Im about to go shopping for a new car. I finally decided to go with the tl instead of the g35 coupe. i hope this is a right choice. I was debating to get a g35 coupe but it is just to small for me and ive been driving a coupe since i could remember. I want a big car now. Right now i drive a 96 3000gt 6spd vr4. i want to move on up to a luxury car sedan. also the g35 coupe is about 5000$ more.
so i finally decided to go with a 06 tl with navi., but the problem is what should i get it in 6speed or auto? what should i do? love driving stick but is it worth driving a 6spd manual on a sedan? or should i just go with auto? but i like the look of the brembo brakes on the manual. i will be mostly the user of this car, sometimes my girlfriend may drive it once in awhile but she does know how to drive stick. im going to add some modifactions to the car(exhaust, intake, rims/wheels, and maybe the ronjon kit). do u guys think it will be better off the get a stick car if im going to mod the car? i also live in NYC, traffic everywhere.. and i also do alot of driving.. average miles in a week is at least 500miles -1000miles. sometimes i get annoyed driving my stick car i have now but i also love it too... oh my what should i do??????? help... lol..

 

also are there any other good forum for acura tl on the internet?

 

None as good as this one, so I would be hesitant to direct you to another forum. You can always google and find some that way and check them out, and then make your own decision.

 

If you don't have kids and it sounds like you don't, get a stick. Never test drove a stick, because the dealer did not have one and the wife wanted an auto anyways. But if it was up to me, it would've been stick. Don't know how clutch feel is. Best to test drive both. You mentioned girlfriend? You know it's going to be her's, right?

 

well there are fewer mods available on the 3g then there was on the 2g. So if you are looking for phow much you can mod the car... you would be better off with the G.

 

Im with hceck.. its all about the kids. If you dont have kids, go for the manual. We just got our car about 3 wks ago and we love it!! The car is perfect! Its very advanced for what you are paying. Just be careful if your girl drives it.. because guys like hot girls in hot cars.

 

i doubt there will be much of a diference between the 6spd manual and auto, engine wise.. it might be a bit faster to have the stick.. but im trying to debate if it is worth getting a stick car for a sedan?? hows the sticktronic(cant spell) on the auto? how bad is the lag?? also do you think its going to be werid to mod a car that is not a stick??

i really cant decide because of this... stick or auto?? this is one of the hardest choice i have to make in life... lol..

 

there is a big performance increase w/ stick in this car. If i didn't have a commute in the morning i would have taken stick for sure. the sports shift thing is pretty much b.s., it is successful in eating up a lot of gas though.

 

there is a big performance increase between the stick and the auto? hows that? i would just think that the stick will be a bit faster because u get to control when to shift and all.. not like the g35coupe, the stick and auto has the same horsepower rating.

 

I don't think you should worry if it is "worth" getting the 6MT over the 5AT. If you love driving a manual transmission, then by all means get the TL with the 6MT. I recently purchased a 2006 TL w/Navi. I test drove both the 6MT and 5AT models, and the 6MT model was hands-down the best driving experience of the two. Fun to drive and it makes you feel like you are part of the car. Many years ago, I owned a Ford Taurus SHO with a manual transmission and I liked it as well. Having a sedan with a MT is a lot of fun. Test drive both models and see what you like the best, but I feel you will enjoy the 6MT.

 

get a manual transmission

 

stick while ur young

 

The 6MT and the 5AT get the same mileage (from Acura's site):

EPA Estimated Fuel Mileage (city/highway)
20/29 mpg - Manual Transmission
20/29 mpg - Automatic Transmission

It's not fair to blame the auto for poor mileage. It's the heavy floor that does it. If you drive it easy you will get better than EPA and if your right foot is always on the floor you might want to take out a loan for you gas. I think about 2/3 of EPA is about right if you can't help your self!!!!!!

I had a CL-S 5AT before the TL 6MT and the mileage is very similar between the two. I get a little better combined mileage with the TL. About 1-2 MPG more due to all the traffic lights on to the highway for my daily work commute.

Regarding the transition choice, test drive both as they are very different. The 6MT has Brembos in the front and heavier front and reay swaybars. If your serious about your girlfriend/marriage consider her abilities if she needs to drive your car. Just don't be sorry later if the relationship ends and you don't have the tranny you want!

Good luck!

 

I think the manual trans TL is .5 second faster 0 to 60 mph, or maybe more.
You have to know how to shift it to actualy beat an auto car, but you can.
The gear ratios are much different, thats how both cars get the same
mpg, the auto is geared taller.

The manual has the limited slip differential, stiffer sway bars, brembo brakes, and
should be faster through turns, faster 0 to 60, and faster 60 to 0...

Its much more fun if you are not stuck in traffic.

Brett

 

Ops! forgot the limited slip differential on the 6MT. You'll notice if you drive both.

 

GET STICK!

 

Go stick. My other car (Maxima) is an automatic and I must say that 6spd is the way to go.

 

i test drove the automatic tl at the dealer but didnt have the chance to drive the stick yet.. i guess i gotta test drive the manual to see which one i would like... hows the clutch on the tl?? do even dealerships have stick cars to test drive?

 

my girlfriend has the 05 maxima se (auto).. its so comfortable to drive an automatic car in traffic and when ur tired.. still undecided to either get stick or auto...

 

Get the stick. If you want the fully immersive driving experience, you need the stick. The manuamatic will not be the same as controlling the drivetrain engagement with a clutch. Also, as you have mentioned, along with the stick come the mighty Brembos. The power profile of the TL's V6 is famous for it's power in the mid to high RPM band, not for its low end torque. This profile is a perfect match for the 6MT.

Kids or girlfriends do not determine your need for a particular type of transmission. We have a little boy who is 17 months old, and a little girl inbound on our position, eta March 1. While the four doors of a TL sedan will help immensely in moving children or extra passengers around they will not degrade your driving experience. If you believe four doors will diminish your driving experience, try passing that idea by the folks at BMW.

I have a Royal Blue Perl/Quartz 6MT Navi w/ High perf tires on order. It will arrive right around Christmas time, and I cannot wait. This car is an excellent balance of power, handling, styling, efficiency, and practicality. It is also going to be a blast to drive.

If you don't get the stick, there will probably be many times when you wish you had. The only time you will wish you had an automatic is during really bad traffic.

Did I mention that you should get the stick?

 

Yes, I strongly recomend test driving both the auto and manual cars back
to back, and on the hiway at 65 mph.

I noticed a big difference between the cars, although the auto car was brand new
with the plastic stuff still all over it.

The manual TL was much quieter and smoother, the auto trans car had much more
motor noise during moderate accleration, because the auto trans lets the engine
rev up much more than I do with the manual...this is under normal traffic driving,
I tend to shift at 3000 rpm when just poking along with traffic, the auto
trans car was going much higher, maybe because the trans had not learned
the driver yet, the computers update over time...

The auto trans TL has had vibration problems (minor), where our car
seems glass smooth at all speeds and rpm's.

The clutch operation on the TL is easy, and the pedals are placed well for comfortable driving.

The engine lacks off idle power, which makes it a car you have to pay
attention to when taking off from a stop, but i think you get used to that
over time.

One thing I sort of like about the 6 speed is you really can not smoke, eat,
drink coffee, talk on the cell phone while driving around town.
You have to have one hand on the wheel, and one on the shifter.

Too many people seem to be doing lots of other things while driving, and in so
doing, tent to drift in lane, not use turn signals, go through stop signs
and red lights, and smash into things.

I suspect someone who drives the 6 speed is paying much more attention to DRIVING the car.....

And find some nice twisty road/off ramps/etc, and its loads of fun learning
to use the shift points for maximum performance.

Brett

 

Auto comes in handy when in stop and go traffic and you need to slap the little ones around in the back seat. Makes it easier Your kid is still young. You'll see...

 

I plan to have them voice trained by then. I will be using one of the all time classics: "Don't make me stop this car! If I have to come back there you're going to get a beating you'll never forget!"

Ahhh, fond memories of child management traditions being passed down from generation to generation....

In any event, it gets much easier once the second one arrives, right? Because then they can play with each other, right???

 

If you've been driving a 6 speed, stick with a 6 speed...not unless you
got that 3000GT 6 speed unintentionally.

 

that's weird, i've found my auto doesn't shift at high rpm unless i gun it.

 

whats the lag on the tiptronic thingy on the auto- tl?

 

LOL! Is that your version of voice reconition? We don't have a second one yet, so I couldn't tell you if it gets easier. I've always heard that the second child is the wild/brave/bad one.

Hey keep me posted on how you handle your 6MT and 2 kids (when the second one arrives). I'd like a good laugh! Take care.