Hello! I'm coming off an '05 Caddy CTS lease and need to make a decision soon. Caddy is not running the good programs they had back in '05, so there's not much incentive for me to get another one, especially since I had a problem with my '05 that was never resolved, plus the two 08's I test-drove both had problems.

So I decided to go practical (well, sort of) and look at an Acura TL ($36K fully loaded w/nav). This would keep my $540 lease payment about the same (actually a bit less). However, the Acura dealer is affiliated with the BMW dealer across the street, so I asked for a 328 coupe to test-drive in addition to the TL. So I pull up to the dealer and there's an Acura, PLUS a gorgeous silver Beemer coupe with premium and sport packages. Test-drove both. Guess which won my heart?

On a $45,420 MSRP, I got a quote of $688 for 36 mos./12k and $2882 due at signing. What do you guys think? Obviously, I'd be increasing my expense by $150/mo. However, I KNOW the BMW would make me happy every time I looked at it. The Acura is a nice-looking car, but....doesn't give me that thrill. I'm afraid I'm gonna be sick of it in a year.

I had a 2000 BMW 5-series and it was the most beautiful car I ever owned (leased). I'm priced out of the 5's now, but I think the 3 coupe LOOKS bigger because of those long doors. And those headlights! I can't afford the bigger engine or the AWD...but snow is rare around here these days. Well, anyway....let me know what you think, and I'm glad I found this forum!

Speaking from experience:

Had a 2001 325ci on lease. Bought the least out -- enjoyed the car until the first major regular service due. Got Married -- wife not happy about maintenance.

Long story short -- traded the 325ci for a 2004 TL (Manual, Navi...Loaded). Had the TL for ONE YEAR and couldn't stand it any more. Found a buyer to take the car off my hands.

I am now [hopefully] getting back into a BMW within a week.

The Acura was a cool car - lots of tech stuff. It also had pretty decent HP and straight-line speed. However -- you should not underestimate the importance of rear (or all) wheel drive in a sports car. You just don't have anywhere near the same car with FWD.

Not sure how big a factor winter weather is for you, but if at all possible - bite the bullet and get the BMW. You will be forever pleased with yourself.

This month's issue of Roundel did a comparison between an E90 330i and the TL... basically said go for whatever floats your boat, they're both good cars.

How come you are cross shopping a coupe and a sedan!

Purely looks. Well, the TL doesn't come in a coupe. And in the BMW, I prefer the look of the coupe over the sedan. I haven't had a coupe in years, so it might be a hassle, but the look of the car is killer. And I can count on one hand the number of times I've had anyone in the backseat.

How come you are cross shopping a coupe and a sedan!

I think a lot of people do this b/c Acura is currently not offering a luxury 2 door since they discontinued the CL.

The Acura has some allure (quality, fit and finish, techy gadgets, price) but since there is no 2 door, people default to the 4 door TL.

Then no brainer, go for the BMW. Case closed.

This is the last year for the current TL model. I have a TL. Its a good car, better straight-line speed than a 328 in my view. The 328 handles better and is a nice highway cruiser.

Get the 328.

After having problems with BMW and Mercedes, I faced a similar decision in 1999 (previous generation TL and 3). I bought the TL. It had a nice engine, it was reliable and it seemed like a good value, but I was never happy with it.

If you are an enthusiast, it's worth the extra bucks for the 328. It will satisfy you and the TL won't. I love my new 328 and I don't think I'll ever wander from BMW again.

It depends what your after and the price you want to pay. Acura is faster in a straight line, better gas mileage, loaded and reliable. BMW is well a BMW, fun and handles like a dream, a coupe and you pay for it. Me, I had a CL-S very happy with it, but between a TL-S and a 335i 2 months ago the money was well worth it.

Accura is a tool, BMW - a piece of art. Is that worth $150. With the coupe, you will smile every time you go in garage.

When I bought my Lex IS350, I told friends that Lex built a better BMW. I was bored after a year, & "tried" a 335 coupe. Luckily my wife took the Lex off my hands; now I don't even enjoy riding in it.

Two weeks ago I ordered a 328i coupe. But one of the cars I was looking at was an Acura TL, which they make in a manual transmisstion. My mother has driven Acuras for years (including a late 80s Legend coupe in manual which was a blast to drive), and they've been wonderfully dependable cars. She currently drives a 2001 Accura CL coupe in automatic which has been a great car. It runs and handles beautifully, but the handling is just soft enough for my mother's tastes. As an aside, I sure wish Acura still made their mid-sized cars in a coupe (like the old Legend and my mom's CL).

Ultimately, if I went with the BMW for a variety of reasons, but particularly because of the handling characteristics. Nothing handles like a BMW. But if I were to get a Japanese car it'd be the Acura TL in manual.

When I was looking at the TL and asked the salesperson how come they didn't offer more supportive seats with the sports version, he said if you want that get the RSX :confused. That was the last time I set foot in an Acura dealership, just shows you where they are coming from. I believe it is a car for a totally different audience.

South Jersey huh. That would either be Turnersville BMW or DeSimone BMW (both have Acura sister companies across the street from each other). When I went looking, I went to Turnersville so I got to try all the luxury brands except MB. They paraded out the BMW, Acura TL, Cadilac STS, Volvo, and a VW. So I got to do a head to head. The BMW won hands down. And if you are in South Jersey (I'm in Swedesboro), the snow is just enough to make a 2wd/RWD car a slight handful in the snow. Don't forget, down here we don't get the snow but we get the icy slush and frozen backroads. So go for FWD or AWD if your budget allows.

OK, the deal is done! I went for the BMW, actually the same one I test-drove -- silver 328XI coupe, which will make me feel better if it actually does snow. It's at BMW of Atlantic City, Deeman. Thanks for making me feel better about my decision, even though it's a bit of a stretch for me financially. I know I won't regret it! I'm on my way to pick it up tonight.

OK, the deal is done! I went for the BMW, actually the same one I test-drove -- silver 328XI coupe, which will make me feel better if it actually does snow. It's at BMW of Atlantic City, Deeman. Thanks for making me feel better about my decision, even though it's a bit of a stretch for me financially. I know I won't regret it! I'm on my way to pick it up tonight.

Does this mean you are playing the field again? :stickoutt

if you are stretching yourself financially with the economy these days, i wouldnt say a luxury car that you cant afford is the wisest choice.

I wish I could have had my two cents here.

1. BMW for fun and thrill
2. Acura for reliability and a very good ride for a long time.

I have a 15 year old Acura Legend and it has been maintenance free other than expendable items - tires, battery, radiator, front axles (cv joints).

One only needs to read the BMW forums to see that these aren't maintenance free cars.

Gary

Grumpa, I too had a Legend ('94), it was a great car. Since then, my leased vehicles have been a '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee, '00 BMW 5(28?), '03 Infiniti QX4, '05 Cadillac CTS. I have been leasing for over 20 years and it's worked out fine for me. The BMW payment is about a hundred more than my current CTS payment; however, a new CTS would have been at least that or more. And I'm happier with the BMW....it is gorgeous. I picked it up tonight. Love it! I really need to bury myself in the manual to figure out the I-drive and other bells and whistles. I know I would not have been anywhere near this thrilled if I had been picking up a TL.

I wish I could have had my two cents here.

1. BMW for fun and thrill
2. Acura for reliability and a very good ride for a long time.

I have a 15 year old Acura Legend and it has been maintenance free other than expendable items - tires, battery, radiator, front axles (cv joints).

One only needs to read the BMW forums to see that these aren't maintenance free cars.

Gary

I have a 4 year old Acura TL that has not been maintenance free and has had very premature wear of back brakes, 3 sets of tires in 80k KMS, the roof liner is falling down, the battery has already been replaced and the steering pump has been replaced. Not to mention the dreaded vibration problem associated with a certain brand of tires.

Also, when you buy the BMW, you are paying to be treated just a little better than other brands of car dealerships. I had to have the iPod interface fixed (salesman broke it when I picked up the car). They've bent over backwards to make me happy. They even offered a loaner in place of me driving away with mine the night of pickup. They were going to nab the plug from another car and install it overnight. I said no but it was nice to know they would do that. The day they did fix it, they bought me breakfast since I came in at 8:00 AM. From what I hear, this was pretty normal stuff for this dealership.

Well, Deeman, you bring up a good point. Service was one of my main considerations. In dealing with my Cadillac's problems, I've felt that the service is not "luxury-level" -- i.e., it is GM service, the same for Cadillac as you'd get for your Chevy. Given that the new CTS seems to be working out some kinks, I figured I'd be dealing with Service again and absolutely did not want to go through the same experience I'd had with my '05. Anyway, I digress -- this thread was about the Acura v. the BMW, not the Cadillac, which I had already ruled out.

I'm sure Acura's service would've been fine. But BMW has been great. The dealership has called me three times in one day to follow up and see how I'm doing. I mentioned I didn't think my Ipod Shuffle would work with the Ipod cable, and the sales guy said to just bypass the cable and plug it directly into the USB port. I did, and it worked! He also said if I have any questions as I'm going through the manual, stop by the dealership any time. They could not have been more accommodating.

I can't wait to go drive it somewhere! Maybe someday I'll be get photo privileges here!

Well, Deeman, you bring up a good point. Service was one of my main considerations. In dealing with my Cadillac's problems, I've felt that the service is not "luxury-level" -- i.e., it is GM service, the same for Cadillac as you'd get for your Chevy. Given that the new CTS seems to be working out some kinks, I figured I'd be dealing with Service again and absolutely did not want to go through the same experience I'd had with my '05. Anyway, I digress -- this thread was about the Acura v. the BMW, not the Cadillac, which I had already ruled out.

I'm sure Acura's service would've been fine. But BMW has been great. The dealership has called me three times in one day to follow up and see how I'm doing. I mentioned I didn't think my Ipod Shuffle would work with the Ipod cable, and the sales guy said to just bypass the cable and plug it directly into the USB port. I did, and it worked! He also said if I have any questions as I'm going through the manual, stop by the dealership any time. They could not have been more accommodating.

I can't wait to go drive it somewhere! Maybe someday I'll be get photo privileges here!
That shouldn't take long, 100 posts or so. If you contribute positively to some other threads, shoot me a PM and I may be able to speed up that process for you as an incentive.
Congrats and welcome.