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Acura TL Paint and Exterior Care

85 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:31 PM

You are in the Acura TL Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Exterior, Sedan

Messages Page 5 of 10

#34 of 85 Re: paint shade differences on bumpers vs rest of car [rone3] by mdbmw

Jul 26, 2007 (2:37 pm)

Replying to: rone3 (Jul 22, 2007 6:46 am)
I purchased a 2005 Acura TL, White Diamond in October 2005. I saw one in the bright sunshine at Crown Acura in Clearwater, FL. I test drove a silver one. 2 days later I decided to purchase. I drove it home and pulled into my garage. I got out to admire my new car and I was shocked. It was awful. My beautiful new white car has yellow bumpers! This is not exceptable on a $36,000 car! I phoned the dealer and they said that is just the way the paint looks on the plastic compared to the metal panels. I owned 3 Hondas and a 1997 Acura CL, White. None of those cars had this problem. I had thought about having them painted, but what if they still cannot match. This is a brand new car. Acura did not have a solution for me. I felt like I got taken! My sales guy neglected to tell me this about the white. I see that the Silver doesn't match either. I think Black is the only color that matches. White is the worst! I traded a BMW 325 for the TL. That was a mistake. I kept the TL until January 2007 and traded it in for a BMW Z4. Which I love. Lost 10 grand. I am very disappointed in Honda. I was a loyal fan, but I will never order another Honda product again. Lexus would not put out a product like this. Not acceptable. I figured when they updated the TL for 2007 they would have corrected this problem. I see it still exists. I wish I could help you, but I choose to live with it and then trade it in. I guess the car was just not for me. Turning radius is terrible as well. Good Luck getting this resolved.

#35 of 85 Re: paint shade differences on bumperchis vs rest of car [mdbmw] by rone3

Jul 31, 2007 (3:00 pm)

Replying to: mdbmw (Jul 26, 2007 2:37 pm)
Thanks for your comments. Took the opportunity to consult with my cousin, who has an automotive body shop and has been painting cars, studying emerging paint technology, and using a plethora of paint, primer, paint related etc., products over the past 45 years or so. His take was that the color was a good match - won't bore you with his detailed treatise on spray gun pressure/application technique, robot vs human spraying, spraying bumpers/mirrors/ground effects off the car at the factory, plastic vs metal, metallic flakes suspeneded in the paint that may be standing vertically or laying horizontally, angle of view when looking at the various parts of the car, light refraction, ad infinitum, ad nauseum!
    Nothwithstanding the above, called Acura Corporate and complained, who gave me a case number and advised me to call the dealer. Called same and dealer general manner and zone manger reply was, "That's the product; there's nothing we can do." Based on my cousin's advice to leave well enough alone because the "fix", e.g., repainting may be even worse, that's what I'm doing about it - living with it.
     Having decided that, of course I couldn't help collecting a little anecdotal evidence. So on a shopping trip, wherein I made six separate stops at different stores, I checked cars in the parking lots - as well as observing cars stopped in traffic. Here's a list of makes that I noticed having the same problem: Honda, Toyota, Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, yes, Lexus, Volkswagen, BMW, Chrysler, Infiniti, and Ford.
      My cousin had told me that mismatching paint was an industry-wide problem. I guess that I had to find out for myself. In any case, light to medium colors are the worst, while the darker colors are less noticeable. I agree, apparently to skirt the problem, everyone should buy a black car! I do find minimal comfort that I'm in the same boat with millions of others, but nonetheless, there sits in our garage a White Pearl 2007 Acura TSX, and I defy you to find a difference in the bumper paint color vs the rest of the car. Go figure!

#36 of 85 Re: paint shade differences on bumperchis vs rest of car [rone3] by mdbmw

Aug 01, 2007 (10:14 am)

Replying to: rone3 (Jul 31, 2007 3:00 pm)
Looks like you have researched this.....I have noticed other car companies have the same issue, but not to the extreme as the white on the TL. The Cadillac CTS in white is way off as well. I guess I just expect better from a Honda product. Hope you are able to live with it. I wasn't.
Sounds like you got the same response from the dealer I got. They must have had so many complaints. I believe you made the right decision not to try and repaint. That was not an option I wanted to consider.

#37 of 85 Front grill 07 by nova

Aug 27, 2007 (2:22 am)

Any one having a problem with the front plastic gray grill. Just purchased a white TL and the gray grill looks like it has streaks in it like when you armoral something and miss some spots. Yes i noticed the white on the bumpers are not an exact match with the rest of the paint.

#38 of 85 Wash, Wax, and Keep Clean New TL 2007 by cpa3

Aug 31, 2007 (1:37 pm)

I just purchased my new TL with Navi and I am looking for some advice on the following:
Are new cars waxed at the dealers?
How soon do I need to wax the car?
What products/dressings do you recommend for keeping the tires looking great without causing lots of dirt and grime after a few days.?
Any suggestions for washing and waxing without going overboard? (I am looking for steps and product recommendations)
How about a cleaner for the dash? (not greasy)
Thanks

#39 of 85 Re: Wash, Wax, and Keep Clean New TL 2007 [cpa3] by laurasdada

Aug 31, 2007 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: cpa3 (Aug 31, 2007 1:37 pm)
Zainostore.com for information and great products! There are also threads here regarding your query. If you do a keyword search using "Zaino" a few threads will be presented.
 
I really should get some kind of royalty/referral fee from Sal...

#40 of 85 Wax first time - NEW TL by cpa3

Aug 31, 2007 (8:45 pm)

I just purchased a new TL. The finish is shure nice and smooth. When do I need to wax a new car for the first time. I have heard wait one year, wait six months, do it now. Do the dealers wax them or put something on it to make it feel so smooth?

#41 of 85 Re: Wax first time - NEW TL [cpa3] by nova

Sep 01, 2007 (3:20 am)

Replying to: cpa3 (Aug 31, 2007 8:45 pm)
I dont think dealers wax new cars unless you pay for some kind of paint protection package. I just bought an 07 TL white. It is far from smooth . I am going to use mothers clay bar system. Claqy and wax this weekend

#42 of 85 Full Nose Mask by gvb

Sep 10, 2007 (4:33 pm)

Just purchased a full nose mask for my TL to use only on long trips on the highway. The instructions repeatedly mention that the paint could be affected if not properly waxed or if any moisture at all gets underneath the mask. Knowing never to drive it in the rain, what about condensation in the evenings/mornings? Has anyone had any experiences with this?

#43 of 85 Full Nose Mask problems by acurahelper

Sep 11, 2007 (6:43 pm)

Hello gvb, don't leave the nose mask on for too long. You can cook your hood over time and the paint will look very bad.

Messages Page 5 of 10

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