If the TL was offered in a special version where you could dial up horsepower in increments of 20 at a penalty of 1 mpg each, how much HP would you select? I have a 2012 TL-AWD Advance and I rarely run it WOT to avoid tickets. But I also find myself reading the posts about other cars like the G37 or even BMW 535 or 550 with interest and even a little jealousy. I'm pretty sure I would have chosen at least an extra 100 HP and taken the 5 mpg penalty. I have a real perspective now because I just bought my wife a used 2008 CLS63 AMG (507 HP and 12 mpg city) -- long story. Anyway, the power is intoxicating but if I'm honest with myself I probably won't run this car really hard very often either. Would it be worth it to you to know the power is on tap when desired even if you rarely use it, or is more HP a waste for someone that drives within the speed limits? So how much HP would you choose (assuming price was the same and gas mileage was the only penalty)?

 

car is perfect the way it is..

 

10:1 lbs/hp would prob be ideal

 

How about dialing up the torque instead? Anything above 300hp on a car is good IMO. What I would add to the TL (the SH AWD) is more low end torque. Say 300ib ft at 1500 RPM to start...

 

I agree.

 

The more hp the better, and I don't care about fuel economy.

People buying this big and heavy 4000lbs V6 TL are not about excellent fuel economy.

 

low end torque is needed!!!!

 

TL doesn't need more hp, it needs more torque and at lower rpm.

I should have read your post before I posted the same answer.

 

I traded our 09 cts v for a mdx. The power is missed but my wife really didn't need all of that power. I averaged around 17 mpg mixed driving and would regularly need gas by 150 miles if I was beating on it.

My wife would normally skip shift and get better mileage than me. She loved to fuck with mustangs and camaros.

I agree with others that more torque would be welcome.

 

 

Don't be jealous. Love the TL for what it is (I'm presuming you test drove a lot of competing models and chose the TL on purpose).

I did, and don't regret it at all. Two weeks later my gf's bro leased a 2012 G37 which I now drive on occasion. It's a very nice car, but it's confirmed my decision to buy the TL. The extra 50hp in the G doesn't override the lower MPG (confirmed in actual driving) and sportier ride (I like the more comfortable ride of the TL). Also, the engine sound is much higher pitched, I like the lower rumble my TL gives.

So I like the HP that comes with the TL. The G gets 50 more hp at about 4 less MPG (which is close to your 10hp to 1mpg ratio) and I wouldn't give it up. 280hp is more than enough to do everything I want to do in the TL: accelerate quickly when needed to get out of trouble spots, and make sure the car doesn't break a sweat when going up steep inclines like The Grapevine in So-Cal or the hilly streets of San Francisco.

 

^^

 

As others have said, more torque down low would make a nice flat torque curve, which is really what I love. That said, I think another 40 torques down low and 20 up high would be just what I want.

Just in case anyone didn't already know... HP is only a calculation of Torque: HP = Torque X RPM / 5252 (so therefore torque and HP are always equal at an rpm of 5252; when rpm is > 5252 the HP is greater than torque, and vise-versa).

 

If you have the 6MT, low-end torque is only really an issue in 1st gear, because your shifts will be right back into the curve in a hard run. I'd say broadening the torque curve would be the higher priority than torque for torque's sake.

If they made a TL-S with SH-AWD, 300 lbs of torque, BBK, better tires, and a little stiffer suspension, I'd probably get one, based on price.

The one thing that differentiates the TL with SH-AWD is its handling ability; once you figure out how to drive it, there isn't really anything in its class that can touch it, handling-wise. As I always say, any idiot can press the gas and go fast in a straight line, cornering actually takes some ability.

 

^^

Lol, actually with sh-awd (TL) any idiot can corner too; once you learn and trust the awd, you'll realize that pressing the gas on turns will just guide you through it.

 

If mpg were the only sacrafice, I'd be willing to give up a lot lol, but realistically since more HP = higher MSRP, I'd want at least enough to match a G37 coupe. And like others mentioned I think the TL needs/would benefit more from increased torque.

 

I rarely if ever use all my 305 HP now that the shawd gives......trying to keep a clean driving record.....

 

I should have worded my post "How much power is enough". My main point was tradeoff of power versus mpg and also being realistic about what we'll really use in normal, legal driving. I do agree with everyone that between the two that torque is much more useful in daily driving than the high end HP. I used to have an S2000 which had a nice HP to weight ratio, but it really had to be kept high in the RPM range to be fast.

If torque is so important would many of you choose a turbo diesel version of the TL if it was offered?

I was trying to leave cost for the extra power out of the equation but that would be another discussion.

BTW, It is amazing to me all the people on the MB forums who diss the CLS63 (na) vs the CLS55 (turbo) because of the tuning potential of the turbo. To them even 490 HP / 500 lb is not enough.

 

My TL is more than powerful enough. Dont need more power.

 

I view the TL as a daily driver - as such its power to comfort ratio is much more important to me than raw HP. In that respect I agree a little more torque would be welcome, but the car as it stands is respectable. If I want to race red to red, the car can hold its own, but this is a rarity in my parts, as cops are EVERYWHERE.

 

an extra 100...AWHP/TQ at about 2500rpm..that would make it perfect..

 

I've owned a lot of fast cars and I would definitely like more power. Well, actually I have more power because the TL is my wife's car and I have a BMW 550 with 450 lb ft of torque and 400 hp. The faster cars I've owned have been weekend cars (a variety of Corvettes, my last being a 505 hp Z06).

At one point I thought about a TL as my daily driver as well. But 6,000 miles with my BMW and I'm spoiled by the effortless acceleration. At this point, I could not live with a TL for myself with less than 350 hp. I've learned to never-say-never but that's my story for now.

 

^^^^^

Even though I don't drive a 400hp car, I still wish that the '12 TL could have another 30-50 more hp, or at least on par with the main competitor such as the G37 sedan.

 

I had an 03 Mustang Cobra w pullie mod before getting a 12 TL SH AWD.

While i was car shoppping what bothered me the most was the lack of torque compared from the supercharged V8.
But, honestly, you don't make enough use of all the power to justify it, unless you hit the track on a regular basis.
305hp, while could most welcome +50hp, is enough for most circunstances.
The luxurious toy that the TL is and all ammenities it offers makes me take the longer routes for the regular drives i used to do w the Cobra.
Yes the cobra smoked most of the cars on the road, but i've learned that priorities change.

 

I like the car the way it is. Pretty balance for my 60 miles daily commute.

 

Yeah I think the TL satisfaction/dissatisfaction will come from what you expect out of it. If you want the feel of a RWD 3-series...well you're going to be disappointed.

For those of us who are unlucky enough to be intimately familiar with the infamous numbers: 405, 10, 110, 101, well the TL makes that ride smooth and comfortable, with enough juice to get you out of sticky situations that other drivers who are pissed off at being stuck in traffic may put you in.

 

You miss that Z yet..waitng on the C7?

 

I'd rather the car shed about 400#

 

Yep. My Miata probalby makes around 200hp with my mods and I can tell you, if FEELS MUCH faster then my TL. It forces me to drive it like I stole it. I'm glad I only use it on weekends. To me the TL has all the power I need and I'm satisfied. I'm different then most. I make more thanenough money, but there are some people than always want more. I don't need more. Less weight is what would be better for the TL then HP, IMO.

 

I miss having the bragging rights to owning it more than I miss the car. I now have three motorcycles and have been riding them shamelessly all I can. No question, I'd love to have the Z06 again, but I'm enjoying watching the stock I bought with the money go up in value.

I have about six years to retirement, at that time I'll decide whether to go back to a Corvette or not. Thanks for remembering

 

Exactly. The Torque should be more in line with the HP. It's torque that wins races not HP.

 

I have been retired for about 20 years now & the Vette keeping popping up on my radar. Last DD buy was a final choice between the 335is & the Corvette Grand Sport.

With the 335is nicely into the 400+ crank horsepower range it suits me fine for now & I don't expect to add anything else to it..

That being said both the next gen Corvette & M3 will be out around the same time & the choosing game will start all over again.

 

Man, i used to deal with traffic on 101 at bay area, that really sucks to deal with on daily basis. I wonder how much worse is it at Socal

 

I would not mind at all an extra 100 horses for the TL....and the more the better!!! However, realistically the thing is very fast for current road rules and restriction..

However, bear in mind that 0-60 in in, let's say, 6 seconds can appear very fast in a Mazdaspeed 3 or very sedate in a car the size, quietness and heft of the TL or similar.....it's all relative in life....

My stepson's Miata feels like a rocket acceleration...well, by the numbers, it isn't.....

 

If I only have one car (for myself, another for my wife) the Corvette won't be in my future. I had two cars for myself for 30 years and it's odd just having my wife's car and mine. I'm not sure I'll ever have the extra car again which would probably put me in something like the M3 as well. I think a 650 would be really cool, but can't see doing a new one at close to $100k and I've never bought a used car in my life. I'm sure I'll figure it out when the time comes.