Finally, CNET posted Brian Cooley's review of the TLX. It's interesting that he stated that the TLX was one of the most requested cars by the readers for a review... and I guess Brian likes the TLX :-)

2015 Acura TLX V-6 Advance (CNET On Cars, Episode 54) - CNET

 

Overall good review. I've always loved Cooley's reviews, he's always seams very honest and straight forward, this is no different! Thanks for sharing!

 

*Patiently waits for saturn to post in this thread and remind us all that this car isnt that great/doesnt compare to his Bentley*

 

^ I'm waiting for Bear to say it's still a bowl of warm oatmeal

 

Hmm, that review was pretty brief compared to Brian's other reviews...
pretty disappointing imo

 

I am waiting for the claims that over-the-top understeer and severely unsafe brake fade (Bear) was purposefully erased from the review.

I did find the review to be decent. He touched on the main features and, in the end, seemed to like the car. There was no show stoppers in the review. Acura should be happy with it.

I also enjoyed the HUD portion of the video.

 

I thought that review was quite fair. Was a bit surprised he didn't mention anything about how quiet the cabin is. I find that one of the most significant features of the TLX.

 

I think the only reason I watch TLX reviews anymore is to see them go on about the Two Screen center stack. He's brighter than most and actually seemed to understand the whole concept while bringing up a valid point on the whole double entry thing you sometimes get.

 

That's not going to happen for fear of throwing out the BMW with the bathwater if you will. Not a chance he would have put his foot in his mouth with the bogus safety concerns if he saw the similarly spec'd BMW's stats prior. Of course no comment on the 328's safety, or lack thereof. He cant even acknowledge the huge factor of crappy tires on the BMW since the same applies to the even lower rated goodyears on the TLX because he's been pigeonholed by his own grandstanding.

Like using any new computer or OS, there is a learning curve that won't be overcome in a few minutes of tinkering, especially for a reviewer who has alot of other priorities, and tasks to accomplish.I'm a tech oriented guy, and quickly adapted. I like having more than one way of changing a setting. It made my learning curve much shorter. Sometimes I use the steering wheel controls, or the center stack, whichever I am in the mood for. The only real preference I have is the touch screen for Nav inputs. He also nailed the fact that you can change settings, radio stations, etc all the while leaving the navi screen untouched up top.

The only miss from my viewpoint is that the big center dial can't be used for tuning stations, etc.

 

One of my favorites. He has a very common sense everyman view of things.

Sometimes he's a little too fast and he'll get something wrong because he didn't understand something...but he gets it wrong a lot less than everybody else.

And when you buy a car you're not that interested in what it looks like on the drag strip or somebody's arbitrarily constructed figure eight G pad experiment.

He'll give you the basic figures, but he doesn't waste time on it. He spends more time on the things you have to LIVE with, the infotainment system and how everything works.

 

Just like Alex Dykes, Brian's point of view has evolved as he's got used to it.

He panned it more when he drive the 2014 RLX Advance, just like Alex did.

But as it rolled out into more vehicles and they spent more time with it, they got more complimentary of it.

The dual input thing is sometimes useful. For example, sometimes you'll get both a QWERTY choice and a rolling wheel choice for alphanumeric input.

If you're standing still, you sort of want QWERTY. But if you're moving a bit, you might very well want the "rollie scrollie" input method.

Nobody really "got it" until they had to live with it a while.

 

Let me tell you, though....

If your voice commands work like the ones in my Sport Hybrid, I could help you with the complaining....for days....

 

I haven't driven a TLX, but this is a very credible review, based on other reports and what I believe Acura's goals were for this car. They will sell a lot of TLXs. I believe/hope there is still room for a more performance-biased car, building on the already very decent capabilities and features of the existing models. Maybe some fatter tires and a programing change to the 9AT to speed up the shifts a bit?

 

Acura is lucky, though, that Brian drove a V6 P-AWS car.

He pays attention to how the motor start/stop systems operate, and I suspect he would have complained about the system in the V6 SH-AWD car.

Many of us feel that the delay restarting is just too long.

 

It has been said somewhere else that partially releasing the brakes 1 sec or 2 before you actually have to get going starts up the engine so that it's ready when you actually fully release the brakes and want to go.

I'm not saying the complaint is not valid, it is definitely something Acura could improve upon. I just find it's a pretty small inconvenience considering you save around 10% gas.

 

A friend has a new 3 series with engine start/stop. Now that's an awful experience. Feels like the car has a serious misfire or a dead cylinder on a regular basis in city driving.

 

Yeah, my dad's Panamera has start/stop, and he has it permanently off because it's so disruptive. Even turned on, it goes off sporadically and violently shakes the body when the engine restarts, it's quite unsettling. I have been in various other cars that have start/stop, and by far the best I've experienced was in a 2013 Lexus RX450h, but that car's smoothness is mostly due to the electric motor(s)

 

2014 BMW 328i Sedan Wins Consumer Reports Top Picks 2014 Sport Sedan Award

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – February 26, 2014 … The 2014 BMW 328i Sedan won Consumer Reports Top Picks 2014 Award for the Sport Sedan Category.

With its 240-horsepower BMW TwinPower Turbo inline-4 engine, featuring a 6 speed manual transmission or an 8 speed Steptronic transmission, the BMW 2014 328i delivers excellent performance and legendary BMW driving dynamics with class-leading value thanks to its excellent results in retained value and through the BMW Ultimate Service® No Cost maintenance program.

According to Consumer Reports; the BMW 3 Series has long set the standard for sports sedans. The current model delivers excellent handling and a high fun-to-drive factor. It’s also roomier, more luxurious, and more fuel-efficient than past models. The 328i’s 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine is quick and thrifty, posting 28 mpg overall, which is best among gas-powered models in its class.

 

I'll give the good MPG's and refinement to BMW in the new 3 series but compared to e36/e46 and even e90 models the current F30 is dull and boring. Even the 328i M sport I test drove just lacked the direct connected feeling of previous 3 series cars. Not saying it's a bad car, but with the reliability issues I've had with previous BMW's and with that lack of driver engagement in the new model, and the outrageous prices I couldn't justify one over the TLX.

 

CNET? When did they start reviewing cars? I thought they review shareware.

Is Bed, Bath & Beyond reviewing cars, yet?

 

YAY, BMW made the big payment to CR this year! After all, this thread is about boosting BMW. I want to be a lemming and get a 328 too. They are everywhere around here, so many Jones's keeping up with other Jones's.

To me and others I know, the interior's industrial look is a turn off, the exterior design is boring. A "high fun-to-drive factor?

 

Why do so many threads on here end up extolling the virtues of BMWs, among other makes, and slamming the flaws of Acura lately?......followed by the never ending bickering? Is this what's become of Acurazine? Not opposed to someone else's views but the relentless back and forth is most annoying. This thread appears to be heading in that direction.

 

Sort of makes you wonder why people come to an Acura site if they don't like Acura, eh?

 

CNET does a very, very good job at reviewing cars.

You should check them out.

Brian Cooley is awesome, and the other two guys are nothing to sneeze at.

It's kind of funny, though. When Brian's boss reviews a car and puts it on YouTube, half the comments are, "Where's Brian?" and how much better they like Brian.

 

Indeed, I can't see myself hanging out at Bimmerfest, ClubLexus to any other fan site. Though I don't dislike those brands, I still have no interest in going there and telling the members there how their cars suck.

 

are these not free, public forums?
furthermore, these "bashers" used to own Acura's and Honda's, so in a right, they can criticize the brand.

they're hard on Acura because they want them to Succeed.
all of us that are on this board are enthusiast in some way, shape or form.

also, they stick around because this forum is one of the best in terms of other content besides Acura's.

 

^ That is comical. I can sure see all these bashers wanting Acura to succeed.. *cough*.

There is no "right" involved because someone used to own the brand. We are only saying we don't see why anyone would want to spend their time here, people are free to do as they please. I guess common sense is just a dream in ashes.

 

Im not brand loyal and you all shouldnt be either.
if the acura brand does it for you. awesome! good for you!

create a thread about all the positives about it.
What's wrong with pointing out all of its short comings?

 

People are creatures of habit, just the way it is. When we find something we like, we tend to stick to it, except when we don't .

 

that's better!!

we can live in harmony!

 

Sure. They're free and public, but with a raison d'être.

:-)

If that's true, then they'd be posting like the member I complimented a few moments ago for his very thoughtful insights.

Right?

:-)

No offense to you, please. I'm just one stupid old man with an opinion, and it's not necessarily any more valid than yours.

 

It's not about pointing out the shortcomings, we need to about know those, it's the yada, yada, yada of those that feel the need to harp on them.

 

Dated February 2014.

I forgot the actual release I saw that actually stated that CR could no longer recommend the RWD 320/328, but it was at the same time as the Q50, and was based on data received throughout the year.

What a difference a few months makes; from their website dated October 27 2014.

Consumer Reports 2014 Annual Auto Reliability Survey Finds Infotainment Systems are a Growing First-Year Reliability Plague: Consumer Reports http://pressroom.consumerreports.org/pressroom/

Cooling system problems on a turbo are not small potatoes, and for those that this isn't clear enough for, cars with an overall rating of below average do not get put on the recommended list, especially when their issues are on a critical system.

Feel free to take this, and crapp all over the 3 series guys over at Bimmerfest/forums since its your thing. I have no intention on rehashing the same BS over, and over again.

 

Them maybe you should not have brought it up.

 

My last post was closed when I said the truth!

Agreed that this is a free forum and we can like our dislike a brand. But I don't understand why people come here when they hate Acura brand. I have nothing against Lexus, Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus and Infiniti, I believe they all make great cars but I will never join one of these forums. Honestly, I don't even have the time to do it.

I like this forum since I drive an Acura and I like the brand.

 

I notice in the video that you can edit the order of the audio source buttons. I can't on mine?

 

There is a system upgrade available to you free of charge.

Your dealer will do it for you. To be safe, plan on 90 minutes.

 

I checked the video out today during a slow moment at work. Good video. Thanks for the suggestion.