I'd like to get confirmation on difference with the Type-S model compared to non Type-S? Please let me know if I forgot anything:

- Larger 3.5l 286HP Engine
- Stiffer suspensions
- Different wheels but same 17" size
- Nav is standard
- 6 speed optional
- Type-S on seats (are seats otherwise different except for logo?)
- Heavier steering (is the steering speed sensitive?)
- Body kit
- Quad Exhaust
- Red interior lighting

Additional questions:

From what I understand the pre-07 TL has a stiffer suspension than the 07-08 non Type-S TL?

I understand the 5-speed Auto was redesigned for 07/08. Do they use the same AT on the Type-S and non Type-S?

Is the stereo the same on the Type-S as the regular TL with Nav?

I hear the Type-S Suspension is stiff but not too stiff. Anyone put 18" wheels on and if so, did it make the ride noticeably harsher?

Thanks much

 

Their is no body kit, just different bumpers.

Not really "Quad" exhaust, but Quad tips.

Red Cluster.

Suspension is better. The Type-S uses the RL tranny I believe.

Stereo's are the same. 17-18" wheels/tires will be fine and you will not notice it that much. Type-S wheels come in 17" or 18".

Everything is about right.

 

Never new there was an 18" wheel option as I've looked at probably 50-60 listings over the past couple of weeks and the Type-S wheels are ALL 17" on the listings I saw.

So the side sills are not different than the regular TL?

Anyone know if the non-Type S gets for the same years gets the exact same 5-speed but just with a less aggressive shift pattern?

If you put the AT in Sport, does it revert back to auto shift if you don't shift after a while?

 

Trans programming is different on the Type S, it's flashed for more agressive shifts. The 07-08 TL's all used a slightly modified version of the RL's tranny, the difference between a base and TL-S is the programing.

Type S comes with Brembo 4 piston calipers up front, both the 5AT and 6MT versions. On the base, the Brembos were only available on the 6MT models.

Type S has smoked tail lamps and side markers, base does not.

If you got the ebony interior on the Type S, it was 2 tone silver and black. The 2 tone interior wasn't available on the base model.

Type-S has drilled stainless gas and brake pedals, base doesn't.

Those are in addition to what's already on your list.

 

In looking at used prices, it looks like difference between same year similar mileage base with Nav and Type-S, is around 2K. Seems like a no brainer to get the Type-S for a little more if you can live with the stiffer suspension.

The car would look so much better with 18" wheels though. Maybe Acura put 17" on virtually all of them because they didn't want to make the suspension feel any stiffer?

 

The 17 "Dark Gunmetal" wheels are the stock ones. I've seen postings in my area (Sacramento and Marin) that sold a TL-S with the optional 18 inch wheels, which LOOK to be the same as the optional A-Spec wheels from the 04-06 TL.

The suspension is not that stiff at all. For comparison's sake, my previous car was an RSX-S and that was pretty stiff. Also, I drove my friend's 05 G35 Coupe with sport suspension and that felt more stiff than the RSX-S as well.

 

A 2004-2006 TL with a 6 speed manual will have huge brake capilers in the front that are black.
A 2004-2006 TL with 5 Speed Automatic has silver small brake capilers all around.
A 2005-2006 TL have an extra line of stitching on the inside
A 2005-2006 TL have the seatbelt anchored to the seat and not the floor
A 2005-2006 TL has a A symbol that is part plastic chrome, the 04 has a full plastic one.
A 2004-2006 TL has solid RED tail-lights
A 2004-2006 TL with Quartz and Ebony interior have Carbon Fiber trim
A 2004-2006 TL with Parchment or Camel interior have ORANGE WOOD trim
A 2004-2006 TL has a 4 spoke steering wheel
A 2004-2006 TL says HONDA ON WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR PARTS
A 2004-2006 TL has FULL AMBER reflectors in the headlights
A 2004-2006 TL has RED rear side markers
A 2004-2006 TL has satin exterior
A 2006 TL has a rectangle indent in the rims to have the TPMS sensor

A 2007-2008 TL has euro blinkers on the side-mirrors
A 2007-2008 TL has Fog lights at the bottom of the bumper with DRL's where the fogs were on the 2004-2006 TL
A 2007-2008 TL has a honeycomb cutout on the rear bumper between the muffler
tips
A 2007-2008 TL has larger grills on the front
A 2007-2008 TL has clear lenses Tail-lights with red parts within
A 2007-2008 TL has a 3 spoke steering wheel
A 2007-2008 TL has ACURA ON THE WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR PARTS
A 2007-2008 TL BASE has fake black wood interior trim
A 2007-2008 TL BASE has a clear middle section of the tail-light


A 2007-2008 TL Base has satin trim on the exterior
A 2007-2008 TL-S has a fake Carbon Fiber interior trim
A 2007-2008 TL-S has half clear, half Amber front reflectors
A 2007-2008 TL-S had grey rear side markers
A 2007-2008 TL-S has Chrome Trim instead of Satin Trim
A 2007-2008 TL-S had Huge Black Capilers in the front, both on AUTO AND MANUAL
A 2007-2008 TL-S has metal racing pedals


A 2007-2008 TL has a 10 spoke 17 inch rim while the 2004-2006 has a 5 spoke star rim
A 2007-2008 TL-S has 17 inch GUNMETAL rims.
A 2007-2008 TL-S has black rear capilers
A 2007-2008 TL-S has gunmetal in the tail-lights
A 2007-2008 TL-S has quad exhaust
A 2007-2008 TL-S has vertical stitching on the door-panels
A 2007-2008 TL-S has TYPE-S embossed into the headrests

Smaller things
2004-2006 TL ALL, the underside of the headrest, and rear arm-rest side (near the door) is vinyl
2007-2008 TL ALL, the underside of the headrest is felt, along with the rear arm rest

2004-2006 TL NAV uses 3.xx version, XM RADIO ONLY
2007-2008 TL NAV uses 4.xx version, XM NAV TRAFFIC, MP3/WMA, AUX, Dobly Prologic 2 added
2007-2008 TL-S ANC added
2004-2006 TL ALL - gauges are black with blue semi-ring, red needles and white, MID in right, PRNDML in left cluster
2007-2008 TL BASE - Gauges have brushed background, blue rings around, white numbers, red needle, MID in center, PRNDML in right cluster
2007-2008 TL-S - Gauges have brushed background, RED rings around, white numbers, red needle, MID in center, PRNDML in right cluster
2004-2006 TL NAV- HFL, Navi buttons in bottom left corner of steering wheel
2007-2008 TL NAV- HFL, NAVI, MID buttons directly on bottom of steering wheel face

2004-2006 TL NON-NAV - radio display and temperature display together in 1 unit, NO COMPASS, Manual Clock adjustment, Blue backlight added either in 2005 or 2006
2007-2008 TL NON-NAV - radio display and temperature display appear to be 2 units, Compass, Manual Clock, white text, no backlight

2004-2006 5AT TL ALL black leather shifter standard
2007-2008 5AT TL BAse, black leather shift knob
2007-2008 5AT TL-S Black Leather with carbon fiber center shift-knob

2004-2006 TL Standard suspension firm, yet soft
2007-2008 TL BASE- Suspension softer than 2004-2006
2007-2008 TL-S - Suspension firmer than 2004-2006, but less then 2004-2008 ASPEC

2004-2006 TL 3.2 ALL engine cover simple plastic with manifold uncovered
2007-2008 TL 3.2 BASE engine cover plastic covering entire manifold with A symbol
2007-2008 TL-S 3.5 Engine cover plastic covering entire manifold with A symbol, 3.5 In red on cover

2004-2006 TL Battery cover clips on
2007-2008 TL ALL battery cover has different attachment system with knob

2004-2006 TL Air box rectangular
2007-2008 TL Air box With cut on one side

2004-2006 TL, Headliner and pillars are grey
2007-2008 TL BASE - Headliner and pillars grey
2007-2008 TL-S- Headliner is ebony along with pillars

2007-2008 TL (ALL) has switchblade keys
2007-2008 BASE TL has regular brakes
2007-2008 TL-S has Brembo Brakes (big black ones with acura on them)

 

i dont know if this is just like a bug in my car or not but i find it pretty cool. in my 08 tl-s the third brake light blinks as i ease on the brake pedal and it comes to a full red light when im at a full stop or when the brakes are fully engaged. i havent seen any other type s do this.

and the type s also has a lot of torque steer.

 

unfortunatly, torque steer is unavoidable when you mix FWD with an engine with that much power. i drive an 08 3.2 tl and its quite noticeable with hard accleration, im sure its even worse on the TYPE S, that was one of the few turn offs for the tl in my IMO. acura offers an AWD version now in the 4th gen.

 

can a type s bumper fit a 2005 tl?

 

yes it can, but once it's all said and done it'll be upwards of 800 dollars!

 

TypeS>Not TypeS

 

Depends on what your talking about...

04-06 Supercharged TL > TL-S > Base TL > 04-06 TL

But if you throw in the option for navi then it can all change

 

Can a type-s front under spoiler fit a 2005 base?

 

Never mind, found out you need a type-s bumper in order to fit the front under spoiler aka a-spec.

 

Hey everyone, does anybody have experience with XLR8 Exhaust on their 07-08 Type-S? I think the ATLP Quad Exhaust might not be loud enough! thanks

 

ATLP exaust is the way to goloud at wide open throttle. nice low growl cruising.

 

I have the XLR8 resonated version on my 07 TL-S love it and basically ZERO drone in cabin

Pricey mod deffinately but worth it IMO

 

Buy a used low mileage 2007 Type-S with a manual, you won't regret it.

 

...thats what i did.....

 

Is the a spec suspension the same as the 07-08 type s?

 

nope

 

+1

CPO is a bonus as well

 

S has bolstered seats.

Really hugs you through the turns.

I don't think anyone mentioned that yet.

 

red led ambient lighting in both footwells and by the sunroof controls.

 

Pretty sure that the TL-S and Base '07/'08 seats are the same....just different colours and TL-S badge on the headrest, that's all.

 

Yep.

To add some more, a-spec is stiffer and lower than Type-S.

Type-S sits at the same height as the base.

It's hard to feel any difference in stiffness between the '04-'06 base and the TL-S. TL-S has less bodyroll though mostly due to the larger swaybars.

TL-S has stiffer tophats.

18" rims were never a Type-S option. They came with the a-spec package which was available for every model including the Type-S.