Here are the rules...
1. I am buying the car for my wife as her daily driver.
2. No kids but maybe in near future.
3. Buying not leasing.
4. Plan on keeping it for at least 5 years.

I have driven the TSX that my buddy has and it was very nice. I like the size and the features but 26K and Im getting a 200hp 4 banger. Will test out the TL soon but the reviews and statistics of this car make it seem like a steal for 32K. Anybody who owns or driven or has an opinion please help. :p

Pico

 

The TL was my #2 choice behind the RX-8. I test drove it and it was very, very nice. My only concern was that Honda products are such a target for theft.

I also agree, the car seems to be a steal for 32K loaded.

dag

 

Well--the TSX is more of a handler--but the TL offers alot and a 270HP V6 for 32K. The only problem with Acuras is that FWD layout. If you can stand the torque steer from 270HP going to the front wheels-I'd go for the TL. In 6spd guise it is pretty quick--low 6sec to 60 car. The auto is in the 7second range I believe. I'm not a fan of the TSX styling tho--it looks downmarket to me--the interior is very very high quality for the cost.

 

For your wife, a TL would be too much, get her the TSX.

 

How about another thought? Get her a Miata. She'll love it, but she would have a hard time parting with it when the kids come along. I'm on the other end - kids leaving. My wife loves her Miata.

Just a thought.

 

I have to agree that 270hp to the front wheels is stupid. If you have to have an acura product, I would go for the tsx, little more fun. But, if you want something like the TL only built like a car should be, i.e rwd, look at the G35 sedan. Its a great car for the money, nice navi system too.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

 

TL is an amazing car but as others have stated fwd kills it.

TSX should be the wife car, unless you are planning to highjack her car once in a while...

 

I have driven both as i was in the market for a TSX when they first came out,and my brother owns a TL. I would have to say get the TSX.Small enough for your wife,yet when the kids come she'll have plenty of room.Enough power for her,handling is superb,navigation to me is the best on this car.Voice recognition,you can tell the navi what radio station you want,by saying "97.1" and it goes there.You can control AC controls threw voice also by saying "AC ON" "Fan Speed 3" etc.The gauges,seats and quality is very nice. Good looking car,and hondas 4 bangers are the best on the market. The TL to me is in another ball game.Faster, larger in all dimensions,meaner looking,but the handling wasnt all that and for the people saying 270 hp on a FWD car is too much i dont agree.My friend had a 2003 CL-S 6 speed with 260 hp...he had intake, headers, exhaust ,chip ,and pulleys and the torque steer was noticeable but it wasnt TOO much that you cant handle it. Bottom line ,the TL is more of a mans,or enthusiasts car for the fact that it can be modded to go fast,and handle well.The TSX can be made quick,but it'll take some forced induction to get it to be a animal.My choice for your wife...TSX

 

Thanks for the input everyone. Looks like you have really looked into these cars Redlinin 8. Thats for the info on the navi. It sounds like the dreaded BMW I control only much easier to use. We are heading to the dealer this weekend to test out both. Hopefully we get a dry day to test drive. I pesonally really liked the TSX, and the fact that I can walk out of the dealer for under 30k with the TSX (loaded). But that TL's new body is just so damn pretty. I dont think I could (or maybe should) afford the TL with all the goodies though. I am definetly going to give some of the competitors a try i.e. G35, BMW 3 series, ES330, Mazda 6, ect. I will post back soon with any results. Thanks guys!

Pico

 

my friend let me drive her mom's tl...what a blast but yes the fwd layout makes the tires chirp around every corner and parking lot. very nice interior and nav as well. i dunno bout the tsx, but the tl was sure nice for a honda product and that price!

 

I drove a TL several times and sat in a TSX once. I much prefer the TL interior for looks and materials compared to the TSX. Most of the time you are not driving at 8/10ths or above and may not notice the FWD issues that much. Love the Abyssian Blue colour with camel interior.


Also might want to check the 2005 G35 Sedan that fixes the cheap interior issues and has better front end styling (more like G35 Coupe). Due out in 6 weeks or so.

 

I've driven a TL, but only sat in a TSX. Get the TL. You already have a peaky, revvy, light, agile car that *kind* of fits four adults - why buy a second one? The TL is so much more sophisticated and luxurious than the TSX. Awesome interior, great looks... and all that torque. Might as well buy something that complements the '8, as opposed to mimics it. And yes, you'll notice the torque steer the first time you punch it out of the corner, but hey, it's you're wife's car. Who cares? Get the 6 speed and it will be about as quick as your '8 - probably quicker out of the hole. Get the auto and you don't have to worry about your wife owning a car that's as quick as yours.

George

 

If you would like a CAR to last you 15 years...

Acura TL over the TSX...
TL- Looks so awesome, Stand out, V6
TSX - Looks OK, doesn't stand out, 4-cylinder

G35 is my choice if i were to spend 30K on a car... you can get a 2004 for 2-3 under MSRP... since the 05' looks different...

 

G35 2005 would be my choice, followed by TL. TSX is bland in looks. G35 is powerful and looks good. In my opinion, you should opt for the Navi on any of these cars as they offer the best systems around. TL also offers bluetooth BTW.

 

The TL is an incredible car... i drove the older model for 2 years. When it the market for a new car, i looked into the TSX, but heard some very troubling things about the side crash results. dont recall where, perhaps it was through a friend or what not. but if safety is an issue, which it should be in dealing with ur wife, just look into it. i could be mistaken. But overall ive sat in a TSX and the new TL. THe interior of the new TL is heaven for 32k. incredible car at an affordable price. thats my pick.

 

Update...
This weekend the wife and I went to the Acura dealer. We drove the TL first. I absolutly disliked it. I thought everything about that car was great...till you drove it. Nice horsepower but the handling was atrocious (I am a little picky coming from an RX8). It was way to loose. Secondly, I found myself having a hard time reading the insruments and finding various controls. Way to many bells and whistles. Im sure I could get used to it, but I really wasnt impressed like I thought I would be. Then we got in the TSX. I was totally impressed. The HP was decent but handling felt like a sports car. Comfortable ride and very easy to operate controls and read instruments. We both really liked the car. I know its a bit plain...but the actually make a nice ground effect kit and sharp wing for it. Totally changes the look.

So on the way home, we pass by the BMW dealer. What the hell! We get in a 325i (the 330 creeps out of my price range) and I was in awe what a nice car it was. No gadgets, just a bad *** driving machine. I wasnt turned off by the 185 HP and the car seemed so well built. The safety features blew me away. I have never done a brake stand at 50MPH and the car not made everyone fly to the windshield. So we'll see. I might check out the G35, but the wife really not interested.

 

just get her the TSX then, its not that bad. saves u a lotta money over a TL or G35 :D

 

I would pick the 2005 G35 sedan over the TL or TSX. If you are looking between these two though, then it's a tough call. The TL has an awesome interior, but 3500lbs + 270hp to the front wheel is..... for the lack of a better word - stupid :p. The TSX on the other hand, has solid built quality, decent interior, save $5000 and a rev happy 4 cylinder that will provide enough power for the wives. Also, I prefer the overall styling design of the TSX over the TL. No matter how many times I look at it, I can't get over the ugly groove on the side and how the gap between the rear door and rear fender. Very disturbing exterior design details.

 

The TSX and TL actually have a lot in common. The TSX is built on the Honda Accord sold in Europe and Asia. The TL is build on the North American Accord platform. I drove the TSX and TL during my last car search (I ended up with the 8). The TSX is more nimble, and feels lighter and a bit more fun. The TL is more substantial, more powerful, more luxurious and larger.

It really boils down to size, power, luxury and cost. If you want more of all of these, then the TL is it. If a 4cyl is adequate and you don't really want to have a tluxury on par with other luxury marks, then the TSX is easier on the pocket book. As for overall cost and maintenance, the TSX is built on foreign shores and has distinct parts from other Hondas. The TL is assembled in Ohio, and shares many parts with the domestic Accord so parts should be easier to get. Either way, your getting a really nice Honda product and I am sure you'll be happy either way.


After 5 years of driving RWD, the handling characteristics of FWD are just not as fun, and since I don't deal with snow in Vegas, there was no real need for FWD so the Accura's fell off my radar. (I almost forgot about torque steer, and the TL seemed a bit squirly when pushing all the power through the front wheels, but please try for yourself.) As for other cars, I have had great luck with Mazda in the past, always wanted to try the rotary and like the idea of not having a "luxury mark".

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

Well after testing the Acuras, 3 series BMW, and Accord, I convinced my wife to come with me to look at the Mazda 3 fully loaded. I thought it was a pretty nice little car. Key word is little. Way to small for people who are 6'2 215lbs like me in back. I still think it is probaly the nicest compact car on the market and offers things that Civics cant touch. Anyways, as we are about to leave the sales manager (who sold me my 8) stops us and tells me he'll give me a great deal on a 6. So we looked, we drove, and we bought. It ended up being about as nice as the others and I got it for $23k loaded. Seems like a good car and hopefully we'll will have good luck with it. Thanks for the input everyone.

Paul

 

Congrats. The 6 is a nice sedan, and as you said, you got it *fully loaded* for 10k less than the TL would have been. And it handles nice and sporty. My girlfriend has a 3, and that car is indeed built head and shoulders above the Civics and Corollas. Enjoy the 6.

-arattle

 

Congrats on the 6.

I know the point is moot now, but if I had caught the thread earlier I would have suggested that anyone who's considering the TL wait for the Accord 6-cylinder hybrid, which comes out this fall.

Unlike past hybrid sedans, this one gets a hybrid electrical system in addition to the top level engine, not a tiny four cylinder. With the electrical motor assist right off the line, it should be as quick as the TL, cheaper than the TL, and much better on gas.

 

The TL is so sweet... I would love to get my hands on the a-spec version

 

I'm looking at the TL for my wife. She was stuck on Jaguar until I had a saleman bring the car over to our house last week from a dealer ship 30 miles away. All he asked for was my address,locked in the Navi system, and he was calling me from my driveway in 30 minutes. Since the test drive she has totally forgotten about the Jag. I'd say get the TL even over the G35, slightly better build quality from Honda over Nissan and you don't have to hold your head sideways in the rear seat.

 

:D

My boss occasionally takes me for a spin in his G35 coupe. There's plenty of power on tap, but I have to sit like a hunchback in the rear seat. No thanks!