I just got my January edition of Car and Driver, I have to say that I am elated as to what they had to say. Me, being the impatient owner of a '04 5AT TL, just drooled at the 0-60 numbers they got. They got 5.7 seconds 0-60, and 14.4 in the quarter. I am quite suprised by the braking of the car. They got 189 ft in th 70-0. 20 ft more than the next best Audi. They do say that the tire limit braking and acceleration, but that better tire will not bring down the braking numbers that much more. Doesn't seem like the use of Brembo's was as exciting as the sound. They do mention torque steer, but they say most of it can be attributed to the 6MT using the limited slip differential, so I guess that's why I haven't noticed it much. But other wise it would've gotten their full nod had it been rear wheel drive, I'd like an All-Wheel Drive model over rear drive, but I'm happy. Dang 5.7 seconds!!!!!!!!!!

 

Funny how your take on this review is 180 degrees from my take. I walked away made at C&D for unfairly bashing the TL for what it wasn't -- a RWD 330i killer -- vs. what it is: a FWD sport sendan that really has no peer other than the lame, but cool looking, Maxima.

Jon

 

I can see both "takes" on the review. I also found it to be a terribly one sided, biased review that never really got beyond the fwd - torque steer issue. At the same time, I feel sorry for the 6 speed owners since they seem to be giving up a lot more than they should with the manual tranny. My 5AT is wonderful...just amazing. So I found the article very favorable in terms of my car. If I were a 6 speed TL guy, I'd be really disappointed with the torque steer and the ltd slip nonsense that C&D kept talking about.

 

I drove the TL 6sp. last week.... The torque steer is pretty minor, and I drove VERY hard (no salesman). I think CD is pissed because they love Honda products, and the only thing that would keep the TL from being a perfect car, is rear wheel drive! I agree... I love the car AS IS, but I must admit that if it was RWD it would be perfect! Also, the Maxima competes with the Accord, not the TL! The TL is aimed at the BMW 5 series. The only disappointing thing in that car is the braking system... I really don't know what to think of it; I would guess part of the problem lies in the tires, or in the front to rear proportioning of the brakes, or a crappy ABS system that comes on way too soon! Does anybody know if the ABS is a 4 channel? I'll go on another test drive and try to figure it out! New tires won't hurt though!

 

re: braking...

I encourage you to watch the MotorWeek video... you can literally watch it stop in 115ft, Porche-style.

Don't know what's up with the descrepancy.

Jon

 

Tires. Period.

My Blizzak LM22 snows handle better in the dry than those POS Turanzas.

 

On the subject of the C&D review of the 6M TL:

I received my copy of the January '04 issue literally 2 hours after completing my first test drive of the 6M & 5 Speed Sequential models of the TL.

Upon reading it, I was completely convinced that C&D had it out for the new TL (although I think that C&D in the past has written good, technically accurate reviews of the cars that they have tested). I really felt that their reference to the torque steer on the TL as "wicked" etc...was completely unfounded.

As you know, I have placed my order for a 6M Anthracite/Quartz Non-Nav. Before placing my order/deposit I went on another extensive test drive with the C&D review comments clearly in my mind for reference throughout the test drive.

With that said, I stand confident in my decision that the torque steer issue referenced in the C&D article was "way overblown".

With their comments in mind, I purposefully set out to induce 8torque steer on this second test drive of the 6M model. The only instance in which I detected torque steer (mild torque steer btw) was when accelerating very aggressively from a dead stop while making a sharp ~ 90° turn in first gear. Full acceleration through 25mph rated turns in 1st or 2nd gear resulted in confidence inspiring, "handling on rails" steering attributes.

This new TL is truly a sports sedan (especially in 6M form) whose handling at 7-8 tenths (maybe even 9 tenths) is on par with the Audi A4 3.0 and BMW 325Xi that I also drove. The snick-snick surgically precise manual shifter is also easily superior to the BMW manual and Audi manual that I drove making the car that much more fun to drive.

The value quotient easily tips the scales in favor of the TL and as I mentioned, that's where my dollars are going.

Can't wait to get mine!

 

cstls, Great post

I agree completely.

Can't wait for mine either. (I like your choice of colors)

 

I'll say again what I said in the last thread about the C & D article.

I finally read the article in full today, having received my copy of C & D. It wasn't as negative as the articles in the same issue on the BMW 530i, on which they basically ragged on the Bangled style and the hobbled and still useless iDrive, and the X3, which they just plain hated. I retract my statement several pages ago about BMW bias, as when BMW f's up, C & D WILL take it to task, and both these cars were f'd up.

The author did spend waaaay too much time, as we have here in our tidy little corner of the world, talking about torque steer and FWD vs. RWD. They probably should have tested a 5AT without the LSD, which they seem to feel subtracted from the handling. I totally agree with their comments on the steering. It IS overboosted and is my only major gripe about this car. Other than that, driving this car is a dream because I don't drive above 6/10s (which, if I did it on a public road, I'd deserve to be in jail or without my license).

By the way, the Barry Winfield, in his Counterpoint, DID like the TL for all the reasons we frequently state on this site...great value....sheetmetal gives it a handsome character....equipment levels are extraordinary....then he talks about how the torque steer is a "fatal flaw". Sigh. What torque steer? And has he driven a blood Maxima lately? Anyway, I'm thankful for the positive comments in the article.

Just my $0.02. I'll go back to driving my car now.

 

Today we in the N. East are having a little Blizzard and I passed a JAG, 2 BMW's and an IS300 all stuck in the snow or going sideways. All I can say is I was glad to spend 35k on my FWD 04 TL6 and with the money I saved I purchased a Yahama r6

 

CSTLS.......I love your comments about the "The snick-snick surgically precise manual shifter"

I couldnt agree more.

I got rid of an 2002 Audi A4 3.0 Quattro about 6 months ago. Although the handling of the TL is probablyu not as good as the Audi, Its close and an easy sacrifce. I would state that is the only sacrifice!! In every other aspect, Im LOVING The tl...

The TL is SWEET, and it BLOWS the manual 6 speed of the Audi A4 to shambles.....(Just as you describe the SNICK SNICK.....I LOVE that feel!!)

I couldnt be happier!!

-gerry

 

So they got 5.7 in the auto or 6 speed?

 

Don't get me wrong, they could have said a lot worse about the TL. Motortrend got a worse 0-60 time, and a worse skidpad performance, so I have to give it to them for driving like wombats and letting us know what the car is capable of. I don't know what to think of the A-Spec model. It will have greater weight, and heavier wheels. I know what this will do to any other car, and hope Acura will do whatever's necessary to remedy that before the package is released. It won't look good for a performace package equipped model to perform worse than the base model. It'll loose it's merits, and Honda/Acura will loose sales on that expensive kit. I really like my car. I still have yet to fully break it in so I'm taking it easy. I enjoy just cruising in the car and reveling in all the toys I get to play with while driving (Did I say That?) While at lights. (That sounds better) I've had to do some passing, and a lil meddling to let the lil boys in the souped up Civics, and Integras know that I have the goods to run with them or leave them.

 

The 6MT, I'm waiting for an instrumented test of the auto being that's what I have.

 

Maxima doesnt compete with Accord that slot is for the Altima I agree with Jon the TL and Maxima are really a great comparo, same price range and market. One just has an Acura badge behind it, the Max and TL have been strong competitors since the car was called Vigor back in the day, they both really are "niche" cars not really having a direct competitor except for the Diamante. They both can compete with lots of cars and always has.

 

C&D tends to go off on a one-track rant sometimes, focused on a specific theme. When they do this, they tend to wrap the whole article around it. If I remember correctly, an earlier issue ranted about the '04 Maxima's torque steer similarly. Even discounting the fact that, being a new owner, I will have a tendency to justify my purchase, the review seemed far too narrowly focused and tautological.

 

Yeah, I agree that the Maxima would be in the same category as the TL, I think the Maxima plays against it's own I35 also.