Hi, my wife is getting tired of the rawness of my 2000 Civic Si. She is expecting and can't take long trips in such a cramped, noisy, bumpy car. Due to financial limitations, I've been wrestling with whether I should trade in my Civic and get a TL, or keep the Civic but get an Accord/Camry instead.

I'm sure either the Accord or TL will make the wife happy. I'm just not so sure I can live with just a TL, though. I really love my Si for taking "spirited" drives around town, which involves heel-toeing at every corner and making the intake scream on its way to redline. The Si is just so tossable and light. It's a great stress outlet, ya know?

So the question: does the TL satisfy your boy-racer fix while being comfy? Or should I keep the Civic and buy a more mundane family car?

Torn.

 

buy another civic. that way we know where the boy racer clowns are. and the tl doesnt get down market.

 

Care to elaborate? Upon what assumptions are you trying to classify me as a "clown"? What, because I own a Civic do I deserve derision for thrashing the hell out of my engine? I hope TL owners aren't all this elitist!

 

Sivic2k,

I know what you mean, personally I'd buy the 6MT, take one drive in that car and then come back, I'll bet you'll still have a huge grin on your face after a drive in that car.

I'm kind of kicking myself for gioing auto, but the wife refuses to drive stick. Congrats by the way!

Edit: Not all TL owners have attitude, I think you'll be happy in the TL and it will pamper the wife.

 

Hmm, you pose a very excellent topic of discussion. The Civic Si is definitely a peppy ride and it can get up and go. Do you just share one car with your wife? If you want to keep the "rawness" of your current vehicle as you put it, I say just keep it and throw in a turbo for more fun. The TL and Accord are both family cars and the rides are very nice and smooth. I have a 98 Accord Coupe V6 now and I've done quite a bit to it where it feels a lot more sporty... i/h/e/suspension, etc etc.

...when in doubt, just go test drive and see what you think.

 

snoopy20,

What would the newest firmware give a T610 purchased back in Nov 2003?

 

Thanks for the replies.

Oh, and before this thread gets any longer, I'd prefer we did not discuss modding. Once modding is introduced in the equation, then we'll have people saying that I should sell the Civic and use the money to mod the Accord. Once we go down that road, we'll have another 10 page Accord v. TL war.

 

Sivic2k,

I think Z Factor made it clear we shouldn't go down that path again, I for one promise not too.

I think you and your wife would enjoy the TL a lot and it couldn't hurt to take one for a spin, you won't regret it.

 

My wife and I share the Civic. That's why I need to get this question resolved within the next, oh, 7 months...:p

 

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

While other forum members are entitled to their opinions on things, there was no reason for digital_b to make his comment to you in that manner, and I will be speaking with him to that end.

As to your question, the TL will allow you some spirited driving while meeting your wife's desire for creature comforts and safety. I would defiantly suggest you take a test drive or two and you will be hooked, along with your wife.

Good luck, and let us know if you become a fellow TL owner.

 

I am not sure I would call the TL "tossable". It does feel front heavy when hitting the curvy stuff. Why don't you just take a test drive to see whether it floats your boat?

 

I see a common trend here: just go take a test drive!

That I will definately do. I just wanted to get some honest opinions from those who have lived with the car.

Test drives have not always been that helpful for me. I always feel "inhibited" when taking them because I feel bad thrashing on what may not end up being mine. So I always just take it easy and fiddle with the climate controls and the stereo. Even the thought of beating on a new car makes me cringe.

 

My two cents. Traded in my 01 Accord Coupe EX-V6 for the 04 TL 6MT. After three days in the TL, I could never go back to my Accord or my old 95 Civic EX. Luxuary features alone made the TL worth it, all those little touches the Civic never had and the Accord only dabbles in.

 

Norse, check your PM. and btw, your answer is R6B004.

btw, I am making my long time girlfriend learn stick...next car she buys will be stick, she has no choice.

Sivic2k: how bout this....Trade in the Si for a TL, then get the old lady a used accord.

 

Nice suggestion, except that would thoroughly piss her off and I will be forced to sleep on the couch until Jr. comes, at the soonest. :o

Also, I don't think I can afford another car if I get the TL. $25k in car debt is about as much as I am willing to handle, which should be the cost of a TL (6MT/Navi minus Si trade-in) or for a new Accord (Auto EX).

 

I've driven all my friend's cars with a manual tranny and I gotta say there's nothing more pleasing than feeling the road, muchless "becoming one" with the road. If you are in this prediciment though... The Accord might be a better way.

Given your taste in sporty cars though, the TL might be the way to go. Like I said (and like everybody who has already mentioned it), go test drive them and come back home and give it a couple days to think about it.

 

Like other people, take a test drive. I suggest 6MT with HPTs. I was surprised how much the HPT added to the feel of the car. I could tell even driving 30 MPH that they were worth the money.

Also, do like me and toss it around in a big parking lot, making quick turns etc. You know the car is quick, you just need to know if it is tossable to your liking.

 

Welcome to the forum Sivik. I had a '91 Civic with manual tranny that I finally gave up because of my non-manual driving spouse , and still remember how fun it was to drive. The TL is DEFINITELY not that tossable as it is simply too heavy. It is a very comfortable cruiser for the wife, though, and does have just enough spirited handling ability to satisfy most drivers. I hear it's better with the A-Spec, which I plan to test drive shortly.

I will sound like a broken record but.....test drive will give you an answer, grasshopper.

 

Congratulations to both of you. I can certainly see your dilemma. A second car makes a big difference in a growing family.

An Accord is an excellent car that offers a great deal of value for your money, including (in your case) a second car. As your family grows, kids will increase the wear and tear on your car's interior, which may steer you toward the Accord also. If shifting your own gears is high on your list, you cannot get a 4 door V6 Accord with a stick.

I fully agree with previous posts advising you to test drive both vehicles before making any decisions. Once you do, you'll realize that with only good to say about the Accord, the TL's power & handling, exterior styling, and interior upgrades & amenities make it a much nicer car to look at, to sit in, and most of all, to own and drive.

Another consideration: If the new car is to be used primarily by your wife, is performance and handling a high priority to her? If not, and if you're not partial to Honda products, there are other vehicles out there that offer high reliability and good value as well. A Camry comes to mind. Kind of bland both in performance and styliing, but it also offers a high level of quality, value and reliability for your buck.

 

Forgive my ignorance, are you talking about the A-Spec package? Or are you talking about the factory 18 inch rims with summer tires?