I gotta tell you guys ... I am coming clean. I have been thinking a lot about what my driving experience would be with a 6MT TL vs. the 6MT TSX that I have now. I have a 3rd kid on the way and the '05 Ody is gonna serve its need, but I can't help thinking I am gonna be in trouble more often than not with the smallness of the TSX.

Right now I am thinking about waiting for the RDX, but I am quite worried it will be nothing like the Ody in usefulness, and well short of the TL in the performance category.

Am I making any sense here? Counsel me

There are even some very nice slightly used TL's now out on the market that might be the best route to go to make things reasonable.

I am probably just a mental case, but I miss having V6 power (had a CL-S and G35 before the TSX) and don't wanna give up the amenities and atrractiveness (i.e. this is why the Accord is not an option that otherwise would win me over ... hybrid Accord comes to mind).

Thoughts? Stupid? Maybe I just need to take the TSX for a and chill, but I have been missing having power lately ... a lot

 

How about money?? Sounds like you might be missing a lot of that these days too

You've got a transporter.. don't need 2, and the TL wouldn't be much of an improvement in that regard. No folding rear seat... what are they thinking?

If you get a TL, you're only going to be drooling over the next hot Acura/Honda to come down the pipeline... I've detected a pattern

In conclusion... wait for the TSX wagon

 

Yes ... a pattern indeed The real question is ... new Acura down the pipeline given that it is a sedan and will be around 30K? I just wonder what else can be done ... ok ... an AWD/IMA TSX wagon does come to mind

 

TL is bigger...more room for da kids

Ooops...I mean, keep the TSX...cheaper

 

Put the kid in the trunk and get over it

 

Wait for hondata, I'm sure you'll be a little more rev happy, and that's always a plus.

I've never really thought of the TSX as "cramped" in the back.

 

provench, if you can afford upgrading to the TL at this moment in time without breaking the bank, go for it. Life's too short to have any regrets

I know the feeling of regretting a car purchase, I had a 2003 RSX Type S and regretted it 5 months into owning it, and I've finally upgraded to the TSX.

 

 

I disagree. That third child could prove very expensive if any hint of medical trouble comes up. You should not have your hands tied by the car in the parking lot.

 

The size difference may be an issue, but I would not trade my 6mt TSX for a 6MT TL with it's terrible torque steer.

 

Prov, if money isn't a problem, why don't you just skip over directly to the RL. You will get TL-like power, but with handling. While I'm sure the TL is a really nice car, especially in 6MT trim, I keep hearing everyone descibing it as a fat pig beside the TSX.

But I myself really wouldn't know, I haven't test driven one.

 

06 IS 350 Sportcross.

 

With a 3rd kid on the way, I would definitely be thinking of getting a larger car. The question you should ask yourself is how often would all 3 kids be riding in your car? If your daily (M-F) schedule includes picking up the kids from school and daycare, then yes, you'd probably be better off with a larger car. Now if it's just 1 - 2 times a week, I'd probably stick with the TSX. However, that's because I'm more partial to a smaller car like the TSX than a larger car like the TL. To me, the TSX has enough pep to keep me happy.
After weighting everything and the TL would prove to be more convenient and comfortable for you, the TL would be the better choice.

 

If you can trade up for a TL, then you should do it. Even with my one kid (and the huge ass car seat) it's cramped in the back. As far as power goes, thats hard to gage. I personally think the TSX is powerful enough. If I could do it, I would go to a TL just because of the space issue, and yes, if you have 3 kids, you need it more then me.

 

How big are your kids??? Are they seriously that big that a TSX would be cramped for them? I would think that the only way it'd be cramped in the back would be if there were 3 average sized adults. If you're ok with money, then I say go with the TL, but I think the TSX should be fine.

btw. the TSX rear seats fold down? Sweet! I thought I would have to purchase a roof rack for my road bike, but now I won't have to

 

child car seat is as big as adult

 

Pro, how about you send some of that money burning a hole in your pocket my way?

 

True, but the other kids aren't in a child seat right? If there are multiple child seats then I can see why you would want a larger sedan, but that still should be comfortable for the kids.

 

And you can feel free to drop some it my way too.

But kidding aside, I'd say unless you really feel there is a need for another family hauler, keep the TSX. The TL isn't significantly larger than the TSX and if you're not going to be using the TSX for transporting the kiddies on a regular basis, save yourself the money and just wait for Hondata.

 

In Canada, a kid need car seat up to 40lb ~ 4yr old and need booster up to 80lb ~ 8yr, so he may very likely need to fit at least 2 car seat(booster) in his car. I currently always have 2 car seats in my TSX and it is roomy enough to sit 1 more adult on the side. But If he need 3 car seats then I dun think even TL able to handle that.

 

Fun with a Honda helical LSD.

Basically, you get more torque, Brembos on the front, a little more room (but you're sticking kids back there...who cares?), XM, Bluetooth, and a couple other features. What is it you want to accomplish? The extra 7 grand is always good to have.

 

My son's knees are hitting the passenger front.

 

3 CAR SEATS!!! Damn! LOL. I guess if that situation came up for someone, then upgrading to a TL would not be enough, get a freakin' Navigator!!! LOL

 

here's some stats for consideration...looking at the dimensions you get about 7 extra cubic feet in the TL, 8 in the RL. trunk space is pretty much the same

TSX
Headroom (front/rear)- 37.8 in (960 mm) / 37.3 in (947 mm)
Legroom (front/rear)- 42.4 in (1076 mm) / 34.2 in (868 mm)
Hiproom (front/rear) - 54.4 in (1381 mm) / 54.4 in (1382 mm)
Shoulder room (front/rear) - 55.4 in (1406 mm) / 53.5 in (1360 mm)
EPA Passenger Volume - 91.0 cu. ft.
EPA Cargo Volume - 13.0 cu. ft.

TL
Head Room (front/rear) - 38.7 in (984 mm)/37.2 in (945 mm)
Leg Room (front/rear) - 42.8 in (1088 mm)/34.9 in (887 mm)
Hip Room (front/rear) - 55.6 in (1412 mm)/53.8 in (1367 mm)
Shoulder Room (front/rear)- 58.3 in (1482 mm)/55.7 in (1414 mm)
EPA Passenger Volume - 97.9 cu ft. (with sunroof)
EPA Cargo Volume- With Navigation: 12.3 cu ft.,Without Navigation: 12.5 cu ft.

RL
Headroom (front/rear) - 38.5 in (977 mm)/37.2 in (946 mm)
Legroom (front/rear) - 42.4 in (1076 mm)/36.3 in (923 mm)
Hiproom (front/rear) - 55.1 in (1400 mm)/54.0 in (1372 mm)
Shoulder room (front/rear) - 58.5 in (1487 mm)/56.1 in (1426 mm)
EPA Passenger Volume - 99.1 cu. ft.
EPA Cargo Volume - 13.1 cu. ft.

 

I thought it was a bad thing to put your kid upfront in a car seat?

 

In a way, I'm in a similar situation. I have a few extra $ due to a recent buisness deal. I have thought a bit about upgrading the TSX. But, I think I'll wait to the fall to consider it. By the, they'll be more competition for the TL and the TL will have had a bit more chance to get some of the bugs out.

 

I agree with those that have said size difference between TL and TSX is neglegible. How about a Mazda 6 wagon or Legacy GT wagon? They would be functionally superior, which it seems would help you justify it to yourself, and the Legacy would exceed the TL all around in performance. Granted, they aren't as nice, inside especially, but I find myself thinking I have all this nice stuff in the TSX, but do I really need it? Is it really making my life more worthwhile? It's not like I'd be ashamed to drive any of these, and if I needed more space, I'd definitley check out a wagon, there's some pretty decent ones out there right now that are still fun to drive.

 

I don't know how much bigger the TL is back, I've never been in one. The issue with car seats in the TSX isn't so much the space across, it's that with kids in car seats or boosters, their feet don't drop down into the foot wells and they end up planted right on the back of the front seats. Ironically, it's my littlest kid (still using a booster) that has the least amount of room in the back.

 

Actually the TL has a slightly smaller trunk, but it does have a few extra cubic feet in interior room.

 

I'm sure health insurance has already been covered. That's what it's for. I agree, life is to short to spend tens of thousands of dollars on the wrong car. I did it once to save money, and it was a purchase I regretted until I got rid of it.

 

No experiences with the TL myself. But some info re the RDX:
- on sale Sep 05 as an 06 model
- based on the CRV (and RSX mentioned as well)
- 200hp engine
- offered in FWD or optional AWD

The RDX will be more like a souped up CRV with more goodies and performance.

 

So yeah ... I think in reality I am not going to gain enough out of the TL in the short term, especially given the loss I would take on my TSX (too early in the loan).

So I think my energies are gonna shift to waiting to see how the RDX pans out. I'll take my questions over to the RDX thread

Thanks for all the input guys ... with 3 kids under 2 ... don't think there is anything short of the van that will haul the whole crew. And 2 kids in the back of the TSX is a snap.

 

For your back seat?

 

Do those all 3 fit in your TSX?

My twins are just over 20 pounds at about 19.5 months and the new born in April will of course be rear facing for a while. To be honest ... it'll be rare to never that I have more than 1 or even 2 kids in the TSX based on my last 19 months of experience. Whoever has the kiddies ... drives the van ... the TSX follows the other

 

Sound like a very happy family. Congradulations!!

 

No, not lucky enough to even have one. Always wanted to have a Recaro seat for the kids but the dream never materialized... Too expensive.

 

... didn't even recognize it ... good one.