[eugeneDC/TX]

type s or not...

a friend of mine is dead set on getting it, but know nothing about the car past the horsepower.... (he's not into cars mechanically, just wants a nice car that goes fast)

 

[Dan]

My uncle has a 3.2 TL, bought new, now has 80,000 miles on it. He says it is by far the best car he has ever owned, and he has owned more than 30 cars in his driving career. I drove it when he first bought it - very fast, very comfortable, will cruise at illegal speeds all day in comfort, every option is standard except the nav. system, steering is nicely weighted, it has a steptronic - type transmission that is easy and fun to shift, brakes are ok, handling is tuned for a sporty feel - but it is front wheel drive, so it understeers. The only problem he's had are warped brake rotors and a transmission seal leak - both fixed under warranty. He likes the Acura so much that he is going to keep it, and he has never kept a car over 2 years. I think the 3.2 TL is a great value, probably for 90% of the target market, it is perfect. However, it is no BMW.

 

[LJS330i]

It's ok, but.....

My issues with the TL S:

1) Front wheel drive. With all that horsepower to the front wheels the car feels strange when you punch it.

2) Styling: One word... BORING

3) Transmission: Auto Only :thumbdwn:

Just my opinion though.

LJS330i

 

[jw]

Absolutely no comparison in the ride and handling between the two cars. Acura handles like a typical Honda (like crap) and the BMW handles like... well.. we all know how much fun it is!

I gave serious consideration to the TL-S and was ready to buy before discovering the BMW. Very happy I went with the bimmer.

The Acura TL is an entry level near luxury car that is nothing more than a juiced up Honda. This is reflected in the price.

 

[hts]

Personally, I think it probably fits your friend's bill just fine--a nice car that goes fast. If he doesn't care about having a FWD slushbox, then why not? I loved my GS-R, and it was FWD.

I for one think that the TL (especially the S variant) is a very fine car and an excellent value.

 

[pod13]

I drove the TL Type S the same day I drove the BMW. It was an OK car for a FWD. One of my biggest complaints was the slushbox. It seemed to have a hard time finding the right gear under acceleration.

On paper it looks like a BMW for almost ten grand less, but as soon as you drive the BMW you know where that extra cash has gone. That was my impression.

 

[jw]

Oh yeah.. other things I forgot to mention about the TL.

I couldn't stand the color combinations. Nothing that really stood out as a color I wanted. Also, I couldn't get the interior color once I settled on exterior color. Lastly, the fake black wood trim is pure poop.

If you've only got ~30k to spend on a sedan, I could understand going for the TL.

 

[ashecnc]

your right...its no BMW...the interior is quiet, amazing...

 

[ayn]

(he's not into cars mechanically, just wants a nice car that goes fast)

definitely get the TL, I don't think he would appreciate a BMW and therefore should not buy one. The reliability issues of a BMW would probably piss him off quite a bit. (even YOU were a little anonyed by the number of aux fans u had)... =) Accura's the way to go, at least for him.

 

[eugeneDC/TX]

Re: Re: what's everyone/anyone think of acura tl

(even YOU were a little anonyed by the number of aux fans u had)...

come on, i had reason to be annoyed 4 fan failures within 4 months of owning the car.... hahaha... all over with now... my friend actually loves bmw (not for handling or anything, just the name) but he refuses to consider one because (a) i have one (b) he cant get the 330 or m3.... he's a funny cat. i cant imagine spending 30k on anything and not know everything about it.... granted his parents are buying it for him so maybe it's not a big deal to him.... haha...

 

[ayn]

Re: Re: Re: what's everyone/anyone think of acura tl

my friend actually loves bmw (not for handling or anything, just the name

oh no, not another one of those... like a friend of my girlfriend is going to get a 325Ci, she knows absolutely nothing about cars, let alone BMWs. She's buying one because a) she likes how it looks, and b) she likes the brand. nothing wrong with that, but i'm just trying to get her to a) get the sport package, and b) get a manual. and seems like she is not getting the SP and getting a steptronic... ahhhh...

after she gets her car, i'll prolly have to make sure her breakin is done properly, and force her to change her oil after breakin and then at 7500 miles... i just can't help myself... =)

--Andrew

 

[eugeneDC/TX]

ha, my friend refuses to learn stick

i dunno... this is a kid who got a brand spankin' new prelude his senior year in HS, got it taken away cuz he did HORRIBLE in school, ended up in a relatively new (6months old from his mom) accord sedan. he hates the accord and treats is like absolute crap and is soon to get the tl.... whatevs

as for your gf's friend.... haha convince her to get the SP, and good for you to make her change oil. haha. i just got my free change two weeks ago... car's running nice. oh, won't be able to make the driving school after all.... schedule and lack of funding.

another one of my friend wants to get a bmw too. he is tired of his civic and wants something that looks more "professional" and he is in love with the fender flares... :thumb:

andrew - looking through your pic album admiring your m3 wheel and v1, and i noticed you had stock side mirrors... for some reason i thought you went to m3/sport-esque mirrors... oh well, i need me a v1, m3 wheel, and rear clears still... haha maybe i'll be lucky for my bday and get one of the three...

 

[AF]

What is with the BMW is the greatest car attitude ? ?

I love my Bimmer but as a car enthusiat I appreciate other cars as well. When Acura came out with the TL, there main goal was to offer the best all around entry level luxury car and they did an incredible job at it. No where did they say they were competing against the 3 series.

Our competitors are: A4, C320, IS300, Jag X-type (at least they'd like to think it was)

The TL's competitors are: ES300, I35 or someone looking to upgrade from a Maxima, Camry or Accord


Also, what is this that they are nothing more then a juiced up Honda . . . is that a bad thing ? ?

He last time I looked Honda makes excellent cars. They give you an excellent balalnce of handling, power and reliability with a little fun added in.

Be a little opened minded guys

 

[bmw325]

You've also got to respect the fact that the Acura TL was rated #2 in initial quality right behind the LS430 on the JD Power survey. Granted, the bimmers weren't too far behind (surprise), but the Acura is another league as far as reliability.

Acura is getting there slowly but surely-- they've recently introduced a 6 speed manual. Now, all they need to do is take the wonderful RWD chassis of the S2000, graft a sport sedan body onto it, and make that the next TL. If they do that, and style it just a little better than the IS-- i'll be there very fast.

 

[ashecnc]

What is with the BMW is the greatest car attitude ? ?

I love my Bimmer but as a car enthusiat I appreciate other cars as well. When Acura came out with the TL, there main goal was to offer the best all around entry level luxury car and they did an incredible job at it. No where did they say they were competing against the 3 series.

Our competitors are: A4, C320, IS300, Jag X-type (at least they'd like to think it was)

The TL's competitors are: ES300, I35 or someone looking to upgrade from a Maxima, Camry or Accord

Also, what is this that they are nothing more then a juiced up Honda . . . is that a bad thing ? ?

He last time I looked Honda makes excellent cars. They give you an excellent balalnce of handling, power and reliability with a little fun added in.

Be a little opened minded guys

As you know, I agree 100%, thats an endless battle, I know how the acura/honda's are, and thats all that matters to me :angel:

 

[eugeneDC/TX]

hey hey, let's slow this down a bit

i'm not hating on japanese cars. in fact, in my family we still have the 91 mazda protege that i drove prior to the bimmer. i love that car to this day. and japanese cars are excellent build quality and all that good stuff. i was in no way knocking the acura, i just wanted to know what people here thought of it. i'm trying to do research about it (asking here and other boards) to give my friend the full picture before his parents plunk down 30k on the car. and i was just relating my friend's story to tell it. he doesnt hate the accord cuz it's a honda, he hates it because it's not "a nice car" in his estimation. at any rate, in no way do i claim superiority of bmw over honda or anything like that. both have they redeeming qualities. (granted i'm obviously biased toward bmw :thumb at any rate, my only complaint about honda/acura is the body styling. i love the lines of the bmw....

 

[AF]

Re: hey hey, let's slow this down a bit

i'm not hating on japanese cars. in fact, in my family we still have the 91 mazda protege that i drove prior to the bimmer. i love that car to this day. and japanese cars are excellent build quality and all that good stuff. i was in no way knocking the acura,

Don't worry Eugene, your original message came off 100% correctly. I got the impression that all you were looking for was information on the TL. There was nothing negative in your message

I was referring to other people that were knocking the Acura because they gave there opinion's that the Bimmer's are the best and the TL is nothing compared to it.

As you can see from my previous message, I couldn't disagree more with that attitude.

 

[AF]

As you know, I agree 100%, thats an endless battle, I know how the acura/honda's are, and thats all that matters to me :angel:

You & I agree ? ? I got a question for you . . . what don't we agree on bro
:thumb: :thumb:

 

[ed325i]

The TL, especially the TL-S, is a great car, and an excellent bargain. The only negative that I can think of is in handling. The thing just doesn't turn very well, when compared to an E46, C class, or an A4. Still, you can't beat Acura / Honda for reliablity! If only Acura would stick the LSD and manual tranny from then new CL-S 6 speed into the TL-S! Oh, their Bose stereo sounds better than our HK.

Ed

 

[jw]

Re: Re: hey hey, let's slow this down a bit

Don't worry Eugene, your original message came off 100% correctly. I got the impression that all you were looking for was information on the TL. There was nothing negative in your message

I was referring to other people that were knocking the Acura because they gave there opinion's that the Bimmer's are the best and the TL is nothing compared to it.

The opinion was asked for and I gave it. Just so happened that when I looked at the TL it was in comparison with the BMW. Did I knock the fact that it's a juiced up Honda? No. Just stated the facts. It is reflected in it's price because most of the parts come out of the Honda bin. There's nothing wrong with Japanese cars, or FWD cars, or slushboxes. It's all a matter of personal opinion. Which, again, was asked for in the first place. Sorry if you don't agree with me. :dunno: