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I was very pleased to get an all tarted up TL Advance SH-AWD with accessories for under $48K -- and although it still isn't an S4, it presents itself very well in the class of cars we go on about here as well as being able to perform with near S4 capabilities.
I'm still in my loaner TSX -- and wondering why Acura doesn't offer the thing with SH-AWD; seems it would be a killer car based on what -- a $2,000+ bump for the AWD? :confuse:
A V6 TSX Tech Stickers for high $30's. Add SH-AWD to that and you've got a close to $40K TSX. Maybe come trade up time you say "I like my TSX SH-AWD, but don't think the TL SH AWD warrants the price jump.". Maybe you go look at Infiniti or BMW or MB...
I'm not comparing the cars, but kinda like the reason Porsche messes with the Cayman's gearing and won't give it too big a motor to protect the 911.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Where does the TSX go from here? You can't give it more power because it will torque steer like crazy. You can't give it Acura's SH-AWD because that will add weight and price.
IMHO where they should go from here is to the previous model TSX, which was great before they numbed and bloated it up.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
So, as mentioned before, the G tries to cover a lot of ground.
My fear (and one of the main reasons I bought the '11 3) is that BMW is moving towards 4 cyl motors, at least in the lower 3s and 5s. Nothing inherently wrong with that. Audi's been doing that for years with their A4. But, some of us feel at that price point, a 6 cyl is the least we'd accept.
Mark...I tried to find an S4 at both The Audi Connection and in Dayton. All they had were used ones. As you say, you get about 95%+ of an S4 in the TL SH AWD, for a whole lot less money. Interesting enough, the Cincinnati Audi dealer never seems to have much in the way of new cars....a few A4s, a few A6s....one A7 and a splattering of the Qs. Nothing that grabbed me. And, I went there probably 3-4 times over a 3-4 month period. The guys at Beechmont had 3-S4s, and a whole lot of A4s, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay a premium over my TL SH AWD when push came to shove.
Now, if either of them had stocked an A5 or S5 (which they didn't), my decision might have been different. The only A5s they had were convertibles and I don't think the new S5 was out yet.
We leave our houses late on a Saturday morning, go test drive a car or two and by the time the day is out, we've picked the car and while it is being prepped, we sign the paperwork and we end our day driving home in our new car -- we even stop at the grocery store on the way home and at a Chinese restaurant for some take out.
Sometimes it almost seems we will invest more time buying a riding lawn mower at Lowes.
The Germans, on the other hand, have to wait for the car (typically.)
I was lucky that the AC had a basically stripped S4 in stock a few months ago (an '11). It didn't even have nav (at THAT price). It had the DSG tranny and it had, apparently, HUGE urge. It felt more, er, "raw" than either the A4 (non sport) or the TL, although at full cry the TL's 3.7L motor makes a pleasing sound (much better than the 4cyl of the A4 2.0T). The great thing about the Audi's is that they use FSI and are either Super or Turbo charged. Imagine for 30 seconds what the TL 3.7 SH-AWD would be like if it had a near zero lag turbo and was upgraded to direct injection and the same friction reducing steps that the 3.5L now enjoys.
Acura -- should it choose to do so -- could offer, um, a "TL/S" with these upgrades, plus bi-xenons, better shoes, much better brakes (Brembo's with the cool looking caliper covers), full needle sweep on start-up and even better turn in. Perhaps it could move the AWD bias from 90/10 f/r to 50/50 and add a couple of visual cues beyond the "/S" on the trunk lid (subtle visual cues that only Acura aficionados would appreciate.) I'd probably suggest a model specific wheel too -- like the Advance 19" wheel, only different.
Perhaps this would add too much to the MSRP and the Acura Advantage (VALUE) would, for many, vanish and they would get the SLine A4 or the S4 or the Volvo S60 R Design, or even the Bimmer.
I would argue if the changes were offered at reasonable prices (if the economics permit), there would be an audience for a more performance oriented TL. After all, look at the performance leanings of -- wait for it -- Lexus for pity's sake, LEXUS!
Sir your High Performance La-Z-Boy is ready. Never thought THAT would happen!
C'mon Acura -- you've clearly got some great engines (thinking of Indy cars, for example) in your DNA, let 'em out. Let My people go.
:surprise:
Go on-line to Infiniti and select a G37 or 37X (and you can, if you like even go for the "S" models). Crank the options to 11 and you will find the G remains available with an MSRP that begins with a "$4" -- with a 328HP engine and Premium Package, Navigation Package, Sport Package, Technology Package, Interior Accents Packge, Rear Decklid Spoiler and Midnight Black Grille Package, Splash Guards, Stainless Steel Illuminated Kick Plates, LED Daytime Running Lights and Interior Accent Lighting all for an MSRP of: $46,940.
This car IMHO is not comparable to a BMW 328.
Now, I am not in any way suggesting that the BMW is not a "superior" vehicle (Car & Driver, despite loving the G, loves the BMW even more). Many magazine writers do opine that Infiniti's G37 and G37X are Japanese Bimmer competitors, but they almost always place the G in the #2 spot.
Well, hell, try to equip the comparable BMW 3 (which has to be a 335) at the level of the G above -- it can't be done if one of the constraints is "to keep the BMW's MSRP under $50,000."
Again, I am not suggesting that the BMW is #2 in this contest -- I am simply suggesting that a G equipped as above would show a 328 its tail lights and would be able to keep up with a 335, although the Bimmer would probably show the Infiniti it's butt quite a bit of the time.
But if you're looking for VALUE, the Infiniti must be at the top of the list.
A G37 (X or not) can be very well equipped and with its 3.7L motor and 7spd auto transmission can be both a comfortable commuter and, to use an over-used term, a pocket-rocket.
For the price, the Bimmer just can't cut it, despite its many superior attributes -- remember, I said "for the price."
Additionally, the G's have very very attractive lease programs -- often better than BMW's attractive programs.
:shades:
I agree.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
To me, Infiniti's seem like second rate BMW's. The G37 is fast and handles well, but they haven't nailed down the refinement.
Acura, on the other hand, stays true to being a characteristically Japanese sport/luxury car. There's no attempt to try to be anything but what it is.
By the way, is that you over at AVS talking about the 4311?
I'm eagerly awaiting the next gen 2013 G and 3 series. It should be interesting to see what Infiniti and BMW do with their bread and butter vehicles.
But, they have decent lease deals.. 39mo./39K lease on a G37X with premium pkg (MSRP about $41K) for $440/mo.+tax.. with around $900 total due at signing.. Add sport package for another $10/mo.
That's better than Audi or BMW, right now.. and.. 328 HP...
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Now if one wants to compare the average price of a 335i to a G37S the BMW is better value.
does your car have the sports package, navi, rear camera like the G37s has?
does your car have the headlights, sunroof, leather, and paint (500bux extra for Bmw) that the G37 base has?
I dont have the avg price people are paying for the 335 or the G37S but given the options that are standard on the G its got to be close to 8k..maybe more--i own a G and want a 335-
I'm not saying the 328i or 335i are bad vehicles, in fact I really liked them when I test drove both but they still don't compare to the bang for buck of G.
How is it that the MB C350 (pretty much the same price) has a 3.5L and it has 302 HP @6500 rpm with 273 pound-ft @3500 rpm. One thing I would give Honda is that they were always able to wring the HP out of their small engines even if they had to rev them to 9k rpms. Now they need an engine almost 6% larger just to match MB and the peak torque is at a relatively high 5k rpm.
The Base price for a G37 is $36K, and it does not come with Nav, now to add the Tech package to get Nav and Sport package is $41K. This was more then my 328 with M sport package.
The G37 sport is 41K..
Just for the record my BMW is 328i with M sport package, with value package which includes leather, ipod connection (free) moonroof, and access entry, cost out the door was $37K. This includes 4yr 50K of free maintenance and service, I tend to run my BMWs hard and go through brakes, the clutch is covered under BMWs warranty so if needed, I wont have to pay anything, something Infiniti does not do.
kyfdx...I had mentioned you can get BMW's factory performance upgrade for the 335 to add 20 HP for $600. I just got it done on Friday. Made an amazing car "amaziner".
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But, 20 HP is 20 HP. I liked the car enough to buy it to begin with. I like it more now.
The G37XS was a car I wanted to like -- but I was smitten with the M37X which seems to me to be priced (lease price per month) at about what an Audi A4 2.0T Prestige goes for or what a BMW 335 (with x-drive and a fair amount of options) goes for. The G37XS after coming from an Audi A4 (2009 vintage) seemed "cramped" -- too narrow and with, apparently, no expanse of hood to speak of.
Yet, the G was pretty well loaded and was very spunky -- gobs of power, albeit with a little harshness as the RPM's moved toward red-line (neither the Audi or BMW engine seem harsh.) Had the car been at least 2" WIDER, I might have gone Infiniti rather than Acura. I certainly feel Infiniti, as a brand, has the LPS "vision" (whatever the hell THAT means) whereas neither Lexus nor Acura seem to have much of a clue.
But, I got behind the wheel of the TL Advance and it WAS wider, I could see a hood out through the front window and there was no harshness in the engine compartment and the sound of the 3.7L at full cry is quite pleasing. Too bad the TL isn't quite as quick feeling as the G -- but man, the TL has the G in smoothness -- the TL is like butta!
I am growing, slowly, very slowly, to accept the looks of the TL (exterior), I am pleased with the interior -- the seats are almost Audi quality and they are ventilated (a must have, I am almost embarrassed to say.)
The TL is -- on paper -- damn near the perfect definition of an ELLPS (but ONLY in Advance trim or Tech trim with a 6 speed, based on reviews -- and ONLY if it is SH-AWD equipped.) Here's a 1,500 mile review:
Smooth and quiet: check
Feels bigger than it is: check
Is, technially, bigger than some of the others in this class: check, check
Best factory sound system ever: check
Very quick, very responsive transmission (especially with the paddle shifters): check
Thick, meaty steering wheel, great "sporty" seats: check, check
Feature set is at least as good as the other ELLPS's: check
Torque Vectoring reduces (a lot) the sensation of understeer: check
Decent Gas Mileage (combined 26 according to the center display): check (this thing is almost stingy with gas, in fact): check
And the list of positive attributes could go on and on.
I do like driving the TL -- very much -- I don't regret getting it, especially at $499/mo plus tax, and, so far, the dealer seems terrific (Lindsay Acura, Columbus, Oh.)
However, the sum of its parts pretty much equals, er, the sum of its parts. Audi and BMW (and I'll assume Mercedes) somehow seem to imbue their cars with "something" that makes them feel like MORE than the sum of their parts.
It's not that the TL seems flimsy or not stiff and firm -- it does. But there is something that is lacking -- something that a new A4 Prestige Sport or a new 335 x-drive will have and you will notice instantly. In some ways, for the price, the TL outdoes (content wise) both Audi and BMW by a wide margin. In other ways, the TL seems like the best damn appliance Electrolux ever made -- take it away Kelly Ripa! 34 payments to go. . . :surprise:
Klikie Klikie
Who knows, another TL may grace the GG estate in the future. It just won't be in the near future.
Have fun with your TL. Sounds like you're really starting to enjoy it.
From the side with a slight angle so that you can see just a part of the front end, the thing looks good -- not great, but good. The changes to the rear were just what the doctor ordered too -- I don't really have too many complaints.
Overall the styling has risen to "OK" -- and when I'm behind the wheel on a twisty road with the transmission selector set to "S" and using the paddle shifters like I know what I'm doing (I don' really, of course), I have a big stupid grin on my face -- I'm already planning on new UHP super sticky tires to replace the kind of tepid tires the thing came with.
I'll bet new shoes will further transform my ugly duckling into. . .an only slightly homely swan? :confuse:
Power gains will vary based upon available octane, additional modifications and conditions. Typical gains on an otherwise stock n54 powered BMW running on 91-93 octane fuel are 70-80 wheel horsepower and 80-90ft-lbs of torque. With additional basic modifications (exhaust, intercooler and intake upgrades) and higher octane racing fuel, gains of 160-170 wheel horsepower and 200-210ft-lbs of torque can be expected. With upgraded turbos, gains as high as 250whp are possible.
http://www.procedetuning.com/index.html
Great comment about how it leaves you happy but not thrilled. It's why I'm in a 335i now.
Definitely the best stereo ever.
a dated article but interesting from a bmw site- i would take note at the costs associated on the last page with its prime competitors
http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/03/27/do-you-buy-your-car-based-on-free-maintenance-- - program/
">
Also, most of the other plans don't cover brakes, if needed... so, another thing to factor in.. (in BMW's favor)..
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Mark - your TL SH AWD Advance shows a big benefit to leasing. The lease payment on your almost $50,000 TL Advanced is less than the payment on my Close to $34K TSX. YMMV - literally
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Fact is, I don't track my car. The other "tuner" upgrades are interesting to read about, however.
The HP gains from BMW's "upgrade" really isn't noticeable. The torque upgrade is noticeable, however. And, I thought that $600 was a reasonable price for the upgrade...especially one developed and warranted by BMW.
For all intents and purposes, my 335i just became a 335is.
Plus, I think that BMW has under rated both the N55 power numbers that they publish officially. I've read they did the same on the N54 engine, too.
'Performance Retrofit Stage 1 Kit Part # 11-12-2-219-488
For N55 engine
Horsepower increase from 300 to 320
Torque increase from 300 to 317 ft-lbs for a manual trans
Torque increase from 300 to 332 ft.-lbs for automatic trans'
This may sound like 'splitting hairs', but to me
[ for my intents and purposes ]
the 332 TQ for the BMW 'Stage 1 Kit' is not the same
as the 370 TQ [ in overboost ] of the 335iS.
It is as close as one can get, if you want \ need a 4DR 335i,
and you want something with a BMW wty,
and \ or you already purchased.
Then there is the DCT vs Steptronic,
if you do not want \ have the 6MT.
Just my 0.02 gallons worth . . .
But I digress.
- Ray
Ship carrying my 335iS due to depart Bremmerhaven
.... tomorrow
On my 05, I wasn't going to get the extended warranty but at the last minute jumped and did it. Glad I did, at 60K the water pump died, plus the 60K service was done.
Regarding price of the 335iS vs 335i –
Equipped the same [ 335iS includes ‘M Sport’ pkg]:
W/manual trans. diff = $3,900
W/auto trans. diff = $4,100
For which one receives:
Plus 20 HP and plus 70 TQ [ burst of 7 seconds ]
– and associated, upgraded cooling equipment – fully backed by BMW’s 4 year 50,000 mile warrantee. That aspect specifically is worth a lot, to me.
[ This is close to the Dinan Stage 1 ‘tune’ MSRP = $1,700 ]
[ Note: the price of a Dinan upgraded oil cooler for a 335i with an OEM oil cooler is $1,499.00 ]
An exhaust system that sounds just wonderful – to me – not too quiet, not too loud. Would be over $1,500 + install $$s –
The BMW system list price is $1,691.18 + install.
The Dinan performance exhaust system is $1,899 + install – plus what do I do with the OEM system?
So [ for me ] the $4,100 difference is offset by
the following items that would need to be added
to a 335i to roughly equal a 335iS:
$1,700 for Dinan Stage 1
$1,500 for upgraded oil cooler [ plus install $$s ]
$1,700 for exhaust [ plus install $$s ]
So. Total difference in costs for the upgrades from a 335i to 335iS = $4,900 + install[s]
Available for the [ relative ] bargain upcharge of $4,100 w/DCT.
[ When I ordered. ]
OK with me. . .
- Ray
Other ‘tuner’ comparisons I believe to be unfair –
due to the very real [ potential ] warrantee coverage issues. . .
Let me know the tires you are opting for maybe I will try them.
I have to disagree with you on the looks, I still think my 2009 looks better than the 2012. My sales guy called me over when they first came out, he was trying to sway me with the ventilated seats, blind spot and 6th speed, told him outright-NO.
IMHO- the new grill does not seem fitting to the overall make of the car (Wimpy-Grill). The car just seems to blend now (ordinary looking),at times I think its a TSX coming up the block.
The Audi had 35 series shoes.
As I understand it, the Acura TL Advance package uses the tires I listed above. Do you have a different tire?
That's how I would describe the Pirelli P Zero Nero's I have on my M3. I don't know how much they cost in your size though.
It's not a 335is....very close, but not quite. For about the same money as a long weekend at a a nice hotel and a couple of nice dinners with the GF (SHHHH...don't let her know that), I got a really nice performance boost to a car I thoroughly enjoyed without the performance boost.