acuranewbie

I just got a 2005 TL two months ago and remember I researched probably 10 cars of comparable price (G35, IS, BMW, Volvo, etc.), in the end I ended up with the TL because I loved the technology (esp. the navi) and power it offered for the price (plus I didn't think it looked too shabby), but I remember that I almost wrote the TL off because of the supposedly dreaded torque steer that most of the reviews mentioned, I've read up on what torque steer is but the question is under what driving conditions do you experience it? I drive my car pretty hard (and fast) and so far haven't really noticed anything bad in terms of handling, I'm only curious because looking back it's amazing that I almost passed up on this awesome car because of this "huge" problem

nYmALu86

I agree with you, it's completely overated, I actually test drove the maxima before I test drove the TL....now torque steer on THAT car is a different story.

ChuckDu

The only time that I notice the torque steer is when I accelerate hard from a stop while the steering wheel is turned. There really aren't many times when I find myself in the situation so torque steer is basically a non-issue for me with this car.

aznt1217

TL torque steer is not very noticeable, but you do notice it when you floor it from dead stop and in the middle of a turn. Of course the Maxima has more torque steer, the vq35 is insane lol

ckya

try go uphill and accelerate fast....it's more noticable on uneven road...

03CoupeV6

That's cause the Maxima actually has a decent amount of torque. That VQ35 engine is a beast... one of the best V6s ever. When I test drove an 02 Maxima SE 6MT it was hard to control. I don't know if it's true or not, but I've always heard the Maxima's V6 was underrated.

tejesh83

I notice the torque steer a fair amount. But I have the 6sp, and I'm no stranger to WOT. It's particularly noticable while turning or road imperfections under hard acceleration.

But you can easily keep it under control with a firm grip on the wheel when driving hard.

BG74

I noticed it a little on my 6MT when I first got it (with stock Michelins). Now, however, I am sincerely telling you that after I switched to performance summer tires, torque steer is simply nonexistent. I see the VSA light sometimes upon hard acceleration, but I feel nothing in terms of a pull on the steering wheel.

I just bought a dented '89 Accord with 162K ($500) to drive when summer tires won't work....Tomorrow, I'm parking the TL in the garage (read= snow country).

TL CHROMETIDE

I drive a 6-speed and I rarely notice torque steer. I sometimes push it hard at a stop and it'll go straight with no problem. I have to agree that I think it's overrated.

t-dogg

If you get the supercharger, then.....

TL-773

I definitely agree. I only notice when I floor it, and I have to grip the steering wheel pretty hard. I like FWD for the better handling in the winter and the added fuel economy. AWD woud be lovely though.

teranfon

I have to agree that torque steer, at least with the Honda products I have experience with, is overrated. I see alot of people complain about FWD as well. I agree that while FWD has no place in ultra high performance cars, the majority of drivers would have little or no problem with it. My 05' Accord six speed coupe is my first front driver and it is just as entertaining to drive as the rear drive corvette, Lightning, and Grand National that sit in the garage beside it.

Terry

varanelli

I agree too. I have to really gun it from a stop to notice it.

acuranewbie

Since most people don't seem to think of it as a big problem how likely is it that the TL will be switched to either AWD or RWD in the near future?

mickey3c

The 45 series tires also help with torque steer. The taller the profile the more you would feel it. I also drove a maxima and torque steer was a real issue there because of the amount of torque the VQ was putting out and the light weight.

FWD is not that much better in winter. All depends on the tires you have... lol

HiTEC

Maybe you guys are used to it or something. My past 5 cars have been AWD Audi's and this is my first FWD car ever, and I totally notice it. I've seen a lot worse on rental cars, but I can totally notice it.

kennyc

I came from an Audi as well and I agree with you 100%, especially under 2 circumstances - 1. accelerate when making a turn. 2. stab the throttle.

F23A4

The 4AT 02 Maxima also has some pretty heavy torque steer. In my case, a good set of performance tires (Falkens 512s) helps to mitigate the TS better than the stock tires, not to mention my Injen CAI helped as well .

I dont know the actual torque levels on the TL (vs. the official 238lb-ft) but, the Maxima/Altima's torque levels have been the subject of debate on Nissan boards for a few years. The official Nissan torque levels on FWD VQ35's (Altima, Maxima, I35, Murano, Quest) range between 246-255lb-ft but there are claims that torque levels are between ~260-270lb-ft.)

The 3G TL AT has SUBSTANTIALLY less torque steer (read: low end torque) than any VQ35DE Maxima/Altima.

Brettg

With the 6MT, making a sharp turn with heavy throttle is quite nasty.
I dont notice it much at other times, just a sqiggle as the limited slip differential does its thing.

Brett

nednj36

There is a fair amt. of torque steer on hard acceleration, especially when tires pressures are slightly higher in the front (I keep mine at 36 PSi front/ 32 PSi rear). My car darts right when I put the pedal to the metal.

Best thing is to just hold on tight and enjoy the thrust.

chill_dog

Totally overblown...rarely notice it, and when I do, it's not that bad.

ttliang

when i came out of shop parking lots to some 50mph speed limit hwys full of cars, it's pretty bad. 90 deg. turn from dead stop and tried to gain speed as quickly as possible. summer tires are much better then stock tires. on the other hand, you could slide the rear end out on a RWD doing the same thing too.

once you got used to it, anticipation with proper amount of gas will eliminate most of them.

mn2trance

What everyone else had said.

HiTEC

If you're used to driving FWD cars then it's overrated. If you're used to driving AWD or RWD cars, then the torque steer in the TL is pretty pronounced, just like any other high powered FWD car. You can't stop torque steer, it's always going to be there in a FWD car. You can try to address if with differentials and/or electronics. I don't know what is worse, the torque steer or the electronics cutting the throttle on you.

shockwave

Engine torque is not the only factor contributing to torque steer. Certain front suspension geometry features like the amount of toe-in or the relative length of the two half-shafts connecting the rotors to the transmission will change torque steer. Some things that will help to reduce torque steer are lower profile tires and the limited slip differential that comes with the 6MT. I have also read somwhere that VSA was tweeked for 2006 to reduce torque steer.

Does anyone know how the maxima engine is able to produce such great torque at low RPM, and still have good high end power? I would have though that VTEC would give us the advantage over everyone else when it comes to keeping torque high accross the RPM range. Is it just that Acura was less aggressive with the two cam profiles?

ttliang

3.5 vs 3.2 with about the same HP, it'd better have more tq. one of the reasons i didn't buy maxima 6sp is tq steer on that car. that's with LSD and 18" too. kinda went too crazy on me with normal driving.

mio

yeh, the new maxima got much worse touque steer than TL...

trancemission

I get it big time while in a turn, but thats about it. Not really big enough to bother me.

Yakuza70

Having been an owner of an '02 Maxima SE 6-speed and now an '05 TL 6-speed, I can say that the VQ35 has much more torque than the current TL so compared to my old Maxima, the TL has very little torque steer! My Maxima also felt faster because of the torque but I love my TL for it's smoothness, refinement, technology, looks etc. - no comparison. The only thing I miss is the heated steering wheel.

03CoupeV6

So which is faster, 255hp 02 Maxima SE 6MT or new TL 6MT?

Yakuza70

I'd say they're pretty much equal although on paper the Maxima should be faster - more torque, comparable hp but lighter by at least 200 lbs. Magazine times to 60 mph (I know never trust those) have been about the same for the Maxima and TL.

TL Dude

Some will notice more than others because it is heavly dependent on your driving style (mostly) and to a lesser degree, the road conditions.

As for myself, I *notice* it every day, but it is by no means unacceptable. Part of the overall 'feel' of a car comes from this effect. A BMW 540 feels very different the the TL since it is rear wheel drive.

If you want to experience it, just make a full throttle start from a dead stop and make a moderate turn to the left or right while in first gear. You will feel it.

If you are driving a TL currently and can't describe torque steer or 'relate' to this, then there is no real issue.

It's not over rated. Its just not present or relevant to all.

Or put another way, it doesn't affect daily driving, only spirited driving.

acuranewbie

I agree with you, I just wish the reviews would make it more clear that torque steer (at least on this car) doesn't mean the car doesn't handle, I suspect a lot of people end up passing on TLs after reading some of the reviews bitching about the torque steer

F23A4

I tend to NOT think many people are passing up on the TL for that reason, given the number of 3G TLs on the roads these days. Most mags seem to point towards the 6MT as having a TS tendency rather than the 5AT (which is how the vast majority of TLs come equipped).

That said, most mags also indicate that the TL handles just about as well as the G35 and E46/E90 which is VERY remarkeable for a FWD car.

If anything, I think the TLs are probably being passed up more by those hardcore 'one percenters' that really push the performance envelope where that marginally better RWD handling balance of a G35 or 3-series makes a decisive difference for them.

Actuary

u will feel it when u wants to show off from stop making a left or right turn.

mbwmn

unequal length driveshafts cause torque steer.

it is a non-issue on a 6mt w/ good tires and vsa. much worse on my girlfreinds' altima se v6.

Adobeman

Torque steer in the TL seems to be more of a concern of those who DON"T won the car than those that do. Completely overblown and virtually non-existent.

Try driving a first-gen Saab 900 Turbo if you want to know torque steer. (That is if you can find one)

F23A4

I've heard that few generations of the 900/9-3 Turbos have major torque steer.

1995hoo

I concur with the people who say that it's generally overrated but that it is definitely noticeable on uneven roads. About a mile from my house there's a badly rutted and bumpy section of street right at a traffic light; I guess it's taken a pounding from truck traffic bringing stuff to the shopping center a half-mile in the other direction. Anyway, if I stop at the red light there, I get pretty bad torque steer, especially if I'm a few cars back and I hit the worst of the rutted area right as I'm shifting into 2d or 3d gear. But for the most part, I hardly ever notice it otherwise.

My other car is RWD (RX-7) and I don't feel that the TL handles poorly by comparison so much as I feel that the RX-7 is smaller and lighter and generally feels sportier. Torque steer just isn't an issue, probably because I've owned four FWD and two RWD cars over the years so I'm used to FWD.

I was concerned when I first read the review in Car and Driver prior to when I started looking for a car in 2004, but after I test-drove two TLs (one the seemingly mandatory 5AT that they initially offered, then a 6MT when I made it clear that I wouldn't buy anything unless I got to test out a 6MT) I thought it seemed overblown. A year and a half later I feel even more strongly that the magazine comments are based on their trying to wring out the cars at extremes that normal people won't ever reach.

JetJock

OVERRATED...especially by BMW owners who think their BMW is the only car to drive...mostly to the shop.