I'm looking for some honest opinions here. I currently have a 330xi but will be replacing it with something a little larger. I had pretty much decided on the 545i but then I started looking at the Acura TL on the Acura website after reading some threads on this board concerning the problems with the BMW nav/satellite radio. I realize that the Acura can't compete in terms of performance but for nearly $30,000 less you can get a pretty well equipped car with pretty good perfomance. Putting any blind loyalty to BMW aside, would anyone consider getting the Acura or is the difference so great that it justifies the cost of the bimmer?
BMW vs Acura
- Thread starter dsteinbronn
- Start date
The Acura TL would be among my top favorites when it comes to sedans. It's reliable, great looking, and those 260 ponies aint too shabby. The bottom line is to test drive both cars for yourself and see what fits your budget. Every car will have minor issues during it's first year of production so don't let that deter you from owning what you want.
Another option you might want to consider is the upcoming A6 with an available 340hp engine.
Another option you might want to consider is the upcoming A6 with an available 340hp engine.
have a '04 330ci but also have an older '99 TL ...
I love the TL. For the price and everything that comes with it I think its a def. good buy! Its true that the handling may not be up-to-par with a BMW (TL handling isn't too bad either tho) but if you are looking for a reliable, fully loaded car and money is an issue, get the new TL ... can't beat all the stuff that comes standard with it. Esp. the Nav/high tech stuff.
I love the TL. For the price and everything that comes with it I think its a def. good buy! Its true that the handling may not be up-to-par with a BMW (TL handling isn't too bad either tho) but if you are looking for a reliable, fully loaded car and money is an issue, get the new TL ... can't beat all the stuff that comes standard with it. Esp. the Nav/high tech stuff.
so once you go brauts you can't go back to rice eh?
go take a drive on the TL. not everyone is raving about it. it's hard to argue against saving 30k, but if you can afford to drop 60k+ for a 545 can you really walk away from the ultimate driving sedan, (save for the M) and settle for a torque steering bowl of rice? then again, w/ the money you save, you maybe able to eat a sushi off a nakid chick [80?] when you do the rice delivery program.. oh wait they dun have one..![[hah]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hah.gif "Hah! [hah]")
comparing a 530 to a tl mabye more realistic.. imho
go take a drive on the TL. not everyone is raving about it. it's hard to argue against saving 30k, but if you can afford to drop 60k+ for a 545 can you really walk away from the ultimate driving sedan, (save for the M) and settle for a torque steering bowl of rice? then again, w/ the money you save, you maybe able to eat a sushi off a nakid chick [80?] when you do the rice delivery program.. oh wait they dun have one..
comparing a 530 to a tl mabye more realistic.. imho
![[bigcry]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_bigcry.gif "Big Cry [bigcry]"){kind=icon}
I replaced my E36 325i with a 2004 TL/6MT/Nav. in December of 03.
I came close to buying another BMW, most likely an E39 540i. For me, FWD was a positive feature of the TL. It is my daily driver and we have real winters. Snow tires on a RWD car will get you through, but snows on FWD or AWD are simply amazing. I have the NSX for the times I want RWD.
If cost is an issue, the TL is the better choice. Since you are driving an AWD 3-series, you won't have as much of a transition going to FWD. If you are buying this car to push to the limits on the track and street, you may find the inherent characteristics of FWD to be an issue, but like anything else they can be addressed and in most cases overcome.
Drive the TL, drive the 5 series, make your decision.
www.acura-tl.com is a good source of information, although it may give the wrong impression. Some of the people who buy new 3rd Gen. TLs seem to be a detail oriented sort, so you will find a lot of threads complaining about issues I consider to be relatively minor.
As for the usual anti-ricer statements, grow up folks.
BTW, the TL is made in the USA, so the fact they don't offer a Japanese delivery program is not surprising.
I came close to buying another BMW, most likely an E39 540i. For me, FWD was a positive feature of the TL. It is my daily driver and we have real winters. Snow tires on a RWD car will get you through, but snows on FWD or AWD are simply amazing. I have the NSX for the times I want RWD.
If cost is an issue, the TL is the better choice. Since you are driving an AWD 3-series, you won't have as much of a transition going to FWD. If you are buying this car to push to the limits on the track and street, you may find the inherent characteristics of FWD to be an issue, but like anything else they can be addressed and in most cases overcome.
Drive the TL, drive the 5 series, make your decision.
www.acura-tl.com is a good source of information, although it may give the wrong impression. Some of the people who buy new 3rd Gen. TLs seem to be a detail oriented sort, so you will find a lot of threads complaining about issues I consider to be relatively minor.
As for the usual anti-ricer statements, grow up folks.
BTW, the TL is made in the USA, so the fact they don't offer a Japanese delivery program is not surprising.
The Acura TL would be on the list of my top choices. I thought that it was more than adequate in all areas. And if you think about it, how often do you really get to push a BMW to the limits, not to mention the cost of getting a BMW in the range of the TL HP.
And I know I am going to get trashed for this, but I like the TL OVERALL perfromance better than the 325 or the 525.![[doorpeek]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_doorpeek.gif "Door Peek [doorpeek]")
And I know I am going to get trashed for this, but I like the TL OVERALL perfromance better than the 325 or the 525.
Bryan330i said:
And I know I am going to get trashed for this, but I like the TL OVERALL perfromance better than the 325 or the 525.
The superior steering and chassis characteristics of the 3 and 5 are far overshadowed by the content of the TL. Its straight-line performance is closer to an E39 540i. Again, this is for the everyday. I would probably rather take the RWD cars to a road course, but this is not a primary concern for most people, including me, given the TL's purpose. (Although I would note that an individual in CA did place 2nd in an auto-x event in his TL, against a lot of RWD competition).
To bash the TL for not being the ultimate driving machine is not really fair. That is not what it was designed to be, nor what it holds itself out to be. It is a legitimate alternative to a 3 or 5 for most people, who don't track their cars or drive above 7/10s on the street.
![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]"){kind=icon}
. But everyone has there opinions just don't like Asian cars myself [bmwkick]Well this is a BMW forum so us immature "Rice Basher" types are expected to be found here. I f you are going to ask the opinion of people in a BMW forum whether they would buy Acura (as good as they are....I love Brahtw8's NSX...HOT) or a BMW of course (at least me) is going to say to buy the Bimmer. Anyway...one is an practical everyday driver and the other is a more Luxerious daily driver. It is all what you are looking for...PRACTICALITY or LUXERY and I am quite sure I mis-spelled that both times.
I have driven the new TL, and I like it very much. I bought my 330i zhp 8 months ago. At that time, I didn't consider any other cars because I really want to own a BMW w/ manual transmission.
My dream has been realized. If I need to get a new car now, I would perfer the TL rather than the 330i.
Both are very nice cars with different characteristics. However, the nav., DVD audio, blue tooth, and all other cool features I found on the TL is more attractive to me. It is because I need a car for daily driving rather than daily tracking.
My dream has been realized. If I need to get a new car now, I would perfer the TL rather than the 330i.
Both are very nice cars with different characteristics. However, the nav., DVD audio, blue tooth, and all other cool features I found on the TL is more attractive to me. It is because I need a car for daily driving rather than daily tracking.
![[chair]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_chairshot.gif "Chair Shot [chair]"){kind=icon}
FWD suck!!!!!!!!!You know I am having the exact same dilemna. I am coming off a 325ci lease. And my previous lease was a 99 TL. I test drove the 530i and test drove the TL. (I'm looking at the 530, not the 545 since the 545 is a beast and not in the same class really).
It's a tough call purely because of the price difference. Of course the 5 drives like a dream, but the TL ain't all that bad. And the Japs threw everything but the kitchen sink into the TL.
I would get the 5, but it all depends if its worth it to save that 7-8k over the life of the lease. (And thats for a modestly equipped 5)
It's a tough call purely because of the price difference. Of course the 5 drives like a dream, but the TL ain't all that bad. And the Japs threw everything but the kitchen sink into the TL.
I would get the 5, but it all depends if its worth it to save that 7-8k over the life of the lease. (And thats for a modestly equipped 5)