Anyone notice that the TL's turning ratio..... simply put, SUCKS. My 03 Expedition turns better than this car. I'll drive through a parking lot thinking I'll fit into a space, and have to make a 3 point turn to get into it. I don't know, maybe I just need a little more seat time to get used to the car. It'll be two weeks on Saturday.

 

Radius.

Turning - Radius.

 

I agree. It does SUCK.

 

More seat time will only get you used to the fact that the ~40' turnnig radius does suck. Quite embarassing when you try to maneuver the "sporty" TL in tight areas.

It may have to do with engine size and FWD. I was recently at a Honda dealer and noticed that the v6 accord had a 39' turning radius, while the I4 accord had a 36' turning radius.

 

IT has nothing to do with engine size, it has to do with wheel base and the amount the wheels can turn.

As for the turning ratio, I think it is pretty good, my father avoided a few accidents already he would have gotten into in the ford taurus, thought that could be cause this holds the road much better.

 

yeh i agree. That's one of the very very few things i don't like about the TL. This car has got to be one of the hardest to park.

 

Interestingly, the V6 Accord Hybrid has the tighter turning radius - 36.1', per the specs. on the website for the 2005 Accord Hybrid. So it's not simply a function of the engine's size somehow getting in the way of things. The V6 engines are the same between the two models, and the overall size of the engine and transmission might even be slightly more for the Hybrid, due to the electric motor sandwiched in-between, although the transmission is slightly more compact to compensate. It sure appears that Honda could have designed the TL (and Accord V6) with a tighter turning circle.

(Specs. for the Accord Sedan are for 2006, vs. 2005 for the Hybrid model, but it was the same way for the 2005 sedan).

 

Look at it on the positive side. You will not be tempted to try and fit into one of those tight parking spaces that will usually result in the person beside you putting a dent in your side panel when they open their door.

Yes it sucks, but you either need to get over it or get another car.

 

It is a combination of the big transverse engine/transmission assembly, wide tires, and long wheelbase that hurts the turning radius. The V6 Accord Hybrid and 4 cyl Accords run narrower tires so they are allowed to add more steering lock thus the tighter turning radius in those cars.

 

The crappy turning radius was something I read in various TL reviews before I bought it.. Kind of worried me a bit before I bought it....

Then, I guess I completely forgot about it until this thread. Maybe I just adapted quickly so it wasn't such a big deal... I've had cars in the past which could turn tighter, but haven't really had the 3-pt turn issue with the TL. A lot of that may have to do with how you approach a tight spot. Think ahead and less 3-pt turns will be necessary.

The other reason why I may not have noticed is I generally park away from every car in a parking lot, so I never really have to go into a tight spot.

Tight spots = dents in my book. I've had her since May and don't have a single dent or scratch on my NBP caused by other people (meaning parking lots) by being creative with where I choose to park.

 

You dont know what turning radius is if you're comparing this complaint to your dad avoiding accidents.

 

I had read about this larger than expected turning radius, but have not really experienced any situations myself where it made any matter. The only regular driving issue I have that a tighter turning radius might matter, is when making a U Turn around the center median on the road leading into the parking garage of my office.

However, having become paranoid about scraping the rims on the curb (thanks to the heads up on this board), I avoid cutting it too close anyway. So I am leaving PLENTY of room to overcompensate for my fear of scraped rims...which would likely negate any benefit of a turning radius trimmed down a foot or two.

I need therapy.

 

Not quite....
The specs. on Honda's website say the hybrid uses 215/60x16 tires. The V6 Accord uses 215/50x17. Whether they are 16" or 17" is irrelevant to the width, turning radius, etc. So the hybrid and regular V6 widths are identical at 215mm. So tire width isn't the explanation with the Accords.

The 4 cyl Accords use 205mm tires, and the TL's are of course wider than the Accord's. Wheel offset can also have an affect.

 

Yep, it sucks. I cant make U turns into a 2 lane road. It has to be three or else I have to make a 3 point turn! It sucks!

 

Here is a pretty lame story for you all.

The first day I bought my TL, I went to a friends housing complex that is VERY VERY tight on parking. In the entire complex there was only one space wedged between two houses. It took me 7+ minutes to figure out that I couldn't maneuver the car in there head first, and ended up scratching up the front bumper (I was sooo pissed!, I went out and bought the A spec front spoiler to cover up the spot). After the 7 minute ordeal, and the scratched bumper, I just parked in front of my friends driveway. I couldn't believe that I had scratched up the bumper, that I only stayed for 5 minutes and left.

I learned really quickly that tight spaces were not for this car!

 

Actually, if you have a higher turning ration your steering is less responsive. I was driving my aunts toyota and when you turn the wheel almost nothing happens, so it would take longer, and farther, to adjust your course to avoid an accident.

 

 

I cant say I notice any problem with the turning radius.

I dont think acura would have made it poor for no reason, there must
be some difference between the TL and the accord that
limits the turning radius.

One advantage is the CV joints get less stress, and the boots should last longer without the axles bending at the joints so much.

I never would have guessed the accord V6 had tires as wide as whats
on the TL, the tires on the TL LOOK quite wide...

Brett

 

It is my understanding that it is a combination of wider rims and the amount of nose in front of the front wheels that makes the 'turning radious' big. If you look at other sporty sedans (G35/330I/530I) you will notice the nose is short. This allows good manuvering in a parking lot or tight space.
I had a 96 TL and it turned within less space than my current TL.
Three point, four point, five point turn, as long as I get into the space without scratching the car, big deal.

 

Best to be quiet when one doesn't know what one is talking about .... something you'll learn (hopefully)

This thread is regarding a turning radius (the radius of the circle the car travels while making a turn with the wheel all the way over)

You are trying to compare this to a turning ratio which is the number of times you turn the wheel vs. the distance the wheels turn side to side (poorly worded definition) and also confusing that with turning responsiveness which is more of a feel .. a more responsive vehicle has a better driver feel, less responsive feels sluggish. Admittedly these two are loosely related, but neither has anything to do with the fact that the TL is a pain in the ass to park.

Try and stay on topic .. it makes the thread that much more useful.

 

Sorry, just that it was TITLED turning RATIO. and, as you said, turning ratio and responsivness are related.

As far as the turning RADIUS, I have not heard my folks complain.

Do you think acura will adopt RWS any time soon to help with these problems?

 

I hope not. The car doesn't have enough HP and torque as it is. I'd hate to think about adding another 200+ lbs w/o adding atleast more torque.

I wish they would come out w/ a factory supercharged TL......... One can wish.

 

Ive noticed the same thing. My CL did it too. But it really doesnt bother me. I usually back into most my spots. But I do agree that you need some more seat time. I can tell from this thread and your other "I'm pissed" thread that you are already begining to look down on the car. Just give it time.

 

OK, we know jdm spoke of "radius" but the thread did mention RATIO....

Good point/response crazymjb.. I laughed at the obvious....


As for the comment from Brew:
"Try and stay on topic .. it makes the thread that much more useful."
The other way to keep threads on topic and "useful" is to resist the need to nitpick or challenge someone else and/or their post, whether they are right or wrong...... Correcting them in a professional/respectful manner is one thing. But when you do "otherwise", all you're doing is pulling the thread off topic - like I am now... So I digress

Anyway,
I agree with everyone's thoughts here. I never really noticed the TL's turning limitations. One day I was letting my wife drive and she made a u-turn resulting in a "two-step" manuver. She commented after the fact that her/our 4wd Z71 Suburban could have done that u-turn with road left over. Needless to say I didn't believe her. She proved me wrong the very same evening when we took the Sub out for a family dinner. I don't know the specifics specs but I would say the Sub turn radius is near 3-4 ft better than the TL.

Not a big deal for me, though it does effect how I approach maneuvering/negotiating parking situations etc.

Turn safe all

Cheers

 

It certainly is a big freagging deal! The huge turning radius on the TL is embarassing and ridiculous. In the 2 years I've owned the car it has caused me to scrape the front wheels numerous times. Our new 2005 Honda Odyssey, while a much bigger vehicle is WAY easier to part and turn because of the tiny turning radius compared to TL.

Besides the countless creaks, squeeks and rattles, the huge turning radius is one thing I trully hate about my TL!

 

Oh a hater^. Has anyone managed an e-brake turn on the TL. I ask this seriously as I am curious, though I do not mean to digress.

 

embarassing and ridiculous, are you kidding me?? its not that bad. I think you're letting your feelings on the countless creaks squeeks and rattles cloud your judgement just a tad. huge turning radius?. that just kills me, so what, you're embarassed that you have to put it in reverse one more time to turn around?? Ive never had any issues making a u-turn in my car. meh.......It amazes me the things you guys come up with to complain about.

 

Is that not equivalent to saying that this car is so damn fast that it has caused me a few speeding tickets, I ran into the car ahead of me a couple of times, and have to replace my brake pads every 6K?

 

YES! It's embarrassing that I have to make as many moves to turn around in this "sports sedan" as in an 18-wheeler!

 

No, you are really bad at coming up with a comparative situation. Large turning radius is a DESIGN defect of the car. Driving fact is a human defect of the driver. If you want to compare to something, compare to the poor rear view visibility of the TL causing people to hit things when backing out. That would be something real.

And, yes, it's not a made up problem. I have to switch between 3 cars all the time: my TL, 2005 Odyssey and 2004 Passat. The latter two vehicles have dramatically smaller turning circles, which makes it hard for me to judge the amount of space necessary to make a turn, when I drive the TL. There were a number of situations where I thought the TL would be able to clear the turn, but it didn't.

 

You are trying to back peddle out of what you said.

You just screwed up, no big deal.

 

yup i agree... our turning radius sucks

 

I think it is ok, coz TL is a big sedan... u just need to get used to it...

um.. btw, my A4 is much better ....

 

This has nothing to do with the vehicle size, but with how far the wheels would turn. As I said, our 2005 Odyssey, which is more than a foot longer and a lot wider, has a much tighter turning radius.

 

I agree. Turning radius sucks.

 

Actually the one way what this guy was trying to say could be true is --- what do people generally do when they are faced in an emergency situation i.e. a little girl steps in front of the car going 80 mph you turn as hard as possible. Now say you turn more than your car can handle at that speed and you get understeer (possibly) and /or the tail spins out and you loose control. But in our pretty TL's the wheels really don't turn as much (hence the higher turning radius) so regardless of how you, the human component, react the TL will still be less likely to loose control compared to a car that has a smaller turning radius...just my 2 cents. and ofcourse the VSA will assist.

 

I hate it............. it sucks!!!!

 

then why u guys still bought it?

Dealer didn't let u test drive it or what? lol

 

Most people, including myself, would not do a test for a turning radius, when test driving the car. Even if I did discover this defect when test driving the TL, this alone would not have been enough to prevent me from buying the car. At that point it was just TL or G35. Knowing what I know now about the sqeaks, rattles, terrible OEM tires (mine were the original flatspotters EL42s) and the huge turning radius, and having other alternatives on the market now, I would not buy the TL.

 

I have to agree with someone before, the turning radius is embarrassing more than anything to me. I can get used to parking it. Having to turn, reverse a bit, and turn again to maneuvar a parking lot in a car that is supposed to be somewhat sporty is crazy.

It wouldn't stop me from buying the car though.