Originally Posted by UDel

That is ashame you have not been happy with your TL. That does not mean the TL is not a great car. My parents own a 99 TL and 03 CL and have never had one issue with those cars. They have been much more reliable and trouble free then my supposidly better made GS430. I know alot of people with TLs especially the current gen and have talked to a bunch more and they all have said they really like the TL and have not had any issues. Working at an Acura dealership/service dept or any dealership you are definitely going to see a bunch of problems and issues with those cars but it does not mean that is the norm. I know someone who worked at a Lexus dealership and he pretty much said the same thing that their is alot of problems with Lexus cars and can't see why they are rated so high but that is because that is all he sees everyday is Lexus cars being worked on with problems.

Saying the TL has as many issues as the E class just does not hold any water considering all the data from surveys, consumer reports, edmonds, etc. You are much more likely to have a more trouble free experience with the TL then the E class, you can't argue that, also many of the issues with TLs were related to people not liking the stiffer ride, squeeks/rattles/ things that are not going to cost much to fix or leave you stranded on the road or without a car.

An IS is a nice car but current Lexus models are having their share of problems too, look at all the threads on the newer lexus cars. I would recommend him getting a less expensive and larger TSX over the IS if he was going for a car that size but I still think even a TSX is not really a great car for a 19 year old as they are still pretty expensive and unless he is getting a very good high paying secure job at his age something a lot less expensive would be much better in his position.

Why doesn't he wait until he is a little older with more money/experience with cars/maturity/job security before he goes getting a expensive luxury car from upmarket brands, 30-35K cars are very expensive for kids his age and are more for people in their upper 20s,30's, and 40's. I just have a issue with people recommending 19 year olds getting pricey luxury cars that don't really offer much over regular cars aside from a nameplate/prestige/few options when they should be getting something much more reasonable/practical like a used/new Accord, civic, Corrola, Scion Tc, Altima, Sentra, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Prelude, Integra, RSX, etc. I know so many younger guys around his age who end up getting themselves into a ton of debt because they go out and get cars that are too expensive, get expensive apartments/houses they can't afford, get big expensive TVs, electronics, go out to expensive places, etc. Then they find out they can't afford all that stuff and are stuck paying off something for along time with terrible credit. Spending 20K or under for a car at his age is much smarter then spending 30-35K or over for a car that will be more expensive to maintain, use more expensive premium gas, usually higher insurance, attract more unwanted attention. He should use the money he saved for more important things then having some more fancy options or a fancier brand name.

Originally Posted by texan629

exactly, this board has mostly asian members so they will be biased towards japanese cars. If acura is american does that mean there's the Big 4 now?

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

So your screename is Texan629. So you must wear a cowboy hat, boots and ride a horse to work?
No, that is an ignorant an unfair assumption, as ridiculous as what you just said.

I've met literally hundreds, if not a couple thousand members and that could not be FURTHER from the truth. This forum is a melting pot, its not one race of people.

I am going to ask you stop trying to paint this forum one color as it makes the poster look childish and clueless.

Acura can't be a big 4 b/c they don't SELL in those quantities.

Stop trying to stir the pot.

Originally Posted by passnu2

your parents 99 TL is a great car, owned the same and never should have traded up for the newer model. when they came out with the TLS it was all down hill and has been since. i didnt work in the service department but had direct communication with them also. everyone in that place told me all the problems they where having. no car is perfect and my IS has some minor issues of its own. Just being honest from all angles. everyone i know that owned the TL thru 05/06 had all the same problems. the biggest problem is the trans on the car. im postive that your parents CL has an extended warranty from Acura on the trans. the CL was not a trouble car other then the trans and missed that in my post. I dont believe the CL was built in the states from what i can recall. i worked for the #4 Acura dealer and with the amount of cars that where sold and serviced there the numbers showed it all. I would be curious to see if your parents traded in the 99 TL for a new one to see how they feel about the car after having it for a year. Its just not the same car or quality that it was. Having had 3 of them i can tell you how they took more and more short cuts on the car. Great looking car and that is why i ended up there to begin with. Everyone will have there opinion on cars and there own experience. i just feel this goes farther then my experience. Just to throw it out there when i got the 05 model Aspec TL Acura gave me a credit towards that and purchased me out of my lease. Being close friends to the owner of the dealer im sure helped out but im glad to be out of the TL. My wife drives a TSX and we havent had one issue with the car. So take my info for what its worth...

Originally Posted by UDel

Where you talking about the 2005/2006 or newer current gen TL when you said everyone you know with the 05/06 TLs had the same transmission problems because I have not heard of any of the transmissions for the new body style 2004+ having any problems nor do I believe there was a need for a warranty extension on the trannies because they had corrected the problem that affected some of the previous generation 99-03 TL/CL/ with the new 04 model.

My parents TL and CL have the warranty extension for the trans to 100K miles but they have never had any issues, the TL has close to 100K miles and the CL has close to 40K. Some people say there was no need for the 1999 TL 4 speed trans to have the extended warranty because the 4 speed did not have any issues.

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

Please stop it. So you "hear" Lexus has tons of issues but you DEFEND when people state Acura has issues. Its bigger than Acura, it has affected Honda's as well.

Corrections seem to have been made (like later ES trannies) but both companies have some cars where the tranny just is crap.

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

I'll add a poll!