer car for replacement. TL seems to fit the bill if it has rear seat room for my son?
  • golfgod2golfgod2 Member Posts: 53
    kclk, definitely enough room. i've got a 5 year old who uses a booster and there's plenty of room. the only issue is for a rear facing infant car seat. have a 1 year old as well and that was a little tight but still worked.
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    I got 27 MPG. I just broke the 1000 mile mark doing mixed driving. Maybe 30/70 city/hwy.
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    I just got a ticket for doing 85 in a 65 area. Bummer.
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    Did any of you TL owners look at the Mazda Millenia when you were car-shopping? I have heard that they are selling them for about $7000 under MSRP. I have not looked at them or driven one but I might consider it at 22K. They seem to be well-made according to reliability ratings and they are loaded with all the goodies. The engine(2.5L) might be a little small but that does not bother me. Any comments?
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    I didn't really consider the Millenia. I was looking at the Camry, though.
  • golfgod2golfgod2 Member Posts: 53
    Didn't consider it as the TLS offers superior performance, is a newer model and fell within my budget. I think the Millenia is a great looking car and at that price a tremendous value. However, you have to consider resale if you're buying and while I haven't seen the figures, I'm pretty sure Millenias don't hold there value too well. But at $22k, that really is an amazing value. Much rather have that than an Accord or Camry. At that price point, might also want to look at the Altima or Passat. Good luck.
  • kclkkclk Member Posts: 11
    Thank you for the input on the amount of rear seat room. My wife wants an rx 300 suv, and I am pushing for a sedan as we have had good luck with acura and lexus is having sludge problems. I am still pitching the sedan idea and will look at rear seat today to get a feel for room. I don't think there is that much room difference in the sedan and suv, just the ride height?
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    I wouldn't be surprised if you found more room in the sedan.
  • spartanman2spartanman2 Member Posts: 61
    Has anyone hard wired a radar detector in a TL or TL-S?. If so, what configuration works the best?; Visor mount or Windshield mount?. Where did you tap into the 12v source?. Right now I'm using a coiled lighter/adapter with a windshield mount and find the set-up a bit annoying. Need something more stealthy and not blocking my line of sight.
  • aggie76aggie76 Member Posts: 266
    Have it hard wired on my GS300 and will do the same once I buy my new TL-S. Comes on and off with the ignition. Had dealer do it for $50 in '98 when I had my initial service and put it right next to rear mirror just above my line of sight. Never a problem with the Valentine One using the suction cups although it does lose grip about every 6-8 months and just hang off the connection. Had them run the wires up along the A pillar and then under the edge of the roof line to the detector. I don't use water but rather a little light skin oil off my forehead on the cups to stick them on with.
  • kclkkclk Member Posts: 11
    thank you for input on interior room. Visited dealer on lunch and seems to be enough room. Will take wife and child for a test fit. Car is a complete package and very impressed with product. What is with the $77 wheel locks?
  • aggie76aggie76 Member Posts: 266
    OK folks, need final help in my long process. Down between the two Acura's and wanted to know if anyone can give me their thoughts on why S-type versus TL? I'm torn on whether the money is worth skid control as that is my major concern. Ride seems so similar and engine again for my driving is very similar. Seats don't seem too different and color selection with parchment interior is bad which ever way I go. Wish Acura was more open with color choices.
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    My sales rep actually recommended the TL-p over the type-s. The ride IS better in the premium. Also, insurance cost difference is significant.
  • machiavellimachiavelli Member Posts: 260
    I went with the TL instead of the Type S because -

    I wanted to stay under $30K.
    I liked the "wood" dash trim better than the gray "marble" dash trim.
    I wasn't looking for the ultimate in performance. The "base" TL is a good compromise between luxury and performance. It's fast enough for me.
  • fortunate2001fortunate2001 Member Posts: 21
    I read there is a recall for some TLs 2000 to fix a weld on the passenger airbag. What VIN range is it?
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    Year: 2000 Make: ACURA Model: TL Recall Date: 03/26/2002

    Type of Report: Vehicle
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 2900
    Manufactured: 09/1999 - 04/2000
    Defect Summary:
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A COMPONENT IN THE INFLATOR OF SOME PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY.
    Consequence Summary:
    AS A RESULT, THE AFFECTED AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
    Corrective Summary:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
  • tkim1tkim1 Member Posts: 3
    I just picked up my 2003 TL with nav yesterday -black on black - and am confident I made the right decision. I chose the TL base versus the type S primarily because I drive a lot and comfort was more important to me than performance. I liked the wheels on the type S but preferred the wood look versus the marble and also preferred the seats on the base model.

    Loaded with trunk tray, wheel locks, and mud guards for under $30K. Definitely one of the best values out there. The TL handles much better than the RL I used to drive.
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    Congratulations on your new TL. I am also considering the TL(base) along with the Lexus ES300, Honda Accord, Mazda Millenia, Camry, and Maxima. What others did you consider and I would appreciate your opinion on them vs. the TL. Please keep us informed as the miles roll on. I am particularly interested in mpg as that is a concern now with the volatility of the price of crude oil.
    Is there any truth to the so-called transmission "problem" with the TL?
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    As I posted earlier, it's pretty easy to inadvertantly reach higher speeds than the law enforcement community allows. Be careful.
  • inky4inky4 Member Posts: 238
    This is my second TL 00 and 02 base. No worries mate. Love the ES 300 interior but cannot get used to outside. Prefer Camry XLE and save about 9k! I find the TL very smooth, sporty and powerful. A great deal. I have seen 2002s going for $26,900 in Tulsa. Not bad for that much car.
    INKY
  • inky4inky4 Member Posts: 238
    I get 25 mpg commute and 29 highway. Not bad.
    need to look at K and N filter.
    INKY
  • neuronbobneuronbob Member Posts: 43
    aggie76: I had to make the same decision as you. Believe me, it was tough! I chose the TL-P because:
    --left me with more money for the same mods I would be making with the TL-S anyway, like new rubber and springs
    --'02 TL-S was a first-year model and there are reported problems with the trannys (I'm sure that's been worked out for the '03 models)
    --I felt 225 hp was good enough for my lead foot (and it is)
    --the vehicle skid control results in slight unpredictability in curves, was a turn-off for me
    --the ride and driving experience were not that different betwen the two cars, other than a slightly stiffer ride in the TL-S

    Hope this helps!

    fredvh--
    I didn't consider the Millenia. It's an UGLY car (to me anyway) and that pretty much ended my consideration of it. The engine was too small and underpowered for the size and price of the car. EWWW!
  • neuronbobneuronbob Member Posts: 43
    I think the K and N is a good idea. Even a 2-3 mpg increase saves me quite a bit of money in gas cost a year.
  • aggie76aggie76 Member Posts: 266
    Thanks everyone for all the honest feedback. Still undecided but leaning back towards the TL-P at this point.
  • tkim1tkim1 Member Posts: 3
    Buying a car is pretty tough when there are so many choices...

    Accord: No way - awesome value, but way too bland for me.

    Maxima: Good performance if you like the looks.

    Millenia: No way - body style is long overdue for a change. I drove a Millenia S about 8 years ago. Nice car, but a "dog" right now.

    Camry: I also looked and considered this one. The Camry XLE w/nav is a nice car. I think in the end I wanted a car that was a little more sporty. If you need a spacious car, this may be the a good choice.

    ES300: Very nice car but the price tag for one with similar options is around $5K more. If cost isn't an issue, I'd defintely consider this one.

    All the cars you mentioned are good cars. I also looked at the Passat GLX and Audi A4 quattro. Looking back at it now, I prefer the way the Passat looks. The interior is uncluttered and the exterior is simple but attractive. The real pros of the Passat in my opinion are styling and safety (Passat has more airbags). The Audi A4 just came out this year and is a great car. Only drawback is the small space for rear passengers. The TL however is a terrific value considering you can get it fully loaded with nav (a nice toy to have), bose, xenon, etc, for under 30K. Also, if you're planning to lease, the residual on a 3-year TL @ 15K per year is 61% versus 53% on a Passat or 49% on a Camry. Audi was closest at 58%. In other words, you can get a TL for a thousand over invoice and still pay less than a Camry at dealer invoice. Keep me posted on your decision-making process, and good luck!
  • tkim1tkim1 Member Posts: 3
    According to the person who sold me my 2003 TL-p, the 2004 models will be available for sale after September 2003. He said there were only going to be some minor changes the car (perhaps he wasn't being completely honest? We'll see I guess). He did say that the RL was going to be completely redesinged. Hard to know for sure until we see it. My wife drives a 2001 ML320 and the sales rep said there were going to be major changes in 2002. The 2002 ended up looking almost identical to the 2001 model except some very minor changes (wheels, signal on side-view mirrors, and minor interior changes). The engine and suspension ended up being identical as well. One thing you can count on is that all cars will only have a life cycle of around 5 years in most cases.
  • rshaw11rshaw11 Member Posts: 52
    I know this will probably start a heated discussion, but I believe that DRL's provide an extra measure of safety. I don't see them being promoted by Honda/Acura or Nissan/Infiniti, as they are by Toyota and GM. Has anyone had them installed on a TL (would anyone want too)? Please be gently in your responses, thanks.
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    I wouldn't mind having DRLs in my '03 TL-p.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    I looked at (and drove) the Millenia last summer before buying the TL. At the time I was most seriously considering the Accord but the Millenia was heavily discounted and seemed a good value so I drove the premium version which was close in price to the Accord. Nice car, well appointed but a slug with the base engine - not acceptable. The Millenia S moved beyond the Accord price yet is more fuel thirsty and has poor resale value. I figured that if I was looking at the price of a Millenia S I should consider the TL. Once I drove the TL, there was no contest re the Millenia, it was just a matter of justifying the price difference over the Accord for which the superior transmission and more comfortable seating sufficed.
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    Thanks for your post. I have driven the TL but not the Accord. In your opinion is there much difference between the two? Prices on the Accord are supposed to be real good now. I keep wondering if I should wait until the NEW Accord appears in early fall of this year. It should be an improvement over the current Accord. So many decisions. I am anxious to hear what you thought on the Accord vs. TL though. What kind of mpg are you getting on the TL? How long have you had it and have you had any problems?
  • machiavellimachiavelli Member Posts: 260
    One big difference right now between an Accord and the TL is the 5-speed auto transmission with the sport-shift. You can't get that in the Accord. The TL also has more power, especially in the Type-S.
    I'm sure if you got a fully loaded Accord with V6, leather, ABS, etc.. it would be ALMOST as nice as the TL. For me personally, our local Acura dealer is much better than the local Honda dealer.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    It may be a stretch to justify the price difference for the TL since it is Accord based and similarly equiped (compared to the Accord EX V6). As mentioned, the superior transmission is a big plus, not only for the "sport" shift (which my Wife, the principle driver, has never used) but for the 5th gear which significantly improves the flexibility and smoothness in auto mode. We found the front seats to be deeper and more supportive than the Accord. The larger wheels and tires are another plus and will allow a broader selection of replacement tires than the Accord's rarer 65 series. The TL engine is a larger displacement version of the Accord's producing 25hp more and though the TL is heavier, there is still a net gain but with the downside of a premium fuel requirement. Another disadvantage of the TL is the loss of the folding rear seat as in the Accord which limits utility. The other differences that I recall are minor and would not be a determinant of choice for us (e.g. heated seats and mirrors). If you spring for the S you get even more power (another 35hp) and stability (yaw) control, but it also costs another $2k or so.
  • pdfspdfs Member Posts: 19
    I have 2002 TL-P w/ Nav for 7 months. Have been to dealer service department 3 times. The cabin noise are really bad. First it was the squeaking noise from the driver seat belt buckle. Then it was from ceiling. They applied "Acura anti-squeaking tape", but the problem is still there. One screw for the ABS pump was loose, so it was making rattling noise.

    When I was in the market. New ES300 was not released yet. It is 5~7K more expensive than TL, but at least you can a noise-free car!

    The wind noise is also really bad in TL. The MPG is also lower than what I expected (21~22MPG with 70% HWY).

    Overall, I am quite disappointed with TL. The car with 1/2 the price of TL doesn't make that much noise!
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    I'm very happy with my '03 TL-p. It's like a vault.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    sorry to hear of your problems but my '02 experience has been entirely different from yours also. Zero squeeks and rattles and very low wind noise (unless I open the roof at speed). My lowest fuel economy around town might be similar to yours but highway has been 29-31. Most satisfactory!
  • machiavellimachiavelli Member Posts: 260
    Very pleased with mine so far, too.
  • pdfspdfs Member Posts: 19
    Hi, All,

    I am glad that you are enjoying your TL.

    I live in CA. Is the low MPG related to the CA gas? Also, does the 02 model have lower MPG than previous years?

    Folks in CA: please share your MPG number.
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    Hi,

    I got 24 MPG at the last fill-up. Dang, it's hard to stay off the throttle! :^)
  • pdfspdfs Member Posts: 19
    Hi, All.

    My horror story with TL just doesn't end. I heard some noise from the engine area, and took the car to dealer this morning. They said that the drive line is bad, and I have to leave the car there over night until the part come tomorrow.

    My question to all:

    What is the drive line?
    Will this problem cause engine and transmission problem in the future?

    Thanks a lot!
  • rick135rick135 Member Posts: 21
    I haven't been to this site in awhile but wanted to put my two cents in. I have a 2000TL w/nav and love it. The ride and the performance is outstanding. Did have two issues, one with the drivers seatbelt that the dealer fix and provided a loaner because they had to order the part and the second was the squeak in the sunroof, which also was fixed immediately. I currently have 24,500 miles and could not be happier. Anyone thinking about the navi will usually end up regretting not getting it. We live in Southern Calif and when you get stuck on the freeway late at night, you can get off at the next off ramp and punch in your destination and it will find an alternative route. Will get another on our next car.
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    Thanks for telling us your story about your TL. I am also considering a purchase and the TL is one of my choices. I am anxious to see the new Accord in 4-5 months too. Do you consider the TL as quiet inside as any other vehicle that you tried out? What kind of mpg are you getting with approximately 75/25 (highway/city)? How has the Acura service been as far as prices for routine service? Have you tried to take it to a Honda dealer for routine service? Have you found that the Acura Service Dept. is higher than other dealers? I have heard that the front seats are not comfortable on long trips. Have you found this to be true?
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    yes, my TL-S is very quiet.

    when my transmission broke at 6,100 miles, it did so pretty quietly as well.
  • inky4inky4 Member Posts: 238
    I wonder what common component is failing in the tranny. Not brain surgery. Anyhow I have a 2002 TL and had a 2000 TL. No woes. One weird observation this week was I had a 02 TL loaner in place of my MDX for 3 days and my 02 TL has about the same miles. My wifes keeps commenting on how much more powerful the loaner is. both non-S but I got in and drove it and noticed this also.
    I am perplexed as mine is a good performers but the loaner feels stronger. On Acura service loaner I noticed they are bought specifically from Acura as loaners. Window sticker in glove box has no price just SVC loaner where MSRP would go. Anyhow, wonder is Acura does some bumbo jumbo to increase HP in loaners to entire folks to buy. Just a thought. Or perhaps I need some kind of engine adjustment.
    INKY
  • amazonamazon Member Posts: 293
    In general, modern vehicles which have been driven hard during break in will perform better than engines that were babied. The reason is that the engines will be looser, and therefore, have less friction if they were driven hard. The downside can be higher oil consumption.

    Maybe these loaners were driven fairly hard during the first miles of their lives?
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    all I got was a Dodge Stratus for a week and a half from Thrifty while my TL-S had its tranny replaced.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles