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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1236 of 1610

#12343 of 16087 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD Advance: my experience by renssils

Oct 24, 2011 (10:24 am)

After driving my 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD with Advance package and automatic transmission for 8,000 miles, I can make a few observations. The car has been reliable, though lately it rattles, perhaps from the sunroof. The seats are comfortable. The HVAC and in-car electronics are excellent. On the highway it gets about 27 miles a gallon; in town, about 17 miles a gallon. The engine and transmission are both quiet and smooth.
 
Within 250 miles of my getting the TL at the end of April 2011, I bought a set of four Continental ContiExtreme DW summer tires, which are so much better than the OEM Goodyear tires. The TL on the Conti tires is fun to drive! The Contis stick like glue, are quieter, and smoother riding. Today in anticipation of winter, the Goodyears were installed on the TL; the Contis will be stored until next April. I will miss the Contis. I recall that the Goodyear tires were noisy, rough riding, and had low limits of adhesion. I hope that they'll perform well in shallow snow.
 
I've owned several high-performance all-wheel-drive sedans including a 2001 Audi A6 4.2 sport, a Subaru SVX, which is my all-time favorite, and two Subaru Legacy spec.B sedans. I was inclined to get a new Audi S4, but chose the TL after driving a BMW 535ix, Volvo S60 T6, and Infiniti M37x. The TL seemed to be the best all-around vehicle. The TL was appreciably less costly to lease than the other cars.
 
The TL delights in many ways, but disappoints in some ways. The forward visibility is atrocious. Thick, raked A-pillars create huge blind spots; turning left or right always seems risky. Rear visibility is severely limited. The back up camera has primitive software and furthermore rain on the camera's lens reduces its utility. The trunk is oddly shaped and small for a 194-inch long car; if you don't lift the trunk deck as high as it will go, its pointed bottom lip will stab you. The only clock is an inch-long digital display buried in a panel near the radio buttons. The navigation system's system has irritating quirks that should have debugged long ago. The car would benefit from a reduction in window and road noise.
 
The TL is so close to being a fine car, but I wouldn't buy it or any car ever again with small windows, high belt line, and atrocious visibility.

#12344 of 16087 I will never own a RWD BMW stick shift but I would drive a TSX. by robbieg

Oct 24, 2011 (10:27 am)

I would think that in the real world few people actaully want a "performance car". Most people want a slush box and not a stick. Furthermore, at least in my next of the woods, people don't want a RWD BMW or Mercedes. They want AWD so it goes in the snow. In short, performance isn't that big of a deal.
 
The TSX is every bit as sporty as a CTS or the S60 if not more so. It seems people in this forum, which I have read on and off for years, care about a manual transmission and rear wheel drive. Well, few if any of those cars are sold in my area. Most BMWs are x-drive and with only a few manuals are actually sold.

#12345 of 16087 Re: I will never own a RWD BMW stick shift but I would drive a TSX. [robbieg] by andres3

Oct 24, 2011 (10:40 am)

Replying to: robbieg (Oct 24, 2011 10:27 am)
I'll agree the TSX belongs. If only for it's quality interior appointments and exacting assembly from Japanese artisans. I found it to be "tighter" than the USA built TL a few years back (previous generation models).
 
I had a 2003 Accord V6 and it's interior was best in class in my opinion, but the TSX clearly goes beyond anything Honda has or had in luxuriousness of the interior. I haven't driven a TSX so I can't speak on that, but I'm very familiar with the way Honda's drive, and would say that Honda/Acura have mastered the art of sporty FWD cars. FWD can be great when engineered correctly for sport and performance.
 
I currently drive a FWD Audi A3, and can say that Honda/Acura/Audi/VW are in their own league when it comes to sporty FWD performance.
 
I don't think anyone can touch them on Front Trak/FWD.
 
If your goal is to be fast, FWD can work. If your goal is to do powerslides and drift, FWD is a problem.
 
I think in the future I will prefer AWD. Absent the weight penalty, AWD rocks.

#12346 of 16087 Re: 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD Advance: my experience [renssils] by shipo

Oct 24, 2011 (10:44 am)

Replying to: renssils (Oct 24, 2011 10:24 am)
"Today in anticipation of winter, the Goodyears were installed on the TL; the Contis will be stored until next April. I will miss the Contis. I recall that the Goodyear tires were noisy, rough riding, and had low limits of adhesion. I hope that they'll perform well in shallow snow."
 
Assuming your car came with the same Goodyear Eagle RS-As that mine came with, I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. I bought my car in November of 2008, two days before a light dusting of snow, and the RS-As proved to be as bad in the snow as the Michelin Pilot Primacys which came on my last BMW (with the Sport Package which features summer tires).
 
Fortunately I'd been forewarned about the RS-As and already had a set of Pilot Sport A/Ss on order, and once they were installed after 714 miles, I sold the (virtually new) Goodyears for something like thirty cents on the dollar (and was happy to get that much for them).

#12347 of 16087 Re: 328iX or TSX [m6user] by fedlawman

Oct 24, 2011 (11:51 am)

Replying to: m6user (Oct 24, 2011 9:33 am)
"I fail to see the big deal in all of this. All ELLPS are welcome for discussion as the host stated....whether they are listed or not."
 
I agree, but I think that for internet search purposes it might make a difference. I'm not a web master - just an anal retentive car enthusiast, so what do I know?

#12348 of 16087 I posted something I wanted to share with y'all. . . by markcincinnati

Oct 24, 2011 (3:29 pm)

. . .but I posted it over on the 2012 Acura TL (only) board, which doesn't have as much gravitas, based on the number of posts, as this board. So, if you get a moment and care to discuss my premise that Acura needs to get its Premium Class (or ELLPS, if you will) game face on, or else, please take a look-see at my thesis and hit me with your best shot.
 
You can read the, er, offending post (#42) here, if you like:
 
markcincinnati, "2012 Acura TL" #42, 24 Oct 2011 2:57 pm

#12349 of 16087 Re: I posted something I wanted to share with y'all. . . [markcincinnati] by sweendogy

Oct 24, 2011 (6:22 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 24, 2011 3:29 pm)
mark - good post-- something ive been saying for years- the acura line as we know it has not life and needs to be revived. Its been past by both lexus (luxury) and infiniti (sport) and no where near the germans. Where is the NSX, the integra, or the legend.. Cars are recycled from the parent acura line, like oldsmobile used to do with chevy cars.. olds no longer exists -for good reason. Acura needs to get the game back on, i agree, where is the passion for driving.sure they build a nice sedan that will last 10 years but.. sorry boys with the TSX and the TL's-- your cars are fine autos but not sports sedans.. (HOSTS its time for a change to this category, i mean its been 10 years, get rid of the TSX, keep the boring TL and add a Volvo, i mean do the math ELLPS its in the price range, produces more power, has awd and has been talked about for months-its 2012 not 2002)

#12350 of 16087 Re: 328iX or TSX [kirstie_h] by sweendogy

Oct 24, 2011 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: kirstie_h (Oct 24, 2011 8:40 am)
why not say this a year ago when it was first mentioned ? I mean its been pretty well know by all the TSX should be moved lower in the class due to the fact that it has less power, is fwd, and has never been mentioned by magazines that we all read as being a player in the group?- the posters of the blog should be heard..

#12351 of 16087 Re: 328iX or TSX [sweendogy] by tlong

Oct 24, 2011 (7:48 pm)

Replying to: sweendogy (Oct 24, 2011 6:38 pm)
... the posters of the blog should be heard.
 
Personally, I've seen it repeated many times that the TSX belongs in this discussion, yet SOME poster just can't let that lie.....I wonder why? Nobody is forcing anybody to buy the car.

#12352 of 16087 Re: I posted something I wanted to share with y'all. . . [sweendogy] by m6user

Oct 24, 2011 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: sweendogy (Oct 24, 2011 6:22 pm)
One word about this constant TSX rant.......boring.

Messages Page 1236 of 1610

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