Hey guys, noob here and looking to buy a TL and having trouble deciding between a TL and a TL type S. Is it worth the extra cost? I realize a fair amount of relativity here and what one weighs as important, but I wanted a general consensus.

Gracias!

 

i think the answer would differ depending on who you asked...

a lot of people on this board are all about the modifications and they would say save the extra money and use it doing those mods...

others who don't really get into the mods would tell you it would be worth it for the extra performance...

personally...i bought a TL-S because of the extra performance, all the standard features, and the more agressive look. i guess it would be on you to decide if that extra few grand is worth those things...

anyways just my contribution. good luck on your purchase!

 

For an extra 2k- IMHO

 

For me it was no question. Fully loaded TL-S

 

Depends what $2k means to you. For some it's not a big deal, for others it's alot. So is it worth it is going to be different for everybody.

 

Get the TL-S. I have an 04 and love it but if I was in your position it would be a no brainer, TL-S.

 

It also depends on whether you're leasing. The money factors and residuals are better for the TL then for the Type-s. If it werent for that, I'd be in a Type-S right now.

 

You could always get a TL and mod it with 2k to your liking

But me personally, would go with a TL-S

 

TLS but dont we have several threads on this lollll

 

i test drove both a TL and a TL S before buyint they Type S.
my previous vehicle was an Accord Coupe. when i test drove the base TL, i felt like i was driving the Accord. steering felt light, body lean in the turns, a floating feeling going down the road, acceleration wasnt all that impressive. torque steer was about the same as in the Accord.
i know it shouldnt have suprised me as the TL is basically a fancier Accord but i couldnt see spending the extra money on it and almost didnt test drive the TL S.
fortunately, the GF liked the looks of the S and convinced me to take one out and i'm glad she did. the S is an entirely different car as far as driving feel and road manners goes. i feel much more connected to the road, the steering is much more responsive and there is a lot less lean in the turns. acceleration is good but i have noticed a bit of a lag when going to pass someone.

 

For me, the deciding factor is the red vs. blue gauges between the TL and TL-S. And because I'm not planning to mod my car, I personally cannot stand TL-S' stock wheels.

 

It's worth the difference to me. Upgraded susp, brakes and HP for just a little bit more.

 

Get the TL-S, no brainer!!!!! The extra cost is well worth it, and will be made up in residual down the road.

 

Honestly it depends on what you are looking for. I have owned 3 TLs and now an 08 TL-S. I had a 04 non-navi TL, 07 and 07 navi TL and a month ago got a 08 TL-S. The TL-S rides tighter and firmer, and handles nicer. If you have bad roads the Type-S does has a stiff rear that is very choppy on bad bumpy roads. Is the $2K worth it, well for me absolutely, not even just the performance enhancements. I like the Type-S lip spoliler, and tail lights. Hate the base TL lights. On my 07 I swapped out the base lights to Type-S anyway. The Type-S has slight more scuplted and edgy lower bumper and side sill moldings. You also get different headlight enclosures that are blackened out. Alo the 3.5 and AT (if you opt for AT) are amazing in their refinement, the car is just perfect in my opinion. I coudl do without the red LED interior, but have grown used to it. I liek the metal pedals. Also the Type-S seats are very good balance of support and comfort, a notch better than the base TL, although I could do without the 2 tone. My black interior base TL had a gray healdliner, but the black interior n the Type-S has a black headliner, which I prefer. Also the Type-S has the Brmbro brakes, which while not a huge improvement over the base car, are a subtle improvement, although they dust liek crazy 9I'm sure this is why they made the wheels dark). And speaking of wheels, I love the Type-S wheels (some love them, some hate them). I have owned enought 3G cars to say whiel I love my Type-S the base car is also still an awesome ride, I think whichever you decide you will be happy with. As to the comment abotu the base TL riding like an Accord, I'm not sure I buy that, i test drove an 07 Accord before I got my Type-S and while the base TL and Accord are close, there was still a difference.

 

I actually liked my 07 Blue Guages, but the red guages are growing on me.

 

i went with the TL-S..it cost me 1300 more, but for the red gauges, nicer wheels, extra power it was well worth it (i wont be modding it).

i think i may trade in next year for the 4th gen

 

is it 2k over the base TL or the TL w/ navigation? if its about 2k over the base TL w/o navigation then i should've just gotten the TL-S since navigation is standard.

 

Well some people don't need a built in navi, they may have multiple cars and want a portable navi.
BTW nice avatar : D

 

Id like to see an opinion from someone that had a full ASpec TL vs. TL-S, for handling purposes.

 

To get a manual transmission; there is only one choice now. The Type-S

 

+1! enuf said! LOL

 

$2K over TL with Navi

 

For $2000 more you get:

-3.5L V6 286 HP 256 lb/ft torque
-Sport Wheels
-Sport Tuned Suspension
-Honey Comb Finish on Trim of Front Grille and rear trunk lip and on lower bumper trim
-Blacked out Housing Headlights
-Clear Tail lights with red accent lighting
-Quad Exhaust
-Lip Spoiler
-Front lip bumper
-cleared out side reflectors
-Type S badging
-Red Interior lighting
-Leather Stitched pattern on side doors
-Two tone interior with better seats
-Aluminum pedals

I thnk thats it. If there is anything I missed please let me know. But yeah I would say its worth the 2k. That means if your financing its an extra $40 a month.

 

I don't know about you guys... but it wasn't just the extra $40 bucks that swayed me to the TL-P. My insurance was gonna be a lot higher for the TL-S.

 

Id personally go with the Type S model, just because I got one and it's bad ass..more aggressive looking, more power, fully loaded, and all the extra features on it adds up to its price..and come on man..its a TYPE S..Honda/Acura's Best

 

type s for sure, the 07 base looks ugly anyways lol i didnt even bother looking at the base model when i went to the dealership. plus the type s comes fully loaded, its well worth all the toys and upgrades it gets that the base doesnt.

 

If you can afford it, Type-S all the way.

 

I'm not recomending one or the other, but since everyone here is advising you to show the size of your shlong by going with the Type-S, you need to consider the flip side facts before deciding.

- That slightly larger Type-S engine is rated 3 miles less per gallon on the window sticker than the regular TL. Gas prices may have receeded for now, but ......
- As good as Brembo brakes are, they're $100+ more at brake job time and they have a nasty habit of dusting up the front wheels really good.
- Don't know how much power your looking for, but 0-60 in about 6ish seconds is good enough for me.
- Check with your insurance company, you might be surprised to find the Type-S has slightly higher premiums.
- You still get the backup camera with Navagation in the regular TL.
- I personally prefer the blue lighting to the red.

Good luck with your decison.

 

I love everything about the TL-S except the red lighting and two tone leather. But I can't afford one so that doesn't really matter.

 

Great list, good job. Also add:

- Upgraded Brakes (4-piston Brembo fronts);
- Active Noise Cancelation;
- Improved Air Intake (kind of a factory CAI);
- Improved Flow 3rd cat and Exhaust;
- "Smoked Chrome" trim.

 

Good observations, I will say since i have owned 3 3G base TLs and now a 08 Type-S, the MPG is nto that mush different. I am seeing about 1 - 1.5 MPG less compared to my 07 TL in same type of driving, although my 07 TL would easily get 27+ on HWY, I have yet to get near that in the Type-A, btu also have not done much HWY yet. My insurance went up liek $30, but it almost always does when i get a newer car.
The Brembros are a dusty beast, as bad as 1G 03 G35s or BMWs, I see why the Type-S wheels are dark! I too prefer the Blue LED accents over the Red, but the red is growing on me.

As to Gas, oh well, one thing if you read the manual, the base TL says Premium recommended and that the car will run on less at less than optimal performance, BUT for the 3.5 it says Premium REQUIRED and not using it WILL damage the engine!! Then there is the argument, if you are buying a $38K car are you worred about a few hundred a year in gas difference? I do hate putting $45 a week in gas, but then i get behind the wheel of the Type-S and basically the only thing better to driving the Type-S is well... sex, oh well maybe that depends on who your partner is...

 

actually im getting around 34-35 MPG in my car at highway mileage..50-60 MPH..maybe its all the mods I did

 

34-35 MPG? I dont know much about modding but what have you done to make it go up so high?

 

I just bought a 2007 TL-S. It was a pretty good deal compared to the 2008 models. Final price for the 07 TL-S was under the sticker on the 08 base model.

I'm excited to pick it up on Saturday. I'm not sure about fuel economy, but it shouldn't be worse than my current car (03 Passat V6), and the TL-S is significantly faster.

You just need to drive both and see which you like better. The S definitely has a stiffer suspension and seemed to have more torque (better acceleration) at lower RPM. I might not have gotten the S except the current incentives on the 07 made it more affordable than the 08 base model. I usally keep my cars for at least 5 years, so I'm not really worried about the depreciation on the 07.

 

[QUOTE=Bearcat94]Great list, good job. Also add:

- Improved Air Intake (kind of a factory CAI);


Can you tell us a little bit more about this "improved air intake"?
I was thinking of adding a CAI to my '07, but quite a bit of work. Maybe Acura has done it for me?
Thanks!

 

The CAI and Pulley gives better gas mileage..minor weight reductions..

 

I guess it all depends on what you can afford. There is no doubt in my mind that the TL is worth the money. But the TL-S fills the gaps on the base TL. All the gadgets and hp and interior/exterior differences are in my opinion worth it. That is if you can afford it. I dont know who came up with the 2k difference in price but if it is actually a 2k difference between the TL and TL-S then BUY IT!!! I dont know where you live but where i am at the price difference is about 6-8k possibly more. I have a 07 KBP TL-S w/Navi and I am loving it. The stiff suspension and belive it or not I feel more secure in the TL-S rather than the TL. When im driving its as if I'm "stuck" to the road.( if that makes any sense) Anyway ill stop rambling, Overall the TL-S is a way different ride/car than the TL. Go test drive the TL and TL-S and sit down and think about what you want to get.

 

I like the TL-S suspension...quite stiff, giving it that sporty feeling, and yea it makes me feel safer too

 

man, some solid input, thanks guys...I'll probably be making a purchase this weekend, so whatever happens, I'll be posting pix!!

 

tl-s no doubt unless u wanna regret it later on