New 2009 G37 XS- I miss my lease end 2006 Acura TL

[day03tls]

So I really don't want to sound negative about this car but I have had a Silver 2009 G37 XS for two and a half months. Its decent but definitely over rated. I gave it the traditional soft drive for the first 750 miles for break in. So, I do not baby my cars but I drive them fairly hard. This car makes a lot of noise rather than thrust when the accelerator is floored. This is in AUTO mode.

In fact I actually laugh at how it just winds up....My 06 TL 260HP VTEC would kill this car....I know I will get a mouth full for that comment but I believe that to be true. I had the 2003 Acura TL Type S then the 2006 TL. When they came out with this body in 2009 I about barfed.

So I came over to Infiniti. I am not disappointed but definitely not impressed. Maybe I haven't been able to really test it but I took it over to IOWA and It is rather impressive at 100 MPH- I do like the Seven Speed....

I guess at this point I would pony up and wait to have the cash for a 550i if I could do it again. Just cant justify 60,000 for a car in Chicago.

DAY-

[lucidd]

Welcome to NICO.

I'm very surprised you did not get too many replies to your comments

As regards to your 06 TL blowing the G37xs away - acceleration - numbers wise it probably doesn't. The TL may feel faster with a more torquey acceration "feel" compared to your AWD G37xs... but the G should be faster. Your "feel" may be a result of the AWD factor.

I have the RWD version of the G35s - sedan [2007]... and prev. car was an Audi S4 with the 4.2litre V8 = 340hp and on paper it is faster 0-60 & 1/4mile compared to the G. But suprisingly, the G "feels" faster probably because the RWD on the G makes the acceleration feel more violent.

Anyways, I do agree with the noisey - unrefined feel of the G. I understand it is a trade-off for sporty handling dynamics [which it has] --- but so did my Audi S4... but the Audi was much smoother, less road noise, more forgiving suspension, less vibrations etc....

... a few months ago, i made 2 posts on the G's Infiniti/BOSE studio on wheels sound system being garbage... and they 2 posts became 2-3 pages of replies/comments/debates.http://forums.g35club.org/zero...age=1

<<<if you're interested... this is the latest post.

The wife has the 2009 Acura TSX - sound system: ELS - so much better than my bOse. Ride is much smoother, uses 30-40% less gas, just as sporty handling... ... and in my opinion - LOOKS BETTER .... oh and it is less $$. [yes, slower acceleration... but the TSX V6 is coming next yr].

Acura/Honda makes a great product.In my younger years, I've had the Honda Civic, Acura Integra etc... all great cars for the price.

... L

[lucidd]

PS.

DON'T get me wrong... I still enjoy my G... and still have another 1 yr left on the lease.

I'll be going with something more .... economical next.LIke the Nissan CUBE It'll be a change... but I've had it with expensive cars that do not live up to expectations.... and can't stand paying up to $100/ week for gas ...

L

[lucidd]

Chicago eh-

I go thru the Chicago Airport - going to NY for work all the time...de-icing the plane few times-2hr delays lolAnd with winters like your's AWD or FWD is the only way to go.

Good luck in your winter - snow tires?

[audtatious]

Maybe you are simply used to a car with limited power until high RPM, like the Acura with VTEC, which may feel more powerful? The TL is more comparable to the FWD Nissan Maxima instead of the G37. Performance tests prove it.

[CrackaLackin]

Maybe you are simply used to a car with limited power until high RPM, like the Acura with VTEC, which may feel more powerful? The TL is more comparable to the FWD Nissan Maxima instead of the G37. Performance tests prove it.

i'm so sorry

[LuckyLuke]

LOL

[day03tls]

Thank you Lucidd,

There are good people out there! I love my music and you are correct I can whisper louder than the BOSE stereo at its top end....Have you contemplated any mods to the sound w/out ripping out the factory speakers? Like perhaps an AMP???? Stick it somewhere under the back seat????

DAY

[Poyzinous]

I wanted to reply to this thread shortly after you posted it. But your relentless praise of an inferior product made me sick and I cried myself to a different thread. Seriously though, the jacura isn't as fast as a G by any means.

[joe603]

The only Acura TL I would be interested in is an AWD version...I hate FWD cars; too much torque-steer.

[day03tls]

I agree with that. the TL did have Torque steer....and still was faster...maybe I need to go try a brake torque on this 'G"...I am sure there is some type of restriction on that....I used to do them for blocks on my 79 Trans Am.....burn through a pair of BF Goodrich Radials in no time-

[tollboothwilley]

How many miles do you have on your car now?

Remember that the ECU "learns" your driving style. If you have the engine fully broken in now, You should be able to drive it around hard. A few days of some real hard driving ought to keep the car in fast mode.

I'm surprised you think the TL is as fast as the G37.

[day03tls]

Thank you for the advice . I really hadn't thought of that. I have 2,200 miles. I just started around 1000 to drive it hard....still makes alot of engine noise rather than torque. I just weaved in and out of lanes with a car that is 100% identical to yours from an exterior perspective on the Kennedy Expressway...somewhat surprised we didnt get stopped by the Illinois State Police... All Black. Same year. I will say the "G" seems to have a group of followers that do mods.

There is a local dealer here that does exhaust mods and claim's I can pick up another 25HP

[tollboothwilley]

You could do the STILLEN long tube intake and exhaust and pick up a good 25-30 HP. More if you got a tune.

Those HR engines breathe really well...VVEL is awesome.

[audtatious]

Perceptions can be confusing. A good suggestion would be to re-test another TL or simply take the G to the track. The'07 TL Type-S was 14.3 sec 1/4-mile via a MotorTrend test and I believe a base '06 TL was around 14.5-14.7, slightly faster than my old 2k2 Maxima.

Realize, I'm not knocking the TL, just questioning your perception of what is faster. Maybe it is, but I have not seen it via my seat-time and track time in my stock G37 (granted, I don't have the AWD version).

[day03tls]

Now there is a slam! Nice. Im thick skinned...Its all good...I just blasted up to Whole Foods for a lunch take out and the highway was open as its the middle of the day in the one of the most congested cities....I (once again) did manual on its own and then did paddle shifters on the way back. There is something about pinning the pedal all the way in my TL that feels sooooo much more responsive than this G....The transmission is a little tighter in DS...when I am shifting but not much...I will give credit to Infiniti....unlike the TL in Sequential shifting mode the TL automatically shifts from 1st to 2nd so you dont burn it up>

Infiniti...you must shift up.....from 1st

[Sentientbydesign]

Lots of things to consider:

Softer/looser suspension will make acceleration "feel" more prominent.

The G37 VVEL makes the torque curve very linear. This means that you won't feel Jerk (second derivative of velocity or Change in Acceleration). Our bodies perceive changes in velocity and acceleration more so than constant velocity or acceleration.

The ECU learning might also play a roll. I find that resetting the ECU (especially if the car was previously owned) makes a significant difference.

Chassis flex and softer seats can also play tricks on you.

[day03tls]

Where is the ECU control? I appreciate your comments and they make a great deal of sense...Is it by the Drivers side left knee? I have never touched it as of yet....I leased it new....2009

[tollboothwilley]

I dunno if the HR motor uses the same ECU.

If it does, there is a gas pedal stomp procedure that you can do to reset it. Look in the sticky.

[lucidd]

I too leased my 2007 model - @ 2006 end of year.

So there's a little over a year left on lease.I won't be doing too much to it - aftermarket wise... but I do have a 10" Kicker Sub with ported box in the trunk - which makes the bass decent.BUT I don't necessarily like loud bass only - all mids and highs are important too. So yes, I can replace the tweets and mids... but for a leased car, it's not really worth the trouble.

I'd rather get something better next time.As far as loudness goes, this Infiniti/Bose system is definitely loud enough... but sound quality is not really that great.

Perhaps it's my peference - ... I do enjoy surround sound* [5.1 or higher] more than this system's 2.1 design. I find the TSX -ELS surround gives a better sound image / spatial-ness.Just my opinion.

Your 2009 model has one extra speaker overall in the rear deck vs my 1 speaker in the rear deck [your's has 2]. It may give better sound?

Peace* L

[audtatious]

Now there is a slam! Nice. Im thick skinned...Its all good...I just blasted up to Whole Foods for a lunch take out and the highway was open as its the middle of the day in the one of the most congested cities....I (once again) did manual on its own and then did paddle shifters on the way back. There is something about pinning the pedal all the way in my TL that feels sooooo much more responsive than this G....The transmission is a little tighter in DS...when I am shifting but not much...I will give credit to Infiniti....unlike the TL in Sequential shifting mode the TL automatically shifts from 1st to 2nd so you dont burn it up>

Infiniti...you must shift up.....from 1st

I'm not slamming you in the least.

The VVL technology is referred to as "swell" in that the acceleration builds consistently throughout the RPMs. With the TL you get a boost at higher RPM due to VTEC whereas the G is linear and constant. The TL was pretty "dummy" proof it seems as it would shift for you regardless in case you hit redline whereas the G will bounce off the Rev limiter. Neither will harm the motor but I prefer knowing the G allows me to make the absolute choice in when to shift. DS mode actually puts you in a lower gear than when in D and performs rev-matching to help ensure you are in a better RPM band for cornering or accelerating from a roll.

Again, I'm simply saying you are perceiving the TL to have better acceleration as you feel the "bump" from VTEC whereas the G is constant to redline. From a launch, if you have not turned off VDC I suggest you give it a try.

[Sentientbydesign]

Where is the ECU control? I appreciate your comments and they make a great deal of sense...Is it by the Drivers side left knee? I have never touched it as of yet....I leased it new....2009

Check the FAQ. I BELIEVE that the G35 ECU reset procedure applies to the G37 as well. You can also disconnect the negative battery terminal for 10-15 mins, but this erases the audio settings too.

[joe603]

Check the FAQ. I BELIEVE that the G35 ECU reset procedure applies to the G37 as well. You can also disconnect the negative battery terminal for 10-15 mins, but this erases the audio settings too.

If you do this method, make sure you pump the brake pedal a few times to discharge the ECU capacitors while the battery is unplugged.

Welcome to NICO btw

[day03tls]

Thanks to everyone for their comments...very educational...much appreciated!

[Poyzinous]

The G37 VVEL makes the torque curve very linear. This means that you won't feel Jerk (second derivative of velocity or Change in Acceleration).

I mentioned this somewhere else. The VVEl system and the car tuning are very very linear. Torque is extremely steady from low rpm to redline, something not found in h0nd@ motors that are very peaky and jittery.

The VVEL technology is referred to as "swell" in that the acceleration builds consistently throughout the RPMs.

The swell is more throttle related.

[Joey666Crack]

It's pretty ironic, I just raced a TL on the way home, and then read this.

It was about a quarter mile of straight followed by 2 back to back sweeper style turns. I was ahead by about a car length and a half and the light turned yellow so I started to slow down, and in typical Honda fashion, I got a face full of sweet Japanese fly by.

[thahman]

It's pretty ironic, I just raced a TL on the way home, and then read this.

It was about a quarter mile of straight followed by 2 back to back sweeper style turns. I was ahead by about a car length and a half and the light turned yellow so I started to slow down, and in typical Honda fashion, I got a face full of sweet Japanese fly by.

Hahahaha.

[SVTCOBRA]

Thanks to everyone for their comments...very educational...much appreciated!

Perhaps there are issues with your G.Try test driving a new/used one for comparison. I've driven some G37's and was very impressed!!