Sup fellas,

I am mostly on the 2nd generation forum since I own a 99 TL and have been around for a while. I am what you would call "old school". Anyways, went in to get my 2nd tranny replaced and I finally got an aut 04 TL as a loaner. Here are my impressions:

First impression was that the car felt pretty small. I know I know, it is shorter but it really does feel tighter inside. Anyways, the interior just blew me away. I've seen pictures of it and saw it in person but when I actually had time to sit in it and drive it around...it was just amazing. I just love the blue lights and the projectors literally lit up my whole block. The craftsmanship was outstanding and everything felt just right inside. And I love the back ceiling lights, the dual climate control, the one-touch moonroof, XM, stereo, the blue mood lighting, etc... It would've been 100% better if it had the navi but I know it's only a rental. I don't have a bluetooth phone so I couldn't try out that feature. I don't remember if the regular 04 TL had brembos or not but everytime I press on the brakes, even if it's just a tap, felt like I can stop on a dime.

Now let's talk about power. All I can say is "WOW". The car had 10,500 miles on it and it really pulled when I stepped on the gas. The speed picked up so quick and smooth that I felt like I was doing 60-70 but when in fact I was pushing triple digit speed. It definitely felt faster than my 99 TL with AEM CAI and CT Headers. I couldn't help myself as I was passing people on the highway.

But not everything is perfect. I don't know if this is a common problem but if I turn the heat on or even if it's off, the sides of the glove compartment gets really hot. Is that normal? And I heard like a rattling noise coming from the passenger side window.

Overall, I would give this car an 8 out of a possible 10. Things like more power and rwd/awd would be nice.

So in conclusion, I just want to say that you guys have a great car on your hand. It is leaps and bounds beyond the 99-03 models. Don't get me wrong, I still love my 99 TL but the tranny issue is becoming a bigger problem than I thought.

 

Thanks for your review, and welcome to our forum.

 

yeah good review black shadow.


he's been here before rets... one of the first members to hit 10k on a-tl





Edit by rets: I know... but he's more active in the past... he doesn't post as many as he did before... he's the 2nd A-TLer who hit 10k post mark...

 

1st gen member here. Yeah, you guys have a great car on your hands - took one for a test drive, and did a detailed review in 1st gen forum. however, i gotta ? for the gentleman who wrote the review....if your car is a 99tl, im assuming it has a four-speed tranny. So why are you having tranny problems - i thought that the 5 speeds were the only ones affected?

 

i'm on my second.....

 

At first, it was mostly the TL-S being affected. Then it trickled down to the regular 5-speed 00-03 TL. Then a few 4-speed 99 TL members trannies took a dump. Didn't think it would ever happen to me but it did. I am on my second now and we'll see how long this one last. The first one lasted about 2K miles.

So yes the 99 TL trannies are fucked up too!

 

You have a lot of posts damn!!!

 

I'm leaning to this car myself - mostly because of the service at the local Acura dealer. Have a 2002 TL-S now (only 1 tranny replacement, but window trim done twice and 1 rearview mirror).

The car is 270HP to my 260HP, but I really didn't notice it (not that I would). One thing I didn't like about the '04 was that the steering seemed a little overboosted (felt more like a crown vic than my TL-S).

Styling wise, I think the 04 had it all over my 02. I love all the aluminum trim.

I was worried about the paint on the bumper. I hear there are some issues there?

I'm also waiting for the new Infiniti M45 - just to see what its like. Other than that, a 05 TL is most likely in my future. I like my Acura, but this is one car I won't risk owning pass the warranty period.

 

I just checked out the new M45. WTF Infiniti??? Price with NAV $58K!! Heck I'd get the AMG if I wanted to spend $60K.

 

Damn, I didn't think it was that much. I also like the new M45 but I can do a lot better for $58K large.

 

I went from a regular '02 TL to my '04. Way better!

The paint on my front bumper started peeling off so my dealer fixed it. The service mangager told me that the tolerance between my bumper and the fender were so close that when there was any flexing, paint would rub off.

Haven't had a problem since then though.

 

Well, they are saying that the M45 is overpriced and tehy will lower the price when it is actually released. Same thing happened with the G35. IT was originally posted on the infiniti website 9Under build your infiniti) for about 5K over what it actually sold for. The M35 should start in the low 40's, while the M45 will start about 5K higher than that.

 

Yes, the v6 M35 start at about what the M45 starts today (about 42K if I recall). Now add sport, the nice sound system, nav, and V8 and its 58K. (I didn't even price AWD.)

The Mercedes C55 AMG will run circles around this car, and its "only" 53K (plan on 60K).

I think the TL may still be the best choice - unless a redesign of the G35 comes along soon (that is one ugly car).

 

Oops - just saw you have a G35 - sorry about the ugly comment - just not well desiged inside - esp the silly "popup" nav.

 

i dont no bout the g35, its an ok car, really good performer but the interior is a bit.... lacking smthing... i dont no about the trim and nav. the tl's a alot better!!!

getting back on task.... the tl is a huge improvement!!!

 

Sorry, i quoted incorrectly. The starting for a M35 on the infiniti site is 39.8, awd, 42.2, M45 is 45.1. Although it is an assumption, they will drop the price once it is released. Everyone is assuming about 3-5K. That will make the 35 about 34.8 ->36.8 base. Totally maxed out, there is about 10K in options making it about 44.8 ->46.8 for the 35. The 45 will be maxxed out at about 50-53. The number of features on this car are amazing. Heated and cooled REAR seats, reclining rear seats, a leg rest (like a lay-z-boy) on the passenger seat, DVD entertainment for the rear passengers with wireless headsets, nav, 345 hp, just to name a few. It will be EXTREMELY competitive. A C55 isn't even in the same league since it is lightyears smaller. THis car is about the size of an S class MB!!!

Oh, and about the ugly G35, think what you want, I am not about to get into a flame war over it. Just because your TLs are slow!! (see the wink wink).

 

I'll probably get a G35 once they add more popup accessories. I'd like a popup dashboard and popup steering wheel. It seems silly to have the steering wheel out when the car is parked - it should recess into the dash.

j/k.

I really like the G35. There are three reasons I didn't buy it:
1. Less HP than the Nissan Z. This just ticked me off.
2. It felt cramped. Granted I had just looked at the M45, but I had trouble getting into the G.
3. Even though I over joke about it, I was really turned off by the nav.

Thanks for the info on the M. I'll have to check their site again. In the "concept" section, the cheapest I could get that car down to (V6 base) was 42. I may have messed something up.

 

thanks for the review!

 

Ok, my next car will have aluminum trim, so I only looked at the "sport" M.

Baseline M35 (sport) : $42,500
M35 sport, with journey and tech package (why else buy the M?) : $48,200

Baseline M45 (sport) : $47,800
M45 sport, with journey and tech package : $53,500

I would have sworn the same exact car that was $53,500 came up $58K and change yesterday. I did it two or thre times.

UPDATE: I just did it again and the M45/sport/tech came up $57,100!! I can not get it to come up $53,500 again - lol

I have no idea how much this car costs!