I'm in the market looking to buy the TL-S. I'm young and have a wife so for now there is no need to have the four door. Does any body knows the difference between the CL-S and the TL-S. Which one is better? what should I buy?
Thanks!

 

hmmm, all I can think of off the top of my head is:

1. Different seats. The CL-S have much better lateral support

2. Different wheels

3. In my opinion, the TL-S is MUCH better looking. The CL-S is just plain boring.

4. TL-S has real fog lamps (is this still true with the 2002 CLS's?)

Anything else?

Bryan

 

5) TL-S has a body kit

6) 4dr has better resale value

7) TL-S gets MDX style remote

revised. :p
8) TL-S have re-style side mirror (suppose to reduce wind noise)

 

I had a CL-P that traded in five months later on a TL-S. The main differences:

1) The TL-S suspension is not as stiff as the CL-S

2) More headroom in the TL

3) Larger sunroof opening in the TL

4) The TL had a blue tint on the drivers side outside mirror to reduce headlight glare.

BTW both the CL and TL have memory seat and tilt-down passenger mirror feature.

 

well.....

If it is just you and your wife and don't expect to have children for about 3-5 years....then i would suggest going the sportier way and go with the CL-S.

Differences are:

TL has 4 doors
CL has better looking exhaust
Some colors available for the cl and others for the TL
6 Speed will come out sooner then the tl
CL beats the TL if the driver is good
CL.com members get pissed off more the the TL.com members

Similaritys

Both have tilt feature
Both of memory seat
Both have what the other one has basically as in options
Both are around the same price range
Both have the same aftermarket support as the other
Both look good
Both are well made
and
both are good cars for the price

i being a cl driver would say the CL is a better car, but i love both of them, i just want the sportier look

hope this helps


later,
dantes<--------member and driver of a CL-S

 

Here's a list that I've created earlier while researching for the differences

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=19802

 

They both are based on the Honda Accord platform. The engine is the same. Suspension is same, but the CL feels more tout because it's two doors. It's as similiar as it is different much like the BMW 3 series. I like the meaner look of the TL over the CL's subtle look. Again when you are behind both wheels it's all the same familiar Type S. Oh and yes we are a lot nicer than the CL guys.....

 

Hi all - I'm over from the CL forum while they do an upgrade or somesuch.

Anyways, just wanted to address some of the following misconceptions:

7) The same remote works on the CLS. It just doesn't come with it.

8) The CLS has a driver's side memory seat. I BELIEVE it's the same as the TL-S.

9) CL-S and CL-P have the same mirror. Acura built the 2001 CLS on the Americas Midsize platform. The CLS is just about the same inside (minus the extra TL space - can't beat 4 doors for space!) as the TL/TLS.

10) CL-S also has the tilt-down mirror.... as long as the mirror selector is in the middle position.

 

I've deleted the two item falsely listed. :p

 

Dont forget that right now the CL-S' are selling for less than the TL-S', so that shoudl be weighed as well.

 

* TLS comes with "green tinted glass" for their outside mirrors - CLS does not have.
* CLS has 4 channel ABS brakes - TLS only has 3 channel.

I love both the models, but being a CLS owner & current lifestyle/preference...I lean towards the CLS.

You can not go wrong with either vehicle! Good luck with your decision.

 

Not true, the TL-S comes with a 4 channel ABS system just like the CL-S,the CL-P and TL-P come with the 3 channel system.

 

No offence to CL-S owners but if I didn't need a four door, I'd get the RSX Type S.

As good as the CL-S is, handling has as much to do with the size of the car as anything else and the RSX is smaller and more nimble.

 

RSX-S would outrun both CLS/TLS.... and sure it handles better.... but the interior is not as luxurious compare to CLS... rear seat is almost useless if you are 6' or taller....

Andy Kuo

 

True that! But it didn't seem as though back seat size was an issue for Javue.

 

I would of got an rsx-typeS if it was avail when i got the car 08/00. and if it had navi/hids/memory seat/seat heaters, and all the other goodies that the cl-s/tls has.

 

Mah bad...you are correct...!

 

Thank you so much guys for your comments! It really helps a lot when you have a group of people that can discuss about the same topic and know what their are talking about!
As of my decision, ummm! I'm still undecide I love the CL-S and I currently have a 2 door car (The Riviera) but when I have friends or family is difficult for them to get on the back seat. And what it really kills me is that sometimes people in their effort to get out of the back seat grab thinks in such a way that at the long road will damage the car!.
And if there is no much difference between the CL-S and TL-S then I think I should better go with the TL-S.
I have another question now. I was looking at the VW Passat and it looks good (specially the finish interior. I really heat when cars have a bad finish). What do you guys think about the Passat? The new model!! I know that is a much smaller engine and it doesn't come with Navi, but the finish of the car is really good. Please advise! (Man making a decision on a new car is worst than getting married

Thank you all again!!

Javier

 

Come to think of it i was about to go with the passat.

My choices were:

honda accord
vw passat
later i saw the cl and decided to go to a dealer

i test drove all three
and i loved the way the steering and responce of the cl was compared to the other 2, also we had poor poor service at both vw dealers we went to, had to wait about 30 minutes in each just to get figures for 0 down and 2000 dollars down, what a waste of time. also the cl or type S's either in tl or cl comes standred with a bunch of neat stuff.....but that is just me

hope this helps,
Dantes

 

Passat is good, but it's a VW. Doesn't compare to the Acura...more on the line of a Accord EX. I like the VW, but one important thing to remember is it's German. German cars are fun to drive, but not so fun on your wallet when it's time for maintence, repairs, etc. It's more expensive than Japanese. I used to own a BMW 323ci and the car was spectacular. But when the three year free maintence and repair was up, well the bill went up too! Way up! About $120 for oil and filter change. Plus I had to wait a week or so for the maintence to be done because of the many other cars going through problems. When it comes to reliability and fit and finish the Acura's and Lexus' are ranked highest. For god sakes my wife's cup holders and A/C vents on her X5 broke off. It caught on fire once and there is still problems. I can't wait for the lease to run out then I will go buy a RX300 or MDX. Thing is Acura's and Lexus' is built to last and will treat your wallet better "when" there are problems. My friends Legend still runs great and my dad's LS430 is a dream to ride in. Get the Acura and if money is a issue get the 27th anniversary Maxima.

 

I too liked the New Passat

Here's a quick +/- that I have of it...

1) The North America Passat don't get XenonII...which is a new technology developed by VW...It's suppose to be one of the Whitest in the market. They have them for Passat in Asia and Europe.

2) Passat has 4motion

3) Passat will soon get the W8 engine...that's suppose to kick some butt

4) It runs a few thousands less to get a loaded one.

If you are in no hurry, I should suggest you wait until early next year, as there are a few cars being remodeled and a few new ones being introduce soon.

 

Well, I'd better go with TLS because it's a nice value car for the family and it comes with lots of features. TLS / navigation is my only choice. CLS is nice car but not my choice. i don't like the design. My second choice was Lexus IS300, after I seen the MSRP price at $4,000 more than Acura TLS and compare the test drive I like the smoother driving better. Go with TLS, wouldn't dissappointed and you will be happy. The design tells you how aggressive TLS is. TLS is sweet. Well difference is TLS is 4 door and design.

 

The CL-S seats are motorized and move foward quite a bit. A lot of room for people to get in the back.
For children, plenty of room for car seats, and it has the center strap mounting brackets. When the front seat motors forward, there is enough room for me to be entirely inside the car (squatting) while placing my son into his car seat. I am 6'0".

My family car is a minivan equipped with tv/vcr/dvd/playstation/mini-fridge. I was looking for something fun, that doesn't scream family car, but could double as one if needed.

 

Definitely get the TL-S. You can grow into it, whereas the CL-S will not be practical in a couple of years.

The ride is different on the CL-S...a little rougher. I'm one of only a few people that has driven the upcoming SIX SPEED CL-S and it was really really fast and fun as hell (if you're into that sort of thing, wait for it to come out in a couple of months).

I also think the CL-S has really ordinary lines. When looking at a silver TL-S, you can clearly see all the lines on the car, but on the CL their really are very few details. I also think the rear view of the CL is kind of too rounded. Alright....go get it.

 

yee, how's the navi system? would you recommend it? does it bother you that you have to operate the AC with it?

 

seotaiji,

how's the navi system? I'm still debating w/ or without navi. Do you think it's worth the $2k?

How much did you get yours for? thanks

 

5) CL-S also has a body kit now, its in the 2002 book. I would love to get an rsx style body kit for the cls/tls. Its much nicer/aggresive looking than the current tls kit.

6) debatable, but you do have more doors to ding in parkinglots!

7) I guess this means you have more fun in your pockets?
(oh, this remote also works with the cls)

8) subjective, I like the larger cls mirrors.

 

I don't understand this one at all. I have no problems with car seats or kids in my CL-S.


Are you sure its not the lines in your bifocals you see

 

There's a difference?

 

the TL-S has this too, at least my '03 does.
when test driving, i found the CL-S front seatss alot more comfortable than the TL-s,l but the back was too small, and there was less headroom. Mine doesnt have the body kit though, but i think im going to ordrer the spoiler (i found one for $120 unpainted, not made by acrua, but an exact copy OR the painted one for 489) and the front ground effect piece.

 

This sh*t is maddddddddddd OLDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!

how come the first post say "This person is in your ignore list"
and i have noone on the ignore list?

 

sorry, i didnt realize that it was so old. it wasnt very far back in the archives though so i didnt htink it was so old

 

Talk of the CL-S being discontinued has some spooked also. The plus on the CL-S is that it can be had with a 6 speed manual - less loss to the wheels.