I am about 95% sure the 03 TL-S will be my next car. I have driven an 02 pretty hard (as much as the sales associate could tolerate ) and was wondering why the concern at high speed mobility expressed in the 03-02 issue of CR. Is it the Michelin tires, suspension, other?? I live in south texas and could run on high performance tires year round if i need to upgrade. Are there any published HP gains from intake/exhaust/header mods from the high performance readers of the forum?

TIA
Soredawg

 

Dawg: Welcome to the Forum. There have been numerous posting on the topics you raise, so use the Search to see the full threads.

Here is a summary to get you started:

1) I do not know what CR wrote, but I do not think much of some of their tests, and high-speed handling has not been raised in the more perf. oriented mags. Nor has there been wide criticism here.
2) Many of us have swapped out for better rubber; I use the stock tires in the Fall-Winter, hi perf Pirellis udring the sporting seasons on wider, lighter wheels.
3) Perf mods for handling are anti-roll bars (cheap), then springs, then tires.
4) The Comptech header yields 28-32 HP from about 5000 rpm up.
5) The exhaust is more for show and sound than power

 

Car & Driver did a big Comparison Test a couple of years ago and hinted that they felt the tires were more than likely responsible for the TL's modest handling numbers, especially since the ES300 had the exact same tires and they experienced comparable experiences with that car.

Keep in mind though the article was referring to a '00 TL, not a TLS which has the stiffer suspension and 17" wheels (versus 16").

Despite differences in tire sizes I believe both TL versions use the Michelin MXXV Energy tires.