3-across in 2006 Audi A6 or 2009 Acura TL?

[ExpectantFather09]

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone for being so helpful with my earlier "best SUV for twins" thread. My wife and I made our decision and actually went to the dealer this weekend to pick up a new 2009 Acura MDX .. and then changed our minds at the last moment :o My wife had not yet seen the MDX up close prior to that, and upon doing so, decided she didn't want to drive something so big (she currently drives a 2008 Mazda Miata) after all. We figure we can get by with something smaller. So anyway, looks like we're in the market for a midsize sedan now.

We've narrowed our choices down to a 2006 Audi A6 (4.2 liter Quattro model if it matters) and a 2009 Acura TL (SH-AWD model). We'll likely pick up one of the two this coming weekend. The Audi has a slightly bigger trunk and is cheaper, which is nice, but the Acura is brand new rather than used and seems to have a slightly larger cabin and is a bit wider.

Does anyone have experience doing 3-across in either one of these cars, or know which one would be more suitable? I've done a little searching and have read that the Audi LATCH system can be a bit tough to figure out while the Acura one is pretty easy to use. Is there any truth to this? Right now we're a little more fond of the Audi overall but want car seat installs to be as hassle free as possible, and would gladly choose one over the other if there's a significant difference in this regard.

Thanks again for your help!

EDIT:

If it matters, the 3-across configuration would be one child in each outboard position and my wife in the center (pretty small at 5'1" and ~115 lbs pre pregnancy).

[DaniCPST]

I had a loaner 2009 TL for a couple days a month ago while my MDX was in for service and it was awesome! You can get three across in it easily...the backseat was very wide and easy for installs.

[SillyLily]

I have a 2001 Audi A6 and, if I were to have a "do-over", I would not buy the same car again. It is a pain to get car seats into. It is easier to get 3 across in my 2005 STI. It's not hard to install with the LATCH, but it is a lot harder with a seat belt. The Audi is a very nice car, the trunk is seriously HUGE, but it is more geared towards being a towncar type vehicle rather than a family vehicle. Just as a comparison, we had a Ford Escape SUV for a few weeks as a rental (when someone tried to steal the STI), and I found that it felt smaller and sportier than the Audi, and it was easier to park (especially backing in).

I don't know anything about the Acura, so I can't help there.

If you do go with the Audi, the Britax seats seem to install the easiest in it (including the Britax Companion infant seat, but I haven't tried the new Chaperone yet). It is very, very hard to get any seat other than the Britaxes installed in the center position.

Have you looked at the Subaru Legacy spec B? Very nice car, and roomy too. I don't know anything about ease of installing seats in it, though.

[codex57]

Man, I'd get the Acura just for the electronics alone.

[JerseyGirl'sMama]

I know everyone is different, and I know you have been back and forth on the sedan/SUV thing, but I just want to mention a few things since I have been there done that.

We had an '04 STI and thought it would be fine as a family car since it had 4 doors and all. Before that ride, I had been dead set against bringing our DD home in it, while DH (who LOVED the car, and wanted nothing more except a mere Skyline GTR :whistle:) wanted to upgrade. I wouldn't have it. Then we brought her home in it. And I quickly realized how little room we really had in it. Not that it isn't doable, but it just wasn't great. Also the suspension was killer, and not in a good way.

So when DD was 2 weeks old we bought a 2007 MDX. Went from small sports car to mid-size SUV. I wasn't sure we made the right decision, but after a couple of days I loved the room. The MDX really doesn't ride all that high which I was glad for too.

We still have just one child, but another one will be joining us this summer. I am actually thinking between the two, their gear, and my DH and I, that it is going to feel a little cramped. I really would not want 2 kiddos in sedan, if I had the choice.


My sister bought a 2008 Acura TL when she found out she was pregnant. She didn't have any kiddos yet, but was preparing for bringing her first home and knew she wanted something larger and more reliable than what she had. So, one kiddo and 6 months later, she traded it in for an SUV - a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. She is so much happier.


I know everyone is different, and it can be done in an even smaller car than the kind we had, but it just wasn't fun for us. I don't know if that helps you at all, but just had to share. Good luck!

[ExpectantFather09]

Thanks guys, glad to hear we have at least one solid option in the TL. We'd be getting the SH-AWD model with the Technology Package so the electronic gadgets are definitely nice, plus it's pretty wide (74" width) for a midsize sedan so it looks like a good fit for twin baby duty. Frankly we probably would have bought it already, except we're still trying to get over the looks of the thing -- the 2009 model has a rather polarizing design to it, and let's just say that my wife and I are on the "not that hot on it" side of the coin :) I suppose we'll get used to it over time though...

Thanks for the feedback on the Audi A6, I'd feared as much, that it may not be the best fit for two kids. My wife likes its looks better and she's in love with the trunk space (it's 2+ cubic feet bigger than the TL's trunk), but the interior does seem a little smaller than the TL. I've also seen a number of posts on other websites indicating that the lower LATCH anchors are hard to reach and requires something called ISOFIX adaptors (I'm completely ignorant on the details here though).

And yup, we'd actually given the Subaru Legacy Spec B or the brand new 2010 model a bit of thought as well, but we already have a Subaru in the family (2005 STI) so we figured we'd try something different this time. As a general rule, we try to make every new car something a bit different than what we owned before it, so since we have a couple roadsters and a compact right now, we figure it's time for a semi luxury sedan this time around. Weird criteria, I know, but life is short, drive lots of cars, something like that anyway ;)

Chances are good we'll be picking up the TL this weekend, just gotta spend a little time getting used to that "interesting" grill and rear :thumbsup:

[codex57]

I dunno. I find my sedan absolutely fine for 2 kids. I don't find a Tahoe appreciably bigger. Heck, we ruled out the MDX because, again, we didn't find it appreciably bigger (with 3rd row up, you have like no trunk space).

We'd like more space, but that means going to a minivan (or huge SUV like the Suburban or Acadia; but we don't wanna drive something that huge).

Anyways, I'm sure we could survive in a car like the Corolla. My point is that I don't find midsize SUVs appreciably bigger. Like you said, everyone is different.

[codex57]

Chances are good we'll be picking up the TL this weekend, just gotta spend a little time getting used to that "interesting" grill and rear :thumbsup:

Yes, I'm normally a Honda fan but over a decade ago, the styling just got weirder and weirder. Audi, conversely, just keeps getting sexier and sexier. Still, with kids, practicality tends to trump style. I'd rather have the cabin space to make installing seats easier than an extra 2 cubic feet of trunk space. It's not like the TL has a tiny trunk.

[ExpectantFather09]

I know everyone is different, and I know you have been back and forth on the sedan/SUV thing, but I just want to mention a few things since I have been there done that.

We had an '04 STI and thought it would be fine as a family car since it had 4 doors and all. Before that ride, I had been dead set against bringing our DD home in it, while DH (who LOVED the car, and wanted nothing more except a mere Skyline GTR :whistle:) wanted to upgrade. I wouldn't have it. Then we brought her home in it. And I quickly realized how little room we really had in it. Not that it isn't doable, but it just wasn't great. Also the suspension was killer, and not in a good way.

So when DD was 2 weeks old we bought a 2007 MDX. Went from small sports car to mid-size SUV. I wasn't sure we made the right decision, but after a couple of days I loved the room. The MDX really doesn't ride all that high which I was glad for too.

We still have just one child, but another one will be joining us this summer. I am actually thinking between the two, their gear, and my DH and I, that it is going to feel a little cramped. I really would not want 2 kiddos in sedan, if I had the choice.


My sister bought a 2008 Acura TL when she found out she was pregnant. She didn't have any kiddos yet, but was preparing for bringing her first home and knew she wanted something larger and more reliable than what she had. So, one kiddo and 6 months later, she traded it in for an SUV - a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. She is so much happier.


I know everyone is different, and it can be done in an even smaller car than the kind we had, but it just wasn't fun for us. I don't know if that helps you at all, but just had to share. Good luck!

Hey, thanks, it really does sound like you've been through the exact same decision process :D I'd actually waved the white flag and resigned myself to the 2009 MDX purchase this last weekend (I'm a self admitted SUV hater), figured the rear seat DVD feature would be a nice distraction for the kids and the 3rd row seating would be good when family's over, but my wife ended up getting cold feet at the last moment (resulting in a sorely disappointed Acura salesperson). Part of it is probably that she'd be going from a roadster to a SUV, which probably feels a bit weird/intimidating, and the other part is that our home's garage is an older style with a very, very narrow entrance, so parking a wide car can be a bit of an ummm spectable at times.

But despite my dislike of SUVs, I can't disagree that we'd probably get more use out of it in the long run. I certainly wouldn't mind having one around so we can forget about it and just drive it into the ground for years to come, it could be the workhorse car and free us up to buy just about any kind of cars in the future. You definitely make a good point, I'll show your post to my wife so she can consider others' personal experiences. Either way it's sounding like we'll be doing some business at the Acura dealer in a few days here, I'll let you guys know what we end up getting!

[DaniCPST]

Thanks guys, glad to hear we have at least one solid option in the TL. We'd be getting the SH-AWD model with the Technology Package so the electronic gadgets are definitely nice, plus it's pretty wide (74" width) for a midsize sedan so it looks like a good fit for twin baby duty. Frankly we probably would have bought it already, except we're still trying to get over the looks of the thing -- the 2009 model has a rather polarizing design to it, and let's just say that my wife and I are on the "not that hot on it" side of the coin :) I suppose we'll get used to it over time though...

Chances are good we'll be picking up the TL this weekend, just gotta spend a little time getting used to that "interesting" grill and rear :thumbsup:

I was so in love with the 09 TL we had I was tempted to buy one for my husband when I dropped it back off.

And while you and your wife might not love the looks of it:shrug-shoulders: I am sure 98% of all the other drivers on the road will.:p

Good luck with your decision and I hope you end up loving whatever you get.

[ExpectantFather09]

Yes, I'm normally a Honda fan but over a decade ago, the styling just got weirder and weirder. Audi, conversely, just keeps getting sexier and sexier. Still, with kids, practicality tends to trump style. I'd rather have the cabin space to make installing seats easier than an extra 2 cubic feet of trunk space. It's not like the TL has a tiny trunk.

Yep, definitely. If the car were just for myself or just for my wife, I think we'd look at something else entirely, but practicality, value, and dependability are indeed the primary considerations here since it needs to do family duty. Compared to the Audi, the TL's got a bigger cabin, likely better reliability (only speculation of course), and I can't argue with the price at $37k for a fully loaded model, so as a whole package I think I can "adapt" my eyes to its appearance. The trunk space is a minimal concern in the grand scheme, as long as it can hold a twin stroller without problems, I think we'll be fine. One of the first things I'll be doing is probably attaching a Thule or Yakima cargo box up top to increase capacity a bit anyhow. I'll pass all of these inputs over to our decision making machine (AKA my wife :p) and see what she decides on.

[ExpectantFather09]

I was so in love with the 09 TL we had I was tempted to buy one for my husband when I dropped it back off.

And while you and your wife might not love the looks of it:shrug-shoulders: I am sure 98% of all the other drivers on the road will.:p

Good luck with your decision and I hope you end up loving whatever you get.

Haha thanks! I'll post back once we pick up whatever the heck it is we decide to pick up, probably with more "newbie" questions for y'all. I'll admit, I was a little shocked when I first saw the new TL, but it's starting to grow on me a bit more now. I guess we'll be spending most of our time inside it anyway, and there's not much I can complain about there, that's for sure. Glad to hear the car does have a few fans out there, that'll help us accept seeing its rear in the garage everyday (KIDDING!) :D

[codex57]

Well, the 09 TL's looks grew on me a lot quicker then my own truck's looks did. But yeah, being from SoCal, interior is very important to me since you're inside so much and Acura has wonderful interiors.

[DaniCPST]

Does anybody else swoon when Acura's new commercial about all of their cars getting 5* crash test ratings comes on the tv?!?!

A whole advertising campaign devoted to promoting the safety of their cars won a lot of points with me (not that they needed more in my book).

[ExpectantFather09]

Well, the 09 TL's looks grew on me a lot quicker then my own truck's looks did. But yeah, being from SoCal, interior is very important to me since you're inside so much and Acura has wonderful interiors.

Words from my own heart :) The Ridgeline took a few years for me to get used to as well, and I'm also from SoCal and currently live in NorCal "land of bad traffic but not quite as bad as SoCal". So yeah I definitely know what you mean, the other thing that made us really consider the TL is the SH-AWD, we're avid snowboarders and wouldn't mind using it for the occasional Tahoe trip, grandparent-baby-sitter permitting of course. Currently we take my Subaru to Tahoe and for other road trips and the interior isn't exactly very stunning or comfortable.

[ExpectantFather09]

Hey guys,

Ok looks like we're going for the TL, have an appointment to finalize things at the dealer tomorrow. One last thing I was wondering: does anyone have any firsthand experience with twin strollers and the 2009 TL's trunk? I stopped by Babies R Us at lunch today and saw a bunch of twin stroller options covering a wide range of sizes. Some looked like they'd definitely fit and others looked borderline.

I guess what I'm wondering here is, what are the odds that no decent twin stroller will fit in the trunk of a midsize sedan like a TL? With the range of options out there, I'm relatively certain I can find a model that will fit, but please do let me know if I'm dreaming here. I think this is the last bit for now, thanks again everybody!

[JerseyGirl'sMama]

Haven't tried a double stroller in one, but the trunk is pretty good size. You should be able to get one in there, but I don't know that you'd be able to get too much else in there as well.

[ExpectantFather09]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the input guys. We ended up picking up a '09 Acura TL SH-AWD with Technology Package today. My wife test drove both the MDX and the TL and she ended up liking the TL. So that decision's finally out of the way and we're on to shopping for car seats and other baby gear now. All of your input was much appreciated!

[stevel]

terrific choice. I would personally love to pick up the manual transmission version of the SH-AWD TL when it is available this fall, but I don't think I'll be able to.

enjoy the car, I imagine is much more fun to drive than the MDX which I found extremely nice, but quite boring when I had one as a loaner.

[ExpectantFather09]

terrific choice. I would personally love to pick up the manual transmission version of the SH-AWD TL when it is available this fall, but I don't think I'll be able to.

enjoy the car, I imagine is much more fun to drive than the MDX which I found extremely nice, but quite boring when I had one as a loaner.

Hey there fellow Acura fan/owner! Yep the upcoming stick SH-AWD does look nice, the 6-speed should be a huge improvement over the current 5-speed automatic. The current car certainly isn't bad to drive or slow by any means, but I can't really call the acceleration very stunning either. Not sure if that's because of the relatively hefty weight or the ratios of the 5-speed, but I'm sure it'll improve either way with closer ratios. If we didn't need the car for shuttling twins around we'd definitely have waited for the stick model. My wife tried driving a RDX a while ago when we were looking at smaller SUVs and rather enjoyed it, she was quite fond of the turbo :)

[codex57]

It's limited by being FWD. Tacking on the AWD hardware to a FWD vehicle isn't gonna make it as fast as a RWD car, no matter how good the engineers are. Especially if there's a Miata in your garage. It's still a fantastic car though. I think you guys will love it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the double stroller. The Baby Jogger City Mini Double is one of the top rated/most popular doubles out there. For where you live, I think it'd be one of the top choices. It fits just fine in a 2009 Accord (my neighbor's) and my 2008 ES350. Both have comparable trunks, but the Accord is most appropos as you know since the TL is basically just a reskinned Accord.

[stevel]

It's limited by being FWD.

he got the SH-AWD, no FWD.

[codex57]

he got the SH-AWD, no FWD.

I know. See the next sentence after that. Audi has a great AWD system, but the A4 still feels... different. Just can't replicate the RWD feel. If you're doing AWD for AWD's sake, that's great. Subaru is a great example of that, with Audi leaning that way. On the other hand, Honda, with the SH-AWD, is really just trying to engineer a way to mask FWD's handling problems as best as they can. They do a great job of it, but in the end, it's just not the same as starting with a proper RWD platform in the first place.

[stevel]

I know. See the next sentence after that. Audi has a great AWD system, but the A4 still feels... different. Just can't replicate the RWD feel. If you're doing AWD for AWD's sake, that's great. Subaru is a great example of that, with Audi leaning that way. On the other hand, Honda, with the SH-AWD, is really just trying to engineer a way to mask FWD's handling problems as best as they can. They do a great job of it, but in the end, it's just not the same as starting with a proper RWD platform in the first place.

all audi's until the '09 A4 were 50/50, not rear biased at all and not performance orientated. audi = boring awd, sh far more pleasurable. the torsen system is great, reliable, etc. but....... nothing exciting. the upcoming S4 will have an optional performance rear diff with the same design as the sh rear end. down to the clutch packs and planetary gearsets and all....... audi=follow.