Hey all...

Been lurking for some time, but recent posts made me jump on board. I'm a TL owner and loved the G, but my heart liked the G35 coupe much more than the sedan. For my money, the coupe is the prettiest car on the road under $50k.

Don't get me wrong. I really liked the sedan, but for my needs the TL was a better fit. Chicago winters are a total clusterfudge, and I drive all day in Northern Indiana (~150-200 miles/day) from patient to patient on roads that aren't necessarily the best kept and in areas that aren't the safest (Gary, IN anyone?)

The AWD G was my other true option, but bang for your buck / mileage kept me with the TL. (And, btw, the DVD Audio and Bluetooth are sweet when you get 'em...trust me on that. Kind of like the memory seat thing...once you have it, you never want to be without it again.)

I work from my car, and the TL worked best for me. Doesn't detract from what a great car the G is. I'd still buy either over the comperable BMW (3 series was soooo disappointing and small) and Lexus. (Although the new IS could be sweet if they do it up right.) In the Acrua forums there is a lot of acrimony, because anyone who purchased the car thinking that it was a sports car first is sadly mistaken. No matter what I do to my TL, the fact is, FWD isn't near as good for a true driver who wants to push things. I'll never have that rush I had with the G during my extended test drive.

On the other side of the coin, I know that this car I have was built inside-out, with a lot more attention paid to the "out" by Acura than they ever have in the past. I think that both companies suffered from a pretty BLAH line until the new G35 / FX / Fuga-to-be M45 lines arrived at Infiniti and the new TL / RL showed at Acura. Old man cars at best is what they both had, and now there's a whole new animal to deal with -- US!

Anywho, just wanted to say that you G guys have a sweet ride, both coupe and sedan, and I think anyone who's honest with themselves knows all are damn good purchases in relation to what the market offers.

ENJOY YOUR RIDES, FOLKS!!!

 

*crickets chirping in the background...*

hahahaha...

Nice try at being cordial though--the new acuras are some handsome cars.

 

I agree about your points on the TL. If the salesman had met my price I would be a proud owner of one today, but as luck would have it they wouldn't meet my price and I went down the road and drove a G35. Boy and I glad I did, while I liked the styling of the TL driving the G35 is a night and day over the TL and in the end the Gs driving experience was what I was looking for. I also live in the midwest and have a pickup for my winter driving. So to me the driving experiece of the G over the TL was what sold me on the G. Had I been in your shoes I probably would have stayed with the TL.

Both are great cars and I'm sure you enjoying your TL as much as I'll be enojoying my G, it comes in on Tuesday can't wait!!

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by Havok1327 on 07/31/04 11:21 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

Having a truck / SUV as a winter car would have made my decision easy....G35. I'll argue styling tho -- until the 2005 tail end emerges, I'm still with the TL when it comes to sedans.

The coupe, otoh...

And, btw, it's not a "try" to be cordial. It's how it should be. Take it for what it's worth.

 

In the end for me, it came down to the wire between the G35 Sedan and the Acura TL. But, as you can see, the more unique looks and the better sports sedan ride of the RWD G35 won. If the TL were RWD, it may have literally come down to a flip of the coin.

The Infiniti G35 was also a more natural transition for me as my wife and I really enjoy our '03 FX35 with Prem, Sport, & Tech packages (although we almost got the '04 Acura MDX...that was an even harder decision to make between the two). Also, for some reason (not sure why except that maybe it's just a regional thing...I do live in S. Florida afterall ;-), most of the Acura TL drivers are older, retired seniors while most of the Infiniti G35 drivers I see in my area are younger (not that I'm a kid; I'm 35 but I'm not collecting Social Security either ;-). In fact, I first decided to consider the '04 TL after I sat inside my mother-in-law's new TL; she loves it and it is sweet inside. It just didn't drive with the sports enthusiasm of the G35, and IMHO, the G35's interior is just fine...it has all the ammenties I'm used to and need.

Again, kudos to both cars and all that drive them!!!



2004.5 G35-S 5AT Black/Willow - Prem, R. Spoiler, Navi, Infiniti Sport Wheels, Alum Pedals, Dark Tint, Z Tube, K&N Filter<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by bsgoren on 07/31/04 01:27 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

I don't agree with all the barking about the G35 interior. It's spartan, but not as cheap as many make it out to be. The only thing I didn't dig on was the tilting readout on the actual column....just didn't work for me. Other than that, if I'd gone that route I would have gone with the drilled aluminum peadals and the sort.

The one thing you all have over the TL in a big way is mods and tweaks. The TL, not being a true driver's car, doesn't position itself to that market like the G can (and should). I've never been an import tuner guy, but reading about all the things you all do to your vehicles does make me want to try *something* for chrissakes.

FWD over the standard 270 horses tho? I can feel the tug now...

 

What I probably ought to do sometime is drive my truck to a city with an Acura dealership, and test drive a TL. (Since would they really think I wanted to trade in a 2004 G35 Sedan?)

I bought mine before the 2004 TL came out, so I couldn't compare them myself. I haven't even seen many, though the TL's rear does look like a Honda to me.

When I test drove the 2003, I didn't like the ride feel of the TL-S, and the TL was a little underpowered. The non sports G35 was in between, for me,. More power in the TL, with the ride of the TL, would have been nice. Of course, for all I know, the 2004 hit that

2004 Sedan/DVD Navigation/Desert Platinum/Willow

 

It's FWD... I hate FWD ... I hate the feeling of the steering wheel being jerked out of your hand when you floor it.. I hate the way FWD handles... I wouldn't even consider the TL because of that.. don't care how cool the inside is etc etc etc .... it's FWD and FWD sucks

2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages

 

Hey, the TL is an awesome car - just like Pam Anderson is an awesome (bleach?) blonde. But if it's a fiery Redhead who's a little rough around the edges that turns you on, like the G35, then no amount of blondage is going to satisfy your itch.

That's the way I see it, and I'm a redhead kinda guy. More power to each, there's a car (and girl/guy) for everybody !!

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero; "Invisiguard" Bra, Madico Onyx Tint
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

Lol! I married a redhead and I drive one. Ahhh, the best of both worlds....

2K4 G35x/ etc...

 

You don't notice understeer too much in the 5AT cuz it's too slow. Just a bit tho - enough to make you miss real balance as only offered by the correct wheel drivers. I was driving in my buds TL friday night - it's an auto and it's slow. Nice little wheez of Vtec at the end that we dont have tho. 6 speed prob rocks in vtec but i'll take my torque anyday.

2003.5 DP 5AT Sedan
14.2 @ 97.18
Z-Tube
K&N Drop In & Airbox Mod
10 Wire Hyper-Ground
Crawford Plenum (V4)
UR Crank Pulley
Hotchkis Sways (M/M)
Polk EX-3500 Tweeters/Shock Sensor/H-Liner

 

The 6-speed TL is a different beast than the 5AT. The TL's transaxle isn't as efficient as the G35 auto transmission. There might also be reliability concerns over Honda's Auto tranny too (recalled already!). However, I bet their 6-speeds are probably more reliable than ours (considering all the grinding thats been going on). I really liked the TL but FWD killed the thought of getting one.

04 Coupe Auto/DG/Prem/Nav/Perf

 

A lot of it depends on where you come from.

I had not owned a RWD car since I replaced a 1975 Nova in in 1989 just out of college.

I had owned a pickup for 1 2/3 years at the time I bought the G35, but a pickup is so different than a car in so many ways

So a FWD car was really only an issue in principle, at the time, because of reading sites like this and car magazines.

Like many people, I thought that RWD cars were an almost dead breed. Now, I know about their resurgence, even in Cadillacs.

2004 Sedan/DVD Navigation/Desert Platinum/Willow

 

Yes kevink, you're right.

The resurgence in rear wheel drive cars (as God intended them) is due to the advent of today's modern computerized Traction Control systems, coupled with the ABS systems, and limited slip differentials.

Rear wheel drive has always been superior, overall, but you've got to admit, front wheel drive serves a large portion of the world's transportation needs quite well. It allows for better packaging and interior room/layout - but if it's optimum performance you want, RWD is the only way to go.

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero; "Invisiguard" Bra, Madico Onyx Tint
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

Also, RWD will be or is offered in the 300 Chrysler and the new Ford 500. AWD when the engine is longitudally mounted or where the awd system puts 70% of the power to the front wheels by default are not the real deal either. The legacy GT is an example of FWD car with an AWD drivetrain strapped on like an afterthought.

American dirvers wondered why the germans always had ir right for the drivablity part of the equation for years and years..most of the reason is balance from RWD.

2003.5 DP 5AT Sedan
14.2 @ 97.18
Z-Tube
K&N Drop In & Airbox Mod
10 Wire Hyper-Ground
Crawford Plenum (V4)
UR Crank Pulley
Hotchkis Sways (M/M)
Polk EX-3500 Tweeters/Shock Sensor/H-Liner