Has anybody driven both to compare performance, not looks, and is it enough to shell out 5k more?

 

Are you referring to the 04-06 base 6mt? Don't think they made base in 6mt for 07-08.

 

04-06, they didnt make manuals base 07-08

 

Right, so you are paying the extra 5k for the Type-S partly because it is 1-3 years newer

I drove the base TL auto and Type-S auto, could definitely tell the difference in power, but its up to you whether its worth the money or not

 

Forgot to mention that I heard the Type-S manual has a shorter shift throw, but don't have any evidence to back that up

 

Soooooo many threads on this subject....which inevitably end in a flame war between those that feel the TL-S is not worth the money and those that do.

 

haven't heard this

 

For 5k more, I would get the Type-S. Considering that the 04-06 TL has no Navi.

Type-S has better suspension, faster, and looks more aggressive and its newer.

 

04-06 can have NAVI, mine did.

Although I wish I could have gotten the type-S, just couldn't afford it at the time...
Love those quads! (among many other things) Which is why I just got the XLR8 ones coming in today! Can't wait.

Oh yeah...I believe they upgraded the NAVI program for the 07+, but I love the fact that in the 04-06 you can change NAVI on the fly and you don't have to be parked.

 

Really? Then what might that big screen sitting at the top of my center control stacks on my '04 and '05 TL's be?

 

I own two 3G TL's, one of which is my '04 manual. Late last year, I did a favor for someone on this site by test driving an (I think) '07 TL-S manual at a dealership (our member lived in Texas). The shifter felt the same as far as its length of travel, but on that particular car, it was not nearly as tight as on my '04. While I didn't get into it, the general feel of torque was not any different than my '04. In fact, when I got back in my '04 to go back home, it felt generally better and tighter than the TL-S I had just driven.

 

Always quite articulate with your responses, but in this case, I feel a war might be on the horizon!

 

You don't have to be parked in my 08 to change anything...

 

There's a reason why the people that own a base trade up to the Type-S or they buy as many Type-S parts that they can get their hands on....get the Type-S, you want to be happy in the long run. I jumped on an 05 base and within 2 years got an 08 Type-S...it's like a night & day difference. Front end, engine, suspension, seats, headlights, rear lights, interior, brakes, power & much more are all different and worth it!

 

I am in love with my 04 6mt ASPEC...I have never even thought of giving the type s a second look

 

Folks, this is the OP's question. If you've driven both, provide some feedback about the PERFORMANCE. Otherwise, don't turn this into another TL vs. TL-S thread.

 

I have an 04 TL 6MT/Navi and I can tell you with just an fujita intake and comptech exhaust I can just about beat a stock 6MT Type-s. Ive messed around with a few TL-S from stock auto to modified auto, to stock 6MT to modified 6MT.

A lot has to do with the driver and knowing the best shift points for the best amount of power. Bouncing off the rev then shifting hard to the next gear is worthless. Having the mods to put the power down to the ground with a good driver is key.

 

It could be, but I hope not. Notice, I did say that I did not get into the TL-S so my driving impressions were based upon how I normally drive. And based upon that, my '04 felt slightly more responsive.

Now this TL-S was used and who knows how it had been driven or maintained. I imagine I should have gotten into it just to see how it did in order to convey a better impression.

So for my friends here on this thread, and this site, who have a 3G TL-S, no flaming or dissing was intended. It was strictly a seat-of-the-pants normal driving feeling for me.

 

I've had both - an '05 6MT and an '07 Type-S 6MT. As for speculation on the short-throw shifter - nope, the shifters are the same. To the seat of my pants, the power feels just about the same as well. Both are relatively quick cars, at least for front-drive sedans.

The Type-S definitely has tighter steering and suspension, though, which make it feel entirely different on the road.

 

I agree with BG74 - having driven an '06 6MT for 3 years before trading it for an '08 Type-S Auto... the Type-S suspension is far stiffer than the '06 6MT and the sounds of the motor and exhaust is how Acura should've done it from the start.

In terms of power, I don't notice a huge difference - although I definitely get worse gas mileage in the Type-S. I averaged around 24-26 mpg driving 40 total miles per day (mix 65% city/ 35% hwy) - to work and back in the '06 6MT. In the Type-S auto, I'm struggling to stay above 22 mpg.

If accentuated style, sound, and a firmer suspension are very important to you, spend the add'l $5k. I happen to think that the Type-S is an upgrade, but I have absolutely nothing bad to say about my previous gem.

 

Amen brother. I said the same thing when I test drove one! It was like a sigh of relief getting into mine. haha.

 

i drove both cars when the type s first came out a friend of mine got it in stick and I too both cars for a spin one right after the other, the only real huge difference is that theres more power from the motor but the actual acceleration process is identical. the shift lengths were the same too. as for suspension n steering the type s is way stiffer

 

Before you guys get in a hissy fit, I meant if the 04-06 TL he was GETTING has navi or not. Calm down kiddies

 

THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY TYPE-S!

 

I have no dog in this fight so hopefully people will consider me unbiased. Then again my drive time is limited to 45 minutes in each...

Performance, the Type-S is quicker, a little flatter in the turns and it feels "tighter" and more composed over bumpy corners.

If you plan on leaving it stock, it's very worth the 5K. If you're going to throw on aftermarket suspension and do exhaust mods, it's a tossup. The S has all kinds of little upgrades to make it a nicer better performing car but as soon as you throw a few suspension mods at the base (assuming they're done right), the handling will be better and you're just exhaust an intake away from equal straight line acceleration.

Then again, do the same mods to the 3.5 and you opened the gap again.

If it were me, a factory a-spec 6mt base would be very tempting compared to the TL-S but that's off topic.

 

13 off topic posts deleted. fail. again, if you have driven both, give your impressions, if not- keep it to yourself.