Donte99TL

Sorry guys I have been stuck at work but I will be scanning the pics tonight (Friday). Then I will be sending them to LED Master and he will host them at a bigger size so they are legible. This is all depending if they have a C&D mag at the book store.

winstrolvtec

Very tired of TL not getting proper recognition. This car "overall " hands the others their a$$'s. Then C&D has to go and make up bs category ratings to bring it down a couple of notches. If the TL wins in 0-60, 1/4ml, braking, is the most luxurious, has the best ride, most standard features, and best price, then i dont care who you are, if you have normal means of thinking then you have to agree the TL is the best. If you prefer the handling and the rwd nature of the bmw and g35 then you are in favor of it for that reason and that alone, but that does not make them near better, when clearly they fall short all in all other major areas. Instead of bashing the TL on its fwd drive format they should be praising honda for what they have done and thats create the best fwd ever made much like their beloved bmw's for what they feel is the best rwd. Oh, and by comparing the 325 instead of the 330, your really hiding your biased opinions C&D...thats sarcasm in case you couldnt tell. Same great, even more overpriced car, with a few more ponies, big deal. Really these guys make no sense, they loved the cl-s and loved previous tl-s, any decent competition it was up against hasn't changed, now this car is far better so they're only contradicting themselves.

erikmoeser

I have not seen my C&D yet...it can arrive from the 30th of one month to the 10th or later of another...but the 0-60 and 1/4 mile data vs the G35 might be explained by gear ratios. Do each get past 60 with one shift? Do either get to 99 without going into 4th (TL doesn't). If G35 has shorter gearing it might be better in 1/4 mile than expected vs the TL.

Gearing is as important as torque (and mathematically derived bhp). That is why a S2000 can beat a 350Z. And why the TL, which comes close to matching my S4 in 3rd gear, is a slug in comparison in 6th.

EZZ

That makes a lot of sense Eric. Thank you for the explanation. The g35's shift points make it slower in the 60. However, it is faster to 100 and 120. Someone who is more knowledgeable might be able to answer this question. Does this mean that the G would be faster on the highway?

Also, for the comment that the TL is better in everyway EXCEPT the RWD might be right, but RWD IS A HUGE DEAL to many auto enthusiasts. I for one think RWD is just more fun therefore can see why C&D chose to go with the G35. After all before the fun factor was added in, it was a pretty close race with the TL leading. The BMW coming in second is still a mystery to me

RhodeRunner

Is the TL an auto transmission or 6 speed?

EDIT: manual transmission on all

Question: Any reliable 0-60 times on the automatic TL?

jwaters943

Consumer reports got 0-60 in 6.7 seconds for the auto which I think is about right. As far as I know CR just floors it from a stop to get their numbers. More "aggressive" magazines like C & D or R & T who apply the brake while pressing the accelerater to build up RPMs before take-off might get 6.3-6.5 seconds. With the A-Spec package and the right conditions I think the absolute best you could reasonably expect is around 6.2-6.3 for the automatic. In my book, the TL has excellent acceleration performance considering the TLs weight and HP/Torque ratings.

Vulture

To who ever started this thread. Where did you get the copy of C&D that all this info is coming from? On a news stand, from your mail box or the web?

Oswald Vater

I know it doesn't sound logical, but unless the magazine made a mistake, those are the figures. In regards to a previous MPG question, the average MPG was 16 for the G35 and 17 for the TL, those figures achieved on the aforementioned 600 mile trip. Other MPG's on that trip were: BMW - 19, Audi - 16, Jag - 15, Lexus - 16, and Saab 18.

Oswald Vater

Vulture, my copy came in the mail via subscription. I know it's weird how they come because often I read others quoting things from issues I haven't yet received. Not sure how their mailing system works.

JonDeutsch

Mine came in the mail 2 days ago. It usually arrives on newstands after it hits the mailboxes.

Let me know if there are any other facts/figures you want me to relate.

re: "TL is the best car of them all":

I'm not sure that's 100% correct from all aspects. For instance, if you're someone who doesn't care about how the inside looks, and doesn't care if it's FWD or RWD, then the G35 may be the best of the bunch.

If you're someone who values brand cache over utility, you may prefer a BMW or Jag to any other car in this line-up.

Some people are self-described quirky, and will buy a Saab over any "normal" nameplate so they communicate that they're "different."

etc...

I think that the values that the Acura buyers share are: equal appreciation for reliability, performance, technology innovation, saftey, interior design, and to a lesser extent, exterior style. Above all of these, Acura buyers seem to be driven by VALUE.

I say exterior style is a lesser extent because until very recently, Acura has not been on the forefront of exterior style. Acura seems to be on a trajectory to change this. Time will tell how successful they are.

So, with that equal appreciation for so many different aspects of a car, Acura loses it's ability to be the "saftey brand" (Volvo), the "ultimate driving machine" (BMW), or the British Luxo brand (Jag). And the problem is here is that Acuras are arguably as safe as Volvos, as fun to drive as equivelantly-priced BMWs, and as luxurious or even moreso than Jaguar. "Value" turns a lot of people off... too many compromises when you shop value to some.

I don't think C&D appreciates value in the upper eschelans of sport sedans, where their passions lay. Where their passions do not lie... bargain sedans, SUVs, etc., they're more attracted to the value quotient, it seems. But at every single level of car they review... performance comes first. And the TL makes compromises in the performance department for the sake of FWD and comfy drive. This is why it's 3rd out of 7th. Which, btw, isn't really a bad showing considering C&D doesn't care or value the interior style and gadgets that we all tend to value.

Jon

6spdzoomzoom

I agree with your comments.

One thing though, I think Honda/Acura are by far the most innovative car manufacturer in existence. They have already manufactured a Hydrogen fuel cell car, they have a zero emissions engine which as not been released yet and 300hp hybrid RL on the way.

SilverBulletCLS

The G is faster than the TL. I have driven both back to back in test drives. The common 1/4 time is 14.2-14.4 for a 6spd sedan at 98-99 mph.

1SICKLEX

They have the most stickers .They are innovative but not the leader.

1SICKLEX

This is not the best cat to buy for the money test. It's the BEST SPORTS SEDAN test. That is how the old IS 300 hung on to 4th place. The G35 has been clarified as the new standard since it's introduction. For those that don't know, the E46 3 has been called by many BMW die-hards too soft and too heavy. Funny, since it's the opposite to you and me.

I did not see that the TL did bad in the comparo. I think it did well. Glass half full perhaps?

TZVECL

Can someone P L E A S E scan and post the article?

6spdzoomzoom

They invented the flush 3rd row seat in their minivan. Now it the standard. Rumor has it the first and secnd row will dissapear in the next generation. If they arent the most innovative.... who is?

JonDeutsch

Mercedes (D-C) is arguable the most innovative company out there. The things they innovate trickle down to 'normal' cars between 5 and 10 years. They're already testing steer-by-wire controls, and driving automation technology that is downright amazing.

Also, VW innovates as well: Audi's CVT was very innovative at the time, and their Quattro technology was introduced before its time.

I have always thought that Acura (not as much Honda) had the best interior designs of any brand, in just about any class. And the 04 TL and TSX continue this tradition richly. Now if only Acura would "catch up" and go 100% AWD in their line-up, they wouldn't be able to build plants fast enough to meet demand!

Jon

6spdzoomzoom

I would love to see them go AWD.

EZZ

Also we have to remember that the super high end creates many innovations. The Ferrari's clutchless manual is an example. Now we see BMW have one. The BMW had VANOS before iVTEC. Mercedes had the laser guided cruise control. Nissan's VQ was waaaay ahead of its time in terms of smoothness for a v6 (the VQ was introduced in 94 as a 95 model). Each manufacturer has brought about significant innovations to the auto industry.

Monte TLS,MAX

I agree funny how their time went from 5.9 in their previous run (Oct 2003) to 6.3 with the G manual 4 tenths of a sec is alot, and 1/4 from 14.2 to 14.6 weird.

SergeyM

I beleive that the main reason C&D did not bring 330 was to give others a chance. G35 used it Acura could not. FWD should go and it will. In 2-3 years Acura will introduce a RWD sedan similar to Lexus IS or G35.

JonDeutsch

Nope, it's because of price. It was a comparo of $35k sports sedans. A 330i that you can actually buy would exceed the threshold they set (I think the upper threshold was $37k).

A well-equipped 325i ended up in the mid-30s.

Jon

2obsessed

The article is up on their website:

C&D Comparison Test

VQ35DE

Yup and the 330i would blow past that $37k ceiling. Its a shame that Bimmers are so overpriced. For $35k, there no way I'd pick a 325i over the new TL for G35X.