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Although I used the collision repair company that is part of my Acura Dealership, be very careful with collision repair shops as they will only do what is required by the adjuster. The consumer thinks a thorough check will be completed to many other ares of the vehicle after a collision which I found not true. If it wasn't for the second accident I would have tried to settle the Diminished Value of this auto and replace this wounded TL with a new one this 4th of July weekend.
Speaking of Diminished Value, the car was 12 months and 10 days old with 11,859 miles on the day of the first accident. Do any of you have experience with how Diminished Value is determined and what to watch out for with these tricky insurance people?
Things happen for a reason so maybe its time for me to step up from the Base Model to the TL SH-AWD 2010.
1. Excellent power. No problem merging on crowded freeways
2. Handles quite well. I do think the suspension is a bit stiff for my taste, but in no way is it harsh. We have very bumpy roads here in Northeast Ohio and you do feel bad pavement to some extent.
3. Very comfortable seating, both front and rear. Much better than competing models I shopped.
4. Looks that draw gazes. I love the sleek unusual look even though it did take some getting used to. Have put 4 coats of Zaino on and the car just shines.
5. Gas mileage is decent so far, will probably improve a bit over time. Getting about 19.5 miles per gallon in 50-50 city/interstate driving
6. Transmission can be a bit jerky, especially when starting from a near stop, but I have learned to control that.
7. I don't care for the stock Michelin Pilot tires. The treadware is only 300 which means that they will wear out quickly. Also, they are not good in Winter weather compared to other M+S tires. I realize they are there for the handling aspect of the car, but I would rather have better tread life and Winter handling vs better skidpad numbers. We will see how they are next winter. I will consider replacing if winter traction sucks.
8. Seat heater buttons are very easy to accidently turn on. Not a big deal, but a minor inconvenience.
Overall, I am quite pleased with the car. I think I made the right choice for my needs. No car is perfect, including the TL, but it is a fine automobile and a very reasonable price.
Without a doubt, Zaino is the best polymer out there for car care. I got introduced to it back in 2000 and I have never gone back to the over the counter waxes.
I got to admit, it looks better on my wife's Carbon Grey Pearl than on my White Diamond Pearl-overall, good stuff and it last for a season.
I would definitely recommend Zaino. http://www.zainostore.com/
Not a wax but a polymer and you can layer it. With normal wax, you take off the old layer when you put a new layer on. The more layers you put on, the better the shine. You can't believe how it shines! I have used it for about 10 years.
http://cnettv.cnet.com/2001-1_53-50089749.html
If you wanna skip to the end, the reviewer states....
"I don't normally gush. But this is the best driving car we've had in our garage in the last handfull of years."
Strong praise, cause I've seen cnet's reviews.....and they review some very nice cars.
There are two guys who actually traded in their TLs for a 5 series (550i), and an Infiniti M (the new one) and do a nice compare and contrast. They're in the Acura forums on another site. That they'd compare their former TL to their current $75K car (550i) or $52K+ car (M37) is a testament to the TL. Actually, the guy who just bought the new M37 feels his former TL was more solid, had better reflexes, and certainly better features. Doesn't mean the M is bad, just that the TL is that good.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/acura/2010-acura-tl-ar80141.html
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-2011-acura-tl/#3157519
They say its the 2011 TL but most of us on acurazine believe its really the 2012 refreshing that was pushed up 6 months to debut in April of 2011.
If they were going to make a change, I would think they'd go to the midnight chrome grill and tail piece as standard since it's proving to be so popular.
I don't want any major changes myself.
Why? Do you feel your model will become dated.:)
Well have no fear, even if they do come out with 20" wheels, Power Rear Shade, Octogon Exhast etc etc etc, you model will still standout.
I was just admiring mine yesterday- I was parked by the Post Office and I was coming out of the building down the stairs I saw my TL across the street.
I said WOW, now thats a standout.
LISTEN UP HONDA AMERICA!! I have a iPhone and a iTouch, and Apple just gave us new upgrades for FREE! Would it not be nice to offer a Navigation upgrade of some sort for Free, or a nominal charge. Unlike the wife TSX that you can upgrade with a new disk, however that is just map information.
The TL has a chance to excel in the area of graphics.. Possible they will offer a 3D view of the road map? Might tweak the engine for say 10 more HP? Go from 19" wheels to 20"? Again, the TL have been discounted up to $6K already due to slow sales, so they are not going to do anything that will substantially raise the price of the car. Other then R&D time, software tweeks are easy to do..
BTW, when I was searching for a resturant in San Diego that has been in the same spot for 15 years, it did not find it? My nav in the TSX did and my sprint Balckberry and Garmin GSP found it, but just missing from the TL? Anyone else seen this type of behavior? I manually stored it, but something seems out of order.
I know I had one on my former Tahoe that was woeful. My son has the NAV in the current gen Accord....it's way slower and has worse voice recognition than my TLs.
Weather isn't that big of a deal to me. I can see the weather outside the windshield. Traffic? I'd like better traffic on the NAV, but am uncertain whether that's an XM issue or an Acura issue.
I have no problems with the way the NAV works or the view. It gives me the info I'm looking for in an easy to understand manner.
Are you saying the map in TL's Nav system is 2D only? :surprise:
Can probably expect some color changes and maybe a package or two being changed around.
Most what you would expect for a refreshing. You guys are thinking of a redesign! You'll have to wait for the 2014 TL for that!
You look at something like the Ford NAV (the one in the SHO is what I've experienced) has the graphic buildings. TL won't do that. In the end, I just need to get to an address or POI. The TL does that well. And, it probably has the best voice recognition of any system I've ever encountered.
I can't care less about 3D building, either. But 3D map (aka birdview map) is quite basic for GPS system. Most, if not all, portable units such as Garmin, Magellan, TomTom all have it. I like 3D map because it kind simulate the view looking out windshield so it is easier to follow.
The present grill is not my favorite thing about the car, but I think I'm getting used to it as I see more of them on the road. Still, I might opt for a grill change, or just wait until the 2012 refresh and see what they do with it. The one that caught my eye is a kind of gray (Giagori, or something like that) with a taupe interior, just the base model. Haven't driven one yet, but they look impressive.
There are a couple of different ways you can go. Acura makes a midnight chrome grill and tail piece combined that looks very sharp. It's not a bright chrome, but has a dark "tinge" to it. It's "shinier" than the standard brushed aluminum grill. I actually have the midnight chrome grill on my White Diamond Pearl TL, I liked the look so much.
There's another aftermarket grill called "ron-jon". Not bad looking. It's just that I think it makes the TL look like a run of the mill Accord. Check out their web site and make your own decision.
Some people actually painted their grill the same color as the rest of their car. Again, this is all personal opinion, but to me that makes the car look a lot cheaper to my eyes. Again, some like that look, though.
I have Taupe interior. I wanted to break up the normal look of all black. I like it. Umber would be another color to look at, if you can find a TL with the umber interior.
Only exterior color I can think of that's close would be "Grigio", maybe?
The proof is in the driving. Take a base model for a test drive, then take a SH AWD for a test drive. Also, test drive one with the "tech" package. Test drives don't cost anything. See what you think.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out in your search.
Drove the SH-AWD into the mountains of San Diego yesterday, wet roads due to some rain, and it is just like driving a car on TRACKS!!
Yes, Grigio is the exterior color I meant -- should have checked that before posting. For the interior, my dealership has TLs with parchment, taupe, and ebony, but I haven't seen an umber.
I'll let you know my test drive impressions and buying decision. I've been in the Honda family for years, but never had an Acura. I'm driving a very nice 07 Accord SE V6 right now. My only reason to trade would be for the level of luxury a TL offers.
If Acura goes the way they have in the past, I would expect a refreshening for model year 2012.
I don't see any changes in styling, as it's been adapted across their entire lineup. They'd have to dramatically change styling direction across all their models.
I know I've seen people who have chastised Acura (and all of Honda) for being too conservative in styling. Now, they've become more aggressive. I like the new look. I like it better than my former '04 TL. Many don't.
I suppose that proves that no manufacturer can please everyone all the time.
While the OH valley (Cincinnati to be exact), is filled with hills that are beautiful in the fall, and this time of year, we have hills that are fun to drive in, where you have mountains.
Either way, the TL is a great drive with the perfect blend of ride and handling for my tastes. I recounted several weeks ago, I took a road trip from my home to the Amish country about 2 hours away. Again, a beautiful drive. A 3 year old (2 year old?) Infiniti G coupe wanted to "play". Because most of the roads were two lanes with plenty of sharp turns, we spent about 30-45 minutes swapping the lead with each other. Finally, the G gave up.
Fun while it lasted, though.
Can anyone direct me how and where I can get the brightwhite bulbs for the DRL and Fog lights? I want to swap out the archiac yellow lights.
I saw a 2009 TL in some picture with this set up and it looks REALLY nice.
To bad Acura can't start doing this standard, it would be really sweet but until they do, I don't mind spending 13 bucks to do it myself! I've had the bulbs in for about 8 months now and still going strong!
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/License-Plate-LED/sc131088//page/1/checkForLa- - nding/true
Just make sure you get the 5K ones and not the 6K b/c the 6K have a blueish tint to them and it won't be clear white like the 5K, unless you want the blue tint then you can do that one, I personally wanted the white clear type!
Keep in mind they are going to be a little bit brighter than the DIM LED crap BMW, Lexus, and MB are putting in OEM but I personally think it makes it stand out better, plus it gives you a little more light back there when backing up at night and if you have the tech pack with rear camera, should help give a little bit more illumination!
I just have one more question and I will be done-
If I was to swap out the DRL and the Fog Lights, which ones should I order from this site?
Thank you.
PS- I do have the Tech Package.
But if you still want to do that, you need to check the bulb number in the owners manual and then use that to look up on vleds what bulb is right for you. I'd just be a little careful with putting LEDs in the foglights and/or DRLs b/c I know they are much more sensitive to heat and things like that and you don't want to go burning out or meltings the housing!
Would consider a TSX, but the foot space for entering the back seat (between the bottom of the rear door and the bottom of the rear seat cushion) is unusually tight. I think it's a design flaw. Has anyone else noticed this?
The rear seat of a mid size car should provide easy access, but the one in the TSX isn't designed for average size adults, much less taller ones.
Acura needs to get its mojo back. Its sedans used to be innovative, fun-to-drive, and excellent values. The new ones are unremarkable, as reflected in the absence of new messages in the "Where Is Honda Taking Acura" site. It seems to me that fewer people will cross-shop Acura sedans if things don't change. Look what happened to the Maxima, a once hot car.
I don't think expanding the hybrid line will do the trick, because while hybrids are interesting, they're unexciting, and for most drivers they don't make economic sense.
All you have to do is go to any car show and see all the Future Car prototypes. Think what an Acura needs to look like to be considered Modern in 2015, or 2020. What you are saying is that as long as it looks like a 2nd or 3rd generation TL it will be Cool Looking.
If the 2010 TL looked like a 2008 TL, I would have never purchased the car, as the 2008 looks like a very outdated style in comparison to most new cars today. Even BUICK has modernized its style and that is what Acura is trying to do.. I never understand people who talk about the TL is to big?? OK, get a TSX, to big, go get a Mini Cooper. I find the TL the right size where the Ford Torus was way to big mostly due to viability problems and the high rear trunk lid, plus it is still a Torus.
Acura is looking for its next generation customers. Many will be older TL owners upgrading and getting a fresh new look and lots of new SH-AWD features. Some will come over from other car companies for the great value Acura has to offer in its line of cars.
Acura Sales continue to be Strong. Yes incentives help as with all car companies, but they continue to make around 8,000 TL each year in Ohio, that is not bad for a $43K car.
I am still looking for someone to say they don't like my TL. I work along with 3,000 other people and a lot of folks walk past my car every day in the parking lot. I have taken about 13 folks for a ride, lifted up the hood about 25 times. WOW is not an uncommon word from these people.
I feel like my TL will hold its WOW factor for at least 5 to 8 years in the area of style as the 2008 TL will fade out fast due to an outdated style. Several people at work had older TL's and I remember 3 or 4 years ago just walking past the TL as my eyes focused in on the new BMW and G35 to name a few.
Now the eyes are on Mt TL, not those OTHER CARS in the parking lot! This is My Story and I am sticking to it!
To my eyes, I think the Audi A4 and A6 and the Mercedes C and E Class are the style leaders in their respective market segments. That said, Acura has these models beat in terms of reliability and cost of ownership. I guess you can't have everything.
I agree with your comments about GM, but Chevy, Buick and Cadillac seem to have finally learned - finally! - from their past mistakes, and are moving in the right direction. The same can be said for Ford. As for Chrysler, it's too early to tell.