Hello :)

[GlassJAw]

im the fiance and i do my best to keep her car up. keeping her car clean is a full time job her drive way is half gravel and half mud.

Classic mate!!
My wife claims whichever car is the cleanest - because she knows I can't stand a dirty car and will clean whatever I'm driving.
I would go with Ryan's suggestion (seems to know what he's talking about ) and get the Type S (manual / stick Trans I'm Guessing??) if you can stretch the budget that far. Seeing as you're a mechanic you most likely have replaced a couple of automatic transmissions in 6th Gen Accords??
Obviously if it's gonna be a daily with a bit of poke you will want the V6 version, (not too sure on Fuel economy of them) we dont get the Acura down here in N.Z so I can't comment on them.

 

[ryan s]

the TL is auto only...the CL gets a type s manual. unfortunately, cause sedans are so much better

still, the TL-S has like 40 extra hp, 17" rims, and a few more differences. a 6th gen accord v6 only has 200 crank hp, the TL-S 260...

 

[B.Cole10]

The type S is out of budget for me we are trying to plan a wedding, and he just had to pay a lot to fix his honda accord he just bought... and i am a college student haha but i was defiantly looking a the v6
i was originally head strong on getting a honda accord but for some reason now i just keep going back and forth with it

 

[CG6Lemon]

ur obvious choice is a v6 accord since u want some power on freeway or something. hopefully u find one with a good tranny since those are very fragile

 

[KBishop]

what should i look for, any kinda of general signs that the trans is bad when i go to look at one and test drive it

 

[SykVSyx]

I see we have another Raymond/LeeAnn type situation on here.

Welcome both of you to 6GA.

The 03 TL, IIRC, does not have the tranny 'gremlins' that the previous years did, so it should be a sound purchase.

If you have a mechanic, have him check it out/take it for a test drive with him and see how you feel about it.

I would also suggest going on Acurazine and doing some research on the same Gen TL to see what other issues other owner's may have come across as well.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[ryan s]

what should i look for, any kinda of general signs that the trans is bad when i go to look at one and test drive it

look for rough shifts, particularly going up a gear. also watch the tach and see if the transmission shifts right away or revs up for a second while shifting. between 1st and 2nd especially.

The 03 TL, IIRC, does not have the tranny 'gremlins' that the previous years did, so it should be a sound purchase.

If you have a mechanic, have him check it out/take it for a test drive with him and see how you feel about it.

Yeah, i think the 03s had the fixed clutch packs. though my dads 03 tl-s exhibits the same "delay" into first so you either have to wait for it to shift, or hit the gas and the car will kinda buck.

and the kbishop dude IS the mechanic

 

[SykVSyx]

Yeah, i think the 03s had the fixed clutch packs. though my dads 03 tl-s exhibits the same "delay" into first so you either have to wait for it to shift, or hit the gas and the car will kinda buck.

and the kbishop dude IS the mechanic

Mine is the same way with that delay, but it all depends on how I start off from a dead stop, if I ease in to it, it shifts smoother, quicker. A heavier start means the RPM goes up to about 3K before it shifts.

what should i look for, any kinda of general signs that the trans is bad when i go to look at one and test drive it

Figured if he was the mechanic, he MIGHT know this......

 

[KBishop]

i know the general things to look for with a trans but i grew up working on chevys, i havent been working on Hondas very long im still going threw Hondas certification. i was just wanting to know what yalls thoughts on it were.

 

[RedRyder]

I wish my fiance was into cars the you are Cole. lol She would never join a forum for a car, and the fact that you have is pretty cool.

Anyway, welcome to the site, there is a lot to learn. In my opinion, both the Accord V6 auto/TL auto is a crapshoot, so may as well go with the nicer car, which would be an '03 TL Type-S. If that one is out of your price range, go with an '02/'03 3.2. If the extra power, luxury items, and size isn't needed and you want to spend less, the Accord is good fit.