omelet1978

Hi,

Long story short, I bought a used 05 TL a while back and it works great, but I test drove the Type-S the other day and I really like it. I could tell a difference with the power and it come close to my previous car which was a 3.5SE Altima (That one was like a rocket).

Long story short, my fiance's dad bought the Altima from me a few months ago and the TL is paid off and I'm without a car payment. I could probably get the TL-S for about 11k when it was all said and done. It was a lot of fun to drive and I liked the Type-S interior a little more than the grey leather I have now.

Basically, the type-S was what I really wanted when I bought my TL, but I could not afford the payment. Now I can...I'm investing as much as I want right now and bottom line I can afford it...

Any thoughts?

Here is one I'm thinking about. It's a little higher mileage, but that is fine b/c I'm going to drive it ALOT! The mileage cuts the price down a couple thousand.

http://www.mullerswoodfieldacura.com...751d585bbb06e3

TLType-s12

iTrader: (2)

short answer......YES! Go for it!

LoveMyTL-S

What are you waiting for? You know you want it......go for it

Cheezes

No car payment you say. I say keep what you got. The Type S is very nice but it's not like it's 2 seconds faster.

Babnik

I say don't, despite what all the Type-S owners keep saying, the regular TL is 98% the car that the Type S is. If you really want to upgrade, then do a big upgrade, like to a BMW 335.

Cheezes

I would hardly consider that a big upgrade. Despite how incredible those cars are with driving dynamics they are in the same class/category as the TL. Now if you said a V8 5 series......

TeknoKing

^ so those 2% include Brembo 4 piston brakes, 286hp, sexy exterior aesthetics, ANC, Better Navi, Sporty interior (LED/Leather), quad exhaust,suspension? better handling?.. should I go on?!!??

OP, do what makes you happy, but be smart about it. If you don't need it, don't get it.

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

subbuzz

If all your other priorties are in order,if your good with the payment, and REALLY want the car, WHY NOT??!!

EDIT: I highly doubt you'll regret getting the type-s as a car, but you might regret getting a car note after being free from one

Babnik

Actually yes they do wiseguy, those are differences are all pretty minor things compared to all the similarities. And all manual TLs have brembos.

TeknoKing

oh wow, I didn't know!

Minor difference, I guess you are still convincing yourself to like your base.

I had base before, I know what I'm talking about...

Babnik

The 335 goes 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. The TL is lucky to do it below 6. That's a BIG difference! It runs the quarter mile more than a second faster than the TL (13.4). And with a $400 chip you can increase the boost to make it even significantly faster than that. It also handles a lot better.

When I trade in my TL, it will be for a 6MT 335!

Cerezo

Actually a stock 335 doesn't run 4.8, a chipped will come close but can barely break 5. Mis-information = bad. On the other hand, it's a big step up in terms of performance no doubt.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Omelet, get the Type S. You'll be sooooo happy-and no regrets on your part-for sure.

Cerezo

Life is short, better enjoy while you are young, provided that you can afford it. It seems that you have everything else in order!

EvoToTL

iTrader: (6)

i wouldnt buy the 335. My friend has one and he has nothing but fuel pump problems and been to the dealership more than 5 times in a month. Dont get me wrong its a nice car but since its Bmw's first twin turbo 6 cylinder its going to have some problems here at least the first 2 years. There are alot more cars u can buy now for the same price as a 335.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

I just traded in my 07 base TL for a 07 Type S. And not to dis the older 04-06 TL's but the 07 base is IMO worlds above the older base TL's. As far as the Type S look for my post about how I just traded in my base 07 for the Type S 07. WORLDS different!!! and this is coming from a person who has owned both and who has also had some pretty serious sports cars (including Z06 vette). Im not gonna sit here and talk about all the difference but there are a lot everything from the seats to the wheels are different.
I am SOOOOOOO glad I made the switch!

Babnik

How so? They're pretty much identical. Sure there are some visual differences (blinkers on mirrors for example) but technology-wise and performance-wise they are the same.

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

How much do you think you can get for your TL for trade-in or sell? If you can get a decent trade-in value or get a good price to sell than I would not buy a Type-S. Yes, Type-S seems more aggressive and has more power, but worth upgrading and wasting 11k on that? If I could get a decent value and had some money to spent I would definitely lean towards buying a 335I used or new or a car in that class. 28 more HP and aggressive look is no way to spend 11k on. For 11k you can do a Type-S swap with rear, sides, and front bumpers with A SPEC kit. Get pre-cat deletes, jpipe, pulley, RSB, ATLP quad tip exhaust (BM or just get an XLR8/Comptech), and a lot more (cleared headlights, type-s tails, etc...) for 11k. That will be faster than a stock Type-s and you have the appearance of a Type-S besides the Type-S logo. With the extra 6k-7k you can get customizable and aftermarket leather (a whole lot better) and get all season floor mats from Weathertech (really nice). And at the end you would still have about 3-4k left in your pocket. (Supercharger maybe? With all those mods and supercharger you'll be getting 300+ WHP, a lot more than 220-230 WHP on the Type-S stock)

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Your friend must be unlucky. Some people have a problem with the TL on wind noise, 3rd-4th gear problems, dashboards, etc... But overall, its a decent car for the price and the performance just like the 335I. I believe the 335I runs 40k brand new, when our cars when brand new was leaning toward 36k loaded and 39k for Type-S. Don't tell me you wouldn't go 335I instead of type-s

apnorm

iTrader: (3)

Save your money and buy a supercharger!

Johnny_b

I've driven a 335xi coupe with the sport package many times. And to be quite honest with you, even the type-s can't hold a candle to that car. Also, I have test driven the base TL, and imo the type-s is definitely worth it.

Johnny_b

And 40k would be pretty stripped. They run low 50's loaded. The TL and 335 are not in the same class.

BukvaMan

i second that !!! and yea my next car will be 335i or a 535i

andyc123

I've owned a few Bmers in the past, and unless you make 6 figures (I do), it's tough to maintain. Idiots like Babnik dream of that, save for it, and once bought, eats every penny out of their pathetic 50k job.

If you dream of a TL-S, and are asking questions for a 25k car, it's not yet in reach.

andyc123

As a former Vette (05) owner, I sold both my Vette and 330, and bought a TLS. Bmers handle the best, but also cost the most to maintain. Every service was 3, 5, 7, 12 hundred, and it got old. Great car to drive, and there is nothing to compare it to if you need the space and some performance, "some" being the key word. I'd love to have the 335, but it doesn't work with 2 babies, and the TLS can when I need it to. When they're not in the car (most of the time), I look pretty slick. Enough said.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

The TL-S is sexy, but not worth $11k over a base TL that's paid off. Take that money you would spend on the Type-S and do some aftermarket things to you car. If you want it to go fast like the Type-S, get some engine and exhaust upgrades. Then move to appearance once you are satisified with the performance. Make your car stand out. I would rather have a modded base-TL that stands out amongst the crowd than a stock Type-S. Just my

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

If you can afford the payments, do it.

You won't regret it. No doubt about it.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I have to say that people with a type s will say get it and people without will say not worth it.

If I were you I wouldn't do it ONLY because if I were to go on the mission of changing cars and possible financial loss, I'd rather do it for a completely different or new car and driving experience. If you have a TL, which, at the root of it, is what the car is no matter what trim level...and it's paid off. Just put your gas in, enjoy the better gas mileage and cruise on.

People that brag about how much money they make in comparison to other people and what they can afford and who can't afford are the "base models" of the world. I'd rather have friends than a 330 or a an 05 vette any day of the week.

mista.huynh

iTrader: (4)

What he said!!

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

To answer your question, "No."

PhillyxMartin

iTrader: (2)

fuck the tl s and fuck a car note. I say be free of a car note. It's not the greatest time in the world right now to have a note on anything.

Cerezo

Get a 05/06 BMW 330i ZHP coupe for ~20k. They are the best built 3's aside from the M's. That's of course, if you don't mind an older car with some maintenance cost. I was eyeing them when I had a 06 325i myself. Just throwing out ideas.

DNPhotography

thats great! i would rather have a stock Type-S than a modded base TL. i am sure other Type-S owners would agree

this man speaks the truth.

ladiesman217

is this honestly a serious question

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Haha maybe I would feel different if I could afford a TL-S, but for now I'm enjoying the base. Not too much longer until those payments are gone!

TLType-s12

iTrader: (2)

I know right? OP Im answering this question based off of what you want. It seems like your stuck on the TL, like most people here. Despite what the base crowd is saying about the Type S. Its def worth getting, especially the color that you want(i have a kbp also and its rare to say the least).

People have made good points though. Its a very good thing not to be under a payment in these times. You may want to consider a different car. etc

I say get the Type S. Remember the S isnt there for nothing!

subbuzz

well said,but I had 2 teggies just cuz I loved the car so much that I can't agree totally. if a car has that much of an impact and is ol' reliable,why not try your luck a second time around.(esp a type-s upgrade)

For me it's not only the little thing's that make the type-s worth it,I'm a bit shallow and like saying it's the "top of the line".Not only that I see 100's of tl's a day, very rare that I see a type-s esp a modded one......


EDIT:You ALWAY'S want what you can't have, I could have gotten a g35 instead of my tl-s and now I hate on my boy's 6-speed WDP coupe but at the end of the day I LOVE my car and have NO regret's....

erick3

i haven't read your post, but only your title.

NO you won't regret it. haha

chairguru22

I actually don't like the way the TL-S looks over a base '08 TL.

I don't like the darker rim style. I like the square dual-exhaust over the round quad-exhaust. I don't like the dual color leather seats. The other appearance features like LED color, rear and sidemarker lights, etc., I could go with either way.

I do wish I had the performance aspects and paddle shifters though. However you can mod most of those things yourself. You can get a full A-Spec kit, add Brembos, CAI, etc.

In the end it's still all personal preference.

As for the OP, You will definitely like the TL-S no doubt. But you do have your car paid off and that's $11k you can keep for a rainy day.