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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1253 of 1609

#12519 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [drive4show] by markcincinnati

Nov 28, 2011 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: drive4show (Nov 28, 2011 3:21 pm)
I have (correction, my wife and I have had) twenty-nine Audi's, three BMW's and two VW's since the mid 1970's. We currently have a 2011 Infiniti FX35 AWD Premium and a 2012 Acura SH-AWD Advance.
 
The Acura, upon first test drive (in a day with several test drives over identical routes and speeds, etc) was "close to" a 2011 Audi S4 Premium+ without any additional options (that is, it did not have the torque vectoring option called Sport Differential.)
 
Many -- myself included -- scoff or repress a scoff (that's me) -- whenever I utter or type those words. But damnit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a plumber, no wait, I'm a software guy not a professional car reviewer.
 
But there it is -- a $47,000+ Acura TL drives and feels pretty much like a potentially $59,000 Audi S4 (if they are equipped similarly the Audi's price shoots up, big time.) A serious Automobile magazine comparison of the two cars may not convice you that the Acura should be shopped against the Audi, but the numbers (produced and recorded for both cars) are not that far apart -- and it feels as if the Acura and the Audi are twin-sons of different mothers or something akin to that.
 
look here:
 
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1008_2010_acura_tl_sh_awd_vs_2010_au- di_s4/viewall.html
 
In any case, I was driving a 2009 Audi A4 2.0T Prestige w/sport package and 19" wheels and tires with Audi Drive Select for Pete's sake -- and I wanted a new 2012 Audi. A reasonably well equipped A4 (not S4) could be had for about $47,000, so the Acura, at the price, seemed a good place to compare.
 
Problem was, the Audi came back at a 42 month lease point that was much higher than the Acura's lease point for 36 months.
 
Bzzz. A 4-cyc Audi w/211 HP (and it seemed smaller than the Acura) vs an Acura w/305 HP with every possible do dad that Acura throws on these cars?
 
Even the loyalty and "pull" of 29 previous Audis could not make me cough up the extra money (which would have been about $200 per month).
 
In any case, given an identical deal, I probably would have re-upped for the Audi (at the time, in fact, I am certain I would have); but the dollar done me in. Hell, at the time, for the exact same money, I probably would have gone for a Volvo S60 T6 AWD with a few option boxes ticked off.
 
Now, 5,000 miles later -- I am, I admit it -- very pleased with my decision and love to press down on the accelerator and be rewarded with great power and power delivered as if it were coming from an ultra smooooooth turbine.
 
The Acura TL SH-AWD Advance may not quite know what it wants to be, but for the time being it is the bargain of the bunch for performance and content methinks.
 
Still loving the Germans, but temporarily on vacation with the Japanese.
 
-- Mark
 
Oh yea, drive it like you live.
 
 

#12520 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [markcincinnati] by sweendogy

Nov 28, 2011 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Nov 28, 2011 3:47 pm)
Glad you like the TL - seems like a nice rig and for the dollar is abetter buy then a loaded a4 but here is another review that's not as glowing.
 
http://m.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1106_2012_acura_tl_sh_awd_ad- - - vance/index.html
 
Here is an interesting blurb:
 
"I appreciate Acura's offering a manual transmission in the TL, but I was not nearly as enamored of it as my colleagues seem to be. Perhaps it felt a little out of place to me because I don't really see Acura as a brand for enthusiasts. Keep making your cars heavier, cancel the development of your V-8 engine, unleash the ZDX on the world, and it's no wonder enthusiasts are more interested in BMW, Audi, and Cadillac these days"
 
This is similar to what I wrote 3 years ago before I got kicked out of a tl chat

#12521 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [sweendogy] by tlong

Nov 28, 2011 (6:35 pm)

Replying to: sweendogy (Nov 28, 2011 6:39 pm)
"I appreciate Acura's offering a manual transmission in the TL, but I was not nearly as enamored of it as my colleagues seem to be. Perhaps it felt a little out of place to me because I don't really see Acura as a brand for enthusiasts. Keep making your cars heavier, cancel the development of your V-8 engine, unleash the ZDX on the world, and it's no wonder enthusiasts are more interested in BMW, Audi, and Cadillac these days"
 
That's nice, but you should separate the CAR from the BRAND. One poster says the CAR is 90% of the Audi. No arguments about the BRAND, but development of a V8, the existence of the ZDX have nothing to do with whether the TL is a good car or not.

#12522 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [tlong] by sweendogy

Nov 28, 2011 (6:46 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Nov 28, 2011 6:35 pm)
The article never mentioned the TL as not being good. Infact they said "When looked at side-by-side with the BMW 3-series, the Volvo S60, or the Cadillac CTS, the TL strikes me as mid-pack at best in terms of performance, refinement, and status and brings up the rear in the looks and sex appeal departments. Although this is a very good car, it lacks emotion and that intangible something that makes it more desirable that its competitors."

#12523 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [sweendogy] by markcincinnati

Nov 29, 2011 (8:05 am)

Replying to: sweendogy (Nov 28, 2011 6:39 pm)
I have no disagreement with anything either you or the professional reviewer said -- I have found, after some 5,000 miles however, that the Acura is more, er, enthusiastic than I would have, could have, imagined.
 
The overall brand, Acura, faces its detractors and challenges. By the time Acrua had a V8 in the market, "everyone" would be writing "why bother" as even BMW and Audi are moving to fewer cylinders and blown engines instead of naturally aspirated ones.
 
I give nor take any points away from Acura due to its lack of a V8.
 
It remains true, today, however, that Acura is typically not considered an enthusiast's brand. Some of this perception could change however now that Tony Stark is getting an Acura in the new Avenger's movie (who'da thunk he'd turn in his R8?)
 
 

#12524 of 16087 Re: MPG [rayainsw] by flightnurse

Nov 29, 2011 (8:33 am)

Replying to: rayainsw (Nov 28, 2011 11:35 am)
You are getting right on target for your car. How long did you have to wait for your car to return from Germany? This spring we are doing the European Del on our 535i, the last time I did the Euro Del it took 7 weeks.

#12525 of 16087 how long Re: MPG [flightnurse] by rayainsw

Nov 29, 2011 (9:39 am)

Replying to: flightnurse (Nov 29, 2011 8:33 am)
7 weeks + 2 days.
Spent a bit longer before boarding in Germany and
longer at port \ dist. center here than I
had expected. [ hoped ]
OTOH, they replaced a front wheel I scraped up in Italy!
BMW estimates 6-8 weeks for East Coast.
So....
- Ray
Really enjoying the drive!

#12526 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [sweendogy] by billyperksii

Nov 29, 2011 (10:04 am)

Replying to: sweendogy (Nov 28, 2011 6:46 pm)
Sweeny- you must have something against the brand, you are always digging up negative articles. There are buyers who are more realist- we actually go out and test the cars ourselves to detrmine if its to our desires. Why dont you try that the next time you are in the market, maybe some of the cars you are malicing will blow your mind.
I used to subscribe to Car and Driver several years back, but I realized that if the car does not have a BMW emblem on the hood the reviews went south- hence, I cancelled my subscription.

#12528 of 16087 Re: 2012 TL SH-AWD [billyperksii] by sweendogy

Nov 29, 2011 (10:29 am)

Replying to: billyperksii (Nov 29, 2011 10:04 am)
Billy - I would again read all posts it was in responce to the article , that was in the same mag as Mark posted about the s4- it was the other side of the agrument -
 
How's the search for the E65 going? Us 99% ers could only dream.
 
Mark- I agree the V8 is no longer needed for the brand.

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