Hi there!

I have been reading the board for a while, and looking to trade in my 97 Acord for a either a CL or TL. I know the major difference is the 2 doors vs. 4 doors. What else sets the two apart as far as performance?

Please don't flame if this is something that has been covered over and over again.. I didn't see any posts on the differences..

Thank You in Advance!

-AccordN97

 

probalby not much else.

cl-s has 7" wide rims, tl-s 6.5", but both have same tires...but the cl-s tires can be upsized to 225/45-17.

the tl-s has a slightly longer wheelbase that some tl-s owners "claim" give it better handling, but i also remember reading that the tl-s suspension wasn't tuned as tight as the cl-s's.

and any difference in 0-60 times claimed in magazines are pretty much result of ambient conditions or "fastcar"/"slowcar" syndrome(exact same cars can still be faster or slower than each other due to allowable tolerances).

and cl-s weighs slightly less than tl-s. and tl-s holds 5 people.

oh, and tl-s gets real fog lamps.

 

they get a f*king kit!!!!

and i've heard our seats we're a bit different...supposedly more comfy, but i'm not sure...

 

Okay! Thanks for the Info.

What gives with the Fog Lamps! Oh well, I'd just switch out the bulbs to something better.

I thought I heard that the manual shifting (I forgot the name of this feature)on the CL-S was a little better vs the TL-S. Is this true as well?

Is it worth waiting for the 02 or trying to get 01 cheaper since they are trying to phase them out for the 02?

I keep hearing about that 02 Manual Trany.. I hope it's true or will be sometime soon. I would wait 6 months for the Manual to come out.

 

I'd wait for the manual. People are saying October is when it will be released. Some people deny. I personally believe it will happen.

The manual shifting should be the same. It's the exact same tranny.

 

the seats are different in that the tl seats are also different from the cl seats. i think the tl-s seats aren't as firm as the cl-s seats though, but don't know.

the fog light thing is probably 'cuz of complaints and stuff, i think the cl will eventually get fog lamps.

 

i think it's up to you whether to get an 02 or 01 depending on how long you want to keep the car...if it's going to be for a while and you want to save some money, get an 01. if you want to get rid of it in 4-5 years and the resale matters, get the 02.

 

It's strange I can see the CL being the sporty one.. Yet it's lacking the Fog Lights, the Kit, and yet they give it to the TL...

That really doesn't make sense. I am not knocking on the TL but just from the practicality stand point... HUH?!?!

If the Manual is possibly coming out in the fall, then I'll wait.. It gives me a chance to save up some more green and have a lower CP.

 

1. There are people over on the TL-S forum who are putting 235/45-17 rubber on their 6.5" wheels. There are also a ton of people here with 235/45-17 rubber on stock 7" rims.

2. The TLS has lighter wheels than the CLS -- this does help acceleration!

3. You are quite right about the "variations" in cars and testing. I don't see the magazines giving out the weight of their drivers -- do you?

If I were getting a second car this very moment, I would be torn between having the early availability of the stick coming for the CLS (I like to keep one car a stick and the other an auto). I also like to keep a mix of 2-door and 4-door in the house. It is a bitch, to carry stuff around in a 2-door vs. a 4-door (my opinion).

Finally, the hardest part (in choosing) is the fact that the cars are more similar than different!!!

 

Just depends on what you want. I think people already listed the biggest difference. REason we dont get a kit is because of volume sold. The TL sells better than any acura, whereas the CL is pretty slow in that department. This helps you get a fantastic deal on a CL=S though

 

From the meets I've gone too, I've seen a few suttle differences such as:

CL-S has Bose tweeters on the doors, TL-S doesn't have anything.

TL-S has a combo sub woofer/co-axial I believe on the rear deck, CL-S has individual Bose 6x9's. (not completely sure on this one)

The door locks on the inside of a TL-S are round and stick up above the window sill, the CL-S have square locks that fit flush when unlocked and set-in when locked. Only matter if you like to rest your arm here lke I do.

The TL-S has a small slot in the trunk lid for a hook to hold the cover up over the spare tire, CL-S doesn't.

TL-S I believe has a different remote, but the newer CL-S's might have this by now, mine doesn't.

TL-S has different exhaust tips, they are rounder then the oval CL-S's.

TL-S has a body kit, and of course the CL-S doesn't.

There was something else that was suttle, but I can't remember. These aren't big deals, but worth noting.

DC

 

the cl-s doesn't have that trunk lid thing, but the handle on the trunk floor cover opens up and hooks onto the rim on the rear window side of the trunk.

 

Having own both (01 CL-P and 02TL-S), the other thing not mentioned is that the TL-S has outside mirrors are also auto-dimming.

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: gvtire ]