I was just curious how many of you out there with the 5th gen Max's test drove the Acura TL Type S. I just did yesterday and was very impressed. I would have to say they are both about the same speed stock. Just from my test driving experience.

The pros the TL-S holds over the Max in my opinion:
*thicker, perforated leather.
*better suspension
*The auto sport shifter was kind of neat(doesn't come in stick)

The cons:
*tad bit more expensive
*engine noise (VTEC)
*interior room than the max (and I'm a 6'2" 230lb guy)

I've heard really good things about Acura's customer service as well -- quite contrary to just about everything I have read about Nissan's.

Did you guys test drive any other cars before you decided on the max? What do you think of what I've listed? Thanks!

 

This has been discussed quite frequenty. Try searching, and welcome aboard

http://forums.maxima.org/search.php?...der=descending

 

Paxus,

I've heard of quite a few TL (2000+) owners that are on their 2nd and third trannies. Something to do with the E-Shift that Acura hasn't perfected yet, and they are buring up like crazy. The other thing I hear about are the stolen headlights, but that's not just an Acura problem as we all know!

www.

 

i didn't test drive a tl-s but i drove my friends. I have to say speed-wise they are similar, but the ride on my max is MUCH smoother than his tl-s. Its still a nice car, but for the price, i would definetly go with something else.

 

Steering is more responsive, maybe more room inside, but not as nice a center console, and a heck of a lot more $$$

 

I did and i like 'em both

 

You think the engine noise of the TL-S at 7000 RPM's is a con??? When I first test drove a TL-S, I was in love with the symphony comming from the engine bay. It's got some of the sweetest V-6 music; all the way up there with the NSX and BMW inline 6. Even every magazine write up on the TL-S comments on how sweet the engine sounds in VTEC. I put a down payment write then and there after a test drive!!

 

drove it, I hate the suspension on my 2k1 GLE too soft but compared to a 2k2 SE they are both nice cars. Ofcourse the max costs less. I like the navigation on the nissan's better.

 

Please don't compare anything to the BMW inline 6 because the M3 falls in that category and we ALL know that the TLS has NOTHING near that sound

 

I drove both...the Acura is a nice car, but to ME...it wasn't really MY style. The performance was nice IMO, but what made me fall in love with the max...(my previous car), was the $$$, VQ, Manual transmission, VQ, styling, and oh yeah VQ! After I killed my Max, I couldn't leave the VQ...so I got an I35 because Infiniti gave me a better price than what the local Nissan dealerships were talkin'. I just miss the manual. One of my best friends has a TL-S, and we both have a mutual respect for both vehicles. I think that a manual TL-S would have been a harder decision for me. But I still would have bought my Max if I had to do it over again. I think it is really something that we are comparing a company's "regular" line vehicle to another company's "luxury" line vehicle. It goes to show you how far the legacy of the Maxima has come. It really should be in a class of it's own, because IMO it is as nice or nicer than many "near luxury" market sedans.

 

...as opposed to the 2K2 Max which makes practically no sound...even under WOT. As nice as the 2K2 Max AND TLS are, if I had to do it again (with my current budget) I would get the I35 (with discount of course). It's got the Max's ***** with Infiniti's high class styling.

And Kingpin is right, it's more appropriate to compare the TL-S with the I35 as they're in the exact same class (near or entry level luxury sedan). Ironically, Maxima's competition in the Honda camp is the Accord V6. (Hey!! It's not Nissan's fault that Honda didn't put the J32A1 or J32A2 motor in the Accord.)

 

Not to flame the TL, but it's a loaded Honda Accord. Loved my last car,(it was a 2000 Accord Coupe V6), went to my local Acuradealership to look at the CL-S, reminded me too much of my Accord Coupe. Engine bay to suspenion set-up, just too much alike. Honda is showcasing the 7TH gen. Accord now, at the same time they are planning the new TL-S, guess what? It's based on the 2003 Accord. Loved my Accord, don't think I'm hating on ACCORDS.

 

I looked at the TLs A LOT before, I really do like those cars. My father has an 03 TL he just bought, so I've had some time to look one over extensively in person

In my opinion (after all, this is entirely opinion based over which car is "better") here are the pros & cons

Pros:
Looks - (I prefer the look of the TL, I think it's just a little sleeker than the max, the max needs to be a bit shorter - height wise)
Fit & Finish - Fit and finish on the TL seem MUCH better than my max, it's quieter, it's smoother riding on the roads, and it just seems more "quality"
Leather - The leather is MUCH better than ours, thicker, softer, just feels higher quality
Bose Stereo - Doesn't have as much bass as the max's bose system, but definately much clearer and (most importantly) NO DISTORTION & RATTLES FROM THE SUB
Warranty - Again, much better than the maximas
Acura nameplate - sounds vain and all, but the acura logo has a lot more authority backing it and more respect.
5 speed sportshift - Despite "failures" (I don't believe that they are as common as anyone claims they are..my friend works at the acura dealer here and said that she hasn't heard of any transmission coming back for a TL, and this is the only acura dealer within about 120 miles), the TL tranny has 1 more gear than our max's auto tranny, and has the sportshift (I wont' bring up the 6 speed in the max here...that's for the cons of the TL)

Cons:
Price - A TL you just aren't going to be able to bargain on as much as a Maxima, not to mention the price is generally a little higher to begin with...I would have gotten a TL-S if not for this
No 6 speed - I love the 6 speed in my Max....
Factory Body Kit is too damn expensive - but it is damn nice, the price (again) is a major con, though
Cons - I don't agree with this one, but my father complains that the head room is barely enough (He used to drive all SUVs and this is his first car in a while, so i think he just needs to adjust. I fit perfectly in the TL and my Max, I'm 6'1" and 205 lbs, he's 6'2" and about the same weight. He was saying the max has more headroom than his TL and he fits better in it)


I'm sure you won't all agree w/ me, but again it's just my opinions.

 

Yes, the TL is based on the Accord, but the TL-S is a tight ride. If I had the bucks, I'd get either the new style one, or a G35. But since that's a little out of my budget range, the Max is a great compromise...

 

I have driven the TL-S. It is a really fast car.

 

it's still pretty bland. The styling is nice but not as agressive as the Maxima. Like someone said, is just an upscale, higher priced Accord,(not hating I owned an Accord too)But no matter what, I still felt like I was driving my grandfathers car. It just doesnt inspire spirited driving from me.

 

Ditto