Hello all.. I am new to this forum. (spend most of my time in Freshalloy.com). I am in the market to replace my 2000 Maxima (5 speed SE with 111k). Over the weekend I took three cars out for a ride. The TL,TSX and the Infiniti G35. I am having a bit of a hard time making a decision as the G35's engine is far superior to the TL's. However, the Interior quality/fit and finish is light years ahead of the G35. I am very surpised at the G as the interior of my Maxima is better. Anyway, Can you all tell me about the V6 y'all are driving. I am weighing in favor of a TL but I am an impass as the engine and handleing capability in the G is a huge selling point.

I like to drive! I like to hit corners and know the car is gonna hold. Also, a huge issue for me is moving away from Nissan. I currently have an Armada,Maxima and a Z (the Z is an 83).

Please give me any and all opinions about the TL engine and handling capaiblity.

 

Regulars here are probably going to complain that this has been discussed to death...

I've driven lots of cars. Compared to the others in the class the TL handles like a larger, clumsier, less balanced car. This was most obvious at a Lexus sponsored track event. The G35 feels much tighter and more precise in hard turns. Touchy brakes, though.

I personally prefer the engine in the TL because to my ear it sound better than that in the G35. This is very subjective, though.

What color was the interior of the G35 you looked at? In my experience the dark interior doesn't look as cheap. No getting around those awful orange instruments, though. I think they used the same ones in the stripper pickup I drove in a 1980s delivery job.

If you want RWD handling, RWD is the only way to get it. If you cannot live with the G35's interior, I'd get either the Lexus IS (dark interior also the way to go, and might have to turn off VSC using unofficial method) or BMW 3. I'd personally go with the 325 over the 330. It's torque figure is too low to be real--I suspect they're under-rating the engine. Test track times aren't that far apart, and my rear end couldn't feel much of a difference.

A Legacy GT might also not be a bad choice for you. It's much better with a manual trans, and you don't specify. People with a high priority on handling often mod the suspension.

Finally, Cadillac offers a firmer suspension with 18-inch wheels on the CTS this year. I haven't driven this combo yet, so I don't know how well it handles. Probably at least worth a look.

Looking at cars is fun--why rush it?

 

if you do a search on it you will find this to be very true.

 

BTW...I stomp on G35's on a regular basis!

 

The G feels a lot faster than the TL, however the numbers are closer.

I personally didnt go with the G because of the interior and the uncomfortable seats.
As you already said the TL's interior is light years ahead and that was the final straw for me.
Also, the ASPEC package will do wonders for the handling of the TL and put it right in the league with the G.

 

I test drove a G35 Sedan, 6MT, RWD, and a 05 TL, 6MT, FWD, and went with the TL because:

-We need at least one FWD or AWD car in Chicago winters
-TL had nicer interior
-TL's exterior is a wee bit cooler looking

The deciding factor for me was FWD, but the G35 was quick and had it not had a 1995 Camry interior we might have liked it better.

 

I also ended up with the G-35 and the TL as our final options. As mentioned above the true difference is in the asthetics. The TL is far better looking both exterior wise and internally.

Besides the fact that the interior looks better it was far more comfortable.

Now if you plan on drivng your daily commute like a race car driver, taking turns at 60-70 mph, then perhaps you need the better handling the G-35 affords you.

But in reality the driving fever fades in all of us and eventually when your on a long commute or rolling around town with buddies in your car you'll wish you had bought the TL for the comfort.

The TL provides the perfect balance of sportiness, class and comfort.
Just my

 

G's got more power (300cc bigger) but I find TL engine is more refined, free revving. There is no vibration even you take it to red line...

Other than that both cars are what you can see with your eyes. $,?WD,Int,Ext,Navi,Shifter,Brake,Wheels and so on

 

I used to own a Nissan 300zx and loved it.

Now, I love my Acura TL 2005. Everyday I drive it, it feels so nice getting into it. With the TL, you get the good power and a great feel for everyday driving.

 

TL is quieter from idle-40 mph(no magnaflow exhausts for me!!), more refined, has better mileage and steering wheel controls for radio, cruise etc. that do not look like they came out of a cereal box. TL also has a lower MSRP once comparable options are added onto the G35. The TL is a great daily driver with high performance capabilities (better than the G35, for reasons above), as opposed to a great performer that is a not-so-good daily driver (a couple of my buddies complain about the stiff unforgiving suspension on their 2004 and 2005 M3s).

 

got them both myself and while I might agree with many points the tl engine is not as good as the vq. It has a timing belt vs chain and has never made the 10 best. Mileage is better in the tl.

The VQ can be modded much more than the TL.

As for interior, the TL is better and it comes with more rattles. It is all a trade off. If you want value pricing get the tl. Expect potentially more more trips to the dealer with issues. But if you get lucky you will get a good one.

 

The TL does NOT come with more rattles.

Go read the G board.

 

^^^^Nice new avatar TCMS! Definate improvement! The other one made you look like that taxman or corporate avenger from suburban noize records....!

<<<The Taxman...

Corp Avenger...


This new avatar is the bomb though!

 

DOH! It was there and now its gone.....thanks for the looks anyway!

 

it was in violation of our NWS Rules and Guidlines and he removed it....

 

He's a good man! Dont come down on him or anything! I am sure he didnt realize this was a violation when he did it or have any ill intent. NWS....makes sense...and also wasnt aware...although my avatars havent tended to be of this type whatsoever....we all know I have had my share of misposts! (ie...the now infamous "Lick-em" shot that had to be removed) We all learn!

 

I found myself in your situation just a few months ago. I have always been a Nissan person and owned a 2000 Maxima GXE. I fell in love with the G35 when I first started seeing it on the road...but I wasn't ready to make a purchase in 04. I thought the G35 would be the natural next step up for me...having owned a 200SX, Altima and Maxima over the past 15 years.

I read everything I could find on the G35. And then I came across the Consumer Reports that rated the Acura TL above the G35...and it made me pause. I had seen the Acura TL on the road and it's exterior was sporty...but it really is quite a contrast with the G35's smoother rounder lines. I started reading the Acura reviews and every auto site I could find...and overall they were very positive. The big issues of torque-steer and FWD that always tempered each review was not a showstopper for me.

So I thought I'd spend a day and test drive both.

When I stepped into the TL it's interior really won me over. The test drive vehicle was a Black with Camel interior and I just loved the multi-color plastics, the aluminum trim and especially the center dash layout. (I really thought the wood trim accents in the light colored interior was just enough to be very tasteful...I had a black interior Maxima so I was ready for something different.)

I knew I wanted navigation in my next car...so I was test driving a NAVI. That nice big 8" screen with touch and voice features was fantastic.

I must confess that after paying through the nose for car insurance, I have slowed my life down quite a bit. So horsepower, torque, 0-60 times etc. were less important than the feel of luxury I wanted to enjoy. My manual transmission days and sport tuned suspensions are less important than a nice sounding stock stereo that I don't have to modify...and cool features like Bluetooth hands free etc.

THen I went and test drove the G35. I still liked the exterior styling of the car...but I agree with your assessment on the inside. If I had one complaint about my 00 Maxima...it's that Nissan tends to overuse plastics and the result is sometimes a very cold feeling. Too much fake chrome that starts to scratch up and look bad...too much black plastic everwhere. It just didn't impress me as much as my TL experience.

And perhaps it is just me...but Infiniti's wood trim is horrible. Even in the M...I think their rosewood looks and feels cheap. If Infiniti would have their Japaneese designer focus on the inside for the redesign of the G35....they could have a killer car.

THe G35 definately accellerated quickly and had a much firmer suspension even in their auto. WHile I liked the responsiveness of the engine at start-up accelleration...I felt the ride was just too harsh for what I was looking for.

So it really came down to two big items:

1. I spend a hell of a lot more time looking and enjoying the interior of my car than the exterior. (And so do my passengers)
2. When I priced both with all of the features in the TL, the TL was nearly 2-3K cheaper.

However, with #2...I feel that the fact that Acura only sells their cars with all of the features...makes the overall integration of all of these items fantastic. I still love that I can look up a place using the Navi...and when I find it, I can push one button on the screen and the car dials my bluetooth phone. THis is a feature I have used a number of times already and it impresses me each time I do it.

I do want to also comment that I have also fallen in love with the TL's looks. I have a black with parchment and with the windows tinted...it looks very sharp.

When I pop in a great Eagles surround sound DVD-A, plot my directions on the navi, and have my phone linked in through the bluetooth...I'm in heaven.

Good luck on your decision...I can't speak for you but I will tell you that thus far I am very happy with my defection from Nissan for the Acura TL.

 

^^ great post colberto....

 

Thank you all for your responses. I got to be honest, this is a hard decsion for me as I am a diehard Nissan lover. Of course I don't hate Honda/Acura, I have just been a nissan finatic most of my life. What I was really looking for was a justifiable way to buy a 350Z and include my family in the driving experience. The problem is that is what the G35 is. It is a 4 door NISSAN Z. It is not an Infiniti. It is all about the engine and suspension and not about the whole driver expereince. It is interesting to note that Nissan used the same tacktic in the 80s. The 81-84 Maxima was built on the Z body with the Z engine and suspension. Now Nissan is doing the same thing but trying to say that it is part of their luxury division. If badged a Nissan then this car is fantastic. Badged an Infinit it is also fantastic but just not quite a complete driver/luxury experience.

 

How long ago was this? (Forgive me if this was mentioned in your post.) Their latest ratings put the TL ahead of the G35 in reliability and in their road test, but not by much. CR is far from an exact instrument. I've written a couple of pieces on how it's necessary to dig a bit deeper when relying on them:

www.truedelta.com/pieces/anomalies.php

www.truedelta.com/pieces/shortcomings.php

Basically, unless there's a huge difference between two cars in CR, pay no attention to it. With reliability, their are many unexplained large differences in their ratings that don't make an obvious sense. With the road test, their priorities might not be the same as yours. If two cars are close, then it comes down to personal priorities.

All of this said, the TL is the better all-around car, with handling (and perhaps rattles) the only significant weakness. And many people probably don't drive the car in a way that even this is an issue.

I personally still love the looks of the TL, even though it's been out for a few years now. As soon as it came out I knew that the days of boring Hondas were OVER.

 

well the same can be said for the TL if you are gonna say that the G35 is built on the same platform as the 350Z(which i dun think it is, i think its the same engine but everything else is different). The TL is based on the same global accord platform and is a honda underneath also. i test drove the G35(coupe) as well before i got the TL, and found it to be alot more fun to drive. but one of the main reasons i got the TL is because of poor weather driving. The dynamics of a rwd car is just so much more fun. The VQ engine is absolutely a joy to drive. lots of power and torque all over the rev band. well now i sound like a G35 owner but the TL is a great car. The motor has plenty of punch and the styling(in and out) is fantastic. the car is loaded with electronic goodies and the navi is great in this car compared to all others i have played with.

 

i looked at both also and if it wasn't for the fact that the G35 is but assed ugly, i'd have favored it...in the AWD version of course. you can't deny that the TL is one of the sexiest 4 door sedans out there.

 

Mkaresh - As I stated in my post the consumer reports gave me pause. It was by no means the sole basis for my TL decision. What the consumer reports magazine did do was put the Acura into my realm of consideration.

The consumer behaivor behind a large purchase such as a car is quite complex. I am sure that most of the "car enthuasits" that are on this forum consider a number of information sources in making their decision. We all have our short list of cars that are in our area of consideration for purchase...and often we seek out additional information on cars that make our short list. The CR simply made me realize that the TL should be added to my short list and I should go and investigate through other sources more info on this car.

In defense of CR, I appreciate it as being one of the few sources that does not accept advertising which can and DOES influence editorial, reviews, test drives etc. I do not consider it a sole source, but in general I think the cars they recommend represent the better vehicles in the marketplace and their history of repairs information is very useful.

 

CR > all.

The blue and white interior > G35 orange interior.

Though it must be noted that I DO like the BMW E46 orange. I like that orange.

That is all.

 

Dr. Karesh -

I just visited your True Delta web site and found your efforts quite interesting. I see your experience in the area of auto buying consumer behaivor and influences is quite extensive...based on your PhD research topic.

Good luck with your web site...BTW...with all of the information you have on hand about all cars...what do you drive?

 

[QUOTE=caball88]well the same can be said for the TL if you are gonna say that the G35 is built on the same platform as the 350Z(which i dun think it is, i think its the same engine but everything else is different).

The G35 coupe and sedan, FX35/45, and Z are all built on the same platform. The M35/45 is as well but it is a stretched/updated version of that platform. It is what nissan dubs as the FM platform. This is a fact. As a matter of fact, one could consider the G35 coupe a 350Z 2+2 with more luxury.

 

mkaresh - neat site, good info! Bookmarked it to check out in detail later.

 

[QUOTE=montyz81]Actually, the G35 sedan was the first one to use the FM platform. The 350Z came after the G35 sedan. The G35 coupe came after the 350Z. They are basically the same car with different emphasis.

 

You speak as if the TL and Accord are not built on the same platform. And for the record, like a previous poster suggested. The V35 Skyline actually came out before the Z did, so technically you could say the Z is a 2 seater G35 with less luxury.

 

I spend a hell of a lot more time DRIVING my car rather than enjoying the interior of my car

Can you wait for the '07 G35?
If performance and handling are important to you, I'd do that or check out the IS.

 

Actually my friend, the G35 was built off the Z. That is to say the original FM platform built was a 2door coupe with Z badging. Basically, the Z concept was in existance before the G35 was developed. During the development cycle for the Z and before both cars were released, the G35 was spawned . The Z was actually available for sale in Japan 3-6 months before available in the US. The G35 was only released about 3 months before the Z, just so you know. What this comes down to is my original statement is right. The Z was built, then they built a 4 door sedan off the same platform, then they built a 4 door crossover off the 4 door platform, then the stretched it and built a bigger 4 door sedan off of it. Any questions?

 

It doesn't really matter which was introduced first. Since platforms have to be engineered to support the biggest, heaviest vehicle they will spawn, it might make the most sense to say that the Z is the sports car version of the FX. Which explains a lot...

The Z isn't the most nimble car in its class.

Would I get flamed for this post on a Z board?

 

I currently drive a Mazda Protege5. My top priority is agile handling, which is hard to find in a larger, heavier car. For this reason, in the next year or two I'll likely replace the P5 with two vehicles, a Mazda RX-8 and a crossover (Ford Freestyle the current leading contender). I've considered the G35, TL, Legacy GT, and so forth for some time. But they all feel too heavy for my tastes.

In fact, I bought the P5 after driving a Mazda6 and remarking to the salesman that it just felt too big. Obviously horspower is not nearly as high on my list of priorities. A stick makes a big difference here; with an automatic I find myself wanting considerably more power because there's much less fun to be had by exercising the powertrain.

I continue to find the TL a wonderful car to look at, though. So I should thank you guys for buying so many of them

 

Sorry but you are misinformed. The Skyline V35 came out in 2001, a good 6+ months before the Z car was released. In fact, one of my friends was a developer in the Z-car design and kept me informed of its progress. The 350z was built off the FM platform from the V35 not the other way around. The XLV concept was the first one to make use of the chassis (development stages) and the V35 was a spawn of that.

 

I've owned both (2004 TL and 2004 G35 sedan). Search, search and search some more.

My "updated" opinion is to wait for the 2007 G35 sedan.

I on the other hand traded the TL for a 2005 RL but still own (lease) the G35.

 

Damn, i forgot about the XVL concept! I am wrong, you are right! Now I loose all credability as a Nissan worshiper/lover!

 

haha. Sad that a truck chassis can outhandle a car chassis (G35 vs. TL).

 

No offense to Dr. Karesh but no amount of knowledge can ultimately predict how happy or unhappy you will be with the car you decide to buy.

Don't get me wrong it is always better to be well informed before making any purchase especially a big ticket item like a car. Knowing if a particular car will spend more time in the shop than another brand is very helpful.

However when you are stuck in such a close race it is better to determine what is best for you and what will ultimately suit you the best. It is evident in this thread that the final say does not invlove facts but ones opinions or desires.

Note:
psteng19: says the drive is more important than the look or comfort...
colberto: says he spends more time enjoying the comfort and asthetics of his TL than fretting over a minimul loss of performance.

So it just depends on what you value more.. truth is I don't think you can go wrong with either car.

 

If it means anything to you, the insurance on our G35 Coupe is actually significantly cheaper than our TL.

Which the G35 does have by the way if you get the Premium Package.

Fake chrome? That's real brushed aluminum. At least since 05' anyways.

Depends which dealer you go to. I bought my G coupe from a dealer 2,000 miles away, and got my fully loaded G (every option box checked), for a couple hundred over invoice, which ended up being within $1,000 of the TL we bought.

What part of the country do you live in? Because in the PacNW, I found the POI function of the TL's navi to be absolute garbage. 99% of the time the places I'm looking for aren't in it, wheras it's the exact opposite with my G. Even my wife get's frustrated by it. There were numerous times when we are driving separately for whatever reasons, and she calls me up, to have me lookup the address in my Navi, so she can manually enter it in hers.

 

Keep in mind, this is including the $600 I had to pay to have the car shipped to my front door.