Despite my love for the TL, I decided on a 325i SE.

Why? Try 130$C/month difference in favor of ... BMW! E46 are phasing out. Even the TSX is not cheaper.

Of course, it comes with less equipment. Equipments that I don't require. First, power; 0-60mph in low 7s will be fine for me. The SE comes with sunroof, electrical seat w/memory, Xenon, metallic paint, 17", and maintenance included. 3.5% leasing.

So, after a few Honda that were great cars, I try something else. See'ya.

 

Unfortunately you don't get leather seats either, just leatherette!! My sisters 325 is a nice car, but I don't think it compares to the TL or G35. My $0.02

Good luck with the car, it is stil la fun ride!

 

Leatherette (vinyl) may be a BETTER choice than leather, in my opinion. It doesn't have the staining issues, it's unlikely to have "butt print" issues, it'll still look like new several years from now. It may breathe a little less well, and be a little "sweatier" on a hot day (but also won't be damaged by the sweat). I've owned lots of cars with leather seats. I'd rather have an option for a good grade of cloth, or even vinyl. (High quality vinyl, not cheap stuff). Leather is being sold as a premium material for car seating in the U.S., but I don't think it deserves that reputation.

 

loL , Enjoy sitting on your crappy plastic interior. That is the worst feature of an otherwise great vehicle. BMW=luxury my ass.

 

LOL, not a bad car but doesn't compare even close to a TL.

 

Go sit on the fake shit for a 4 hour, your ass will change your brain's opinion.

I traded an 03 330 for the TL. Best trade I ever made.

 

From what I've read, most or even all automotive leather is already somehow essentially covered with a thin layer of plastic. If that's true, the breathability isn't much different. The perforations in the TL's leather make it breathable, and the same perforations in vinyl would do the same thing.

One leather link:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...78/ai_20748446
It doesn't appear that the TL has particularly good leather. Very much "processed" to have characteristics of vinyl, and even so it doesn't wear well.

P.S. I have owned vinyl. Not much different. Still, cloth is best, and with some care, like vacuuming, it will last LONGER than leather in my experience.

 

Enjoy your new purchase. Keep us posted, good & bad.

 

Thanks for the all wonderful input. My ONLY point was the BMW Vinyl seats suck. They are hard as bricks and my tan showed wear and dirt horrible.

 

Acura's leather isn't really of high quality either....

 

Sorry to hear that, good luck with the BMW, post pics in ramblings when you get it!

 

I wouldn't think that the TL would/should be compared with the 3 series, but with the 5 series instead. Once I made that comparison, I was 99% in favor of the TL based on the way my wallet was screaming.

After you read Consumer Reports, Road and Track, Car and Driver, etc. about how bad BMW's quality has become, any doubt was resolved in favor of the TL. I'm just hoping that all of the complaints on the board are the exceptions and not the rule as to the TL Quality.