From an audiophile, the way I rate the audio system for the G35 is lower than the TL when in comparing seperation (hi-med-low and left-right). However, the G35 seems like it hits harder (more bass). It would be a better system for listening to 2-channel hip hop and R&B. If you're into DVD-Audio (DVD-A) then the TL is the way to go. It's fantastic with the 5.1 surround. There's not a whole lot of titles that are available in DVD-A and it costs more. I have a nice multichannel SACD and DVD-A setup at home and the Linkin Park reanimation DVD-A is great. But like I said, there are limited titles with the DVD-A format and you really can't utilize the 5.1 surround in the Acura unless you have that format of media. For the average compact disc consumer the G35 has a great audio system.

 

There are many threads here on the 'Infiniti G35 vs. the Acura TL.' Basically, they're both great cars, but the TL is FWD and doesn't have the sports sedan feel of the 350Z-based RWD G35. As far as the stock stereos, both are very good; yes, the TL has DVD-Audio but you need DVD-Audio disks of course to benefit from that fetaure. Personally, I listen to XM Sat radio most of the time anyhow, and I think my G35's Bose stereo is pretty decent! Also, the bluetooth cellphone feature in the TL requires a bluetooth-enabled cellphone which many ppl do not have. The Navi system in the TL is better (with voice commands and more info) than the G35's Navi system, but I love the "Birdseye View" of my Navi system and it works very well for me...now that I have the Navi system, I wouldn't do without it!

As far as safety and being a "family car" are concerned, both the G35 Sedan and TL are very safe with all the front/side/head protection airbags and very good crash ratings. I think they are equally good as a family car. However, I found the G35 to have just a little more room inside; the TL felt cramped inside when I test drove it before getting my G35. We have a 3-year-old and I have the carseat in the back middle of my G35, and it's very easy to get my child in and out of the car (yes, the rear doors do open wide which makes it easier). We also have an '03 Infiniti FX35 with the DVD entertainment system for longer trips.

 

Until you have several kids and they are older, you really don't need a serious family car. I still fit my 3 small kids, huge stroller, and all that baby junk in my 1999 Maxima. I would just go with a car you feel most comfortable driving or like the most. Then tell the wife it's the safest choice .

 

Then give the Suburu GT w/ stick (no turbo lag) a try.

I don't want it, 'cuz it's a "suburu", and it's just not as classy inside, or out.

HOWEVER. I loved driving it. Perhaps my favorite so far!!!

 

I'd definitely take a car seat with you when you go buy a car. You'll be amazed at how much room a rear facing car seat takes up, especially when it's at the recommended 45 degree angle. In my G35, my son's rear facing seat rests directly between the two front seat. There's no way the child seat could fit behind the front seats unless the driver/passenger didn't have legs. The G35 sedan has more leg room in the back than the TL, so I can only assume fitting a child seat in the back would be even harder. The rear seat of my G has about the same legroom as my 96 Maxima which is thought had great legroom for 6 footers.

As for G vs TL, it just depends on what you want. I grew terribly tired of driving a high powered FWD car (modded 96 Maxima, 14.3@100mph). Throttle modulation during acceleration in 1st whether it was a turn or straightline was terribly annoying. Same with the FWD understeer. The TL has a whopping 62% of it's weight resting over the front tires. If the TL was RWD and had a little more useable low rpm torque, it would be an amazing machine. To bad Honda is so dead set on FWD in their sedans. They've already proven they can build amazing RWD chassis'.

 

Very simple-if lyou are getting an automatic get the TL, the automatic does not noticeably suffer from torque steer, if you are getting a stick forget the TL the torque steer is horrendous and takes the total enjoyment away from the car. I read it is the drive by wire throttle (messing the term up) of the 6 spd that exacerbates the torque steer. I test drove the auto and the stick before ordering the G. The TL has a great interior with plenty of fun bells and whistles, remember you have to get the navi if you get the TL as the interior is built around the navi.

 

Even in the Auto, the TL's FWD just isn't the same ride, handling, and sports sedan "feel" of the RWD G35 (4 door 350Z). When I test drove the TL, it had plenty of torque steer with the Auto...just floor it and you'll feel it. Again, it came down to the two cars for me as well, but I felt like I had the best of both worlds with the G35 Sedan AT; now, I always drive around in MM mode, but when I'm fussing with my kid in the back or if my attention is needed in a couple places (like driving and talking on the cell or sipping a cup of coffee, etc.), I just flip it into Auto and go. With the G35, I still get all the power, torque, handling and overall 'fun factor' I crave while utilizing it as a family car when I have to.

 

I think I know but am not quote sure, but can you guys explain in detail what torque steer is? By the way when you guys say the G35 with sport suspension is by far a better handling car than the TL because of the RWD, what about the TL A-Spec. The A-spec comes with upgraded brake pads, aerodynamics kit (mostly for looks, but it looks good), sport suspension (stiffer springs and struts/shocks) that actually lowers the car 1" and 18" wheels and 235/40/18 tires. How much does that help? One thing I noticed about RWD cars (from being a valet parker when I was younger) is that they seem to fish tail more when you give it more power into the turns. That can be very dangerous if it's a rainy day! As far as a safety is concerned I think a FWD car is safer, especially if the wife is driving it. Not that they don't know how to drive but I think a RWD car is easier to loose control of. I guess that brings up VDC, but that's another story. Let me know what you guys think again TL A-Spec versus G35 sports sedan, battle of the Japanese near luxury automatics!

 

Torque steer occurs when the wheels that turn the car are also the ones that power the car as is the case of FWD cars. Torque steer is felt when accelerating and turning and is like a tugging sensation felt by your hands on the steering wheel.

 

Couple comments here...

The G's traction control system helps a ton. Very impressed w/ it. Also, you are right, while FWD is better in poorer weather, RWD is actually safer in normal driving conditions IMO. FWD will slide away from you at times as well. If weather is a major concern of yours, might want to consider the TL, but then again, why not the G35x?

One other important point to consider IF THE WIFE is driving it. My wife would struggle driving a G35 MT. The clutch and shifting is heavier, tougher (but a blast), where as she could handle the TL's no problem (lighter throws, clutch, etc. Other than pulling out of first gear is not a cake walk in the TL.

Best shifter? BMW.

 

The acura while having a nicer style and more standard features has been having a lot of problems.

brakes, tires, clutch, driveline vibrations, tons of rattles, seat butt prints....

Of course tires are wearout items, but the 55 series provides a better ride and better handling then the 45 series on the acura. They are less expensive as well.

The acura may cost less than the G, but I hear stories of people paying as much as 715 more a year in insurance than the G. So over 4 years that person would save about 3000 bucks. That can make a difference over the price difference. Or the gas mileage.

AWD is better than the FWD.

The G in the x configuration is heavier 3650...

The TL has become the Civic of the 21st century where all the kids have to have it for its 0-60 run of 5.6 seconds. Yet I have not seen anyone really repeat that feat. I have heard that 6.2 for the 6MT and 6.5 for the 5AT is more likely.

If you decide to try your hand at getting the best time in the acura 6MT and need a new clutch then be prepared for a 2000 repair bill.

Go to the acura web site and see what they have been saying. Now while there may be many more of them out there compared to the G, they seem to have many more issues that require going back to the dealership or "working with the dealership" to solve problems..

I own both cars and I prefer the G to the TL regardless of a few additional features in the TL. The TL has had its share of trips to the dealer where the G has had none as yet... knock on wood..

The G revs higher at speed than they TL 75 MPH it is around 3000 RPMs where the tl is under 2300.

They are both good cars but I have seen first hand the build issues with the TL and would stay away from that model. It seems that the people buying TLs are experiencing their first 200+ hp car and provide high praise for it for the experience. After you are used to driving a car in this class you might starting saying well aside from the seat of your pants difference over a beat up accord, you got a lot of rattles from a 34K car...

 

I have two kids (3.5 yrs and 17 months). I switched from an acura integra to a G35. I looked at everything when buying the G. The TL was not available when I bought my G. As far as kids go, what impressed me the most about the G35 was the amount of room in the back seat area. Getting kids in and out of the back seat is pretty easy, especially since the doors open very wide. As mentioned before, when a child seat is facing backwards, it takes up a lot of room. We had ours on the passenger side in the back. The front passenger side seat had to be moved way up. Depending on how tall your passenger is, it might be a little uncomfortable on a long ride. My children were rearfacing for about a year. What I have found is that we take our explorer everywhere instead of the G35. I only use the G35 (with the family) for short trips around the town, to work and to pick up the kids from daycare/school. So for any family trip, we used the explorer. I would assume you would probably do the same.

So, bottom line is pick the car you like best because you probably won't be using it as the primary family car...Either car should be fine (as far as the kids go!).

Good luck!!

 

Go drive them both...I think the decision will be clear....G all the way!

Also, the G is VERY easy to get kid crap in and out of considering the extermely wide opening rear doors.

 

Wait a minute... Nardeezy.. didn't you say that you have a raced lowered Integra? If you have ever gotten on it hard then you know what torque steer is. It just as described earlier, being where the steering wheel jerks a little to one side under hard acceleration. This is because the most FWD cars have the engine transversely mounted(sideways). Because of this, the transmission, or in this case transaxle, is mounted closer to one side of the car than the other, resulting in two drive shafts of unequal lengths. Drive shafts absorb a certain amount of torque with the longer absorbing more. The shorter side will in essence put more power to the wheel, resulting in a tug from that side. From my knowledge, the only FWD cars that did not suffer from this were the older Acura Legends that had a straight mounted V6, transaxle behind it and the drive axles coming under the engine with drive two equal length shafts.

As for the comparison...My situation last August
-1st baby on the way
-Acura CL - wife's
-Lease is up, get a new car for me
-Wife is an "Acura girl"
-Will likely switch cars after son arrives
-Have a truck as third vehicle and a Katana for a toy

It seems like I have had one of every type or make of car. For me, I had enough of FWD cars. My wife, she of course liked the TL, and ok I did too, a little.
So.. I drove >15 vehicles, researched consumer reports, resale values, TSB (technical service bulletins), forums, friends. I even snuck into the service depts @ dealers and talked w/ the service techs. I reviewed finance and lease programs. I took two months and concluded that the G35 was the choice. Yeah the TL's stereo is better, Yeah the BMW supposedly has better resale, on and on, but in the end..G35. My clear winner. And to think... it had me on the road.
I drive my vehicles hard and my G just says "thank you sir may I have another."

But now.. my wife drives the G, because it is easier in & out w/ a child car seat, and I get the CL. Oh boy!!. Oh, and then flipping Acura comes out with their RL AWD.
Side note.. as the cost of fuel goes up the TL's better MPG weighs in a little more.
BYW her CL got a new trans @ 65K as did my friend's wife in her 03 Accord V6 @ 44K.

Both are great cars and safe, G's rear doors open @ almost a 90, my G's Premium pkg's Bose is sufficient, I am too well oriented for NAV to matter, and other amenities do not push me thru the corners easier nor faster. Simply put, I am a G-man.

Good luck !

 

I have both the TL and the G. My spouse wanted the TL.

Unless you really have to have it, I would say stay away from it.. There has been lots of build issues... speaker rattles, knock senor wires eaten by rodents, brakes, rotors, etc problems in the first year .

My 01 model CL had tranny issues etc. I am not saying it is a horrible car, but I am saying they have had more than their share of problems. The engine does not make it torque at 3500 any more since they had tranny issues from 01-03.

just my humble opinion...