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#13328 of 16087 Re: Opinions on Infiniti [plekto] by markcincinnati

Mar 08, 2012 (9:13 am)

Replying to: plekto (Mar 02, 2012 2:29 pm)

I drove both the G and the TL at speeds up to 100MPH, and I had just come from driving the Audi S4 (also at high speeds) prior to driving the TL.
 
The G seemed like a shoebox on wheels (at the time my daily driver was a 2009 A4 w/sport package.)
 
The TL Advance SH-AWD was the closest car to an S4 that I had tested (and I had tested quite a few.)
 
So, the answer to the question is I did drive the cars more than around the block and way faster than 30MPH.

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#13329 of 16087 Re: Opinions on Infiniti [plekto] by markcincinnati

Mar 08, 2012 (9:29 am)

Replying to: plekto (Mar 05, 2012 3:55 pm)

The wheelbase of the TL is 109". The wheelbase of the A4 and G is longer. The width of my A4 was close to 72", about the width of a TL. The length of the TL, too very close to the A4 and G. Audis are always given crap for being porky and nose heavy.
 
The Audi, of the three examples, would be my first choice -- if money was no object. The Audi A4 2.0T Prestige with sport package was way more money per month than a TL (or a G.) The G was so tiny, so narrow, I felt like I was in one of my wife's three Audi TT's -- I felt like a bug in it. I noticed no loss of cabin space from my '09 A4 when I went to the TL.
 
In terms of handling, the A4 when pushed hard into a corner understeers -- even with the 19" sport package; at the same speed the torque vectoring of the TL AWD manages to tame what would have to be noticable understeer. And, despite the sweet 2.0T engine, the 3.7 in the TL is more potent.
 
The TL is on the cutting edge of ugly, I will not argue that point. The Audi's interior is so much better than anyone else's it's not a contest, so the TL's nice leather and fit and finish don't impress me since I was used to the Audi. The G's interior is nice, too, but again it isn't an Audi.
 
By what measures is the TL a boat -- it certainly seems to compete with the Audi even though the Audi does have a longer wheelbase. Or is the Audi in the nautical class too?

Replies to this message:

• cdnpinhead (Mar 08, 2012 5:05 pm)

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#13330 of 16087 Re: Prelude, TSX, BMW [qbrozen] by plekto

Mar 08, 2012 (10:43 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (Mar 08, 2012 8:20 am)

the intermediate shaft failures have scared me off the Porsches. I really really wanted to get one this last time out ... just couldn't bring myself to take the risk.
 
The reason for this is actually the oil. The engine was designed for high-zinc oils that are common in Europe and were judged to be minimally acceptable in the U.S. at the time. But the EPA drove the maximum levels to 1200ppm and people started to notice a few problems. Then they dropped the levels to 800ppm and people started using synthetics with sometimes none of the original anti-wear additives in them. Suddenly everyone's engines were eating themselves.
 
There is a company that makes a properly designed replacement part for it, though (new bearing sets), and if the vehicle doesn't have this "upgrade" already, then deduct the price from the vehicle as any of that series engine will eventually fail, guaranteed, without the mod, as you cannot physically buy high zinc oil in the U.S. any more due to the EPA's idiocy.
 
The problem was that the additives traditionally caused cats to die in 50-60K miles. Now the government mandates 100K+ for cats, which meant less additives. The oil makers were caught in the middle. This is exactly like the paint fiasco that happened in the 80s and 90s, where paint was peeling off of cars due to the EPA requiring different types of paint formulations. Eventually they fixed it around 2000 or so, but in this case, it's a generation of engines that won't make it past 150K, (anything that's based off of engineering previous to ~2000 or so) and some like the Boxster and Rotary engines that rev really fast just simply die in half that time. Note - this also affects a lot of S2000s, which routinely get revved hard.
 
And, yes, it really does happen. I lost my 67 Mercedes' engine after two oil changes when the EPA switched the levels without telling anyone. Working fine and ~5000 miles later (was my daily driver at the time) the entire internals were shot. Not even re-buildable. The oil simply provided no protection and it ate the top end, bottom end, the bearings, and even the gaskets. No smoke or issues and then a pile of parts. So I feel for the poor Porsche owners as I've been there myself.
 
As of 2009, Porsche has finally redesigned the engines and the problems are controlled if you use high mileage non-synthetic in the engines. (Castrol or similar) But a lot of people still run racing oil in them and ignore the EPA's "requirements". I'd do the same too, if I had a $50K Porsche sitting in my driveway. Better to be safe than sorry when a rebuild can cost 10K+ on these things.
 
All of that said, the Boxster *is* a good ride. The one to stay away from, though, is the Cayman S. It's significantly more rigid and quieter. It's downright dangerous as you find yourself having a hard time just pulling yourself out of the seat at the showroom, let alone de-scrambling your brain's idea of "normal" after a test-drive.

Replies to this message:

• qbrozen (Mar 08, 2012 12:06 pm)

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#13331 of 16087 Re: Prelude, TSX, BMW [plekto] by qbrozen

Mar 08, 2012 (12:06 pm)

Replying to: plekto (Mar 08, 2012 10:43 am)

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#13332 of 16087 Re: Prelude, TSX, BMW [kyfdx] by fedlawman

Mar 08, 2012 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Mar 08, 2012 5:23 am)

"Just for my own edification, what sort of money for the M3? $20K-$25K? Or, more than that?"
 
The insurance company is sticking to their guns at $17,300 ACV.
 
I'm into it for more than $40K, and it's worth about $25K real world.

Replies to this message:

• kyfdx (Mar 08, 2012 6:06 pm)
• nyccarguy (Mar 08, 2012 6:32 pm)

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#13333 of 16087 Re: Opinions on Infiniti [markcincinnati] by cdnpinhead

Mar 08, 2012 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Mar 08, 2012 9:29 am)

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#13334 of 16087 Re: Prelude, TSX, BMW [fedlawman] by kyfdx HOST

Mar 08, 2012 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: fedlawman (Mar 08, 2012 4:14 pm)

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#13335 of 16087 Re: Prelude, TSX, BMW [fedlawman] by nyccarguy

Mar 08, 2012 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: fedlawman (Mar 08, 2012 4:14 pm)

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#13336 of 16087 Thanks by fedlawman

Mar 08, 2012 (7:05 pm)

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#13337 of 16087 IMS by fedlawman

Mar 08, 2012 (8:06 pm)