By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
I drove both cars , 10 minutes apart. Luckily the two dealers were next door to each other.
I found both cars responded to my every wish. They took off when I wanted to and stopped as you would expect them to. My ultimate choice was based on:
- G35 brake problem concerns me
- TL is FWD, for snowy weather
- TL seemed better finished inside, and G35 nicer outside. But I decided I spend most of MY time on the inside, so who cares about the people I pass.
- Navi was neat on the TL, and very affordable.
OK, so what color? I have it down to black or silver, with the blue a third runner up. I have decided on black interior. I was hoping the Caramel would do, but its a yucky yellow butterscotch color. I like the parchment better, but not available on that car. Also like Anthracite a lot, but only on the Manual. Bummer!!!
Sooo... what color? Does the black make the car look smaller? Why do they have silver on all the brochures? Does black hide all the lines? Is silver and black interior a nicer contrast? Does black swirls on paint bother anyone?
What is everyone else buying?
Thanks again for the help everyone!
BTW, if Acura lets me pick and choose, I would go with the Anthracite w/Quartz interior. But, of course, the world is not perfect!
A business associate got his 2003 TL-S (automatic with 260HP) about the same time. He just got rid of it because he found it "boring" to drive(his words).
Do any of the Canadian owners of TL's have experience with discounting? Are dealers at all flexible? So far they have taken 500 cdn off, is it worth pushing more?
I live in Southern California - so at least 95% of my driving will be on dry, warm freeways. I'm torn between the G35 or TL. Either would have to be AT, unfortunately, because of the traffic. Considering mainly freeway driving, am I even going to notice the FWD? Or should I think harder about the G35, despite the lackluster interior?
If you're gonna do mainly freeway cruising, and not much twisties, RWD won't do you that much good. However, for me, RWD is more fun than FWD even on just local roads. But on freeway straightaways, I doubt you'll really feel the difference.
Both are great cars. Best of luck.
In addition to this, many (including myself) chose the TL over the G35 because it's a smoother, quieter and more refined car than the G on many levels, including performance. If you test drive the TL 6MT and the G35 6MT back-to-back (which I'm guessing you didn't), you'll see what I mean.
If you want refined flowing bla bla bla the G is not for you...and o by the way it has tons of usable luxury - i'm impressed with 5.1 digi music - but that format will never appeal to more than 1% of the music market - and heated seats, dual climate, reclining rear seats, the list goes on. Bluetooth may be cool but I didn't buy a 35k tech gadget. I wanted like many a RWD sprts car that is superior in handling and driveablity and goes fast. When kahunah speaks of refinement I think he's looking for interior fung schway (sp)cuz he's not going to find more refinement in a TL than a G regarding exterior looks (IMO) or performance driving as the balanced FM platform with RWD (IMO and most enthusiast).
Lets see - the foot brake and the convenient seat switches or Front wheel drive....hmmmmm.
-- The big plastic wrap around the climate control readouts on top of the dash couldn't escape my eyes when I was driving - it simply didn't look luxurious enough;
-- The dead pedal on the floor; I'm only a size 10 1/2 and I simply couldn't find a comfortable spot for my left foot. Don't know if it was the brake pedal or not...the TL simply felt more comfortable;
-- As comfortable as the seats in the G are, the TL's are even more so.
-- The TLs exterior is good looking enough;
-- The TLs interior is far superior (except for the Gs reclining rear seats which are uber cool.
If you really want a sports car, GET A REAL SPORTS CAR! No use jacking around with this "4-door sports car" nonsense. Nissan actually has a couple of them for anyone who wants one (G35 coupe and Z).
I didn't not find tons of useable luxury in that car. It does something well and should be judged on those merits. But it falls behind in other aspects.
When I'm cruising at highway speeds, I don't want to be hunting and reaching for buttons and switches -- something you would be doing more of in a G35, I assure you.
If you care that much about where the seat controls are - this car is not for you. The seat controls are there as a race driver designed them to be ergonimical and limit uneccessary movements - you know looking down into the door sills for it. It makes so much sense in context of your very argument about "restricting human move...bla bla"
Does it have all the human movement enhancement salable hype - NO. Is it nice - YES. The titianium willow combo is one of the best looking entry lux looking interiors out there. Is may not be as cream as a TL - and it sure is not an A4 the cream of the class, but it has all the amenities this class demands and the controls are nothing but a minor challenge for 2 days...then you say...ahhh- the radio controls are on the right side becasue I'm always in tiptronic mode and that exactly what works...you have to own one to see the sensibility built into it. It's not perfect but I want a "sports" sedan not a perfect interoir. Look Infiniti spent the money on the motor and the handling - and they got it and they bettered the class leader and they still are finding few if any in the class who can beat the numbers put up on the test track.
You can live with FWD compromise so I can live with some very fickle interior issues - that only the editors have - for one day that they have the car. I wont deny you anything regarding TL interior superiority. A real sports car I may never have at my size in the meanwhile - my 4 door sport sedan is the joy in balanced and capable apex management. When the weight shifts to the drive wheels at the last second before you start to exit the turn apex...you start to forget about bluetooth and not having to move your hands that extra inch to reach a control.
It's not a sports car by sports car definition - i agree - it has four doors yes and to whomever suggested I get a Z or G I am 6'5" and would love to get one....no thanks I dont want to climb down into a hunchback positon for 7 hour road trips. You clearly are not in sales as those cars dont meet my needs. The needs I have that are still met however are the needs to blow by so called sports cars like the boxster and the 330ci - on the twisties or from 20-100 whatever. And I don't feel to spartan on the inside. That 5.1 would be nice but my 2000 disk collection has no 5.1's.
I may have an awful problem since my seat controls are on the seat (god forbid the change from what everyone else has) but at least I got VQ baby. Define Sports car how you want - there are no compromises in G35 performace in this class....for the sedan or coupe.
Oh and if you worry about safety - dont get the NAV - I know plenty of cases at my buds law firm where #1 cell phones and #2 Idrive and #3 NAVIGATION SYSTEMS are big time accident catalysts...at least to the jurys who bankrupt the guilty and innocent alike. Just like with cellular phones - even when you are done dialing u still pay attention to something other than driving...ala taking into your cell phone = talking into your nav system - hey its nice but I wouldn't have a $2000 upgrade that gives me 300 bucks in hardware and 200 bucks in software...
The VQ has great low end torque, better than the VTEC, but it strains on the upper ranges of its torque curve whereas the VTEC engines have no problems there, much more refined.
Also, every Nissan/Infiniti car I have ever driven has had horrible gas mileage, much lower than the estimated gas mileage. On the other hand, every single Acura in my family gets better than expected gas mileage.
RWD-not in my part of the country.
I work on a main street and last year I saw plenty of rear axel cars pulling off to side in the snow storms that occurred.
Tranction control and weight distribution is pure baloney-try taking that rear axel when there is about 6 inches of that white stuff on the road.
Absolutely.
- Snow tires would help, no? Also ground clearance is a major concern regardless of the vehicle. A friend of mine used to leave his Jeep Cherokee in RWD to have a little fun in the snow. He did not have problems at all.
Its a great car but the interior is a signficant weakness.
On the other hand, that is personal taste. I know that some (like Chrisboth) really like the interior, and I can't fault them for their opinion.
M
I don't mind the seat controls (although I could see that it'd be an issue if you got big thighs). They're actually easier to use than the control that MB puts on the doors in the shape of a seat.
To me, the ergonomics in the G are fine. It's the interior of the dash materials that could use some help. But I actually like the feel of the G's leather seat over that of the TL.
No way on that one. That control is shaped like the seat itself and has been the envy and benchmark of the industry. Unlike the Infiniti contols there is no guess as to what button controls what, you simply just move the part of the seat you want to adjust. Only if all of Mercedes' controls were that simplistic. Others use it with permission from Mercedes-Benz. Most other brands use something very similar now, but they aren't allowed to put it on the door.
Wasn't Infiniti the one that got sued by Benz to change their seat controls way back when because they were too close to the Benz controls?
M
In any case, once you get used to it, I think the G seat controls are just as ergonomic as the TL's. The main downside to it is for people with big thighs.
"There is no way G35 would outhandle TL 6MT on the highway or street, racetrack maybe"
PLEASE show me one editorial or published number ~ objective anything that supports this. RWD alone makes the infiniti better on the street - streets have curves and apexes just like the track and many cane enjoy the benefits of the platform - the whole "you'd never know the difference unless you take it to the edge" thing is baloney.
Please start making RWD so that we the customers can go for our 4am 120mph coffee runs.:)
I think where people get confused is in thinking of the usual RWD advantage in ultimate performance numbers, so they figure there's no difference if "you're not pushing the car to the limit."
But for me, the difference is one of dynamics and feel. I like the feeling when a RWD squats slightly under straightline acceleration. I like the slight "tail-out" sensation when I accelerate in a turn, and the way the car takes a set when I feather the throttle. These things matter to someone who wants to feel more connected to their car. In my opinion, that's why most top-flight sports sedans are RWD... not because they have 5% more capability at the limits.
If you don't know what I'm referring to, I suggest that you test drive a Honda Civic CRX and a Mazda Miata back to back, at about six-tenths. Both are very good handling cars, but the FWD and RWD give them each a very different character, even when not near the limits. I happen to like the dynamics of the RWD.
So I chose a G35 over the Acura. And as we all know, that's just me and my opinion.
Merci Montréal
That's the point some of us here have been trying to make. I think everyone knows there are differences in driving dynamics between FWD and RWD. AND, you also have to keep in mind that aside from purely driving pleasure, FWD is much more of an all-season option whereas RWD is not.
I think for 80% of the driving population, if they encountered the "tail out sensation" they pee in their pants
What realy does matter to people? We could break it down to the most basic level and find out ultimately an XG300 will satisfy 90% of the driving publics requirements. Does the GT3 provide better transporation than the XG300 on traffic clogged highways and streets? Probably not.
Sure you can make the case you in one vehicle you crawl in style. But then again one can make the case a modicum of luxury is nice. Maybe you can even make the case that know the difference between FWD/RWD and for their own reasons they choose one drivetrain or another.