Mike_TX

... but the TLX is just a lot more refined than earlier Gen TL's.

And you should know I owned a 3rd Gen (2006), a 4th Gen (2012), and my wife owned (or actually, leased) three different 4th Gen TL's. So I have a lot of experience driving them, both in town and on long road trips. And I now have about 11,000 miles on my 2015 TLX for comparison.

I have occasion to drive 4th Gen TL's on occasion on my part-time job at an Acura dealer, and in fact drove one again today. It's now clear to me that the 3rd Gen i had was pretty rough by comparison to any of them. I know, I know, it's still good-looking, but mine was rattly and rode rough as a cob.

The 4th Gens also ride a lot rougher than my TLX, and they also tended to develop some mild rattles and squeaks after some miles built up. And while they handled well enough, they seem a a little crude when driven back to back with a TLX - the steering is heavier and a little slower, and the transmission is jerky and prone to harsh downshifts when pushed. The 4th Gens are a lot noisier on the road (tire noise, especially is loud), and of course, the interior materials and finish are not as nice.

Actually, the description "more refined" came from the wife ... who loved her TL's, but admits the TLX is a big jump ahead of the TL's.

Not to knock the earlier Gen TL's, but if you drive them up against a TLX you quickly learn the TLX is a big improvement over the earlier models.

Just sayin'. :wink:

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Hard to argue that although one might also feel it's a little less 'connected' to the road for the driver. I borrowed one for a couple of days and it was very nice, comfortable...fast...but felt a little too disconnected for someone that loves to drive.

Still a gorgeous car with some great modding potential, as we've all seen.

silver3.5

Not going to argue but isnt that the perception with almost every new car....that it is better and more refined than the older versions? Or is it because the older versions are so old that you really can't remember how they drove when new but only at its current state compared to a new model?

Stew4HD

And yet, there seems to be at least one thread on page one stating that the TLX is a step down from the 3G or 4G. I am certainly not one of them. I sure felt I was driving a step up from the 3G and 4G... though the look of the MMC 4G was my favorite so far.

..my 25 cents worth

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

that's a given. It is a brand new car.
you can flip it and say; it took them this long to get it refined!?

012TL-GLM

if by refined you mean boring, I agree with you

Stew4HD

And I like the color cobalt blue better than midnight blue...

9SpeedTran

That is the crap tires. Put Michelin A/S 3s on it and it is excellent, every bit as good as my 2007 TL Type S -- but without the torque steer.

wreak

I don't disagree on the road noise comment and I'm sure SOME of the interior finishes are a step forward. It's funny to hear about a jerky transmission coming from a TLX owner with all the issues going on with the transmissions in the TLX. Many would call the rougher ride a sportier/stiffer suspension so that's really depends on the driver. Also since when is heavier steering is a bad thing? Most car enthusiasts prefer heavier steering. I don't doubt the car is more refined in some areas over the 4G TL but I definitely wouldn't call it "a big jump ahead of the TL", maybe a big jump ahead of the TSX but not the TL.

JT4

While I have no doubt that the TLX is more refined than the 4G, just as the current MDX is more refined than the previous two generations before it that I owned. The looks of the TLX just haven't been enough to make me a serious buyer..

IMO the TLX doesn't have any road presence, it blends in with everything else. I get it, styling is subjective, and people can and will continue to beat up the 4G's looks, especially the 09-11. But IMO it is so much more aggressive looking than the TLX.

I have said it many times on other threads here that if the 12 TL's styling was initially introduced in 09 there would have never been any negative talk about how "ugly the 4G is". I bought an 11 so I happen to like the the "in your face" styling.

Really hoping Acura comes out with an TLX-S.

aIRpeACE

iTrader: (2)

less cabin noise does not mean it's more refined.

tell me about it when you touch the interior and feel how cheap it gets now

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

So...
what we've learned is we basically love what we have. If we change, we love the new thing better because we're paying a lot of money for it.



I love my 3G. The main features that keep me in love with it are the lack of a payment.

4G TL ORIGINAL look was easily my favorite...they blanded it out with the refresh in 2012.

miner

The interior of the TLX is not cheap IMHO. The dash is not hard plastic, it has some softness/padding to it. The controls feel solid, seats are comfortable (relatively speaking), and fit and finish is 4 star. I am comparing my wife's TLX V6 Adv to my friend's BMW 535i Xdrive when I make the above statements. Completely opposite to the TLX. His reply to my comparative statements are always "...but it's German."

Mike_TX

Yep, that's why I posted.

Mike_TX

Mike_TX

There are different kinds of jerky ... the earlier TL's were jerky because their 6-speed trannies had to make a big gear jump to downshift, and that translated to a jerk. It was like a light switch at lower speeds - either on or off. With the 9-speed, downshifts are more comfortable because there are more gears to choose from and you don't need a neck-snap to get some acceleration.

Heavier steering isn't necessarily a good thing. It's all artificial, since all cars pretty much have power steering these days. It's just a matter of how much steering effort the mfr dials in. I see nothing to be gained by having to work harder to steer through switchbacks and corners just because the mfr thought it seemed "sportier" to make the steering heavier (BMW, are you listening?).

As for the ride, I also don't think you need to have a harsh suspension to get good handling. I feel my TLX handles every bit as well as my earlier TL's, but it doesn't deliver a gritty ride like they did.

Diff'rent strokes, I guess, but I like the TLX much more than my earlier TL's.

hadokenuh

True!

I think that's the downside of the 4G, along with cabin noise. This is where the Germans win. But the Japaneses are getting close though.

Mr Hyde

Agree 100%. German Sports sedans did a great job of balancing the ride, and handling, but Japanese cars tended to have a much harsher ride penalty to get the same levels of handling, and that doesn't have to be the case,

Compring both back to back, I'll take the quality of the interior of my car over the interior of my fathers 4G any day of the week. His is white/black just like mine, but I have an Advance. While I liked the off the line throttle response, I still prefer my TLX tranny which is smoother and more refined. The road noise, and composure over NYC roads are not even close.

saturno_v

This

Less noise and softness does not mean being more refined, especially if the car cannot deliver the goods in road feel and sportiness and the issue goes beyond cheap non adequate tires.

By that metric alone (noise and softness) so a Toyota Avalon is even more refined....


Definitely I do not see more refinement in the interiors either actually cost cutting everywhere.

Let's not dwell on the road presence issue, I understand it is highly subjective.

Fact is many 4G owners, especially SH-AWD ones, are voting with their wallet.....staying away from the TLX which is probably more highly appreciated by former TSX owners.

Congratulation anyway to Acura for the good selling run, the car has definitely appeal especially in the 4 banger form for the budget (price and fuel consumption) premium conscious crowd.

thoiboi

Quoted for truth.

We are humans after all...(well most of us anyway....)

dainmezron

Try playing the one format that makes put the ELS system ahead of ANY other stock radio system at ANY price (DVD-Audio) in a TLX.....Tick Tick Tick.......I'm waiting....BTW before the retort "who has any of those"...I have 70!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

in that case, the ability to DVD-A made Acura one die hard, brand loyal fan.


They gotchaaaaa...lol...you ain't goin nowhere!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Damn Mr Hyde...comfy TLX for daily and a serious RS4 for fun. I dig your style!

emailnatec

Never owned another TL before, but driven 2nd and 3rd gen stock and modded. TLX interior is a huge upgrade. TLX definitely took some lessons from the german on seat and materials because I couldn't believe of the the quality of seats.

In terms of driving dynamics, I feel as if TLX drives better than 2nd and 3rd gen. I really like the P-AWS and the DCT.

The only thing I don't like is the lack of manual. Had the TLX came with a stick it'd be a home run.

youngTL

The TLX is far, far, far more refined than my 3G Type-S, and it handles better too (even on the shitty tires - I can't wait to take delivery of mine so I can replace the stock tires - HURRY UP ACURA BUILD FASTER!). I'm getting the SH-AWD.

I can't speak to the 4G.

The materials quality is all vastly upgraded from the 3G. Fit and finish is improved too (although on the 3G is was pretty good as far as I can tell after 200k). NVH is VASTLY improved (totally different league).

The only downsides for me are the bad tires, and I'm not the most massive fan of the door panels. Those could have used better styling and better materials. The injection molded rubbery stuff is a nice feel, but it has a weird texture. Maybe it'll grow on me in time, but overall it was a minor detail for me.

I have to say, even with the 9speed downshift delay getting on the highway, it still shifts about 1 second faster than I ever could in my 6MT. It only delays when it has to drop a big amount of gears at once. It's very quick to drop down 1 or 2 gears, at least from the extended test drive I had. I got to take it home for a day.

dainmezron

Well that, and a little thing like 296,000 miles and only having a 180 dollar back-up O2 sensor fail for the entire time owning my 2004 3G TL, while watching my buddy and his 2 BMW 3 series go through more maintenance in a single year then my car COST ORIGINALLY!!LOL

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

fkn A right!

Stew4HD

I have a LOT of DVD-A's too. I converted them all to DTS-CD and I still get high bitrate 5.1 surround which, by the way, sounds so good in the RLX Krell system. I thought ELS sounded great... until

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Really? I had read a review somewhere that the Krell lacks bass and that the ELS was better? Who knows...I am too far gone and sometimes wish I'd kept it simple and stock.

Stew4HD

The bass is much deeper and present in the Krell vs the ELS in the TLX. You can feel it coming from the doors quite well

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Hmmm...so I'd venture to say it's the midrange they beefed up then, unless they put small subs in the doors.

Either way...I'm getting old enough where I can listen to music in the wife's stock SRX system, and thoroughly enjoy how balanced it is.

Tonyware

Nothing a couple of sheets of dynamat can't fix.

Last winter, at the Toronto car show, it just happened that the TLX and the Accord (coupe) were on display not far from one another. I sat in both within less than 5 minutes and noticed the Accord's dash material were more soft and more appealing to the eye than the TLX. Also the seats of the Accord coupe felt more like the 4G, whereas the TLX's seats felt like I was in my (RIP) grandfather's 1997 Cutlass.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

TLX does have some soft ass comfy seats...made by lazyboy.

Kense

I have an 04 TL and I think it looks better than the TLX. The TLX looks like a new Civic with Jewel headlights. I really hope Acura makes a sport version of the TLX with more HP & Torque, better rims and yes with exposed Exhaust. I know a lot of you don't care about that but I do.

Stew4HD

LOL @ the Q50 trolls chiming in

MisterZDX

The TLX is a cute little car, but just didn't evoke the type of emotion for me like my 4G TL did. I'm leaning more towards a 2016 Accord Touring as a cheaper, and more fuel efficient (but still fun to drive) replacement to my ZDX. The Z is starting to feel a little dated to me. I really really wanted to like the TLX but it just didn't work out that way.

advan031

I personally think 4G TL is one of the ugliest cars out there along the same lines as the Pontiac Aztec.


3G TL is a classic design though.

saturno_v

So anybody that does not like the TLX is a troll...I get it....talking about insecurity...

Mike_TX

Oh, so YOU'RE the one guy who bought a ZDX.

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Okay, just jerking your chain.

Mike_TX

I was prepared to dislike the Bridgestone Potenzas, and even asked the dealer about swapping them for Michelins, but the cost was too high.

But after almost 11,000 miles, I don't see why they're talked down. They're good in the wet, quiet on the highway, don't tramline, and have good wear and traction ratings.

What's the beef? Or is it just coming from people who don't really have any experience with them?