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Dealer also told me the rim on the TL Type S model is different than the Type I L. The one on the TL is 1/4 inch less on the top part of the rim when you lay it down. It means less chance to hit the curb when you park too close. The reason for the change is the complain from the CL owner.
Because is a Honda, using the most cheap transmission solution(FWD-same as a Civic or Corolla). You never going to see a Benz, or a serious car manufacter making FWD! I like the car, I like the 5 sp. Auto, but when I drove a 5 series BMW(witch is not much more $, but offering the same, at different quality), I got the point. RWD, inside is a soumptos lux, outside design...you see it, is not a Acura!
TL design, in a year or two is going to look like "no name car". Look at any 89 BMW, an you will understeand.
Just go and drive a "real" car, not a substitute, an you will fell the difference. I will deffenetly going to buy a BMW, and, belive me, every penny is worthed!
But, 28K is great for a TL, today you have to pay the same for a Maxima!
I'm sure, manny TL lovers will hate me, but I read to much extraordinar stuff here about a "too normal" car as TL is.
If I lived in say AZ I'd probably agree RWD is great but in MN it's suicide.
Now how to break it to the BMW fan ( hell they're nice cars no argument ) about the massively higher cost of maintenance and repair and the loss in reliability. Solved by leasing I guess.
So yes if I leased and lived in the sunbelt I'd probably be right there with him. Since I only ever buy cars and live in the frozen north I'll go for FWD or even better, as I did, the quattro.
Is no dubt, FWD much better on slick road, snow and other stuff. Quattro better.
Regard "massively higher cost of maintenance and repair and the loss in reliability" of a 5 series BMW, let me desagree with you. No offence, TL is good car, but can not compare it with BMW.
On 5 series, the average money going out from owner pocket in 50.000miles(except gas and other possible problems, covered by manufact. warranty), is around $599.00, wicth is hard to beat, let's be honest. (Mercedes E class cost more than double, Jaguar almost four times more)
And, compare with TL, let's not forget, is a real lux. sedan. And sporty! And good-looking. And roomy. And BMW! And not more expensive.
A friend of mine had a stick-shift old BMW, and it past 230.000miles. It still runs perfect, is cozy still inside, fell fun to drive. And it has over 13 years!
Reliability on 5 series BMW? Better is, may be, Mercedes,... and that's all. Tell me I'm wrong!
Do you know how much it's selling a 97 528 auto, with 30.000miles here? $35.000. SELLING, not asking!! And, belive me, they are buyng.
May be the sunny wether here, and the prices are higher, and in your area is lower, I don't know that. May be.
I just want to talk and change impresions with you, guys, no offence for any TL fun.
What turned me off on the TL was some of the sloppiness of the design. For example, the new TL should have head airbags and an option for rear side air bags - they talk about the safety cage, but heck, every modern car has a safety cage plus the two front airbags. When the TL came out in the '98 or '99, the car only came with two front airbags and a 4-speed auto. What it should have done to stand out among the crowd was to offer the side airbags and a 5-speed auto. There are numerous other things like the overall workmanship of the car. It's better than most cars but it seems like the Germans and Lexus make a better car.
If you can't afford a BMW, Audi, or a MB, buy a VW Passat. It's a better value than the TL.
Run circles around the Passat? Probably not when the Passat has the option of 4-motion (4WD) and Acura TL does not.
Do I own a VW Passat? No! I'm a proud owner of a '99 BMW 323i and I've driven the TL and I know that the Bimmer handles, steers, and brakes better than the TL. However, you can't beat the price / value of the TL. For $28-30K, the base TL is one hell of a car. I was a former Acura owner but was turned off by its lackluster designs, safety equipment, and general overall staleness. Past couple of years have been better and I look forward to seeing the V8 powered Legend or in the US, the RL.
2) i was reading about the new jaguar xtype and found out that it will share some small % of parts with some ford car. what is other peoples experiance with jaguar cars since ford baught them?
thanks
(nice solid and fast but over $40K, BMW 325 (small back seat, low power, 330 well over $40K), Audi and Infinity I30 (both around $40K and neither had performance comparible to TL). BMW may have a very slight advantage in handling and braking but lack of power cancels it out. I have a 280HP supercharged 1995 5sp Maxima which my wife drives so we have a good feel for performance and the TL best fits her wishes. All of the above prices assume comparablly equiped cars to the TL with NAV for $33K.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Also, the 10yr/100,000 mile powertrain warranty is only applicable to the ORIGINAL OWNER. Once the car is sold, the 10yr/100K powertrain warranty is no more applicable. Also, if you read the fine print, you will find that quite a few of the powertrain components that can fail, ARE NOT COVERED (exclusions from the warranty).
My ideal car (given limited monetary resources) would be the TL-s fitted out with the VTM-4 AWD system adopted from the MDX, and having a limited-slip differential, in wagon form (with the Navigation system). An AWD TL-s Sportwagon, would definitely have a good market.....especially if priced at around 35K.
Later...AH
svec7186,
Same platform, both built in Ohio. One has more power and more luxurious amenities. But YES they are basically the same. IMHO.
If you going to drive any 2001 5 series, you will feel what I'm sayng. Is no comparasion...
Once again, TL is a great car, for the price, power, options.
A better comparison would be the TL against the I30 or I30T. They're both luxurious and compete in the near-luxury entry level sports sedans. Hands down winner would be the TL. The I30 is essentially a fancier Maxima with a softer suspension and 5 more horsepower, which you won't feel anyway. The BIG drawback is the I30's rear axle-beam suspension. Nissan went cheap to save a couple of pennies. They bill the Maxima and the I30 as sports cars but give me the TL with the multi-link suspension and it will drive circles around the I30, not sure about the Maxima SE though.
To lfuron: Does your Stillen have the independent or beam-axle suspension?
Basically, the way the statement ought to be worded is:
"RWD BMW 325/330/530 handles better than the Acura TL in bone dry weather, while the TL/TL-s outhandles the BMW cars in anything other than bone-dry conditions"...the exceptions would be the All-wheel-drive BMWs.....anyone who has driven a rear-wheel-drive car in the snow or rain or slippery conditions, I am sure would agree about the cars being extremely squirelly and un-predictable in less-than-perfect weather...even with the presence of crutches like Stability Control systems like DSC, VSC, VSA or whatever, that covers up the shortcomings of the RWD car....
Later....AH
The service manager at the Acura shop claims this sound is normal. However I can't help think there is something wrong here.
Have any other '00, '01, or '02 owners experienced this?
What will the marketing people do when the RL becomes RWD in its next generation? Look at all the luxury makes - Lexus, Infiniti, Benz, Audi (with Quattro), and BMW. Their top performing cars have RWD and they all tout the safety, road handling, and performance of RWD. Acura and Caddy are joining in the fray in converting their top of the line cars to RWD because of all the current tech like VSA, DSC, and ESP make handling in inclement weather possible.
Of course, it don't matter if your car is AWD, FWD, or RWD - using 4 snow tires is better than any of the three drivetrains.
I've also noticed that the brakes are quite up to what I'd expect from a vehcile with this kind of power. The chassis has room for improvement too. Any of you guys notice this on your 2001 or earlier TL?
Like to hear your views.
Sorry if this has been answered already, but has anyone ever received a DVD update for the nav system? I've only had my '00 TL for 6 months, but I somehow doubt I'll just magically receive free updates every now and again. The database is very thorough, but is only current through about 1997-8.
Anyone know how that's supposed to work?
As a note, I think the nav system is just great, despite many peoples' dismissal. I travel a lot for my job and I use it all the time, with great success.
I would actually prefer the Acura if it came with a 5 speed and a folding rear seat. I just can not seem to get myself to purchase an automatic. The tip or manual/automatic action just leaves me cold. Its personal preference. I am making my choice and ordering this week.
By the way the Acura brochure beats the Passat brochure hands down. :-)
Dave
Updates cost about $150 and consist of a new DVD that replaces the current disk that is now in the navigation system (in the trunk). Replacement is easy, turn on ignition, open door on Nav system, remove DVD disc and replace with new disc, turn off ignition and then turn on ignition and new disc will be recognized.
Incidentally, the top of the line Acura - the aircraft aluminium alloy bodied, mid-engined, HAND-BUILT NSX ($88,000)is a Rear-wheel-drive vehicle....but please don't try to drive it in snow....
Take care...
Later...AH
Later...AH
0-60----6.28 Secs
Qtr Mile----14.72 at 97.6mph
Braking 60-0---- 127feet
Later...AH
All the much more expensive cars in the comparison test, were equipped with manual transmissions to keep up with the TL-s, which was equipped with its standard automatic. Only the Mercedes C320 (which was slower than the TL-s/TL) was equipped with an apples-to-apples automatic.
The main difference between the TL/TL-s however, is the handling improvements in the TL-s...not speed alone
Later...AH
Many sides to the endless debate! Later
what u think is a good price??
5 weeks ago my wife backed my 2001 TL into a rock at the end of our driveway. She was not going fast, but the right wheel was caved and it look like only the lower suspension was broken, so I had it towed to the dealer rather than a body shop, since there was only a scratch on the bumper and I assumed they would do the work. WRONG! Apparently they farmed it out to a body shop who is doing his best to gouge the insurance company since the adjuster is going back for his FOURTH visit. Every week the car will be ready Friday, then Thursday they find another problem.
Since I took it to the dealer they should be the ones handling it, but they do not even return phone calls! They just gave me the body guy's number and told me to deal with it.
Maybe I'll use the dealer for routine maintainance again, but never anything out of the ordinary.
2021 Toyota Venza Limited Hybrid, 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.4 Hemi, 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT
One time I stopped by to see if I could test drive a TL.
The salesguy asked if I was interested in sitting down and talking about bying a TL. I sad "no, I just want to test drive it". Then he said "If you don't want to buy it, then I don't have time for this".
Since we have moved to our new platform, we no longer have the requirement to stop and restart discussions after the numbers of posts exceed a certain limit. Since this discussion can continue as long as anyone has anything to say about 3.2 TLs there is no longer a need for the "Part 5" that has been included in the discussion name. Down the road, that could confuse our newer members so I have removed it.
I've altered the name slightly of the original restyled 3.2 TL discussion in the Archives to differentiate it from this active one.
Please continue...
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
So what do you think would win the 0-60 STREET run without any fancy techniques?
BTW, both are great cars.