EMF213

While still considering buying a TL, I have been off and on thinking about it's size. Up close, the car seems small to me for some reason. A slight concern as I don't want a car that's too small.

So, in order to find out the true size of the car, I did some research. The research proved interesting to say the least.

Here's what I discovered when comparing the TL's measurements against some of it's competitors:

TL GS300 E320 CTS
Length 189.3 189.2 189.7 190.1
Width 72.2 70.9 71.3 70.6
Height 56.7 55.9 57.2 56.7
Wheel Base 107.9 110.2 112.4 113.4


Fr HeadRm 38.7 37.6 37.4 38.9
Rr HeadRm 37.2 36.4 37.7 36.9
Fr ShldrRm 58.3 57.7 56.4 56.6
Rr ShldrRm 55.7 56.6 56.1 56.2
Fr HipRm 55.6 55 52.4 53.4
Rr HipRm 53.8 56.1 53.8 53.8
Fr LegRm 42.8 44.5 41.9 42.4
Rr LegRm 34.9 34.3 35.6 36.2

Cargo 12.5 14.8 15.9 12.5

To my surprise, the TL is fairly close to each of these cars!! If anyone had told me the GS300 is actually SMALLER in external dimensions I would have laughed!! Am I nuts or does the GS not look like a bigger car?? Anyway, I thought this was interesting and would like to hear some feedback from others as to their initial opinion of the TL's size vs. the specs above...

PS - Sorry about the bunching of specs...In the preview they are in nice even columns but when I post them they get all bunched up...??? I tried fixing it but it doesn't work..???

leo221

those numbers are provided by car maker themselves. usually means nothing, you have to get in each of them to test out.

Mike_TX

Agree ... they don't take into account things like the dash jutting into your knees or protruding into the cockpit area (like the CTS's), or the width of the console or center stack.

These measurements are taken at points where some of these things don't get factored in, but they intrude more into the driver's and passenger's space in some cars than in others.

And that trunk size difference may not seem like a lot just looking at the numbers, but a couple of cubic feet in a trunk is a bunch ... that's one of the TL's 'shortcomings' IMO, as I need a good bit of space back there when travelling. My '04 Maxima, for instance, has 16 cu. ft. in the trunk, anough for a couple of extra suitcases or a set of golf clubs after the TL's is full!

Look at interior volume figures for a little better comparison. Caranddriver.com is one place to get these figures. Another is Consumer Reports.

Mike

VOdoc

I'm a big guy (6'1", not saying how many pounds!) and the TL is just perfect sizewise. It amazes me that people compare the TL with 3-series Beemers. The TL is a nice-sized sedan; the little Beemer is a go-kart.

Aquineas

Wow, I would have thought the GS300 is bigger also. Definitely looks more "bubbly". BTW, you can maintain your formatting in columns by using the VBCODE tags

sw1tchn1nja

I myself was torn between the GS300 and TL. Numerous times I found myself getting into the backseat to make sure the passengers had enough room and to my surprise it seemed pretty comfortable to me and i'm 6 feet. The one major difference bettween the TL and GS is the ease in which you can get into the GS. Getting into the backseat of the TL is much tighter then the GS, this is because the gap between the door and the wheel well is much closer in the TL. Even still I will be dropping off my IS300 and picking up a TL very soon. When dealing with the lexus dealers its pretty pathetic, their only sales line was, "Well the TL is a nice car, but its not a lexus" Pretty pathetic they cant even sell their own cars. Because i was dead set on a GS until i saw all the features the TL offers at a much lower price

EMF213

Thanks Mike...I'm comparing to my 04 Max as well. I'll check out the volume specs!

EMF213

VBCODE tags?? What are they and how do I do that? Thanks.

Mike_TX

Boys, boys! The "little Beemer" sits on the same wheelbase as the TL (107.3). The only dimension where it is significantly different from the TL is in overall length, where it is a tad over a foot shorter bumper-to-bumper. Guess that just means the Germans did a better job of packaging, huh?

The 3-series may be a "go-kart" to you, but it's one of the finest-handling and well-built go-karts you'll ever see!

Mike

Tedanddenise

I priced out a Beemer before I bought the TL. My goodness, it would have been >$42k to get some of the standard features my TL has. I don't plan to race my car on the track, so, why buy a Beemer? I do like my BMW R1100RT though, the Harley was too expensive for me.

Michaelvg1

Just over a foot. And that's not a huge difference?

It's not a go-kart, it's a beer can on wheels.

EMF213

When I was first talking to a dealer they said the new TL is shorter but wider than the old. BUT, they also told me the wheelbase was longer than the old...???

When I saw the 107" WB (shorter than most other cars of similar size) I went..."HUH?"

NightRider

I have sat in GS, CTS, G35, 3 series, 5 series, IS. You can also go to cars.com to find interior volume, which without a direct link, the TL is considered a midsize sedan with the GS, 5 series, E class, A6. The IS is a compact sedan along with the 3 series, A4, G35, C class, TSX, CTS. The CTS is NOT bigger than the TL I can tell you that. 3 series back seat is very cramped, more in line with size of TSX than TL. The TL looks small on the outside but is fairly big on the inside, to me this is a much better than a car like GS that looks big on the outside and them seems small on the inside. As far as compared to the old TL, this one is definitely shorter in body length, but in my opinion slightly larger in backseat and width. The TL is definitely wider than any car in it's price range.

How could you go wrong with a car that offers the performance, size, and interior of a midsize sedan at the price of a compact sedan?

Aquineas

Well, just surround any text you want formatted with the words "" when you're done (without the quotation marks). VB_Code is like mini-html. At the bottom of the window you get when you're posting something, you see a box that looks kinda like this:

Click on the link to vb_code to see a window of other formatting options.

Aquineas

Well, just surround any text you want formatted with the words in the beginning, and when you're done (without the quotation marks). VB_Code is like mini-html. At the bottom of the window you get when you're posting something, you see a box that looks kinda like this:

Click on the link to vb_code to see a window of other formatting options.

Aquineas

Well, just surround any text you want formatted with the words CODE in the beginning, and /CODE when you're done (without the quotation marks). VB_Code is like mini-html. At the bottom of the window you get when you're posting something, you see a box that looks kinda like this:

Click on the link to vb_code to see a window of other formatting options.

Liquid _Courage

Um, I don't know what your point was, but you just reiterated that the BMW is too small for VOdoc. Performance-wise it's good, but it's not passenger friendly in the back seat. Everytime time I sit back there, I have a tendency to lean towards the middle from the curvature of the side, compromising shoulder/headroom. It's a fricken nightmare to fit three people back there.

takkar

When I was thinking of buying a car in 2001...I sat in a Maxima and the TL and I have to say the Maxima had much more room on the back...I am 6"1' and so i have to be concerned who sits behind me too!!

SilverCL225hp

TL has a shorter wheelbase than many of those cars though, why don't you mention it? Plus, in my opinion TL is big inside, but also looks big outside. If you say it looks as compact as 3-series and IS300 I say you go see an eye doctor.

NightRider

No definitely not as small looking as those 2, but also not as big looking as a 5 series, E class, GS, but still have equivalent interior room. TL does have a shorter wheelbase, which is noticed when you try to get out of the backseat and must clank your knees together. I think they should have made the front door smaller and the back door larger, like a 52/48 balance. Right now it is about 60/40 balance. What's the use of a backseat bigger than competitors if it's harder to get in and out of?

Tecworld

what is the REAL length of the TL? It's sometimes listed as 186 inches, sometimes as 189 inches.

NightRider

My guess would be that that extra 3 inches is the ASPEC

fishacura

Who does that? Those 3 series BMWs are ridiculous. Talk about buying something just for the label!!!

EMF213

See http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90719

It's 189.

Mike_TX

Michael, you've just distinguished yourself as a blind TL groupie. By trashing the BMW 3-series, you're just disagreeing with the entire automotive industry, who have recognized it as the premiere sports sedan in the business for years. You can't find many more cars that have consistently received not only "Car of the Year" and "Top Ten" awards, but also accolades from folks like the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), countless auto design organizations, consumer groups and many others.

And, no, a foot's difference isn't a lot, when it doesn't compromise the other measurements ... that's what I meant by my comment that they do a better job of packaging. Anytime you can shorten a car by a foot and not mess much with the room for passengers and cargo, you've done well in my book.

So, go drink your beer and play with your go-kart. The grownups are going for a ride in their Beemers.

Mike