I'm new and I have been learning from you guys. So, I joined up. Thought I would share with you my decision points. My 330i, 5sp, sport package, UUC sways, all the goodies except nav. It's the best handling, most fun car I've ever driven. That includes my various Porsches and other BMWs, including an E36 M3. It also gets great gas mileage is quiet enough and very comfortable. It has the best butt warmers in existence. So why the trade? It's small. Minor items; the stereo ain't much, no nav and it's expensive. Why the TL? It absolutely blows away the next best choice. The IS300 just sucks in every respect. The GS430 eats gas (I previously owned one), won't handle and is expensive. The G35 handles wickedly, dangerously. It's noisy and rides very poorly. The TL had the best ride, handling, stereo, ambiance, room, nav and interior quality by a wide margin. I preferred the engine and believe that the 6sp may run with the G35. My ordered car is an antracite/quartz, 6sp, nav, hp tires.

 

Hey partagas,
I have an E36 with mods as well and can attest to the stereo sucking. I installed an Alpine/JL /MB Quart system that is killer.

But.......


The ELS system has done its homework a little more than I did, because it blew me away.


It was definetly a selling point when making the decision..

Chad

 

Clarification, my 330i is a 2001 E46. My M3 was a '98 E36. My wife's GS400 was a '98. I also drove both the '03 and '04 530i and they were such a letdown after the snap of the 330i that I couldn't stomach them, especially for the price.

 

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations partagas! Cohibas are better....

 

Did you drive the A4? I think only the G35 matches the TL for all that you get. That includes a strong engine, handling, room, and above all, reliability.

 

I agree with Maxin!

 

One important 'feature' for me is roominess. It is part of the confort. After an Accord Gen6, A4 and 3-series are way too small, being Civic-sized. TL and G35 have about the same interior volume, similar to 5 -series.

 

Hi when did you order your 6MT and when was it promised to you? what state are you in? I am in NYC and ordered mine in August and i'm still waiting for the 6MT to come.

 

There starting to come(6spd/nav) here in Connecticut. Just bought one

 

What color is best for the 2004 tl ?


I have looked online and it is hard to tell ... Also went at night and saw a red... White... anthacrite? and a teal ,as well as silver .. WANT to see a BLACK ..Haven't found one yet.


I thought the Anthacrite? or whatever looked the most classy ..showed all the curves ,you might say ..but the grey interior was not impressive.. However the tan interior and the black steering wheel in the other colors weren't impressive iether ! But atleast the grey interior and black steering wheel didn't look too tacky together..


Hmmmmm.......... Also if you don't get the Nav what is the difference in the look of the dash?


Thanks in advance for all who may know~

 

Hmm, I drove the A4, way too docile. The G35 is smaller for the drive than the 330i. It is totally unacceptable. The volume is large but when you sit in the driver's seat, your left arm is touching the door. Your left leg is painfully against the door. Your right leg is annoyingly (not as bad as pain) against the tunnell. A jaunt up highway 49, gold rush country, quickly becomes unpleasant. The 330i is 100 percent better. Admittedly, the back seat people have a lot more room in the G35, but the drive experience sucks. The TL is almost as good in back and in a class by itself in front. In front, it is better than the GS430. I liked the anthracite/quartz transition in the interior best. Since they run the interior colot half way up the dash, it's an issue. That gren color is great but I didn't like the interior transition. I'm in Cent Cal. No sticks have ben delivered here. I ordered mine a week ago Friday and it is expected in early December. As you may guess, I buy a lot of cars for my business so I get to drive a lot of stuff. I was really disappointed by the G35. The engine roars and runs in the middle but it is coarse and noisy and becomes annoying. The ride truly sucks and the front seat room is terrible. It's worse than the 330i which is why I have to let go of the 330i. I have to take fat guys to lunch almost every day. I tired of playing body rub with them. I was predisposed aganst the TL because of the fwd. Granted, it doesn't handle with the ease and fun of the 330i but it is way better tan any of the other rwd cars.

 

Cohibas, nah. The big one's are flavorless and the little ones are so flavorfull that lunch is hard to keep down. I just got a box of Montecristo #2 pyramids and a box of Partagas Serie Ds. The Montes are big and full, about as full as I can take. The Partagas are very flavorful and sweet, hence the name I just "thunk" up.

 

What dealer ? and what price did they give you ?