posted 05-31-2005 16:55               

I'd like him to look at other cars in about the same price range and 'class' just so he can feel he's made a good decision (by looking at several). Acura is listed as a pre-luxury (whatever that means).

Last year he bought a Saturn Vue (mid-size SUV) which he thought he would love. He had done quite a bit of research on the internet. Many, MANY people loved their Vues. He HATES it. He calls it a rattle trap (it is pretty noisy and creaky). Stinks on mileage. Sorta rough ride (but it is an SUV!).

posted 05-31-2005 17:06               

FWIW I have bought the Toyota's high end Camry ( which was the Lexus ES300 but it may be the Avalon model now ) and the high end Honda Accord (which is the Acura TL) saved thousands and had basically the same car as the luxury badges.

posted 05-31-2005 17:48               

I bought the Toyota Camry after looking at all of those - Lexus, Infinity and Acura. I'm partial to Toyota products so I must admit I didn't look too hard at the Infinity or Acura. And my thoughts on the Lexus were that I couldn't see paying the additional money for what seemed to be just be a "fancy Toyota". Now I did get the top of the line Camry which has the navigational system and I love it.

posted 05-31-2005 19:27               

quote:

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Originally posted by Bucky:
Unless I was a traveling salesperson I'd save the extra 2 grand you'll pay for the navigation system. JMHO.

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I'm not a traveling salesperson but I LOVE my navigational system. I don't use it all the time, but it has really saved us numerous times. Steve is even looking at it as a safety device and wants to buy a car with a nav system for our daughter who is a fairly new driver. He likes the idea of her being able to find her way home if she gets into areas she's not familiar with.

posted 06-01-2005 07:01               

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Originally posted by lawren2:
Acura is Honda's high-end badge....and the high end Honda Accord (which is the Acura TL) saved thousands and had basically the same car as the luxury badges.

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The Acura TL is a SUBSTANTIAL upgrade from the Honda Accord. There are significant differences.

posted 06-01-2005 07:27               

quote:

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Originally posted by Kal:
The Acura TL is a SUBSTANTIAL upgrade from the Honda Accord. There are significant differences.

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Agreed. There are several difference between the 2004 Acura TL with navigation and the 2005 Honda Accord EX V6.

The Acura TL has 30 more horsepower (unless you're talking about the 255 HP hybrid version), 26 more ft lbs of torque, a DVD-A/DTS sound system (best in any car IMO), memory seats, maintenance reminder, slightly bigger navigation system screen (8" vs. 7"), longer warranty (4 yrs vs. 3 yrs), a shiftable automatic, slightly bigger wheels (17" vs. 16", unless you buy the Accord V6 coupe), one more one-touch window (passenger side), heated outside mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, stability control, xenon headlights, and a more powerful sound system. Other than the features listed above and some very slightly different interior dimensions, the cars are the same.

Now if you can justify $6,000 - $10,000 more the all these features (and better looks), then go for it. I couldn't justify the extra money for the TL. Or the thought of having to put 91 octane in it. The Accord had 95% of the same features of the TL for 81% of the invoice price.

posted 06-01-2005 07:36            

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Originally posted by RonaldCol:
Honda made the Acura to compete with the Toyota years ago. It's really a battle between the Toyota Camry and the Acura. We went for the Camry because we've owned Toyotas before and have always had excellent experiences with them. We owned Fords, Buicks and Chevys, Mitsubishi, and Mazdas.

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posted 06-01-2005 11:24               

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Originally posted by Elan:

Lexus is Toyota's upper line as Acura is Honda's. A Camry should be compared to a Honda Accord, not an Acura, IMO.

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Now that's an interesting comparison. The Acura's pricing is not that much more expensive than a Camry, but the Lexus pricing is way above the Acura's. Am I correct? If so, then we should have looked at the Acura if they're comparable to the Lexus's in quality but lower in pricing.

We liked the Lexus's but couldn't justify the pricing so we "settled" for the Camry!

posted 06-01-2005 16:19               

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Originally posted by lawren2:

Agreed. There are several difference between the 2004 Acura TL with navigation and the 2005 Honda Accord EX V6.

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Aside from the creature comforts there are also major differences in the construction, drive train, braking system, etc. All the stuff you can't see.

posted 06-01-2005 17:54               

According to Car and Driver magazine (you can find this online), the Accord is the best family sedan, the TSX the best sports sedan and the Acura TL the best luxury sedan. I dunno, maybe they are biased?

I love my TSX. Now when I drive our old Oldsmobile, it feels like I am driving a tank.

posted 06-01-2005 18:17               

quote:

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Originally posted by RonaldCol:

Now that's an interesting comparison. The Acura's pricing is not that much more expensive than a Camry, but the Lexus pricing is way above the Acura's. Am I correct? If so, then we should have looked at the Acura if they're comparable to the Lexus's in quality but lower in pricing.

We liked the Lexus's but couldn't justify the pricing so we "settled" for the Camry!

I would think that at approx $35,670 the TL w/Navigation would be a much closer match to the ES 330 at approx $35,025 w/Navigation. You can trick an Accord up to about $29k with all the bells and whistles and the Camry up to around $30k. In the Toyota line I personally think that the new Avalon competes with the TL much better than the Camry. Again, JMHO.

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