Nissan Maxima vs. G37
Since I have been driving both the Max and the G lately, what exactly am I supposed to be missing wit the Max? I dont really notice a huge difference in how they drive, from a handling perspective, ie the G doesnt make me go wow I cant believe I am driving a FWD car. I just dont feel much difference there. I will need more time with the G to really get a feel for the differences if there really is one. Sometimes I think people build perceptions based off names (FWD, RWD) that dont really exist.

My wife has no idea what the paddle shifters are for. If they weren't there, she wouldn't miss them. I would. Just depends. If you don't use it, probably you won't miss it.
The Ford Focus has a cool Sync stereo system. Do you miss it in the Maxima? Prius gets like 40+mpg miss it? If a car has everything *you* want, what more do you need?
This is a G forum... that's what most of us prefer to drive. You are asking us to give our opinion, yours may be different. Either car could be a good choice for the right person / driving.
Hey, it's all in good fun. I've no doubt the TL is a great car. It's a Honda, after all. I mean, Acura, better yet. While I have to wonder what about the interior is so much more luxurious than the G, (What does "luxury" even mean anymore when Sonatas come with so much standard equipment and you can get them all leather & 9 speaker & auto everything), the reality is both TL and G are great cars.
Enjoy your ride, and I say the rear on the TL looks just fine.
Enjoy your ride, and I say the rear on the TL looks just fine.
Since I have been driving both the Max and the G lately, what exactly am I supposed to be missing wit the Max? I dont really notice a huge difference in how they drive, from a handling perspective, ie the G doesnt make me go wow I cant believe I am driving a FWD car. I just dont feel much difference there. I will need more time with the G to really get a feel for the differences if there really is one. Sometimes I think people build perceptions based off names (FWD, RWD) that dont really exist.
Of course there are plenty of differences that might only apply to track driving (eg oversteer vs understeer) so that probably wouldn't be a factor for most people.
But there is also the issues like the potential for torque steer with more powerful engines and FWD when accelerating hard.
One thing I like better about RWD is the turning radius feels centered right around where you are sitting, which provides a feeling of being more in tune with your vehicle -- it's rotating right around you as you steer. FWD cars are centered more towards the front in that respect.
And another noticeable difference in everyday driving is that when accelerating through a turn, my RWD G has a lovely feeling of seeming to straighten itself out. It's hard to describe, but the rear wheels just push the car right through the turn -- you slow down before you get to the corner, start to turn, and as you then accelerate (not flooring it or anything, but certainly adding some speed) the car adapts perfectly. Versus FWD cars that seem to feel like you have less control when you drive similarly. You need to slow it to make the turn perfectly instead of speeding it.
But like someone said, if these aren't the kind of things you notice or care about, then you're right -- it doesn't make a difference. But I completely disagree that the perception is something that doesn't exist.
First of all, I am a SHE. It is odd how forum members always assume that a poster is male. I have run into that a lot.
Update: I ended up buying the TL. The first time I saw it in person about a year ago, I was not sure what to think about the design. It is very unique and different, but I can honestly say, the car is a beauty. Washing the car the first time was a joy, seeing all the fine details and effort that went into the design.
I have been saying that I will sell my G Coupe for like 2-years now and could not get myself to do it, until I drove the TL. I love the car and de-badged it the first day. Next is huper optik tint and then probably jetseal. I like the ronjon grill, but $800+ is quite a lot. I will probably just paint the beak or just leave it stock.
To address a previous poster, I did not pay $43K. I got the car for under invoice and $18,000 trade-in on my G. That is $6k less than the $43K.
For the poster that said that TL knows it is ugly and is getting a new beak, NOPE, go to the website, they are advertising the new 2011 TL's, no change.
Here are two pics of modified grills. One ronjon, one stock with painted beak followed by pictures of my car.
Scratch the uploaded pics for now, for some reason even though they are all under 100KB they will not upload.
Update: I ended up buying the TL. The first time I saw it in person about a year ago, I was not sure what to think about the design. It is very unique and different, but I can honestly say, the car is a beauty. Washing the car the first time was a joy, seeing all the fine details and effort that went into the design.
I have been saying that I will sell my G Coupe for like 2-years now and could not get myself to do it, until I drove the TL. I love the car and de-badged it the first day. Next is huper optik tint and then probably jetseal. I like the ronjon grill, but $800+ is quite a lot. I will probably just paint the beak or just leave it stock.
To address a previous poster, I did not pay $43K. I got the car for under invoice and $18,000 trade-in on my G. That is $6k less than the $43K.
For the poster that said that TL knows it is ugly and is getting a new beak, NOPE, go to the website, they are advertising the new 2011 TL's, no change.
Here are two pics of modified grills. One ronjon, one stock with painted beak followed by pictures of my car.
Scratch the uploaded pics for now, for some reason even though they are all under 100KB they will not upload.
My bad, the 2012 will get the new beak not the 2011
Future Car Spy Shots of the 2012 Acura TL - Find more spy photos and information at RoadandTrack.com
All the best with the new car
Future Car Spy Shots of the 2012 Acura TL - Find more spy photos and information at RoadandTrack.com
All the best with the new car
Actually, it is getting a new beak. It's also getting a new butt. I've seen pics of both ends and they are updated and much nicer looking than the current car. So I give props to Acura for recognizing the universal hatred of the current design. I believe the updated TL will be out for the 2012 model year...it's already too late for the 2011 models.
, and then everything else's posts had me thinking, oh boy, was I being insensitive not assuming you were gay. hehehe 
You know ignore everyone. You like the TL, it's your car, more power to you. I have to say that I thought the new TL was ugly when it first came out, and as I see it more and more, I have to say it'll never be a beautiful looking car, but I don't think it's ugly anymore.
Ahh, I miss my GS-R

I wouldn't. Audi has nothing anywhere near the price range of the G with the performance of the G. I'll agree that winter tires on a RWD make it awesome, but there are still cases where AWD is nice, and unless I wanted to spring for an S4, the A4 just doesn't have the kind of performance the G has.
Enjoy your new ride!
Good deal on the trade-in. I don't know how they can offer you 18K for a '04 coupe....searched on cars.com- '04 w/ 16k miles asking 19k, w/ 19k miles asking 18.9k and w/ 22.7k asking 18k.
Good deal on the trade-in. I don't know how they can offer you 18K for a '04 coupe....searched on cars.com- '04 w/ 16k miles asking 19k, w/ 19k miles asking 18.9k and w/ 22.7k asking 18k.
Update: I ended up buying the TL. The first time I saw it in person about a year ago, I was not sure what to think about the design. It is very unique and different, but I can honestly say, the car is a beauty. Washing the car the first time was a joy, seeing all the fine details and effort that went into the design.
Also, if you go to Edmunds.com you will learn about dealer holdbacks, usually 2-3% of MSRP added to the invoice and any incentives that dealers have. Currently there is a factory to dealer incentive for 2010 Acura TL's with TECH of $2250. The G37 currently has Marketing support as well of $1000. That pretty much means that you take $1000 off of the invoice -3% of MSRP and that is how much the dealer actually pays for that car. That is probably why I got the car for what I did.
So I got $18,000 trade and the TL almost $1K under Invoice. I think they could have gone a tad lower, but I still think it was a pretty good deal.
Still can't upload the pics.
Also, if you go to Edmunds.com you will learn about dealer holdbacks, usually 2-3% of MSRP added to the invoice and any incentives that dealers have. Currently there is a factory to dealer incentive for 2010 Acura TL's with TECH of $2250. The G37 currently has Marketing support as well of $1000. That pretty much means that you take $1000 off of the invoice -3% of MSRP and that is how much the dealer actually pays for that car. That is probably why I got the car for what I did.
So I got $18,000 trade and the TL almost $1K under Invoice. I think they could have gone a tad lower, but I still think it was a pretty good deal.
So I got $18,000 trade and the TL almost $1K under Invoice. I think they could have gone a tad lower, but I still think it was a pretty good deal.
I traded in my '05 coupe w/ 15k miles w/ premium in Dec. '07. I got only 24K but I got the all new '07 G sedan at invoice.


