The 2004 Acura TL is, simply, the best, most complete and competent Acura built to date.The SportShift automatic transmission can be left alone or played with to extract some of the joys embodied in the stiffer platform and better-integrated and more powerful drivetrain. Fitted with the 6-speed manual, Brembo brakes and the stickier tires, it's as sporty a sedan as is imaginable in a front wheel-drive configuration.
When (and if ever) the driving experience gets boring, settle back with some good tunes from the state-of-the-art stereo and book the evening's repast and lodging while following the mobile arrow pointing the way across the country.
As for cost, Acura points out that the once-optional but now-standard content and new features account for fully two-thirds of the price increase over the 2003 3.2 TL and for half of that of the 2003 3.2 Type-S. For what this buys, this is not a bad deal.