Since our minivan was totalled this past January, we've really racked up the mileage on our 09 MDX (some 16k in nine months ). So we need to pick up a daily driver ASAP. As we need an automatic mid-sized sedan, preferrably a well equipped (IDEALLY V6 powered w/Navi) with less than 75k on the clock and no more than 8 years old for less than $10k, I came across these two which could do the trick:

2003 Honda Accord EX-L V6 w/Navigation

and a

2003 Acura 3.2TL Type S

Both are competent cars that I've driven...particularly the Accord as I leased the 07 version of the same for nearly three years. ...and the only caveat on the TL is whether or not the tranny will tank.

So I'm looking for general opinions as to which you folks would select of the two and your personal pros and cons. Thank you.

 

By far the Acura would be the most comfortable of the two. The V6 Accord had similar issues as the TL did for the transmissions that I am aware of.

 

Tough choice.

I'm impartial to the Accord, since I pretty have have that exact car (+1 on the year and different color and rims).

Although I do like that Acura. Does it have voice recongnition?

If you have kids, then the Acura might be a better choice because of the rear vents (comes in handy on a hot day), and I wish the Accord had those. However, just be prepared for that tranny issue. The Accords don't have the same tranny issues that those Acuras do. Also be prepared for the higher fuel cost, but with an MDX, you already know that. Just depends on what is important to you.

I would rock the Accord. You know you want to...

 

Wrong. The 03 Accord V6's had transmission issues.

http://www.hondacarforum.com/honda-t...-problems.html

It's all over the net.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/A.../transmission/

 

Neither. Get a used Altima or Maxima. Your son has one doesn't he? I've driven Acuras since 1991 and I'm done. 165K and on my third tranny on my 99TL which are supposed to be the good trannys (4-speed).

 

Get an 02-03 Acura RL. Those things are bulletproof and comfortable. They didn't have the tranny problems like the TL.

 

They are different trannies. The TL has a four speed and the Accord a five speed.

I said that the Accord's don't have the same tranny issues, and that was probably not right. But overall, the trannies in the Accord will be much better than the TL.

 

I had a 2G TL. It was very comfortable. I lost the 5 speed auto trans at 102K. I think most Honda trannies of that era were prone to problems, as you know. Also timing belts are ready to be replaced around the mileage of these 2 choices.

 

Those two are on my radar except the Navi feature is few and far between in the 02-06 Altima and 02-03 Maxima/I35 (not to mention CD-ROM based Navi for the latter). (Yes, my son has a base 5MT 05 3.5SE.) I wouldnt object to something like this but with a 5AT and at least sub-85k mileage: LINK

 

That's a good point....and probably even more reason to consider the Altima V6/Maxima alternative.

 

i agree. i like both the TL-S and Accord, but the tranny problems scare the crap out of me. i would just get a 3.5L Altima and buy a Garmin GPS

 

We have a Tom Tom one, which my son routinely runs off with many times without asking. (When I had the 07 AV6, the indash Navi feature made it a non-issue....though he asked to borrow that car several times.)

 

The TL Type-S has a 5 spd.

 

I'd honestly be afraid of the tranny in either car... therefore I personally would stay away from both.


My 2002 TL-S had a 5-speed auto as did my neighbors 2003 TL-P.

The 1999-2001 TL was the one with a 4 speed. From 2002 and up the TL had the 5 speed tranny.

 

he's an accord guy, what does he know

 

Here you go. Love this gen Max.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

 

I stand corrected. Thanks for handing me my e-ass.

For some unGodly reason I had it in my mind that the TL had the four-speed tranny.

So much for me knowing cars!

I still say the Accord, since the Max and Altima is hard to find with navi units. If you change out your tranny fluid often, you should have years of trouble-free driving.

I have had zero unscheduled maintenace on my Accord.

 

^Doesn't have navi.

 

i'd go with a 5.5g maxima...

 

Good miles and condition but looks to be a stripper (GXE).

 

IIRC, the 2G TL had a 4AT for the 99-00 model. But correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

 

 

Yeah. I saw the miles and like I said, I always loved those 00 - 02 Maximas. It would be a good dd though.

Garmin.

 

Through 2001... but close enough

 

My 01 TL had a 5 speed tranny.

 

 

I would probably go with the Accord. I have an '05 6MT, and although a different animal than what you are looking at, it has been a tremendous car. The seventh generation seems to be a good car with good serviceability.




Terry

 

The 99TL was the only one with a 4-speed tranny. 5-speed started in 00.

 

You're right. I went back and did some reading and the 2000+ TL was included in the recall/TSB meaning it had the 5-speed tranny.

They say the first thing to go is the mind....

 

neither, the tranny issues are present in both of those.

 

For those of you recommending a V-6 Altima, those had truly epic transmission problems (automatic models) as well.

The Accord did have transmission problems as well, although it seems it wasn't quite as "guaranteed" to fail as the TL's was. I'm not sure of that though.

Transmission notwithstanding I'd prefer the Accord. It'll be cheaper in multiple ways, from tabs to insurance to maintenance (that includes gas, where the Accord needs only regular). The Honda isn't as quick but still has pretty brisk acceleration, no doubt. It also looks a little fresher in my eyes and has a fresher interior.

It's pretty subjective, but based on money I vote Honda. However, there may be better choices out there. What about the Infiniti I35? I had an I30 and didn't have any transmission issues, but I don't know if they had problems like the Altima did or not. Either way they look clean, have plenty of features, and are comfortable.

 

i would go with the accord since it is a newer car compared to the 2g tl. That model accord was what the 3g tl was based off of... it also has the newer navigation

 

Aside from having two bad rear window regulators (and being terribly slow off the line), my old 07 AV6 was trouble free and a pleasure to own....especially when the price of gas skyrocketed to $4+/gal.

Too bad the loaded 7.5G sedan hasnt depreciated to the price point I'm looking for. (Although this comes sort of close: LINK )

 

I say Accord, so that you don't have to spend money on premium petrol.

 

It's not as prevalent in the Accord as it is in the TL.

 

Back in November of 2002 I had to make the same choice/comparison. I was debating back and forth between a 2003 Acura CL-S/TL-S or my 2003 Accord EX V6 Coupe. I decided to go with the accord due to the newer/better platform. It has similar if not identical performance to the TL-S and CL-S. What really helped my decision is that the accord is the much safer vehicle. It also has side curtain airbags as well as side airbags and 5 star crash rating all around. Go with the accord!!

 

2G TL all day. We have two, a 2001 with 230k and an 03 Type-S at 120k..both problem free.

 

I think you will find that the 03-05 accord with the J30A4 has more pep off the line and consistantly runs faster times.

 

Not faster than a 2G TL, if you mean that. But I maintain my position that the 7G Accord is a much better choice.

If the OP could manage to stretch his budget for the Hybrid (which would pay itself back a little), that's the Accord I'd go for.

 

I was referring to the J30A4 powered accords being faster than the J30A5 powered accords 5AT vs 5AT. As far as the 7th gen accord v6 being faster than a 2g TL-S its not. A 03-05 Accord V6 5AT would be a great drivers race as they run similar 1/4 mile times. The 7gen 6MT accord would walk away from a 2g TL-S with no trouble.