"In this corner"..

2001 BMW 330i, sports package,new tires, new brakes - all 4 wheels. Step-tronic transmission,Tinted windows, sun roof, Harmon Kardon stereo, auto wipers, lip spoiler, and m-package, wheels, steering wheel ect..has black leather and dual electric seats. The car has 61,200 miles. The car has been garage kept and is in perfect condition. Price - 18,900


"In this corner"...

2003 Acura TL-S (CPO til 2010 or 100,000 miles). Miles 47,000. Price 18,900. All standard options.

which would you choose?

 

if you don't live in the snowbelt then take the beamer. you'll get more girls with it than the tl. dunno what kind of aftermarket choices there are for it though if you want more power.

SSTS

 

Now there's a good reason to pick one car over another.

 

Well...picking up chicks isn't a primary (or secondary) option. Married with 3 kids. I plan on doing absolutely NO aftermarket upgrades to either car if purchased. Plus, I live in the south.
Thanks for the response though.

I should add thought that Im looking for something that can be easily (ie..cheaply maintained), that I can drive for a LONG LONG time...

More opinions please :-)

 

If you have enough money for maintenance costs get the BMW

 

i think you'd be able to fit 3 kids a lot more comfortably in the back seat of the tl than the bmw.. Friend of mine has an 02 325xi not that much room in the back, especially if the driver is tall.

 

LOL....the kids will be riding in the....oh man I hate to say it..."mini-van"...

This car...(TL or 330i) will be just for me...

 

+1 for BMW

 

You just answered your own question.

Without a shadow of a doubt, get the TL.

If I were you I would also look at a pre-owned Honda Accord.

 

if the man needs a tiebreaker i'll give him one if i was in my 30s and single it would probably be my choice of car (the bmw that is).

i would *personally* take the acura though. i've driven 325s a few times and i enjoy my TL-S more. and as mentioned, less maintenance, looks better, more aftermarket options, better power, more kid friendly, available navigation, the list goes on and on

SSTS

 

TL

bmw maintenance = no college fund

 

I'd take the BMW if you aren't going to mod anything. It would be a different story if you were modding. I think BMW's prior to 2004-5 are worthless to mod. The TL becomes such a beautiful car when a lip kit, wheels, suspension, etc are added.

So my vote for your scenario = BMW.

 

If you can afford the maintenance, then go for the BMW.

 

X2

 

well crap... the TL-S has been sold...My next choice against the BMW is a

2003 TL-S mileage - 48,900. CPO. Price - 20,900.

NOW WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

 

Decide with the seat of your pants. Take them both for a drive down a twisty road and see which car makes you smile more. (TLS cost of ownership is apt to be lower.)

 

this is the exact descision i had to make. TL or 3 SERIES. once i sat in both i chose the TL. i felt cramped in the bmw and it felt like i was in a girls car. plus u said it urself that u want a low maintenance car (cheap to maintain) wich is what the TL is.

 

If you want something that can be easily maintained, your best bet is the TL-S. Beemers are EXPENSIVE to maintain. My brother and I have spent so much getting our 325IS repaired it is driving us nuts. Beemers are a nice cars, but they just cost too damn much to repair/maintain over time. TL-S is the way to go, and they are much roomier and more comfotable imo.

 

"Married with 3 kids. I plan on doing absolutely NO aftermarket upgrades to either car if purchased."

With this choice, hands down the TLS, you will need room in the back seat and the BMW's rear seats are way too small.
Also, normal maintenance is more expensive not to mention insurance and an unscheduled repair.
Finally, the TLS will smoke that BMW, I know
Good luck on your choice.

 

Well if it was me I would choose th 330 thats because Im a Bimmer Fan but if you want comfort I might say the TL because I 've sat in my friend's BMW 330Ci and it is alittle cramp back there but in the front like you said you are the only one driving and riding it then heck it should be fine. I 've never driven a TL-S but I have driven an older 328is and two other 5 series and I must say I love the BMW handling and everything feels so tight. According to my cousin the BMW is nuts on the maintenance well what do you expect from a luxury euro car but then again the TL is also a luxury Japanese, which makes it a tad bit cheaper on the maintenance. You also have to consider the transmission too for the 2nd generation TL's do have a major transmission recall on them and also check the title of the car before you buy it in case it is a salvaged/rebuilt titled vehicle then basically the warranty is totally voided. I like my TL hehe but damn if I had a chance to get the BMW, I think I would of chosen it. ^^

 

BMW

 

BMW will cost alot more to maintain than the TL.

 

BMW-maintenance fee
TL-s - high risk of a fucked up transmission

 

How is BMW maintenance free??

 

The high cost of BWM maintenance keeps me far away from them. It is a shame.

TL has a better interior and more power. I persoanlly like the 2nd gen looks better than the last 3 series model.

I would take the TL type S. Tranny should be covered for 7 yr/100k (check the VIN to see if it falls in the "covered range")

also, you are gonna get a biased TL response on this site, but oh well.

 

I had the same decision when i had to buy a car. I chose the TL-S instead of becuase of maintenance cost. I had a beemer 325 before, when every little minor things, like check lights, oil leak, and rotors, the cost is way more than your TL. The beemer looks real nice and we all could afford payment, but it's the maintenance that's goin to kill you. If you can afford to keep up with the maintenance, then i say go for the beemer.

 

Stop making up lies about the 3 series maintenance.

If you consumerreports you'd know that it was dead on and even slightly better than the equivalent 2nd gen TL's

 

If something happened to my CL I would get the 330i Performance, get the Beamer.

 

3 series is way too small, if you were going to buy bmw 5 then it would be a different story, my cousin (girl) has a bmw3 its nowhere near the TL-S, when I drive TL-S i feel more power and safer cuz its bigger! The TL-S is also more comfortable ride. If you ever were going to take your friends to go somewhere, they wouldnt have fun time in the back of the bmw3.

I personally think the bmw3 is more of a girl car.

The choice is yours, are you going to take the red pill (bmw3) or the blue pill (TL-S) in the Matrix they picked the blue one

 

I have a 3 series, and the maintenance on it is nuts. WAY more than the TL I own. The beemer takes more than 3 times the amount of money I put into the TL to maintain it and keep it running in top shape.

 

Well then sounds like you got it bad Random.

Consumer reports doesnt' lie

 

CPO = 100k warranty on the tranny. thats exactly why i got my TL certified. ill take my chances on the revised tranny, i passed on the 3 series because its too cramped, RWD ( i snowboard frequently), and my dad has an '00 528i as an extra car, and there is always something wrong with it.

 

they don't necessarily lie, but if you look at the track records of bmw's (and i know alot of people who own beamers and all agree) there is always little stuff breaking. especially things in the interior. now per the consensus of people i know they were always able to get it covered under warranty, but just the hassle of having to drop it at the dealer's and leave it is annoying enough.

the problem with consumer reports is that they're looking more at mechanical reliability and not always whether the interior falls apart or if there are widespread electrical problems. i'm a big fan of CR but i've noticed this in their ratings from time to time. troll the bmw boards for the E46 models and i'm sure you'll see that there are plenty of issues.

but don't get me wrong, *every* car has issues, it really boils down to preference.


SSTS

 

Then get the BMW. ('cause chicks dig my TLS) Your wife will love and want you MORE if you get the TL

DOH! get the TLS for family outings... the BMW is minimalist (Go test drive it in the rear seat...).

Then get the TLS, it will walk the BMW.

Well then, get a HONDA.







Oh... wait... the TLS IS A HONDA.

 

I have a TL

been through 3 trannies, gonna be on my 4th. Warranty expiring in 3k

Guess what i'm doing? Trading it in for an 03 M3 , ZOOM ZOOM

 

is that a BMW M3 or a Mazda3 (zoom, zoom) you are talkin' 'bout?

on a side note. I also have a TL (although mine is a type-S) on its third tranny. Although I enjoyed my 325i inmensley, there is NO WAY I am going back to BMW now. My next car will be an S2000 or another TL.

 

Go for the TL-s More dependable, more power, more comfortable, costs less to operate, your CPO warranty will cover a tranny - if you even need one. I think the 03 trannys were better than the 00 - 02 trannys anyway. I had an 01 TL - loved it!!! No tranny issue untill 103K miles, and Acura still replaced it free.

 

I would say BMW...look at my sign. My TL back just back from Acura for her 4 Trannmission replace and 3 time motor mount replace. Yea every car have theri weak point. But i replace my Tranny on TL more then Tires..wtf???
And they way BMW drive..i dont think TL(2gen) is anyway near it..They really do drive like a boat.

 

BMW=One of the best cars to drive in the world. Also, in my experience one of the worst cars to maintain.

My dad's BMW has had way too many trips to the dealer. Blown power window motors, cracked radiator hose, cracked gasket (don't remember which one), cracked air intake, leaking brake master cylinder. Tune-up costing $600-800, front brakes and rear brakes around $1200.

It was enough to keep me away from BMW when I bought my TLS in 03.

My advice, if you ever get a BMW get them new or CPO. Sell them once the warranty is up. It's not worth the maintenance unless you are a DIY'er.

 

I have never had a problem with my M3 - and she is going on 6 yrs with almost 90,000 miles....MyTL-S is only 3yrs old with 83,000 miles and the tranny just went the other day........My best friend's 2003 330ci has never had a problem either......