hatzq68

I am currently looking to lease a new car. I now have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee that is coming off lease soon and am looking for something new. I wanted another Jeep but lease prices on the Grand Cherokee with a V8 are way up there. So I decided if I don't go big I want speed. I'm torn on whether to get a 2002 Maxima SE 6 speed or an Acura 3.2 TL Type S. Can anyone give me advice on which is the preffered car? I know this is an Acura thread so most of the responses will be toward the Acura, but please try to give me reasons why the Acura is a better car or better value. Are there any known problems with this car? Thanks in advance for the responses.

Donny

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Here's some interesting reading for ya.... for more posts like this... try a search using the word Maxima in the Type-S forum

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ghlight=Maxima

AcidHorse

Browse the 5th generation Maxima forums as well...

http://forums.maxima.org/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=10

MB-telecom

The residual is better on the the TL-S than the Maxima SE so that translates to a better lease deal. I leased my 2002 TL-S for 39 months for $455 a month with NO cap cost reduction. Nissan would only go as low as $465 for a 36 month lease. The cost difference in the 'negotiated' price of both cars was almost a $3K difference and the SCUMBAG Nissan 'Sales Manager' wanted me to do a $1000 cap cost reduction (what is the point of leasing if you put money down?). You get a MUCH better deal in the TL-S for almost the same money as the Maxima SE when it comes to leasing.

I find the TL-S to have nicer ergomonics, MUCH better seats, better looking/better quality interior and better handling than the Maxima SE. It is also a little bit more quiet inside too.

The SE does seem to downshift 'a little' more eagerly than the TL-S and it has 'a little' more torque too (although I don't know if you can really feel the difference in the torque as much as you can the tranny downshifts). It feels as if the SE is a little better off the line, but from 20mph to 80mph or so the TL-S flat out flies and I 'beleive' it is faster than the SE in that range.

If I were to buy and make a long term committment, then I would have bought the Maxima SE (auto tranny) for $27,200 fully loaded (minus Navi). This price was what I got back in January. I 'paid' (I think) $30,200 - $30,500 for the lease on my TL-S.

Unless you have a 'true' sports car (not a family/near luxury sedan like the SE or TL-S), than I just cannot see why someone would want to bother with a manual tranny. JMHO

Go with the TL-S for a 36 or 39 months LEASE otherwise if you plan to keep the car longer, then BUY a Maxima SE. Take each car from the dealer and drive it for a half day or a day.

heyrandy

I rented an '02 Maxima SE in Houston twice this spring (both before and after buying a TL-S).

This Maxima was an auto and did seem quicker from the start but not as quick at highway speeds (though since it was a rental it probably had regular gas in it).

The Maxima had more road noise and the engine spins faster 2500 rpm @ 70 mph vs. 2000 rpm for the TL-S.

I was looking to buy a Maxima 6 speed but the test drive proved that the shifter really sux. The throw is very long and did not feel as good as either my old Integra or MX-6. Car & Driver had the same crappy impression as well.

Since the manual was scratched from my list, the TL-S won.

Plus my neighbor just bought a white SE and it looks a little fugly. The interior of the TL-S is nicer and the dealership is much classier.

Monte TLS,MAX

I have both and actually prefer the 02 SE Auto. It has given us way less problems than our TLS which is a major plus in my book. To me it also has more of a sporty feel which I and my wife enjoy. The Max is quicker of the line(better low end torque and slightly more of it) and the TLS has slightly better highway do to gearing but overall they are very,very close in acceleration-performance. I feel they are the best FWD drivers in this price range out their, drive both you cant go wrong with either choice in my opinion! Also I would go with an auto as the manual isnt that great and acceleration in the manual Max and Manual CLS(since TLS has no manual) isnt much quicker at all than the autos!

bigbadboss101

When I went shopping here in CANADA I tried both, as well as the IS300 and Altima. One of the reason I got the Maxima is that prices here were $42000 vs $37900. Residual for the 3 year least was 52% for the Maxima. Monthly payments were $100 less, go figure.

Nevertheless, they are both nice cars. If you plan to sell it then that would be something to consider in favor of the TLS. One can be looked at as ugly, and the other boring. Maxima has more headroom, and the TLS better interior.

seotaiji

I can't compare both of cars, but my suit goes acura tls. Just looks younger than Maxima. Maxima feels older.

hatzq68

Just to let you guys know, I ordered the TL S in anthracite metallic, should have it tommorow afternoon. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed as far as the tranny. Thanks for the time and advice.

Donny