Well, does it?

I like the look, but do the Germans produce a more cohesive, pleasing design?

It's hard the beat the design of the Audi A4, and BMW 3 series. I'd also throw in the Swedes with the Volvo S60 and new Saab 9-3.

Sometimes I think the TSX is a bit nicer, overall. The excess side body cladding on the TL may be a bit too much. The jury is still out though!

 

i think the new TL & TSX are up their with bmw & audi in design category for 2004. Really classy/stylish/sporty look this year with those 2.

 

I think it looks mean! Esp with the front lip. Love the back too.

I like the A4 and Bimmer's too but I dunno about Volvo's.

And the first time I saw the new 9-3 I loved that too..but only in pictures for some reason....In real life I wasn't as impressed....but I couldn't tell you why.

 

I parked next to my friend's 530. His car is very pleasing, but the TL looked much more modern and clean in design. The 530 design now looks too "busy" compared with the clean lines of the TL.

Sure the BMW designs are great, but they are fast becoming dated. The "new" designs for the 7 and 5 series are not too good, IMHO.

 

Now, compare it to the NEW 5 series and it's no comparison. I've seen a few, they are FUUUUG-LYYY.

I do love the Volvo S80/60 design tho, very sweet, almost thought about a S60 T5 until you build them equal to the TL and try to decide to part with the extra $$$ .

The only Saab I'd get is the 95 Aero, nice looks, otherwise the others all look mild and similar to each other.

And the A4/6/8 they are bland, and all similar.. the Passat/4/6/8 but it's all in one's own eyes.

 

That's funny. Someone at work just got a new 530i. I pulled up next to it. At first glance, you'll find that the cars look awfully similar. Upon closer inspection, the TL looks better in my eyes, but that's the problem with this thread, beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. If you like the car, buy it, if not then look elsewhere. To ask on a TL site whether the car looks good or not is really begging the quesiton!

 

The new 5 series is quite horrible looking and overwrought, especially from the back. It almost looks like a Hyundai. The pics of its interior in Car & Driver looked like a dated design too, like something from the eighties. The previous generation looked far nicer both in terms of exterior and interior design. The rear "decklid" in both the 7 and 5 series look pretty awful too. Overall, BMWs have taken a big step backwards in terms of looks ever since their new design chief, Chris Bangle, took over. If I were a prospective 3-series buyer, I would get a new model ASAP before they introduce a new design for it.

Volvos in the modern era look very good as far as their exterior is concerned. I personally prefer the Acura interior, though, and think it looks far more stylish than the Volvo interiors.

 

Everyone's tastes are different but my wife has a 2002 Volvo S60 T5 and it has (so far) been a great car. I love the looks of her car both inside and out - the dashboard is quite stylish and well designed ergonomically. It even won a design of the year award from the European motoring press in 2001.

Is it as good a car as the TL? No way - it's rougher around the edges, has less room inside and I'm 99.9% sure it won't be as reliable either in the long run. Our car in particular has been bulletproof reliable but it only has 24K miles so only time will tell.

For what it's worth, we picked up her car in October of 2002 for $33,900 - which ended up being about $2K below invoice with all the factory options it has (sticker was $39,300).

 

tl & tsx is most definately more european, it looks better than the new bimmers from bangle & co. but then again beauty is in the eyes of a beholder.

 

it looks on par compare to the germans but still a long way to go from the drive feel and the solidness...

 

i think some of the most beautiful cars are aston martins

 

Where did that guy come up with the Aston Martin comment?Sure, there are a lot of better looking cars one could pick...Aston -Martin, Ferrari, Lambo, etc. I've owned a 740iL and for what it was, it was a very nice car. A big roomy interior and a spalsh of performance with it's 296HP engine. Then bought a CLK55 ///AMG and basically had an EXTREMELY plush performance car that left a large number of M3, M5's, Vettes (not Z06), and 350Z's in the dust. Never found one ricer that could hang. Mine was a little quicker than most with a Zero to 60 of 4.8 and 13.1 in the quarter @108 but it did on;y have two doors (four seats but only two doors). I am scheduled to pick up the new TL on Saturday after the buyer for my CLK55 comes in on Friday. Sure it's softer than the CLK55 but that's part of the attractiveness of this performance sedan. In order to REALLY compare you HAVE to consider costs. The new 5-series and the e-class are both STARTING @ $50K. The new TL FULLY loaded is $35K. In apples to apples comparison, both the BMW and the Merc require (at least) $5K in options (like Xenons, CD Changer, tc). The new TL is the best deal BY FAR. Now $40K for my old 2001 CLK55 with only 28K miles was the best performance/luxury/price combo but it's a little difficult to get a baby seat in that back seat without 4-doors so... I also expect a number of third-party true performance products will be making the seen in the next year or so and figure it's a pretty good ride even without the 300HP+. IMHO the TL drives/rides like a $45K sedan. I'll have to let the years dictate if the fit/finish and reliabilty are there but for now I'm happy with my choice.

 

5 Series and 7 Series are very bad designs, in and out.
the I-drive control give you no other choices, like the TL with Buttons, Touch Screen and Voice (you pick).

The only Beamer I like now is the 2004 645i
have you seen it ?

it's a coupe.
The trunk opens by pushing the BMW logo.

http://www.speedycam.be/pictures/iaa/images/72.html
http://www.motorsportscenter.com/printer_197.shtml
http://www.motortrend.com/features/n...001news_nmbmw/

http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e...e000177370.cfm

 

Don't know why you'd like it any better. It appears to have the same iDrive "interface" as the 5 and 7.

Mike

 

well said, this gotta be the POST OF THE MONTH