Honda Car Forum

Hi all:
It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R. That
said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have been
discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I am
really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and that
only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please advise.

Sonoman

On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 02:34:27 UTC, "Sonoman" <nospam@microsoft.com> wrote:

> Hi all:
> It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R. That
> said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have been
> discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I am
> really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and that
> only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
> differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please advise.

Do you need 4 doors or a large trunk? If not, check out the G35 coupe, which
is like a Datsun 350Z, but with a slightly longer wheelbase to permit a tight
but usable back seat and a trunk (instead of hatchback), Infiniti luxury
features, and Infiniti dealer service. A lot of car for the money.

--
John Varela
(Trade "OLD" lamps for "NEW" for email.)
I apologize for munging the address but the spam is too much.

Thanks for the response. The G35 Coupe would have been my first choice hands
down. I did not want to go into boring details, but this car is actually for
my wife and she wants a four door. The G35 Coupe is definitely on MY list.


"John Varela" <OLDlamps@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ZKRm3c4Ddl7U-pn2-Io6iuxPwoSQy@dialup-171.75.32.248.Dial1.Washington1.Level3.net...
> On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 02:34:27 UTC, "Sonoman" <nospam@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi all:
> > It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R.
That
> > said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have
been
> > discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I
am
> > really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and
that
> > only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
> > differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please
advise.
>
> Do you need 4 doors or a large trunk? If not, check out the G35 coupe,
which
> is like a Datsun 350Z, but with a slightly longer wheelbase to permit a
tight
> but usable back seat and a trunk (instead of hatchback), Infiniti luxury
> features, and Infiniti dealer service. A lot of car for the money.
>
> --
> John Varela
> (Trade "OLD" lamps for "NEW" for email.)
> I apologize for munging the address but the spam is too much.

Sonoman wrote:
> Hi all:
> It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R. That
> said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have been
> discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I am
> really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and that
> only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
> differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please advise.

I had about a 3 hour solo test drive in the G35. I liked the power and
the RWD, but thought the interior was ugly. I found the interior seats
uncomfortable (seat belt latch dug in to my thigh). I also found the
shifter to be a bit balky. So for me it was a no brainer: nice engine
mated to RWD but styling I just couldn't live with. Too bad, because the
dealer was falling all over themselves trying to sell me the car by
throwing in big discounts and extras.

When I sat in the TL it fit me perfectly. It was love at first sight. I
love the 6 speed shifter and clutch, and the engine has plenty of power.
I think the interior styling is the best in the $30-50k price range but
I like things a bit more toward sporty and a little less toward luxury.
I flip-flop on the exterior styling though. I like the exterior but
think it will probably look dated in a couple of years. It's not what I
would call a classic or timeless design.

I really like the DVD-A and the XM radio and many of the other interior
touches that I never thought I would like or would choose to pay for.
The only thing I don't like is that the car is FWD, but even that comes
with caveats because I believe that FWD is, arguably, safer in rain and
snow (though come to think of it, I don't live in a rainy/snowy place).
If the car came in RWD or AWD I'd eagerly pay another $10k for the car.

In terms of value I personally think you get a bit more with the TL than
the G35, but that's subjective. They are both nice cars with a slightly
different emphasis. As far as what you'll pay, I doubt you'll get any
discount at all on a new TL and may even have to get on a waiting list
to get the one you want. My impression from the Infinity dealership was
they had plenty to pick from.

I paid MSRP for my TL but feel I got more for my money than I would have
with the heavily discounted G35. Sadly, I pretty much needed to purchase
a car when I did so I didn't have the luxury of waiting a few months for
the hype to die down or I might have gotten a slightly better deal. I've
heard, though, that traditionally Acura dealers don't deal as much as
some other brands.

I haven't for one second regretted my decision. The TL is a great car.

Infiniti=Nissan
Drive a 330i and then make your decision...



John Varela wrote:
> On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 02:34:27 UTC, "Sonoman" <nospam@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Hi all:
>>It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R. That
>>said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have been
>>discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I am
>>really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and that
>>only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
>>differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please advise.
>
>
> Do you need 4 doors or a large trunk? If not, check out the G35 coupe, which
> is like a Datsun 350Z, but with a slightly longer wheelbase to permit a tight
> but usable back seat and a trunk (instead of hatchback), Infiniti luxury
> features, and Infiniti dealer service. A lot of car for the money.
>

330i is very nice, and it also costs more than I would like to pay. And I
now that the base peice is kind of comparable to my other choices, but I am
not going for fake leather.


"Dan Krueger" <dankrueger@xxxmindspring.com> wrote in message
news:vQCUb.11818$jH6.3738@newsread1.news.atl.earth link.net...
> Infiniti=Nissan
> Drive a 330i and then make your decision...
>
>
>
> John Varela wrote:
> > On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 02:34:27 UTC, "Sonoman" <nospam@microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Hi all:
> >>It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R.
That
> >>said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have
been
> >>discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I
am
> >>really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and
that
> >>only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
> >>differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please
advise.
> >
> >
> > Do you need 4 doors or a large trunk? If not, check out the G35 coupe,
which
> > is like a Datsun 350Z, but with a slightly longer wheelbase to permit a
tight
> > but usable back seat and a trunk (instead of hatchback), Infiniti luxury
> > features, and Infiniti dealer service. A lot of car for the money.
> >
>

Sonoman wrote:
> Hi all:
> It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R. That
> said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have been
> discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I am
> really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and that
> only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
> differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please advise.
>
Great article in car & driver March issue about the very automobiles
you're considering. Guess which was the favorite? G35....

Yep, I read it. Torque steer anyone?


<ppointer@nospamindspring.com> wrote in message
news:Z_DUb.1704$se3.251@fe1.columbus.rr.com...
> Sonoman wrote:
> > Hi all:
> > It is almost the time to turn in my beloved 2000 Acura Integra GS-R.
That
> > said, I am in the market for a new car. I had a few choices that have
been
> > discarded such as: BMW 325i, Audi A4 1.8T, and the Nissan Maxima. Now I
am
> > really torn between the the TL and the G35. I have driven both cars and
that
> > only made it harder for me. I now that both cars have similarities and
> > differences, but I wanted to get opinions from both sides. Please
advise.
> >
> Great article in car & driver March issue about the very automobiles
> you're considering. Guess which was the favorite? G35....

"Torque steer" is an attribute of powerful, front-drive cars.
The G35 is rear-drive. Do you mean over steer?

Sonoman wrote:
> Yep, I read it. Torque steer anyone?
>
>
> <ppointer@nospamindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:Z_DUb.1704$se3.251@fe1.columbus.rr.com...
>
snip
>
>>Great article in car & driver March issue about the very automobiles
>>you're considering. Guess which was the favorite? G35....
>
>
>

Dan Krueger wrote:

> Infiniti=Nissan
> Drive a 330i and then make your decision...
>

When I price out a 330i with the same level of trim as my TL the MSRP is
a good $12k higher than my TL. So while it may be a better car, it
ought to if it costs 30% more. For me, the argument is moot. It's not
any more in my price range than a Ferrari or Porsche, so whether it is
better is beside the point.

Now, if you're comparing a stripped down 330i you're in the same
ballpark price-wise, though the BMW still costs more and that's without
leather, moon roof, premium audio, heated seats, xenons, etc.

If you're strictly looking for the best performance vehicle, get a
stripped 330i, certainly. I wanted some of the extras like the moonroof
and premium audio which is why I went with the TL. Sure wish I could
have gotten it with cloth seats, though.