Older Acura TLs

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Comments

  • pmf13pmf13 Member Posts: 68
    Do you know if the auto transmission "learns" your driving pattern once and locks it in or does it continuously adapt? The reason I ask is that during the break-in period I've been driving the car quite gently and consequently the car has been shifting what I would consider to be early. Now that I've passed the 1000 km mark I can start pushing a little more. Will the tranny continue to adapt and alter the shift points for me? Also, I've been moving the shifter into manual mode and downshifting manually into turns. Does this frustrate the "learning" process?

    I've looked through the "Benefits" section of the acura.ca web page, which is where the most comprehensive description of the TLs technology is, and can't find any reference to this "learning" feature in the AT. Please let me know where you've found this information. I'd like to have a read up on it for myself. Thanks.
  • kahunahkahunah Member Posts: 448
    pmf13 -- Don't worry about the break-in period. The auto transmission continuously "learns" your driving pattern. There's no point in programming a computer to stop learning because in all likelihood, the car will change hands and it wouldn't do for a new driver to be stuck with the previous driver's programming. I have the 6-speed manual so it wasn't an issue for me but I did extend my break-in period to 1000 miles.

    habitat1 -- You've absolutely right. Better to shift later than too soon - less strain on the engine. Acura's and Honda's are built for this. It's very rare that I shift below 3000 RPM.
  • paulg54paulg54 Member Posts: 60
    I wish to replace the OEM speakers in my '04 TL. The stereo sounds good now. I can only imagine what it would sound like with aftermarket speakers. Crutchfield has yet to find out any information about the new TL, so they were no help. I know all the sizes but aren't sure what to use for replacements. Any help out there?

    Thanks
  • mdhaukemdhauke Member Posts: 202
    A few have also asked on these boards about upgrading the stereos. Nobody here seems to know how to do it without destroying the 5.1 balance the speakers have. I would love to increase the 8" sub to a 12 and get some more volume in the car. Let me know if you find out anything.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    Am I the only one that sees the irony of having this built-into the car?

    For a one-time hardware fee and one subscription fee, I could have it anywhere I want. Instead, I have to buy more hardware and pay two subscription fees (~$15-16/month) for the convenience of having steering wheel controls - that are mostly illogical for the XM application anyway - and no loose cables.

    I'd think that XM would be willing to provide the same level/availability of service as that provided to those with the portable units, or consider licensing the service for a reduced fee, say $2 compared to another $7.

    I'll vote with my wallet. Just curious if anyone else noticed this?
  • paulg54paulg54 Member Posts: 60
    Yeah, I guess I don't understand since speakers are the weak point in any factory system. I think it would be pretty amazing to listen to with aftermarket speakers, yet I'm not willing to try different speakers without some professional help or someone who has the experience of speakers that worked in their car.

    A dealer here told me first to check the ohms on the OEM's to see if they are compatible with aftermarket speakers. I haven't taken the old speakers out yet. Every car I replaced speakers in always sounded much better even with the stock head unit.
  • burryburry Member Posts: 37
    Has anyone heard any rumors, facts or worthwhile gossip concerning the 2005 TL ? Just curious if there will be any subtle changes. Thanks !!
  • nowakj66nowakj66 Member Posts: 709
    I wonder if the TL will ever get the super-performance AWD just hinted at for the 2005 RL?
  • buyer777buyer777 Member Posts: 70
    What was your experience this winter with the 2004 TL?
  • kahunahkahunah Member Posts: 448
    My TL originally came with summer tires, so I put on dedicated performance winter tires. The car performed beautifully in all weather conditions, including heavy snow. No need to spend extra thousands on AWD.
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    You may be right, BUT, if they offered an AWD TL at a price premium of, say, $2500, I would be the first in line for one.
  • pmf13pmf13 Member Posts: 68
    AWD just helps you get further into the ditch. Careful driving and good tires are what winter driving is all about.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    The TL already weighs in at 3,450+ lbs which is pretty heavy in my book. I would not want AWD unless they beefed up the engine - torque in particular - to go along with the AWD, which would likely add another 250 +/- lbs. The Audi quatros (A4 & A6) are pretty sluggish and still aren't going to perform like an SUV in heavy snow.

    I've pretty much decided on getting the TL. Will be deciding between a Red/Ebony w/ HPT available at the dealer now, Anthracite/Ebony w/o HPT available in late April (on order), or Anthracite/Ebony w/ HPT in mid May (to be ordered). Comments or suggestions??
  • mdhaukemdhauke Member Posts: 202
    I have Anthracite/Ebony and it looks absolutely stunning. I get comments all the time. I think it looks a lot better then the red TL and also easier to take care of. It's not too light and not too dark so it hides dirt really well.
  • bobcatmanbobcatman Member Posts: 51
    The Anth./Ebony combo looks real good. My friend has the same package with aluminum trim on the interior, very sharp! So what exactly is included in the HPT package? My friend has 18's and the Brembo package which IMO is like riding on rubber bands and he knows tire life will be an issue. I understand that the red is kinda hard to get from my local dealer.
  • jpiatchekjpiatchek Member Posts: 177
    The HPT option includes only summer tires-Bridgestone Potenza RE030's instead of the horrible Turanza EL42's. Well worth the extra $200. New, both tires cost about the same, which leads me to believe Acura must be getting a heck of a deal from Bridgestone on the rotten EL42's. Check out the reviews for the Turanza's at the Tire Rack site.
  • pg48477pg48477 Member Posts: 309
    Even if they will make AWD it wont come with 6MT, and this is big down side for me.
  • carguy58carguy58 Member Posts: 2,303
    The TL sold 7,310 units in march. Thats pretty good. As a matter fact it broke the old TL march sales record set in 2001.
  • igibanigiban Member Posts: 530
    can't be too common for it to sell 7K+ unit in a month, unless many are fooled by its look.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Thanks for the comments. I agree that the anthracite/ebony is a great looking combo. Now, do I wait for an HPT one (mid-May) or go with a non-HPT one in late April and replace the tires myself, once the originals wear out??

    My local tire shop forewarned that the HPT Potenzas RE030 will provide a rougher ride and only last 20-25k miles, even with regular rotation (i.e. not much longer than the 17k miles I got out of the S02 Pole Position tires on my Honda S2000, which can't be rotated). They acknowledged that handling will be improved with the Potenzas relative to cornering, but indicated that highway road noise will be noticably higher. They also recommended that I also get a set of winter tires, unless I intend to "park" the TL the way I do the S2000 in the slightest of snows. That's not an option for my primary sedan.

    Are other HPT package buyers out there planning on getting winter tires / wheels?
  • kahunahkahunah Member Posts: 448
    I have the '04 Silver/Ebony 6-Speed TL with Brembos and HP summer tires. Got the car in November, so I put Dunlop Winter Sport M2s on for the snow season (awesome tires). The Potenza RE030 summer tires aren't bad but not great (much better than the EL42s, for sure). When they wear out (and it won't take long) I'll probably replace them with Falken Azenis ST-115s or Potenza RE750s, unless something better comes out by then.

    As for the wheels, when I bought the car I negotiated the option to buy a second set of OEM rims at dealer cost, plus 5%. I'll be getting them, and putting the RE030s back on, in a couple of weeks.
  • nowakj66nowakj66 Member Posts: 709
    Personally, I think the camel interior is very appealing. In the anthracite or blue exterior. Red is a nice color too but the particular shade is a little to old for me.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    [problems] can't be too common for it to sell 7K+ unit in a month, unless many are fooled by its look.

    The number of problems reported by consumers for a product has nothing to do with the actual number of units sold. n-o-t-h-i-n-g, zero! Nadda, Zilch, and so forthly well less than one....

    On the other hand, having the TL pictured on the cover of CR in March....

    See also, supply and demand curves.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Thanks for the insights. How much are a second set of OEM rims??
  • kahunahkahunah Member Posts: 448
    Regular price was CDN$400 ea. I paid CND$300 ea. (about US$220 ea.)
  • igibanigiban Member Posts: 530
    So Acura may never have to fix anything then, now that CR has it on top? Don't you think if you were a potential TL buyer and you came here to see all these problems reported, you'd be concerned a bit (say more than Nadda..), despite what you read on CR?
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    Igiban, I've read both your posts.

    In one of them, you imply that the rising number of units sold indicates that the problems reported here must not be significantly affecting demand - people keep buying the car despite them.

    In the latest response, you're saying that the problems reported here should drive down the number of units sold unless everyone accepts CR as infallible truth.

    I'm lost on what your position is. You have said that the problems reported do and do not affect demand. It can't be both.

    All I am saying (and I could care less what CR says overall, I don't read it) is that currently demand is outstripping supply, and that demand is being created (through CR, MT, Forbes etc.) while production capacity is not being added. Furthermore, I'd hypothesize that 30-50% of the CR membership don't even have Internet access.

    So, any one person that actually comes here and has their perception changed on the value of the TL based upon number of problems reported here is unlikely imho, and will be replaced by market demand creation activity. Furthermore, Acura has set the price of the car well below the demand curve as far as I can tell, and limited production (a classic Honda move) to create a flat supply curve.

    Now, what I would expect to see is a modification to the navi and no-navi trims for 2005 so that the price point differential is greater. I think what is happening is that some of the Navi buyers are those that have decided to make the stretch rather than purchase the no-navi vehicle. In other words, Navi is consuming demand for the no-navi. Or, I could see Acura eliminate the no-navi model altogether.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 267,518
    I haven't researched in the TL tire size, but if you are getting winter tires, I would suggest looking at Goodyear.

    I have an '03 325i with the sport package. I put on Goodyear Eagle Ultra-Grip GW-3 for the winter. In my size, 225/45-17, they were the only V-rated, non-run-flat tire available. All of the other winter tires were H-rated or lower. More importantly, the performance was unreal. Cornering on snow and ice was better than any 4-wheel-drive I've ever had, and traction was also much better than front-wheel-drive with all-seasons.

    If you want to check them out, go to Goodyear's website, as Tirerack doesn't carry them. Even my local Goodyear store didn't have them, but my independent tire dealer got them from the local distributor.

    I'm not a big fan of Goodyear, generally, and this is the first set I've had since some original equipment tires in '77, but I would recommend these unconditionally.

    regards,
    kyfdx

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  • igibanigiban Member Posts: 530
    Not sure why you got lost. The logic is very simple. If the problems reported here are very common, that most TL drivers got (you don't have to be here reading the problems to get it; if you have it you have it), then sooner or later it will hurt the demand. It may take a while but it'd be more than nadda/zero... you referred to. My point was that perhaps the reported problems here are not felt by most of TL owners, judging by the posted sales #.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    Using that same logic, BMW would have to give away X5's. I think they had 12 recalls in as many months on some units. And yet, they are everywhere - and people pay for them.

    The 99 Odyssey had severe transmission problems, and yet for 3 years, you had to wait in line months to buy one.

    In addition, the initial problems reported by owners are not in aggregate, as far as I can tell, severe. Rattles, rust, paint chips, even the tire problems...none of these issues keep the car from completing its mission on a daily basis of getting the driver from point A to point B and ultimately back to point A again.

    Value is a very subjective calculation, and connecting it directly to total units sold is not logical.
  • ghostghost Member Posts: 1
    Just bought a TL. Anthracite/ebony.
    want to wax it but have heard different info on how long I should wait before waxing a new car. anywhere from 2 weeks to a year. and everything in between. Does anyone know for a fact how long I have to wait? thought the paint/finish was already cured from the factory. Thanks
  • igibanigiban Member Posts: 530
    So what you are saying is that TL will sell just as well, with or without these problems reported. That having these non-severe defects is not a problem for sellling a tons. Well that can be true if some or all oif these are also true:
    1. Most buyers don't know these problems until they buy it.
    2. TL's merits otherwise shadow these reported 'minor' defects that despite knowing it buyers think TL's still a good buy.
    3. Other cars are no better anyway.
    4. These reported problems are not common (my original point).

    For me though, if I test drive a TL and find all these problems reported on it, I'd not buy it for sure, despite many other good stuff on it. Personally I'd not buy any new car that's rattles. It's just not a good reflection of sound build quality.
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    Try a search in the Aftermarket and Accessories board or do a search on wax or polish at the main Town Hall page.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    There is a keyword search available on the left side of this page that should be very helpful ...
  • pmf13pmf13 Member Posts: 68
    Does anyone use a Sony/Ericson T68i with their TL? If so, I'd appreciate an appraisal of the phone and how well it works with the car.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    hoya / igiban: What are all the "reported problems" that supposedly affest the TL? I haven't been following this forum until relatively recently and haven't heard of any significant issues with the 2004 redesign. I know about the previous TL's auto transmission problems, but the 2004 redesign should have taken care of that - especially for me, since I'm going with the 6-speed. Please enlighten me of any other issues.

    ghost,

    I was told I could wax my Honda S2000 immediately by the factory representative. He drives a NSX, so I tend to trust him. He also confirmed that Maguires Professional #26 was one of the best waxes he would recommend for clear coat finishes. There are some more exotic multi-step waxes, but Maguires is my choice for quality and ease of use.
  • kahunahkahunah Member Posts: 448
    Honda/Acura manual trannies are among the best in the business.
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    Some of the items include:

    B-stone Turanza EL42 tires on the 5AT before March 04 tend to flat spot (cause vibration at 50mph) in colder weather. (Acura is replacing tires for claimants.)

    Lost driver memory settings (memory unit replacements have begun for affected vehicles)

    Paint flaws

    HFL... needs an upgrade - Phone sometimes does not sync up properly

    Interior rattles, squeaks, and falling headliners

    Rust on front fenders below headlights and on chrome exhaust tips

    Aesthetics so far, except for the tires.
  • kahunahkahunah Member Posts: 448
    "falling headliners...Rust on front fenders below headlights and on chrome exhaust tips"

    Boy, that's news to me. Glad I don't have any of these issues.
  • armandarmand Member Posts: 178
    When it fails to link up how do you know if its the phone or the car?
  • pg48477pg48477 Member Posts: 309
    what do you mean by pait flaws, how bad is it?
  • hoyahenryhoyahenry Member Posts: 399
    On the HFL, does it matter if it's the car or the phone? I don't think it does. The car is the one that tells me that the selection I'm listening to is "Phone" and to fix that I need to activate the HFL and then hang up.

    I waxed the car last week and had paint chip (1/8 inch diameter) on the driver's door while applying the wax (without pressure).

    I have 1600 miles and despite the below freezing temps last night and not driving the car over the weekend, I really did not have any flatspot vibration today. I hate the tires, but they seem to be wearing in.
  • dshahsdshahs Member Posts: 35
    I went to my dealer to complain about the crappy tires, thinking that my tires were new since it has "tu2" and date code "1004" but the service manager tells me that the tires are not the reformulated ones and that they would have to order them after they test drive and determine that its infact the tires(hmmmm i wonder what else could it be) Has anyone experienced this? I thought the new tires were already on? what am i missing?(other than a brain maybe :))
  • armandarmand Member Posts: 178
    If its the phone that's causing the HFL problem I can get another phone: if its the car I can't get another car.
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    I've never heard of rust problems on front fender and exhaust tip.
  • jfgobravesjfgobraves Member Posts: 15
    I just put a deposit down on a 2004 Acura TL that has a build date of April 8 any ideas on when it should arrive? Dealer says anywhere between a week to three weeks.
  • 1violinist1violinist Member Posts: 338
    Congratulations! Delivery time varies depending on where you are, but 2 weeks is an average. What color combo?
  • jfgobravesjfgobraves Member Posts: 15
    Im getting the abyss blue pearl with camel interior. Two weeks will not come soon enough.
  • nowakj66nowakj66 Member Posts: 709
    A very sharp color combo - just like the one Consume Reports purchased. I do wish the Artic Blue Pearl from the tsx was available as well. Lighter blues can be easier to keep clean.

    Love the camel leather. Enjoy a sharp car!
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    That's the combo I ordered. Should be here by the end of the month. It BETTER be here by end of the month!
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