So my friend with the 05 and I have been spending a bit of drive time in each other's cars. His has a bit lower mileage than my 06 (not by a lot, 76xxx kms on the 05 vs 86xxxkms on my 06), mine has the OEM Michelins (which I assume have been replaced) while his has "General" tires from the previous owner, comparable tread wear.

We both agree - my car rides firmer and more "sporty", even the steering effort with my car is greater, and bumps are more noticeable...while his 05 leans a bit more in corners and has a more "luxury comfort" feel.

What's more interesting is the exhaust note - my 06 is definitely deeper and "throatier" at idle and underway. Both cars have the original factory exhausts and no other mods. Although I thought I read on here the 05 exhaust tips were different, they are exactly the same between the two cars.

 

Apec suspension......?

 

Also psi in tires play a factor too.

 

No A-spec, and the tires are within like 2psi of each other, double checked with my gauge. I don't doubt the rubber makes a difference , I just maybe wouldn't have expected as much of a difference. The exhaust sound is tougher to figure out though!

 

Not sure about the exhaust, but the OEM Michelins have a stiff sidewall. I just went from DWS back to OEM and could tell a difference.

 

I feel my 05 RL is abit floaty even though I can push it into the corners. My TSX 2011 V6 will take her on the straight line and the steering is tight and more sporty. It would be a fair contest on dry pavement pushing both through the twisties.

But I'll put my 1997 Accord EXL 4 cylinder 5 MT in a road race against either of them... might not come in first, but I'd be smelling their exhaust.

 

My 05 rides a little stiff but I have aspec suspension. My exhaust note is throatier than other RL's I've heard. The more miles maybe the more the mufflers break in or something

 

I had a V6 TSX as a loaner once... I really liked it... it reminded me of the older TL Type S... only in a newer TSX body... I did not like the FWD.. I felt in a true handlling test.. an RL with springs or aspec would out handle it... SH-AWD will win out... but at slow speed.. like just taking a windy road..but not pushign it all out - the TSX corners flatter and FEELS sportier...but in reality.. if ou pushed either car to the limit.. I think the RL would be faster... it's softer, but the SH-AWD would offset it...

speed - TSX V6 faster.

overall... I like the luxury and refinement of the RL...but the TSX V6 is a neat car. I'd like to have both.

I wonder how an RL with H&Rs and 18" aspec wheels would handle vs the TSX V6? would the RL still feel big and floaty..or would it get that tighter / flatter sportier feel? or is there no way an RL will ever feel as sporty as the TSX...

if they made an AWD TSX..that would be a cool little car!

 

What does this have to do with the OP's question?

BluNosr, have you considered that the extra year that your friend's car has sat on the suspension may have caused the struts to soften and allow for more spring extension/compression causing a "softer" feel? However, softer struts usually mean more bumps, and that is the opposite of your explanation.

 

Well what's funny though is his car is lower mileage than mine, but mine sat unused for more than a year as the original owner had passed away and his widow didn't use the car before deciding to eventually sell it.

Also, the steering wheel rim is noticeably "thicker" in your hands with my car than it is with his 05.

 

I wouldn't think the milage would have much to do with it. If you drove bumpy roads for 50k mi vs flat highway for 100k, you would probably get the same wear. I think the fact that yours sat unused with no wear for a year sheds some light onto it as his are not only a year older but also were compressed more often (maybe?). There are so many variables, it would be hard to pin point an exact cause. I think it is just a phenomenon of different wearing patterns.