Why buy the IS over the TL?
12-17-05, 07:04 AM
#31
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The Solara made me double look yesterday.......The front and rear ends are very similar to the IS......I'm not a Toyota or Lexus guy yet, but at first glance I was hoping it was the IS....I've only seen 2 in the past couple of months.
12-17-05, 07:26 AM
#32
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I, too, am balancing the factors between an IS 250 manual and a TL manual. I have driven the TL 6 speed, but all I've driven thus far with the IS 250 is an AWD automatic. I've come to a few fine points of conclusion, which are probably all subjective, which in the end it's all about what you like anyway.....
1. The TL is definitely more sporty (unless you opt for the $3700 sport package on the IS, which would then give you offset summer only 18" tires which you would need winter tires for - the TL has 17" all season tread, but it's suspension is more tightly tuned).
2. The IS is much more attractive looking - those sensual L-finesse curves are just beautifull, not that the TL is ugly - in fact I think it's very sharp, just that the IS is moreso.
3. While you don't get the first class service at an Acura dealer that you do at a Lexus dealer, the quality of the cars I think are very similar. I find some of the posts knocking Acura's quality a bit disconcerning..... Acura hold it's resale just as well as Lexus, and you can easily get 200,000 miles out of either of them.
4. That keyless ignition is just friggin cool
1. The TL is definitely more sporty (unless you opt for the $3700 sport package on the IS, which would then give you offset summer only 18" tires which you would need winter tires for - the TL has 17" all season tread, but it's suspension is more tightly tuned).
2. The IS is much more attractive looking - those sensual L-finesse curves are just beautifull, not that the TL is ugly - in fact I think it's very sharp, just that the IS is moreso.
3. While you don't get the first class service at an Acura dealer that you do at a Lexus dealer, the quality of the cars I think are very similar. I find some of the posts knocking Acura's quality a bit disconcerning..... Acura hold it's resale just as well as Lexus, and you can easily get 200,000 miles out of either of them.
4. That keyless ignition is just friggin cool
12-17-05, 07:29 AM
#33
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I looked at the TL for quite a long time, studying many of the posts on Acurazine for many months, a FANTASTIC forum btw) While I agree that the TL is a wonderful value, it does have its share of issues (what car doesn't?) Things that worried me:
*Interior: Several complaints about the quality of the leather and plastics. Dashboard plastics have split in several owners cars. Numerous complaints about wrinkled "butt printed" drivers seats. Many complaints about ill-fitting glove box, some have noted that while almost identical to the honda accord's glove box, there seem to be gaps around the glove box that don't occurr in the accord...some have speculated that Acura got lazy and forced the glove box design (among others) into the TL.
*Build Quality: 2 simple facts. The IS350 is built in Japan. The Acura TL is built in Ohio. Not slamming US build quality but i was a disappointed when i found this out as i thought i was looking at a japanese built luxury car...i was wrong. (Although, if you *do* end up going with a TL i understand there are deals to be had in Ohio if you are willing to place an order and travel there to pick it up) The RL btw, is built in japan.
*FWD: To true driving enthusiasts (which i will admit i am certainly no expert beyond the C&D articles that i read) a lot of enthusiasts complain about the FWD of the car. 270 (255 SAE) hp is too much power to be pushed to the front wheels of the car, resulting in torque steer.
*They're on every street corner now: I've seen people on this forum AND on the acurazine forum notice this, it seems that everyone and their mother is driving a TL! Nothing wrong with that i guess, but kind of annoying if i were purchasing the car.
*Starting to age: Is it just me or are the TL's starting to look like the previous generation Accords? Even the Accords seem to have a bit more exterior styling than the TL now...its also late in the lifecycle of this model...probably a refreshed "Type S" (some speculating AWD and 300hp) for 2006, with a complete redesign in 07 or 08.
*Customer Service: Take a look at the Acurazine forum--a lot of unhappy customers with customer service.
Bottom line, i *still* think the TL is a fantastic car. I was days away from making the decision to buy one myself. The IS350 is in a totally different price range in my opinion...seems to me that tif you were deciding between an is350 and an acura sedan, you may want to look at the RL?
*Interior: Several complaints about the quality of the leather and plastics. Dashboard plastics have split in several owners cars. Numerous complaints about wrinkled "butt printed" drivers seats. Many complaints about ill-fitting glove box, some have noted that while almost identical to the honda accord's glove box, there seem to be gaps around the glove box that don't occurr in the accord...some have speculated that Acura got lazy and forced the glove box design (among others) into the TL.
*Build Quality: 2 simple facts. The IS350 is built in Japan. The Acura TL is built in Ohio. Not slamming US build quality but i was a disappointed when i found this out as i thought i was looking at a japanese built luxury car...i was wrong. (Although, if you *do* end up going with a TL i understand there are deals to be had in Ohio if you are willing to place an order and travel there to pick it up) The RL btw, is built in japan.
*FWD: To true driving enthusiasts (which i will admit i am certainly no expert beyond the C&D articles that i read) a lot of enthusiasts complain about the FWD of the car. 270 (255 SAE) hp is too much power to be pushed to the front wheels of the car, resulting in torque steer.
*They're on every street corner now: I've seen people on this forum AND on the acurazine forum notice this, it seems that everyone and their mother is driving a TL! Nothing wrong with that i guess, but kind of annoying if i were purchasing the car.
*Starting to age: Is it just me or are the TL's starting to look like the previous generation Accords? Even the Accords seem to have a bit more exterior styling than the TL now...its also late in the lifecycle of this model...probably a refreshed "Type S" (some speculating AWD and 300hp) for 2006, with a complete redesign in 07 or 08.
*Customer Service: Take a look at the Acurazine forum--a lot of unhappy customers with customer service.
Bottom line, i *still* think the TL is a fantastic car. I was days away from making the decision to buy one myself. The IS350 is in a totally different price range in my opinion...seems to me that tif you were deciding between an is350 and an acura sedan, you may want to look at the RL?
Last edited by brian92873; 12-17-05 at 07:32 AM.
12-17-05, 08:44 AM
#34
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Originally Posted by brian92873
I looked at the TL for quite a long time, studying many of the posts on Acurazine for many months, a FANTASTIC forum btw) While I agree that the TL is a wonderful value, it does have its share of issues (what car doesn't?) Things that worried me:
*Interior: Several complaints about the quality of the leather and plastics. Dashboard plastics have split in several owners cars. Numerous complaints about wrinkled "butt printed" drivers seats. Many complaints about ill-fitting glove box, some have noted that while almost identical to the honda accord's glove box, there seem to be gaps around the glove box that don't occurr in the accord...some have speculated that Acura got lazy and forced the glove box design (among others) into the TL.
*Build Quality: 2 simple facts. The IS350 is built in Japan. The Acura TL is built in Ohio. Not slamming US build quality but i was a disappointed when i found this out as i thought i was looking at a japanese built luxury car...i was wrong. (Although, if you *do* end up going with a TL i understand there are deals to be had in Ohio if you are willing to place an order and travel there to pick it up) The RL btw, is built in japan.
*FWD: To true driving enthusiasts (which i will admit i am certainly no expert beyond the C&D articles that i read) a lot of enthusiasts complain about the FWD of the car. 270 (255 SAE) hp is too much power to be pushed to the front wheels of the car, resulting in torque steer.
*They're on every street corner now: I've seen people on this forum AND on the acurazine forum notice this, it seems that everyone and their mother is driving a TL! Nothing wrong with that i guess, but kind of annoying if i were purchasing the car.
*Starting to age: Is it just me or are the TL's starting to look like the previous generation Accords? Even the Accords seem to have a bit more exterior styling than the TL now...its also late in the lifecycle of this model...probably a refreshed "Type S" (some speculating AWD and 300hp) for 2006, with a complete redesign in 07 or 08.
*Customer Service: Take a look at the Acurazine forum--a lot of unhappy customers with customer service.
Bottom line, i *still* think the TL is a fantastic car. I was days away from making the decision to buy one myself. The IS350 is in a totally different price range in my opinion...seems to me that tif you were deciding between an is350 and an acura sedan, you may want to look at the RL?
*Interior: Several complaints about the quality of the leather and plastics. Dashboard plastics have split in several owners cars. Numerous complaints about wrinkled "butt printed" drivers seats. Many complaints about ill-fitting glove box, some have noted that while almost identical to the honda accord's glove box, there seem to be gaps around the glove box that don't occurr in the accord...some have speculated that Acura got lazy and forced the glove box design (among others) into the TL.
*Build Quality: 2 simple facts. The IS350 is built in Japan. The Acura TL is built in Ohio. Not slamming US build quality but i was a disappointed when i found this out as i thought i was looking at a japanese built luxury car...i was wrong. (Although, if you *do* end up going with a TL i understand there are deals to be had in Ohio if you are willing to place an order and travel there to pick it up) The RL btw, is built in japan.
*FWD: To true driving enthusiasts (which i will admit i am certainly no expert beyond the C&D articles that i read) a lot of enthusiasts complain about the FWD of the car. 270 (255 SAE) hp is too much power to be pushed to the front wheels of the car, resulting in torque steer.
*They're on every street corner now: I've seen people on this forum AND on the acurazine forum notice this, it seems that everyone and their mother is driving a TL! Nothing wrong with that i guess, but kind of annoying if i were purchasing the car.
*Starting to age: Is it just me or are the TL's starting to look like the previous generation Accords? Even the Accords seem to have a bit more exterior styling than the TL now...its also late in the lifecycle of this model...probably a refreshed "Type S" (some speculating AWD and 300hp) for 2006, with a complete redesign in 07 or 08.
*Customer Service: Take a look at the Acurazine forum--a lot of unhappy customers with customer service.
Bottom line, i *still* think the TL is a fantastic car. I was days away from making the decision to buy one myself. The IS350 is in a totally different price range in my opinion...seems to me that tif you were deciding between an is350 and an acura sedan, you may want to look at the RL?
Also, I am comparing the TL to the IS 250, not the 350 (mainly because you can't get a manual transmission on the 350, and I will not own an automatic). The 350 is more aimed at a BMW 330, where as the TL and IS 250 are aimed at the BMW 325.
I'm not here trying to defend Acura, I just think some of you don't give it the credit it deserves. You take the dealer experience out of the equation (which I always do - so long as I get the car for the right price, I could care less if the dealers are ****** or give me hot cocoa and a back rub every time I have the oil changed) and Lexus vehicles are ahead of Acura, but not by such a wide margin.... they aren't Cadillacs
Seems like some of you are putting Acura in the same boat as Cadillac..... and I think we'd all agree that's not the case.
12-17-05, 09:03 AM
#35
Originally Posted by TheRupp
Best navigation system. Ever. Hands down.
12-17-05, 09:18 AM
#37
Personally, I'd take the IS350 over the TL for many of the reasons already stated in this thread. RWD is more fun to drive (push vs. pull). But...it sounds like the primary driver of this car is your wife. If I was married I'd probably sleep better at night knowing my wife was in a FWD car (or AWD IS250), especially in harsh weather (rain, snow, etc.). I really think that would be my deciding factor - the deal breaker. Get the TL.
Last edited by SDLexus; 12-17-05 at 09:22 AM.
12-17-05, 10:06 AM
#39
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Originally Posted by terp05
I don't agree. My coworker bought an 05 TL in August and I just bought an IS250 AWD in late November. The resolution difference alone makes the TL Nav look like crap. Not to mention it never finds POI's nearby- always saying the closest whatever is 296 miles away or something like that. Maybe I've taken the time to learn the IS's system better than my coworker with the TL- either way everytime we go to lunch with the TL I'm glad I bought the IS
And, no, Toyota dealers cannot do warranty work on Lexus vehicles. I work at a Toyota Dealership...(asked my service manager) We can only service them.
12-17-05, 01:07 PM
#41
Originally Posted by rominl
nop it's made by lexus now. lexus is now a separate entity
They're both divisions/sub divisions of a larger corporate entity - Toyota and Nike respectively. Hey, whatever makes you feel better about your purchase.
12-17-05, 01:19 PM
#42
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Originally Posted by SDLexus
Lexus is a separate entity like Air Jordan is a separate entity They're both divisions/sub divisions of a larger corporate entity - Toyota and Nike respectively.
.
They're both divisions/sub divisions of a larger corporate entity - Toyota and Nike respectively. .
Same for Ford with Aston Martin & Jaguar etc ,etc. . . .
12-17-05, 01:21 PM
#44
Originally Posted by unit74
I'm in SoCal.......and windy curvy roads are MIA around here..........No rain or snow..........Still think the TL is better for me>?
Sounds like you're the who has their heart set on the IS. You said your wife prefers the TL and that she will be the primary driver. I trust that both of you have test-driven both vehicles already. So again, yes, in SoCal, knowing how people here drive in the rain I would get the TL for your wife. Now stop being selfish and get your wife what she really wants
One last thing that's worth mentioning again, The back seat in the new IS is worthless for adults; it's just as bad as my 1st gen (the TL has more room in the back). Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase. They're both very good cars.