dom

You make it sound like $6,850 is chump change.

Mokos23

What options did you add into the G35? Fully loaded?

Now for $6,850 more is that the 335i's starting price?

AsianRage

I'm sure bias plays a role in everything. I just don't like the look of the G35. The headlights, taillights, front fascia and rear fascia. The overall shape reminds me of an IS350. The only angle of the car that even peaks my interest is the side profile.
The White/Blue guage is so TSX like that i'm not even gonna care about it. Plus red lighting is just exclusive to the TL-S so you have to take into account of the regular edition TL's blue lighting scheme which is still superior to the G. And the G35 dash layout is boring and derivative while the TL's is still contemporary.
But these points are just my opinion, though there probably are alot of blind people in the world who agrees with me.

BTW, I have a 2g TL-S whose dated interior is still better than the 1G G35. IMHO, of course.

AsianRage

cob3683

On a $40,000+ car, I wouldn't call it chump change but I also wouldn't consider it enough to put a car out of range.

dom

Its still 15% of 45K. Its enough to put it out of range for many.

cob3683

Infiniti was fully loaded minus the active steer package.

The 335i starts at $39,395 (with destination). If you add in:

Sport Package $1600
Premium $2450
Cold Weather $1000
Navi $2100

Actually, I goofed on the last one (added Active steering on the 335i)...$46,545

mg7726

holy crab! that's some good deal pricing...07 G35 MT starting under $30k!!! woow!

why would i buy a TL-S again???????

psteng19

The e46 body style is 1000x nicer than the e92.

psteng19

Why the uhoh?
Lower prices is a good thing, no?

psteng19

I've had enough of FWD, esp. FWD's with big V6's so G35 >>>>>> TL-S

biker

If one could get close to invoice on a 6MT G35 (less than 30K) that is the deal of the year on a very good car.

dom

Not for Acura it isn't.

GreenMonster

But that's not going to happen for awhile... While I don't consider this a "real" redesign (it seems more like a refresh), I'm sure the hoopla surrounding the launch will keep the prices closer to MSRP...

A $30K G35c 6MT coupe (even if it's "stripped") would be decent bang for the buck...

GreenMonster

This doesn't have anything to do with acura... It's not like Acura offers a RWD platform that has both sedan and coupe variants... Acura doesn't offer anything that directly compete with the G35.

titan

Don't count on it. I think it'll definitely be a must that you have the premium package.

titan

Overall, I'm impressed with the prices. This was a very modest increase. Now I'm more excited than ever to get behind the wheel of one and take it for a spin.

charliemike

God this new car is amazing ... I'm rovin' it

dom

Was that all supposed to be in red?

biker

MSRP yes, but in real terms the diff between an 06 and 07 will be at least 5-6K.

biker

I can't see MSRP lasting more than a couple of months and that's only because of low initial volume. With the small diff between MSRP and invoice there's not much room for dealers.

Crazy Bimmer

Really does make you realize how much of a bargain the CLS used to be.

But still, even with all the toys the G35 is under 40k... impressive.

Costco

Why the hate on the ES350? I have actually been in a ES350 and driven it from Cupertino to San Jose, it is a sweet car, inside and out. Lexus really screwed up by not offering the IS with stick, and will lose some customers to Acura/Infiniti because of their MT offerings.

As much as I love my 2G TL-S and as much as I want a brand new TL-S, I just have to hand the prize to the new G.

Can't believe the new TL-S is $40k though. It's not the fact that "it's an Acura and not a Lexus" but that the G offers so much more that someone would want for 4k less!

GreenMonster

That's why it's going to take quite a bit to get me to get back into payments....

Most cars under 40K have a diff of around 10% or so btw msrp and invoice... this is a little lower, but were' still taking about a 2500 difference.... They have some room to move, but like you said, there's not much... get 'em down to 500 or so over invoice, and it does look like a decent deal for a RWD 300hp vehicle..

theslik1

It's no contest.

We already knew this when the reviews came out, the pricing just seals the deal. However, we've got some boobs on this board who can't wait to buy a TL-S for MSRP. What a great f'n deal, huh?

As far as apples-to-apples comparisons, the TL-S is Acura's apple because that's the car on the showroom floor right now. Infiniti has made it perfectly clear that they're going to the mat in the near-luxury segment with BMW/Lexus firmly in their crosshairs. If Acura is going to have a dog in the fight, they'd better have something pretty damn special in the works for the TL/RL redesigns, and it had better not be a stubborn refusal to move away from FWD platforms.

The new, better G also poses a bigger problem for BMW and Lexus. A Car & Driver writer has already asked why anyone would buy an IS350 considering the price difference. The 335i is a nice car with a hot engine package and (maybe) marginally better handling, but is it also worth the hefty premium? I'm thinking alot of potential 335i buyers (myself included) are now going to consider this *far* more carefully, and many who aren't Bimmer diehards or badge queens are going to opt for the G.

I can't wait for a test drive to compare "apples to apples". And no, the TL-S didn't make the list.

Mokos23

I saw the new G35 in person last night at a 2007 G35 sedan unveiling party last night at an Infiniti dealer around here, wow, just wow!! They had appetizers, beer, wine, food, and they had some giveaways.

They had 3 G35's on display 2 were G35x's and 1 G35 sport. One of them was the Carbon Gray color like Acura/Honda has, but they call it Blue slate and it's a new color for Infiniti. I think it's the best color for the new G35 along with black. I'm still not a fan though of that chrome piece on top of the trunk. To me it just doesn't belong there.

I asked the sales guy when the G35 coupe and the smaller FX type SUV is coming and he said the coupe is coming this summer 2007 and the CX35 he said possibly fall 2007.

The G35's interior gauges are hot and bright like the Acura gauges, but have a bit better execution.

The info/navi screen is just like the one on the M. Although the navi screen in the TSX/TL is still bigger. You've just got to see it in person, too bad they couldn't offer test drives because they only had 4 on display and that's it. I like the intelligent key and the push button start. The sales guy said you don't even need to remove your key out of your pocket and you start the car.

A fully loaded G35x with almost every option including bluetooth, rearview camera, mp3 hard drive, and rotating headlights is $40K on the sticker. That's a good deal, but if I was going to option the G35, just give me the premium package and navi.

vishnus11

I understand your preference and in fact I've recommended to some members to consider the G35 over another vehicle. However to call others who prefer the TL-S "boobs" is amateurish: fact of the matter is, if it was my money, I think I'd be putting down money on a Tl-S.

The exterior and interior alone would make want a TL-S over a G35. Sure, performance wise, the RWD G35 will undoubtedly have the edge over the TL-S. But I'd wager that 98% of buyers will probably explore up to 7-8/10's of both the cars' abilities, and in that respect that the TL-S will more than hold its own against the G35. I personally would not push these kinds of vehicles beyond 80% of their abilities - I have an S2000 for that.

Like I said, I think the G35's so-so exterior (looks like a refresh on a design that came out 4 yrs ago) pales in comparison to the TL's taut lines, and the interior with its "Washi" aluminum trim can't compare to the execution of the TL-S.

vishnus11

Looks to be a very good car, that doesn't even compete directly with the G35 and TL, so I've no idea why people are comparing the to.

I'd say its got the classiest styling of all the entry level luxury cars under 40k.

titan

I'm happy to hear from someone on here who's finally seen it in person... sounds promising. I can't wait to see the Blue Slate color you're refering to. I'm most interested in seeing and touching the interior in person. I'll take a G35 Journey with premium package and wood trim... navi's nice, but I'd never use it. I'd get it if it was my girl's car.

theslik1

I actually agree with most of what you're saying except for two things: the TL-S interior isn't as pleasing to me as my '04 TL, particularly the red instrument lighting scheme. That's just poor human factoring no matter how you cut it. The other thing is my "boob" statement. I can't in good faith call any 3G TL buyer a boob therefore I retract that and apologize. I'm not knocking anybody's preference. What I really mean is if I bought a TL-S @MSRP then I would certainly feel like a boob, because there's absolutely no compelling reason to buy that car at sticker price. Personally, I *could* see myself in a TL-S but only at a significant discount. Otherwise I'll move towards a RWD offering, and will probably do so anyway. I freely admit that I'll probably never drive a car at 8/10th's+ except at a driving school, but I still like the feel of the Infiniti/BMW RWD models. The 335i in particular is a complete hoot.

My overall point is that Acura needs an aggressive redesign on the next go-round to keep up with the Joneses, and it wouldn't be a major betrayal of their faithful customers to move to RWD platforms for the TL/RL. If they can pull that off while maintaining the excellent value we've come to expect then I'll be back on the Acura bandwagon, no doubt.

unlemming

It would be nice if Acura compromised and offered FWD and SH-AWD as an option, I'm afraid they're only going to offer one or the other though.

I haven't seen the new G35 in person, but the pictures really look like a mild evolution and at a glance I doubt I could tell the difference between the last generation (exterior).

vishnus11

And I agree 100%.

But have faith. The 03TL - 04TL was a major step and a whopping success, and I don't see why the 4G TL will be any different.

psteng19

I hate the 'most drivers will not be able to feel the difference except at 10/10's' argument because it's simply and absolutely untrue.

The difference between a superior handling vehicle and chassis can be felt immediately in normal, everyday driving conditions. You don't need to drive like Schumacher at the track to feel it.
Something as simple as a lane change (not even a slalom) should reveal which is the better handler and can be appreciated daily.

heyitsme

The new G35 looks way better than the last gen, inside and out, and up their with the best of em now.


Does the TL even have wood as an option? Acura needs to pull their hands out of their pockets.




What people prefer is another story.

I prefer it over the Lexus Is hands down without really even having to think about it and thats the real benchmark imo. I like the TL over the IS also, but think the G is hot too.

Infamous425

i finally saw, sat in, molested a new g35 at the seattle auto show. some of my observations...

inside space felt about the same as the TL
guages lit up looks really nice
love the stone interior with aluminum combo
trunk is on the smallish side, 6 disc changer in the trunk does block some of the opening
the rear seatbacks are lower than in the TL so you dont feel as closed in
love the real aluminum and i dont get why people dislike the washi pattern. i think it looks great.
overall shape of the exterior... damn SEXY. this thing has curves. huge improvement over the old sedan.
blue slate was nice but i didnt like it as much as some people. i expected it to be a touch lighter. i think i'd like the diamond graphite better.
they had a silver one which looks better in person than pictures.
i thought the chrome strip on trunk looked out of place in pictures but it didnt bother me in person.
leather not as soft as in the TL-S
but the seats are both comfy AND sporty unlike the TL-S which are comfy but didnt have that sporty feel. loved the g35 seats.
18" wheels actually looks good in person

before i saw the g35 in person i actually preferred the look of the TL-S over it. but after seeing the new G then walking over to the TL-S i hafta say the acura looks dated (yeah i know its a few yrs old now)

G35 FTW.

vishnus11

Yes, the difference between a superior handling vehicle and chassis can IN SOME ASPECTS be felt in everyday driving situations. For example, factors such as body roll, turn in, steering feel, body rigidity, suspension compliance, can be immediately felt and appreciated. However all those characteristics aren't exclusive to a RWD vehicle. The 3G TL from my limited test drive exhibited little body roll, decent but not stellar steering feel, high structural rigidity, and a nice taut suspension.

When you really start pushing the car beyond 7/10's you start to discover some of the inherent flaws in a FWD vehicle that can rear their head, and you won't experience the same level of balance as you would in a good RWD vehicle, especially considering that the TL is nose heavy.

Drive a TL at 7-8 tenths and you'd be hard pressed to detect any of the negative traits of FWD.

vishnus11

Those pics you posted do make it look might good. Maybe a dealership test drive is in order

psteng19

Agree but disagree at the same time.
During my TL and TSX test drive on public roads, it was immediately clear that the TSX was the better handling vehicle, and I'm not even taking into account torque steer.
Weight of the cars and its distribution probably had something to do with it, but it also had to do with how much weight is over the front axle. Both cars may be close to a 60/40 split, but the TL is ~400 lbs heavier than the TSX so that's even more weight over the front wheels.

Now the 1st gen G35 I test drove was even better than the TSX, and again this is attributed to a more balanced car in terms of weight, and the fact that its the rear wheels pushing the car and the front wheels steering.
I can only imagine the 2nd get G35 to be even better.

You're absolutely right in saying that driving hard, you'll expose even more flaws between RWD and FWD and the gap gets even larger.
But don't tell me you can't feel it in everyday driving because that's obviously not true based on personal experience, and that of many others as well.
Makes me wonder if you've ever driven a G35, or a 3er which is even better in driving feel.

mrdeeno

speaking of "badge-queens", slap an 'Acura' badge on the G35, and all it's flaws will magically vanish in the eyes of vishnus.

badge-queens aren't limited to just BMW and MB owners...

Sclass88

I'm sorry but the new G35 doesn't impress me in the slightest bit. If I were in the market for something in its leauge, I wouldn't think twice about it and go straight to the Lexus or Acura dealership.