Ask the Car People.SM


Older Acura TLs

9045 messages,  Last post on Jan 07, 2012 at 6:27 PM

You are in the Acura TL Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Sedan

Messages Page 252 of 905

#2511 of 9045 by merc1

Jul 14, 2003 (12:20 am)

I suspect the RL replacement was one of the few cars Honda actually had to muddle over as far as it's market position and specification. I'm sure they probably pondered whether doing another RL at all considering the current car's performance on the market compared to the E-Class, 5-Series, GS and A6. Honda's corporate culture won't let them justify the money, or lavish engineering needed to compete with cars like the E-Class or LS430. They're having to shake this small, 4-cylinder mentality to compete in other areas, so hopefully they'll see that there is some money to be made at the 40-60K level. Discouraging is that they've basically said that a V8 and RWD is out of the question. The current RL was a rare misstep for a usually right-on-the-money Honda. They were oh so wrong in even trying to say a V6 fwd car could compete with a a bunch of rwd V8 cars. I have never seen a company in which on of their cheaper cars (TL-S) shows up their flagship car so bad. This next TL and maybe RL are the last chance for Acura to get me interested in their cars again. Talk about one disappointment after another, thats all Acura has been, to me. It all started when the "Legend" left. Will all the time that has passed by since the current RL (1996) was introduced I expect something spectacular for 2005, dare I say a "segment buster".
 
M

#2512 of 9045 Acura: by carguy58

Jul 14, 2003 (9:24 am)

The Legend was one of the best looking cars of the 90's no doubt but that was like 1995 when it left. Its time to move on from that time. I think Acura just got caught by Lexus when the Legend left. Acura is doing good now but Acura better hope the 04TL does not dissapoint since its moving into the 30K+ price range. Honda did dissapoint me with the new Accord. They had a chance to blow everybody away with the new Accord. The styling is so vanilla I don't know what happened there.

#2513 of 9045 by varmint

Jul 14, 2003 (10:18 am)

My thoughts on the RL. And I think Merc1 is probably correct in saying that Honda may have considered scrapping the RL. Honda has had more profitable projects to work on in recent years.
 
Based on the reception of the 2004 TL concept and the similarities we are seeing with the spy photos, I expect the new TL will enjoy success similar to the '99-03 model. I don't know that it will bust the segment wide-open, however it should keep its place as a respected offering. The shift upwards in price may not make people happy, but that move is necessary to separate Acura products from Hondas.
 
On the Accord, I think they nailed it. The styling up front combines current trends (swept back head lights and the rakish character line along the profile) with new designs like the convex/concave treatment over the fenders, the crease-less hood, and tiny grill. I think most folks are distracted by the problems in the back and fail to notice just how unique the front and profile look. On the functional end, the new model is cleaner, more powerful, more comfortable, more fuel efficient, and it offers more options. There are things to quibble about. I won't argue there. I just think the vehicle as a whole is just as strong as the out-going models.

#2514 of 9045 varmint: by carguy58

Jul 14, 2003 (10:59 am)

Your right the back end does bother me. The side looks fine. I think the Accord Sedan the average age buyer is going up to much. The last time I looked the average age buyer for the Accord Sedan was 55. That has too be lowered down a little bit. Honda nailed the Accord styling to a tee in 1996 and in 1998. The 01 refresh was a step backwards and you know how I feel about the new one. 96-97 was the best looking Accord in my opinion most definately. The thing that dissapoints me the most is Honda released the TSX under the Acura emblem and it looks better than the Accord Sedan. Honda wants to charge 5-7K more than a 20,000 dollar Accord LX 4 cylinder auto model. That's just an awkward decision to do that.

#2515 of 9045 Accord Sedan styling by 2003tls

Jul 14, 2003 (3:40 pm)

The styling of the Accord Sedan is why I bought a TL. The rear end looks like a Saturn and the front is just odd. The 2004 Accord is such a better car in terms of everything else. Why did they screw up the styling? Luckily, it looks like the 2004 TL is following the styling cues of the TSX. If it looked like a bigger Accord - yikes!

#2516 of 9045 Can't wait. . . . by automophile

Jul 14, 2003 (6:17 pm)

for the new TL. My wife just brought home a new TSX, and if the new TL is the same but a little bigger, I am completely sold. The TSX is the best car she saw in 6 months of looking that could offer performance, luxury and reliability in a compact size. She was lusting after the BMW 325, but it is no longer interesting after driving the TSX with it's $10,000 cheaper price tag. She had 2 Integras in the past, the first, an '87, went 130K miles without a single repair. The new ones should hopefully be the same or better.
 
The TL spy pictures are interesting - but the cars are obviously a bit disguised. In addition, these could be "older" prototype bodies that they are using for mechanical testing. It will be interesting to see what the final car really looks like My current lease is up in December - just in time for a new TL! I'll keep checking here for more information from you well informed people!

#2517 of 9045 2004 TL by ash213

Jul 14, 2003 (6:32 pm)

I think 2004 TL is going to be a bit smaller than the current model, as it is going to be based on new Accord. I am trying to decide between 2003 v/s 2004 TL. Pricing of 2003 is hard to resist. Any thoughts.

#2518 of 9045 ash213 by bodble2

Jul 15, 2003 (12:02 am)

We're inside of 3 months of intro date of the '04. I would definitely wait.
 
BTW, someone posted earlier that he was told there would be 7 versions of the new TL. I wonder if we'd be so lucky that there would be an AWD wagon?!

#2519 of 9045 No reason to be smaller by s852

Jul 15, 2003 (9:38 am)

The current TL is also based on an Accord and the new Accord is not smaller.

#2520 of 9045 by varmint

Jul 15, 2003 (10:29 am)

As I understand it, Honda actually had three versions of the Accord platform. There was the smaller JDM Accord (now the TSX), and the US spec Accord, then there was the large Accord platform (current TL). The rumors suggest that the 2004 TL will be based on the middle one. The larger one (if it still exists) may be reserved for the RL.

Messages Page 252 of 905

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement