Yeah, I just get a little defensive when people assume I bought my car for its image. I bought my car to drive the piss out of it, on and off the track. I made my point here, but if anyone in the Houston area wants to meet up at the track or a local autox event, feel free to PM me.

I've never had the opportunity to drag or autox a TL out on the track, and I'd be perfectly willing to trade a drive in my car for the opportunity to drive the TL at its limits. Any takers?

 

My thoughts exactly when I was car shopping.

 

Hi I don't think TLud mean to disprect our TLs. I think it's the car that made him a bit conceited, you know, it's a BMW drivers thing. BMWs are cute little cars when they're made convertible, espcially the new M3!! But that's too much money from this gal.
Have a nice day guys and fight nice!

 

do you guys have nothing better to do?

 

No, I was pretty much a cocky bastard before I bought this car. Not trying to be an a$$ here though and definitely not putting down the TL, just proud of my car.

 

For those who want to see an intesresting PDF from BMW, it' s Hudge (4 Mo)

go to page 86 they gives argument for the sales team or for futur customer against TL and over models like G35

Very interesting

http://clem.e46fanatics.com/BfestE90/BFestE90.pdf

 

haha. That is great. May I ask how that was obtained? But I wouldn't need a manual. I have a wide range of knowledge of what cars are in which class, and the pros and cons.

 

As a matter of fact I believe that the new 330i (255hp) is faster than 3G TL MT.
I test drove one today and it pulls extremly fast. They say it gets to 60mph in 6.1 sec but if feels a lot faster. I may be only me but the new 330i is a beast...is almost feels like M3!

 

Not even close.

 

Not really...according to following data published by Modern Racer:

Horsepower : 255 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque : 220 lb-ft @ 2750rpm
Redline : unknown

Top speed : 130 mph(electronically limited)
0-60 mph : 6.0 sec.(manual)
0-¼ mile : 14.7 sec @ 96.0 mph(estimated)
60-0 braking distance : 120 ft(estimated)
200 ft skidpad : 0.89 g(estimated)

Curb Weight : 3417 lbs
Overall length : 178.0 in.
Wheelbase : 108.7 in.
Overall Width : 71.5 in.
Height : 55.9 in.

But again, according to my test drive early today, I strongly believe that the car is in the mid 5 sec if not faster!
Test drive one and you will know what I am talking about!

 

yo i expect u guys to be a lil biased but dont go crazy about it. hands down the new e90(correct me on # if im wrong) is one of the best made chassis out there. so ofcourse the salesman has no clue wat hes talkin about, its hp at the crank; but besides that the new 3 series is probably one of the best cars in the class when it comes to handling and power. so the 3 has jsut a lil less power but its numbers can keep up with even the g35 and power is nothin if u cant steer the car down the road. but dont get me wrong, i wouldnt buy a german car for at least the next 5 yrs. (money and reliabilty is BAD). im not dissin the TL but im jsut sayin give the 3 some credit, its a good car.


P.S. the engines arent the same. 325 stands for 3 series 2.5 liter; 330 stands for 3 series 3.0 liter; not the smae engine...

 

wow! an objective review turned into a 3 Series vs. TL thread! big surprise!

Anyway, speaking as someone who knows ( I own an 05 TL, my wife an 04 325xi ):

3 Series BMWs are amazing cars (though I haven't driven a new one yet). The handling of the 325 is amazing. From that perspective it blows the TL out of the water. Breaking into a turn, accelerating out, heck just flooring it in a straight line... a 3 feels right, the TL... well, you'd better have a good hold on that steering wheel... especially over a washboarded, must-stop-before-merging highway on ramp! If the torque steer doesn't get you, the too much power in a front wheel drive, whoops the VSA just cut the throttle will! A lot of people may buy a 3 because it is a bmw, but they do get a great car on the side...

That said, I got the TL because it is bigger, as "fast", cruises nicely (although with a bit too soft steering) and is quieter than the loaded (nav, cd-changer, etc) 330 I would have wanted, and, most of all, the TL cost about 6 to 8 grand less! Although, I guess with the bimmer I would have been able to use my ipod Hmm... DVD audio and a cassette deck v.s. ipod integration... what exactly was Acura thinking???

Anyway, don't knock the 3, it really is one of the finest cars ever built. and, as a note to the last poster, the new 325 does have a 3.0 liter engine.. it is just "detuned".

 

I built a 330i on the www.bmwusa.com website and added everything to it that my TL has (that I could) and it came to $47,000. There are some things on the TL that you can't get on the BMW.

So, as far as I am concerned, the BMW is about $15,000 more than a TL, smaller, less performance, and fewer goodies. AND, I think the TL is better looking when you put them right next to each other.

 

Please stop insisting this. It simply is not true. As stated by a number of people already. The E90 325 has a 3.0L engine.

http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/200...n/features.htm

 

It looks like many TL owners overestimate their cars abilities. For some strange reason they believe that TL is faster than any BMW short of M-cars. I was naive enough to believe this and was all set to get the auto TL last month until I really test-drove it. To my surprise it was not faster that my 2002 540 auto. It was slower; it was not just slower it did not have much power at higher speeds, at lower speeds, nothing, nowhere. It was a very smooth but power-wise an average 6-cylinder no better than my sister's 2002 Maxima SE. I tried M35/45 and both of them felt more power than the TL. M35 at least had some sweet spot around 5K RPM. M45 was very fast. Anyway I had no choice but to stay with BMW. Got 545 auto with sport, Navi and premium sound. I feel that for $700/month it is a better value that TL-navi for $500. M45 sport was $50 more per month than the Bimmer.

 

I worked for Acura and Honda corporate for about 10 years up until 2004. I owned/leased/had as company cars many Acura's and Hondas. I also maintained ownership of BMWs during most of this time (94 325ic, 99 328ic, 04 330cic). Acura's are great cars, with a lot of value and performance for the dollar. But in my opinion, it wasn't the straight-line performance that was lacking, it was how the car felt around the turns, and how well it stopped and behaved in each of those circumstances. While the Acura's always felt/looked nose heavy, the BMW's always felt balanced, stopped straight under power braking, and maintained it's prowess around turns. Add in the smoothness of the inline 6's and the fact I could always get a manual transmission and not be scorned for it, these were the perfect cars for me. I also felt the quality was better on the BMW's. When I say that, I mean fit and finish. No fish eyes in the paint, no orange peal, no cheap plastic Accord pieces on the interior, no squeaks and rattles (except normal convertible noises). Mechanically, I never suffered any problems (well except for the 99 that was hit while parked in my closed garage - long story) with the BMW's. Maintance is expensive though.

Had Acura offered something similar to the current TL back when I started buying BMW's (manual transmissions, sports suspensions, etc.), I probably would have never even looked at a BMW, but now I am hooked on the 3 series.

I would definitely consider buying a TL if I were in the market for that type of vehicle (well I have to say I would definitely cross shop the IS300 and 330i), but for a weekend car, the BMW is great.

 

Here are some pics of the ugly interior and cheap seats I am talking about. Don't you all agree????







Check out the cheap lookin front seats and look at how thin the side bolster is compare to our TL

 

The interior doesn't look ugly to me. No butt prints. Actually, it's pretty Bavarian looking.

 

Of course their is no buttprints "YET" because that is a brand new BMW. Plus the leather better be good as it is Dakota Leather which will cost you over $2000 extra.

 

the interior style is not bad at all. i think its just the colors that's kind of...wrong.

 

Keep in mind that the 325CI comes with the 2.5L.

 

Not saying it's not a quick car and maybe even quicker than 6 sec. We agree there. I am saying that no way does it compare to the feel of an M3. But what the hell, I am not a BMW person anyway. I think they are over priced. I will stick with the TL so I can send my son to college.

 

yes, but he said the E90 325. The 325CI is still the old style, not an E90.

Personally, I think it is confusing to have the 325 be a 3.0, but oh well that's what they did.

 

SergyM,

How much did you pay for the 545? Was 700 month a lease or buy price? How much did you put down?

Peter

 

Lease. 3year/36K. 2005 BMW 545 (Sport, Navi, Logic7, Cold Weather). Needed all these options to match TL or M35/45 Sport with Navi and Journey Sport packages. MSRP - $64,145. Sell price - $58,800. Residual - 61% (down to 59% in May). MF - 0.001 (2.4%). $714/month including 6% NJ tax. $400 cap cost reduction to make the payment an even $700. BMW is trying to get rid of all 545s before 2006 550s (4.8 liter engine) arrive this Fall. I actually liked M35 Sport a lot. But at $680/month it was to close to BMW and it was only 6 cyls, so I went with the BMW. Now you prbably can get M35 Sport for less than $600 at least in NJ. In March it was a MSRP - $800 at best. Acura has a strange policy with Navi cars residauls being lower than non-Navi.

 

Hi, I don't want to start a fight here... not to burst your bubbles... when a car that's lighter, smaller and slower, they tend to feel faster. Ever been in a Toyota Corolla going 40mph...it feels pretty fast. The new 330Ci is a quick car but it's by any means no mid 5 seconds. By all means, rated at 6.0seconds to me is a little fuzzy. Anyone who say a BMW 3series can take modern day 3rd generation TL besides the BMW M3 is out of their mind. But everybody is entitled to their own opinion. My opinion is I believe the ASPEC Manual TL is a bit quicker than the new BMW 3series.

have a nice day guys

 

Kind of the pot calling the kettle black isn't it? The quality of the materials used in BMW interiors is top notch. No nicking plasting on the B pillars, no discoloring of the dashboard, no denting of the aluminum trim, no butt prints, no dust gathering inside the non-sealed guages. The list could go on. Acura interiors are more stylized but not built better (rattles) or made with better materials (see above).

 

thanks for the info, I drove the 530i and was underwhelmed. The V8 in the 545 is the way to go. Amazing how they can get that much more for two cylinders.

peter

 

For some unknown reason I've started to like this interior.The fit and finish and quality of materials used is impresive.

 

I went to sit in and test drive a 330i a few weeks ago. Here are my reactions:

Exterior: This car looks very good in person, definitely better than it does in pictures. I'd say this is the best iteration of BMWs new styling to date, although I really like the 5 series too (many people don't). The proportions of this car give it a very compact, purposeful shape. Overall, it looks more sporty, but the TL with larger wheels and slightly lower looks a bit more sleek.

Power: Felt very responsive, definitely powerful enough. I'd say it would be neck and neck in acceleration capabilities vs my TL. The power delivery seems stronger down low, and smooth across the rev.

Handling: With the sport package and 18 inch wheels, this car is definitely a handler. I was making turns fast and it was rock solid. Braking felt more powerful than on my TL. No surprise this car can definitely outhandle a TL (I don't know if you can find a better handling sedan).

Interior: The interior is very clean and efficient. Probably too efficient by my taste. I definitely prefer the cool colors and textures of the TL interior. But I'm thinking BMW was going for a very business-like "it's all about the drive" approach on this interior. The gauge cluster is a little too simple and small. Not 100% my cup of tea. Materials and fit/finish was very good however.

Creature features: The TL is definitely the winner here, and the primary reason why I wouldn't make the switch immediately. I never want to go back to a trunk load CD changer, or pay for things like Bluetooth. The Harmon Kardon sound system is supposedly very good, but I wasn't able to test and compare it to the TL's DVD-A.

Overall, I'm actually looking to switch cars to something a little more hip, because whatever I drive now will be the last car I have before I'm married and with family, so I wanted to get something less practical than a TL. I love the TL, maybe a little too much, and that warrants my resistance to switching to a 330i. It feels more like a sideways leap instead of a leap forward. The car is not necessarily better than a TL in every way, or even in most ways. I'm anxiously waiting to see what the coupe will look like, and I'll make a decision at that time.

 

hello there...as a matter of fact Car and Driver magazine took 330i for a spin and according to their test 0-60mph is 5.4 sec and 1/4 mile was 14.1 sec.
It is not the first publication that claims these numbers.
The best unofficial time I've seen for 3G TL MT is 5.8 while most magazines rate the manual TL@6.1 sec.
I pushed in several ocasions my friend's 2004 TL MT to maximum and believe, the new 330i MT is a tad faster.

 

If I were looking to buy the new 3 series now, I'll probably wait for the new IS and G35 to come out to see what they offer. I probably wont get the IS350 because it won't be offered in a manual.

 

...and now I sense a TL v. IS and v.G35 debate.

 

I do not think there is too much to debate... Most people go by what something costs and how it looks. There are other people who are brand loyal to the point where they are blind. They might say this model is more of a drivers car....etc. and pay a premium for it. Good for them since they are happy with their purchase.

As for performance numbers etc. The TL seems to have the widest range that varies by a good 1/2 a second. The 06 3 series is rated at 6.1 (according to bmw)... So the cars are evenly matched when it comes to the 0-60 run. The rest is up to what you like, what you can afford.

 

Hey guys,
I've been a Honda owner/fan for many years. One of my earlier cars was a CRX Si that I had for 6 years and put 115k miles on. Loved that car. When I bought my most recent car, I test drove LOTS of cars, really keeping things open. One of them was the TSX, another was the TL (also Mazda 6, BMW, Audi, VW, etc). I liked both the Acuras a lot, and when you're purely talking about bang for the buck, you can't beat them, in my opinion. The interior was very nice on the TL, and it was very comfortable, with lots of power.

That said, I ended up buying a BMW 3-series, and NOT for image reasons. In fact, the U.S. BMW image almost kept me from buying it. But the fact is, I found no modern car that handled anywhere close to how this car handled. Rear wheel drive, perfectly balanced, you just can't beat it. And that was important to me (might not be to everyone).

When I accelerated the TL onto a curved highway ramp, I hit a few bumps and the torque steer had me all over the place. As for the BMW, I bought the car on European Delivery (saved a lot of money), and when I accelerated that car onto the ramp to the autobahn, it pulled clean and hard over bumps or whatever the road threw at me with absolute confidence. The steering and handling are just amazing.

My point here is not even that the 3-series is a better car. It was better for ME, and I'm a car enthusiast, not an image-seeker. And there are a lot more of us out there than you think. Yeah a lot of people buy cars for image, but many enthusiasts buy them for how they handle, and that's largely a subjective opinion on their part anyway.

In any case, I think the new TL is a huge step in the right direction for Acura. I hope that maybe they consider an AWD version, or perhaps RWD in a future generation. For me, RWD and balance was just too big a plus for me to pass up the BMW (again, my opinion for what was best for me)...

 

Can't argure with what you wrote. I used to have a GS300, and although it did not handle very well in stock form, it did seem better balanced than the TL and sometimes I miss the rear drive feel.

I like my TL a lot, but I think I'm going to at least drive the new BMW 3. I'm not a BMW "fan", but I want to see what everyone is talking about.

Who knows, if I fall in love with it maybe I'll buy one!

 

Jim H-

Now there's a BMW driver I can respect!
Enjoy your bimmer.

 

When I accelerated the TL onto a curved highway ramp, I hit a few bumps and the torque steer had me all over the place. As for the BMW, I bought the car on European Delivery (saved a lot of money)

Can you please explain how the "European Delivery" works and how much you saved?

peter

 

Seat of the pants is a horrible way to assume the car is running mid 5's to 60. My old modified 5.9 Jeep felt faster to 60 than my Vette, it's not close though.

 

Actually, there is a pretty good description, and prices, on BMW's website. You might want to check that out first, then if you still have questions go to www.bimmerfest.com