Older Acura TLs

crvols

I am waiting for my new TL to come in and decided to look for DVD A's to fill the gap. I found a small rack at Circuit City with a general selection. The only one that is made for DTS 5.1 that I bought was the Police. It would not play on my stereo without DTS so I haven't listened to it yet. However, I bought two others that were just DVD (not DTS specific) and they did play on my home system. These are costly at $17 to $24 and they can't be copied which is why the music industry would like the format to "take off". I can't wait to hear what they sound like in the Tl, especially the Police. Should be interesting.

03oddity

...seem high on the 2004 TL per Edmunds True Cost to Own. We're talking $400 the first year? Guess I'm spoiled by included maintenance on 2001 Saab 9-5 (except the intermediate $30 oil changes). Could any TL owners shed light on why Edmunds says you'll spend close to $1800 on maintenance in the first three years?

Otherwise this car looks like the dream machine...the only other downsides seem to be premium gas, MSRP, and some reports of tranny vibration and maybe harsh ride. Guess that means I'll have to test drive one SOON! ;-)

habitat1

I'm not sure how Edmund's calculates those costs, but I suggest that you ignore them. They were so far off on my 1995 Nissan Maxima and 2002 Honda S2000 as to be laughable. Sorry Edmunds, but you do so many things well, you ought to just drop that info from your site.

What I do suggest is that you get the dealer to give you the maintenance schedule and prices for the recommended service intervals and add it up yourself. Also add in wear and tear items like tires and brakes based upon expected life. Add in extra oil changes, if you prefer. I think you are much better off doing the maintenance math yourself, as it will highlight some unexpected differences. For example, in my considering an Acura MDX vs. Honda Pilot, the average Acura dealer charges 35% MORE for a 30,000 mile service than does my Honda dealership doing exactly the same things to essentially exactly the same vehicle. Over the course of 60k miles, the difference would approach $1,000.

Another example of Edmunds miscalculations on a Honda S2000. They list annual maintenance expenses for the first 5 years (15,000 miles per year) at $411,$592,$939,$855,$1485 for a total of $4,282. The actual maintenance costs I've incurred in 2 years and 16,000 miles is $235, including 2 extra Mobil 1 oil changes. However, I am now in need of 4 new tires at a cost of approximately $800-850. By my estimate, 5 years and 75,000 miles would require approximately $3,000 to $4,000 worth of tires alone. Oops, Edmunds must have forgot high performance tires in their "true cost to own".

P.S. My Nissan Maxima has 148k miles and at least another 10k miles left on its third set (2nd replacement set) of tires at $425+/- per set. Total cost of tire replacements is under $900 in 9+ years and 148k miles. Do that math on the 2004 Acura TL with it's low profile 25-30k life tires. I'm not completely convinced this is prudent for a FWD car that is going to tear up the front tires quickly if driven hard. On a 330i Performance, the rear tires are considerably wider than the fronts and the handling (lateral g's) is way above the Acura for about the same cost in tires. Seventeen and 18" wheels and tires on a FWD car may look cool, but I suspect that a lot of prospective buyers haven't done that math. In my Honda S2000, tires will be at least twice as expensive as all other maintenance costs combined. Fine for a sports car, but the FWD TL isn't.

sjohnson11

With the announcment of the accord hybrid, has anyone heard if there will be a TL hybrid too?

raher

I hope not !

bodble2

There's a hybrid Accord?

paulg54

Has anyone seen the Redondo Red Pearl? I've seen some pictures that look good on the net. No one has mentioned having one.

robr2

Hybrid Accord - Yup.

Read it here:

http://www.hondanews.com/Forms/corp/*ws4d-db-query-Show.ws4d?*ws4- d-db-query-Show***005854***-wieck_media***-***corp(directory)***.- ws4d?corp/results(r)_text.html

achadha

Thanks for the tip on the dvd information website about upcoming dvd-a's. I just got the Metallice DVD-A it is great if you like that music. There is a website that has alot of dvd-a's www.dvdplanet.com most groups I never heard of though. Does anyone know if the side view mirrors go down when reversing in a 6speed manual? Thanks

raytl

Paulg54 - I own an '04 TL with the Redondo Red Pearl with parchment interior and it looks great. The red does not look orange but is deep and has small sparkles.

pat

I hope you folks will provide your feedback directly to the editors. Posting here may not accomplish that.

The way to do that is to use the "Help" link at the very bottom of this page.

Let us know what happens.

1hopeck

For the third straight month, the TL performance luxury sedan was Acura's top-selling model with December sales of 5,853, up 40.2 percent over last year and besting the previous December record of 5,723 set in 2001.

pg48477

achadha

go to sales you will see them

achadha

do the side view mirrors go down on the 6 speed when reversing?

kahunah

Yes, the side view mirrors do go down on the 6 speed, in reverse gear.

achadha

is there a setting that turns this on.. i don't think mine goes down when reversing?

kahunah

Yes, the same switch that controls the mirrors' position (lower left on dash console) activates this feature. For example, if the mirror selection switch (above the mirror position switch) is set to the driver side mirror, the driver side mirror goes down, in reverse gear. Switch it to passenger side mirror and that mirror goes down. The neutral (middle) position deactivates this feature and that's what your car's switch is currently set at.

Please note that there is no setting that will allow both mirrors to go down simultaneously. Only one or the other.

richardgold

I sent to email to Falken on their tire, this is the reply:

" We do not make the 235/45/R17 size in our ZE 512 pattern. It is not the same as the tire tested in Consumer Reports. It does however have some of the same great qualities as the tire tested- smooth ride, and all season performance."

After reading all posts, I think I am down to the Falken or Continental Extreme. Have not made a decision at this point. Have a friend whose friend owns a tire store; will try and get a professional opinion.

dulnev

What was the guy at Falken drinking??? Of course they make ZIEX ZE 512 in 235/45R17! I just ordered a set for my TL. And their Web site www.falkentire.com lists it as the available size.

And of course it's the tire that CR has reviewed! I just checked CR to be sure.

Is it possible that Falken has or used to have a tire called "ZE 512" as opposed to "ZIEX ZE 512"?

Anyway, you got some screwed-up reply from Falken. What were you asking them? Whether the tire had a nylon belt?

By the way, I ordered by Falkens from www.edgeracing.com for $85 each plus $11 each for UPS delivery. Should have the tires tomorrow, mount them at Costco over the weekend and report here as soon as I drive them.

I'm putting the EL42s in the attic for when I sell/trade-in the car, per someone's great suggestion.

kahunah

http://www.falkentire.com/html/products/ziex/512/ziex512.htm

webby1

Who carries these tires in Ontario ?

kahunah

Use the retailer locator: http://www.falkentire.com/retailer_locator.cfm

webby1

Thanks kahunah...it works now, for some reason could not get it to work it before!

kfhmail

Does anyone know where you can get a screen saver of a 04 TL for a computer?

I have one for a G35 that I got from the Infiniti web site, but I want one for the 04 TL. I have e-mailed ACURA asking them where/how I can get a screen saver...but...I have not heard back from them.

Looks like there could/should be several screen savers available.

From a marketing stand point you would think ACURA would have one available for free that would show various pictures/angles of a TL and in the various color options.

But...It would also be great to be able to get a screen saver with pictures only in the color of the TL that you have bought or want to buy.

So...any help on getting a screen saver?

Thanks.

mitchflorida

Screen savers are available at the acura.com site, in the photo gallery section.

kfhmail

Mitchflorida...I see where you can download wall paper, but I an interested in a screen saver. If there is a screensaver there, please tell me the steps to get to it.

Thanks.

"4922 of 4922 by mitchflorida Jan 08, 2004 (12:54 pm)
Screen savers are available at the acura.com site, in the photo gallery section."

ruski

I want to try these some day:

http://www.carsound.com/reviews/performance/Falken_AZENIS_ST115.h- tml

msf2

Try this for some TL photo's: http://www.honda-acura.net/news/04tl. I chose one of these for a desktop photo.

dulnev

These are great tires, but they are summer-only tires. I would've bought these, if they were All Season like the ZIEX ZE 512. Can't wait to put the 512's on my car tomorrow!

msf2

Pleas let us know how you like those tires-for ride, noise, etc.
Thanks!!

mitchflorida

http://www.homemadesimple.com/mrclean/goodies.shtml

paulg54

Thanks raytl for the response about the Redondo Red. Is it more like a maroon than a red as in "hear I am police, ticket me?"

richardgold

I got a quote of $120 per tire for the ZE 512, installed, from a local tire retailer.

raytl

The TL Redondo red is a deep red, nearer to maroon but not quite as dark. It is not a bright, orange red that will make you police bait. I suggest driving to some dealerships to see one in person.

bodble2

Have you noticed that the Canadian $ is up to .7876 against the US $? I believe we are now paying comparatively more for the TL than our US brethens. I guess there is no chance Honda will now lower the Canadian MSRP since for years they absorbed a significant exchange loss on Canadian market cars.

achadha

Navigation or not? Is it really worth the 2k? I think it is just a toy I guess to play with. Does it work good with the voice commands? I guess if you are a heavy traveller it would make sense. I have been living in the same area all my life and don't travel on the road too much...I recently purchased the 6speed and there were not any 6 speed with nav on any of the near by lots only orders which were at msrp. i got 2100 off msrp thanks

aciampi

Personally I love my nav unit. I don't travel much but always use it. I guess you could say for me it is really a toy but I am not sorry that I got it. I also think that with the nav the interior looks so much better, but is that worth an extra two thousand? It is also nice because there is a couple of other cool things available with the nav. The radio is touch screen, there is a built in calculator, and a calender that you can use as a scheduale and reminders. As far as the voice activation is, I feel it is hit or miss. Some times it understands my commands and others it completly does something different. For example when I tell it "Display Off" sometimes it displays hotels, and when I say "Track 3" it will set up track repeat. So it can be helpfull but it can also become frustrating to the point where you yell swears at her and she responds by telling you the current time which I think may be just to annoy some more;)

bodble2

So it can be helpfull but it can also become frustrating to the point where you yell swears at her and she responds by telling you the current time which I think may be just to annoy some more;)

Sounds a lot like wives

Seriously, does it only recognize one person's voice?

ruski

move to Florida. That's what I did

dulnev

What do you mean?

aciampi

It's not that it only reconizes one person's voice, but some commands do need to be spoken loudly and very clearly. But I still like it and don't feel it was a waste of money.

msf2

Thanks to habitat1 for answering my question about torque steer the other day. My question right now is this: two different mag's- Car and Driver and Consumer Reports. Two different reviews
regarding torque steer for the TL. One say's too much torque steer (C&R), the other say's it's non-existent. What gives??

dulnev

1. There is absolutelly no noticeable torque steer on Automatic models. Period. This is according to EVERY review, including C&D.

2. C&D reports noticeable torque steer on Manual transmission model; no-one else does. You have to understand that C&D reviewers are "purist" give-us-a-RWD-sports-sedan enthusiasts. For them a little torque steer is too much on a sports sedan. For 99.9% of people this is a non-issue. On another board that I read about 80% of people have the 6-speed manual TL and none report noticeable torque steer.

grri03

My employer provides me a cell phone and service through Alltel. I want to get a bluetooth-enabled phone to use with my new TL but the ones listed on the Acura website are not compatible with Alltel. I made one call to an Alltel store and they told me that they currently don't have any bluetooth phones for sale. Alltel phones are CDMA tri-mode. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe a phone that's being sold overseas that would work. I'd rather not have to change to another cellular company and have to pay for my own service.

dulnev

There is one possibility, but it's not guaranteed to work. The discontinuted Motorola 270c Verizon phone has an optional Bluetooth module. If you have the latest firmware on the 270c, the Bluetooth module will add the HandsFree Profile to the phone.

Unfortunatelly, you'd have to send the phone to Motorola to get that firmware upgrade, because none of the Verizon phones had it. You can find plenty of 270c's for sale on E-bay and the Bluetooth add-on is widely available there or directly from Motorola for $30.

You can read some information about this on alt.cellular.verizon (hopefully you know how to access Usenet newsgroups). Just search for "TL" in the subject. Since Verizon and Alltel have the same equipment and 270c was available for Alltel, I'm pretty sure all the same things would apply.

Basically, if you have a $100 to play with and some time to send the phone to Motorola, it might work in the end.

automophile

Other than dulnev's excellent advice above, you would need to change to a provide that uses GSM type service, since it seems that all phones with integral Bluetooth are GSM. Not sure why.

AT this time, I believe that GSM service is limited to ATT and Cingular.

Any others?

sopecreek

Add T-Mobile(or VoiceStream)to the list.

bodble2

Just to add to what dulnev already said, I think the way C & D testdrive cars, with high RPM clutch-drops, they could induce torque steer even with RWD cars!

sergeym