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Acura TL vs Infiniti G35
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Comments
I dropped off the new MDX for a subwoofer vibration and they gave me a new 07 TL for the day. it wasn't the Type-S like I'm considering, but still, it gave me the chance to play with it for the day. I liked it... but didn't fall in love with it.
I like the G over the TL in terms of what it offers me for options, even though the price is about $2,500 more when closely equipped.
I have 2 concerns with the G35x.
1) The Infiniti dealer is 50 miles away. My Acura dealer is right down the street and on my way to/from work.
2) The G is getting less than fantastic owner reviews when it comes to MPG. My TL loaner gave me 28 in the city and 36 (Yes, 36!) on the highway... 50 miles to work. (75 mph in the left lane)
That's something to consider.
I love the G although I have yet to make the trek down for a test drive.
Funny, I was out for lunch in the TL loaner and saw a new 07 G. It caught my eye and it was hard to look away while trying not to crash my loaner. (LOL)
I have only seen one G on the road so far.
Those TLs are EVERYWHERE!!!
I love the G's options and looks, but don't like the mileage people are reporting.
Considering my commute and the mileage I rack on each year... I'm doubting my decision for the G this Spring.
My gas consumption in the G would be literally double that of the TL.
It costs me a couple hundred dollars more per year in gas compared to a TL, and maybe another $150 or so for premium gas if the TL doesn't recommend that, but it's all worth it to me.
Plus- I don't want to read all your complaints about the TL because you were so unhappy about buying it and it is anything less than perfect and reading comments like "I should have bought the G"
LOL... point taken.
cheerioboy26 - Being an owner with the same type of commute as me, how's the G held up for you?
Do you at all regret your decision?
Have you had any problems to report?
Thanks
Anyway, like one of the earlier post from someone else indicated. There are more "TL type" of drivers than "G Type" drivers. So, no surprise there.
I am wondering though that you said TL has 36 MPG? What is the EPA from the base TL? Type S don't have 36MPG right?
The G35 is rated for 19/26 according to Infiniti's website
So right there your about equal: and EPA estimates are actually a lot realer then most give credit to. the TL will probably get a tad bit better on the higway, but I would estimate that when you do a hard pass, or drive slightly more aggressive the G35 will actually do a little better thent he TL, having higher RPM at 75mph and still putting out 26mpg, means that it takes less throttle to accelerate to desired speed, and won't need to drop a gear.
Real world performance complaints that I've read on most forums are people that are out of their mind to begin with, expect 4 cyl. gas performance (in the high 20's for city and 30's for highway) That's not going to happen.
not sure how you drove the loaner, but 1 day is a small snapshot and usually inaccurate. all your highway MPG's are fully inflating the city MPG, I highly doubt you'll get 28MPG city over the coarse of 1 tank.
If you can pull 36 highway from the TL, then you'll get 30-32 from the G35... it's all in your drive style, the enginges are about equal in consumption.
I would strongly recommend you go test drive the G35, and post your experience... I think you will be shocked when you get behind the wheel of that car, especially if you get even the slightest enjoyment our of having power and performance.
Were you at all disappointed with the TL Type-S's engine/exhaust note? I found it sounded like a 4cyl. the G35 has a much sweeter note.
One of the factors that has been a potential concern to me is the MPG experiences that I've read on various posts on different sites. While you're right that the 28/36 reported on the loaner day seem questionable, the overall theme that I've seen is that the G gets significantly worse mileage than the EPA estimates, while the TL comes in at the high end of those estimates. On average, I'd say the average G mileage is reported to be ~18, while the TL's is ~25. If these experiences are to be believed, that puts the TL's MPG at about 40% better. While mileage isn't my overriding decision factor, it's still on the list. With gas here in CA averaging about $2.70 over the past year for Regular (and as high as $3.40), and assuming 300 mi/wk, that would add up to ~$700/yr more in gas expenses for the G. So while the EPA estimates for the two are close, it seems like real-life experiences are telling a different story...
Regarding the MPG- the TL will always get better gas mileage considering apples to apples driving style.
I only had it for one day and I only drove it to work, and then back to the dealer, with a short trip out for lunch as well.
I have no idea what the car would offer me for MPG if I was to buy one and drive it daily.
I just know what the Trip Computer was telling me.
75 mph in the left lane for 25 minutes, with the occasional mashing of the gas to play, and I got 36 when I arrived to work.
Tearing up some side streets for a half hour in the afternoon, I was at 28.
I can only assume that the trip computer in the TL is as accurate as the one in the MDX.
Who knows. I know I wasn't babying it, but I wasn't beating on it by any means either.
I have an 06 MDX Touring and other owners complain about their mph, while I enjoy 18/23. Not bad for a SUV.
As for the exhaust note, I am also very disappointed in the Type-S.
I actually like the base TL's note better.
I have yet to hear the G.
Good points made, still leaning toward the G.
I just hope they allow me more than a quick 5 minute test drive. Most don't allow the 45 minute test drive I got for while shopping the MDX.
We'll see.
But the 07 G.... :surprise:
They've done a lot of work to the G for the 07 model.
what would be considered city driving. My average is around
17-18 mpg. When I do drive highway my averaged is around 28-29 mpg. This is what the informational display on the dash shows and I am not sure how accurate it is.
I think the G35 would get similar mileage under similar driving conditions, probably a little less.
In any event, I've "modded" by G by adding Sirius and a Garmin GPS which helps speed my commute and control my sanity (central PA to DC is my drive 3x per week). My sedan is one of the "original" ones - I don't even have a SAT button on my radio. I took delivery in June 2002. I had a number of the early build issues that were fixed via a couple recalls or bulletins. After the first year it's been basically bullet proof, routine maintenance, and brakes that wear fast - I'm almost through my 3rd set of pads and the wheels are impossible to keep clean. That said, I know they've saved me a few times.
Since you're interested in the 07 vs. the 03, discussions of the interior are moot as the 07 is much better than mine, but mine had held up well I think. At the time I was comparing the previous generation TL as well.
No regrets....I held on to my previous car an extra year to wait for the G and it has been well worth it.
As for the coomment above regarding the milage of the G vs the TL... I don't think the G will be similar in results, as the TL is fwd and the G35x I'm considering is awd.
But like you, I also want the toys to keep my sanity during my long commute.
not the AWD version. I was over on a G35 forum and someone there just posted his mpg on a 1600 mile trip. His mileage was not bad. I posted it below.
26.5 - all highway
25.8 - all highway with much of it climbing to 7000 ft
22.3 - around town mostly
22.5 - " " "
29.9!! - all highway
23.4 - mixed
25.9 - all highway
That's just over 25mpg for the whole trip - not bad considering all the uphill and around town we did in between the longer drives. This was with 2 people and a maxed out packed trunk with some extra stuff flowing over to the back seat as well. For the first time ever I kept close to the speed limits on this trip (only about 5mph over). That means about 70-75 on I5, 75-80 on I40, and 65-70 on the rest of the highways.
Spyderred
Neither brochure (which I just happen to have in front of me ) mentions this option, but after driving an 07 TL loaner, I know the TL does not offer this.
I'm less that impressed with the TL Stereo.
Yes, it offers clarity while listening to DVD-A discs, of which I only own 3, but it lacks everywhere else.
CDs sound okay, XM sounds terrible (IMO) and it lacks wattage.
Open a window or your moonroof on the highway and the stereo can no longer be heard.
I have not yet played with the G in person, but I hear the stereo is amazing.
We'll see...
Is it the same sterio as used in prior years, 'cause the sterio in my '04 TL is fantastic - maybe one of the best I've heard in any car, and I don't have any DVD audio discs.
The stock subwoofer and audio adjustments are perfect, and the sound is clear no matter how loud you play it. Don't know what else you could want... :surprise:
Highway mileage, speeds ranging from 60 to 75 mph = 29
City mileage, 5 minute trips, long idle warm ups = 13
Here is edmunds' take:
"Where does this leave the TL Type-S? On paper, it's still a distant-but-better front-wheel-driven 4th. It'll never convert die-hard rear-drive fans. It'll never be able to precisely manage more than 300 hp through its front tires. Even with its impressive list of year-to-year enhancements, the guys at BMW, Infiniti and Lexus will no doubt continue the evolution of the sport sedan species at an even more accelerated pace — and they're already one step ahead."
Spyder.
Edmunds' also stated among other positive things, "All this outstanding competence is undeniable. There is no question that the TL Type-S is the best TL ever, and it's more car than most entry-lux buyers would ever need or expect. It delivers an astonishing amount of performance and equipment, some of which is unavailable in the competitors, for a price that'll at least rattle the cages of the rear-drive faithful."
Where does this leave the G?
Just my 2 cents.
I do think its funny though that when the TL-S beats out the G in some Japanese comparo, the magazine/editors are suddenly smoking crack.
Just my .02
Maybe Japanese people fit in a G okay, but most Americans are bigger than Japanese, and the TL just fits us/me better.
PS- another negative for the GS-it is fitted with 225/50/17 tires, for a car in this class, come on Lexus, put on some 245/50/18 on this big boy.
The G takes no backseat to the TL is a sports sedan shoot-out. MotorTrend doesn't even bother to invite the TL to the show.
The new G really disappoints me because I thought Infiniti would bridge the gap with the 3er. Instead, the G still delivers lackluster performance compared to the 3er, still has a cheap looking interior, noisy cabin, road noise and quite simply lacks finesse. If performance was my only goal in ELLPS it would be the 335i not the G, TL, IS, CTS, etc...
If you want to speak rhetorically then my response is the G did take a backseat That's pretty sad.
Car and Driver invited the TL to the show- twice. In the most recent comparo- the G lost to the 330i and the IS. So, according to you if Motor Trend doesn't "invite" the TL to the show then it must suck performance wise? It's sad that a FWD TL can outhandle the G on a slalom isn't it?
BTW, Motor Trend did do a comparo including the TL, G, CTS and Saab 9-3.
Waste your $$ on the G and I'll waste mine on the TL. Either way you look at it- neither measures up to the 335i performance wise.
PY
I also have a fondness for BMWs, but in Canada, I can get a fully-loaded G35x with Nav for the price of a base 328xi with just a couple of minor options. Hate the chrome-look alloys on the G though...
Driving in this city can be tuff in any car. :P