>> It reminded me of this month's Car & Driver article on the TL. The article was supposed to be about the TL, but inevitably, it made the G35 shine <<

You had me wondering about that for a moment - cos the Jan'04 issue in fact comes out in early December. I should add that the TL did not make the C&D Top 10 list either. Having said that CR rated the TL as number 1 - ahead of 330 for the very first time ever.

My take is that with an auto tranny, the torque steer of the TL is relatively much better tamed - while the stick accentuates it. At the end of the day, the real difference is mainly dependent on what you are looking for and what option you are considering. Stick G35 is probably is much better handling compared to an equivalent TL while an non-sport, auto-G is probably closer to an auto-TL.

As others have said, my main thing was to get a RWD car with a bunch of torque and power and good handling without paying the BMW 330 prices - and the G delivers in spades.

G35S AT / Ivory Pearl and Black

 

I've spent quite a bit of time at a dealership fondling the TL, though I have not yet test driven it. I think that the TL interior is better made than in our G35's - the materials feel higher quality and fit and finish is better. There are no visible plastic joints in random places, all zippers are concealed, etc.

The sound system in the TL is a lot better than in my sedan (base). It has more features such as DVD-A, but features aside, it sounds better.

I did not like the TL leather, it's a bit too hard for my taste. I don't like the colorful dials, which are very distracting. Two of my friends are buying these, so I will have a chance to test drive it soon.

As for performance, I've raced one :-). I launched decently, not great, but the TL couldn't get enough traction. The end result is that I pulled away really fast and once he got to speed, I was ever so slightly inching away. I think from a stop, the G35 will kill it in any race. The highway is probably up for grabs. FWD cars are also very front heavy, so they plow through turns and can't apply as much power coming out of a turn.

2003.5 6MT Sedan. Carribean Blue / Graphite

 

i think the TL looks hot..look at this pic

2004 G35c Twilight Blue/black 6MT
Aero Package -- Splash Guards -- Premium -- Trunk Mat

174609-12.jpg

 

Dude, REAR WHEEL DRIVE! FWD sucks!

...Skeleton Cru

 

So if the TL interior wasn't so classy, how come every review put it above BMW and the G35 big time? The G35 always gets poor on the interior.

Btw I am a Nissan owner currently saying this.

 

It's all subjective man. The interior is not that bad. They spent more money and time on it and it is obvious but the styling is pure subjectivity for the beholder. The ambient lighting and blue dials are too bling for me...reminded me of a passat nightmare I once had.

...most cars coming out in the next 5 years are going to be colorful and trippy inside so I guess we'll get used to it. 1

 

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I've spent quite a bit of time at a dealership fondling the TL

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Get real!! Besides, the zipper to which you speak in the G is the rear passenger airbag if I'm not mistaken! What visible joints are you referring to?



Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

Is fine to me. Looks very classy and works well once you get used to the layout. I do have the graphite interior, though.

never got those that say things about interiors. They are all plastic these days anyway, and I have a hard time differentiating between GM plastic, Ford plastic, Toyota plastic, and G35 plastic. The textures may be different, but they are all plastic.

IMHO, some of the worst looking interiors have to be Toyota - very bland and cheesy-looking.

 

I agree about the Toyota interiors. I recently drove a Camry rental and thought the interior was really cheap looking. Couldn't believe ES300 is same car basically-they must put a different overlay on the dash. Anyway, I have seen the new TL interior in pictures only so far and it looked too "glitzy" for my taste - I prefer my G35's graphite interior.

2003.5 G35S 6MT - Silver/Graphite, Premium, Winter, Aero

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>


Get real!! Besides, the zipper to which you speak in the G is the rear passenger airbag if I'm not mistaken! What visible joints are you referring to?


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Not BS. I'm not saying that the G35 interior is bad, just that the TL one is better (I wouldn't have bought the G if I didn't like the interior). One of the joints I refer to is in the plastic trim thats above the center vents, for instance. As for the zippers, the TL, all BMW's, Mercedes all have airbags in the seats and none of them have these zippers.

2003.5 6MT Sedan. Carribean Blue / Graphite

 

Thats a very good way of saying it too Bling!!! the TL is just to Bling and the G is classy and understated. My wife has a 2002 Jetta 1.8T and it has the bling red lights which in that car looks cool against the black interior But just red no other colors. But the TL is red blue and that bright white color if memory serves just not very fitting in a $35000+ car too much going on and a little to much aluminum trim like those 2 ***** around the radio.



"Look at life through the windshield, not through the rear-view mirror."
2004 6MT Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
Premium/Aero/Splash Guards

 

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Many of ppl here ever cross shopping between G and TL. IMO, beside the performance and RWD/AWD, G has nothing. His style is old, handling is not so good as those G guys talks about, interior is terrible, and environment is noisy.

One more thing, lots of fans in G clubs cannot allow you talking about anything good of other similar vehicles, especially TL, they will beat you. I don't want to be one of them.



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If this guy shows up at a Ford site, they'll beat him over there, too. Sounds like a "Finish School" poster child.

Anyway, I think it's funny all this talk about interiors. I drive a 96 Ford Contour SE (which I love, btw) and there hasn't been a new car since that got my heart pumping the way the G35 Sedan has. Power, handling, balance, interior room, and price. It wins in all the categories that matter to me. Interior finish? Let the wife worry about that one. She wouldn't be in it much, anyway.

I autocross my FWD Ford on occasion, and I have to say nothing illuminates the shortcomings of FWD the way extreme driving can. Yes, I know that lightweight FWD Hondas rule the STS class (not the AWD Subies, like everybody predicted), but RWD rules where it's common to the class (think Miata, MR2, BMW, S2000...)

Anyway, cross-shopping the TL? It was never on my list. I do think it's an attractive car, but the G's are just...cleaner. Only thing I don't like is I can't get 6MT with the lighter weight cloth interior (and lower price.) Be a damn shame to strip out all that leather finery when I bolt in the roll cage...(just kidding.)

 

Oh, the BS and the Get Real were really meant for the "fondling" comment you made!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

Gotta give us the criteria you want in a car to make a valid comparison there. Are you looking for a peppy family entry-luxury sedan, or are you looking for a sports sedan, or are you looking at some other combination of features as most important? For family sedans, the TL is probably the better value (also may want to look at an S60, A4, etc.). If you want a sports sedan, you should be comparing the G35 to a CTS and a 330i.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

i didnt want to rwead through the 3 pages so sorry if i'm repeating what someone else already said.... my mom recently was debating the TL and the G35 and even thought the TL looks better IMO the G35 is a better all around car. Over $35k for a FWD car doesnt make sense to me. I think Honda should have made the new TL RWD or AWD, they dropped th ball on that one. The G35 is great and with the recent snow we've been getting in NJ my mom is loving the AWD.

Oh and BTW I'm the proud owner of a honda accord (dont tell anyone i said i liked a nissan product LOL)