Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.
It was with this generation TL that Acura finally got the “near luxury” category right. The Vigor looked like little more than an Accord with a prominent proboscis (all of these models are based on a stretched version of the Accord platform). The first generation TL at least looked more different than the Accord on which it was still based, but it was still kind of strange looking. In addition, the lower 2.5TL with the five-cylinder engine from the Vigor was priced in line with its six-cylinder competition, and the six-cylinder 3.2TL was several thousand dollars above that.
This car was everything the previous models weren’t. By the end of 2000, sales of the TL had more than doubled. According to the Standard Catalog of Imported Cars, “This car may well have been the bargain of the year. Nowhere else was the combination of driving pleasure, great options, and low price available in one sleek package.” Thanks to the all-new 3.2-liter V6 under the hood, not only was fuel economy improved over the old 3.2TL, but it also scooted to sixty 2 seconds quicker.
This was also my first experience with a navigation system. I distinctly remember using it to direct my wife and me to Friendly’s in Burke, VA, and having absolutely no idea how I got there or back home.
The following review was written on February 1, 1999.
There are some cars that you just can’t go wrong if you purchase. The all-new 3.2TL is one of them.
The near-luxury TL has been smartly redesigned for 1999. Less upright than its predecessor, it exhibits sportier styling with more creased edges. The new TL actually bears more than a passing resemblance to the last Acura Legend. Furthermore, with consumers becoming more price conscious, Acura has gotten rid of the 2.5TL with its odd five-cylinder engine and priced the new 3.2 $750 less than that car and over $5,000 less than last year’s 3.2. That’s progress.
The level of equipment surely hasn’t been sacrificed, as the 3.2TL comes as one fully loaded model. Leather, power seats, alloy wheels, power moonroof, CD player, even Xenon High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps – you name it, it’s probably there. The highlight is the optional Satellite-Linked Navigation System, which is the only option. By using the Global Positioning System developed by the military, it can tell you exactly where you are on the earth, as well as how to get to wherever it is you need to go. A touch sensitive CRT monitor in the center of the dashboard displays all of the relevant information, and a female voice also directs with phrases such as “Right Turn Ahead.” My wife and I had a hoot playing with it, intentionally getting lost and having it get us out. Although I sometimes disagreed with its selection of routes, it never failed to get us to our destination.
With its 225-horsepower 3.2-liter V6, the 3.2TL definitely has an advantage over the weaker 3.0 liter V6s in its Lexus ES300, Infiniti I30 and Cadillac Catera competition. Combined with the four-speed automatic transmission with the “manumatic” SportShift and above-average handling, driving is far more fun than with your average car. The only problem is a ride that may be far more harsh than most people expect in this price range.
With its roomy rear seat and 14.3 cubic foot trunk, I dare say that the 3.2TL is damn near perfect. With its understated appearance, level of equipment, low price, and near bulletproof quality, you definitely can’t go wrong.
For more information contact 1-800-TO-ACURA
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Four-door Sedan
Engine: 225-horsepower, 3.2 liter V6
Transmission: Four-Speed Automatic with SportShift
EPA Mileage: 19 city/27 highway
Tested Price: $30,514
CRT? Surely it must have been an LCD display. Still, this has to be one of the earliest OEM navigation systems.
It could have been. If Buick had a CRT in 1986, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Here’s a picture of it:
http://gtcarlot.com/data/Acura/TL/1999/5137939/Navigation-47418719.html
It was actually an LCD, I have done parts research before on the actual display unit. The 1996 Acura RL was actually one of the first vehicles (the other was an Olds – the 88 or the Aurora) offered with an indash navigation system, developed with Alpine. They used a hard drive based system until 2000 when they switched to DVD discs for the map.
I still remember when my neighbor switched from his Grand Marquis to this generation TL. Since then, he’s had another Acura and several Lexus. No more Detroit. On that same short cul-de-sac, we briefly had his TL, an older 5 speed Vigor, and a Catera. No I30 that I can recall, though at least one 3 Series and a Saab 9-5. Lots of “near luxury” on that little street.
Agreed, this was a dynamic and styling knockout for Honda, and even more of a looker after the 02-03 facelift especially in Type-S trim. This generation is pilloried for the glass transmissions but the debut-year 1999 actually had a more durable 4 speed unit – the 2000 introduced the infamous 5 speed. They were tremendous value too coming in fully loaded; the (LCD) navigation system was literally the ONLY option available on this and the big brother RL.
My sister owned a TL that I got to drive a few times, and I really liked it — in my opinion this was the best Acura of its era. Honda succeeded with this car in offering a great compromise of luxury and sportiness, a compromise that’s often elusive. At the time, I thought exactly what you wrote here, that this was an immense improvement over the Vigor (a car which I drove, and liked, but one that I never aspired to own). In those days, my sister didn’t keep cars very long, and she traded this in on an MDX, which I didn’t like nearly as much.
As for the navigation system, I first used one (on a rental car) at about the same time. In my case, I had a business trip to Raleigh, NC, and part of the purpose of that trip was to examine a few dozen properties. I decided to splurge and get the navigation upgrade on my rental car, and I’m glad I did. When in an unfamiliar city, the act of just entering in addresses, and letting the navigator do her work was an unreal luxury at that time.
This was a hot item at the time. A great combination of performance, handling, features and price.
Great car, these were everywhere in CA, and then when the new. more angular one superceded it in 2004, those seemed even more prevalent. And then…Acura kind of squandered it all after that. Frustrating. But this one was great!
An anesthesiologist in our new neighborhood has an ’04 gen TL in his fleet, the car still looks great and the styling has aged very well indeed. Awesome cars, and sized right too. Wouldn’t mind a 6spd one as a “dad’s sportyish affordable commuter”
These are still a very regular sight around Indy, despite the well deserved reputation for weak transmissions. When the rest of car car holds up so well with age, I suppose some people are willing to pay for the transmission repair and/or theirs dodged that bullet somehow. Rust on them isn’t bad, just that rear quarter panel rot that takes a while to take hold. Comparable Maximas/Infinitis are also still out in numbers but look notably worse for the wear (LOTS of rust, and it gets structural on them). Mechanically the Nissan twins are generally quite solid even at high miles, only a few sensor/coil issues (regularly hear them sputtering/misfiring along in the hood). Of course the Lexus ES of this era was perhaps the real winner from a quality/durability perspective. Rock solid engine/trans, stupendous quality paint/rustproofing generally. No real Achilles heels on them.
I had one of these for almost 12 years, and loved every minute of the ownership experience. Until at 100k miles, just like clockwork, the transmission went south. That was the only blemish on what was otherwise a fantastic vehicle.
Admittedly these had weak transmissions, and my otherwise great 2001 TL (first non-Detroit vehicle) needed its transmission replaced after seven years and 92,000 miles. Complained a bit to the dealer, who noted its age and mileage, but said he would check with the zone rep anyway. Wasn’t expecting anything, but a week later I heard back that my transmission would be replaced – free. Honda/Acura made a customer for life.
I still see tons of this generation TL in New England, despite their reputation for transmission problems.
What a sign of the times, reading a review where you have to explain what a satnav system is!
This period was a high water mark in car design. On the one side we still had recognisable volumes (boot, body, bonnet) and on the other integration of elements was well under way without the different elements melting into one another. The TL is still visibly a saloon but it´s nicely smoother and tidied. The TL happens to be one of the very nicest saloons of a period rich in very nice saloons.