mark_12345

I know that this is a TL board so opinions are probably bias but I just sold my 01 CL.

Now I'm looking for a 4 door. I have narrowed down my choices to the following (not in any specific order):

1) 2003+ BMW 330i or xi
2) 2004+ Acura TL
3) 2004+ Audi A4 3.0Q
4) 2004+ MB C class
5) 2004+ G35

I've gone through too many cars in the last 3 years. I want to keep this next car that I purchase for at least 3-4 years. I'm leaning towards the Acura TL. I want a car that will keep looking good even after 3-4 years.

Current 2004+ TL owners, what are the pros and cons with your TL? Overall are you happy with your purchase?

Please help!

Jss1

No cons for me. I haven't been back to the deal since I bought it last October as zero problems. Try the hfl phone, voice commands, navi, dvd audio etc and then look at the other cars and see how much they would be to equip the same as the TL if they even can be equipped the same. I almost bought a G35 but am now very glad I didn't.

caball88

i would cross the MB C class off the list. all the other cars you are comparing are more on the sporty side. i test drove the C class and it is way to floaty. the BMW is nice and probably the best handling out of all the cars. but when configured equally the price of the 330 is the pricest on the list. the Audi is nice but the navigation on it is horrible, no one in their right mind would get the audi nav. G35 is probably the closest competitor to the TL. the interior of the G is suppose to be upgraded this year. the VQ35 engine is probably one of the best engines nissan has ever made. i personally prefered the styling of the TL over the G35 but that is going to be subjective from person to person. i am very happy with my TL, 3 months and 5800 miles and its basically problem free. the TL in the end offered the best value for the car i was looking for.

rets

My friend's friend in LA just got his 04 C230 (MSRP 36k) with 30k a few weeks ago... ?

pbuckthal

Pros:
-Best Nav system (large touch screen)
-Bluetooth phone
-Voice commands
-Only DVD-A on the market
-New Styling will endure for 3-4 years
-XM standard (never would have ordered it - now I love it)
-Best price when including all of the above features

Cons:
-No auto-on headlights (even Chevy & Ford have this feature!)
-No rain sensing wipers (you only miss them if you've had them before)
-No power tilt & telescope (you only miss if you've had it before)

The pros win hands down. Only the lack of auto-on cheapens the car, the rest of the pros give it a great wow factor at the best price.

VOdoc

I cross-shopped the $43K Saab 9-5 Aero with the TL (you can get a nice Saab for $34K, they're desperate). The TL won hands down on styling, handling, powertrain, quality, features, refinement, value for money and advanced technology. Two cents on the other cars mentioned:

Infiniti G35--don't care for teardrop styling, cheesy interior, bad experience with Infiniti leasing company and slimy dealer in past

BMW 330i--too small, overpriced, they nickel and dime you with options, quality problems, see yourself coming and going

Mercedes C class--nice looking but too small, ditto on options, quality problems

Audi A4--too small, undistinguished exterior, nice interior, never trusted Audi though I hear their quality is improving

Disclaimer: I didn't bother to test drive any of the above. I looked at 'em and said naaah...why waste my time?

IMHO, TL is a raging value at $31K without navi. If you live in an area of the country where you can get navi at a reasonable premium, then that works too.

BarryH

They have some great incentives going on right now on all 3er's but the vert. I've had a 325cic since November and it's been a great car. It's amazing how much low end torque BMW gets out of their small small sixes. If you're looking for AWD, BMW's isn't that great and it adds a lot of weight to the car.

Better covered by owners.

Quattro's great, interiors are nice, other than that it's just an average car. BMW would be cheaper in the long run because of better resale. There's supposed to be a pretty major freshening coming up sometime in '05 which would effect resale.

The '05 freshening has improved the interior, steering feel, and appearence of the car. You can probably get a good deal on the 04's as their clearing them out. 4-Matic is better than BMW's AWD.

The 05's are a vast improvement over the 04's. More HP, better styling, upgraded interior. The AWD system is from the Skyline and it's great.

You should also check out the Volvo S60R. It has lots of the attibutes you're looking for and has 300HP and a trick adjustable suspension. Volvo had a strange lease incentive going that provided $4,500 if you leased from anyone but Volvo. I don't know if it's still in effect.

jdone

I would scratch the Merc C-class and the 330 off the list. They just look like you couldn't afford a real Mercedes or BMW. Just MHO, YMMV.

GaleForce

Yeah, I agree, unless you mod it. 3-series is a fun car to drive, I'll give it that, but only that. Modded ones run fast, but you're already being screwed in the ass on prices that you won't have much money left to mod if you're looking at this class of cars only. People who mod e46's (the current body of the 3-series) usually have a lot of money and buy a 330i to soup up and have fun with.