I have an '04 TL, took delivery on Oct 21, '04. It's a great car, and I do like the 6-speed. Very low torque, however at low revs, so you've got to gently feather in the clutch when moving from a dead stop. (You can easily stall out until you've got it right). Otherwise:
3rd gear is a blast! You're going like 30 and you punch it and watch what happens. VSA (Vehicle stability assist) makes torque steer disappear.
4th gear is great fun, too. You'll discover tremendous power above 3500 RPMs.
Downshift from 6th to 5th and pass with assurity. You've got someone in front of you on a two-lane highway doing a dead 55. Quickly shift down from 6 to 5, press the accelerator and you'll pass them in like four seconds, tops and be back in your lane!. For many cars, it can be more like seven or eight seconds. Scary for those who take too long, but not in your TL!
Stereo, driver seat comfort, navigation system, all excellent. Front passenger seat could use movement in more than just forward/back and seat back tilt. Heater for passenger is ONLY on the seat bottom, not the seat back. On cold winter days, the ladies do like a totally warm seat.
Ride: super quiet, amazingly so. 70 mph is quietly gliding down road. Yes, in some cars a slight vibration is heard at 62 mph. Most don't hear it, I do, and it is not really intrusive. Low music on the stereo and it's gone.
I am now hearing my front door gaskets squeak a bit on bumpy roads. Sounds like a little silicon will probably fix that, but I am concerned about body stability. Door gaskets should never make any noise in a $35,000 car. I will see the dealer about this.
Summer A/C and climate control work really well. The interior cools quickly and the system has good "balance" (no unevenly cooled areas nor overheated zones inside). The automatic climate control works wonderfully. (I rented an upscale Fiat once in Europe: the climate control was TERRIBLE. The system never got things right in that Fiat.)
Take a test drive, I think you'll like it. My BMW driver friends were impressed. The TL isn't a BMW and doesn't ride like one. It's a cross between BMW sportiness and Lexus comfort, but still has quite the sporty feel. There is a blind spot in the '05-'05 TL, so keep that in mind. Older drivers who cannot turn their heads before a lane change--beware! Two friends of mine who swear by their Audi 4 (one has 4S) were also impressed...they felt the TL had a solid, heavy feel, relatively nimble, and authoritative. Not as nimble as theirs, and remember Audis with Quattro (AWD) do have an advantage in rain and snow. They agreed the TL's ride was a touch more luxurious, especially on "noisy" roads with rough surfaces, where they agreed their Audis were "jiggly".
Is this enough for you?