Crazy88

I have my dads 04 TL for a couple days since he is outta town. You guys are so lucky ....the power in this thing is crazy, it pulls so hard from a stop and even from 40 to 80 it just doesent stop. I had a grin on my face whenever I would stomp on the gas. 04/05 TL feels like a sports car There is a HUGE difference between this and the TL-S.

Teh Jatt

well just dont wreck it please.....

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

That's funny, ... i regard my TL as sorta slow...

I still believe my fully modded TL-S would run circles around my stock TL... granted, I know you can't compare stock vs. modded... however, something about the '02 TL-S was more ... tossable than the '04 TL... i miss my '02

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

And... the '04/05 does NOT feel like a sports car... ride in a sports car, and you'll understand the difference (and I KNOW you said "compared to the '02 TL" ..)

That's why we rely on C&D and R&T... a more practical, unbiased opinion on the difference b/w cars...(sometimes)

ed99

That is exactly how I felt when I test drove the TL. I thought to myself "This car is a monster in power"!!!! Fell in love with the power and still enjoying every bits of it. DOn't get me wrong...I used to have a modified Type R Integra that pulled over 212hp clean hp to the wheels so I am used to the power of G-force and I felt the power in the TL and more no doubt.

Crazy88

Umm ive ridden in sports cars and i still think that the 04/05 is a beast of a car. Ive been in a Hennessy Viper and a 360 Modena and of course there is a difference. Its not like im comparing a TL to an Enzo

Bobbydoedoe

get some headers and intake on the type S, and it will run circles around the tl for sure

SouthernBoy

Everyone has their point of reference when it comes to cars and their performance characteristics. If you're coming from a small 4-cylinder mainline machine such as a Civic or Corolla, Saturn or Escort, of course the TL is going to seem like it has great power and handling.

If, on the other hand, you have past experience with cars pushing over 600 HP and 600+ lb/ft of torque, or maybe street machines with close to 500 HP and 480 lb/ft of torque, then the TL comes off a very nice, but nowhere near that league of players.

I come from the latter group. But I diverge a bit anyway. I admit that I really enjoy the performance of both the engine/drivetrain and the suspension/brakes on this car. I know that when I replace the stock EL42's with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires, the enjoyment will increase significantly more. I am constantly amazed at how such a small engine does such a fine job of hauling around a 3500 pound sedan.

So while I have past experience with cars that ran the low 10's, I have no complaints with the performance of my TL.. only praise.

SouthernBoy

But I must admit that I really would like more power. Say 300 horsepower and 280 lb/ft of torque would be just about perfect for this car.

F23A4

5AT or 6MT??

BTW: That's the same grin I have when I floor it in my Maxima; it's the grin of speed addiction.

cM3go

I think the TL has more than enough power, just needs some low end torque

FugittiveTLS`03

Same here... I miss my 03 tl-s!
the 02-03 tl-s torque would kick in at least 1500 rpms earlier like at 3500 instead of our 5000 rpms.......man i miss that

@cUr@-TL

i dont see how you can say the '04 is so much faster than the TL-S when they really are about as fast... that's if the '04 is auto of course...

i really like the feeling of the '04.. it really feels planted to the ground.. but i wouldnt say it drives like a sport car...

2K2SilverTL-S

There are times where I feel my TL-S is the one with 270 hp and my 04 is the one with 260 hp. I've mentioned this a few times, but the TL-S motor is stronger than the 04 motor down low. Heck, I even like my Type S motor better than the one in the 04 just because it sounds meaner (although the 04 does have a nicer exhaust note TL-S) and I can rev the TL-S a bit more than the 04 . Also, my TL-S can chirp into 2nd gear in SS mode, while my 04 can't. I will say though that the 04 motor is getting ALOT stronger with the more miles I put on. It's taking a long time to break this 04 motor in!

But, as far as refinement and structure, the 04 owns the TL-S.

Crazy88

yeah one thing i noticed compared to my TL is that in the 04 when i stomp on the gas from a stop it takes a while to kick in where as in my TL-S right when i stomp on it the thing moves

2K2SilverTL-S

That has something to do with the new drive-by-wire system in the 04. That's one change Acura made to the 3rd gen that I wish they never did!

Yoda117

that only really affects some of the TLs, and is corrected when the drive-by-wire system is reset... then the thing works rather nicely

SouthernBoy

Just a little while ago, I went to a CompUSA store. As is always the case, I drove around the lot until I found an appropriate spot for my car. And then I backed in of course (gearheads most always back in.. ever notice that?). So what do you think is two slots away from me?

A beautiful, gorgeous, solid black Cadillac CTS-V!! Man, I am drooling big time. SO COOL! That's the car I almost bought when I got my TL. Lust.. pure lust controlled me.

Yoda117

lust... control?

Never heard of one with the other before, lol!

I like the aggressive look of the caddies (and yeah... I always thought my granddad was classy with his; some guys have that classy cool thing all wrapped up), but I'd prefer not to have a car which constantly needs maintainence either.

Seems that everyone I know that has one has issues with theirs.

As for the power of the TL... hell yeah! Not too much, but not too little either. For a sedan, I think that it fits the bill rather nicely. Now just toss in some low end torque and we'll be set.

EnJ

Turn the VSA off and try it. I found my car accelerates much quicker that way. Also it does seem that the car gets much quicker as you put more miles on it. I've had mine since June and now I have just under 7000 miles on it. It's much quicker now than it was back in the summer or even a couple months ago for that matter.

ndabunka

The CTS-V would have been a consideration for me if it had not had that downright F-UGLY monolithic center console. I mean really, who could ACTUALLY like that interior?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

You're a stud... I've been in an F-16 Eagle and an F-14 Tomcat... so I have a point of reference too..

bro -- the TL is nice, but your comments exude over-exaggeration for its performance. Clearly, you liked the new '04TL compared w/ the '02 .. enjoy.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Exactly... they're effectively the same down a dragstrip, that's why I was "bashing" crazy88's comments ... he was making it seem like there was a greater difference than actually exists. Kudos to him, he has a right to his opinion, and I to mine.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

If it came down to the center console for you to make a choice b/w the TL and CTS-V... then I"m sorry to be the first to say this, but you shoudl have gone w/ the CTS-V ...

Running down the street w/ 400 horsies compels me to focus on what's ahead... not the funk-shway (phonetically spelled) interior design!

F23A4

Thank you!! and

If ergonomics is at the top of one's list then the ES330 beakons.

BrandNewTL

I agree the TL is a blast to drive. I especially like the feel of its straight line acceleration from a stop or when rolling. The shift/clutch action is very nice too. There will always be something faster and more fun than the TL or whatever car you care to compare it to, but that doesn't detract from the fun of driving the TL.

Enjoy!

Acuraluvr

iTrader: (2)

i think the tl is a blast 2 drive!!! really!!! whenever i take the car in after a wash, i turn off the vsa and push on the gas and let off really quickly to hear the tires squeal...lol

tkx

....ummm.... Headers and intake will not take a car from not beating, to "running circles" around something. You're not talking major amounts of extra HP there.. also, that being said, then throw some headers and intake on the 05TL..

Sorry, I just don't like comments like that... they aren't justified... ya sure you can get a civic to run circles around the TL... but mods are mods..

Like PeterUbers said, you can't compare stock to modded.

SouthernBoy

Vehicle looks, both exterior and interior, take a back seat to performance with me. Unless, of course, it's just downright fugly.

The CTS-V was the strongest contender when I was close to purchasing last July. I probably would have gone that route had I not heard of a few surfacing problems with the car (don't even recall what they were any more because I have nto regretted my TL). Had I not heard anything negative, I suspect there was a better than 50/50 chance I would be in a CTS-V today.

I love the power (horsepower AND torque), the sound of an American V8, and the kind of subtle in-your-face brashness of the CTS-V. Also, nice to have a machine that can lay claim as on of the quickess sedans in the world.

But think of it. Isn't it great that today, with all of the EPA crap and the enviro-whackos, we have cars like the CTS-V and the TL and a bunch of other really good cars for the gearhead to love?

sufall96

How many miles do you have on the 04/05 TL? Because I thought the same thing about my 03 TL S until about 3000 miles and man that thing opened up. I would put my 04TL up against my 03 Type s anyday. That is both cars stock of course. Any car with mods is a different ball game.

PS I already have a thread in cars and bikes on how I punished a black 02/03 CL Type S on the interstate. From my memory the 02/03 TLS and CLS have the same engine.

da808n

settle down child!

Dropkick1

just make sure to reverse the mileage before Dad comes home ala Camron re: Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

AcidHorse

You think that's spine-tingling, test drive the 6 speed version.

SouthernBoy

OK, so now the wife is trying to talk me info going to see a CTS-V. She loved the car the first time I showed her a picture of one. Man, my TL is not quite 6 months old yet! But another 20K and one could be sitting in my garage. Arguably, the best serious performance sedan you can buy.. for the money.