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Yeah--they're 35 series! I didn't say what direction the correlation was, i figured it was obvious.
A bit like deciding whether to worry upon entering a building that was labelled largely devoid of anthrax.
As C&D and others have written, the torque steer issue is most problematic with MANUAL TRANSMISSON TLs. By its very nature, the slushbox works to amelieorate much, though not all, of the inherent torque steer.
They are staggered, so that may play a role in it.
not to mention its negative impact on fun too.
I took a five hour road trip to Eastern Washington and back to play golf today and to just drive my TL. Great road to drive leading up to a mountain pass and through a gorgeous canyon with a river running next to the road. The TL is such a nice road car. I wasn't throwing it around as some do mostly because the road is notorious for state police and sure enough they were out at 7:00 AM when I was driving over. Sun was up at 7:00 and I drove home in 80 degree temperatures. I really got a dose of what a near luxury sport sedan is about.
The car is extremely comfortable, great sound system, fun to drive fast when you can and I got 30 miles per gallon coming home because there was enough traffic you couldn't really drive fast. I didn't feel any torque steer and I was doing 80 through some of the corners going over in the morning.
There surely are some differences in the cars being discussed here but the numbers are so small as to be almost inconsequential in most cases (.89 versus .90 skidpad..5.6 versus 5.8 0-60)
I believe the kind of driving I did today is the true measure of a near luxury sport sedan because I think it represents the kind of driving that 99% of the people who own these cars actually do. I am sure that my trip would have been just as enjoyable in a 330I or a G or an IS 300. I just happen to own a TL and today I was really pleased that I do.
Let's hear from the other members about great (and maybe not so great) road trips they've taken recently with their 'Entry-Level Luxury Performance Sedans'.
I dont think any of these car in this category is considered as a sport car. do you?
Life is short, enjoy it while you can.
I dont think any of these car in this category is considered as a sport car. do you?
Not many sports cars still made - Miata, 350z, RX-8, Vette and the rest are over 50k. So while not sports cars, we do have sports sedans - best of both worlds - room for 4 and the ability to cut loose and enjoy performance that was the air of only sports cars in the earl 90s.
1)Audi A4
2)Volvo S60 R
3)BMW330xi
4)Mercedes C320
5)Cadillac CTS
6)Jaguar X-Type
7)Saab 9-5
8)Infiniti G35
9)Lexus IS 300
10)Acura TL
11)Saab 9-3
12)Acura TSX
13)Volvo S60
Here's some of those not being discussed i would cross shop and consider :
VW Passat W8, Audi A6, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Maxima.
In fact, if i had to pick one, it would the Passat W8, cause it has some performance, some luxury, but most importantly, it says middle class suburbs.
My definition of "Torque Steer" is when the driven front wheels take steering matters into their own hands when power is applied, especially during a turn or when the road surface is sloped.
When I described the phenomena on I-80, which is (relatively) smooth asphalt and has two ruts, one for the left tire and one for the right, I was referring to Torque Steer, at least according to my definition.
Best Regards,
Shipo
We do have sports sedan and I prefer the real sedan size(not the civic size sedan) with a lot of comforting features and great power. Thats what makes the car alive. The lifespan of a car is so short, enjoy it while you can. Cheers :-)
I just took a short road trip to Bellingham and back last week. Unfortunately, it was in my company car...a 2000 Chevy Lumina 3.1L. It's actually a very comfortable highway car - quiet, soft suspension, and soft seats. For commuting, it's actually more than adequate.
I once read that one of the best roads in Washington is highway 11 (or is it 12) that goes from Mt Vernon to Fairhaven.
I drove it once last year when my wife and I went to La Conner for the weekend and it was a nice ride (sometimes gotta keep the pace down because of bicycles). Have you heard of it?
- A bit too small, especially back seat w/kids
- Climate control fan is too noisy and not enough AC for the fan speed
- Not enough low end torque with 4WD
Things I like about the Audi:
- interior quality
- steering is impeccable
- Bose is excellent
- Shifter and clutch like butter
I drove a G35 6MT a few months ago for curiosity. Great engine and steering. Things I didn't like:
- Interior is only fair after having an Audi
- Steering - I drove about 70 mph around a sweeping freeway interchange ramp. There's a spot where the pavement changes and there's a 1/2-1 inch elevation difference. When I hit it in the G35 the steering wheel wanted to jerk out of my hand - THAT'S the sort of real-world handling I DON'T like! I tried the same spot and speed later in my A4 and there was virtually no 'kick' in the steering wheel. In conclusion, the interior and this steering behavior were enough to rule out the G35 for me.
I'm now looking at the TL. I drove an automatic and liked it quite a bit. I'm going to go check out the 6MT.
Clarification on my previous post: I liked the steering FEEL of the G35, but when hitting bumps while in a turn at high crusing speed (moderate amount of lateral G's), the steering jerked quite readily, while my A4 does not do that. Yet the A4 retains an excellent road feel, as does the G35.
I know how you feel too kahunah, like you own the road. :-)
I dont go over speed limit thou, but I like it when someone try to test the car's acceleration, and they usually slow down(after they got the message), as I will too if they dont. (I know you know this)
Now I really enjoy turning on/off onto Ram but I always limit myself not to do that at night (I need to see the road clearly). Be safe is more important. Nothing can make me more happier than being inside this Car. :-)
But, on topic, the best road trip i took for pure driving fun was driving from santa fe to taos. There's two routes, both gorgeous. Once, leaving taos there was a row of 20 cars all bumper to bumper climbing uphill at 25mph. I knew i'd never be able to pass the entire caravan on the windy road ahead. So i dropped to second, and passed 25 cars on a long uphill, redlining third at the end. It paid off; there was hardly any other cars on the road following that, and the twisties were great fun.
dave
My own view is that FWD vs. RWD is not a factor in tramlining -- it's tire-related.
As for torque-steer in the TL, I've experienced a little bit of it in my two week old automatic (off-the-line, as others have noted), but it hasn't been problematic. Car and Driver has noted that torque steer is far more bothersome in the manual.
Good luck!
Where's the problem?
Honestly, cjs2002, you won't go wrong with either car, but the C CLass was an easy choice for me last January when I ordered mine. Even over the much loved G35 sedan. . . .IMO I just don't love the exterior or interior of the G. Now, the G35 coupe is the car I would LOVE to own, but my little 1 year old and his car seat were not a good match for that back seat.:(
Happy shopping!
I don't know what i'd get if i were to pick between those. I'd try to live with each for a day ( traffic, shopping, highway ) and see how i felt after that.
Remember what some magazine or guy on the web tells you plays no role in your personal satisfaction.
dave
brake pads are not even at 50% wear which is not bad cosidering 80% of my driving is in the city. The 6-speed can easily get 30 miles per gallon on the highway. I do wish the interior was a bit wider and like I said I want more power. However, whenever I see an officer around a blind bend with a radar gun I am glad I dont have the extra HP. Whatever I have I will use. You do really need to take both out on an extended drive. I have seen photos of the new C dash board and it looks much better.
Roll the dice. Cars are a lousy purchase anyway. Which ever one stirs the soul is the one to buy, IMHO. I bought a BMW - and that was after my horrendous experience with another German car - knowing it'd be a poorly built vehicle. It hasn't been as shoddy as my Jetta but my BMW's certainly not as well made as my last Japanese car - a dowdy, but solid 91 Nissan Stanza. Still, my Bimmer is fun and makes me smile, regardless of the trips to the dealer. If it were out of warranty...it'd be for sale.
I came here to learn about the G35x as I'm considering buying one. You know, it's from Infiniti, all wheel drive! Is the NAV any good? Any experiences to talk about? After flipping back four pages I've read about every car EXCEPT the G35.
Anyone know where that forum is? <grin>
Maybe you should look into which one has better safety record because while you're futzing with the auto winshield wipers or the nav., you might get into trouble.
Nothing could be further from the truth. don't worry about what Daddy thinks (unless he's footing the bill)
A 3 pointed star emblem does not automatically make it a great car, unless you just like the idea of having a "Benz", if that's the case welcome to poser city
cjs2002 - You should also be concerned at the fact that not one Mercedes model is recommended by Consumer Reports...not a one! All the models have predicted reliability ratings that are either fair or poor.
Infinity G35
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
In NJ all of the Mercedes dealers I have dealt with give you either a C240 or ML350
cjs2002
I have tinted the windows on several cars. They have a tint which keeps the car cooler than your regular tint you would find in the store. I don't know the type but ask the place who will install it if they are familiar. I have had every type of vehicle you could imagine tinted from Infiniti,Lexus,Mercedes,Ford,etc... Never had a problem.
This "Entry Level Performance Sedans" discussion is about a number of vehicles - you can read pat Mar 19, 2004 6:34 to see the list.
Our discussions get "categorized" based on what they are about. Since this discussion includes the G35, that vehicle is one of the categories, and that means when you list discussions that include the G35, this one shows up. But it doesn't mean that the only subject here is the G35.
I hope this helps explain things, but if not, feel free to drop me an email.
Oh, and it seems that qbrozen's link goes to messages that are a couple of years old - here is a link that will get you to the current messages: Infiniti G35.
(Thanks qbrozen - you have to drop the "/###" at the end of a link in order to get to the current posts.)
Me neither, they must not have enough MBs to give out, maybe they sell too many?. MB Dealers here in S. Florida have an rental car places right in the dealerships. <shrug>
Becuase back in the day when I had it done, the thing started to bubble horribly in 3 or 4 years.
It was the worst on hatchbacks because the back hatch faced the sun more directly. Side windows didn't have as much of a problem.
So the $200-300 they charge you doesn't seem like a good deal.
The factory tint jobs must put the tinting inside the glass or something because they don't seem to have the bubbling problem.