Why would you say the car is junk? Can you explain yourself a little more?

 

There's nothing wrong with my exhaust, and no one else I know who owns a Subaru has had problems with the exhaust.

Notice I didn't explictly call the TL "junk." I used "junk" here in the same fashion someone would use the term "bollocks" as a general reaction to the situation. I maintain my position that Acura has no class-leading vehicles (well, maybe the RSX, but that's because it has almost no competition), the TL included. I can think of a number of cars I would rather spend $35K on instead of the TL.

 

My goodness if I didn't know any better you guys would have me believe the TL is a Ford, but isn't every other car out side of Lexus considered a Ford in comparison.

Ok just so I have this understood you know since I'm a Lexus owner and all.

Acura (TL) if they have a few issues, some major some small its a car to steer clear from, don't even consider.

Lexus if we have some issues, some major or some small, its an exception, because our cars are dang near perfect and those mishaps don't happen. So even if my Lexus turn out to be a lemon I can still feel proud because my situation is an exception.

Do I understand this right?



This is the impression you guys are giving me in this thread whether its what your saying or not. I will also say that to compare cheap track homes to honda's is a gross exaggeration. Compare the cheap cookie cutters to Fords / GM's etc. where interior things fall apart right along with major engine parts because of short cuts and cheap and inferior parts much like track homes where everthing falls apart in and around the same time. Yes we Lexus owners have a lot to be proud of but goodness guys...

 

Exactly. Those Darn Acura's - they have all this technology at a rock bottom price - two things we just don't have as Lexus owners - SO THOSE ACURAS MUST BE CRAP!

I think we are getting the hang of it now -right Milla?

PS - get ready for the "They don't have a V8 in their lineup so they are not a luxury car" argument to follow.

 

Notice I didn't explictly call the TL "junk." I used "junk" here in the same fashion someone would use the term "bollocks" as a general reaction to the situation. I maintain my position that Acura has no class-leading vehicles (well, maybe the RSX, but that's because it has almost no competition), the TL included. I can think of a number of cars I would rather spend $35K on instead of the TL. [/B][/QUOTE]




Aiite. I can almost give you that. For 35K there are a hell of a lot of other cars, but a majority dont include this many features for 35K. Especially the European cars. And if you want to include this many features start checking all of the option boxes. I think as far as performance, its main competitor would be a G35. They both run damn near identical quarter mile speeds, 0-60 speeds, near slalom speeds, but the TL loses on braking, because its a FWD car. As far as looks alone, I would take a TL over a G35 SEDAN anyday. That goes for the interior also. If you want to go luxury the ES330, or C320 would be its closest competitors. Lexus and MB both have the more luxury feel, but I dont think they have as many luxo features as the TL and at the same price.

I believe the TL's were always somewhat class leading cars. They always offered more for the money, and at the same time have a splendid balance of performance and luxury for its price. And this year they are outselling the competition. You may think that the TL is not class leading, which is aiite with me, everyone has a different opinion, but its definately not a car to be overlooked at all.

 

acura can't win with these people so there is no point arguing. The TL is a very nice car but it doesnt seem to be good enough for biased lexus owners.

 

not good enough, yes. biased, maybe. but at least Lexus cars have more than just skin deep compared to many other brands.

 

Well lets sit down and really think about this. What does Acura really make? Surely not all those outsourced electronics, right. But they do make the engine and tranny and they do put the car together and they can't get that right. Well the engine is awesome.

Again, the TL is a great buy. But as GlobeCLK stated, get under that surface and its obvious why Acura is not considered true luxury and the cost cutting is apparent.

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73969

17 pages of issues. The NEW model.

 

Two things that would go a long way toward solving these problems of knowing which gear you've selected and take the guesswork out of it would be:
1. Having gated shifters, Ferrari-style, that would show at a glance if you were in the right gate or not.
2. Having a lighted gear indicator on the dashboard that would light up "1" for first, "2" for second, etc.... similiar to an automatic.

I don't know why automakers across the board have not adopted this for manual transmissions. The present system with most manufacturers of just having a rubber or vinyl-boot-covered stick poking up with a shift pattern printed or engraved on it is ridiculous. And it can be WORSE than ridiculous if you misjudge a 5-2 downshift at high speeds for a 5-4....you can run the RPM way past redline and ruin the engine.

 

So tell me dear sir which cost cutting auto would you then prefer (well if any), because all of these near luxo's cut cost, don't they. Hence NEAR luxury. For you is it Toyota (Lexus) or burst..? I'm not challenging you I'm just curious, because although Honda (Acura) has/have some issues they still rank quite high.
I think once you get under the surface of Acura I think you'll see what they've always been, a division thats not even trying to be this true luxury product. Get under the surface of all these guys and I can almost guarantee you'll see much of that same reality. I think most people are misunderstanding their mission their target / goal / objective. We are the ones saying they are this big Luxury division when in fact they really never was one, quite possibly the Legend / RL was perceived as one but since then that hasen't been the case, with the introduction of the TL/CL/RSX. Looking at the Acura product for what it is and what it offers the end user I say its an awesome auto and would recommend it to anyone and everyone as an attractive / good solid sporty near luxury auto that they will enjoy.

 

luxury cars should NOT involve cutting costs, or at least not to a significant degree. the 99+ TL uses very fake synthetic wood trim and leather quality that's obviously a step behind Lexus. Those things kept the TL cost-effective, and in turn reflects on MSRP, and hence showing strong sales because it represents "great value." But once people noticed that the luxury is only on the surface, they no longer considers the TL a luxury car. It's NEAR LUXURY as you put it. I seriously doubt that Acura is ONLY trying to tackle the near luxury market. It's just that since Lexus quality is hard to rival (as seen between Toyota and Honda), they decide to take the other route, by attacking the luxury market with the "low price" as the selling point (ala Lexus in 1989.) But the 1st gen LS400 gives better performance, better quality, and coupled those with the low price.

Same thing with Mercedes. since the late 90's they've been doing this whole cost-cutting thing, sharing platforms and parts bins. The CLK ended up considered as a coupe of the C class. The cheesy plastic buttons are starting to get on people's nerves. Even the Maybach shares some interior components with the S-class, which are NOT famous for their interior built quality.

I think Acura is more of a competitor to BMW, whereas Lexus is to Mercedes-Benz. Acura/BMW brings cutting-edge technology, great performance, and mid-grade materials together, and Lexus/MB aims for bring total luxury and finish to their automobiles, even though Mercedes is drifting away with their plasticy cars they're pulling off the assembly lines.

 

i love '04 TL. i drove it before and i love it.

i think you need to test drive it to love it.

 

yup. VTEC can pull pretty good! even on my RSX, i could feel it.

 

And thats ok because anyone who has an ounce of reasonable sense will not expect perfection out of or from a 35K auto.
Now I can surely understand the MB people feeling slighted after spending 60-70K on theirs then finding out that their wood is synthetic etc etc. now thats something to complain about.

 

If the TL had a rwd platform, I would say best in class.