Should I get an Acura TSX or BMW328ia

[pd123]

We need a new car and are considering the 2006 Acura TSX $25,000 or slightly out of reach 2007 BMW 328ia about $33,000. Also possible is a 2006 BMW 325i for a little less but the changes in engine, I think if I went for the BMW, it would be the 2007. Another thought is the 2006 Acura TL about $30,000. Thank you

[Airencracken]

The TSX hands down. It's more reliable, period.

[Houdini]

I'd still opt for a CPO BMW. Let someone eat the depreciation, and enjoy a car that handles like a dream. You get full warranty on EVERYTHING, including oil changes, brakes, etc., for 50k miles. Then you get an additional 50k for drivetrain stuff, which is better than a new car.

And, you can always upgrade the maintenance stuff for an extra <$1000.

I have a strong preference for RWD, and the BMW's 50/50 weight split, especially with the sport package, makes it a wonderful car. No regrets from my end, and I have an '03 I bought in '04. I may upgrade the power sometime with a supercharger sometime.

That said, you do get more power for you buck with the Acura. But you're still crippled by understeer, and working on the thing, like most transverse engine cars, IMHO is a biatch. Changing the oil on a BMW takes about 10 min with the right equipment and is perfectly painless. There is much more to a car than power. Handling and torque curve mean a LOT more. Unless you're into purely drag racing, which you generally commpromise handling, which is safer for day-to-day driving. And you can't beat the highway MPG for a sport/luxury sedan. And there are plenty of BMWs with 200k+ miles on them.

[Cheesypuff]

there are very few things that I covet....and the TSX is one of them. yum yum yum

[ufcrusher]

Go with the BMW...if you can get a "dealer car" one that has less than 10k miles on it, you will get the 100k warranty, plus the balance of the original manufacturer warranty. Of course, you will pay just below sticker for that, but its a lot of extra "protection."

The BMW and TSX are not comparable.

[Jihforce]

TSX is not a fun ride. Feels like an Accord. Opt for the 3-series.
Now the real question is, do you want a TL or a 3-series? That is a though call. There aren't a lot of cars out there that handle like a BMW. I once was presented with the same option, the TSX is fairly luxurious and the engine is adequate. However, for that price, i think a Accord V6 would be funner.

[KCEnder]

I had a tsx for a year and loved it, plenty of power if you get the manual transmition. I only sold it because i had to move overseas. one more vote for the TSX

[Freelance Superhero]

if pd123 is just looking for a family commuter car or something, comfort would probably trump performance. even if the 3 series employs engineering superior to that found in the TL, if pd123 doesn't drive in such a way as to notice the difference or take full advantage of that difference, then that will probably be less of a consideration.

if that's the case, the TL is much more "comfortable" to me than the 3 series. i can't see myself sitting in the 3 series for more than an hour (sometimes LA traffic requires this, and then some), because my ass would start to hurt. and where i drive, i ain't racin nobody down the freeway, so i really couldn't care less about all the mechanical bells and whistles, so to speak. all i need to know is that the car i'm driving has enough power to allow me to accelerate quickly every once in a while and handle sufficiently well enough to mosey through traffic, and the TL is fine for that. i also tend to make a fair number of 400 mile trips, and if i had to do that in the 3 series, i think my legs would go gangrene.

so i think it really depends on what kind of driver pd123 is, and what the car will mostly be used for (family commuter car? fun ride for friday nights out?).

this is all coming for someone who doesn't know squat about cars, mind you, but who has had some experience with the TL and the 3 series, both as driver and passenger. eh, take it for what it's worth; what do i know?

[pd123]

Very good views on the subject. I am going to check out the TL today. My mechanic put fear into me as to the cost of maintaining the BMW. As to FreelanceSuperhero's post. This is mostly a family car but we have a Honda Odyssey as the big hauler so the 2nd car can be for more fun.

[bachviet]

Just a warning, front disc brakes alone costs about $600 installed at BMW dealer.

[Houdini]

Just a warning, front disc brakes alone costs about $600 installed at BMW dealer.

Heh...stay away from dealers. :)

[ufcrusher]

The reality is your mechanic is probably not able to handle repairs and maintenance on a BMW. This is why he but the fear into you, as you said.

First off - Oil - Yes, it will cost you around $60 per oil change, no question. Seems like a lot...until you realize that you are only changing the oil when the car needs it. (yes, the car monitors its oil quality and when to change it.) On our 323cic - we routinely went 10k to 15k before needing a change, in the three years before we sold it, it had 3 scheduled oil changes. On our 330, we have had it over 2 years at this point and had only 1 oil change. (The dealership even said to follow the car, not the old oil mantra) All in all, the oil ends up costing less than or equal to the "normal" oil.

Parts - yep, they cost more from the dealership. Get to know Bavauto.

Labor - find yourself a good german mechanic - he will save you an arm, a leg, and maybe another appendage or three.

Ride - this is subjective. All of our BMWs have been equipped with sports packages, which makes them more responsive....but hit a pebble and you will feel it, know it, and need to write it down in your little black book. Taken plenty of long 12+ hours in them without problem.

Honestly, in my mind you cannot compare the two cars. You are trying to compare an accord with a bmw. (In case you are not aware of it, the Acura TL is a european accord)

Just go with what you enjoy driving.

[askani]

Honestly, in my mind you cannot compare the two cars. You are trying to compare an accord with a bmw. (In case you are not aware of it, the Acura TL is a european accord)

Just go with what you enjoy driving.

That is incorrect. The TSX is the European Accord as well as the Japaness Accord. But what difference does that make, we know Honda is the parent company of Acura, as well as Toyota parent of Lexus. That doesn't diminish how great the two brands are. As a car junkie and realist, I would suggest the TL. It is the the in-between of the three. As a second car that I drive I would get a TSX. My primary would be a TL as it's just an all around amazing car. I wouldn't consider the BMW. Like others have said maintenance is expensive. A former co-worker had one and was always complaining about how much it cost for repairs and such. If you want the status and performance (which you'll never get the most out of) afforded with the BMW then go for it. But I think you're money would probably be best spent with the TSX, or TL (if money is not an issue).

[bachviet]

TSX is a pretty nice car but it's lack of torque at low-end even though the hp is up there for a four-banger (200 hp). If you could spend $32K for a BMW, I would suggest either the TL or the new G35 sedan, which is coming out in December/January.

[MJ]

I have the RSX-Type S...cant believe they are discontinuing it...
amazing lil car....vrrroooommmmm

[Jane83]

Just a warning, front disc brakes alone costs about $600 installed at BMW dealer.
i believe BMW still has full dealer maintainance?
i saw get the beemer.
i traded in my jap car for a euro, and the handling is so much better period.

[JaQnAbOx]

they are coming out with a TL type S soon

[bachviet]

i believe BMW still has full dealer maintainance?
i saw get the beemer.
i traded in my jap car for a euro, and the handling is so much better period.
Maintenance does not cover the brakes because they are wear-n-tear parts.

[pd123]

How does the Volvo S40Turbo sound? http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/09/20/143447.html I don't know anything about it but it looks good and the Turbo gives nice power. This will be a 2nd car, I have a Honda Odyssey.

[ufcrusher]

That is incorrect. The TSX is the European Accord as well as the Japaness Accord. But what difference does that make, we know Honda is the parent company of Acura, as well as Toyota parent of Lexus. That doesn't diminish how great the two brands are. As a car junkie and realist, I would suggest the TL. It is the the in-between of the three. As a second car that I drive I would get a TSX. My primary would be a TL as it's just an all around amazing car. I wouldn't consider the BMW. Like others have said maintenance is expensive. A former co-worker had one and was always complaining about how much it cost for repairs and such. If you want the status and performance (which you'll never get the most out of) afforded with the BMW then go for it. But I think you're money would probably be best spent with the TSX, or TL (if money is not an issue).

Um, what is incorrect about the TSX being a european accord? In your response you even state that it is the european accord. Yes, it was also offered for sale in Japan, but that does not change or challenge what the TSX is, which is a smaller version of the Accord only offered for sale in Europe and Japan that was given more horsepower for the US market.

From Car and Driver, in April 2003, when the TSX was first previewed:

"Surely, Acura is not so daft as to believe it could fool car enthusiasts with some tarted-up front-drive, four-cylinder family sedan.

Well, yes, it is. The TSX is, in fact, a European- and Japanese-market Honda Accord, modified for U.S. sale with more power, more standard equipment, a dose of new marketing, and an "Acura TSX" badge.

This makes it an utter failure as a tool of 3-series worship and yet something altogether more interesting than another copy. In its hunt for the 3-series, Acura has inadvertently conjured up the spirit of the old Nissan Maxima. Here we refer to the '89 through '94 models to which Nissan affixed "4DSC" stickers (for "four-door sports car"), not the softer, larger cars that followed. The TSX is the car for those who need space, want fun, and haven't the money for an impressive badge."

http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/4195/2004-acura-tsx.html

Since that time, the TSX has gotten many favorable reviews. That said, its not a BMW. Its front wheel drive, not rear wheel drive. It doesnt handle the same. Its cut from a different cloth.

[Houdini]

Maintenance does not cover the brakes because they are wear-n-tear parts.

Nope. Brakes are covered explicitely. Mine just tipped over the 50k mark. After 50k, you can pay another ~800 or so for another 50k miles of oil/brake/etc converage. Also covers the usually $600 or so "Inspection II," so it pays for itself easily.

That said, I drive a lot, highway and city, and I occasionally drive it pretty hard. My brake wear indicator light didn't even come on until ~49k. So they last a while.

As above, there are many, many BMW-only or German-only mechanics that are always cheaper and often far more knowledgeable than the dealers. One around here is owned by a retired lawyer who has been a BMW enthusiast since he bought his first 2002 model in the 1970's. He's been a BMW CCA president, etc., and really only charges enough to cover his parts and pay his mechanics. Great advice on prev maintenance, etc. So I really wouldn't let the "high-BMW-maintenance-price" thing scare you.

The 50k complete warranty/maintenance is sweet. And if it's a CPO, you get another 50k on engine/transmission.

About the oil thing - yeah, BMW does monitor the oil viscosity, etc. And you can go a long ways without changing the synthetic oil. But the local guys here advise changing it every 8k miles or so, instead of the ~15k anyway. BMW and other companies switched to synthetic oil and offered free oil changes at long intervals to save money - supposedly even programmed the computer that way. Quite a few engines haven't seen past 100k since they have done that, but those that have their oil changed regularly have no problemos.

To make it easy, get a "Mity-Vac" fluid extractor. Stick it down the dipstick, pump it a couple of times, and let it suck the oil and sludge out. The filter is right on top of the engine compartment near the front. Just unscrew the cap, remove the filter, and replace it and the O-ring (which cost ~10). Pour oil from BMW-Synthetic or Castrol Syntec (BMW's source) into the engine, start it, let it run a few minutes, check again, fill to correct level.

Then, and this is the coolest thing, just switch the "Mity-Vac" from extract to "dispense", stick the tube into each empty oil quart bottle, and let it fill each one up. No muss, no fuss. 15 min job max.

I've drive many hundreds of miles in my 3 series. I'm 6' tall, and, especially with the sport seat with the thigh extention, I can drive forever, quickly, quietly, and comfortably.

Then again, I am biased toward RWD cars anyway, and I didn't feel that the G35 felt as refined, etc., as the e46 3 series. :shrug:

[tupacboy]

isn't the TL a better comparision due to similar price lever? I'm in the same boat as you and decided to go with the TL.

[AlpineJay]

Um, what is incorrect about the TSX being a european accord?

Because you said that the TL was the European Accord.

[Jihforce]

Maintenance does not cover the brakes because they are wear-n-tear parts.


Err...it does cover brakes, wipers too, burned bulbs, etc....i don't believe it covers tires and batteries. Everything else is there.


In terms of price, TL is within the BMW realm, so it should be considered. It offers more power as well, however, it is a bigger car. That can be good or bad depending on your needs.
I will say this tho, nothing handles like a BMW.
G35 is nice as well, but not fuel efficient enough to justify its price.

[ufcrusher]

Because you said that the TL was the European Accord.

Whoops...apparently, I did. I was talking about the TSX...even said so in my first post. Even with that slip up, it should have been clear to everyone which car I was talking about. (Since it is a thread about the TSX, I had mentioned the TSX before, and the facts fit.)