https://acurazine.com/forums/market/1001402

 

Oh crap, was it your neighbor again?

 

Nope. I was doing a friend a favor. No good deed goes unpunished.
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RIP, I am glad you are ok man. Any idea on the next replacement for the TL?

 

Ouch sorry to see that. That's a lot of damage, for what appears to be a slow, neighborhood street. Damn "friends"

 

Sorry to see that, I see the airbags went off, any injuries?

 

Neighborhood street? Not exactly though that's where it sits now. Try the Bruckner Expressway (to those familiar with NYC roads) in the Bronx at rush hour.

After 18½ years, having put my heart and soul into it as you can see by the what I've repaired or replaced list, yes it is an emotional loss, It's been getting time to end my Manual trans days anyway. I've been driving sticks for just over 40 years now and have gotten it out of my system. My previous 2 cars were MT's bought new; an '89 Accord SE-i coupe and an '86 Accord Sedan bought back by Honda. There are substantially many more vehicles on the road now than back then when I took delivery and premium gas was under $2 a gallon in NJ. Yes, times have changed. I'm 68 now and with all the NYC driving, I'm ready to go (dare I say it) automatic.

Asking what I think is a decent amount for the carcass that comes with a lavish buffet of replacement parts and add-ons.
Any takiz?
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so sorry to see that. Glad you're OK

 

you had a good ride!

 

Sorry DMZ, that's really unfortunate. What's next??

 

Time will tell. But I'll probably look for a small SUV hybrid or plug-in hybrid. We'll see ..........

 

Sorry about the car.
Hope you're okay.
Ouch. Easier access, but most don't have the driving feel like cars.

My wife has been mumbling about getting me a Lexus RX(the vehicular equivalent of Sominex) to go with her Mazda CX-5 once my TL is gone.

You drive a lot, too, based on your TL's mileage, so a hybrid makes sense. Best of luck finding a replacement vehicle.

 

Lexus RX (the vehicular equivalent of Sominex? Well, at least your wife likes dependable reliable vehicles with superior customer service to Acura's.
Gotta give her that one!

 

I can vouch for Lexus customer service, even at the dealer is better than Acura as well. One Lexus I used to service my car, they even fill up the gas tank and this was several years ago.

 

Damn, this whole time I thought your avatar was George Costanza

 

367k miles. Wow, just simply incredible and you took really good care of your 3G as well.

FWIW, my 2005 3G 6MT also rolls on General G-Max A05. Good all season tires.

We were trying to get to 400k in my wife's 2003 Pilot that we gave to our youngest daughter but a speeding Siena ran into the driver's side last November so you have my sympathy.

 

I guess it is a regional thing. I left my short two year stint with Lexus due to the terrible service of dealers in my area. Two dealers are near me, one dealer was incompetent and damaged the car every time they attempted a repair, and the other was sleazy and lied to you with a smile. They are just the wrong brand for people who know a little about cars.

The last straw was when a dealer charged me $300 to tell me that my check engine light was due to a water bottle under the passenger seat, saying it was a common thing with these models. Traded in the Lexus RX within a couple of weeks after that.

The car itself wasn't more reliable than Honda/Acura either, felt more solidly built but had lots of warranty repairs needed - probably because it was a 1st-year redesign model.

(And the Acura Advance models in comfort mode pretty much emulate a Sominex if you want, wife loves that because she has a bad back)

 

I'm sorry to hear that, DMZ...
You were one of the guys I always remember being PROUD of your color combo and how many miles you racked up.
A car is a car but we do build a relationship with them. Good luck on whatever you choose to replace.

 

not the lexus near us! Service at a fast food drive through is more friendly and attentive.

 

Not Lexus luxury, but I can attest for a Honda CR-V Hybrid. We have a regular 2017 CR-V but friends have a 2020 CR-V Hybrid and are extremely please with it.

 

That's actually one of the vehicles I'm considering. I like sitting high up anyway.
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Oh no. Sorry to hear.

I'd be all over it if it wasn't across the country.

 

???

 

I think he's referring to buying your TL!

Do you have passengers in the rear? New CRV did not do so well in the rear passenger testing that was conducted. IMO a lexus RX is a great option, look at the NX also!

 

DMZ: I've enjoyed reading all your threads over the years, and know how much you cared for it, over all those miles!

This is my greatest fear driving my TL: any significant fender bender will total it, when it means a lot more to me than anyone else, and there is no way it can be truly "replaced" with an insurance payout, with the way most of us care for and treat our TLs. Hard to believe I will have owned it for 18 years next July. It will take something like this to get me out of it.

(My wife has a regular 2019 CRV. I would recommend it. It's just a little buzzy at low speeds with the 4cyl.)

 

Geez @DMZ, sorry to see your beloved 6MT get so unceremoniously crushed. I parted with my 2006 back in October and that parting was emotional as well, fortunately mine went to a new home where it will be well loved. You've got a couple of years on me in age, however, my stick shift years started back in 1976, so I have a few more of those, and mine will be continuing as I cannot bring myself to drive an automatic; I switched to a new 2022 Tacoma TRD Sport with a 6MT.

 

That's a shame, I had an AMAZING Lexus Customer Service experience when I went to do an airbag recall for an 2007 IS350. The car was not bought from them but they treated me like royalty when I arrived, gave me an excellent RX loaner for a day or two until the car was finished. I was thoroughly impressed. Granted this was in Newport Beach so perhaps there is an expectation of service there

 

"an expectation of service there?

That's Lexus service practically everywhere! That's why I'm considering Lexus as a replacement. My friends who own Lexus vehicles of all ages (one even 20 years old!) all swear by the royal treatment they've received from Lexus. Acura could take some lessons.

 

I agree to an extent, but also keep in mind that royal treatment has an associated cost that gets passed on to you know who.

 

Acura be like... "you got crack dash and clock being off? tough it out or buy our new Integra"



The labor rate is about the same for me from Acura to Lexus dealership, when I do get a loaner from Lexus its free gas and toll tag. Hell, Lexus even offer a full dash and door panels replacement for 06-09 Lexus IS and LS model even you didn't buy the car from the dealer. I wonder how much Acura willing to help with crack dash.

 

We have owned two Lexus vehicles over the years and the dealership service experience has been far and away above that of Acura dealers locally. With that said, the cost for service and repairs has also been far and away (WAY) above that of Acura. YMMV

 

Are you kidding? ...........

 

@DMZ my heart breaks for you man.

 

For the parts. Not many (none) TLs being parted out that are as well documented as your with the work done, etc. I'm at the point where I'm deferring non-necessary maintenance just to avoid getting involved in what may ultimately become a never ending project.

 

Met a friend of Paul's this morning who used work at a local Acura Dealer and used to be on AcuraZine. He said Acura's days are over since they haven't kept up with the rest of the industry, hybrid technology, extreme lack of color choices,etc. . He had a 2018 X3 which he let me drive, and I instantly hooked! Then he told me how BMW treats him every time he comes in, just like Lexus. He says Acura s gradually been losing customers and they could take lessons in customer support from Lexus

 

^^^^So does this mean that you are either looking at or considering your next vehicle as a BMX X3???

 

X5M, obvi

 

Ha! Could be........

 

They are all very nice cars...

 

DMZ, our mutual friend said you could use some additional advice concerning possibly getting into an X3. I was planning to write a mini review anyway so this is an excellent opportunity to do both!

Like you, I previously came from an Acura sedan (2021 TLX A-Spec SHAWD) and was looking to get into an SUV. I had looked at GLC, NX, and probably should have considered the RX as well since the retail price turned out to be similar in the end. I was getting low 23-24 mpg from my TLX so I figured an SUV with similar fuel economy would be an easy transition (not to mention possibly having a better outcome in an accident). Here's my mini review of the X3 after 2 months of ownership:

2023 X3 xDrive30i
MSRP $54,260 (including destination)
Parking Assistance Package
Premium Package
Remote Engine Start
Wireless Charging w/digital key

Highs:
1) Performance - this car has a Sport mode that will make you fly like a bat out of hell if you want to! There are 3 driving modes: Sport (max engine response), Comfort (default), ECO PRO (maximizes fuel economy and reduces some climate control). I'm getting about 27 mpg on mixed driving in ECO PRO, which is actually better than the large, heavy TLX I turned in. Did I think about upgrading to the 6-cyl M40i? Only for a split second! A fully optioned M40i is easily X5 money and I don't need the speed of the M40i nor the size of the X5. BMW makes great engines that are fuel econ friendly and perform when you need it to! Honestly, I feel like I transitioned from one of the worst turbo 4s to one of the best!
2) Cargo space - I believe it's top 2 or 3 in its luxury class. Plenty of room and allows me to put my golf bag in sideways along with a foldable push cart. I also have the handsfree liftgate.
3) Door ajar warning - if one of the doors is slightly ajar, you will get a pulsating red light on the guilty door. This is extremely handy if you have kids rushing out that may not have closed the door completely!
4) Infotainment - this is my first car with wireless CarPlay and it works really well! BMW also gives you a choice of either using the touchscreen or the physical dial located near the shifter. Some functions do require drilling down into the menus but I have no issues with this.
5) Surround Cameras - my first car with surround cameras and it makes parking a breeze! There is also the added bonus of a Remote 3D Camera feature on the MyBMW app that lets you see your car's surroundings in case you forgot where you parked or possibly as info to police if your car's been stolen. The optional "Drive Recorder" app can take videos seconds before and after incidents that should make insurance claims much easier.
6) Customization allows for any combo of auto unlock when approaching the car and/or auto lock when walking away.

Lows:
1) No HUD available - due to the chip shortage, the HUD is only available on the M40i for $$$. I was hoping to get one this time around but I've never had it so not as big a deal right now.
2) Audio system - the standard HiFi sound system is garbage. I easily went from one of the best (3D ELS in the TLX A-Spec) to one of the worst. I read that the Harman Kardon package isn't that much better (and why I didn't look for this package). I may end up changing out the amp and/or speakers down the road when the warranty is expired. Audiophiles may want to stay away from BMW.
3) Manual adjust of steering wheel - not sure if this is common to previous X3s but I was hoping the steering wheel would auto lift when leaving the car. Will not adjust to driver profile either since it's manual.
4) Choice of ambient lights - there are only about 6-8 color combos to choose from. Red is not an option, most likely due to it being reserved as the "door ajar" color.
5) Wireless charger - a waste of $500. Although it comes with a BMW digital key which allows you to program your phone as a key, the charger itself only keeps the phone charge neutral (don't expect rapid charging here). I ended up buying a MagSafe charger and plugging that into the USB C port located in the driver side valet box. This could be a "High" instead of a "Low" if you dislike carrying the keyfob as you could use the digital key exclusively. Digital key is included in the package because you can't activate the digital key w/o the wireless charging pad (done by a BMW Genius during car delivery).
6) Due to supply chain issues, puddle lights and some convenience lights in the passenger area have been removed. I guess the puddle light failures in my TLX were preparing me for this! LOL

Note that my thoughts above are specific to the '23 model. Pre-Pandemic models will most likely have the HUD and the Driving Assistance Package. The BMW equivalent of Acura's MMC is called LCI, or Life Cycle Impulse. This happened in '22 so the '23 models are quite similar with the exception that BMW stopped offering gesture controls in the '23 model year. If you really want to talk to your car with your hands, then definitely consider a '22 or older model. The LCI also removed the fog lights so if you must have them, consider '21 or older models.

If you go BMW or Lexus, I think either of them will be a step-change better than Acura. My 2 cents!

Let me know if any of you have any questions!