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As for Nav coverage, I think it covers the suburban areas too. I know for sure it covers Whistler.
Has anybody heard of these tires? Is this a good price for tires and rims?
I'm in Cleveland, so I will be driving in snow. I have the regular tires that came with the 5AT. Are snow tires recommended?
Thanks in advance.
Connor is a Tire Rack representative who is hanging out in that discussion over on our Aftermarket & Accessories board. He's quite helpful - check it out and let us know.
Second, depending upon how much snow driving you intend to do, I think snow tires may be unnecessary over the all-seasons. I ended up going for the HPT package, but we won't drive our TL to northwest PA in the dead of winter. My old Maxima SE managed pretty well in light snow with all-season, HR rated tires. But at the point I wished for some extra traction, I quickly reach the point where I'd take our SUV in lieu of any car, snow tires or not. It seems that all-seasons, as long as the tread isn't too worn, do fairly well in light (<4") or packed snow. Snow tires, while they offer some extra traction, won't propel a low riding TL through 8+ inches of unplowed snow.
My recommendation is that if the TL is your only vehicle, go for the snows/rims. At the least, you will have an extra set of rims in case you meet a nasty pothole and for the general wear and tear of winter salt and slop. But if you also happen to have an SUV, I'd save the money and keep the TL parked in the worst conditions. Good luck.
I cackle with glee when I think about how much bang for the buck this car provides for $31 and change. You couldn't pay me to drive a hideous Bangle-butt BMW anyway, even if they didn't cost thousands more than the TL.
Gets 25 mpg around L.A. in stop-and-go mixed freeway and street driving at average speed of 33 mph. That's a 10% improvement over my V6 Saab and thus makes up for the higher price of premium gas.
Bluetooth and XM radio are two of my favorite features so far. Ordered a couple of DVD-A discs that should arrive in a couple of days.
I would have paid $2000 more for navi but not $3900 more. I'll be considering a TomTom GO when it comes out later this month (www.tomtom.com). That way I can use it in the minivan too for family road trips.
One little rattle from the inner moonroof door; it goes away when I slide it open. I'll talk to the dealer about it at the first service. Tire flatspotting is not an issue in warm climates.
All in all, this car rocks. I'm sure the 05 will be even more refined, but hey, I needed a car now and it sure is fine.
It's an aftermarket navigation system.
And yes, I got the Abyss Blue with Camel. Beautiful colour combo. I love it. But you're right, it looks stunning when clean, but it does not stay clean for long!
inside and out. Not impressed with acceleration.
Had 3 friends drive in 2004 Accura with full tank of gas, against myself in 2002 Taurus SE quarter tank of gas. Accura has 270 hp engine, Taurus has 200 hp engine. On two runs Taurus blew the
doors off Acura, by at least 3 car lengths.
Does this make sense? Am guessing 600lb of extra
weight in Accura, and it was brand spanking new,
odo read 11 miles. But c'mon 3 car lengths?
What gives?
You sure about the 600 lbs? Seems a little high. 3 in their car and 1 in yours, I only count 2 extra people...at 300lbs each. Did all the people in the acura weigh 300? that would make a total of 900lbs in the acura (heh...atkins worked for me)...with that much weight, those horses are looking pretty small to me; especially the higher rpm torque of the TL (relatively).
Did you start at the same time...or did you jump the gun? The person first on the gas has a HUGE advantage
How far did you race for? If it was 0-30 I could see you winning with extra weight in the other car. Quarer mile I would still bet on the Acura.
Maybe you're just an amazing driver.
PS- I have the 2003 TL TYPE S.
billyperks: Granted my TL is still pretty green at less than 1000KM, but I swear my CL-S was quicker, at least off-the-line up to 50mph or so.
But who know... Gatta time the run.
TL 04 for rental? if taurus for rental, no doubt about it. But TL lol, you really makes me laugh. Maybe if TL is as spacious as taurus and as cheap as taurus.
but not in the real world.I think Honda is the best engine maker for mass production.The shifting on this car is so perfect and the torque so broad I see no need for the manual mode except for marketing.For it's weight it takes corners very flat and instills confidence.Just needs a clipboard for speeding tickets.
So will the TL. Your point is?
If I wanted a high(er) performance car, I would have bought a BMW 3-series or a G35. The reason I didn't buy those is they lacked the sophistication (features, styling, comfort) of the TL. So this talk of 0-60 speeds sounds goofy to me.
Just my 2 cents.
Anyone got the 1/4 mile stats on the TL 6MT v 01 Mustang GT 5MT?
Its just for fun anywyas... right?
Subaru Forester 2.5 XT is timed at 5.3 for 0-60.
It would take are real world side-by-side test.
I find this a tiny bit hard to believe since there certainly would have to be some changes to the chassis of the TL and it is new.
But, SH AWD + manual transmission on essentially the same TL body, etc. would almost certainly squash those who complain that the TL has torque steer aplenty (I am one of those people, BTW).
Moreover, it would put the fear in both Audi and BMW, methinks.
Do you think they will offer a fold-down rear seat with the SH-AWD as a "cold weather" package?
Now if the TL can be had in a sport wagon with SH-AWD, I'd buy one...
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My personal thoughts were, "yes, calendar year 2005, NOT model year 2005!"
But to read the "confirmed" words one would come to the conclusion that they meant model year '05.
If you can't dogpile it, google it.
My wife would buy a TL SH AWD in a hearbeat!
1) It might help with torque steer somewhat, but the Acura system will still be based upon FWD. If I were really intent on getting a sport sedan, RWD would be the only way I would go. I've driven the M3 and S4, the M5 and RS6 and in both cases, the former were way above the latter.
2) In the TL especially, the torque to weight ratio isn't that great. The horsepower is, but it needs a fair amount of rpm's to achieve it. That's fine with me, but strap another 150-250 lbs on the TL and at 3700 +/- lbs, and I think you would find 238 ft lbs of torque to be lacking. Especially if the redline had to be reduced, as is often the case in AWD cars.
An AWD TL may be in the works, but I don't think a 3,700 lb AWD model at an extra $2k+ would be on my shopping list, at least not without an engine upgrade. Personally, a 3,400 lb RWD sport version would be.
I wonder how many other posters have driven the S4 and M3 back to back, or even the A43.0 quatro and 330i?? AWD may be a bit better than FWD in inclement weather, but I don't find it to be competitive with RWD in a responsive fun to drive sports sedan.
#2 (I promise I won't go into the long version but): there are no conditions -- and I am talking about everyday driving on the highways and secondary roads in North America -- where RWD is superior to AWD. Handling? Acceleration? (and in some cases even economy?) No, no and with the qualifier, also no.
And, I am also willing to concede points on RWD rear engined cars and mid-engined cars -- the case I am making is limited and narrow -- I am only referring to cars with the engine in the front, front wheel steered and either RWD, FWD or AWD -- AWD "wins" in all the categories most of us vote on/in with our dollars. While horsepower may be slowly killing FWD (see an earlier post of mine) and while RWD isn't dead "yet" RWD's glory days for cars that people drive on the public roads are behind it. RWD has been given some life support over the past couple of years -- but every major manufacturer starting at the top and working down the ranks is morphing to AWD for reasons of performance, safety and ultimately (in some cases) economy even.
FWD may have some life left in it due to packaging and pricing considerations -- and oddly enough (because of the "economy reason"), FWD may outlive RWD's usefulness. RWD will soon be RIP. Even the new 5 series will be AWD within a year.
And, I have not seen or read a test of the RS 6 and the M5, but I have seen a test of the M3 and the S4 (in two auto magazines) -- the S4 was declared "the new winna and champeen" between these two cars.
The not so secret secret is out -- Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac (STS/AWD) Chrysler (300C) Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche, Saab, Subaru, Volkswagen, Volvo and probably several others I can't think of are all moving to either optional or standard AWD (partially or across the entire line -- Mercedes being among the first RWD stalwarts to promise all AWD all the time in all cars "soon.") They are not doing it because they think it won't sell or that they think it is inferior or that they think it will somehow "underperform." Quite the contrary.
The fact that Acura's TL has been popular despite every car journalist's virtual dismissal of the car due to its torque steer, only demonstrates the point that Horsepower and Torque are killing first FWD and soon to follow all TWD in favor of AWD -- it is the best way to improve performance (at this juncture).
I, for one, welcome AWD in the TL with open arms and MAYBE open checkbook -- we'll see what the new A4 has up its sleeve.
And, one more point, my wife and I drove two similarly PRICED cars back to back -- a BMW 330xi and an Audi S4 -- I know I know they are not probably intended to be driven and compared with each other. But the Bimmer was "only" $2K less than the S4 which made an insignificant difference on the 36 month lease payment. So, we were, essentially comparing apple$ to apple$ from at least one perspective.
The 330xi was a very nice car but it was anemic and shaky on its feet when driven against the S4. We also drove a 330i "performance" which was another $1,500+ and although it was better on its feet, it couldn't keep up with the S4 "burn some dust, eat my rubber!" kind of thing.
And, the latter BMW would have been virtually useless on the moderate snow days we get here in SW Ohio.
BMW 325i vs. BMW 325xi.
Acceleration.. 325i wins
Handling.. 325i wins
gas mileage.. 325i wins
Now, if you want to use a FWD car as your base..
Audi A4 Frontrack vs. Audi A4 Quattro.
Acceleration ... Frontrack wins.. though squirmy
Handling .. Quattro wins
gas mileage.. Frontrack wins
Now, where do YOUR numbers come from?
regards,
kyfdx
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My contention is that AWD outperforms RWD (generally and with the qualifiers I mentioned). If we take any car and add 150 pounds to it, I would expect its 0 - to something times to suffer slightly.
I did not make any claims pertaining to accelerative times. I certainly can look up such manufacturer's numbers and I do not quarrel with your data regarding 0-Xmhp or km or whatever accelerative times.
I also know and understand and agree with your general premise about the reasons RWD historically has been considered "king of der hill!"
Just as Power is killing FWD, AWD has wounded (mortally I am certain) RWD -- for years Audi and Subaru were screaming voices in the wilderness and companies like BMW and Mercedes were touting the supremacy and efficacy of RWD (and, at the time, with good reason). Now, however, no TWD system is seen (by the folks that stamp out the cars and want our money) as having a long term future.
The reasons, as usual, are mainly marketing (aka what will sell) oriented, but they stem from the buying public's ever evolving thought processes (as reflected in their purchases) that AWD just "performs better" than either FWD or RWD. And, most buyers, to this moment in time probably still feel that FWD is superior to RWD -- and, you know what, for the vast motoring majority, that conclusion is hard to defeat empirically (or image-wise for that matter).
RWD for all of its great legacy -- and I mean nothing but respect for it (past tense) has its best years behind it.
And one other thing it pains me to say -- because I would, if I had my magic wand, stamp out automatic transmissions -- automatic transmissions may just catch on too (darn it!) -- 6 and 7 speed autos, DSG's and CVT's are killing stick shifts. Just as you find it difficult to believe that RWD is on its last [rear] wheels, I will fight to the death for my "love" of shifting. Yet, my current 2003 allroad is, I fear, my last stick shift.
And now a moment of silence.
You'll notice, though.. that the big proponents of AWD (Audi and Subaru), converted their FWD platforms to accomodate it. To make up for their own deficiences. The addition of AWD to a FWD platform actually improves weight distribution.
But, none of that applies to RWD. Take any sporting car with RWD and add AWD to it, and performance generally suffers. The one exception is when the car generates too much power to be used effectively through just two wheels.. Not too many of those.. Porsche Turbo and Lamborghini come to mind..
Just my $.02
regards,
kyfdx
Edit: Not including foul weather conditions, of course.
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Anyway, I'll race you from Borcherding Subaru to The BMW Store for pink slips!! LOL
regards,
kyfdx
(no points on my license)
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It would just kill them.
Its probably bad enough for the German "heads of state" to begrudgingly acknowledge via their behavior that Dr. Piech was correct in 1984 when he said "all high performance cars will ultimately be AWD."
It must really gall some of them -- probably the reason that some of the former BMW execs are now at Audi (and yes I know, vice versa) -- but perhaps it is that "that was then, this is now."
RWD doesn't stand a chance of coming back to primacy. Just wait and see.
Do I get any sympathizers re stick shifts? Anyone, anyone? Buehler, Buehler?
And, just like you, I can't stop myself either. But this is all in good fun and, mark my words, SH AWD will soon be adopted and adapted and improved upon by everyone else, of course they won't use the same words to describe it.
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