Acura TL 2006+

bodble2

also, most leases will happily let you extend for a month or so.

sriggs1

Delmar, do you know if the new silver color option for TL is like the silver for the RL?

delmar1

I am not certain what the new silver color option that will be offerred in the TL. I wonder if it will be more similar to the BMW 'Artic Metallic' which is a flatter grey/silver finish. Or perhaps they might migrate to that silver in the RL that is less platinum than currently on the TL. Maybe they will get out of the metallic and pearl finishes they currently have?

I have a 'Deep Green Pearl' exterior...and I hear that is discontinued. Glad in some ways as there will be fewer on the road.

The one color they really need to work on is the red. On the TSX...it looks like a fire-truck red. And I have not seen one yet on the TL.

Basically...the TL looks great in all the 2005 colors. I am sure that will hold true in 2006.

What is great about Acura is that their colors choices are very good...and eternal. You look at older Acuras and not only does the color still look contemporary...but finish still looks fresh.

taxesquire

I've seen a few red ones and they seem OK. Not a bright cherry or candy-apple (which would be my preference), but not dark either. I think red should vibrantly bright, or else go with a mature maroon. The TL red seems to straddle the middle.

What I was most surprised with was the tan. On the website and in photos, I think the tan looks absolutely beautiful, and I saw one on the road that looked really nice, but then I saw two that looked dead. I guess the tan is affected by dirt a lot more than silver.

IMO, grays and tans should always be dark; reds, yellows and whites should always be bright, and silvers, blues and greens can be either dark or bright, but should not be middle-of-the-road.

frisconick

delmar1, I meant old in Acura ownership years, sort of like dog-years :P

But you do have great info on this topic because you own both cars.

goodegg

What does anybody think the price increase will be for the 2006 TL vs the 2005? And what about Acura dealers discounting the 05s? Think that could happen? I think waiting a couple months for the 06 makes sense if they're not a whole lot more jack and the 05s aren't being discounted. Duh. Right??

green5

Indeed! Thank for the help! If I decide to buy new, how should go about talking about prices and to get good deals? I dought that I will be able to get a TL by the closing deal if prices come extremely low.

nightcrawler29

I don't know how much more stuff they could add to the TL, but what would really make me a happy and proud owner, and would really get me to spend $4K bucks or so more on a 2006, would be a complimentary pair of dice hanging on the rear view mirror with the Acura emblem all over it.... Ok maybe not, but a few things I would wish for on this new model are:
1- A DVD for the Nav system that contains updated information...it seems the latest one was updated somewhere in 2004, and with 2003 info, which makes it 2 yrs old.
2- Digital readouts for temp, gas, tachometer and speedometer
3- Voice indicators for "welcome", "doors opened", "trunk open", "gas low", etc... with same sexy female voice.
4- A universal workable cell phone interface instead of that bluetooth thing, which hasn't gained much popularity yet.
5- MP-3 player or USB port
6- Automatic folding side mirrors.
7- Speener wheels and a pair of dice on the rear view mirror,,, :P

delmar1

green5....I suggest looking at the "TL prices paid and experiences" forum. Many great recommendations, suggestions....and real world experiences.

Good luck on your selection and future negotiations! You can do it!

delmar1

Those items would also make me happy.

You know...to go along with that fuzzy dice...perhaps you should also ask for a keyring to connect your keys to the remote (only kidding for those that haven't bought a TL...keyrings are typically included)

What would definitely sell me would be if "Trixie" (the female voice) could actually welcome me by name as I entered my car....or to 'buckle up' when I don't have my seatbelt on. Kinda like HAL did in Space Oddesey did...now that would be cool.

As soon as I see the first TL with 'spinner rims'...I am heading in to trade my car in with shame.

nightcrawler29

Yes Delmar that's right, I also forgot to mention that the keys for this car should be connected to the remote as a single item, preferably with a foldable key.. and I also believe that being able to customize certain voice functions and tones would be a big seller......just look at how much time people spend at personalizing sounds to their cell phones! And yeah, "Trixie" should definitely welcome the driver by name (another programable item added to the existing memory functions).

Ok I should rule out the dice and the spinner rims.... so please do not dishonor the TL by adding these things....(like certain people have done to the Escalade)... That would create a devaluated image towards the Acura brand, and some of us would have to wear paper bags on our heads, as we go back to the dealer to trade in our beloved automobiles...

nightcrawler29

Someone previously mentioned they wished the TL had daytime running lights, and as a chronic complainer, I expected the same on this car... but there's a way in case you haven't figured it out. Just turn on your headlights and leave them on even after you turn off the car. The headlights will go off after 15 seconds (depending your choice on settings), or the headlights will automatically turn off once you lock your doors with the remote.... Then when you unlock the doors with the remote, the exterior lights will come on including the headlights, and you just turn on your car and drive away without turning your lights on. This is actually a nice perk, because normally the daytime running lights turn on when you take off the parking brakes, and then only the headlamps turn on (this is in other cars equiped with this), but there's no way of turning off the lights if you don't want them on..... and on the TL you can choose that if you want to. Also the exterior lights on the TL won't burn out as they are LED's and last way much longer than regular bulbs.... although not so sure about the headlamps though.... but anyway, this is just an FYI.

sriggs1

delmar, as you can tell, I am new to this board. How do I find the "TL prices paid and experiences" that you referenced?

sriggs1

Delmar, I found the TL prices paid forum, didn't realize it would be a separate forum.

taxesquire

Hey, Nightcrawler, I know some ofyour "suggestions" were jokes, but here's some response to a few of the real items (I think) that you mentioned:

an updated DVD would be great, of course. I think Acura or whoever makes the DVD updates it on their own timeline, and as Acura gets them, they add 'em to the cars, so I don't consider it an "'06 upgrade"
I like regular dials for the tach, speed, etc, and I'm glad we don't have a voice-prompt for low gas. The TL registers as having low gas even when I have over 40 miles left - even before it gets to the E. I hated how my last car would beep every time I started the car and the tank was low. The light is enough for me.

I do think it'd be cool to program certain commands ("Like, "Hi, Ralph, hope you enjoy your drive" and upon exit "Bye now, have a nice day") and I bet that'll come soon. Have you noticed though that certain words, the woman's voice is taken over by an evil screachy computer? I wouldn't want to be welcomed in that tone!!!

As far as a cell phone interface - what is there other than bluetooth? i thought that technology was what everyone agreed on? Sorry if this is a joke and I don't get it.

Agree with the automatic folding mirrors - think I raised that in a prior post.

bobob20032000

Since its groundbreaking redesign in 2004, the Acura TL has solidified its place as both the top selling Acura and best-selling luxury sedan in the country. The TL comes equipped with a 3.2-liter, VTEC V-6 engine, a drive-by-wire throttle system, and an available close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with limited slip differential. For 2006, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System is added to the TL’s already long list of standard safety features as are two new exterior colors.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Revised engine management system and steering angle sensor logic help reduce torque steer

New Colors:
Royal Blue Pearl replaces Abyss Blue Pearl
Alabaster Silver Metallic replaces Satin Silver Metallic
Deep Green Pearl discontinued

New horsepower/torque ratings: 258 horsepower SAE net (Rev 8/04) at 6200 rpm, 233 lbs-ft. of torque SAE net (Rev 8/04) at 5000 rpm

This is all that Acura is going to do with the TL. Just add some colors and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

The 2006 Lexus IS250 will look nice now with most of the features we want. (Smartkey, MP3/WMA Audio Capability, ventilated seats, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Bi-Xenon Projector HID Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System, Six-Speed Paddle Shifters) Lexus is all about Luxury and Acura and Infiniti is more of "Sporty"

If you want something bigger than an IS250/350, check out the 2007 Lexus GS350 or soon to come this Spring 2006, the Lexus ES 350. They will have the new 3.5 liter V6 that should have near 300 hp. Society of Automotive Engineers Ratings are in effect with 2006 Lexus Engines. 204/306 hp doesnt seem too bad because new horsepower ratings. Most cars with revised ratings will have less horsepower, so with old standards, the 2006 Lexus IS250/350 will have more horsepower and the Lexus GS 300 wont look too bad with old standards.

green5

Grr! I want to keep it at or above 270 HP. How much of a difference will the 2006 be from the 2005?

montyburnz

No difference at all. The lower HP rating is based on the new standard which Honda and Toyota are going by. Personally I don't like it unless all automotive manufacturers adopt it. Or else it's not a level playing field from a marketing perspective. However, it doesn't make a difference when you go behind the wheel because the "HP" is the same.

bobob20032000

So far General Motors, Honda and Toyota have revised their official horsepower ratings (based on SAE ratings). I believe other car companies will have to also.
But even if the numbers would seem lower, it is the same exact engine with same power, just the rating has changed.

The TL stills has the 270 hp but the 258 hp is the net horsepower. The 270 hp is only in certain conditions and the 258 hp is for most.

brewtoo

"Someone previously mentioned they wished the TL had daytime running lights, and as a chronic complainer, I expected the same on this car... "

I don't object to the idea of DRLs. HOWEVER, with the GM method of powering up the high-beams at a bit lower wattage than normal, well, that stroke of genious had the lights shining straight into the eyes of on-coming drivers. I'm glad they did away with that bad idea. Between that and all the motorcycle riders who feel the need to keep their lights on bright in the daytime...well, I don't like feeling like I'm looking into the sun all the time. :shades:

Now, if we want to be reasonable and use ordinary low-beams for DRLs, that's great, but it still wastes energy.

taxesquire

So how long have you been selling Lexus?

jbdriver

Ok, so I've been ponding this for the past couple days. It's not that the Acura is not attractive as it is right now. I still think it's a nice car as is, and seeing as how the 05s seem to be going about $3k-$4k below MSRP, it is also a smokin deal. The thing that still keeps coming back to me which I think the dealers might be asking themselves as well...are the small changes (that have been mentioned several times...most recently in post 420) being made in 06 enough for me to justify charging people closer to MSRP. I think that the dealers will be telling themselves yes because they're greedy buggers, I am telling myself no because I am a greddy bugger. :P
I think that adding in some or all of the things mentioned on the board (save the spinner wheels :P ) helps them keep level with their competition in 06 and gives the consumer a ligitimate reason to pay more for an 06 over the 05.

just my .02, and as my friend tells me, sometimes .02 may be overcharging.

delmar1

Gee...let me see if I can reel you in again on that thought (all very good thoughts you wrote above).

From what I am gathering...help if I am incorrect....your thought is that the price of the TL will not bubble back up towards the MSRP and remain $3 to $4k below because of buyer perceived value of the '06 upgrades....with a gradual rise above current pricing.

My thoughts...
** Soon enough...all the '05 will be off the lot and so there will not be a competing against the '06 pricing. So there can't be the argument of the ability to buy a '05 at a lower price.
** The prices of other cars should also gravitate upwards...so the relative value of the '06 TL should also rise.
** The GM and other makers "buy at employee prices" are going away so less competition.
** People that do not check out sites like this will continue to pay $2k+ above what we have been paying here.

Your $0.02 are great... Here are my thoughts. Who knows what will happen.

nightcrawler29

"How much of a difference will the 2006 be from the 2005?"

well...a couple grand maybe... aside from that, its pretty much all just the same, unless you really value the tire presure monitoring system (which is really useless to tell you the truth)... Now in regards to HP... what difference does it really make 250hp and 270hp??...ok, there seems to be a difference in calculation, so once you crank up the numbers what's the difference??... for those of you who are dissapointed about the HP difference on the 2006, then get the 2005 and go out and drive, and get stuck in traffic where the average speed is 40MPH... (pretty much a waste of HP I'd say).... but in reality would any of you really want to use all that horse power and potentially increase the wear and tear of your $34 or $35K+ vehicle??....this is a 4 door sedan, not a Ferrari!!....and even if you had a Ferrari, where would you run it? To me it seems like the 2005 model would become a better buy than the 2006 in terms of price in the next couple months.

nightcrawler29

Yeah, DRL's should use low-beam lighting only. When they first came out they were anoying to say the least, but nowadays I find DRL's very useful in daily driving. For one thing it can be a safety feature, and I know for sure it has saved me from a couple accidents where people where talking on their phones and not paying attention to the rode when they made turns.....but fortunately, DRL's make an impression in these cases.

nightcrawler29

Well I was kind of half joking... but I was serious about the part refering to customizing the car to our own tastes. Yeah, I do agree it can be anoying to have the car remind you every time that it is time to go fill up the tank... especially right after hearing on the radio that the price of oil went above $60 bucks a barrel!! But that's where being able to customize some functions counts. If you don't like it, just switch it off.... I do like the female voice from the Nav, but the voice from the Bluetooth thingie really freaks me out... sounds more like a smoking biker chick to me.

I wish there was something else (and more universally compatible) than Bluetooth. It doesn't seem like it has caught up, and it hasn't gained much popularity... and then if you check the Bluetooth forum, its full of people complaining about compatibility issues. I haven't plugged in a phone on my TL yet, because my provider (Sprint) barely has Bluetooth compatible phones, and then who knows if they will work with the car's system after spending $250 bucks on one of those phones.

wavshrdr1

I don't think the BT problem with the TL is as much the TL's fault as other manufacturers who make the phones. For example I have several Sony Eric. phones and only the original T68 supported the BT profile that seems to be the norm. Neither my P800 or P910i do while they do support others. I finally got fed up with Sony's implementation and went with a BlackBerry 7100. It pairs flawlessly with my TL and has worked great. I don't know what I'd do without now that I've become so used to it.

As for the TL itself, I bought and '05 5AT w/Nav. So far it has been a great car. Only gripe so far is no recommended trailer towing ability. I got into a heated discussion with my local Acura dealer because I wanted to put a hitch on the TL but not to tow with it but for a bike rack. He said if I had any issues Acura wouldn't warranty anything realated to the rear suspension or tranny because I had a hitch on the car. This really ticked me off as how much can 2 bicycles weigh INCLUDING a small hitch. I'll take a wait and see attitutude on this one.

Everyday the car is a pleasure to drive. Around town mileage isn't great (20-21) but on the highway it does great (75mph=31.5MPG, 70mph with bike rack =27.5). Car only has 5k miles so it may get better with time. I wish I could have gotten slightly stiffer suspension with the 5AT but not quite as stiff as the 6MT. We have crappy roads where I live and the 6MT wasn't quite as compliant as I need but now that my springs have loosened up a little they are too soft and I need more compression dampening on the shocks if I drive agressively.

I still wish this came in a AWD version or RWD. Since there isn't one close enough on the horizon my next car will not be another TL. I live in a very snowy climate and the AWD would be a big benefit and I would have bought another Audi but there wasn't anything in their US lineup that interested me enough this time. I got really fed up with my terrible mileage in my last 5 Audis. My last would never break even 20mpg on the highway and 1 bad week in winter I got 13.7 mpg. My truck got bettter mileage than that!

delmar1

Is the terrible mileage you mentioned on your last 5 Audis because of the car or because of the AWD feature? If it is the AWD...then can you imagine what the MPG would be on the TL ? Yipes!

Me...I am on the West Coast so I have no desire for AWD. A regional thing as there is no snow.

sterrico

I noticed that the TSX got an update for the Nav system (see below) for 2006:

Does this mean that the TL Nav system is not as up to date as the TSX's nav system for 2006?

Larger buttons and fonts
Faster processing speed
Points of Interest (POI) database increased to 7 million
HandsFreeLink calling to POI
More voice recognition commands (653)
Zagat restaurant guide
Exit ramp services feature

taxesquire

I can't speak to the rest of the list, but the last 2 items (Zagat's & exit ramps) are definitely not in the '05 TL. The others might already be there. Anyone??? Anyone??

buyercar

I plan to purchase a 2005 Acura TL within the next 30 days. What is a fair price for it? When will the 2006 be availabe, should I wait for the 2006 model?

jbdriver

buyercar, check out the pices paid and buying experiences forum for the TL. I was looking through it the other day, and i think I saw something about a guy getting on with Nav and automatic for 31,500 plus Taxes and fees. It may have been more than that, I can't remember exatly. But, skim though that forum and you'll find some great info about what people are paying and how they are going about getting the best deal.
As for the 06, from the info released so far from Acura (I am not sure how accurate it is)...see post 420 in this forum...I don't think it's worth waiting for the 06 to come out. The general concensus in this forum is that it shoud be out late spetember or early october, but we could easily be wrong.
Hope this helps.

boiko

Now that we know the changes to the 06 TL....

For someone who drives 100 miles roundtrip for work each day. Would it be better to try and pick up an 05 in the next few weeks for as little as possible.... or wait a bit and pickup an 06 TL...?

My thinking was that if you get the 05, you might be able to save a few $$ and get a car at the end of it's production year that you know you'll be putting alot of miles on. Therefore helping out a bit to keep the mileage down on an 05 car.
Thoughts on this...?

Thanks,
-mike-

frisconick

I would hope they would boost the AC in the 06 TL, it is really weak in the 05.

taxesquire

how do you set the temp? On my '04, I keep it on auto around 74 and even when temps break 100 here, I'm generally fine. My wife always asks me to turn her setting down to 65, but once it's on that, she's fine.

frisconick

Compared to my 96 Camry, this AC is really weak. I had it down to the lowest possible yesterday, and it was still weak in the 100 degree heat.

bodble2

Did you have the vents open? :P

richlux

It sounds to me like the 2006 update to fix the torque steering problem will be a "software" fix. According to Vtec, it will be a "Revised engine management system and steering angle sensor logic help reduce torque steer".

Anyone want to venture a guess whether or not this fix will be available to 2004/2005 owners via a software upgrade? If it really is only software, perhaps there's a chance?

Rich

billyperks

The only fix for torque steer is RWD or AWD drive platform.
For Acura it would be the SH-AWD.

delmar1

My thinking was that if you get the 05, you might be able to save a few $$ and get a car at the end of it's production year that you know you'll be putting alot of miles on. Therefore helping out a bit to keep the mileage down on an 05 car

Mike...I am not sure if that really matters all that much as you will be driving the same number of miles over a span of time no matter what. If your thought was in regards to future trade-in and the mileage you have on the car at the time....I would say that the marginal value you pick up from having a '05 vs '06 would be minimal. Whatever minimal value you do receive as a benefit will be offset by the $$ saved on getting a discounted '05 car.

Remember...don't chase mouse-nuts...marginal difference will be minimal.

delmar1

I remember the same comments before from you Nick. What I suggest is to kick-up the air-flow initially to max...then when it cools....hit the auto climate control. That works like a charm.

sriggs1

I am coming off lease on an 03 and going to buy an 05 or06 depending on when the 06 comes out. Question, what kind of allowance does Acura allow on fix up to the leased vehicle. I have leased 4 Acuras and never had to pay anything at lease end. This year I know the tires are pretty thin and I have a star crack in the windshield. Should I fix it or hope whatever allowance for damage they allow will cover it.

kyfdx

Check your lease paperwork.. AHFC went to a $1500 "wear and tear" allowance a few years back..

regards,
kyfdx

frisconick

I did that, plus I shut the rear vents, and it's still weak.

delmar1

Make sure to get an "Icee" or "Slurpee" to get a brain freeze before entering the TL. That might help out.

Hmmm...next time check out to see if the car go to the "recirculation" mode. If it is cooking hot..then it should go to that mode to get the artic blast. If not...you might want to have it checked by Acura.

Also...do you use a sunshade on your front window (bought a metallic one at WalMart for $12...cooler in temp than the 'pop shades' I had previously)? That really helps...especially since you have the ebony leather.

Watch out for the brain freeze with the Icee.

frisconick

Make sure to get an "Icee" or "Slurpee" to get a brain freeze before entering the TL. That might help out.

LOL :P

I do have a sunshade but didn't use it Saterday in 100+ temps

But I think you are correct, I am going to the dealer and have them check out the AC, it just seems too weak. It's been one hot summer here in CA.

Thanks delmar

merc1

We were talking Honda doing a V8 a little while back. Seems there is again some grumbling about Honda doing a V8.

I think it will happen for the next generation RL. I also think Honda will develop a rwd platform for Acura to base the next RL and TL on.

Autoweek

M

merc1

Every Honda product I've ever been in, from Accords to Acuras to Civics has always had relatively weak A/C. Not sure what the problem is, but Honda products have never excelled in A/C in my experience. I used to think it was because of all the glass usually present in a Honda product, especially back in the day when everything they made had such a low cowl that you could see the road without seeing the hood. Honda products (cars) had so much more glass area then.

M

frisconick

Thanks for the info, I thought it was just my wierd sense of heat. :P

delmar1

Trust us...it is you.... kidding