I drove a new 2012 TL today just to see if I would like it more than the Max. There was some good and some bad. Anyone else drove one?

 

I have too well it was 2010 one. But they drive great and handle very nice. I drove the sh awd. Great car. I just didn't like the looks. Now the 2012s are better but not even close to the max.

The interiors in my opiinion are amazing. The max is great but I just loved the tls interior.

Overall it is a very nice car. But to get an equally equipped car to my Max sport with navi. It was a lot more money. Plus I have a family member that works for Nissan. So for me it was a no brainer. The max was the best bang for my buck.

But the tl is a great car I think

 

I have checked them out, but have not driven one of the 2012's. They are just so ugly, I cannot get over it. The interiors are awesome though....to bad looking at them from the outside makes me just about want to vomit.

 

I drove the awd version. I agree the interior is nice. Quality is a little better then the max. But with the max you get the full package cuz it looks good inside and out. With the tl, i would have a hard time enjoying a car that im not completly satisfied with the looks. If the tl had all the features of the max plus the features it already has, it might have been a harder decision though.

 

They revised the 2012 with a much improved front end. I think it's a vast improvement.

 

I didnt drive a TL yet, but I did get a 2011 200 as a rental while my Max is in the shop, and let me say, it ******* sucks. It has a 3.6L 283 hp engine, but feels like a 4 cylinder. I didnt even know it was a 6 banger until I popped the hood, thats how bad it is.

 

Very good points fellas. And don't forget that thoaty sound of the vq. I love this motor. The tl is a great car. But I love our max. It's so fun to step on it and hear that vq purr. Very powerful car. Plus I love the fact that it pulls very hard even at 2k rpm!!!

 

You sure about that, I have driven weak V6 but knew it was a V6, several years ago I rented a Dodge Magnum, the guy at Enterprise said it was a Hemi, I looked and it was a V6 but being a rental they take everything off that can be easily removed and stolen so a little research and I found out it was the 2.7L 190hp V6 it was alright, not a car built for highway passing, that engine has a lot of interesting things that have been said about it by loyal Chrysler fans.

It would be horrible that the new V6 and 6speed feels like a 4, do you know for sure.

 

I was initially going to buy a 2010TL, but really looked around and found the Max. I must say I love my car. The max has things that the TL didn't even have, and only a 5 spd. auto, come on Acura, plus the Max was way less money. I do like the SH AWD option, but again $38k compared to $28k, it was not much of a decision. They finally got the heated and ventilated seats and a 6 spd. auto this year so it is better, but still way more.

 

I can honestly say that it felt like my sisters 05 accord 4 cylinder. To tell you the truth, my sisters Accord actually felt more powerful. I really didnt feel 283 hp while driving this car that chrysler claims it has. The Max has only 7 more than it at 290 and feels like Night And Day compared to this car.

 

+10000. Sometimes I leave my radio off just to listen to the motor, it is amazing.

 

I LOVE that Acura took off the stupid lights on the side of the TL, but still am not a fan of the Acura grill that is smiling at you. I test drive a 2005 TL when shopping for my Max and it felt very light and cheap. The acceleration was worse than my 02 Sentra SE-R. Maybe that was just 2005, but I wasn't impressed, although the interior was decent.

I sat in the Max and said "oh my God". Big difference. And yeah lovin' the 350z engine, even if its governed to all hell.

 

All I know is, that Nissan knows how to extract power from its motors and put it to the wheels, unlike other automakers. This Chrysler 200 is soo bad and painful to drive, I might return it to Hertz this week and just use my sisters Accord.

 

Agreed Guys, Even the latest Acura TL front and back revisions look like a crappy stop gap fix for the "Beak Look". Our Acura dealer here was offering new grills to entice buyers for the 2009-2010 TL's. Acura /Honda seems to have lost step with their customers. I was an easy choice for me to move to the Maxima.

 

The other thing with Acura is, unless ur getting the SH AWD, who in this world wants a luxury FWD car?? Acura should be strictly RWD or AWD. Just like Lexus and Infiniti do. Honda needs to step their game up serioulsly. The only two cars I ever really liked out of their lineup was the s2000 and NSX.

 

My favorite from the Acura line was the Legend - not the fastest or most flashy car but good lord that thing LAAAAAAAAAAASTED! My friend had one with 230k on the motor and still ran like a champ when he sold it. A family member had an Integra that went to 250k+ before the engine caught on fire. The NSX always looked pretty sick but the price tag + the fact that it would crumple into a tin can in an accident made me laugh.

In the looks department I was never too impressed with Acura, although the newer TL's are getting better. I've seen a few RL's on the road that I thought looked pretty nice, minus the smiling grill. 47k MSRP though is a joke, for that much I'd rather have a Benz or BMW.

 

Closest I have come to Acura was an 08TLS, sweet car with everything I wanted, drove amazingly, deal fell through, should have figured when it was the last of the great vehicles they had.

In the past I have tried to deal with Acura on several occasions, their problem is they act like they are a tier 1 premium brand like the Germans or Lexus, which they are not, the Acura lineup needs a price adjustment.

To me they always look like higher end hondas

 

Which simply proves you have 20/20 vision.

 

I hear ya, the TL is really an Entry Level Luxury car/Premium car just like the Max. The Max is and has been for a looong time that cars main competitor (Not the SH AWD one although) and the only reason its not in alot of those comparos (looking way back the Max was compared to it even when it was called the Acura Vigor) is because of the G which is a pure Sport sedan. The Max and TL are "sporty" Sedans, sometimes called Sport Sedans just depending on your source. When and if Nissan ever decides to or Acura does the TL going RWD, then I think we would see these 2 both RWD. Not likely although based on Honda's sedan history and the 1st gen Max and 810 being RWD.

 

I remember going to East Point Datsun (loooong gone dealership) in late 1977 to test drive an 810 (a co-worker of mine had one, and she loved it). The only three 810s they had in stock were brown. I like brown clothes, brown skin, brown eyes, brown bread, brown fences, etc, but not brown cars.

So a few months later, I bought a silver 6speed manual 200SX with a big spoiler and wide black and white stripes at that same dealer. Loved that car, but my daughter loved it even more, so I had trouble getting to drive it.

Nissan made fun cars from the start, even if they called them Datsuns back then.

 

funny u mention the 200sx because my dad bought one in early 80's. Few days after my uncle went out and bought the same car!! very nice cars and nostalgic japanese cars by now!

 

That's what they are, just as Infiniti(s) are higher end Nissans and Lexus higher end Toyotas.

I like the TL from the inside and minus the grille and the funny looking rear end the car isn't bad, it's just too bad that they're overpriced IMO andhave that stupid looking front end, otherwise I'd probably have one of them instead of a Max.

 

Remember seeing them in the early 80's in those schemes and that ugly green color...hehe. Yeah those 200sx's were fun cars back in the day as was the 240SX that proceded it, one Nissan car that I did not like though was that Pulsar NX. I thought that was a pure "girly" car, both generations!

 

They make some decent looking aftermarket grilles for the TL.

 

To a degree but I still view Infiniti and Lexus as not Nissan and Toyota, my fathers FX50S is no Nissan

 

i was driving my max when i had a TL try to keep up.....wasnt doing to well

 

I understand but I'm certain that those who own Acuras will tell you that their cars are no Hondas.

 

That is too funny! I do the same thing

 

Same hereeeeee sir

 

Well I went back yesterday and bought one. I am going to miss the Max but I really like the TL. I do have some stuff for sale from the Max if anyone is interested. I posted it in the for sale area.

 

hey congrats!! The TL is a nice car, and if its what you want then by all means get it

now post up some pics of your new ride! What packages did you get?

I love the interior of the TL. A lot of people don't like all the buttons,but I sure do, great car

 

I bought a 2012 with the Tech package. A lot of stuff is similar to the Max. I'll miss the Max and I'll be the first to admit the Max looks sportier. The ride in the TL and the some of the ammentitys are better though.

 

congrats, what did they give you for the Maxima

 

I remember destroying an 02 TL 3.2. But it wasnt even a fair fight, so I kept my throttle to about 50% lol.

 

I drove a 2011 TL before I bought my Max. I am 6'4" and need legroom. I didnt fit well in the TL. I took it for a drive anyway and was not pleased with the drive quality either. Sure, it's a fast car, too but the suspension was way too tight. The thing I liked the most about the TL was the integration of the voice command module with the HVAC system. The NAV seemed a bit more advanced as well. Anyway, I test drove a Max after the TL. What a difference. More interior room. Better ride. NAV, more rear legroom, bigger truck, better access, smoother drive train. I was sold. As a matter of fact, I wish I didnt love it as much as I did... I probably would have gotten a better deal!

 

Another thing i didnt like about the tl is the trunk floor.

 

I had a 2009 Max with 16500 miles. Great shape except a couple rock chips on the front. They gave me $26500 and sold me the TL $400 below invoice. Plus since I traded it in on a new vehicle here in Ohio I saved about $1750 in tax.

 

The TL isnt designed aggressivley enough, and thats its problem. When I see a Maxima in my rearview mirror or comin down the street it looks mean. A TL on the other hand looks like a normal sedan coming down the street.

 

I did test drive the TL before I bought my 2011 Max and it was not a bad car. It had decent power and great handling. I just could not get past the huge smiley face grill. I really cannot stand what Acura did to the TL a few years ago. I do not think that it is attractive at all. Call me shallow buying a car on looks alone, but I think that the Max blows the TL out of the water.

 

I'm willing to sacrifice that 30-40hp and get a maxima instead. The new designed of the T.L. does not do justice for me.