I found some things they say about the TL pretty entertaining, and quite simply ignorant:

 

Those are predictable claims on the Acura. I find it amusing that technology is viewed as the presence of absence of cooled seats. To me that is more luxury. I live in a climate where cooled seats might be a blessing perhaps 20 days out of a year; however, I would use a Tesla-like Web browser 300+ days of a year. The internet connectivity is what I think of for technology.

The SH-AWD is also technology as well a performance and I think I too would appreciate that more than those cooled seats.


On a side note, I would love to hear what the Lexus guys say when the TLX comes out in a few months.

 

The current TL does lack in the tech department. But it's not just the cooled seats, how about the blind spot indicators that most luxury cars have had for 7 years now. They were even offered on the 2008 ford edge. No power telescoping steering wheel, I like the fact that the power steering wheel will retract in, making it easier to enter and exit the car. My SHO has this, hell my 2000 lincoln LS had this option. I would expect an 11 year old newer luxury car to have this. Also the adjustable pedals are nice. There are a few other options missing though that some people like others could care less about, the parallel parking is a cool option I only used it once on my SHO, I don't trust it lol.

 

Typical from Club Lexus.

 

Lol.

 

So telescoping steering wheel and gimmicky blind spot indicators mark 'luxury'

 

The BSI and cooled seats are available if you want them.

 

Should they be available before 2012 on a TL yes, does this mean the TL is lacking yes.

 

On what the 2012-13 model year and newer? 12 years after my Lincoln ls had them as standard equipment, not even an option in 2011. Also there should be more than one USB port.

 

This is just based on my experience. I've test-driven two TL SH-AWD, one with tech and one with advance package, and three IS350's, two RWD and one AWD, both F-sport and non F-sport.

Driving-wise, gotta be honest, the IS350 RWD F-sport is a little bit more engaging than a TL SH-AWD. When you push it, the Lexus really throws you back in your seat more than the TL. That's with the LFA-inspired 8sp auto though, and in 'Sport +" mode. The 8sp auto only comes on RWD 350 (both F-sport and non F-sport), and the Sport + mode is only available with F-sport. Eight speeds also means that downshifting once might not be enough if you need to get up and go, usually got to hit the paddle to downshift a second time. In the TL, just hit the gas and it goes, sometimes without a downshift necessary; several times on the IS I had to downshift it an extra time manually because just once with the 8sp auto wasn't enough.

AWD IS350 understeers more than a TL SH-AWD - a lot. TL SH-AWD definitely feels more sporty and easier to turn in than an AWD IS350, even without a sportier transmission mode.

Tech-wise, IS350 mark levinson system and the TL's ELS system sound about the same, really. I didn't spend too much time messing with the audio systems, because I was too busy listening to the engines.

There's a thread though on clublexus right now about folks having problems with the nav and audio systems on 2012+ IS's and GS's. Random restarts, shutting down and not rebooting while driving, etc. There's a few guys who've had the whole system reinstalled and still having issues. Plus the little mouse control is cool but not that fast compared to just pushing physical buttons - another plus for the TL.

Blind spot monitoring system? Get a convex mirror for the driver's side, problem solved.

Cooled seats? Nice in the summer for 3-4 months, then unused for 8 months. Cooled seats IMO are an absolute necessity if you get black leather interior.

Cooled seats aren't even an available option with an IS350 F-sport. It's part of the luxury package, and even Lexus won't package the two together (Luxury + F-sport), according to two Lexus dealers I talked to. It's not even possible to order it that way. I'm kind of surprised by that, really - $50K car and the manufacturer can't make both work. Might be possible in a GS but that's pushing $60K.

Incentives-wise, I've gotten two quotes for a TL-AWD w/ Advance for $4500 under MSRP. As for Lexus, only one quote so far, and it's $1500 under MSRP. The IS350 is a hot car right now compared to the TL in this area, so I'm not surprised.

tl:dr; IS350 F-sport definitely has some upgrades and feels sportier in some ways than a TL, but there's other places where it falters compared to the TL. Buck for buck, TL SH-AWD is overall a better value, especially when comparing Acura vs. Lexus incentives right now.

 

The TL might lack cooled seats (pre 2012) but the IS350/250 lacks tech in general. Their nav, touch screen interface, and climate control are very outdated. Also, if you've ever played with the cooled seats on tie IS350. They don't do squat. I was originally debating on an IS250 AWD vs a TL AWD and I didn't like the fact that the rear seats were so small and lack of power. If they had an IS350 AWD (pre face lift) I probably would have jumped the gun.

 

^^^ not to mention an outdated V6 engine in the IS250!!

 

We do have to thank the Lexus IS for the Altezza lights

 

So much so it's often confused for an i4.

 

Loved my TL, but while it does have the basics in technology, I have to be honest and say that it does not have that extra step in tech, whether it be a luxury tech or not.

For example, I just got a Cadillac ATS Premium. I pay alot less monthly, so maybe i got ripped off but the TL in 2012 when I got it had terrible lease offers in hindsight.

Some things that I enjoy now that I didnt have in my TL going with "tech"

-Front and Rear sensors. Maybe rears arent necesarrywith the camera, but I got to tell you living in NY in tight spots those front sensors really help alot trying to pull a U-turn or trying to pull out of a spot, or even pullin in the garage.

-Infotainment: the CUE although a bit laggy ocasionally in the first year it came out is miles ahead of the system in the TL. I can pretty much voice control or through buttons on the steering wheel and screen on the dashboard control everything. I can pop in a 32GB SD card load it with music and it will load in a bout 10 seconds. My songs that are in Greek show up on the screen in Greek alphabet. When I bluetooth my ipad and connect to Spotify, it shows me all the track info on the song playing from Spotify including artwork and the time of the track.

I have 3 USB ports, I dont need all three but some people do like them, and can play MP4's as well (again another feature I personally dont use, but just comparing the tech). I can connect up to 10 devices via bluetooth simultaneously. This helps alot when I want my Ipad to bluetooth music, but my phone connected for calls.

Another big thing with the voice command that the TL was shamefully disgraceful in (at least my opinion) is that I can just hit the button and say "go to 123 45th street New York, New York" and it finds it. On the TL I was never able to voice input a GPS adress. I also have a HUD that displays navigational information, music, Speed limit, tachometer and sped.

I have more options for electric seat positions, as well as the bottom of my seat sliding out for people with longer legs, and the side supports on the chair folding in and out

I have a lane departure warning system and a collision safety alert (I personally don't need them but I am just comparing the tech)

I have safety alert seats so if someone is around one of my sensors on the car it will vibrate the seat. It also vibrates for the lane departure warning and collision alert.

The bose system is great, but I dont remember the TL's ELS system being inferior, I guess I would have to sit in both side by side to tell. Thats a good thing for the TL though.

Mine didn't have it but the 2014's have a 120volt outlet behind the arm rest. This would be soooo useful for me if I had it.

Now of course this car stickers for 5k more than the TL I had, but I also got alot more with that 5k such as brembo brakes, and seats and interior finishes that are superior to the TL.

Now I loved the TL, and I think that if with a good deal available, anyone should jump on a TL SH-AWD tech, but there are weaknesses with the car. This could be due to the fact that Acura never attempted to update the tech mid cycle like other manufactures, but don't attack me because by no means am I attacking the car. I have no bad experiences with the car. Just my impartial opinion.

 

But to be fair, the Lexus is not a great comparison. I think the new IS is ugly, the tech isn't that amazing, and the 250 has the power and sped of a minivan with 7 kids in the back.

The IS 250 is not a drivers car. the 350 is a diferent story, but the 250 is definintely not worth its money.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-2009-2014-123/test-drive-comparisons-2013-tl-sh-awd-2014-is350-f-2010-isf-891524/

read that..

my father just bought a 2014 GX460..

car doesnt even tell you tire pressure on all 4 tires.. the touchscreen display sucks balls...its slow as hell.. the car is overall a nice suv

next week i will be getting a 2014 IS as a loaner.. dont know if its 350 or 250.. will come back with reviews.

 

The 250 engine is outdated but in the end, it's probably one of the most reliable engines ever. Lexus brand alone has amazing reliability and I'll always stand by Lexus for that. I'll be honest, I haven't always had great things happen to me with Acura. Especially my 01 CL with 3 blown transmissions. Somehow, I still own an Acura because of value. I gave them another chance.

 

I thought that GDI engine was plagued with carbon deposit build up?


======

So Lexus owners are comparing their 2014 Lexus model to an Acura model first introduced in 2009? LOL.

I was looking at the IS too but 5k service interval is a little to expensive for my taste and yeah, SH-AWD does seem to trump whatever AWD is on the IS.

For those who talk about the lack of technology/luxury on the Acura/IS over domestic cars, you forgot to add the general lack of headache to compared to domestic / German makes and models.

 

I was comparing previous gen (pre 2012) ISX50's. I'm still baffled at the fact that 09-11 TL's used 5 speed transmissions. Makes me sad.

 

My TL and my wife's GS are our daily driver and grocery getter. I have learned to respect both as excellent engineering products. Both do their job well and they both are cheap and easy to maintain, even for DIY (thanks to the forum). Price-wise, they are both sensibly priced, and when spread over the ownership years, the delta can pretty much be over-looked.

However, the blends are different and catches different group of people. To some people, jam-packing family room technology or driver aids into cars are the definition of technology and luxury. My wife is a prime example, she hates driving and her car allows her to have a family room feel when she is in her car and allows her to tolerate her daily commute. The driver's aids allows her to drive with less stress. That's power to her, and who am I to judge.

On the flip side, I happen to have OK sense when driving where the driver's aids are distractions. Simplicity for me is luxury and I like to row my own gears. Further, I have zero feeling towards family room technology... TL allows me to have premium material with good interior size and row my own gears. Lexus just does not offer a flavor for me.

That said... Luxury also depends on the traffic condition :-) Good traffic days, I'd say Acura is more luxurious, it offers me more of what I want. Bad traffic days, if I can sync up my work time with my wife, I'd say Lexus; not only I don't need to row and modulate, I even get to enjoy sitting in the moving family room and not care about the moving traffic outside :-D

Wrong day picking the wrong car is just simply not luxurious.

In regards to tilt away steering wheel...with the shape of TL's front seats, automatic tilt away steering wheel will be a nice welcome. I actually always thought the tilt away steering on my wife's Lexus sofa seats to be pointless...yet, I crave for it on the TL...

 

yup.

 

Whoever says this car understeers isn't driving correctly. You should be accelerating or at least maintaining throttle throughout the turn. The only way this car understeers is if you lift throttle or brake during a turn (which I'm sure that style of driving isn't totally uncommon at Club Lexus).

 

Lol! True, gotta know how the tech works before you can extract performance.

 

Said the 19 year old driving his dad's Lexus.

 

OP, I love my TL, and think it's a great car, and a great value, but I have to admit, I don't see the first of your quotes as being materially "wrong" in any way. Biased, sure, but for the most part accurate.

The second quote does seem to be based partially in fantasy.

At the end of the day, is there a concern with being compared to a Lexus? I daresay that in most people's minds, the term "luxury" corresponds more with Lexus than with Acura.

 

Ask the Club Lexus guys how well their cooled seats work. I literally could not feel them... I traded in my 2012 AWD Advance for a 2013 ES 300 Hybrid. There's a reason why I traded the Lexus and came back to a Acura in 2014 AWD Advance.

 

we should tell Club Lexus about our car's ability to play DVD-A discs...because, you know, they're the wave of the future...

 

Interesting. I'm actually considering an ES350 as a possible replacement for my 10 TL. Were the seats the only reason you got rid of the car? If not what else turned you off about it? Thanks in advance for the info.

 

I wonder if the Lexus seats are simply ventilated and not cooled...? Though the more I think about it I'm pretty sure they're cooled because my wife's old 2005 ES had them and they were awesome. Didn't really do much if I was wearing jeans but with some work pants on I could definitely tell a difference.

That's the one thing I REALLY wish my 2010 had. Florida summers lead to swamp ass on a regular basis, and the AC blasting in my face doesn't do anything for the moisture down under.

 

should get that checked out by a doc.

 

Haha, I think it's mostly due to my fast metabolism because unfortunately it can happen even when I'm not hot (my Dad has the same problem when he was younger). My pits, hands, and feet tend to do it as well.

My mood triggers it a lot of times, like if I'm anxious or pissed off...I think just about every pore in my body does it.

It's nothing a little extra deodorant, axe body spray, or gold bond can't take care of

OK, I've officially said too much

 

hahahhahahahhahah!
waaaay to much information.

 

Credibility was lost when the post said the best AWD systems come from Lexus, Infiniti, etc... The AWD systems in Lexus and Infiniti are rather simplistic compared to Acura's, Audi's, and Subaru's.

Doc here As long as there is no nefarious odor, swamp ass is all good!

 

^^^ Haha, fortunately no odor here!

 

Oswald... I have plenty of feedback on this. I had a '12 Advance for 9 months and traded it in, thinking I would love the fuel savings. I only kept the Lexus for 9 months for a reason.

Lexus Pros:
*40mpg - enough said
*LED Strip DRL
*Navigation/audio interface is much better
*Heated steering wheel
*Blind Spot monitor indicator built into the mirror
*Armrest comfort, cupholder area, etc
*Telescoping steering wheel (but who cares)

As you can tell, my pros to the Lexus are rather trivial (except for the mpg).

Lexus cons:
*No AWD (but I knew that going in)
*Cooled seats literally felt like they didn't work - common complaint
on Club Lexus
*No LED cabin lighting (had to swap it out)
*Mirrors were big and clunky (trivial)
*Handling was nowhere near SH-AWD
*Suprisingly louder cabin than the TL

***Bottom line... the Acura is a much more fun car to drive and hugs the road like it should. I'm not into performance mods or any of that... so I'm speaking strictly from the stock perspective. I think my grandpa would have a great time driving that ES300h to the cemetary on the weekends.

Feel free to send me a PM and I'll give you my contact info and we can't talk a little bit if you'd like.

 

Truthfully....


I'm sort of happy with the lack of "tech", have you thought about what that tech will be like in 2, 3 or 4 years, most people get a new cell phone every two at the latest.


This will be the first car I plan on keeping beyond three years due to the "just right" tech in the cars. People are already complaining about the touch screens and such, as far as a web browser in my car, WTF...DRIVE or pull over and get out your phone.


After 20+ years in the tech industry, less tech in cars seems like a better idea than all these bells and whistles.


Think about the BMW guys that have the plug for their iPhone 3 in their $50k car... oops, or some even had docs for phones. I want my phone to be a phone and my car to be a car and neither to depend on the other than a Bluetooth connection to talk while I'm driving.


my opinion but when those fancy touch screens and some of the fluff tech go bad, I remember a $1500 Caddy console I had to replace in 1999, think about it

 

I'm never going to accept not being able to input an address manually as the car is in motion, whatever governing body insisted auto manufacturers implement that should be shot. Adjusting the radio, putting on makeup or even eating while driving are equally or more distracting than adding an address.

 

Thanks for the info! I probably would go with the gas ES as opposed to hybrid for the better performance. I also do like the idea of regular vs. premium gas. I really don't need AWD. I will make sure I thoroughly check out the seats and cabin quietness on any test-drive as these were your only two negatives that would be deal-breakers for me.

 

Also, one trivial thing I didn't like about the Lexus was that the doors sounded very tinny when closing. If I would have kept the car, I was thinking of throwing in some Dynamat to see if it would provide some substance, but never got that far. Some people may not think twice at the sound a door makes when closing... but that's a pet peeve of mine. Let us/me know what you decide. I'm interested in your feedback on the Lexus... and MAKE SURE you check out those "cooled" seats.

And HearTLs is correct... most of the user interface shuts down when you exceed ~3mph. That was a pain in the ass.

Best of luck...