2005 Acura TL Consumer Reviews

Bad experience

Written by: Mark on 06/20/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Love the look. I went with Acura after looking at everything from BMW to Benz. Fun to drive, great color (black with blue specks over gray) and very comfortable interior. However, it has been the most unreliable car I have owned as an adult. Numerous trips back to the dealer for mechanical issues, interior rattles like crazy, lousy roadside assistance (I've had to call them 4 times in 9 months). I will be trading it in on a Lexus or BMW as soon as I get it back from service (again).

Favorite Features

Interior layout, seat comfort, exterior design.

Suggested Improvements

Interior build quality, overall reliability.

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Great Birthday Gift!

Written by: akaprls20 on 05/07/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I bought my TL for my birthday and have been happy ever since. After months of researching the TSX, I checked out the TL and never looked back! I purchased mine from a private owner and got a great deal! Don't be fooled by the dealers who want you to think that you get so much more buying a CPO. More money for no reason. The owner who sold the car also had an 06 TL and said the 05 drove a little faster. Apparently there was some change in that year. Oh well, my gain!

Favorite Features

I love the NAV and the blue tooth. Having everything at my fingertips is nice. I'm still getting used to the car so I don't have any of the issues that other users have.

Suggested Improvements

I do miss having seats in the rear that fold down, but that's minor.

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MPG could be improved

Written by: adhikun on 05/04/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I got the car used, at 27,500 mi. Not bad for a 2005 car. Handling is very sporty, suspension is more sporty than luxurious. MPG is pretty bad - mix driving only gets me between high teens and 21mpg.

Favorite Features

Design, leather, console.

Suggested Improvements

Interior build, as it has rattles along the front driver-side door and rear of the car.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Awesome Driving Experience!

Written by: JBM on 04/18/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I recently purchased a 2005 TL w/nav, Black on Black (59k miles). I can't imagine a better driving experience. Great power/handling/fun/wow factor/super highway ride/pretty good gas mileage. Awesome body style that gets max attention--and that's before they get inside! Amazing features and luxury feel to sporty car with great driving characteristics. A little first gear handling issue under full acceleration, but nothing one can't manage easily.

Favorite Features

NAV, voice-activated controls, steering feel, super traction on my Michelin Pilots, fun acceleration, awesome looks (I know of no other car in class that turns head like this one). Looks way better than 2009 TL.

Suggested Improvements

In the sport shift mode, eliminate the auto shift from 1st to 2nd. I think this would improve 0-60 times in the 5AT. They should make Michelin Pilots as standard tires. Make wing spoiler standard equipment (awesome add-on).

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118000 MILES

Written by: Nobama on 04/17/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Mpg hwy averages 30. City averages 26. Replaced brake pads only once at 110,00 miles. Pads still had 50% thickness from new. Other than oil and tires that's it. May replace spark plugs soon... nah it's still running great. Tires are problematic. Came with Turanzas, got 70,000 on those but the tires were merely ok. Put Pilots on but only got about 35000 on those. Now have AMERICAN MADE goodyear eagle gt2 with the funky looking tread. These tires stick well but ride a bit more harshly than the others and I think one is slightly out of round. I can live with it. But they're cheap. Got 380000 out of my last Maxima, will see if 400,000 can be hit with the TL.

Favorite Features

The little blue light on the headliner at night. That thing is handy.

Suggested Improvements

Put a Bose back in it. This thing at full volume does not even come close. LA woman needs many decibels.

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Whatever happened to decent cars

Written by: MJL05 on 03/31/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I bought my Acura TL in September of 08, and after hearing all the positive things about them, I thought to myself that sounds like a great car to get. Don't get me wrong its not a piece of junk but since day one I have had more problems then my old car in the four years I've had it. I recently thought of selling it or trading it for another car because the car is in the shop so often. You know all those annoying sounds you really don't like well that's my car for the most part. I bring it in the shop for a few problems and then more develop. This will be the last Acura I will buy in my life and I'm only 21 that's pretty sad. Now I'm losing money just to get another car not to hear the noises.

Favorite Features

comfort of the seats

Suggested Improvements

where can I start?

3 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Best FWD sport sedan out there!

Written by: John V. on 03/19/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

And it's almost the best 30-40k sport sedan period. Being from the Midwest, and only having one car, RWD wasn't an option since we get something called snow which doesn't agree with RWD cars too well. Thus, I settled on the TL, and don't think I would have been happier w/ any other car. Acceleration is very linear, and the TL is extremely stable at 80 mph, and fairly quite at such speeds, which could be a dangerous combination. Torque steer is almost never an issue. Great sound system, excellent interior amenities, exceptional fuel economy (I've gotten 33 on some highway jaunts, although around town can be disappointing). If only the 09 TL looked as suave, I'd get that instead of an 08 TypeS

Favorite Features

Engine to start; always ready, and very willing to go, plus it can be decent on fuel economy. Next to that is the styling, followed by sound system, and probably the navigation system.

Suggested Improvements

Some panels were a bit loose, at first, but dealer fixed the couple that wouldn't stay put. Door stops only have two or three positions that they'll lock into, which gets frustrating in close quarters.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Would Buy Again

Written by: VeniceCA on 02/13/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Bought new in March 2005. Very good looking car in and out (better in my opinion than the new model). Very reliable, only repair was A/C at 25k miles. Love the big touchscreen nav system that you can operate while moving, new models may have better graphics but non-touchscreen is MUCH less convenient. Performance is decent, needs more low end power and the transmission is slow to shift. Handling is good, but nose scrapes too much on driveway inclines, which reduces confidence in maneuvering and turning radius is about 4 feet too wide.

Favorite Features

Interior and exterior design, bluetooth, nav system, comfortable seats, very reliable

Suggested Improvements

Smaller turning radius, more nose clearance, more low end power, more aggressive automatic shifts

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Excellent Overall Package

Written by: Illinois Flatlander on 01/16/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I have had this car for 3 1/2 problem free years and believe that it is a great value for its price. I get 20 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway which is very acceptable for a car with this size engine and its performance. The experience with the dealership in regards to service has been better than it has been with any other brand vehicle I had in the past.

Favorite Features

Excellent sound system, smooth & quiet engine, cockpit layout, Bluetooth connectivity, easy to use navigation system, overall design.

Suggested Improvements

No auxiliary input for the radio, 5 speed automatic transmission gear changes take too long especially in manual mode, rain sensing wipers, engine low-end torque

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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The nav system is tied into the radio/CD

Written by: jzucco on 01/06/2009

Vehicle

2005 Acura TL 3.2 4dr Sedan (3.2L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I love the car but it is now 2009 and the nav system no longer works. H2O damage most likely due to condensation sense it is in the trunk. Now that the nav no longer works my entire console is worthless. No DVD/CD, radio works but don't know the station. Only solution from Acura is to purchase a new 3k nav system. I would not buy this or any vehicle that ties all these system together like this because there is no aftermarket solution and you are stuck with a 3k bill just to listen to a DVD!! I am not happy. I filed a complaint with Acura but they do not have a solution. This is a severe design flaw!

Favorite Features

I have the 6 speed, and it is a ton of fun to drive.

Suggested Improvements

Change the design of the nav/radio system

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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