Hey there. Trying to get rid of my 02 CL-S and pick up something similar but with a stick. I am considering a more serious upgrade like a TL w/stick but I'm also considering going the cheaper route and either finding a 03 CL 6sp or a 04 Accord Coupe 6sp.

Given very similar trim levels (both cars having leather, sunroof, traction control), one of the things that makes me interested in the accord is that it has a folding back seat and that it is shorter in length. I also understand of course that there is a significant power difference between the two cars.

What I am trying to understand is how bad the diff will be in body roll and handling and braking. Assume both cars are stock.

 

You found the perfect person to talk too, my last car was an 03 accord. When i bought my CLS6 the first thing i noticed was how well it was taking it's turns. The lack of traction control with a helical limited slip differential really gives it that great turn-in response. Both cars have body roll when stock, but i noticed that the CL has alot less. Hope this helps.

 

You really can't go wrong with either choice. Both vehicles are great. The CL-S does have LSD like Jacob said which is a positive. The accord however is built on the newer platform that is shared with the 04+ TL where as the CL-S shares the 98-02 accord platform. Accleration is a dead heat. They both are capable of low 14 second 1/4 mile times and are both mod friendly. The accord is the safer vehicle and has more ridgidity than the CL-S. What would make the difference for me is finding a well taken car of vehicle with lower mileage at the right price. There are more accord V6 6spds on the market than CL-S 6spds. Both have great re-sale value. In the end you can't go wrong with either.

 

the accord has good resale value, not the CL

 

3272 LBS thats with a driver ? and full interior ?

 

You are right. I checked kelly blue book and compared a 2003 Acura CL-S 6MT with 84000 miles and in good condition it was priced at 9765.00. A 2003 Accord EX V6 6MT with 84000 miles was priced at 10,610.00 in good condition. That was suprising to me!

 

Full interior but not with the driver. I weight about 165lbs

 

the CL in the 6 speed doesnt have traction control

 

just to correct you there. CL is more safer than the Accord, and more stronger, heavier. I dont have anything to prove it with, but seeing all the wrecked cars can comparing both of them. CLs can take a hit much better than accords. The cabin is always very well intact and open even in the hardest hit cars.

 

Actually just to correct you bro, the CL is not safer. Heavier doesn't mean safer. Its not stronger either. The 03-07 accord platform is more ridgid and stronger than the 01-03 CL. The 01-03 CL shares the 98-02 accord platform. The 03 - 07 accord scores 5 star crash ratings in every category.

 

Do either of you have statistics to back up your claims of being safer? It would be interesting to find out who's right.

 

I didnt read any of the other comments, but I vote Accord.

I prefer the interior of the Accord over the CL. The aftermarket support is better for the Accord.

Having said that, if you want an engine with the slightest bit more torque, get the CL. If you want to have a car that isnt widely known, get the CL.

Also, I believe the insurance on the Accord is cheaper then the CL. And the resale of the Accord is much, much better.

 

yes. i recently noticed that as well. kind of a bummer. but it does have an LSD that is supposed to increase traction as well right? I remember the VSA kicking in a good bit in the winter on my 02.... any 6sp-ers out there care to chime in on how it does in the snow?

also, yes... resale value is better on the Accord... but thats a double edged sword isn't it.... meaning that if you already own one then thats a good thing, but if you are looking to buy, you will have to pay more now for the Accord.

 

it does fine in the snow.. traction control is essentially your right foot.

TCS is just an unneccessary nanny. VSA however can be essential, but i'm not sure if the accord comes with VSA.

 

Here are the 2003 honda accord results
http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2003...ash_tests.html

Here are the 2003 acura tl results (I checked about every website and no results for the CL however the TL and CL share the same platform as the accord coupe and sedan do. So the results would be very similar
http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2003...ash_tests.html

As you can see the accord is MUCH safer all the way around. Also I believe the TL and CL do not come with side curtain airbags as the accord does. Only side airbags.

 

Yea, you'll pay more for the Accord now, but you'll get more for it in the long run. Plus it runs on regular unleaded, not premium.

Ive driven my CL in the snow a few times. On summer tires. So maybe Im not the best person to get info from on that front, but I didn't crash

I absolutely despise TCS/VSA as its way too intrusive. And as someone else said, TCS in the CL is your right foot - learn to use it. Id much rather get power to both wheels due to the LSD then one wheel thats slipping. Whenever I drive a car that is equipped with TCS in the snow, I turn it off.

 

the CL is much better than the 98-02 accords I had both of them (98 accord coupe and a 2002 CL type S) the CL feels much more solid when driving and drives BETTER in the snow due to TCS.....

and tcs applies the brake to the wheel(s) that are slipping effectively making use of the wheel with traction and it also helps keep the car straight when accellerating....only time one should turn it off is when you are trying to get unstuck........

 

CL6 has a LSD Accord does not I believe. CL is much nicer inside than the Accord. Better looking too. More powerful engine also. Really a no brainer.

Choosing a car because it requires gas that's .20 more per gallon is silly.

Drove my CL6 in the snow plenty of times with Ultra High Performance tires never had a problem. Great handling, great balance, quiet, fast, powerful, high quality materials, and reliable.

Go with CL6.

 

I dont have any proofs to back it up. but talking about safety, I"ve seen all types of wrecks at insurance auctions and looks like ur better off in a CL then an accord. I hvae never seen the cabin in a CL hit hard enough to seriously hurt somebody. accords, I couldnt figure if those people made it out alive.

also I do prefer every thing CL6 mentioned.

 

Around here premium is about $.30 more a gallon, and when you drive alot that price difference adds up. I go through two tanks a week (usually ~14.5gallons per fill up). The difference is alittle less then $10 a week, but again, it adds up.

 

Great photo there!

Yea... $480 per year but you gotta feed those 260 horses on the ranch!

 

That is true. For what it is, it does get pretty good gas mileage.

 

you cannot compare a coupe to a 4 door car in terms of crash results as the body structure is different even if it is on the same platform.

 

Comparing the results of the TL vs the CL are as close as you are going to get. If you look at the results of the 98-02 accord sedan vs the coupe the sedan actually performed better in the crash test then the coupe. Same should go for the TL vs CL. Plain and simple the Acura CL is NOT safer than the 03-07 Accord Coupe. Remember that Honda/Acura wouldn't make a new Generation less safe then the previous gen. The ridgidity is greatly improved. The platform and body structure are stronger and safer in the newer generation. The 03-07 accord is 5 star crash rating all the way around. The 2nd gen TL and CL as well as the 98-02 accord are not.

http://www.lotpro.com/cars/1998/honda/accord_coupe

http://www.lotpro.com/cars/1998/honda/accord_sedan

http://www.crashtest.com/honda/index.htm

http://www.crashtest.com/acura/index.htm

 

your results shown bear out exactly why you cannot compare the two.

 

Basically what it shows is that the CL is not as safe as the 03-07 Accord or the 04+ TL which is what I was trying to prove.

 

Truth.

I have yet to see any independent test that comes remotely near the thoroughness of Honda's actual in-house testing. If a newer generation platform fell short of a previous generation in any result, hell would be raised.