Hey Everyone... I've never been in this section of HT after all these years since I have a DC2, but I recently got married and my wife and I are looking to buy a newer 4dr acura that's an automatic and safe to drive if we have kids within the next 2-5 years. We've been looking at the 98-03 Acura TL's and trying to figure out if this is the car for us.

Just wanted to get your guys' inputs on the pros / cons about this model during these years. Looks like the radio codes and transmission slippage are the biggest issues that I've read so far.... any other issues I need to be aware of when test driving/purchasing one? Also, is it worth spending the extra $1-2k for the Type S?

Thank You in Advance!

 

I guess nobody owns a 98-03 TL huh?!

 

I have a 03 tl type s and i love it. its comfortable to drive long distances and i was suprised how quick it really is! ive had it for about two months and i havent noticed any slippage or really any problems besides the fact that i do miss the great gas mileage of my 05 rsx type s but going from a inline for to a v6 you cant really blame the car lol. im sure the base tl might get a little better gas mileage and unless you care about going fast in a family car its not really worth the extra money for the type s unless you can find a good deal then do it.

 

I use to own a 00 TL and I loved everything from it's power to comfort.The only downside to them is the transmissions and they have crappy gas mileage.

 

I have a '99 and I love it, also. But yes, I do notice the crappy gas mileage. I was also told that the '99 4-speed auto tranny holds up a little better than the '00-'03 5-speed. Knock on wood, my 4-speed has been doing fine, and it has 162k on the clock!

As far as power, torque is abundant everywhere in the midrange, and VTEC kicks in pretty hard at WOT. I had a chance to drive my buddy's '02 Type S, and it feels similar in the lower to mid section of the powerband IMO, but it screams alot better up top.


Overall, VERY nice car, plenty of amenities, and a nice plush ride, and not as "sporty" in look and feel as the Gen 3 ('04-'08)

 

You probably mean 1999 to 2003 Acura TL's I personally owned 2003 Acura TL and it's a great car. As Seany stated it doesn't get the best gas mileage in the city but makes up with great highway mileage, I've gotten up to 500 miles on 1 tank on a road trip.

One of the biggest things to look out for is the transmissions especially the ones with High Mileage. The J series transmission of this generation Honda and Acura's are prone to failing and are covered under an extended manufacture warranty.

 

If you do go with a 99-03 the less problematic ones tend to be the 99's with the 4-speed automatic.

 

I would not recommend any with the 5sp auto

 

I would look for one that has recently had the transmission replaced or rebuilt. Acura extended the warranty to cover the problems. It was 7 years/100k miles, but they may have extended it even longer. I was going to buy one and it's been some time since I researched it.

 

Yeah, if Im not mistaken, they extended it to 115k.

 

thank you guys for all your feedback so far.... we're still waiting to hear back from our mechanic to see if our other car is worth fixing or not. If not, then our search will start/continue for a newer TL.

 

does anyone know a good site for specs on the 3.2 type-s. specifically what year the type-s was introduced and whether they are available with manual trans.??

 

The TL Type S was introduced in 2002, with its J32A2 producing 260 hp vs. the 225 hp standard TL with the J32A1. Although the CL Type S came with an optional 6 speed manual, the TL Type S did not. However, there had been some TL owners that have done the CL manual swap. Check out www.acurazine.com.

 

thanks silva...that manual conversion on acurazine is quite ambitous. having driven manual civics for the last 12 years, i am a little skeptical about buying an automatic. i think i remember reading that the type-s has a 'shiftable' auto. what is that all about??

 

Im picking up an 01' TL this Monday . . . now im concerned about thew transmission

 

test drive it and make sure it drives smoothly.
additionally, if its under 110k miles there is a factory recall and Acura will replace the transmission.

 

im buying it from my uncle, ive driven it, its smooth as butter and he has never had any issues with it.

worst case, I go 6spd MANual

 

I have a 99 TL 175K kms runs great, good car, 4 speed. Gas mileage on highway excellent, 400 kms /tank in town, good family car, love the quality, lowest maintenance vehicle ever owned.

 

ok time to cut the bs on the warranty extension

7 years 9 months or 109K miles (whichever comes first) from the IN SERVICE DATE. That is the offical settlement.

Now there is another warranty extension that adds 5% to the warranty and depending upon how they calculate it, the milage will be 114K (if they calculate 5% of 100K) or 114,450 miles (if they calculate 5% of 109K)

plug your vin in here to see if you are covered

www.hondatransmissionsettlement.com

ALL pre 02 cars should be out of warranty by now unless you got one in early to mid 02. my car was put in service on 03-31-02 and the warranty will expire on 12-31-09 (in about 6 weeks even though I have under 90K miles)

2003 cars are covered based upon vin number 04+ cars are not covered under this warranty......

information regarding the odometer settlement case

http://hondaodometerclassaction.com/

and that site links to here

http://www.odosettlementinfo.com/

 

I never drove a 98-03 TL before but I do own a 07 Tl type S and love it! One of the most comfortable cars I drove. Its fast and has great handling. Mines a 6 speed manual and people do have problem with the clutch. My clutch gave out at 27k miles. Other people had their clutch give out 7k, 13k, 20k. Cost me $1000 from a local shop with OEM parts. Acura wanted $2000. Acura didn't want to pay for any of it! That's the only problem I had. Other than that the car is great.

 

bumppp