Could anybody please chime in and tell me your story if you have owned a 2004-2008 TL.

I have had 3 TL's/Type-S TL before.

I am going to pay cash up to $25k for an 07-08 WDP TL Type-S.

But now I am considering an RL because and 08 WDP RL sells for about the same price as an 08 TL Type-S.

I have modded TL's to the MAX before.

Please tell me the PRO's and CON's of switching from a TL to an RL Please.

If I get an 08-09 WDP RL I will lower it. I will also get the A-Spec body kit, tint the windows, and get either 19" or 20" wheels. Which ever you guys/gals recommend

Thankyou for any good words for me

GOD BLESS

 

I thought I put this in General Discusion section ???

Didnt mean to put it in Photo area

 

it wont be as quick as your TLs

 

I actually traded in my 05 TL for an 08 RL last May, so i have some insight on this. I'll start by saying that the TL is a great car, fun to drive, good looking, and good tech. The only reason I traded up to the RL was for the SHAWD. If the 3G TL had AWD it would be the perfect car in my opinion.

The pros of the RL are:
- not a single damn rattle (TL owners can sympathize with this)
- very comfortable ride
- great tech
- SHAWD

Cons:
- not as quick as the TL
- no touch screen
- fewer MPG

If I had to do it all over again, I would still trade for the RL. Good luck, hope this helps.

 

its more of an "i came up in the world" car.

the TL is a sporty ride.
I, at 25, would still like sporty.

 

I'd take that run from a dead stop or an off ramp any day.

 

Some 25 yr olds wear skater shoes... Some wear Italian leather...

 

you better call paypal now.

 

Speed dial #2...

 

Its all relative.. TL is classier than a WRX, but less sporty.

 

lets remove any other vehicles.
TL and RL.

While I agree with Heavy's analogy; Italian leather does make a man.
Which camp is the OP in?

does he want a sportier ride or the Italian shoes?

 

Thats a solid question crab man

 

Thanks Much

I intend on installing a catback, long tube J-Pipe along with many exterior upgrades.

Very Hard choice.

I am 50 but LOVE a sporty ride. I recently got rid of a 2010 2SS/RS LS3 loaded Camaro, orange with white stripes. I got the POWER BUG out. Now I want a more comfortable 4 door that I can SEE OUT OF.

 

I think there are some classy exterior upgrades for the RL, but keep in mind it is not a large market like the TL.

RV6 is now offering a Jpipe and there are some great sounding catbacks out there.

As for the "comfort" the RL is the right car, as for speed, contrary to belief, it is no slouch.

 

If you plan on bumping 20 random threads with almost nothing to say very often, then please get a TL.

Have you driven an RL? The only opinion that matters is the one you have after driving both cars. Otherwise we are just sitting in the rocking chair.

 

hahahahahahaa....

 

^^^

I too was going to get a 3rd gen TL Type S, but after coming from an 8th gen Accord (dam near same car as the 3rd gen TLS) I decided I wanted some more comfort (lowering my payment helped too ) Like Heavy said contrary to popular belief the RL is no slouch.

And now with the new mods I have done CAI, Jpipe, and Lightweight pulley the car would actually be able to compete. But once in the cockpit of the RL (thats what it feels like) you really have no desire for in your seat speed. Its a wonderful car and until recently, no Acura could match its handling prowess. SHAWD is truly a great techonology. Add that to the Japanese built quality (solid ass car), Honda reliability, comfort, still somewhat up to date tech, and new found modability the car is just awesome.

 

I will ignore and not comment on any rude posts.

GOD BLESS

Thanks for all the Helpful comments

 

You're welcome.

Seriously though, the cars are similar but different. It is almost impossible to convey subjective characteristics accurately. I drove both a '08 TL base and '11 RL back to back. The RL interior is much more refined, the ride feels more solid, and overall I liked the RL much better. However, to me, a solid ride is a car that doesn't get thrown around by the road. Others will describe this as floaty and state that the TL is more solid because you can feel the road and are "planted". Although my post started rather frankly, I was sincere in stating that a test drive would be the very best thing you can do. I love my RL in almost every aspect and would not trade if for a TL even if my payments went away. But that's me. I'm sure there is a TL owner that would say the same about their car too. Do a test drive and tell us what you think.

 

And you would lose.

We have both a 2007 TL and a 2006 RL. The TL is faster off the line for sure. On the highway they are pretty even though. The TL also handles a bit better, (I'm sure the A-Spec suspension on the RL would even that up), and it does get a few more miles to the gallon.

That's where the TL's qualities over the RL end though. There is absolutely no comparison in the refinement between the two cars. The RL's interior is so much nicer, quieter and better built. One of the biggest things the RL has over the TL IMO is the attention to detail, both inside and out. Put the 2 next to each other and compare things like the headlights and taillights. The RL obviously had so much more thought go into them. Where the TL has fairly plain headlights with projectors that look like an afterthought, the RL's headlights look like they had an entire team dedicated just to designing them.

Here's one of the best things I can tell you about comparing the RL and the TL. My mom has a 2003 Accord EX V6 that I have spent many hours driving and riding in. Our TL is MUCH more comparable to her Accord than it is to our RL.

 

^One of my co-workers was riding to lunch with me. When we approached my car he noticed the headlights and asked if they were aftermarket.

"Nope. Those are stock."

 

I think the natural progression will be an RL eventually...I do like the back end of the newer RL's...and the AWD can't be beat. Very cool feature. One day, maybe...and trust me. I LOVE my 3G.

 

all the comments here are excellent.

Before I bought my RL, I also considered a WDP TL-S. I drove both. like others have said, they are similar but different.

the TL-S is sportier out of the box. it has a sportier sound, is faster in a straight line, and at lower speeds, just casually crusiing around turns - it will feel as if it handles better because it rides firmer.

the RL, will feel slightly more sluggish.. part of that is due to the throttle. the TL has a more instant response. you hit the gas and the car immediately goes. Acura dialed in a bit of delay into the RL throttle response.. so at time if you hit the gas,, there isn't a suden jerk of acceleration.. instead it slowly kicks in then goes.. it feels more refined and smooth that way... but at times I find it annoying...

interior is not even close. if you just sit inan RL you will feel it is a whole level above a TL in quality. the seat leather feels soft and plush, while the leather in a TL feels hard and like vinyl.

i find that on the freeway, cruising, the RL feels like it is solid, glued to the road, and very stable. it stays on track, and i don't have to constantly make steering corrections to stay on path.. it just feels like it was built to cruise.

when you drive slowly around turns, there is more body roll in an RL, so it feels like it's less sporty... and that is wheere the TL "appears" to handle better but it doesn'.t if you actually tak e FWD TL and throw it HARD into a turn, you will understeer, and see that it really has limitatios. if you throw an RL HARD into a turn and give it full throttle... SHAWD kicks in and the car just rips throgh the turn.

i have NO doubt that around a tight turn, ,the RL would pull away from a TL with ease. i have driven quite a few FWD TLs as loaners... they feel like they handle better b/c they are stiffer, but when you push it in a turn, it gives out on you and you get understeer.

if you have kids the rear seats are great. i love how the rear doors on teh RL open up to a full 90 degrees. most cars do NOT do that. that makes getting in/out of the rear of the RL much much easier, and gertting kids, or car seats, etc in/out is far easier.

overall, the RL is a more mature car. if you are the kidn of guy who would consider driving an EVO or STi... then maybe the TL is the better car. it's a bit more grown up, but still has a sportier edge. a TL-S is a great car in that respect. it has the perfect blend of luxury and sportienss. it doesn't look like a ricer, but it clearly says "i am a sporty car"...

the RL is like a TL, only with more toward luxury. the RL is the car you woudl compare to a Lexus ES or GS, or a BWM 5 series, or an M/B E class. i looked at a 5 series and an E350. in the same price point as my used RL when I bought it a copule years ago.. the RL blew away the competition in that price. if you look at E500, 545,550,even a 535.. you're going to get more power... but if you c ompare a CPO RL to a CPO 5 series. and you compare similarly equipped cars... good luck finding a 5 series with that much stuf fon it for the same money.

if you are deciding between the TL-S and an RL... go test drive them back to back.

the RL is the "better" car in terms of what you get for your money. period. if you find that i'ts too boring, maybe the TL-S is better.

the one thing that turned me off to the TL-S and made me very reluctant to get it was the torque steer. i loved everything else about it and the TS drove me nuts. it totally takes away that sense of confidence you get from the car... i don't want to be in a turn and have the steering wheel squirelling around on me... the RL never does that. it has ZERO torque steer. the AWD system is great.

if you are going to mod the RL, and can commmit to putting some money into it - you canmake it look very good. just search here and you'll see some very very cool looking RLs that have body kits, wheels, a drop... and they look very nice.

an RL with just a drop, and wheels looks awesome. some like the aspec look and others dont.. but most people here agree that the totally stock RL looks kind of wimpy.. .but once you add nice wheels and a drop it looks very very nice. if you are going to add exhaust, body kit, etc.. you could make it nice.

another upside to a modded RL is that it will be truly unique. there are modded TLs all over. you will probably never run into another modded RL as you drive around.. i barely even see RLs on teh road as it is.

good luck. either car is a nice ride!

 

OK Thankyou Very Much

Next week I will go test drive an 08 RL Tech and an 09 RL Tech.

Have a Great weekend And GOD BLESS

 

WOW, Thankyou Very much for taking so much time to do a write-up for me. You really answered all my questions. Others have also helped alot on this thread Next week I will go test drive a few. My 6 year older brother LOVES the idea of an RL I am more of a go getteer than my brother I saw a white RL on here lowered, some type of bady kit with a larger wing style trunk spoiler, it also has tinted windows and 19-20" wheels.
It is BEAUTIFUL. WOW

Thankyou 23109VC

Its test drive time

I will come back and tell you what I think.

I will lower it with Tein SS coilovers, tint, A-Spec body kit, and a larger truck spoiler, RV6 J-Pipe, ATLP catback. I bit quicker and better handling, and Max summer tires on the 19-20" wheels i will get .

GOD BLESS ALL