Left Acura/Honda for BMW
12-24-2011 | 06:22 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Left Acura/Honda for BMW
I bought my first Honda after university - A CRX and graduated from that to Accords and then the 2nd and 3rd Generation TL. My 2004 TL saw a lot of duty, and ended up becoming the car the whole family used. After buying a 3 series coupe in 2007 everyone who drove both cars commented on how different and better the BMW felt. I considered the 4th Generation car, but couldn't get over the shape of it. I ultimately settled on a BMW 535xi with the M sport package. Anyway, farewell to the Acura owners. For me the 3rd Generation TL will always be my first "upscale" car with a lot of technology for its day and a wonderful shape.
12-24-2011 | 07:24 AM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 370
From: Texas Hill Country
I bought my first Honda after university - A CRX and graduated from that to Accords and then the 2nd and 3rd Generation TL. My 2004 TL saw a lot of duty, and ended up becoming the car the whole family used. After buying a 3 series coupe in 2007 everyone who drove both cars commented on how different and better the BMW felt. I considered the 4th Generation car, but couldn't get over the shape of it. I ultimately settled on a BMW 535xi with the M sport package. Anyway, farewell to the Acura owners. For me the 3rd Generation TL will always be my first "upscale" car with a lot of technology for its day and a wonderful shape.
Keep us posted on how you like it.
12-24-2011 | 10:40 AM
#6
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
I bought my first Honda after university - A CRX and graduated from that to Accords and then the 2nd and 3rd Generation TL. My 2004 TL saw a lot of duty, and ended up becoming the car the whole family used. After buying a 3 series coupe in 2007 everyone who drove both cars commented on how different and better the BMW felt. I considered the 4th Generation car, but couldn't get over the shape of it. I ultimately settled on a BMW 535xi with the M sport package. Anyway, farewell to the Acura owners. For me the 3rd Generation TL will always be my first "upscale" car with a lot of technology for its day and a wonderful shape.
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12-24-2011 | 03:02 PM
#18
But I do agree, many of us own other brands, but still participate on the boards because of the diversity of the members when it comes to cars we own. Makes for a pretty good discussion at times.
12-24-2011 | 03:11 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 756
Likes: 18
From: Glastonbury, CT
From my personal experience I agree; I bought a new 330xi in 2001 (a year after my TL), and though I absolutely loved driving the car, there wasn't a month that went by where something didn't go wrong. I never purchase extended warranties since I maintain and do all my own work, but in this case I did (after listening to others), and was so glad I did. I ended up dumping the car in '05 when the extended warranty expired and replaced it with another Acura. I had just way too any issues to enjoy the car and the dealership experience was very adversarial; I miss the sound of the engine and the handling, but even if I won one I probably sell it (though I sometimes toss around the idea of getting another, then slap some sense into myself 
).
Maybe the reliability has changed for the better, but my experience has left me tainted. Just like after all the Hundai junk they sold in the late 80's, I'd never consider one no matter how much they've progressed.
A first negative personal experience is a powerful thing.
).Maybe the reliability has changed for the better, but my experience has left me tainted. Just like after all the Hundai junk they sold in the late 80's, I'd never consider one no matter how much they've progressed.
A first negative personal experience is a powerful thing.
Last edited by Severin; 12-24-2011 at 03:17 PM.
12-24-2011 | 03:34 PM
#21
Well, to be fair, just because your experience has left you tainted, that doesn't mean that one should spread possibly false information. Comparing your experience with a 2001 model to what may be a 2011 model is highly unfair to the buyer and to the brand. Now if you bought a model that is the same generation, maybe a year or two off and had a poor experience, then your statements would reflect more credibility. However, like many others that post negative statements like you did, is why so many brands have a hard time winning over customers. It's not because the brand made a mistake, that they may have gone out of their way to correct and improve upon, but it's because people take stuff out of context and blanket it across the brand no matter the time frame and paint a picture that could be false so people jump on the bandwagon and say stuff like "Oh BMW reliability sucks" "Oh VW reliability sucks" which isn't justified in the least bit.
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12-24-2011 | 04:47 PM
#23
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 168
Congrats. 
I've owned BMWs and Mercedes for that matter. My dad was a huge Volkswagen fan. I love the way they feel, but the high cost of repairs and the difficulty in trying to figure out what actually is wrong is what tends to be the MO of german cars when they get on in miles...
I've owned BMWs and Mercedes for that matter. My dad was a huge Volkswagen fan. I love the way they feel, but the high cost of repairs and the difficulty in trying to figure out what actually is wrong is what tends to be the MO of german cars when they get on in miles...
Last edited by CarbonGray Earl; 12-24-2011 at 04:53 PM.
12-24-2011 | 04:59 PM
#24
Senior Moderator
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 17,904
Likes: 1,672
Congratulations on the 535i!! I honestly believe that the 5-series is still the benchmark of the premium sedan segment. I hope you find its ownership to be rewarding.
With the lease on our 09 MDX coming due in several months, the wife and I leaning strongly towards making the leap to BMW (X5) as well. (We'll still be in the Honda camp with our 12 Accord and 97 Lude though.)
With the lease on our 09 MDX coming due in several months, the wife and I leaning strongly towards making the leap to BMW (X5) as well. (We'll still be in the Honda camp with our 12 Accord and 97 Lude though.)
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silkk8482 (12-26-2011)
12-25-2011 | 03:32 PM
#31
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 623
Likes: 24
From: calgary
I am in the same boat as well. My 04 TSX is showing it's age, I am seriously considering a F30 328i xDrive. It will probably cost three times as much to maintain it, but that's a price I am willing to pay to play. As much as I feel attached to Honda (I still do), there isn't anything I desire in the current line up.
12-25-2011 | 06:12 PM
#33
Banned
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 198
Congratulation, I like the 5 series a lot, one of my favorite German sedans...if I were forced to buy only German, it would be a BMW (the new A7 is very nice too though).
It still costs too much for what it has to offer IMHO....there are other alternatives.
It still costs too much for what it has to offer IMHO....there are other alternatives.
12-26-2011 | 12:43 AM
#36
streetka, i can agree that the pics you posted of the modded 4g tl do look very good, but there was no need to bring that into this thread. if you guys wish to contine this discussion, take it to the acura discussion thread that yummy created. lets keep this thread on topic. 
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StreetKA (12-26-2011)
12-26-2011 | 12:06 PM
#38
A6 and TL
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 145
From: New York/Brampton Canada/SoCal
Nice choice OP! I am going to the dealer tomorrow to see how much they would give me for my E60. Thinking about a F10 528i maybe a F10 535i if the price works out.
Last edited by juniorbean; 12-27-2011 at 12:24 PM. Reason: Cleaning...
Beats me dude. 
How you been?
12-27-2011 | 10:34 AM
#40
אני עומד עם ישראל
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,860
Likes: 810
From: Los Gatos, CA
Doing great man. I sold the Fit we picked up an '09 Highlander CPO Limited V6 2WD with 32k on it. The dogs are seeing duty in that thing now. Pretty cool SUV. Been two weeks now and my wife still can't park it