Guys, I am so confused right now. I haven't placed my order for an Acura yet but now I have just had another car come into my head. The Porsche 911 (not turbo) with C2 Aero package. I like this car but here is my situation. If I went with the Acura TL-S then I could buy immediately, but if I went with the Porsche 911, then I would have to save money for about 9-10 months for a really really big downpayment. What are your thoughts on the two? Help me make up my mind!!!

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

'02 TL-S Soon!

 

Ummmmmm...that one's easy....Maybe the Porsche...Good things come to those who waits...Actually you should wait an additional 6 months and get the turbo one..

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Silver 01' Type-S
Acura loyalty
retired a 2000 TL and a 94' Acura Legend Coupe
Comptech Springs
Comptech axle-back exhaust
Comptech headers
AEM CAI
yellow bumper (fog lights) bulbs
Clear Headlights

 

Silly question...PORSCHE!!! (In any version)

 

It seems as though the logical progression would be from CL-s to Porsche as both of these are coupes. When you ask TL-s vs. Porsche the one question that begs to be answered is do you want/need 4 doors and room to carry people/things? It's really hard to give a definite answer to this question when the two cars seems so opposite of one another. Maybe more info. please.

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Black/black CLS
Comptech headers, springs, swaybars
Koni yellows
PIAA 19169 road lamps
Solaris Hi beams
Potenza RE730 225/45/17
Red AEM CAI
35% mirror tint next

 

Well, considering that your'e comparing a 4 door sedan and a 911, you might want to take a look at sports sedans other than the TL-S. Cars that fall between/near the TL-S and 911 are the M5, 540i, E430, E55, CLK430/CLK55. You should consider these cars since you apparantly want a large car/sedan with lots of sports feel. Coming from an M3, manybe the M5 would be a good buy, and you can save your money up while you wait for it.

Edit: OH, I forgot about the C43. M3 would be nice, but too long wait, the M5 wait is very short compared to M3

[This message has been edited by someguy (edited 03-12-2001).]

 

The reason I asked was because I don't know if I can bring myself to drive my Camry around for 10 months!!!! Thats going to be a very long 10 months. M5 sounds good too, but I really like the exoticness of the Porsche. Also, I want this car to be a daily driver type. I don't care about the mileage or depreciation. 2002 TL-S or 1999 Porsche 911 (non turbo). Prices for the TL-S is going to be around $34,500 for the Navi/spoiler and the Porsche is around $62,000. Thats a damn big difference but I think I can make up the difference in about 10 months. TL-S now or 1999 911 later (meaning a 130 AMAZING!!! horsepower from a camry for 10 months).

Confused...

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

'02 TL-S Soon!

 

Did you consider the regular 5 series/E class? I really like the 530/540. They are cheaper than the 911 and the 540 is practical and fast, but it will be near 60k. A 530i will be near 44k. Mercedes will be more expensive. What happened to the M3, why are you driving the Camry. That 98 M3 should be good for a long time. My dad had and 84' 533 that died in December with 340k miles. Have you tested the IS300, CL-S, C-class, 3series while considering the TL-S. Even though the TL-S is larger than all those, you seem to be comparing many diffent types. Go drive all the cars that you think you may be interested in, and make up your mind based on the car that you are willing to drive/pay for at the given price. BTW, Euro carmakers offer European delivery by which you can save 7% or so. See this if you want a new 911, MB, or BMW. If you negoteate a price and do this you can save a lot of money. Also try out the Boxter if you like convertibles. Good Luck

 

My dad owns a porsche 911. Its dope car!! handels great, preforms better. I love dring that car. The one thing i have to say is that the up keep is extremly expensive. If u go in for a tune up it may run u about 1200 bones, NO JOKE! that is the one down fall of this type of car. But if u r willing to spend cash like that, go for it.

Nick

 

540 is an option, kept that one open. MB, only ones I like are the CLKs and thats a small option, not too interested. Lexus IS300? Hell no! I wouldn't touch a Lexus. I have driven many lexuses and I can tell you they are pimped out Toyota shits. I also own a '99 Camry and I can tell ya that its the same as a damn lexus without the emblems and a few other changes. I wouldn't drive ANY lexus (LS430, ES300, SC430, LX470) for ANY reason. Sick cars! My Camry is my winter/daily car and my M3 is my weekend car. But time for a change, need a new car, need a new look.

As for the upkeep on the Porsche, I didn't know that it was that much. Damn $1200 for a tune-up?!?!?!?! Sh!t, maybe its time to re-think my options. Only thing keeping me away from a third BMW is the fact that I just recently discovered how good of a deal an Acura is vs. a BMW and feel bad on spending $15k-$30K more on a 5 series. Acura it is! TL-S here I come!!! after the test drive that is.

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

'02 TL-S Soon!

 

M3Sins, you definently have good taste in cars. I wouldn't want a lexus, but many love them. But I like the 5 series better than the TL. From your nickname, it seems that you like the blend of luxury/performance and the 5 definentally achieves that blend better than the TL-S, but it is more expensive. The reason I recommended it to you is due to the price of the 911 you were considering it seemed that you could overcome finacial concerns. As a BMW owner, you would like the step up to the 540, which in staight line, depending on manual or auto, can beat out the e36 M3. It also handles well, better than TL-S. But it is more expensive, it is your call on what kind of car you need. The great thing about Acuras and BMWs is that they are great daily drivers, yet offer near the performance of many sports cars. Enjoy whatever you choose...

 

Just for general info, a 540 with a 6-speed tranny and the V8 282bhp engine can't take out the 95-99 M3. Otherwise, I think your right. I think im going to go with the Acura. Its the right car for the right price even though it doesn't have the handling of a BMW. Oh well, can't have the cake and eat it too! =)

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

'02 TL-S Soon!

 

i think acuras are great cars since i own a cls, and by definition i HATE the IS300. but still, i'm not going to belittle,resent or look down on Lexus for that.

I think Lexus manufactures great cars and I would LOVE to own a ls430 or a GS or any model they make(cept is300). I agree though the is300 is a suped up toyota and it should have been branded as a toyota. but thats the exception and the other models in the lexus line are real fine cars.

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2001 cls: silver/black;spoiler;mud guards

future mods : headers;intake;exhaust;springs

 

M3sins,
Glad to hear that you are still going with the Acura. They will give you a better deal with more features and maintance will be 1/4 of what a BMW costs and a lot cheaper than a Porsche.
If you were going to get a Porsche, I would hope that you were going to get a 993 series of the 911. The new 911's may be faster than mine, but they feel like a big pile of crap. It feels so cheap. There is not a thunk when you shut the doors, the carpet is cheaper, the leather is cheaper, and the list goes on. If you still consider the Porsche, please go try a 993 series 911. Try to test drive a 96-97 911 then try the new 996 911. If you really like sports cars the new one is horrible. And they do not even have the famous air cooled engine in them, they are water cooled now! It sounds so horrible.
Any way, hope you can make your mind up. Your best bet for the dollar in the long run is the Acura, since you are going to be driving it every day. You know Acura's have super resale value and they are so easy to get rid of. Do you know how hard it is to get rid of a Porsche or BMW????

rp

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2001 Type S NO Nav
White/Parchment/spoiler
20%metalized tint all around, 50% metalized tint on winshield, built in K40 front/rear radar, 12" Excursion Sub/amp, Comptech filter/headers

2000 Corvette
2000 Silverado
1999 Mercedes Benz SL500
1997 Mercedes Benz S500
1997 Porsche 911 turbo
1996 Accord EX V6

 

RP_Carbiz:

Thanks for the info. I am not too familiar with the Porsche models so I don't know the difference between the 933 or its competition.

As for selling a BMW, I have found it to be very easy. I have sold 2 already and they were gone within days of the ad coming out. Just my 2 cents...

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

'02 TL-S Soon!

 

hey...
I think my Gs4 is better than the 540. It sure as hell ain't crap. It has more power, maintenance record is better, the nakamichi stereo is better (eventhough I will be upgrading to Dynaudio, Velodyne, and Mcintosh). If the 540i 6 speed was the same price as the gs400 i would be driving a 540, but for the 8+ grand difference, I took the gs4 and bought some toys for it.
I used to have the pleasure of driving an m3 for almost 6 months...as with most German cars: drive greats, but interior lux features cant compare to acura or Lexus. many of the gs4 owners on the Lexus forum (www.clublexus.com) were m3/328 owners before the current Gs model came out. Sure the suspension is a bit soft, but for about $750 the l-tuned suspension make a great improvement(my next upgrade)
Plus nothing holds resale like a Lexus...ok Ferrari has me beat :-(

About the 911... routine maintenance is very expensive...similar to the m3 but it seems little things need adjusting and replacing much more often...remember with a Porsche you are not buying a lux car...you are buying a race car...I have a friend that worked as a salesman at don mcgill in houston...he said the biggest complaint of new Porsche owners were:
hey it too noisy,
damn why does the first tune up ( 3000 miles) cost $1200.
my Lexus or Acura Legend doesn't have those squeaks...

his reply:
if you wanted a lux car go to the Lexus dealership across the freeway...if you wanted a race car well that what we sell and only what we sell. Porsche never has problem finding someone to buy a car. the wait on a 911 c4 is 6 months, 911tt 23 months!

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Gs400-TRd
Gs400 /jade /nakamichi /HID /HIDFogs /17" /Borla Kevlar Exhaust /TRd CAI

 

Hey the IS300 is a great car. Im now considering buying a manual IS300 when it comes out instead of the TL-S. The CL-S' interior is very conservative. It felt incomplete, and oh yeah my wife liked the IS300 better than the CL-S, but the TL might feel different. She is nagging me to just put a order on a IS, but I said just wait until the TL comes out. I hope she can hold out for a couple years. I want the IS300 instead of any Acura you always get more looks in Lexi's than Acura's. Like me every day I get looks at my GS430 I get honks, thumbs up etc. Its great. When people see Acura most think of rice because of the Integra (damn rice boys). Therefore I think the IS300 is a better overall car than the CL

My 2
Late

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1.2001 GS430 HKS exhaust, TRD headers, 19in Konings, H&R springs.
2.2001 Corvette Z06 Doug Thorley headers, Borla cat back exhaust, 18in Team Loco's, Eibach Springs, Koni adj. shocks.
3.1998 328i (for now), 18in. Fittipaldi's.
4.soon maybe a TL-S

 

What about Porshe Boxter S.

It seems a lot of fun, not that pricey. However, as mentioned it is not a lux-cruiser. It is lot noiser than any CL-S/TL-S. One of the beauty of CL-S is that when you are cruising on the HW 65-80 your barely hear the road noise.

If You can afford a Porshe, I would suggest looking at MB E55. Very sweet ride. Can plug more?, go for the AMG CLK 55

I am sure that I will feel the difference when I install my CAI

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Black, Ebony, 3.2 CL Type-S.
- Acura NAV.
- 3M clear bra (full front bumper, and side mirros)
- Wheels locks
- Mooonroof visor
- Splash guards
- Winter mats
- Trunk liner
- Acura Spoiler
- Valentine V1 Radar Locator
- HELMS Service Manual
- PIAA 19169 road lamps
- 03/19/01: Injen Polished CAI

 

IMHO:
Lexus = Mercedes-Benz-wanna-be
My friend has an IS300. I would never buy that car...
Its all about the people. Everyone has their personal opinion about things in life and they will argue with you until you drop dead on the floor.



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'01 CL type-S.
Stats on all-stock with 1/2 tank:
0-60 in 5.85
Why drink and drive, when you can smoke and fly?

 

I've had my '02 TL Type S three days now, and all I gotta say to my long gone '94 that I sold to carmax: "Yeesh... i didn't know how boring you WERE!"

I'll give lexus their reliability and their cheery, family oriented service department. But c'mon, Acura does a FAR better job of distinguishing the Acura lineup from the Honda lineup. I live in a wealthy suburb of Chicago, and most cars on the road here are E-class Mercedes, or GS, ES, or LS mercedes. What a bunch of arrogant snots -- they buy the car strictly for the names -- not the performance (minus the GS430). The TL-S whomps the ES, IS, and GS300 (props to the $60K GS430, $70+K LS (now with the revisions) and the soon to come SC (love the commercial) -- but I guess another $30K will get you a couple more ticks off your 0 to 60)

The TL-S doesn't handle as well as the IS -- and it makes sense -- the TL-S is longer than my E320 4-matic by six inches! The IS is a much shorter chassis and wheelbase (am I wrong?) I paid $34K out the door, and got $7K for the ES300 ('94 w/ 108K miles and over $3000 in strut/axle damage that carmax didn't know about .. whoops!) Not a bad deal.

Cruisin' at 65mph, I've dropped down to 2nd gear and ROMPED some BMW 3-series and several domestics. Ugh -- as soon as I slap some Potenza RE930's on this bad boy, we're in for a better ride...

Just my humble opinion.

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2002 TL Type S
White Diamond Pearl
No Mods

 

M3Sins:
I would go test drive or just sit in a GS Lexus. They do not have enough room at all round the dash. They are way to tight for space to be such a big car. Also, if you do not get the GS 400 or 430 you will hate the 300. It is not enough engine at all for the car. The 993 911 is the last body style, they are the best true Porshce. As for you selling your car, I am glad you have had the luck. More people live up there and their is a much larger maket up there. I am having the hardest time trying to sell my Mercedes down here. And it has never even been in the rain!

If you have any other thoughts on cars just drop and email. I have driven every car they make. Can help you get some feedback if you need it.

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2001 Type S NO Nav
White/Parchment/spoiler
20%metalized tint all around, 50% metalized tint on winshield, built in K40 front/rear radar, 12" Excursion Sub/amp, Comptech filter/headers

2000 Corvette
2000 Silverado
1999 Mercedes Benz SL500
1997 Mercedes Benz S500
1997 Porsche 911 turbo
1996 Accord EX V6