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Acura TL vs. Nissan Maxima vs. TL-S

36 messages,  Last post on Jan 26, 2010 at 3:16 PM

You are in the Acura TL Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Nissan, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 5

#12 of 36 Re: 2008 Acura TL vs. 2009 Nissan Maxima vs. 2008 TL-S [smlull163] by izzyb213

Aug 26, 2009 (7:16 am)

Replying to: smlull163 (Aug 15, 2008 5:07 am)
I have owned a 2001 TL, a 2005 TL and this last October I bought a 2008 TL TYPE-S & love it!!! Of course it is better than the '01 and it even tops the '05. The Type-S is black on black and I bought after market 18" wheels & Ecsta ASX tires & it handles like a dream especially with the stability control system. I'm 28 so more into the performance, speed, handling side of the Type S but it provides a comfortable ride for my clients & also you gotta love Honda/Acura durability. I've also taken this car on 2,000 + mile road trips with no issues, great gas mileage & lots of fun! You can cruise at 100-110 mph like nothing. One friend has the Maxima with an aftermarket cool air intake & I still took it off the line & down the stretch. The Type S has a massive 2nd & 3rd gear. I've also tailed & hung with Mustang Cobras & M3s on the highway. Aside from the performance, the cars features, options, maintenance costs & durability are like none other for the price…go with the TL at least or a Type S if you want the noticeable performance difference & styling.

#14 of 36 Is the Type-S just as quiet? by aka57

Nov 12, 2009 (8:00 am)

Well, I've wanted a TL for some time - am disappointed in the 09 sheet metal (despite loving the SH-AWD) so am considering 08 TL vs TL Type-S. I have never bought a Pre-Owned car before so am a touch leery - but my question is:
Is the Type-S any less quiet/ does it exhibit more road noise than the Base?
The roads near the dealership are too well maintained to tell the tale during a test drive.
I commute (sometime 2+ hours one way over decepit L.A. freeways) and want a quite cabin and a smooth ride.

#15 of 36 Re: Is the Type-S just as quiet? [aka57] by izzyb213

Nov 16, 2009 (7:45 am)

Replying to: aka57 (Nov 12, 2009 8:00 am)
I have owned an '05 TL and now have an '08 TL Type-S...the main difference I noticed & wanted was the tighter suspension on the Type-S. Some people might not like this but at my age & driving style I enjoy a tighter suspension. This does great a tad rougher ride which then has the potential to create more road noise. In the Type-S you have power, many standard features like paddle shifters, navi, etc. that come with a higher price that are only options on the TL. Drive both & see what you decide on, I'd love to hear.

#16 of 36 Bought a 2010 TL AWD by jspagna1

Nov 16, 2009 (11:12 am)

I have been looking at new cars for the last few months. Have owned 2 Maximas, a 1992 and a 2003. Still have the 2003 going to give it to my daughter.
We drove the 2010 Maxima and it just did not seem to have the power that you would expect. Really had to push it to get it going. My 2003 has more take off power than the new one.
Also the wife and I did not think interior head room was very good. Roof too low and dash too long. Never owned a Honda, but went to drive the new TL and we fell in love with it. Much more expensive, but we keep our cars forever, so wanted something we could live with. Very impressed with the quality so far.

#17 of 36 Re: Is the Type-S just as quiet? [aka57] by gbosil

Nov 16, 2009 (9:24 pm)

Replying to: aka57 (Nov 12, 2009 8:00 am)
I purchased my 2007 TLS new off the lot. Silver / Black int. I now have 49,000 trouble free miles. One word of caution .. Brakes are EXPENSIVE! The car is fitted with BREMBO in the Front. Front Brake job only: Pads / Rotors and Labor is around $700! The parts are expensive!!! Other than that I had some rattles and Subwoofer problems but Acura fixed them all. The car rides as smooth as glass. It also hauls ass! I constantly get compliments on the car. There isn't many on the road which is a plus. I have been so happy with Acura that I purchased a Second Car a 2010 TSX w/Tech. It's about the size of the old TL. I hate the new TL. Frankly it's just plain UGLY and a BOAT! It's huge!!! That front beak is awful!

#18 of 36 RE: by izzyb213

Nov 17, 2009 (10:24 am)

You dont have to replace the pads with Brembo pads, there are much cheaper options & the performance difference on daily driving is next to none. http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750970
 
I'm on my 3rd TL, I've owned an 01, 05 & now an 08 TL-S so I LOVE the cars. Three friends have Maximas & I hands down like the TL much better but I know Nissan is reliable as well. I decided on the 08 TL-S after seeing the new 09 TL which is nasty...they are getting horrible feedback so it will change soon. Aftermarket front grills also make it look much better.

#19 of 36 RE: [izzyb213] by billyperks2

Nov 17, 2009 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: izzyb213 (Nov 17, 2009 10:24 am)
All I get is complements on mine- AWD TECH, white with black interior.
I addded the wood wheel, wood gear shift knob, back up sensors, trunk tray, wheel locks, door edge guards and the all weather mats.I also tinted the windows (35%).
 
People come on this forum and bash the car, especially those with the previous generation (I guess it makes them feel better).All I can say is, when my car pulls up next to the previous generation, it makes the prevoius generation looks so dated.
 
A lady in a 2010 TSX same color as my TL, pulled up beside me on the I95 and gave me the thumbs up and I have gotten a lot of those since my 3 months of ownership.
The car is a blast (not the fastest) and very entertaining with the gizmos- currently I am burning my current cd's and cd's I had from my college days (A LOT). The car is a driving music box, I dont even need the XM or an IPOD, the HDD is the best.
 
Happy Motoring!!!!!!

#20 of 36 RE: [billyperks2] by gbosil

Nov 18, 2009 (6:10 am)

Replying to: billyperks2 (Nov 17, 2009 12:23 pm)
It's still God Awful Ugly! I have a 2007 TLS with a AEM Cold Air Intake and AEM peformance Chip dynoed at 325 HP. I'll eat any TL AWD for breakfast. Simply put the new TL is a Boat and extremely heavy! I recently had a 2010 TL as loaner and was embarrased driving in it. I felt like people were staring and laughing at me at the light. Acura... please redesign it ASAP!!!!!

#21 of 36 RE: [billyperks2] by smarty666

Nov 18, 2009 (7:04 am)

Replying to: billyperks2 (Nov 17, 2009 12:23 pm)
I just wanted to point out that your complaining about previous generation TL owners coming on here putting down the new TL yet you did the exact same thing by making a statement putting down the previous generation TL
 
While I have a 08 TL, there are things I like and dislike about the fourth generation TL; the interior of the new TL is absolutely wonderful, it looks like a sculpture cockpit of a race car and the technology and comfort is wonderful
 
What I don't like about the new TL is the exterior body style; first off, the car has grown so much that it is now in the large sedan category; not one of the cars it competes with, Nissan Maxima, Infiniti G37, Lexus ES350, Mercedes C-Class, or BMW 3-Series is considered a large sedan, for Acura to make the car this massive in just one year is ridiculous, the TL is actually bigger than their top of the line car, the RL, how is that suppose to make any sense?
 
I like the new TL from the side, but the rear end and front end are just atrocious; I even waited till I saw some in person and even in person they look atrocious; the front snow plow grill is just too massively big even on a car its size; the size on the new grill on the TSX looks much better and if Acura had done that it would have looked a lot better; the rear end just looks tall and bloated, much like the previous generation Nissan Maxima
 
Every professional car review site, edmunds, Mototrend, Car and Driver, US NWR, JD Power, automobile mag, etc list the polarizing exterior styling as a con for the vehicle; you can not tell me it looks great and that everyone likes it when you have certain Acura dealers and many aftermarket body shops who specifically offer a certain priced paint service to paint the majority of the grill the body color as to try and shrink it and make it look better, I've actually seen a new TL with this done and it makes it look a lot better and more like the grill size on the TSX
 
I don't ever recall the third generation TL needing its front end grill painted in order to make it look better; the 3rd generation was a beautifully sculpted car, was just the right size on the outside as a mid-size luxury sedan and had just the right amount of exterior lines and cues that made it look sporty but not overdone, like it is on the current TL; I am still kissing the ground I got my 08 TL when I did and not wait for the 09 to come out

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