I love my 2010 TL SH-AWD with tech but have been a little bored lately. It's not the car's fault - it's all in my head. I decided to test drive some cars and it's funny because maybe it's a "grass is always greener" thing but I came away liking my TL even more. Here are some of my thoughts:

MDX - I do like the MDX. I'm a big guy, live in a snowy area and have three kids. Because it's an Acura it would be a very easy transition. Too thirsty.

Audi A5 - This car is gorgeous but I think the 2.0T is rubbish as is the 6-speed manual (long clutch pedal travel) and 8-speed AT (constantly hunting for gears). Maybe if they offered the 265hp version the 2.0T it would be more competitive and the 3.2 is fine but not terrific. More cramped on the interior and while the interior superficially looks good the buttons feel cheap. The car is WAY overpriced for what it is. The car just feels less "substantial" driving it than it looks or should be for that price.

FX35 AWD - I like this crossover. Feels like a sports car but with some more ground clearance for snow. V-6 is not as refined as the Acura but that 3.5L feels strong. I like the interior. Electronics like NAV are much better than the current Acura offering. I may wait till 2012's hit the lot but this is my contender.

After testing all of these when I got back into my TL and had a new found respect for it. I'm still a little bored with it but it is a really solid car for the money and if they could tap into that sexiness that Audi seems to do well I think they'd sell a buttload of them.

Just some thoughts.

 

Neither of the cars you compared it to were real competitors, anyone would choose the 2010 TL SH-AWD...

 

^^^^^ Agree.

The TL is a 4-door sedan; whereas the MDX and FX are SUV's, and the A5 is a 2-door sport car. Totally incomparable.

 

I can just about promise you will miss the Honda/Acura reliability if you just ship ... just a thought.

 

damn, i just signed the papers for a cpo, 2010 shawd,tech,6mt . im praying i never get bored with it. i hear ya tho. i sold my 2005 6mt last week, which for some reason i got tired of after reading in the 4g forum. i only owned my 2005 for about a year! my wife made me sign a contract stating i would keep this 2010 tl for at least 3 years, and also make sure its paid for, before i update after 3 years. kinda strange, but i hope this will help my sickness of constantly buying and selling.

 

Congrats on the pickup. I don't think you'll be bored with the 6MT/SHAWD combo!

 

In terms of the SUVs you drove I'm a big fan of the FX35, sweet exhaust especially

 

ID, I like Audi too, but you still can beat Honda/Acura reliability!

All that pretty stuff inside the car is no good if it ain't runnin' right....

 

guys lets get real here for a second; from reading on these boards you would think bmw/audi drivers live at the at the service center, which is simply not true. most modern cars are very reliable; some more than others. i've owned bmw's and have family members with audi's. the vast majority are perfectly fine with no major issues. you'll get overall better reliability with honda/acura but dont for a second believe that bmw's and audi's are not reliable.

 

Omar, you are right. I used to own an older BMW 535i. It was white with a red leather interior-rare car.

I loved the car, but it was ALWAYS in the shop. It nickeled and dimed me to death! Because of that experience, I'm pretty much done with BMW. I'm sure they're more reliable now, but you still hear of bad BMW and Audi stories.

Heck, you hear of lemon stories sometimes with Honda/Acura.

 

ya modern cars are very reliable for the most part; however there are exceptions and bmw's/audi's tend to have more "exceptions" lol. but reading on these forums makes you think audi's/bmw's get 1000 miles between service visits!

 

Here's one thing that won't be disputed ... Honda/Acura vehicles are the least favorite cars of independent mechanics, period. They absolutely HATE to see you riding in them. Why??? Because it is a proven fact that they will starve to death before you show up for a corrective maintenance issue.

While VW/Audi, BMW and Mercedes do invite one heck of a driving experience, they ARE expensive to maintain. IMO, they are fabulous cars to lease, enjoy and give back. It is my firm belief, that they simply aren't good cars to own if repair/maintenance expense is a financial concern.

 

I know this just a matter of opinion but during my investigation of these cars it seemed to me the reliability issues where mostly design issues and not manufacturing problems. These more unreliable companies seem to be the same ones constantly pushing the limits with 8-speed transmissions, fancy electronic gizmos and a list of a million potential options.

Then there's Acura. Slow to adopt cutting edge technology (still has 5-speed ATs, and ancient NAV system, no DI engines), a more pragmatic inclusion of gizmos and only two or three option packages.

Is the difference that Acura really puts more R&D into their products and thus doesn't want to move on to the next cutting edge thing too quickly or are they just trying to save money by maximizing the usage of their IP for as long as possible? Is their better reliability just a unintended consequence of being cheap and not pushing any technology limits?

 

Honda/Acura is VERY slow to adapt new technology ... but never slow in developing/testing it. Everything that AHMC does is highly methodical, everything. The end result is the most reliable list of vehicles in production.

Honda/Acura puts PLENTY of money into R&D, more than most. They develop almost everything solo, not using "library-based" solutions.

Reliability is anything but cheap ... just the opposite. Honda does shy from "pushing the limits", absolutely. Remember the Old West? The pioneers got arrows in their backs, the settlers got the good land. This scenario is no different.

Honda/Acura automobiles aren't for everyone. They are NOT for those wanting the latest in gadgetry, the highest in performance, the ultimate in prestige OR those looking for high-dollar styling. They are built for those with discerning tastes that run toward reliability, value and safety.

 

We are lucky that in America we can still get bored with a $40,000 vehicle. With the highest GDP/capita in the world, the average household in the United States of America has 1.9 cars (2003) in the garage.

OP, keep the car you already have and take a moment to realize how lucky you are to be able to afford it. In South Africa 74% of all households did not own cars in 2003.

SAVE YOUR MONEY

 

Acura's are a step up from any German breed! I think pretty much anyone who has any taste in cars knows this, agree?

 

Haha. Dumbest statement ive ever heard.