Acura TL

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DCLonghorn

1,000+ Posts
I am thinking of buying an Acura TL and I wanted to know if anyone had one and how they like it? I'm also looking at the Audi A4 3.0, BMW 330i coupe, and the Infiniti G35. I'm very hesitant about the BMW because it seems as though their quality has been slipping the past 5-10 years. Thoughts?
 
i have a TSX - it's the greatest car I've ever driven. Please beware of the Audi - my 98 audi was a piece of crap and cost an arm and a leg to have anything fixed. Plus, if you are in Austin, the service at the Audi dealership here is absolutely horrid. They've had so many complaints that they finally switched ownership.
Anyway, Acuras are excellent cars, extremely reliable, and fun to drive, all at an excellent price.
 
Mr. Lostman bought a TL-S last year - very happy with it! Never lets me drive it at all, though,
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except to pull it in the driveway. So then I have to go all the way around the cul-de-sac to do that!
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But we have been very happy with it. Really nice on the drive from Houston to Austin. I think Acura is kind of like a "best kept secret" compared to the others.
 
I had a 2001 TL up until this year when I bought the MDX and I loved it. I didn't really like the body style of the new TL as it was more compact like the BMW 3's. I liked a bigger car. Having said that, if you like the body style, this is a great, great car. I NEVER had a single problem with my TL and I drove it for almost 90,000 miles. BMW 3 series owners can't say the same.
 
I have an RSX and love it. Acura's are great cars, and a little less mainstream, which appeals to me. If I was shopping in that size I would get the TL or Audi since everyone and their dog has an Infiniti or BMW.
 
I have a friend who just traded-in his BMW 325xi for the Acura TL and he was telling of the difference between the two and he also noted that the front wheel drive took some getting use to but the difference between horsepower is what he noticed the most. The Acura has 270 horsepower and the BMW has 200 or 210, I forget. It'll probably come down to who offers me the better deal because you cannot go wrong with either automobile.
 
I would encourage you to drive both. There is a pretty big difference in the 180 hp 325 and the 225 hp in the 330. When you factor in the torque conversion on the BMW getting their power to pavement in an incredibly efficient manner it more that offsets any horsepower advantage the Acura has due to it's torque steer. Again the Acura is a fine car and you wouldn't go wrong with it, but they drive very differently. I wouldn't even say they are the same category of car especially if you are looking at the 330 coupe. Good luck. You'll enjoy whatever you get.
 
My 1997 BMW 528 has 130k miles and is still going strong. I'm going to keep it until about 200k miles.

That said, the Acura is a very good car and a great value. Stay away from Audi. The G35 is powerful, but the interior is cheap looking.

Mike
 
2 tenths of a second quicker from a car with 50 more hp? I'd say stand by my saying the BMW gets it's power to pavement better than the front wheel drive car. I'll bet you that if you put the perfromance package on the 330 to up the HP to 235 it will beat the TL 0-60L. That would be a car with 40 fewer horses. Yep 330i Performance package 0-60 5.9 with 235 hp and 222lb/ft of torque.
 
You and your wife are the exception, Texas007. My 3 crapped out and had problems out the wazoo by the 3rd year, prior to reaching 30k miles. I didn't even drive it all that much and when I did, it was highway driving. Every light came on and the drive became so shaky I had to trade it in. When I asked other 3 (and other BMW car) owners about the problems, they agreed and soon none of us drove a BMW. Not to mention, the service staff at both BMW dealerships I ventured to were complete douches. At one point when my mother complained about damage caused during a service, the service rep. decided to storm off and cry in his office. We drove off and did not pay. However, the service did not fix my problem and I had to pay a German auto guy to do it.

Thus far with my Lexus GS300, I have been absolutely pleased with how much better the overall driving experience has been.
 
Actually, the BMW that I am looking at is the BMW 330Ci Coupe. I completely left on out, what about the Cadillac CTS?
 
How can you argue if you want a performance car with a small engine you'd want front wheel drive when I just proved to you that the rear wheel drive gets power to the weels more efficiently. Performance car with small engine is better w/ front wheel drive? Then why doesn't Porsche make FWD cars? They have a small engine in a perfromace car.
 
BMW 330i Performance package 0-60 5.9 with 235 hp and 222lb/ft of torque vs 270 HP 0-60 in 6.2. I didn't prove that the one with less horsepower and torque that is rear wheel drive is better at getting power to the wheels? Ignore the factual data if you want, but you are proven wrong on this. I didn't find the super duper BMW either - that would be an M3. Just explain to me how a car with more HP and Torque cannot beat a car with less HP in 0-60. Because you lose power with torque steer. Doesn't make it a bad car, but there is a reason Infiniti is now making their G35 as a rear wheel drive and every other luxury car maker makes their cars RWD, and it is not because FWD is better from a performance standpoint. The link to my 330 i 0-60 number is atThe Link

Further you cannot make the statement that the BMW is over priced either. Why? Becasue the market dictates the price. IF they were over priced they would not be getting near sticker for their cars. A car is over priced when you go to the dealer and get 3-5 k off the price. Market says BMW is priced where it should be.

Further I still say the Acura is a cery damn fine car. My point never was that one was "better" or anything of the sort. My only point was that they drive differently. Very differently and depending on what you what out of you drive(price, etc no being a factor) you should drive both. As for worries of reliability again it has not been an issue with the 4 cars that I have owned.
 
You are comparing apples to oranges. The 330i is not a comparable car to the TL - the 325 or 330 is. If you look at the whole package - price, speed, handling and gas mileage - the TL is a better buy. Plus, Acura's are known for retaining their value. BMW's are as well, but not of late.
 
The 3 series has made the C&D 10 best list 14 years in a row. No other car in history has done that. Probably wouldn't happen if the car was not a quality product.

BTW If you earlier wanted data. Kelly Blue book has some resale data that might interest you. I selected the base models for the new car and put the same equipment on the 3 year old models.

BMW 330 New 35,895 2001 model w/36k miles Ret Val = 29,375
Acura Tl New 33,195 2001 model w/36k miles Ret Val = 21,375

It cost you $6,520 to drive the BMW for 3 years and 36k miles
It costs you $11,820 to drive the Acura 3 years and 36 k miles. Which one holds value better?
 
Yes, but it will also cost you $500 every 4 months to get the car "maintained". You're also comparing data that they have no real basis for. These are both new cars (at least as far as model styles go). You can't get accurate projected data until a car a hs been out for 1-2 years. The new TL is a huge leap in style and quality from the the previous version. It's hard guage depreciation on new models/body styles.

Whatever, buy what the hell you want to buy. You buy your overpriced BMW and I'll buy my reasonable Acura and we'll both be happy - only I'll have $10k to spend elsewhere.
 
Maintence is free for 3 years.
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Again I really do like the Acura and think you have a fantastic car. Just don't like people who haven't owned or own a car stating things about them without experiencing it themselves. Someone said maintenance and reliability are a problem, but quality ratings and my ownership has not seen that at all. I know for sure you won't have much trouble with the Acura. Again both great cars and that is that.
 
An ex-roommate of mine bought a 318i a few years back and had nothing but complaints about it. That is my only experience with them. I formulate opinions based on first-hand (or near first-hand) experience. I've known people who have owned BMW's and think they're great. If I were going to buy german, it would be either Audi or Mercedes because I think their design is better (speaking only from and aesthetic standpoint).

I'm biased when it comes to Acura. Like I said earlier, there are two in my household and they are both fantastic cars. i guess coming from a 68 Mustang to that would spoil anyone (in case you were wondering, that's where the "68" in my username came from).

BMW is trying to step up and compete with Mercedes, but I think they're ruining their cars in the process. There are very few BMW's that I don't find cartoon-ish in their design anymore.
 
I think I now kow the problem. THe 318 may well have been the worst car they ever made. They only sold it here a couple of years and it was 1993-1995 or 1996. That was right when they made the new model change from the square style of the 80's. That 1.8 litre 4 banger was frankly a horrible engine and I think those were saddled with electrical problems as well. For whatever reason the 325 from that era was not saddled with the same problems - at least the one we had was not. I have heard many 318 owners complain about the car.
 
I have an 03' TL type S and it's a great car but drives like a piece of ****; tranny went out the first month I had it;

its well known, at least with people I know that are familiar with acuras and other acura owners, that the 00-03 TL's have had major transmission problems; ive been on auto message boards and spoke to friends who have had similar problems, but the problems aren't severe enough to warrant the ghetto "Texas lemon law"; I still have problems with mine even with a new tranny; seems to slip in the low gears and even sometimes on the highway; very frustrating and I will never buy an acura again. but I dont know enough about the 04's to make a logical comment.

you should get an M5 or look at something in the 7 series.
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I have a black 04 TL with navigation and I absolutely love it. For the price, I think it is a great bargain. It comes standard with every thing except navigation. The navigation system is amazing and best in the industry. The stereo which includes XM radio is great for a stock system. I love the interior and though it was superior to other cars in this class. The drive on the highway and in normal driving buttery smooth. In VERY aggressive driving front wheel drive does cause some torque steer. If you really plan on doing alot of aggressive driving, the 3 series or G35 would be a better choice. I rarely drive that aggresively and I feel for my daily driving the TL is by far the best car in this class. I also loved the G35, but hated the interior. I thought the 3 series was way overpriced and much too small for my needs.
 
The Bimmer will be in the shop long before the Acura. You simply cannot go wrong with the TL. It's one bad f-ing machine.
 
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