I'm a pretty die hard manual fan, and current owner of the 4g TL 6MT; but, just for grins, I test drove a V6 Advanced TLX. I wanted to try the DCT i4, but they didn't have one at the time.
I have to say the TLX is a step-up in refinement from my 2010, mostly from the quieter interior (not with use of materials, which seems about equal). The Advanced tech provided interesting novelty, but certainly not something I can't live without. Part of the test drive was on a road that didn't have any painted lines, and the steering wheel tug (for no apparent reason) from the LCAS was a little disconcerting - I first thought something was wrong with the steering, or it was doing some major tramlining. Auto-dim side view mirrors and auto up/down on all four side windows finally brings it in line with the 2007 BMW 335i standard features I had leased and have missed on my 2010 TL. The paddle shifted 9AT still has that short delay between flicking the paddle and transmission response, which is unacceptable if I want to resort to a paddle shifted AT to replace an MT. The DCT may respond more quickly, but that with the 4 cyl would also be too much of a compromise coming from a 305hp V6 6MT.
Conclusion: I'm still holding out for an under $50K well-equipped, roomy sports sedan with MT that's NOT a BMW. I am sufficiently satisfied with my paid-off 2010 TL to wait until '16 or '17. Mid cycle Type S 6MT, if it is going to ever exist, should be out by then, or at least announced to be coming out. I know the Chevy SS sedan is supposed to get a 6MT next year (exact drive train config I would have bought in the 2010 Pontiac G8 GXP if they hadn't killed Pontiac the same year my BMW lease ran out); but, now that I know GM has direct injected V8 getting high 20s (near 30 mpg) in the C7 'vette, I'm waiting for next generation SS built on the Caddy ATS/CTS architecture and hoping for the LT1 7MT. If none of my sedan MT dreams comes to fruition, I may wind up another one those guys bragging about how I got 300,000 miles out of my 20-year old Honda clutch. ...and maybe I'll find out how many miles the SH-AWD clutch packs will last.
So, any other MT fans out there who have considered a TLX?
I have to say the TLX is a step-up in refinement from my 2010, mostly from the quieter interior (not with use of materials, which seems about equal). The Advanced tech provided interesting novelty, but certainly not something I can't live without. Part of the test drive was on a road that didn't have any painted lines, and the steering wheel tug (for no apparent reason) from the LCAS was a little disconcerting - I first thought something was wrong with the steering, or it was doing some major tramlining. Auto-dim side view mirrors and auto up/down on all four side windows finally brings it in line with the 2007 BMW 335i standard features I had leased and have missed on my 2010 TL. The paddle shifted 9AT still has that short delay between flicking the paddle and transmission response, which is unacceptable if I want to resort to a paddle shifted AT to replace an MT. The DCT may respond more quickly, but that with the 4 cyl would also be too much of a compromise coming from a 305hp V6 6MT.
Conclusion: I'm still holding out for an under $50K well-equipped, roomy sports sedan with MT that's NOT a BMW. I am sufficiently satisfied with my paid-off 2010 TL to wait until '16 or '17. Mid cycle Type S 6MT, if it is going to ever exist, should be out by then, or at least announced to be coming out. I know the Chevy SS sedan is supposed to get a 6MT next year (exact drive train config I would have bought in the 2010 Pontiac G8 GXP if they hadn't killed Pontiac the same year my BMW lease ran out); but, now that I know GM has direct injected V8 getting high 20s (near 30 mpg) in the C7 'vette, I'm waiting for next generation SS built on the Caddy ATS/CTS architecture and hoping for the LT1 7MT. If none of my sedan MT dreams comes to fruition, I may wind up another one those guys bragging about how I got 300,000 miles out of my 20-year old Honda clutch. ...and maybe I'll find out how many miles the SH-AWD clutch packs will last.
So, any other MT fans out there who have considered a TLX?