So, I brought my car to service last Friday for some warrenty work (replacements of passenger seat base and driver's door panel). After they installed the door panel they found out that the door was locking by itself. The tech said that the door actuator was messed up, so they had to order a new one.

They gave me a 06 TL and I have been spending some quality time with the TL.

Here are my subjective observations:

1) The Nav start-up takes way too long... you have to wait for about 20 seconds before you can push the ok botton. The RL wins in this aspect.
2) There are way too many bottons on the center console. The RL's layout is much better and user friendly.
3) The location of the Nav screen... The higher the better. RL wins in this aspect.
4) This TL rattles and creaks like there is no tomorrow. 10 times worse than my RL....
5) The 'back' botton for the voice recgonition does not bring you back to the nav screen after you hit it. The RL does it. I think it's a good touch.
6) The TL feels faster at pick up, but not by much. The RL has plenty of power, and control. The torque steer on the TL is, uh, existing big time.
7) The stereo system is better in the RL, no doubt about it.

I won't be picking up my RL until later tomorrow and I miss it! I am glad that I didn't get the TL this time. The RL is just in a different league. No offense to the TL owners out there, but I am just sharing some of my personal observations.

Ok, my patients are waiting for me now.

 

You didn't mention that the TL is also a lot noisier, and it rides like a buckboard by comparison to the RL.

Since I switch back and forth all the time, I'm constantly reminded how the TL slams into pavement breaks and potholes like a barge, whereas the RL swallows them much more effectively. In fact, the RL feels like a lighter car than the TL, whereas in fact it is 500 lbs heavier.

People like to say the TL is more tossable and handles better in general, but I'm not sure I agree. The TL is nose-heavy and I've had it plow off my line in tight curves more than once (and it's made my heart go pitty-pat a couple of times). The SH-AWD apparently makes up for the extra weight and softer suspension, and I find I can sling the RL around pretty aggressively.

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The RL is definitely a step up in refinement in all the respects you note other than the stereo. The TL's system is pretty darned good for a car in its class. The touch-screen navi is also wonderful. I find myself sometimes touching the RL's screen before remembering to use the knob. And don't forget....I love the TL.

OTOH....the lack of torque steer....priceless....

 

interesting observation about the navi... I noticed the same thing when I test drove a new TL (don't worry.. just for fun). Took my Z out now that the weather is getting better.... man, the navi sux compared to my RL's!

 

You'd think Acura could develop a torque vectoring application for FWD vehicles to reduce/eliminate torque steer. It would be less weight than a full SH-AWD system and would allow them to retain the FWD platform.

 

Wasn't there some kind of torque vectoring available for Honda Preludes of 2001 back through 1998 vintage ? I think it was FWD focused and these versions of the Preludes were called the Type SH. They were a little slower than the regular Preludes though.

 

Yep. THey mention in it in the SH-AWD video someone posted on here a while ago.

 

Yeah, I have to agree about the stereo, as I think I've said somewhere else on the forum. The TL's ELS system has a much fuller, broader sound than the RL's Bose, especially at lower volume levels, and most notably on voice content, where the RL's tonal quality is thin and slightly metallic.

OTOH, I find the TL's system can easily blow out the basses on especially deep voices or music with deep basses, where it just seems to overload into cone float. The RL system comes into its own with music played at mid to upper volume levels, and in reproducing tonal ranges beyond the ELS's abilities.

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Comparing the TL to a buckboard! And a barge! (A very fast barge.) Great imagery. Mike, you are such a card!! BTW I fully agree. Again, no offense to TL owners but the RL is a whole different ball o' wax.

 

I always find an interesting analogy between TL/RL and Lexus ES/GS. One is a entry-luxury-rehash of a hugely popular mainstream vehicle, while the was designed ground up with mid-luxury sector in mind

RL looks much more elegant and classy than TL IMO.

 

Yes, it was teh SH model. I still have mine. In 1999 the Prelude SH was the most higly-engineered car in the Honda line up next to the NSX.