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Acura TL 2009 +

2001 messages,  Last post on Oct 22, 2012 at 10:07 AM

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What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Sedan

Messages Page 105 of 201

#1040 of 2001 Re: Quick test drive: FWD 09 TL [graphicguy] - Break in [habitat1] [privatepilot83] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [habitat1] by traindriver

Oct 11, 2008 (11:46 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 11, 2008 6:30 am)
Don't count on it. My 2004 TL 6-speed returns 30+ mpg on the highway, but barely manages 15-16 mpg in the kind of short hop driving you are describing.
 
True, 15-16 is nothing to get excited about but when I scroll through the Jeep's information center, it consistently reports 11-12 mpg after a couple weeks worth of around town driving. 17-18 or so is what it reports on interstate trips at 75-80 mph. (I have no idea how accurate these onboard systems are though fwiw.)
 
The MB is a nice choice but the mid 40k range is getting a little ritzy for me. Can I make the payment on time - yes, but am I comfortable with it? probably not. I don't want to get used to a high end vehicle and later have to step back a notch if my budget tightens.
 
not that much more than a TL selling at MSRP.
 
It will be next August before I purchase. I don't expect it to be selling at MSRP at that point. Quite a few Acura owners/enthusiasts seem to be put off by the new styling; if this translates in to less sales I expect there will be deals to be had. I wasn't crazy about the 09 Maxima at first sight but it has grown on me greatly to where it is #1 or 2 on the list. We'll see what happens....

#1041 of 2001 Re: Quick test drive: FWD 09 TL [graphicguy] - Break in [habitat1] [privatepilot83] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [habitat1] [traindriver] by habitat1

Oct 11, 2008 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: traindriver (Oct 11, 2008 11:46 am)
I wasn't crazy about the 09 Maxima at first sight but it has grown on me greatly to where it is #1 or 2 on the list.
 
I respectfully suggest you test drive the new Maxima, if you haven't already done so. I did back in July when I had my 1995 Maxima in for service. Some people think a rubber band CVT is the best transmission in the world. I am of the camp that would like to send the inventor to Siberia. Granted, I am a manual transmission person, but the CVT is about as diametrically opposed to "sport" as Rosie O'Donnel is to Donald Trump. I'd take a TL, even an automatic version, in a hearbeat before the Maxima - and that's in spite of thinking that my 1995, with 155k miles ia arguably the best long term car I have ever owned.

#1042 of 2001 Re: AWD [mrsatisfaction] by traumeri

Oct 11, 2008 (7:19 pm)

Replying to: mrsatisfaction (Oct 09, 2008 1:46 pm)
The reviews on the gain in performance for the SH-AWD has been mixed. Some feel straight-line acceleration is not much improved due to extra weight. Some say the ride is too harsh and road noise too high (19" tires I presume). I have only driven the FWD TL Tech, can you comment on the difference in your opinion in terms of acceleration, ride, and noise isolation? Obviously handling will be improved in the SHAWD but I'm curious at what cost relative to the base TL.

#1043 of 2001 Re: Quick test drive: FWD 09 TL [graphicguy] - Break in [habitat1] [privatepilot83] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [habitat1] [traindriver] [habitat1] by traindriver

Oct 11, 2008 (10:48 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 11, 2008 12:04 pm)
I respectfully suggest you test drive the new Maxima, if you haven't already done so. I did back in July when I had my 1995 Maxima in for service. Some people think a rubber band CVT is the best transmission in the world. I am of the camp that would like to send the inventor to Siberia.
 
No, I have NOT driven either the Maxima or the TL. Since I will not be ready to buy until late next summer, there's not much point in wasting a salespersons time (or mine) at this point. I have never driven or ridden in a CVT car, so I can't comment on the plusses or minuses of the CVT. I like the max from what I see visually; whether I like the CVT or not will be the primary thing I will focus on when I actually have the opportunity to drive one. (the thought has already occurred to me that I might want to see if an Altima or Max with the cvt is available to rent so that I might be able to spend an extended time test driving one)
 
I know you are NOT a fan of the maxima from your posts in other places. The Max and the TL are what excites the wife at the current moment and, as this will be her car, I will submit to whatever strikes her fancy. She is looking at this as her car to "wear" and whether the max is a true "4DSC" is not even in her realm of thinking. A year is an eternity in the car world and what she is attracted to may change, once again, in the months between now and next summer depending not necessarily on common sense but whatever "flicks her Bic". Until then, I will lurk on "prices paid" forums, etc. so I will have a feel for what the market and consensus is on the models in question.
 
I've made the mistake of pushing her into a car that she wasn't gung-ho on before and have learned the hard way to let my preferences stay on the back burner. She has expressed interest from time to time on the Acadia, 5 series, TL, Maxima and the Accord to name a few. Clearly, that's a wide range of choices in function as well as msrp. Right now its between the TL and the Max. I, personally, would add to that the Genesis, Passat, 3 series, G35, M35, ES 300?, Avalon, G8, CTS and some others that I am forgetting at the moment --- but again, the wife has vetoed those choices for one reason or another. (women: )

#1044 of 2001 Re: Quick test drive: FWD 09 TL [graphicguy] - Break in [habitat1] [privatepilot83] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [habitat1] [traindriver] [habitat1] [traindriver] by laurasdada

Oct 12, 2008 (7:19 am)

Replying to: traindriver (Oct 11, 2008 10:48 pm)
Back in '02, the Evil Wife wanted a new car. Not just a new car, a Lexus RX300. Among others, I had her review the Toyota Highlander. She liked the Highlander. It was several $$$ less expensive than the RX. I told her that the High and the RX were essentially the same car. She smiled, agreed and noted it would be nice to save the $$$. And ultimately, of course, the High came in second in a field of one.
 
She continues to love her '02 RX and still does not want a new car (come 2011 or 2012, watch out, though...She's mumbling "Porsche" though to be honest if I bought an old Toyota MR2, slapped a Porsche badge on it she would never know the diff. In fact, she wouldn't know what a MR2 is either!). As I've oft posted, "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets" as well as "A happy wife equals a happy life!"

#1045 of 2001 Re: Quick test drive: FWD 09 TL [graphicguy] - Break in [habitat1] [privatepilot83] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [spiritinthesky] [traindriver] [habitat1] [traindriver] [habitat1] [traindriver] [laurasdada] by traindriver

Oct 12, 2008 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: laurasdada (Oct 12, 2008 7:19 am)
As I've oft posted, "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets" as well as "A happy wife equals a happy life!"
 
Ain't that the truth. That about sums it up.
 
Your Highlander-RX example is sort of what am thinking re: the Honda Accord. It is probably the best bang for the buck without a doubt and probably the "smartest" choice. After being stuck in a lease on something we have grown to dislike greatly, neither of us want to "settle" on something that is just "ok," and end up 18 months later trading again. Been there, done that too many times. I would like to get out of that cycle.

#1046 of 2001 Well.... by bodble2

Oct 12, 2008 (6:36 pm)

I finally got the chance to see the new TL up close and in person. If it looks better in the flesh v. in photos, the difference is inperceptable. In fact, IMO the interior looks less attractive then in the photos, although they only had the black interior at the dealer and I hate black interiors. Overall, my initial impressions were confirmed --- the car looks big & slab-sided, there is a lot of Camry/ES350 in the profile, and it has an Ellen Barkin nose (but unfortunately not her rear!). The prominent grill is acceptable if the body colour is a light colour, such as silver, but a dark body colour really accentuates the big schnoze. The standard 17" wheels/tires look puny, leaving way too much room in the wheelwell. They didn't have one with the 18" wheels so maybe that would make the car look much better. The only pleasant surprise is the MSRPs --- both the base and Tech FWD sticker for less than the '08, if I'm not mistaken. (Of course, the '08 has tons of cash incentives).
 
We saw all the '09s there including the Canada-only CSX, which now also has the corporate plenum grill. The MDX looks the best with that grill, and sadly, the TL looks the worst with it.

#1047 of 2001 new TL by strokeoluck2

Oct 12, 2008 (7:23 pm)

Saw the new pics. Upon seeing them I said to my wife of my '05 TL, "well, looks like I got the last good TL model". Also told her that the new one reminds me of Clark Griswolds' station wagon in "Family Vacation". I do have to give credit to Honda/Acura for being bold in their design, but dear Lord...this is God-awful-ugly! I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'm certain that they'll move some units. But upon seeing this new model, I feel even more strongly that my '05 has gorgeous lines. To this day, after washing the car and shining up the tires, I stand for an extra 5-10 seconds in the garage staring at my car. Slightly pathetic and childish I realize (I'm really not even materialistic), but it's one of my few indulgences. I'm trying to take good care of the car so I can hang on to it for a long time. After viewing the '09 pictures it looks like I'll be keeping my '05 for at least another 4-5 years, until they make another model change.

#1048 of 2001 Re: new TL [strokeoluck2] by bodble2

Oct 12, 2008 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: strokeoluck2 (Oct 12, 2008 7:23 pm)
"I stand for an extra 5-10 seconds..."
 
Only 5-10 seconds? Not at least 5-10 minutes?

#1049 of 2001 Re: new TL [strokeoluck2] by laurasdada

Oct 12, 2008 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: strokeoluck2 (Oct 12, 2008 7:23 pm)
Fear not, Lucky. Not pathetic nor childish, rather pride of ownership! Not to mention enjoying a thing of beauty. That is a joy forever. I pretty much do the same...

Messages Page 105 of 201

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