Yes, sir I just can't decide do I go with a RWD sport package (and enjoy the rims and the package and hate myself in the rain and snow), or go with those fugly rims in AWD but not fear the weather

The car interior is pure sex. There is nothing, I repeat nothing like it. My car dealers dropped their s classes and 5 series for it, they love the interior and the functions..but of course a 5 series twin turbo is a dream by itself, that you cannot ever take away.

 

lol if you know how to drive take the RWD. If you cant drive RWD in the rain then thats just a fail ahah and as long as you get a good snow tire your fine...to me the M is pretty ugly but to each his own...

 

Bingo. The new Equus will have an interactive ipad that comes with it. Owners can schedule an appointment from the ipad, someone will come with a Genesis and pick the car up, leave the Genesis. Then they return the car.

That is one hell of a service right there. Especially when you're talking about getting a car similar to a $100K sedan for under $70K.

But it's still a Hyundai. Give it a few more years. It used to be just a Toyota, just a Nissan, just a Honda.

Hyundai has become a MAJOR player in today's market and is taking market share from every manufacturer out there.

 

Go with RWD sport pack and get a set of winter whees/tires.

It'll drive better than AWD in snow and you'll have a much, much more appealing car.

AWD can only get you going, it won't help with stopping or turning.

To me - RWD with snow tires > any AWD sedan

 

the one thing i do wish for though, is for hyundai/kia to stop copying the hell out of luxury brands. I get that back in the day, their own style wasnt really appealing to many and maybe they should copy some cues here and there...but seeing an old kid optima look like the front of my moms e-class or a jaguar is awkward and silly...and the new hyundai veracruz suv seriously has the lexus rx interior...no joke...if you compare pics side by side its like a carbon copy. but i guess its making them money so on the flip side, who can blame them? maybe they should change their name or something and more people will buy. Because that new tiburon has caught my eye quite a few times

 

 

+1. I'd like to see Hyundai in 10 years. In 15-20 years they could very well be the new Toyota or Honda. I already like their cars. Kia is getting there too. The 2011 Sportage, Sorento, and Optima are freaking A+'s in terms of design. The Optima loaded is only $26K...and has 275HP.

 

I wonder what your age is?

Try again (and at the same time compare in your head to a 4G TL)

 

I love my TL but to even compare it to a GS is crazy. I had my GS400 for 4 years and the only thing that went wrong was a mass air flow sensor but that was my fault because I had a k&n filter in there and the oil burned it out. Well, 2, but I don't count a 3 inch piece of vacuum hose to the evap purge that split.

I drove my friends gs350 for a week and that completely sh*t on my 400.

After working at German car dealerships for the last 4 years you couldn't pay me to drive one out of warranty. The fit and finish is amazing on the cars but mechanically (electrical) they can be absolute nightmares.

 

My next car will most likely be a Lexus. I drove them all of the time at work and I never really wanted to get back into my TL.

 

 

^Thought the same thing. I think he just meant the only Lexuses he'd want to drive are the IS-F and LSFA. Can't say I wouldn't drive those either, although the IS350 and GS are nice too. My neighbors just got a new GX460 last weekend...looks way too much like a 4Runner for a $65K car. Its huge. But on that note, Acura doesn't have a monster SUV to compete. Infiniti and Lexus do.

 

agree. I do like the interior A LOT though.

 

That Infiniti is so nice. Goodness!

Hyundai and Kia are trying to change their image by making attractive looking cars with plenty of features for cheap. Check back in a couple of years and well see how reliable they are..

 

You guys have a great conversation going here-3 pages worth too! i comment you all for not making this conversation personal. I agree-Acura has not positioned itself in the same class as the higher brands. I do think that Acura is the best buy for the buck, but that doesn't mean it is better than Lexus. I think the Lexus IS is way too cramped. I would only consider a LS Series. I think a lot of Lexus cars look like everything else on the road. I've done BMW-Techno is right about them....they will nickel and dime you to death. I would never consider Mercedes-you pay too much for the name.

I chose Acura because I've had two Honda 4 door Accords. I had good experiences with both of them-they ran and ran and ran. I knew Acura would be a step up from that, so I couldn't go wrong.

But I really liked the sporty look of the TL as a 4 door sedan. It doesn't look like everything else on the road. I get SO bored looking at cars, because they all look the same. Maybe that's why I like Lamborghini so much-they look NOTHING like anything else on the road. I'm not comparing my Type S to a Murcielago, but I think the TL is sportier than most cars on the road. I do like the looks of the 3G TL a lot better then all the "regular" cars on the streets.

 

I'm 26, what's your point? And nope sorry, that car is still butt ugly. The curves on it are way too overstated. The thing looks like a cartoon.

 

^ +1 not my cup of tea. THe grill is way too big and the rear is a bit high, just doesn't look right from behind. I'll take the G coupe over this anyday.

 

What's in Acura line up that looks better @ 2011?

New 5 series design is fugly, also just as conservative as Infiniti, but Infiniti has an edge for uniqueness.

Audi, I adore, but I'm not willing to risk it. Same Jaguar, 385hp v8 hotness with a huge question in reliability.

Benz, by the time I'll add all the options I want, I can own three 4G TLs

Lexus, the GS or LS, lovely cars, but I don't see a point of getting any since they are going for a redesign in 2012.

Tarrrrrrra..the winner is the luxurious M, with interior and options to dream of...it's def. not as fun to drive as my TL-S, but I must grow up...

I've driven all mentioned above, since I must make a choice...either I downgrade to a Maxima (fully loaded one is 350 a month)...or go for the luxury I'm accustomed to in the M, and await for the miracles of the new 5G TL, assuming the current design team is being whacked one by one by the Soprano's cast.

 

That's what keeps me interested in it.. Appearance wise, it's bland. My TL-S is gorgeous, 3 years later, I love it everyday, especially when it is cleaned, it is sleek and clean. Extending my lease and overpaying on a 2008 car, is financially retarded... so I must shed some crocodile tears and say bye.

 

I mean were only talking personal preference here, more power to you if you like it. But personally I'd put it right there next to the 2009 in terms of -ness lol. (Not a big fan of current Acura styling.) Oh and have you seen the new QX??!! Holy mother of GOD...

 

I like the design of the QX. It's pretty tough looking. The M is nice too but pretty pricey.

 

^ Yeah QX reminds me of a cruiser who drank too much protein juice... it's not an appealing car at all.

P.S. But I bet if you are driving behind some slow-mo in the left lane, they will move; that beasty hood will make you feel very insecure, lol.
I had an FX prior to my TL-S, I liked the car, except the mileage and the width of it. Loved in the winter/rain, hated it in the spring/summer.

I like the G, but the interior is by far inferior to my TL. It is very surprising how hard it is to find a reliable car that is aesthetically pleasing and with a sumptuous interior in the 40-60K range. It's nuts.

 

That's what got me choosing the TL. It's nearly impossible to find a car with a nice interior now-a-days. IMO BMW has the fugliest 40 yr old interior and paying $50-60k for something that ugly baffles my mind. I was seriously considering the Audi A5 when I bought my TL, but it was still $10g's more than the TL. The only problem with that is it's german, and I can't see myself keeping that for more than 5 years. The G35 was a close contender, but 3 of my buddies have them and they all have electrical problems and it's quite loud inside.

 

Dare I say I love Infiniti's new styling? The best I can describe it as is "organic". I like that they're taking a different turn (similar to Acura and their current line up) to stand out from everyone else.

Everyone's beloved G sedan/coupe probably will be getting similar treatment in two years when its redone.

 

Their blantant styling rip offs really get to me. We pulled up next to an older guy in some Hyundai that looked like a Mercedes. We were in a CL65 Brabus. My friend told the guy he had a nice car and he had the nerve to reply back that it was a lot more reliable than our car. I didn't know there were stuck up hyundai drivers out there.

Very true, two good friends of mine own nothing but CL600s and 65s along with a few 55s. They go through cars sometimes twice a year and I've seen what kind of repairs and upkeep they require is it's not pretty especiall since it seems that nearly ever CL has needed the front suspension completely rebuilt around 40,000 miles for a $10,000 price tag without warranty.

IMO, Acura was ('04-'08) the best bang for the buck out there. It was somewhat competitive in the power department and handling. The interior IMO was nicer than anything on this side of $100K but 50,000 miles down the road you were reminded why it was cheaper with the leather quality. Exterior styling was better IMO than anything else in it's price range. Compare the TL to something in it's price range like the IS250 and all of a sudden the TL looks much better.

Lexus flat out makes higher end cars with a higher price tag. Some of these comparisons would be like taking a TL and comparing it to a Corolla.


It's biggest drawback was the torqueless V6 and FWD. I still think you get a lot of car for the money but some of the "features" of the 3g when it came out are now standard on entry level cars. There still aren't a lot of cars I like for the same money but I do think Acura is falling farther behind.

 

Talk about carbon copies. Does anyone remember the last Hyundai Sonata before they restyled it? I couldn't even tell that apart from the Honda Accord Sedan. I swear you could interchange the panels and it'd fit. It's amazing how Hyundai didn't get sued by Honda for making the exact same car.

 

I'd have to say Lexus>Acura also. Overall better line up.

 

What turned me off was in 2005 my friend bought a brand new e55. I drove it off the lot for him. Before I could even make a left out of the dealership the CD player quit working. It was a Friday night and my friend was so pumped up he said screw it and would take it back the next week to get fixed. By the next Weds. the entire wiring harness went out somehow and the car was bought back.

He had a CLS55 that he traded in that was a little better but not much.

 

I guess that this all depends what your priorities are.

I went Acura because I feel that the only real way to build serious wealth, without having a stupidly high income level, while still driving nice/reliable cars is to drive them well beyond 80K miles and bank the cash. For me, the TL is a damn nice car that I am 85% confident that I can take to 350K miles with not too much more than regular maintenance.

For me, Acura > Most Anything Else.

 

Yes, I'm hearing similar M-B stories. My neighbor bought a new '10 M-B GLK350. My wife and I would notice that he'd often have loaner GLKs in his driveway. It turns out that he's gone through two of them in less than one year. He said the first one blew it's engine at 6K miles and the second one has endless electrical issues. They offered him an upgrade to the ML350. I hope it works out for him. One thing little patience for is an unreliable car.

I like that Infiniti has found themselves because they were going in the worng direction 10 years ago. However, I can't get into their styling. I saw the new M about 1 month ago, and it's just too radical for me. The QX... I'll just say it's definitely not for me.

I do hope Acura finds their way by time the 5G TL comes along.

 

Reliability was a major factor in the decision to buy mine. At the time the GN was my DD and I was too old to be working on the car a couple times a month just to make it to work. That was one of the selling points of the TL, reliability, and it hasn't let me down. A headlight and battery are all I can think of from 8 miles to nearly 100K.

 

Typical Benz fashion to have hiccups upon launching a new vehicle. The GL320 CDI was a nightmare to say the least. However, my dad has a GL450 that's been a freaking dream...one burnt out headlight after 88,000 miles. That's it. Guess it varies from model to model.

I'll never own a Benz though. Way too pricey...cost and maintenance. Brake job on the GL450 was $1400.

 

Benz went to crap after the merger With Chrysler.

Anybody remember the SEL series cars from the 80's up to about 1991? Those cars were freakin BEASTS. 200k miles was nothing for those things, hell I've seen them with 300k+ miles....on the original powertrain with no rebuilds. Everything on those cars was so overbuilt it was insane. Sad to see Mercedes has fallen as far as it has.

 

So far with all of the CLs, besides front suspension it's just a ton of annoying little things. The automatic door closing not working. The trunk not going up or not going up high enough. The ABC not working.

I'm actually impressed at some of them. The 704hp Brabus car has not had a single drivetrain problem at around 70,000 miles and that's pretty good considering the 5,000+lb weight with nearly 1,000lbs of torque. We just did brakes on another CL. $200 for the front pads and labor took us about 30 minutes. In fact, I think it takes as long to take the tires off as it does to swap pads.

 

i have acura. and i think lexus > acura to be honest. but i like the acura tl more than any other lexus car

 

I think Lexus definitely is better than Acura. But the 2004-2008 TL is/was absolutely the most car for the least amount of money. I got one simply because I didn't want to pay the price of an IS or 3series. I've enjoyed my TL, but for the most part I think that you get what you pay for- at least in terms of a Lexus. My next car will probably be an AWD IS350 for the lady. I figure it's a good compromise of something that will be good for her that I will still enjoy. But I'm counting the days until I can hop in a V2 CTS-V.

 

As I have said before, though it pains me to say it, since most of their line-up is bland, blah, and boring, Lexus > Acura.

The only Lexus I like is the IS but its just way to small and cramped! Even the 3-Series had more room on the inside. If they can make it a little bit bigger and more room I might take a look next time around.