2snail

So to lay some background, I have been enjoying my 2010 tsx v6 tech for about a year now.

I traded in my 2010 evox because I wanted something more reliable as a daily driver, not to mention something more luxurious and wife friendly.

My wife wants to keep the 2010 tsx v6 which opens up the options for a replacement car for me.

The top of my list was the ISF. i mean 400hp v8 with a quick 8 speed tranny seems like a nice package. I test drove this car and while it sounded great the transmission didnt feel that awesome to be honest. It felt about the same as far as quickness as the tsx I currently have. Maybe I didnt have it in the right mode. Now the tq and hp are a different story.

After running the numbers that car is just too much of a financial stretch for me at this time. so off the list it goes

2014 lexus IS350 f sport I test drove today.
The cluster was probably the most awesome one I have seen. It is basically the same one out of the LFA super car. It has the same 8 speed auto as the ISF and it has an adjustable suspension for dampening. During the test drive the power felt pretty good, suspension actually felt really nice in all 3 modes. I have to admit this car is really fun to drive, but I feel like it will be far too common on the road in the coming months/year.

The front F spindle grill looks good in pictures, but up front in person I feel it looks kind of cheap. I still dont like the detached LED light strips from the actual head light housing.

The interior is very modern and first impression was that it was a fantastic interior.

Being a first year model run for the new generation I will have to pass. In addition again the price point is in the same territory as a lightly used ISF and i would take the ISF over this if I could stretch it.


2013 Acura TL SH-AWD
I popped in my local acura dealer today to give the sh awd a test drive. Honestly I dont know why I didnt test drive this earlier. I had the feeling that the TL was just too big and would feel sloppy handling wise. But boy was I wrong after the test drive.

Honestly I enjoyed the acura the most out of all the cars described. The styling has really grown on me and I love the way the sh awd suspension feels. Even over bumps and uneven pavement it is far ahead of the v6 tsx.

The only car left on my list is the inifini q50 sedan and the dealer did not have any on their lot yet so I guess I have to decide if I want to wait for the q50 test drive or pull the trigger on a 2013 tl awd sh

TeamAcura

Pull the trigger man. You're not gonna get a better deal on a brand new car like the 4G. They age really well and will hold their value way better than an Infiniti.

P.S. Make sure it's the tech package.

TomFord

2013 tl awd sh is the way to go

Edward'TLS

Agree. The new TL is being heavily discounted right now. It's definitely a good time to buy the brand new car.

Mr Marco

^this is not a fair fight. At $65K the ISf is really in an entirely different catigory. In fact, with that amount of money, you could buy a new 4G TL and enough left over to buy a new Civic for your deadbeat sister.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

I guess I am gonna be the only one to say wait until you drive the Q. You probably will not be able to deal as much on the Q. Also, if your not in a hurry as time gets closer for the 5G to being released, the deals should get better on the 4G.

Booya4139

I'd wait 6-8 months if you can

23109VC

what kind of prices are people getting on 4G's now? like an SH-AWD w/tech ?

the IS is a lot smaller car too... interior space is minimal...so if you care about rear passenger comfort - the TL is a far better car than the IS!

Booya4139

IS is tiny, i don't like that it only has room for one cup holder...

TheAspec

$4000-$5000 off sticker is not unheard right now.

rx2010

I was able to get my 2013 TL FWD Advance for $7,600 off MRSP, not including the Acura Loyalty Rebate. Since you have a TSX, you can probably go lower. I got $7,600 off MSRP and $1,500 applied towards my down payment since I have a 2011 TSX, so it's like getting $9,100 off MSRP in the end.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Just wish we can also get that much off MSRP for the slow-selling RLX.

docboy

+1

The interior of the IS sucks. Poor ergonomics and extremely uncomfortable. I had purchased a brand new 2009 IS 250 AWD a few years back. Within a week I couldn't drive that sucker due to right leg pain; I finally discovered the narrow footwells and AWD hump were impinging on my right foot/leg, and it caused cramps and extreme muscle fatigue. And no, I couldn't tell this from the test drives I took.

After 4000 miles I traded the IS in for the TL and took a huge financial loss. Oh well, such is life, loose some, gain some...

You think Lexus would have thought the new IS would address said ergonomic issues. WRONG! I checked out the new 2014 IS a few weeks ago, same cramped interior with poor ergonomics, in fact, even worse and even tighter than before. Who cares if it's rated above the beloved BMW 3 series now; if one can't drive in decent comfort a $40k+ vehicle, what's the point? So much for Lexus comfort, blah blah blah.

JAB00

I am surprised to say that the 2012+ TL is now a better looking car than the new IS or Q. Lexus and Infiniti hit their new generation models with the proverbial ugly stick. These Japanese car makers lurch too much in design changes.

2snail

so I have been browsing the problem and fixes section for the 4g TL, and I was disappointed to find so many issues with the AWD tl. oil consumption issues along with propeller shaft problems.

Any feedback from any of you guys who have dealt with these issues?

g37guy01

I couldn't disagree more. Infiniti hit a home run with the Q. Oh well, looks are subjective.

RSLTSX09XMNAVWX

I have a 2010TL-SHAWD-Tech, and LOVE IT!!! However a friend and I will be heading to the Infinity dealer SOON, to check out the Q-50.. He has a G-37 and we talk about each others car a lot. Yes the TL has a lot of discounts right now.. I got a GREAT deal on my car back in Feb 2010, economy was bad back then.. I would WAIT till you test drive the Q-50 and then price it all out... The Q-50 with Electric Hybrid boost books out at $60K, same as a RL-X... Let us know how it turns out!

KeithL

I agree. The one thing that turned me off shopping for a new GS350 recently was the damn disjointed interior and crappy mouse controller. Don't care about how well it road if the interior looks and feels like crap to me.

24boosted

I went the other direction, had a TSX and traded it for an Evo X. No issues yet (fingers crossed) as of 12k miles.

jjsC5

Ours is 26 months old with about 17,000 miles on it. Zero problems - never been in the shop.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Never much for Infiniti,


Lexus looks like everything else on the road.


Pound for pound, dollar for dollar-Acura is still the best value for the dollar.

draph

OP, following the same logic you did with the new IS F Sport, the Q50 optioned out is also going to be a pricey first year model. Keeping your logic consistent favors the TL; but I recommend you test drive the 6MT which has slightly different tuning to the suspension and steering and, allegedly (can't find the historical documentation, sorry) SH-AWD control software, all tuned even more in the sport direction (at least that's what I vaguely recall being stated in 2010 when I bought mine) - you may like it even more, enough to learn to drive a stick or make it exclusively your car if wife won't drive a stick.... ;-)

weather

2snail....I have had my TL for about 2 years now (SH-AWD) and LOVE the car!! I have zero mechanical issues and the only real problem which has a TSB is the sunroof that makes a ticking noise when its hot. Otherwise, no squeeks, rattles or problems....doesn't mean you will not have any but from my experience, its been positive.

As others have said, if you can hold off a bit, you will likely get a better deal once the 2015 is announced.

Mr Marco

Lots of people log on to gripe, few take the time to log in and compliment.
Keep in mind the ten to one rule. It takes 10 people to give a good review of a product before you'll consider it. It only take one bad review for someone to be turned off. There are many satisfied TL owners who have never had an issue with their vehicle. In fact, my only complaint about our 4G was a blown speaker. With 56K on the TL and 60K on the RDX, I have at least another 5 years of proud ownership ahead of me.

2snail

thanks for all of the replies. I am planning to check out a 2012 awd advance tl which has 20k miles.

sometimesIride

I have an 09 awd tech and have had no real prob except the stupid driver door speaker blown, seems to be a common thing i guess. Dealer fixed.

fryrice

hey dude let us know how it turned out. im looking for a TL awd tech manual which apparently is hard to find in a pearl white color. =/

Glashub

I came back to this forum to write a little bit about the IS350 but I see someone already has. I'll still share my thoughts because I think this is probably the best forum I've been on and I belong to a few. You guys are pretty open minded and ultimately you love cars.

I went from an Acura Legend to a 2005 3G TL to the 4G TL SH-AWD to a Genesis 4.6 to 2014 Lexus IS350 F-sport. I would've stayed Acura my whole life -- such is my affinity for underdogs but the 4G on LA roads was too much nervousness for me i.e. lack of sound proofing, harsh suspension and rattles in the dash and door. The Genesis was rock solid, quiet, and full of tech but never felt really composed.

I think the IS350 is the best car I've owned. The 4 driving modes are fantastic and each changes the characteristic of the car palpably. The engine could use more pop but I have never been able to drive a car as hard through my favorite twisties as I have this car -- not even the TL. It always feels completely composed -- it's eerie really -- no body roll. One can not compare this car to any Lexus they've ever owned or driven.

From the LA Times - "Lexus' desire for a more emotional product has its genesis in the appointment of Akio Toyoda as company president in early 2009. Toyoda is a member of the company's founding family and is known throughout the automotive world as a gearhead himself, having raced the Lexus LFA supercar at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring."

The downside to the Fsport is the lack of tech options most people equate with luxury. The engineering went into the suspension and it is amazing.

In closing for now -- I am completely satisfied with this car. It's not for everyone. It is cramped but the cockpit wraps around me -- at 5'8", 180. The seats are the best I've sat in but the TL may be better -- I just can't remember. The Genesis seats were horrible. There is no leather seat option or ventilated seats (Q50 doesn't offer cooled seats either).

The TLX is really going to have to step up. The competition is getting intense. I hope it's a great and beautiful car.

2snail

update, I ended up buying a 2012 bellanova white awd sh advance with tech package. As a matter of fact it was a previous user's car on this forum. Stew4HD. My sales guy texted me that they just got a white 2012 optioned out the way I wanted and I headed over to the dealership and after discussing with my wife we went home with the car.

Im pretty excited, more so because I think a brand new awd with tech would have been stretching my finances.

I just did the footwell lighting enhancement mod this morning. The car already has full lip kit all around and the rear roof spoiler, advance 19's, and Stew4HD painted the front beak black and tinted the car.

The only thing I am considering is the quad tips that everyone has done, Matts black 4g tl really has me wanting those muffler tips.

Its been raining today so I will try and take some pictures later if the weather clears up.