By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Believe the AMG comes 'automatic' because it has shift paddles on the steering wheel.
THAT is something that would be nice in future editions of the Acura TL....shift paddles.
Toyota used to put them on the MR2/Spyder too. On that car, they were on a sequential manual which is not an automatic but has a computer controlled cluch, making for a much more interesting experience. On a sequential manual you can make shifting mistakes, real mistakes that cost $$$$.
Regardless, it's not the same.
I am not a fan of the paddle...as it is just a gimmick which is going to be sold big time on the new Lexus IS330. No biggie....but still would be interesting on the TL. Not missing much....and why I am not even considering it for the SLK through the AMG package.
The TL performs very well in either the automatic or manual transmission.
I'm not really afraid of breaking it, but I just don't find it that much fun. You can't shift by intuition or by sound like you can with a real manual tranny.
but my wife will mess it up some how?
Tomorrow...let me test it. Let it start automatically at 1st gear...drive slowly and see if it automatically shifts up. Believe it would. If not...I'll be posting from the Acura service center.
btw...today was a narrow miss. A truck came into my lane and I almost was forced into the side barrier. Wow...what amazing pickup to allow me to power-out of harm.
LOL
Yes the car has great power, glad to hear everything went ok.
I believe bodble2 is correct. It did go from 1st to 2nd. Was rev higher so I chickened out and upshifted. Hey...I wasn't going to burn out my tranny...and didn't want to hear my bad-boy TL scream for help.
So in some ways....maybe it is cooler than I thought. Maybe it would be kinda fun to use the sequential more.
The car will be mostly driven by my wife (I get to stay in my RSX-Type S!), and it will be the family hauler (with two car seats in the back. So, space is a concern - I wondered if anyone can comment on actual experience of the amount of room inside the two cars.
On paper, I was interested to note that the interior dimensons aren't that different (particularly headroom and legroom, and the TSX even has more rear hiproom! Oddly enough, the TSX appears to have a bigger trunk as well. The biggest difference appears to be front shoulderoom, where the TL is obviously much wider.
We're going from a Maxima (which has tons of room), so not sure how we'll handle less space - shouldn't be a problem (I think!), though concerned that the TL has the smallest trunk of all 3 (Max-15.1cu. ft./TSX-13cu. ft./TL-12.5cu. ft.). When we're on a roadtrip, we can easily fill a trunk, especially when the stroller comes along!
Anyway, people's actual experiences welcomed!
Thanks,
Mike
Although the interior dimensions of the TSX aren't all that different...the TL 'feels' and appears to have more room. In the front...the two seats are set further apart with a wider center c. The dash curvature and depth gives a sense of more space. Also the front seats of a TSX has more back bolsters so you feel more confined.
In the back seat....I would say that the 'feel' of the TL is also larger. The doors are wider...so that makes it feel that way. The TSX would easily accomodate two baby seats..and may be the easier of the two to manage by its configuration.
Trunk...the TSX wins. The reason is that it has folding rear seats...so you can haul all kinds of junk. That is not to say that it does not have room and is very usable based upon its layout. (for instance...tell us what other cars you are considering and maybe we can help). Especially comparing the trunk of a TL to a G35.
I really like and recommend both cars. The TSX is used as our errand car that we beat around in and is the kid hauler (no way am I going to have my kid and her friends in my TL or other car I have). The TL is still somewhat my everyday car that has some snap.
Recommendation....test drive both...load in the family...and give it a go.
If he's got to car seats int he back, those seatbacks aren't foldin'!!!
I suggest you take both carseats with you when you test drive. If the TL is longer, then maybe it'll take longer for your kids to kick thru the seats!!! I have a TL and a 2.5 yr old, and when the passenger seat is comfortably positioned for my wife, my son can put his feet up on the seatback.
With the TL's trunk, I have no problem getting a regular carseat in there, and think I could probably get 2 strollers in there, but I don't think there'd be enough room for 2 strollers and enough luggage for an overnight stay anywhere. I don't think the remaining room in the trunk and the floors of the backseats would be enough for your clothes and all the baby-stuff needed; especially if they're on formula!!!
I'm also not sure if I could get a bouble-stroller in there. We have an oversized jogging-type stroller that's not a true jogging stroller b/c the front wheel turns, and I can't fit it in the trunk.
The TL and TSX are great cars, but I can't imagine going on daytrips with my wife and son comfortably in anything, but a minivan!!! Did anyone ever tell you the Oddessey is the Acura of minivans?!?
I just haven't been able to break myself down to get a minivan....Guess my rationale is that if it doesn't fit in my car...I will gladly pay $60 bucks to have it delivered. My analysis goes that I compare the additional holding costs for a minivan/suv (gas, maintenance, etc) and consider how it compares to the number of hauls that wouldn't fit in my trunk.
Don't forget the immeasureable cost to your male self-esteem from being seen driving a minivan!
The comments about not having enough room for roadtrips is exactly my concern, and the suggestion that I actually load in everyone is a great idea. One of the local Acura sales guys was great and happy to let us test drive them for a day, and I think I'll take him up on that.
As for a minivan, I needn't worry about that, since they're really more space than we need, and the Odessy isn't cheap at the EX- with leather stage, so my wife isn't pushing that!
I guess my fear is the TSX will prove to be too small, but the TL too nice - especially for the 5 and 1 year old to spill drinks on, drop food into and use the seatbacks as foot rests on, in their slushy, salty, muddy, etc. boots (I'm up in Canada, so winters can be harsh on the interiors!
That then leaves me with non-TSX and TL alternatives
As I mentioned...the trunk layout is great...and can fit much. Don't just judge a trunk by the reported cargo volume...layout is important.
As for spilled drinks...a few things. You definitely want leather seats...so you can wipe up. One thing that is weird about Acura (which I wish they would change) is the location of the cup holders in the rear seats. It is integrated into the fold-down arm rest....not a good thing with kids. Keep an eye on that.
Hmmm..what else to consider. Accord perhaps...as the ride is pretty darn good and closest to the Acura's.
Good luck.
Totally agree. The closer a trunk's shape is to a true rectangle, the more usable space there is. A huge trunk that is unusually-angled (b/c of wheels, dvd systems, whatever) hurts the usability factor.
One thing I wonder about with kids in my TL is the perforated leather. If a drink is spilled on unperforated leather, you can wipe it up, but if it gets through the holes... If it's going to be your main family-hauler, I'd think twice about a car with perf leather.
Suggestions for other family sedans? I hear the new Toyota Avalon is a blast, and I think it's bigger than the TL. I enjoyed my Passat very much. It didn't have perf leather and the trunk layout was the best I've seen. The revised Jetta is bigger, also has a good trunk layout, but is underpowered. I understad the Nissan Maxima is a nice-riding big vehicle, too.
If you go outside Honda, something like a Legacy wagon or Outback are worth considering.
Another reason...the delivery schedule flushed in a bunch of TLs...all timing.
The night before the trip, put the carrier and rack on the car. Never wait until the last minute, this always takes longer than expected.
When we replaced the Saab with an Explorer EB in '95, we still used the car top carrier for trips. Two kids in the back seat, dog + cooler + sundry objects in the storage area with the box on top carrying duffels, golf clubs etc. We also have a bike carrier that holds four bikes that uses the 2" hitch receiver.
When we replaced the '95 explorer last year with an '04 expedition -- yep, still use the carrier on top. Now the kids bring friends, even more gear, same dog, same bike carrier.
Oh yeah, another car trip investment -- get yourselves a "Suspension Theatre" with a portable DVD player that slings between the two front seats and the kids can watch movies with the headphones while you play the music through the front speakers.
Or, as suggested above, get a small, fun wagon with a roof rack that you can attach the car top carrier -- with kids, you will never have enough room in any sedan/wagon/SUV you get anyway.
Now...when I say similar....I don't mean exact (ie the grill is not the same...but the basic lines and angular features are similar)....so don't shoot me folks and call foul.
I'm active duty Air Force currently stationed in Korea and I'm due to relocate to England for another 3-year assignment in January and I'm looking to purchase a new car enroute. I'm stuck between the '06 TL and the '06 TSX and I've driven both
cars (both '05 models with 6-speed tranny) and I really liked them both. Originally, I preferred the TL because of it's Bluetooth and nav system, but
now that the '06 TSX offers Bluetooth, it seems to be a better bargain. When I get back to England, I'll be facing a 130-140 mile roundtrip commute everyday, so fuel economy is very important to me. But performance is equally important, which is why I don't want a Civic: Plus I own a 94 Mustang GT and I just sold a very nice 95
740i BMW due to electrical problems, so luxury and performance are equally important as fuel economy. I owned an Integra before and know first hand of Acura/Honda reliablity. I read that the new TSX recieved an increase in power and I also read a review from 2 years ago that said it combined the best of what Acura/Honda offered in one chassis, but that review came out before the new TL. But I am curious what the HP ratings for the 06 TSX would be under the old calculation method. Also, whatever car I buy has to double as a family car because a have two small children, ages 1 and 3. I don't plan on going crazy with upgrades, and since Acuras seem to come pretty loaded as standard, I'll probably opt for leather and nav. My driving style is more performance than cruising. Some may suggest the new Civic Hybrid or Accord Hybrid, but I don't think the Civic will meet my performance demands and the Accord is ugly, at least in my opinion. And the regular Civic gets great mileage, but again it's not really a
performance car, but I will test drive it when I get home. So there you have it, '06 TSX vs '06 TL. Given everything I've stated above, which car would you choose if you were doing 30,000 miles a year and you wanted comfort, performance and economy? :confuse:
PS - you won't be disappointed with the 6MT - shifts really smooth and the brembo brakes are great!
PPS - I think leather is standard with both vehicles.