Hiya folks... just got an rx8 last week and have been enjoying it. I'm going to check out the Acura TL 2004 tonight and I was wondering if anyone else have seen one? I've been reading up about it and that voice and navigation control rocks! I like how it has bluetooth capability also.

One thing that i really thing that rx8 should have had is at least a memory seating, doesn't have to be from the key or remote just one on the seat.

i test drove one and was not impressed at a tag of 34K i felt it was not worth it. Look into an IS300 or Maxima instead. Handling wasnt that great, and interior was cheap.

The interior was cheap??? Are you sure you looked at a TL? :p

if its anything like the older model.. i thought the interior looks good.

Honda should have made it RWD!

Honda makes fantastic cars... if they made any Acuras RWD and beefed up their already excellent V6's just a little more, I think they'd sell like mad.

do they save that much money making cars fwd?

Originally posted by FamilyGuy
Honda makes fantastic cars... if they made any Acuras RWD and beefed up their already excellent V6's just a little more, I think they'd sell like mad.

I think it would really even out. RWD in places with bad winters will always shy people away from a car, but with RWD more enthusiasts would take interest. I think Acura and Honda do a great job making FWD cars that handle better than many RWD cars though.

I thought the interior was great on the TL and on the new Accords as well. Though I'm not the greatest judge, I don't nor will I buy a car for it's interior. If I had 35k to spend on a sedan right now I'd have a hard time deciding between the new TL, G35, New Legacy. A few short years ago if you wanted a decent sized sports sedan it was Maxima or bust in the 30k price range if you wanted something fast, there's a lot of great choices now. It's a good time to be a car enthusiast :)

Ike

Dont judge a car by its drivetrain. people think a car is fwd, they think its crap.
the new acura TL is one hell of a car, better then 530i, and Maxima. Check out the suspension and technology that car has... one nice car and it does 0-60 in 5.6 ... oh yeah

Never test drive one, but just by looking at the acura website, I think the new TL is a great car. Can be comparable to bmw 330/530!

I think the TL is a great car but a 530i is much better IMO. One thing that I don't understand is why don't japanese cars do the same things that Euro cars do with the their keys. I like how Euro cars integrate the alarm with their keys.... something that I miss from my previous car.

I know TL does this but I don't know why mazda didn't have it so that when you start driving or when you put your car in a gear that the doors automatically locks and when you remove your key it automatically unlock.

I have to disagree with the statement the TL interior is cheap. Pound for pound the TL equiped the way it is and the agressive pricing is hard to beat for a luxury car. Go price a BMW 5 series or any other comparably equiped lux car on the market and you will see. The acura also has the quality and will probably not have the first year model problems that the 8 has seen. The TL can not be compared to the 8 as they are totally different cars and market approach.

I test drove one and the handling is very good for a FWD and the power is there. Maybe even what is being advertized.

BlueTooth technology 5.1 surround sound, voice activated nav, two channel memory for seat and other adjustments, fly by wire throttle, 270 hp.
try to equip even a 3 series BMW at the 35 grand with nav sys, now way.

nuff said

sorry i should repharse the interior statment.. its pretty much like the accords.. i wanted a little more from the car. I did not drive a TL with dvd NAVI i drove the 5sp AT.. they didnt have 6MT in the lot

Originally posted by Shocka
sorry i should repharse the interior statment.. its pretty much like the accords.. i wanted a little more from the car. I did not drive a TL with dvd NAVI i drove the 5sp AT.. they didnt have 6MT in the lot


Ok, and the interior on the new Accord is rather nice.

I believe the 6MT are going to be limited (grrr) but they won't be out till mid-late November.

I have an appointement booked when it is available.

i had a bmw and acura and i have to say that it's not fair to compare. they are in different leagues. handling on the bmw is was more superior. for me it's not all the car, it's also the service. the bmw dealers seems to more knowledegable and i think much more interested in customer related treatment. like they would call each time you bring your car for maintenace and score them.

I notice that HP isn't everything for example, a coworker of mine got a CL before that had like 260hp or something and i had like a 328 with only 193hp and the bmw was faster than the acura.

I think TL is cool how they try to pack a bunch of luxury stuff in a low price, but with a cheap price tag there got to be something they are sacrificing.

i will hopefully get to test drive the TL 2004 tomorrow.

I always say, you get what you pay for... atleast i hope so heh.

Originally posted by rx-7~rx-8
Dont judge a car by its drivetrain. people think a car is fwd, they think its crap.
the new acura TL is one hell of a car, better then 530i, and Maxima. Check out the suspension and technology that car has... one nice car and it does 0-60 in 5.6 ... oh yeah

I have been shopping for a car for my wife, and we test drove the 2004 TL, G35, Maxima, and 530.

The TL had enough torque steer that my wife did not want it. I found it also somewhat bothersome.

The Maxima was very soft and felt like a large car. Lots of space and power, and very intrusive torque steer.

The G35 was nice inside and handled well.

The 530 was MUCH nicer to drive, with a compliant suspension that gave up very little handling. Not so sure about the trunk styling though.

Tomorrow we will be picking up a G35 sedan (automatic :( ), the 530 was just more money than we wanted to spend...

2004 ACURA TL TEST DRIVE REVIEW

INTERIOR
Beautiful to look at and touch (better than Audi A4/A6 or lower Lexii), superb leather, plenty of gadgets, well laid out stereo and AC controls, sufficient space (slightly less than G35S or older TL). The fake wood in the camel interior looks like the vavona wood in Audis (i.e. good). Camel is very nice, black interior has pseudo-carbon fiber plastic trim that isn't too good. Blue-lit dash looks better in photos than in real life - my RX-8 dash is still the best I've ever seen. I didn't listen to the stereo but it is NOT Bose (thank god) - the salesguy did not know what it was (Acura branded). Seats seemed fine to me, but the sliding armrest was too far back to be useful (I am 5' 9"). Memory seats also control mirrors and climate settings, and seats etc adjust when you open the car with your individual keyfobs (all cars should have this - even Chrysler does). Interior colour options are black, camel (tan), quartz (grey) and some other tan colour.

EXTERIOR
Better than the old model, but the slit along the sides is not pretty. Optional $200 Sport package on 6MT just upgrades tires to summer Bridgestones (no changes to size or to wheels or suspension). Later 18" wheels and a spoiler will be available. Colour options are limited and mostly darkish (black, dark blue, dark green, dark grey, dark red plus white and silver). Overall just average.

DRIVE
Sadly the 6MTs are not available until mid-Nov, so had to mess around with a 5AT. This car is SOOO quiet and boring, but very fast in a straight line. At the first corner under hard acceleration you realize that nobody should put 270hp through the front wheels - lots of torque steer and manic correction required. The manumatic is not as fast reacting as the G35, and drops gears by itself as you slow down - it also does the 1-2 change by itself, so not very controllable. Brakes felt soft but an 'emergency stop' slows you down pretty well.

COST
I was quoted $635pm on a 39 month/15k miles a year lease ($0 down) on a loaded car ($35k with NAV).

SUMMARY
Overall a fast but soulless carriage. Infinitely better than a Lexus ES300 in EVERY category, but anybody who prefers to drive rather than admire the beautiful interior and gadgets should buy a RWD vehicle in the same price range.

Thanks for the review! I'm leaving in a hour to go check out the TL for myself. Too bad they don't have 6MT yet.

I think the 6MT will really do wonders for this car - especially a super-smooth and light Honda shifter. If you are not aggressive on the curves then you will probably never notice the torque steer and might even forget which end was putting the power down - it is one of the best handling FWD cars I have driven.

just came back from a TL 2004 launch party. I think the interior looks great. the trunk space is awesome. i didn't get a chance to test drive it, cause i left early. it looks pretty good on the outside too, not fond of the side marker, but at least it's clear. i would definitely buy one of these if i wanted a sendan with great features but didn't want to spend a lot more for a bmw. but if i have extra cash i'd get the bmw for sure.

[i]
SUMMARY
Overall a fast but soulless carriage. Infinitely better than a Lexus ES300 in EVERY category, but anybody who prefers to drive rather than admire the beautiful interior and gadgets should buy a RWD vehicle in the same price range. [/B]

Please tell me which RWD car is out there with all the same features as the TL at the same price........I"m looking and have yet to find one.

maybe an infinity G35?

Originally posted by Shane
Please tell me which RWD car is out there with all the same features as the TL at the same price........I"m looking and have yet to find one.

Lose some features and you can have the G35, but dollar for dollar it's tough to compete with the TL. I've got a feeling Lexus will be playing catchup for a couple years. It's really a great package and if I had a family it would probably be my second car if I didn't have a need for an SUV. However, I think the new Legacy is going to make a lot of Japanese automakers scramble. The new B4 will most likely have about the same power, AWD, and the interior looks damn nice so far. I'm guessing it will come in a few grand under the Acura fully loaded and will possibly be more of a drivers car depending on what they do with the suspension. Not to mention the gains that will be available with simple mods should you be a family man that's really in a hurry :p

I'll probably never own a Honda or Acura but they have to be the best automaker out there. If I ever give in and get another FWD car again I'll be shocked if it's not from Acura or Honda. Part of me now wishes I had taken a more serious look at finding a Type R Teg for autox and daily driving fun. But I still have no regrets about my WRX purchase. If only Nissan could figure out that they have the best V6 in the auto industry and the Altima and Maxima are so close to being amazing cars, though I guess the G35 is what the Altima should have been all along. I really love the Altima but the driving dynamics are silly and the torque steer is inexcusable.

Ike

I havent looked at the g35 or the legacy. The G35 doesnt do any thing for me and have never been a subaru fan. I really want the 330ix but 42 grand is too much for that car IMO. I feel the FWD TL gives me a reliable year round car that can be tuned.

I think the TL is a great car for all practical purposes. Just can't take the corners all that well. You get a of features at a great price. I saw a white TL that someone was test driving and looked good. the problem i don't think that car would give me all that much fun on the road. i decided to get an rx8 and traded in my car that had which had some great luxury features cause for now i just want to have a car that gives me that nice rotary sound... fun fun... but maybe in a couple of years when its time to get a new car again, i might just get a TL :) who knows heh.

IMHO, anyone considering one of these cars should go take a look at, and test drive, of the Mazda 6S V6. I did, and bought the 6S for my wife.

Originally posted by meeh
maybe an infinity G35?

That's exactly what I picked up Friday. A G35 for my wife, and I have the RX-8 for myself. The TL did not handle well enough to please her, and certainly would not have been my choice for the same reason.

The 6S is a great car as well and certainly is the best car IMO in its price range and category. However the TL is a step above.

Ike

Originally posted by Shane
Please tell me which RWD car is out there with all the same features as the TL at the same price........I"m looking and have yet to find one. The G35 is the closest for $35k but misses the Bluetooth (I don't have a Bluetooth phone so who cares) and DVD-Audio (which I don't care for as I am an SACD and vinyl fan). BTW the FWD platform costs less to build than RWD, and manufacturing the TL in Ohio also saves money compared to building in Japan and shipping it here. Some might say those extra 'costs' are well worth it.

The point is that features alone do not make a car worth buying. Would you buy a TV by the 'number of features' or by how good the picture looks. Many of this forum lust after the Lotus Elise, and it's not for the 'features'.

Since you live in Houston and snow isn't abundant I figure a G35 would be the car. Maybe for me too. I'm not going to be dealing with the RWD platform in the snow. Did it with an LS400 last year wont be doing it again this year. I did take a look at the 325ix and 330ix I have to admit very nice handling cars. I can not justify the price to be paid. Call me cheap. Call me what you will.

acura makes great cars IMO
but I think the TL is a little flat or plain

As I understand it for those G35 Sedan fans, there is an AWD version available now or in the near future. Overall the choice between the TL and the G35 boils down to personal preference. I want to drive the manual TL before I decide but the RWD would edge out the FWD for the warmer climes. The rub comes in the price, a loaded TL is a good bit less than the G35:D

Originally posted by commentator
As I understand it for those G35 Sedan fans, there is an AWD version available now or in the near future. Overall the choice between the TL and the G35 boils down to personal preference. I want to drive the manual TL before I decide but the RWD would edge out the FWD for the warmer climes. The rub comes in the price, a loaded TL is a good bit less than the G35:D

The weight balance was also a factor for me. The G35 is 52/48, and the TL is 61/39. In the summer that makes the G much better, and with snow tires it will be fine in the winter.

Modern cars with RWD, snow tires, DSC, and traction control work quite well even in the snow.

Comparable G35 is still two G's more. Add snow tires and that's another grand.

I think G35 would be a car that I'd like cause if it's styling and road manners... while TL i'd get more for it's package as a whole where although it's not a car that'll push you back in your seat and take hard corners, it comes with a lot of luxury items for its price. I'm think g35 has or will have more problems than the TL. I think honda makes great cars.

Originally posted by Shane
Comparable G35 is still two G's more. Add snow tires and that's another grand. Not true - the G35 Sedan sells for invoice, and the TL is MSRP.

So I got my $36,055 G35 Sedan (fully loaded) for under $33k. I would have to pay $35k for the TL (loaded) for at least the next 6 months.

I even asked about a lease deal on the TL. A TL 6MT with NAV would cost $635per month, whereas a similar deal on the G35 Sedan (6MT, Premium, Aero, NAV) was over $100 per month cheaper.

And for snow conditions (I lived in NJ for 5 years wth an IS300) I think snow tires on RWD is better than summer/all-season tires on FWD.

However I wish the G35 had the interior of the TL - very impressive indeed.

I beg to differ, if you configure the G35 the same as a TL its two grand more at MSRP. What one would pay is a different story. I did not pay MSRP. I also believe resale will be higher on the TL.