Hey guys,
Been over at the TSX forums for a while. But now i'm itching a little bit to get a TLs. Just a quick question though. Anyone here that has driven both cars? My tsx is an auto but i'd like to get the MT version of the TLs. My favorite part of the tsx is that in the steering the car feels solid and it handles great. Of course i have a progress RSB installed though.

So with that said, i know that the acceleration from the almost 100 extra hp that the TLs has will definately make it much faster. But what about handling? Has anyone compared a stock TLs to a TSX with an upgraded RSB?

What about things such as quietness, comfort, fun to drive, braking? etc...

thanks in advance!
Sorry if this has been discussed before. Not really quite sure which term to search for when making these two comparisons.

 

I only had a tsx loaner for a few hours, and compared to my TL, it was a slug. When I mashed the pedal to the floor, it seemed it took a lot of time to get to the power i was used to. With the LT, I can mash it and be thrust into my seat. The TL is much more stable at highway speeds and has much less road noise. The brakes on my TL auto, are killer and they can stop the car pretty quickly. The tls has bembo's which should stop the car even faster. The most fun part about the Tl is the comfort it gives you when not sporty, and then the quick change to a beast when needed. In all honesty, the TL is much more refined than the TSX,more user friendly, and better in almost all ways except for 1, modifications. There are a lot of mods for the TL, but not to many. There are the usual lights, exhausts, rims, CAI's, supercharger, swaybar, etc but no headers or turbo available. If you have the money, go for it

I will warn you thought that the tls has rattles like the TSX does, but can be corrected pretty easily.

 

Hmmm... this was one thing i haven't considered. I was pretty fortunate to get a TSX with only one rattle and it was an easy fix. But you're pretty sure they're easily fixed? My cousin has an 04 TL and it's got quite a few rattles that the dealers can't figure out.

 

I fixed all my rattles, even the ones i caused by tearing apart the car. What rattles does your cousin have? tell him to look here for fixes, and to post here if he can't find a fix because alot of the dealer techs just go by the book and don't do anything thats not in the book.

 

He's tried to research this site before and i've searched for him as well. He has the passenger seat rattle, the rattle from hear the speedo/steering column and one in the passenger side front door panel.

Anyways... that's a little off topic. I'll leave the rattles for another thread when him and i have time to fix them.

I'd like to find out some more about others experiences between the two cars as well.

 

About three years ago I went and drove a MT RSX, TSX and TL. Ended up buying a 2004 MT TSX because to me, while the TL was faster, it didn't handle as well, didn't shift as well, and the torque steer with the MT was a b!tch. While I had the MT TSX, I had a few automatic TSX loaners, and the auto really sucks the go out of the car. Fast forward three years later, and I started a new job where I have to drive in bumper to bumper traffic 20 miles back and forth to work each day, which takes all the fun out of having a MT. So, it was either a TL-S or a Quattro A4. Love the Audi (had an 2001 S4), but the Audi got pretty pricey with all the options I wanted, and my S4 wasn't exactly reliable, so I went with an auto TL-S. I still think the TSX handles better, but the TL-S comes real close. One thing I have noticed is the build quality on the TSX was slightly better than on my TL-S. For example, there are some small flaws in the paint of my TL-S, and some interior bits weren't installed with the greatest of care. No issues like that with my TSX. Overall, I was happy with the TSX, and I'm really enjoying my TL-S. They are both great cars.

 

you could just test drive them and see for yourself..But my 04 is rattle free

But my guess is that the tsx has better handling..TL faster..however the difference in acceleration is probably more than the difference in handling..just my guess (cousin has a TSX, only drove it a couple of times)

 

that could be because TSX made in japan..while TLs are made in america.

 

hmm... so basically...
Does the TL have that nice on center and very stable feel on the highway? I remember when i bad a bmw before, the thing felt so stable on the highway that whenever i didn't feel like i was going fast, i would look down at my speedo and i'd be speeding really easily. It felt like it had plenty of power to spare. How is this aspect with the TLs compared with the TSX?

As far as the regular TL goes. I know the TSX will probably outhandle the TL. Especially if the TSX has a RSB installed. What about the TLs? Will a stock TLs outhandle a TSX w/ RSB? I know stock the TLs already has nicer swaybars and better sport tuned suspension.

 

Did you guys see the write up from club lexus on the TL Type-S, they seem to have liked the Type-S and it out handled the Lexus IS350 and G35

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275963

 

But of course being TL Type-S owner, I like the Type-S!

 

Having owned a regular TL-5at for a year and originally looking at the TSX, I'll share my 2-cents on the subject. The TSX has a slightly stiffer suspension and lighter weight (about 250 pounds) so it should handle better at the limits. The TL's stance is a little lower to the ground, has a Front Strut bar, and wider tires, and a cushier suspension. I added the $100 bolt-on Comptech rear swaybar to resolve some the lean noticed in corners and am very happy with the performance of the TL. Having driven on numerous windy roads, my TL will easily stay with a TSX with no problems so I'd say the handling difference is slight now. For any Northern CA folks, my handling reference road happens to be Bear Creek road in the Santa Cruz mountains. The TL goes faster than my family is comfortable with on that road so I wind up driving much below its capabilities when not driving alone most of the time.

I notice Consumer Reports quotes the same slalom speeds for both TL and TSX at 52.5mph so even stock they are close- just the TL is a bit tippier. Now when you couple having another 50HP, the TL blows a TSX away going UP mountain roads. In addition, according to Consumer Reports the TL will also outperform the TSX stopping with a 60-0 stop in 130 feet .vs. 136 for the lighter TSX.

 

FWIW - I have a TL-S with only 2000 miles on it. Only 1 rattle (so far ) in the head rest or head rest post. Kind of a PIA since it's right by my ear. I haven't looked for it yet, but am hopeful it'll be easy to eliminate.

On the highway, the TL-S "naturally" goes to 80 mph - almost like it's programmed - and cruises effortlessly. Passing? - C YA!

 

I just picked up my TL-S in KBP 6MT on friday...put my UR Crank pulley on Yesterday....its got less than 300 miles on it...and i love it....Major upgrade from my 05 TL 5AT, My brother has a TSX 5AT, and i can't stand driving it. Dont get me wrong, the TSX is beautiful, but it lacks power, as for handling, when i first drove the TL-S i couldn't help but notice how GREAT it handles, i could throw that thing into the corners, put the pedal to the floor, and let the LSD rip out of the corners...Overall i can't see how people compare the TSX to the TL-S, they are on 2 diffrent playin fields...

 

IMO, comparing the TSX to a TL is ridiculous. I had a TSX auto for a loaner for a week, and I hated it. I've also had an 07 base TL auto for a loaner. The power and handling of the TSX is greatly reduced. I would never consider buying one against a base TL, let alone a Type-S. And you can tell the difference of how much more solid the TL is than the TSX by the sound when you close the doors. I love that about the TL!

 

yeah...the tl is in its own league...and i have also notice the whole door thing....i put my car next to my brothers....and his tsx sounded like a tin can

 

As an owner of an 07 TLS 6MT, I've had the opportunity to drive both the TSX and the 06 Base TL Auto as loaners, both on multiple occasions.

Some obeservations:

IMO the only thing the TSX has in common with the TL is the "A" logo. I think in it's own rite, and when put up against cars in it's class it's a fine competitor. Not that it's a bad car or there's anything negative about it, but there really isn't much about the two cars that can be compared. They aren't even in the same league.

As for the 07 TLS vs the 06 Base TL...again, not really comparable vehicles. They share the same platform, but there are so many things different between them that's it's almost unfair to compare the two. The TLS has a different engine, trans, suspension, brakes, exterior trim, dashboard layout & lighting, and more.

Important to note that I have never driven the 07 TL Base, or even the TLS with AT. So I won't even mention either of them, that would be pure speculation on my part.

All that being said...

The 07 TLS is more than just a few minor upgrades over the previous year's base model as well as over the 07 Base TL. And if you've never driven one you owe it to yourself to go take a test drive in one, but only after you've driven the base model. Having purchased my car the last week of April and having rolled less than 2K miles so far, I admit I am still learning things about this car. But it continues to impress me. Today I got caught in a downpour on my way home. I had to punch it hard around a turn to get the tires to lose grip. I finally saw the traction light come on for the first time. And I never felt out of control. THAT really is saying something, since there has been no rain around here for weeks, so the road surface is pretty oily. This is a really fine, well engineered car. I read one review in Consumer Reports that really nailed it...they say The TL is a near perfect blend of sportiness and luxury. Add the TLS package and it only gets better. The more I drive this car, the more I love it. I've never had a car that had that effect on me before, and at my age that's saying something.

 

I am impressed with the TL-S performance. Awesome looking car. I love the quad exhaust, really gives it that mean look..

Its a shame I can't have a 6speed manual in my 0'5 RL, I have to use the paddles to hear the VTEC in 3rd/4th gear. The 3.5L does the TL-S justice, excellent engine and package.

Just saw the comparo at Willow Springs with the Drift King. Just goes to show why Toyota still fears Acura/Honda, its the engineering...do more with what you got..

The TSX is a great ride, just more power... Acura should shoehorn in a 3.2L V6 or the RDX turbo and call it a day, it would be a screamer...

 

but you can my friend, get a TL-S 6 sp. tranny, it should bolt up to the motor as honda used the same j35 motor for the TL-S to my knowledge. Though some issues might occur such as wiring and other things, but those can be easily overcome.

 

but your forgetting the fact that the rl is SH-AWD, you would have a bunch of dead weight, and theres no way to get around keeping the awd and having a 6spd, unless your filthy rich, honda has yet to make a 6spd awd, and probably wont, unless they decide to do it on the upcoming NS-X.

 

Good point 3rdGenHybrid.

SH-AWD does get in the way...I am sure the next generation TL will have it also but with a 6 speed? Not sure.

SH-AWD is wicked technology...

 

Thanks for the insight everybody! I was actually considering either getting a TLs OR keeping the tsx and modding it. However, things such as hondata and the SC aren't exactly available for the 05 AT. I'd have to purchase an 04 ECU and then add on those mods. That will make the prices much higher.

 

i drove tsx for 2.5 years and i can sure tell you that tsx handles better than tl or tls. at high speed cornering, tl doesn't feel comfortable/safe compared to tsx i owned. i installed tein h-tech and progress rsb to add better handling feel somewhat closer to tsx. but tls is sure fast on straightways and it's much quieter inside.

 

I agree the TSX is more nimble. If the performance is not a big deal then TSX is good. Less power, better in the twisties. If you don't need to get off the line quickly then the TSX is a quick car, nice looking, fun. The TL is a bigger car of course, which is what the owners prefer.

 

When you are comparing to the tsx, are you comparing the handling of the modded TLs to a modded tsx? or a stock tsx?

 

With my TL Diet, you get both. You get a LIGHTER vehicle than the TSX and the power of the TL. True, the lighter weight does greatly improve the handling. Hell, there is even a thread in the 3G Garage discussion how SCAREY the TL's handling can be with too many passangers.