handling FWD sedan on the market? How about best handling FWD car PERIOD? Looking for opinions...

 

It's the best FWD car I've ever owned. By far better.

I have no idea if it's best on the market, but I'm always impressed at how well this thing pulls itself through a tight turn. Not much in it's class can come close IMO. So is it the best??? I personally don't care. It definately satisfies me whenever I feel 'the need'.

 

Yes. That opinion might be a little biased however

 

IMO it's the best bang for the money ... bar none ... LOL

 

Indubitably.

 

Well, I'm trying to think of another car that might compete with it - coupe or sedan - Audi A6? Volks Passat?...

 

Maybe the Mini Cooper or Audi TT would out handle the TL-S (?), but these are really very different cars...

 

What he said x2

 

Funny, I was wondering the same thing just the other day.

I also thought about VW. Isn't Audi AWD?

Anyhow, it the TL-S isn't the best, it close enough not to matter.

 

^^
Glad I'm not the only one thinking these things....

A6 is available as FWD or AWD...

 

I have read its the best handling FWD car in diff Magazines. One said you would be hard

pressed to find a better handling FWD car ANYWHERE. I agree!!!.

 

I would probably go with Civic Si or MINI. But for the power/weight/size, TL can hold it's own.

 

Audi offers both FWD and AWD. I am guessing Acura will start doing the same with the next gen TL.

 

The SAAB has pretty impressive handling, and is in the same class of sedan. Having just come from a SAAB, I think it handled better than the TL, but nowhere near the value. The TL has WAY more options and a good bit more power, all for less money than the SAAB.

 

The Volks GTI is a terrific handling car, but like the Civic Si or Mini, in a completely different class...

 

Which Saab? Are you comparing it to the TL-S or base TL?...

 

The market/segment was pretty uncrowded for high-HP FWD cars until the last couple of years. I don't think the TL-S has been tested in comparos with other FWD cars yet.

Maybe the Mazdaspeed 6 approaches the handling of the base TL. Otherwise, the Camry V6, ES350 and Accord V6 are no longer slouches in a straight line, but probably don't have the suspension tuning to stay with the TL. I've only seen the TL match-ups with RWD and AWD cars.

The Passat, Audi A4, GT-I, Audi TT and Volvo S-60 T5 all come in FWD configuration now, but I'm not sure if the FWD VWs and Audis cars have the power to stay with the TL. The Volvos usually end up at the bottom in comparisons due to some e-bug, and the TL ends up as the top of the FWD and AWD "premium sedans" or "beginning lux" cars.

 

It seems to me that with the TL-S Acura has pretty well reduced the understeer to VERY closely match that of the best handling RWD cars. Virtually EVERY car understeers today. In fact, if you look in C&D understeer is a GIVEN. The question isn't whether the car understeers, rather, the question is how much. Usually you will see understeer listed as "minimal", "moderate", or "excessive". I guess the real practical difference between a car like the TL-S and say, a 335i is torque steer, something that seemingly cannot be fully overcome with the FWD design. Do I have this right or am I missing something here?

 

Anyone know if the 2007 TL-S has the rear view mirror? and the shifter paddles?

 

TL handling? almost as good as my 350z, LOL

test drive > ALL

 

 

Do you mean rear view monitor? Backupcamera? Yes it has that and shifter paddles ont he steering wheel.

 

Just traded my '04 Mazda RX-8 for an '08 TL-S manual.

RX-8 vastly out handled the much larger TL-S, but the TL-S torque is putting big smiles on my face.

Only 300mi so far and I'm still a little freaked-out about the tourque steer. Hopefully by the time the engine is broken-in I'll have it figured out and can really see how this car performs.

BTW - Great info on the forum - Thank you all.

 

the torque steer definitely improves... when I first got mine it used to dart out to the side when you gassed it... either I got used to it or it is way better now (3700 miles)

 

For its size it's pretty close to one of the best, if not the best. But its too long to beat out anything smaller in size handling wise. Better handling (but smaller) FWDers range from Mini's to TT's to my fav, Civics.

Shorter = better --- in this case anyway.

 

I don’t know about the best handling but I do know we probably have the best FWD setup ever, at least according to Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...cl-type-s.html

I know it is a CL Type-S in the test but our FWD system is pretty much the same, maybe even better now. Car and Driver says "the best front-drive system anywhere, any time, bar none." We might not out handle everyone but I bet we can put the power down better than anyone, especially coming out of the corners.

 

I am comparing my SAAB convertable SE turbo with my Acura TL base. The SAAB handled better IMHO. The Acura feels very big to me after the SAAB, I know thats not a real good description but it just does not have the same feel to it. Maybe the Acura can pull more g's on a skidpad, maybe not, I am just going by my own feelings, nothing technical.

 

Every car is a compromise so its kind of pointless to pick one attribute and buy a car based on that.

IMO, nothing beat the '07 TL-S as a whole package including but not limited to: power, handling, reliability, resale value, rear seat room, features/options, styling, and price/value.

So I bought one.

 

I've had mine for a few weeks now. The only thing that is starting to bug me is on a launch, unless the road is perfectly smooth, the car wants to go in every direction but straight. I havent experienced wheel hop, so it seems the suspension is keeping the wheels to the ground. So its got to be a combination of the tires and the torque steer itself.

But on the twistes...holy cow...It handles almost as good as my old modified TSX. I would say all it needs it some stickier rubber (with a drop in the sidewall as well) and a drop in the center of gravity and the thing would be a super monster.

Oh, and not much body roll either in a long, sweeping turn or switchbacks...

 

Yea but TL's look beautiful inside and SAAB's look like dogshit. They are so NON userfriendly and they have retarded head rests too.

 

I thought about this for awhile and I will have to say yes. I can't think of another fwd car that is clearly better than the TL-S. The blend of luxury, handling, and power for the price beats out everyone.

 

I have to echo many of the comments on here that if you put it all together the TL-S provides the best bang for the buck. In this category the only main rivals that I can think of would be G35 and IS350 - both of which have their advantages over the TL-S - but on the whole I still feel the TL-S wins. Probably the strongest case could be made for the IS over the TL-S, but you would need to choose the options pretty carefully to keep the price under $40K. FWIW a local dealer will sell me an 07 TL-S for $34,300 - WOW!!

 

g35 and is350 are both rear wheel drives. We were comparing fwd.

 

For the money it is the best thing out there. Unless you are really hung up on RWD. I just picked up my 4th TL!! I had 04, non-navi, then 06 Navi and 07 navi and tonight picked up my 08 TL-S!! Awesome machine great balanace of options, ride and performance. And if you find a good dealer you can get good bargins, I paid $400 over invoice and got free pro pack (splash guards, truck tray, cargo net, etc). I bought my 07 from these guys last year and they sold me that one for close to invoice as well. Jackson Acura in Atlanta is the best car dealership I have ever dealt with, and Chege is a great sales guy, no high pressure sales tactics, sure he'll encourage you to buy, btu none of the usual high pressure crap. They left the deal on the table even when I needed a few days to think about it.

 

lol, Chege must love you. Look! A walking ATM!

 

Ya, G and IS are RWD. I momentarily stepped outside of the FWD comparo to say that I thought the TL-S was/is the best car for the $$ regardless of which wheels move the vehicle - this would even include the dig-your-heels-in Fred Flintstone people mover...

 

^^
Although I hear the FFPM is rock solid...

 

I don't know about all that ^

The TL's are certainly better value, that's why I bought one. I was comparing handling in a front wheel drive vehicle, to the handling in another front wheel drive vehicle which is in the same category. Which is what the thread is about.

 

Not that this is any comparison or anything... I just got back from a business trip, and got to drive the Grand Prix GPX (v8) for the week. I can say that yes, it will smoke the TL-S. However, if you turn traction control off, you really have to know how to keep that car in a straight line. Even with TC on, torque steer was BAD. What's the point of having all that power if you can't control the car? I'll take my TL-S anyday...

 

Looks like the Mugen RR will have that crown.