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2008 Acura TL

97 messages,  Last post on Sep 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM

You are in the Acura TL Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Sedan

Messages Page 5 of 10

#38 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [autoboy16] by habitat1

Jul 23, 2007 (5:54 am)

Replying to: autoboy16 (Jul 22, 2007 6:34 am)
"Can you tell me about the TL because these reviews online dont help much."
 
No matter whose reviews you read, there is nothing like getting your butt in the seat(s) of all of the cars you are considering and taking lenghty test drives of each.
 
FWIW, the TL 6-speed was my choice in 2004 because it offered the best balance of attributes - lots of amenities, high quality fit and finish, ability to carry my family of 4 comfortably and, with the 6-speed (including Brembo brakes & stiffer suspension), a sporty drive. Now for 2007/8 you need to go up to the TL-S to get a 6-speed. I would not be a TL (TL-S) buyer today. The extra $ to get the TL-S is not as good of a value, IMO. And I'm simply not a fan of automatic transmissions period, but especially Acura automatic transmissions.
 
As far as learning to drive a stick and using "congestion" as an excuse for an automatic - do what's right for you. But the DC area traffic is worse than Miami's and neither my wife nor I would own an automatic, given the choice of a manual (no choice in our MDX). Again, the 6-speed gearbox in my TL is one of its best features. I have never sat in even the worst of traffic wishing I had gotten a slushbox.
 
I can't really comment on the TSX, as I've only ever driven one briefly as a loaner and it was - you guessed it - a slushbox. Honda engines scream (literally and figuratively) for a manual transmission. One thing I would mention is that, back in 1994, on a tight budget, I debated between a Nissan Maxima SE w/ almost no options and a $3k less Altima GXE with more goodies. I went for the 6-cylinder Japan-built Maxima and it was one of the best car decisions I ever made. Still have it with 155k miles and it runs like new. I seriously doubt the US-built 4-cylinder Altima would have fared as well. My lesson from that experience is, buy the better car first and worry about options or amenities second.

#39 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [habitat1] by eg424

Jul 24, 2007 (1:43 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Jul 21, 2007 9:26 am)
I find it amusing and a little sad that you would belittle someone because they don't know how to drive a stick. One can live a very satifying life without having that ability.
 
Some of us, who are older, have that ability because, in our day, there were more sticks around to learn on. I am sure that is still the case in more rural areas.
 
I grew up in New York City then San Francisco and now in southern california. Believe me, driving a stick in those areas is no joy.
 
Like almost everything in life, the more abilities you have the easier life will be. But let's give autoboy a break.
 
Now, I'll admit,if autoboy planned to do any driving in Europe, he'd be in trouble.

#40 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [habitat1] by autoboy16

Jul 24, 2007 (10:54 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Jul 23, 2007 5:54 am)
The TL and TSX I was comparing were both black with nav. Both have great engines and both are great value for the money. I may get the TL, I may get the TSX, who knows. It'll be at least until 2009 before i make the jump.
 
Actually, That 280hp Passat Sport has my eye too.... And the Jetta TDI... Once, the tC, s40, and MDX did too but I moved on. To to cheap(materials not features), to dull(come on, 205hp Turbo I5), and to big respectively. I'm in no rush.
 
Who knows, I may keep my car longer and get a TL ot TSX when they get diesel engines. 52IMP mpg sounds good to me. But at 6'1, the idea of the MDX's space is entertaining.
 
I've sat in all the cars I mentioned and all were great. Only drove the tC. Regardless of what I choose, It'll be a step up from my accord. AND NO BASE FEATURELESS MODELS FOR ME!!
 
-Cj

#41 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [eg424] by habitat1

Jul 24, 2007 (12:33 pm)

Replying to: eg424 (Jul 24, 2007 1:43 am)
I find it amusing and a little sad that you would belittle someone because they don't know how to drive a stick. One can live a very satifying life without having that ability.... but let's give autoboy a break.
 
One can live a very satisfying life driving a Prius hybrid and never even thinking about a sports car, sports sedan or sporty coupe. And good for them and the environment. But I still find it "amusing and a little sad" that anyone looking for a little more vigor in their driving experience would NOT learn how to drive a stick.
 
As for giving autoboy a break, I hope he knows that I'm just egging him on to do something he might actually thank me for, before he buys that new car in 2009. If he was an "older" person like you or me, I'd have laid off a few posts ago, figuring it was a lost cause.
 
I grew up in New York City then San Francisco and now in southern california. Believe me, driving a stick in those areas is no joy.
 
I can "believe" that driving in extremely congested areas isn't a joy, period. But I personally don't find the difference between a manual or automatic transmssion to make such conditions any more or less frustrating. However, given the opportunity to go on a weekend getaway to Napa or Carmel, I'll take a 6-speed stick for the drive, thank you very much. I guess we are both lost causes. Or too old to change.

#42 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [habitat1] by taxesquire

Jul 24, 2007 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Jul 24, 2007 12:33 pm)
I just want to chime in that I also don't notice a big diff between the AT and MT in traffic conditions. To be specific, if traffic is going between 0 and 30 with quick stops, then the MT is a pain, but most of the time, the diff btn keeping my left foot on the clutch or my right on the brake is no big deal.
 
In fact, as long as we're moving - say bouncing between 3 mph & 15, I prefer the stick b/c you can control how quickly you "coast" by keeping the car in 1st or 2nd, but in an AT, you'd have to ride the brake.
 
It is true I have not experienced the "mean streets" of NYC, but I've driven in Central Jersey, that has heavy traffic, Miami, that has heavy traffic, and Boca Raton - and believe me, nothing's worse than a road loaded with drivers who are too old to be driving or on vacation and don't know where they're going!!!! Traffic gets real heavy there in the winter months. My current location - Tampa, FL, isn't so bad traffic-wise, but it has its moments.
 
My dad was a sport car nut - always had a Porsche or a vette or a ferrarri in the garage, but who wants to teach their son to drive stick on their brand new Porsche?!? Thank goodness my wife's parents believed in MTs, so she could teach me on her early '90s Mazda MX6 while we were dating. Changed my life (for the better)!!!

#43 of 97 2008 Acura TL by ilrndude

Aug 18, 2007 (10:14 am)

I noticed the 08 TL has a transmission of Japanese origin whereas the 07 TL has a transmission of American origin. Does anyone know why the switch for the 08s? (I am refering to TLs with AT.)
 
I'm considering buying an Acura TL for the first time.

#44 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [taxesquire] by 150mphclub

Aug 19, 2007 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: taxesquire (Jul 24, 2007 1:10 pm)
I can keep my automatic in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th as the circumstance warrants, and I don't have to feather the clutch to keep rolling smoothly in heavy slow traffic.

#45 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [150mphclub] by habitat1

Aug 20, 2007 (5:27 am)

Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 19, 2007 1:02 pm)
Feathering a clutch in traffic is a lot less stressful for me than it would be to have to experience a permanant bucket of slush in an automatic transmission. And getting a 2007 TL automatic loaner for 4 hours while my car was in for inspection and service last week reinforced that position. It is unfortunate, IMO, that the automatic transmission remains one of Acura's weak links (compared to say BMW). On the other hand, Honda's (S2000) and Acura's (TL) manual transmissions and gearboxes are highly commendable.
 
So, paddle shift away, but I'll take the occasional feathering any day. As would my wife if we could ever figure out a way to retrofit a 6-speed manual into our MDX.

#46 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [150mphclub] by taxesquire

Aug 22, 2007 (6:21 am)

Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 19, 2007 1:02 pm)
In circumstances where I have to feather the clutch, you'd have to feather the brake.
 
In the hopes of being able to get the last word in on this I just want to comment that the point of my post is not to argue about which is easier to drive, but just to say that MTs are not as troublesome in traffic as people like to think.

#47 of 97 Re: 2008 Acura Tl [taxesquire] by 150mphclub

Aug 23, 2007 (6:30 am)

Replying to: taxesquire (Aug 22, 2007 6:21 am)
I have driven manual and automatic in heavy traffic. In heavy, slow (city) traffic with a manual, I have to feather the clutch, throttle, and brake to keep from tapping the bumper in front of me.

Messages Page 5 of 10

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