BlackSunshine

Around 12:30am this morning, I was getting on I-35 via a two highway interchange and what do I spy? A new (window sticker and paper plates) Silver G35 Sedan coming on from the opposite interchange. I vied for lane position beside him and his first reaction??? He punched it! No courtesy look, no hello, just goodbye. So I dropped third and pulled along side again to show interest.

This time we're on I-35 and both doing 80, now I get a nod. We bring it down to 60 and do some teasing (gas pulls). Finally, we come up on a straight and both hit it (drop third again). He just starts to pull on me when catch up in the VTEC range. Then it's dead even. I guess you could say I lost if you count his initial pulls, but otherwise dead even once in VTEC. We kept pulling back around 130 MPH. (I hate that I can't "feel/hear" the VTEC kick in like I use to in my 99 Si)

Here's the kicker, the G35 is a 6MT. While pulling thru the gears I noticed similar kick times. When we came down to 50, rolled down the windows, he confirmed the 6MT ( as I did too with mine).

So could I have really beat him on the top? Did I do something wrong? Is there a better MPH to drop gear in the TL?

On a sidenote, while I do have HPST's, the suspension is very springy above 100 MPH. We came across a bend that sent chills up my spine. Not even my Si was that springy there.

So for my first race in the TL, not bad. But, will I ever be a winner? Wait... I am a winner, I bought a TL.

6mtV6

the G35 6mt is a fast car....
if you read the new car and driver article "$35,000 Sports Sedans"
the TL got 0-60 in 5.8...

"Acura was clearly planning to take no prisoners with the latest TL, and that was immediately apparent at the drag strip, where the TL ripped off a 0-to-60-mph mark of just 5.8 seconds—a half-second quicker than the potent Infiniti G35 could manage with its 3.5-liter V-6, and more than a second quicker than the best of the rest."

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Y'know... these car rags are all over the place... in that article.. the G got a 14.5 or 14.6 in the 1/4... and so did the TL .. but in another article, the G 6-spd ran a 14.2 @ 99mph ... Go figure.

In theory, RWD will rip a similarly equipped FWD car outta the hole to 60mph more times out of ten in back to back runs w/ similar tire setups.

adam209

quit mag racing. when you're racing someone, anything is possible.

TL_6SPD

Though in that test it was the slowest time for the G35 ever. It has gotten 5.6 sec 14.2 at 100 mph in tests.

The G35 seems to be a hair quicker in all the tests so far overall, just a hair.

SatinSilverAV6

iTrader: (2)

You should feel good about the race. The G35 has .5L and 22ft lbs of torque more. It also weighs 100lbs less than a TL and its RWD. Your only advantage is 10HP and you still kept up with him. Honda did a great job with the new TL! Good race!

jrock65

Wow, I'm surprised that the G driver was willing to rev the hell out of a car that was brand new. Must have had itchy feet or something...

BlackSunshine

Well, I personally couldn'y wait once I broke 500 miles to open her up. I guess I had a little more patience than him.

Some people's mentality is to "Drive it like you stole it".

Hahah... come to think of it, it'd be kind of funny if he had stolen it?

adam209

HAHAHAHA...maybe you ran this guy http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...threadid=72957

VTEC=happiness

Get an intake...then you get the nice vtec sound you are missing and enough of a HP boost to beat the guy next time

Turbowhat2

Most important mod for your car: The Driver...

it all depends on that.

6mtV6

adam209:

i wasn't mag racing...i'm just stating that the G35 6mt is a fast car...not because i read it from mags..but from test driving it..

the car and driver quote was to show that both the TL and G35 equiped with 6mt are both fast cars.
I have equal love for both cars...

BrandHdriver

Dang, BlackSunshine, I can't believe you found any time on I-35 around Austin to do any racing. I've been held up before in traffic on I-35 at 11:30 p.m. in the evening.

BrandHdriver
'04 TL Silver/Ebony/5AT/non-NAV

JoganJani

If it's TL 6MT and G35 6MT, the car is as good as its DRIVER! Period.

BlackSunshine

BrandHdriver - I am currently doing business in the great corn-growing state of Iowa (yeah, I-35 runs through). Hence the reason I have over 1000 miles on the Odometer since picking my TL up 7 days ago. Picked it up from the dealership and drove straight to Iowa. Which by the way, was a much more comfortable ride than the flight into DFW.

Point of G35 interaction was at the I-235/I-35 interchange in West Des Moines. I couldn't imagine playing in the Austin I-35 area these days.

BrandHdriver

I drove up 183 and 281 to Mineral Wells this evening, all 2-lane roads past Leander. I did some high-speed passing of slower traffic. I was amazed at how fast you can get from 75 to 100 mph in this car!

Lovin' this ride!

BrandHdriver - Austin
'04 TL/Silver/Ebony/5AT/non-NAV

VQ35DE

Good run. I should have test drove the 6MT TL rather than the auto. I might have been inclined to trade up right on the spot.

Anyway, I dont know about the G35S but if my 2002 Maxima is any indicator, the G35's VQ35DE will only get faster once it's broken in.

6mtV6

VQ35DE: your 2k2 max is a fast car....i had a 2k1 max and even though it had the VQ30DE it was fast too..
the G35 and the 2k2-2k4 max has the same engine...just tuned differently...
i test drove the 2k2 max and it was fast but the G35 felt faster.

Nissan's VQ engine is one of the best in the world....Honda's new J series V6 is up there with the VQ...


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bollywood21

i think you performed well against the G35. I really think from an acceleration stand point from 50mph up to 130mph, you are truly going to frustrate a G35 driver, because he is not going to be able to pull away from you. I would think you would be on him "like flies on shit".

As for the handling above 100mph. I have to concur, there is a little too much bounce in the TL. This morning I was doing in excess of 100mph on 476 with some mild lane hopping and I got a little jittery about the bounciness. I may get the those comptech springs to help out.
Regards,
Bollywood21