[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by flipmde786

The auto TL does 0-60 in 5.4? That's the biggest BS ever. The auto TL is closer to 7.0 sec, and car magazines such as C&D and MT consistently do 5.9 with stick. It might do better on skidpad according to numbers, but I don't know about the slalom. MT does 67.8 mph slalom with ZSP 330i. Even if the C&D review says the Acura does better on the skidpad or whatever, it still finished 4th, and 330i finished 1st. Any review of the 330i raves about its handling and integration of car. The TL gets props for handling good for a FWD, but its not at the level of the 330i, or even the G35. Maybe you can go through the slalom at 67.8 in a TL, but I'm sure it won't feel nice to do it with the front-heavy FWD.

One of my friends has a TL and I hate it. The steering feels too light, and although it can take curves quick (for a FWD), it feels like its not glued to the road; it's like barely hanging on with some unwanted lateral movements. Perhaps the A-spec model takes care of that, but the TL is not on my favorites list. Not to mention its a pretty big car. Honestly, I feel like the Type-S model from the last generation had better steering feel and was more satisfying to drive. Still, it has nothing on the 330i or G35 when talking about the overall picture.

A 330xi is slower going straight (at least in manual form) but go take a curve as fast as you can with xDrive and then try to do the same with FWD TL...

That 5.4 sec 0-60 does sound very unbelievable, particularly for a FWD car. The TL has 60/40 weight distribution compared with the 330i (6MT) 50/50 balance.

I did not consider the TL for one main reason: FWD. I don't like torque steer, and I don't like spinning my front wheels. However, you would be surprised at how well some of these FWD cars do in autocross events. They are not as fun to drive IMO, but they do tend to get around the course with less fishtailing and less fanfare.

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

However, you would be surprised at how well some of these FWD cars do in autocross events. They are not as fun to drive IMO, but they do tend to get around the course with less fishtailing and less fanfare.

Well said. Alot of japanese FWD vehicles actually handle very well.
Hey, BMW Mini handles like a go-cart and still a FWD.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

If you scroll up a couple of posts and look at those specs I posted, the website that quoted those quicker 0-60 TL times also listed sub-14 sec quarter-miles @ 102 mph for the TL. This sounds a little optimistic to me.

it very well could have stopped the clock at 13.x, but i'll bet anyone $100 that the car was leaned on a bit before it was delivered for testing..

[txusa03]

I like my 330i, I don't care if it is slower than Lexus or Accura. I just enjoy driving my nimble e90 and the feedback I get from my e90. I also enjoy the free maintenance.

[Artz 330]

Originally Posted by txusa03

I like my 330i, I don't care if it is slower than Lexus or Accura. I just enjoy driving my nimble e90 and the feedback I get from my e90. I also enjoy the free maintenance.

very well said

[davinet78]

you can never compare a front wheel drive to a rear wheel drive

[Artz 330]

Originally Posted by davinet78

you can never compare a front wheel drive to a rear wheel drive

Yes you can. MINI Cooper S vs Porsche Turbo in the Twisties..

lol

[skipper]

I owned a TL-s then an E46 and now an E 90. The Bimmers may have less power but handling is no question superior in the BMW. The Engine just over powers the front wheels in teh TL and you go sideways.

[pharding]

Before purchasing my son's 330 we test drove the competition. He wanted save a few bucks and get an Lexus, Acura, or Infinity. Each for a differing reason come up noticeably short of the 330 with the sport package. One thing that they all suffered from is inferior handling and sports "feel" the 330. Magazine articles and numbers are fun to read and interesting, however ultimately it all boils down to a test drive by the buyer of competing products. When you do this the e90 wins hands down. The Acura has spacious cabin, but it falls well short of the e90 in handling and sportiness. Another factor was BMW's inclusion of all maintence for the first few years.

[Artz 330]

Originally Posted by skipper

I owned a TL-s then an E46 and now an E 90. The Bimmers may have less power but handling is no question superior in the BMW. The Engine just over powers the front wheels in teh TL and you go sideways.

Japaneese Ponys are small so they need to over rate their HP numbers. German Ponys are big fat and huge thus they under rate the HP.

[Nikki]

Well I don't do the 1/4 mile, so I'll take my car any day and laugh at the TL as it eats my dust in the AutoX.

[dkizerian]

I drove a bunch of cars when I bought my 325i and going into it the TL was my favorite. I love the way it looks, i love how much comes with it for the base price, i have always had GREAT experiences with honda reliability, and many other things really made me want to like the TL. But after driving it, the TL was second from the bottom of my list just barely ahead of the IS250(SLOW).
I drove a 6mt TL for close to 15miles on a good windy stretch of freeway, and it just left me with absolutely no feeling. I didn't enjoy driving it at all. There was some torque steer, it felt softly sprung and under dampened, kind of floaty through waves in the road... So even though it was my favorite going in, after driving it nearly fell to the bottom of the list.

Also, I've seen numerous magazines say they can get 5.9 0-60s out of it, so it appears it's slightly faster than the 330. And just remember that skidpad, and slalom numbers are not real world handling in day to day situations.

[Seagull]

I find it funny that when there is an obvious HP difference, and the "other" car is better people say, "well, its not all about HP, its about handling". When its closer, people argue. I for one don't care what car it is. Most people accelerate much harder than I do, even if it is a civic, a kia whatever, or an Mustang. If they ride my ar$se, I just let them, and then don't slow down in the turns. I don't even bother looking back, but I know they are way way behind me. This is the way I drive. I hate braking, so the BMW suits me.

Anyway, the original poster should test drive both of them like they would drive the car normally. You'll know which is right for you.

[mds82]

I test drove a TL when i was looking to buy this car and honestly, it scared me a lot. In second gear a floored it and the damn thing nearly swirved itself into a tree. The thing did not handle well at all and was too much power for a front wheel car. when it was floored there was no steering ability at all and it was quite a scarry feeling i must say.

[ksfrogman]

I would hope that most e90 buyers are sophisticated enough to know why they are buying their 325i or 330i. It is NOT for the ultimate raw HP, and straight-line performance numbers. Only a kid would be stupid enough to challenge a WRX STi, Mitsubishi Evo IX, Mustang GT, etc., in a drag race and be deluded into thinking the winner has the better car.

The Acura TL is a very nice car, and how it's performance measures up to the 330i is a moot point. For me, it's not as fun to drive, and I don't like the seating positions and ergonomics within the car.

[vladinecko]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I'll take my car any day and laugh at the TL as it eats my dust in the AutoX.

[vladinecko]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Only a kid would be stupid enough to challenge a WRX STi, Mitsubishi Evo IX, Mustang GT, etc., in a drag race and be deluded into thinking the winner has the better car.

you took the words right out of my mouth. very well said!

[kobechrome]

One other thing to consider is that the TL's 3 series competition falls somewhere in between the 325 and 330 in reality.

From a raw engine numbers perspective, it's closer to the 330... but it's also about 8-10K cheaper than the 330 which puts it more in the class of the 325 from a purely financial point of view.

The TL is a great semi-luxury value for an everyday commuter driver who is kinda "eh" about cars. For us here, I'm sure noone would trade their e90, 325 OR 330, in for a TL.

BTW - I have the old 2003 TL (before redesign) and its a great beater

[ksfrogman]

Okay, I'm going to throw this in. I was at Carl's Jr. the other day waiting for my Jalapeno Burger, and was admiring the white Acura TL in front of me. I do like the side and rear styling, and thought to myself that this car is a highly reliable Honda that will probably last some 300,000 miles or so, which is one reason why people might be buying these.

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by mykcheng

It's actually true. The TL has more hp than my 330xi. I also know b/c I have both cars in my garage right now. The TL belongs to my dad and I've been driving that around for 8 months before I bought my 330. The TL definitely pulls and you can feel the acceleration. But, when I test drove my 330, I knew this was the one for me. It handles better and I definitely felt more secure in the twisties which I drive through on a regular basis. Coming out of a turn in the TL, my steering wheel will suddenly tweak depending on how much gas I'm putting in. The stick on my 330 is quicker and cleaner than the stick in the TL. The TL has too much slop and I've still never found the correct engagement point of the clutch for clean and fast shifts. I don't have that problem in the 330. The TL is a definite family sedan and has, for the price, better accessories than the 330. The touch screen nav and the ability to store your own address book is a plus though you have to manually add everything. My 330 w/iDrive is great, but I miss the touchscreen and the ability to change stations w/presets. Also, though the 330 downloads my phonebook directly from my phone, I had to give up a good Nokia 6280 and switch to a Motorola SLVR for that to happen. I prefer my Nokia. In the end, the 330xi is mine and the TL is my dad's. AND, I'm glad I'm the owner of the 330xi. Heck, my dad, who currently owns a 98 735iL (or is it a 740? i forget.) is looking at maybe eventually trading in the TL for another BMW. Hope this helps.

With all due respect, the TL has exactly the same Hp as the 330 now that we now that Hp claims before 2006 were Horsesh**t.

As for acceleration to 100KM, the TL may be able to beat the 325 (even though I have disproven that with my 325-the TL does it in the same time) it will not beat the 330 because the TL does not break the 7 second barrier to 100 km/hour.

It handles very well for a FWD but it does NOT handle like a RWD, the G35 does that....wait it iIS a RWD.

Enough said.

[e90fanatic]

don't forget....Acura TL does have 270 hp....and FWD's only problem is launch...after that it's superior to RWD. I believe it's also lighter than the 3 but someone have to verify that. At least it feels lighter. It doesn't bother me....BMW is a BMW...Acura is only an Acura

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

don't forget....Acura TL does have 270 hp....and FWD's only problem is launch...after that it's superior to RWD. I believe it's also lighter than the 3 but someone have to verify that. At least it feels lighter. It doesn't bother me....BMW is a BMW...Acura is only an Acura

It has 255 Hp and I completely disagree with your assessment of RWD vs FWD, RWD cars handle better that fronties, at the limit, once a frontie oversteers you can call your insurance company a RWD understeer is more easely controlled, and the limit is reached sooner on frontie because of the weight distribution going into a turn. FWD problems extend well beyon the launch. And then the Acura has the weight distribution issue as well.

As for the weight, from memory it is in fact heavier, but I truly do not recall.

The 5.4 acceleration figure... I call