[Vampyre]

Ive always liked the TL type s 6mt. But where I live now its best to have awd for 5-6 months out of the year. I been known to say that if the tl had awd I would really consider it in my next car purchase.

With that being said rumors have it that the 09 type s will come with the sh-awd system! Google it to find lots of links. Ive been looking at the new STi for a while now. Even talked to a few delears about it and found one that will order me one for the price I am willing to pay. I would be ordering an 09 STi if I did do it. But after reading a bit and heard these rumors of the tl geting an awd system I might just have to hold out on ordering the sti later this summer and see what acura brings to the table.

The price of both cars are similar when you add the navi to the STi. The STi is currently #1 on my list of future car purchase. Only other car I personaly feel comes close is the bmw 335xi coupe. But thats 10K more! Besides a little bit better interior except the head room I do not really see where the 10K is going other then the badge on the boot and bonnet. But with the TL adding awd and being priced close to the sti I might have to pick between the 2.

I know the STi will be more mod friendly but only thing I would add would be the rally armor flaps and a access port. Ive done the whole mod the car to death thing a few times and I really do not have an intrest in heavley modding a car anymore. Guess Im getting old :-)

What do you guys think?

[superhero06]

I think the Acura TL-S is a awesome looking car, if that car comes out with AWD it will be very high up on my next car list. One thing is for sure the new STi does not make that list, this is after a test drive too.

[FlyinbySTi]

I would strongly consider it too. I love the looks of the TL. You get the honda reliability and awd. It would be a great car.

[thekiffer]

I certainly would. I love the v6. Honda makes a heck of a car too! The interiors have so much more detail in them.

The things that make me hesitate are that the VTEC motors are notoriously hard to boost and the weight that might be added with the AWD system. 280 is fun but 305 is more fun.....One other thing. If they follow in most everyone else's foot steps they will only put the AWD in an automatic transmission setup decreasing the fun factor. In that case I would buy an G35X lots of aftermarket and still a pretty sweet ride....

But isn't this a 08 STI forum??????

[jmswinger]

Originally Posted by Vampyre

Ive always liked the TL type s 6mt. But where I live now its best to have awd for 5-6 months out of the year. I been known to say that if the tl had awd I would really consider it in my next car purchase.

With that being said rumors have it that the 09 type s will come with the sh-awd system! Google it to find lots of links. Ive been looking at the new STi for a while now. Even talked to a few delears about it and found one that will order me one for the price I am willing to pay. I would be ordering an 09 STi if I did do it. But after reading a bit and heard these rumors of the tl geting an awd system I might just have to hold out on ordering the sti later this summer and see what acura brings to the table.

The price of both cars are similar when you add the navi to the STi. The STi is currently #1 on my list of future car purchase. Only other car I personaly feel comes close is the bmw 330xi coupe. But thats 10K more! Besides a little bit better interior except the head room I do not really see where the 10K is going other then the badge on the boot and bonnet. But with the TL adding awd and being priced close to the sti I might have to pick between the 2.

I know the STi will be more mod friendly but only thing I would add would be the rally armor flaps and a access port. Ive done the whole mod the car to death thing a few times and I really do not have an intrest in heavley modding a car anymore. Guess Im getting old :-)

What do you guys think?

It seems that maybe you might be looking at two different cars in two very different categories. I would place the TL (any model) in a high class then the STi on terms of luxo and refinement(road noice, smoothness of the drive, road isolation). That TL is after a different market it is just the price that puts the cars heads up. I think if you wanted to compare the TL to a car in the Subaru lineup you should look at a Legacy Spec B. as that car is more in the same category.

Now even if you wanted to compare the two cars I think what you need to ask yourself is WHAT you want from your car. If Luxo and refinement come up in any of your rating system then the STi might not be your cup of tea.

That is just my 2 cents.

For me I also looked at the two cars but what sold me was the hatch design. Once I decided that was one of my requirements it pretty much limited what I was looking at.

[Vampyre]

Been hearing they will probley bump the type s to 330-350hp as the non s tl is getting the current tl s's motor.

Also if they only offer a dsg like flappy paddle gear box for the awd s version I think I would lean more towards the sti again.

If this was between the spec b and the tl s I would pick the tls hands down. The legacy is lacking something for me.

My main concern is awd and fun to drive under $38k and is unique in a way for my next purchase. I dont see many type s's out there and I see fewer STi's. Of corse if the tls breaks $40k then ill have an easy decision.

Im also comming out of a s2000 before that was a 05 STi and before that was a 01 Integra type R. Id keep the s2k as I love that car and in texas it was a great year round car, but it does not do so well in the winter where I moved to, hence the awd need now.

I would not be ordering the STi untill late july early august when I could order an 09. So I have time to see what happens on the acura front.

The hatch is an advantage the STi has over the tl.

[paikman]

TL type-S is a great car. The SH-AWD is ultimately much more primitive though than Subaru or the evo's awd system used for performance. It's more for safety and primarily fwd biased.

[GilMikalian]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

But isn't this a 08 STI forum??????

Bingo! But I'll play anyway...

I figure if you're considering the TL, you'll be happier with a Legacy than an Impreza. Will come closer in features, size, and level of luxury.

[paikman]

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

Bingo! But I'll play anyway...

I figure if you're considering the TL, you'll be happier with a Legacy than an Impreza. Will come closer in features, size, and level of luxury.

Yeah I think the tl-S is def a diff kind of image, even with the more "refined" STi.

[thekiffer]

An A3 or an 04 R32. I just came from the R32 side of things. Love that car. It isn't as fast or as safe as the Subaru and the R32 only has 3 doors but the aftermarket is awesome with many of the cars puting 450 to the ground with a turbo. The motor can handle 500 safely. The clutch is a different story. There are some great companies out there too, like C2 motor sports. The interior refinement of the cars is out of this world compared to the Subis.

Down falls 08 R32 and the A3 version has the paddle shifters which is hard to deal with in the snow. The A3 is 5 doors but much less agressive as far as performance from the factory and the extra room doesn't exist. The 3 door has the same back seat space with out the doors. The aftermarket is very expensive.

If I didn't have a 9 month old I would have another 2004 R32. It is a sleeper even if you mod it it just looks like a Golf on Steroids. Handles great, sounds great ,and no Turbo so less worries on the buying it used thing. Much slower than the Subbies but lots of aftermarket can fix that at a price.

[paikman]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

An A3 or an 04 R32.

Uh. you forgot that turbo kits for R32 are $15,000 to $20,000 and even then they only run 11.9 in the 1/4 mile with that 450hp. I know 1/4 isn't eveything..but if you're spending sti-ish money for a car, and $20,000 in upgrades net you that.. that's rediculous

[blindfold]

there is an acura RL, SH-AWD

[pisymbol]

I like the Type S but I have a hard time believing the new one with all of that is going to be 40k since the current one is around 38-40k? How does that work?

I agree about the comments - the SH-AWD is not a true AWD system like the STI and EVO but it is better than FWD. I really like the Type S and the only reason why it WASN'T on my list is its FWD (which I think is why Acura needs to change it to justify the cost over say a Beemer).

Definitely put it on your list depending on what you want....

I WOULD NEVER buy the R32 for what they are asking. Its borderline criminal in my eyes and again, as people have been saying, its tough to mod cheaply like STI/EVO.

[thekiffer]

Originally Posted by paikman

Uh. you forgot that turbo kits for R32 are $15,000 to $20,000 and even then they only run 11.9 in the 1/4 mile with that 450hp. I know 1/4 isn't eveything..but if you're spending sti-ish money for a car, and $20,000 in upgrades net you that.. that's rediculous

Check C2 8K at this time and very reputable and how fast do you think you are going to get the TL up to?

[paikman]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

Check C2 8K at this time and very reputable and how fast do you think you are going to get the TL up to?

8k is still rediculous. I wasn't comparing it to the TL, I already said the TL was a different class of car, for a different purpose. 8k you could have a built shortblock + gt35R.