I did look at the 3 and 5 series BMW. They are nice but far too expensive
for what you get. Our dealer in Santa Barbara never orders the navigation
system, nor a cassette. Those are two features that I wanted.

Also, the 3 series has a very small rear seat. It also lacks dual-zone
climate control, which is another feature we wanted. My wife is always
colder than I am. I am not sure whether BMW offers the satellite radio, but
that's another advantage. The BMW has 225 hp and the TL has 270, so that is
another advantage.

I just took a trip of about 300 miles and the gas mileage even stuck in LA
traffic was 27 mpg.

The Acura ads say the new TL was designed to compete with the 5 series BMW.
Of course, the new 5 series has the unsightly trunk. A friend just ordered
a new 545 and it costs $65,000. Far too much for what it is.

Good luck on your purchase.

- Russ


"ag" <ageissenospam@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:F33jb.443$5Y.225@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com.. .
> Did you compare it to a BMW 3 series and if so, why the TL vs the BMW?
>
>
> "RLL" <rlombardo@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:7Ynib.57606$vj2.17799@fed1read06...
> > I just purchased a new Acura TL with the navigation and XM satellite
radio
> > system yesterday. Try as I might, I couldn't get any discount at all.
I
> > paid full list price plus $100 for the mud flaps. I live in California,
> and
> > tried several dealers, they were all asking full list price.
> >
> > I was going to wait to see if the prices would go down, but I decided to
> > bite the bullet and get the green metallic one left on the lot. It's a
> very
> > nice car. I also own an NSX, a Nissan Pathfinder, a Chrysler PT
Cruiser,
> > and a Honda Nighthawk motorcycle. This is by far the nicest of the
bunch.
> >
> > I didn't think I would like (or pay for) the XM satellite radio system,
> but
> > it is really great. It has old time radio programs all the time on one
> > station as well as about 100 other channels including music from the 40s
> > through the 90s in decade increments, country, news, weather, and even a
> > Playboy channel.
> >
> > The radio sounds very good and with the sound-proofed interior makes it
> > sound that much better. The navigation system has very good voice
> > recognition software as well. I have tried it several times and it
> > understood every command. The voice recognition also allows other
> functions
> > including climate control, finding the nearest restaurant, ATMs, filling
> > stations, as well as the nearest Acura dealer. It's also fun to use.
> >
> > A couple of advisories: Acura claimed that the rear seats have
> > pre-tensioners, but they do not. Also, it was claimed that when the car
> is
> > parked, that a DVD movie could be played. However, this apparently also
> is
> > not correct. I haven't tried it yet, but the salesman (admittedly no
> > expert) couldn't get it to work.
> >
> > Overall, I am very happy with the car. It's a bit larger than I thought
> it
> > was. It barely fits in the garage.
> >
> > I would be interested in hearing what other owners say about their new
> TLs.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > - Russ in Santa Barbara
> >
> >
>
>