I know, i know, one is used, one isn't. I am having a tough time deciding which to go for. IF I can get a used TL for about 29K (NAV, 15K miles) or a new TSX for about 27K (w/NAV) it is a tough decision. The TL has:
-More power
-more room
-IMHO, better looks
-more options like memory seats, more power features in the seats, etc.

The TSX has:
-More fun factor
-better handling
-more point and shoot since it seems so much smaller
-better gas mileage

It is hard to do!! I think I need the room of the TL when I go out at night and other people are in the back, plus the extra power will feel good compared to my other car. Though I don't usually drive with many people in the car, it is nice to have the extra room. The better gas mileage of the TSX is a big plus considering this is the car that we would take on long trips (we take about 6 350+ mile trips a year).

I know this is a decision that I need to make myself, but I want to see what others have used to decide on the TSX over the TL. Maybe Acura should cheapen out the TSX or raise the price on the TL to make them less competitive with each other!!!

 

Yeah, I would think size would be kind of important when you already have such a nice coupe. I'm not really a big fan of used cars personally, but I'd probably go with the TL. Or, in your situation, maybe even a fully loaded Accord (not to bring up any old arguments, I hope!)

 

TL since you have the G already....without a doubt.

 

I would go for the fully loaded TSX without thinking twise. You never know why the other person that sold the TL back did to the car. He must have had a reason to give in a brand new car at 15000 miles. I would personally no go for the used car since you are spending some money here.

I also agree with PG2G, A fully loaded Accord is not bad either, you get a V6 240HP and the navigation for around 25 K if you shop around.

But if your choices are those two without a doubt a TSX

 

First choice,brand new TSX.second choice top of the line Honda Accord V6.

Why would anyone get rid of TL with low mileage?.May be a hidden problem?

Boartman

 

Well, i was thinking about the accord, but it is just so boring!!! The TL and the TSX have the looks over the accord and I think that and the other little things that come along with the Acura justify the price.

Would a Certified Acura be a better idea?? Not that the 140 some odd point inspection really helps much!!

I do have a mechanic that has been dealing with only Hondas for the past 20+ years. We have been bringing cars (hondas) to them for years and have had great luck. I could have them check it out.

My other thinking is that the warranty will cover the car if there is anything hidden. Of course, if I go through a dealer and there are hidden things, if the car is in the shop too much, LEMON LAW!!!

 

You still have 35 k on the warranty with the used TL...people get rid of them for jillions of reasons, not all of them "hidden problems". Some people can't make payments. Some people opt to trade in and get the new RL. See where I'm coming from?

 

get a TSX and you'll look as if you had to settle for the TSX rather than had an option to buy the TL...get the TL, and you'll realize, "damn, good think I didn't buy such an ugly ass car with ugly ass tail lights" whenever I think about TSX, I think about RSX...so i'd say, if you're willing to get an RSX instead of a TL, then get the TSX, otherwise, get the TL...who cares about getting used...at least you already saved money by not eating up depreciation...think of long term...TSX or TL, do you even have to think?

 

I got to have a loaner TSX when my TL went in recently.
I made the right choice in the TL without a doubt.
The TSX looks very much like the TL on the inside but it falls short of feeling like the TL does. I too thought about which one to get when I wanted to buy a new one but after doing research I just kept coming back to the TL.
Do what you feel is best for you though. You have to pay for it afterall.

 

have you sat in both cars yet? after getting into a tsx loaner car, i can notice a HUGE difference in luxury/quality of the interior.. drives a lot slower.. more girly.. steering wheel is harder to turn.. thats just my opinion.

 

The TSX does not have better handling (although the OEM tires on the TSX are better than the TL's), nor is there any increased fun factor. You won't think it's very fun when a 2004 Toyota camry 4-banger beats you off the line - assuming you have the auto TSX. I'd get a new V-6 Accord if money is the concern - or save a bit more and get a new TL. Buying a used car is often (but not always) just buying someone else's headache. I'm driving a 2004 TSX w/ auto now while my TL is in the shop. I never thought $6K or so could buy so much more car - as when comparing the TSX to the TL. The TSX gets better mileage and is smaller. As for being more nimble, yeah, the TSX is easier to park, the TL handles far better otherwise. Any warranty with the used TL? I wonder if the RL is worth $15K more than a TL?

 

Get the TL. There is no MPG differance in most real world situations between the TSX and TL,Espesially on the highway (you have to really dog the shit out of that 4 banger to get goin)

 

go certified pre owned.... you get a seven year 100,000 mile warrenty with it... thats more then i got and i bought the car new, that really blows imo

 

The loaded Accord is a very good alternative to the TL -- nav, XM, gobs of power.

If you're very particular about fit & finish issues -- i.e. rattles and material quality -- then the Japanese-built TSX beats both the TL and Accord, which are built in Ohio.

I think it's a balance between features, quality, performance and reliability. There is no perfect car, and only you can decide which one's best for you.

 

An important point is which transmssion you want? The TSX auto is pathetic, though the 6 speed manual is very nice. The TL auto is excellent and the TL 6 speed even better. I have driven all of these combinations for many miles.

I chose the TL due to the fact I have a teen and near teen to cart around the elbow room is an issue with kids. The leg room was the same for either car and the TSX (6 speed) is more of a drivers cars than the TL (more connected to road in my opinion).

The other strange thing is I go skiing ocassionally and the TSX seats do not allow skiis through the back seats without completely folding down one side (Accord has armrest pass-through and folding seats). The TL has an armrest pass-through only. The tire size of the TSX is unusual as well, with few options.

The fuel mileage for the 6 speed versions of either cars is about the same, though the TSX auto is rated 34 hwy.

 

My TL was a service loaner with 309 miles, its acutally a "acura certified pre-owned" and i when i bought the car i purchased extra powertrain warrenty, expires 7-16-2011 or 100,000 miles which ever comes first for only $180 If you can get that, i would go with the TL, don't need 2 cars w/ similar cabin space.

 

Can anyone get that extended powertrain warranty? Even us new buyers? I know that extended warranties in general are a waste of cash, but with the tranny issues (or potential thereof...), for $180 I'd do it in a heartbeat until 100k!

 

My votes is for the TL.

I was in the same situation, until this weekend. I decided to fork it out and go for an 05 TL. I only paid a couple of hundred more for the 05, than a used 04.

 

While a new car is nice I'd have to say go for the TL. The TSX is a nice car but it's kinda like a poor man's TL. The TL has much moor power, handles nicely and just blows the TSX away in almost any category. I briefly considered the TSX, for about 10 minutes. I'm glad I went with the TL.

I'm assuming a new '04 or '05 TL is out of the question, correct? You could get a non-navi TL for about $30k. It's worth considering if you can't go for the price of navi. I love the navi but I think I'd rather have a non-navi TL than a navi TSX. Fortunately I got the best - a navi TL!

For long trips the TL is a great choice. Very comfortable and relaxed cruiser and it gets great mileage on the highway. I don't think the TSX could get that much better mileage to make it worthwhile.

 

Be careful with relying on the lemon law, having successfully settled to have my TL (2003 TL-S) replaced with a 2005 TL by Acura , I know there is a time/mileage limit which varies by state. Just my

 

I disagree with many that think buying a used car is such a crapshot. First off the Acura warranty is long enough to figure out if there are any issues. One other BIG plus IMHO is that the TL has already taken its biggest hit in depreciation. If you didn't like it you could more easily get out of it in a year or so without taking such a big beating.

With respect to the TSX if it is an auto I would NEVER buy it. The 6spd is much peppier but either way it doesn't have the low end power of the TL. I drove them all and bought the TL over the TSX and the Accord. The Accord is too damn ugly and I would never buy it. How could Honda screw it up so bad???

Keep in mind that the TSX is really just the Euro Accord so by lineage I wouldn't really call it an Acura in the truest sense of the word. It is like buying a VW Toureg and slapping a Porsche badge on it and calling it a Cayenne.

I personally found the TL to be a lot of fun and sense you already have a more sporting car in the G the choice is clear, buy the TL and don't look back. It definitely turns more heads than the TSX and the TSX is a nice car until you roll down the road in Germany and see a big Honda badge on it. <JK>

 

THese are the same exact thoughts I have in my head. The bad thing is that my wife likes the TSX better since it is smaller (this car is for her). I prefer the TL because I think it looks better, feels more substantial, and I won't feel like it is missing any power compared to the G. She wants a 6 speed, I want the auto (She is getting worse and worse at manual, don't tell her I said that!!!!). I guess I should let her get what she wants, but considering I will be driving it 50% (we leave the G in the garage a lot) of the time, I don't want to be upset with my decision. So far, it seems that it is going to be a fight between the two cars. I do think that my wife will cave a little and go for the TL since she really really likes the idea of the memory seats since we both drive it!!!

 

Buy the TL. I am definitely not regretting getting the 5AT even though at first I was concerned with it. I am definitely loving the decent low end torque combined with the 5AT makes the car feel very responsive and in less need to rev than the 6MT.

Have her spend some time in the auto TL. It might surprise you. My wife loved manual as much as I do and she was won over by the TL too. Her car is a 5MT and one of our shared cars is a 5MT and all she had driven all her life was manual too. TL is only the second car where she actually liked the AT. Our MB was the first.

 

the tsx is probably more fun but alot smaller....... is ur planing to modify it, get the tsx!!! go 2 tsx part of the forums and see the modified gallery, its awesome!!!

 

i would choose the TL over the TSX if it were new vs new. i have had bad experiences with used cars and no longer want to go that route anymore. even though i know the TL is relatively new it can still have its problems and i would much rather be in a new car than used.

 

i agree wit caball88, new tl is better than new tsx

 

I too found that an '05 wasn't much more than a leftover '04. I'd still go with the TL no matter what. The difference in power is worth the extra $$$ and the 6 cylinder is MUCH smoother.

 

The 4-banger Camry and Accords are much slower than the TSX, and the TL does not handle better than the TSX.

Here are some Car and Driver skidpad results for the TSX and TL:

TSX:
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g
link to article.

TL:
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad 0.81 g
link to article.

Car and Driver says The TL struggles to keep up with the competition too when it comes to handling as well.

Ask yourself this question, why does Realtime racing prefer the TSX over the TL when racing around the track against BMW's?

 

I'd be curious to see which tires were on the TL. Mine has the Michelins and they feel like they stick much better than the Bridgestones.

As for the TSX being a better racecar doesn't matter a whit to me as sometimes the best race cars don't make the best street cars. If I wanted a racecar I sure as heck wouldn't be buying either a TL or a TSX! Yoy can't fight the laws of physics and FWD starts at a disadvantage in racing compared with AWD and RWD.

I like the TSX but in auto form it is a dog! I don't think Acura ever intended the TL to be a race platform. It would be like using Scotch for paint thinner.

People need to consider the intended usage of their car. While I think it is quite possible to build a TSX that would kick the crap out of TL on the race track I still wouldn't be interested in it. I think the TL is a much better day to day car than the TSX. Just because a car wins on the race track or skid pad doesn't make it fun to live with on a daily basis. My race car is a blast to drive on the track but on the streets it is miserable even though it is still quasi street legal.

All the sacrifices I made to make it faster just punish my body on the less than perfect streets in my area. The TL is more of a GT type car in the original sense of the word. It has good speed, brakes and handling. It is designed to swallow up hundreds of miles effortlessly and surrond the occupants of its cabin in a very comfortable environment.

I don't car if it won't beat a viper or a turbo civic in the quarter mile or pull over 1G on the skidpad. I have other vehicles for that purpose. The TL is a very refined, comfortable and reasonably fast car that still turns heads without costing a fortune. The TSX is still a Honda with an Acura badge on it for all the good and bad that entails.

I personally like V6 motors and generally they are smoother then 4 cylinders. I like the fact that while the TL is a high revving motor too you don't really have to zing it to make it go. Every TSX I drove required me to rev the pi$$ out of it to make it go. Below about 4500 rpm it felt pretty flat. Conversely my TL pulls pretty well 2500 and up.

Let's put it in perspective. A stock TL weighs about 8% more but has about 50% more torque and 35% more HP. These are just rough numbers but it gives you an idea. Sure you can probably tune the TSX to make more HP but out of the box the TL is a nice car to drive without dinking with it and you can keep your warranty intact!

 

The TL--used or new--is such a better can than the TSX IMO. But, if you're looking at a used TL with 15k miles for $29k, my suggestion is to pony up the additional $2k for a new non-nav TL or an additional $4-5k for a new nav TL. If that's too much to swallow, I'd suggest you look at a new V6 Accord...yes, the styling isn't great, but it's a far better choice than the TSX IMO.

 

I came from a 2004 V6 Accord and I can tell you the TSX is a better buy.
Performance isn't everything the quality of that car is far below the TSX.

The TSX isn't in the same class as the TL, so the TL is a far better car inside and out for sure. I was just point out that the TSX handles better.

But compared to the new Accords the quality of the TSX is much better.

 

Within the span of 6 weeks I have driven a new Camry 4-cyl, 2 different 2004 TSXs and my 2004 TL. I'd guess on the skidpad, the TL had the garbage EL-42s. Upgrade the tires to Michelins, or, better still, Bridgestone LS-Zs and I bet the TL would have a better skidpad g-rating. Also, if you want to talk handling, look at slalom speed, not just g-force. Check out Edmunds and you'll see the TSX turning 62.5mph and the TL turning 67.5mph. Note, the TL did have Potenzas and not the crap EL-42s.

As to acceleration, the 5AT TSX is an absolute dog off the line. The Camry was faster. Mind you, I'm talking dead stop to 30 or 40mph. The TSX ceratinly has longer legs than the Camry, but it is a horrible dissapointment off the line in 5AT trim. It's not fair to compare the acceleration with the TL, so I won't state the obvious.

As for quality, the TSX is built in Japan, so I'd expect it to be tighter. Having driven the 2 I did, I wasn't hugely impressed, but I wasn't dissappointed either. The interior looks a bit cheaper than the TL (but not cheap), but that is to be expected. One big blunder Acura made with the TSX is the lack of a power lumbar support. Even the Camry had that!

So, having driven as stated above, I did not feel that the TSX handled better. It's smaller size made it feel more nimble perhaps? I would agree that the TSX handles well. But true highway handling... lane changes, banked curves on ramps, threading the needle... I find the TL a better handling car. My TL has LS-Zs, however.

 

stick with ur G. ur nuts.... a TSX after a G is very dissapointing, those TSXs are way too weak. i think my V6 jeep has more pickup than those things