| Author |
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Somebody
Guest
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 Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:45 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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"Fred W" <Fred.Wills@SPAMmyrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:hsadneIAee_KzDbcRVn-sQ@adelphia.com...
| Quote: | Scott C wrote:
Oh yea, I should add, Bluetooth enabled phone, quick shifters on
steering
wheel, all standard on the RL..
sc
FWIW, I believe that those "quick shifters" on the Acura are connected
to a conventional automatic transmission.
Personally, I do not see whre the two cars are even closely comparable.
If you can afford the BMW, do it and don't look back. If you can't,
buy what you can afford.
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Which would be a *used* BMW....
:-)
-Russ.
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GRL
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:12 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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To be fair, sometimes you find, over time, that the second choice was,
indeed, the better choice and the saved money is just a bonus.
George Litwinski
"JD" <MrJackDanielsBlack@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5%wqd.8270$_3.99306@typhoon.sonic.net...
| Quote: |
"Scott C" <sns1820@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Odwqd.35517$6q2.1461@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Test drove the Acura RL today - a nice car, for $10K less, same
equipment,
as the 545. Provides an interesting choice. Standard on the RL is a Nav
System, heated seats, 6 disk CD changer, remote fuel door release, trunk
pass through, voice activated controls, RF key - no key needed in
steering,
plus a few other things I have forgot.. RL is 300HP, 260lb torque, 545
is
325 HP, 330lb torque. I did not like the car as much as the BMW, but
it's
$10K less - there are no options, all standard equipment.
sc
The disappointment of the 2nd choice lingers on much longer than the
thrill
of the lower price....
JD
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GRL
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:21 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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Don't forget that they (other cars) require less maintenance, too. New
against new, BMW's are a hard sell for the cold-bloodedly rational person
because they are overpriced.
I personally deal with the problem of value by getting, say, a used 330i
instead of a new G35. One-on-one, new, the 330i is a slightly better car
overall, but not some $7,000 better. One year old, very clean 330i vs. a new
G35, the 330i wins hands down. And someone else eats the big first year
depreciation.
GRL
"Scott C" <sns1820@aol.com> wrote in message
news:cYxqd.26299$zx1.22269@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | You guys are bad! ;-)..
I'm not sure if the question is, does the BMW drive better.. yes, is the
answer. I have the 1990 535 and my wife has a 2002 325i.. both are great
cars.. this is why I'm looking at the 545, and yes, I have driven it.
When does it become about value for the money we spend? I could drive a
$200,000 Lotus, and it would drive better than the BMW.. should I buy
that?
I think most would answer 'no'.. the BMW is a good value for the money, or
perhaps, 'if you have the money, buy it'.. but we don't always (I hope)
buy
the most expensive thing we can afford.. we buy a compromise between
what's
practical and what we want. Ever bought any tools besides Craftsman? Sure,
we all do.. but we know Craftsman are very good, and cost a bit more. We
evaluate the money we have to spend vs the final product and it's
competition.
I did state, "I did not like the car as much as the BMW".. which I drove
(545), but I wonder where the trade off's are in price / performance /
handling?
Most of us BMW owners like our cars. We think they are the best thing
going.. but let's keep an open mind. There are other cars out there, they
have more horse power, more features, cost less, same warranty, ... and
are
a better initial value for our dollar - I say initial because we don't
know
how the car will hold up over the long run.. but the same is true for he
BMW.
I'll more than likely get the BMW. Perhaps this was just a comparison
showing you can get more for your money with the Acura. Let's face it,
BMW's
are overpriced.. but we all want them.
sc
"Somebody" <somebody@nospam.russdoucet.com> wrote in message
news:vzxqd.85221$vO1.494895@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
"bfd" <bfd853@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:mfGdnR1gN9UMOTfcRVn-vA@comcast.com...
"JD" <MrJackDanielsBlack@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5%wqd.8270$_3.99306@typhoon.sonic.net...
"Scott C" <sns1820@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Odwqd.35517$6q2.1461@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Test drove the Acura RL today - a nice car, for $10K less, same
equipment,
as the 545. Provides an interesting choice. Standard on the RL is a
Nav
System, heated seats, 6 disk CD changer, remote fuel door release,
trunk
pass through, voice activated controls, RF key - no key needed in
steering,
plus a few other things I have forgot.. RL is 300HP, 260lb torque,
545
is
325 HP, 330lb torque. I did not like the car as much as the BMW,
but
it's
$10K less - there are no options, all standard equipment.
sc
The disappointment of the 2nd choice lingers on much longer than the
thrill
of the lower price....
More importantly, you state that you *drove* the Acura RL, have you
ever
driven a 545i? If so, which one did you prefer? If you couldn't tell
the
difference, then save $10K and get the Acura....
Well put. We should just can that response up and regurgitate it with
appropriate changes every time somebody comes here with a "tried that
aisian
car it's pretty nice is the BMW worth the money?" questions.
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GRL
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:27 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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Where was there mention of low quality? He's comparing an Acura with a BMW.
No signs of low quality anywhere in that comparison.
GRL
"Jeff Strickland" <spamcatcher@yahoo.net> wrote in message
news:10qn4s5kh6u4q11@corp.supernews.com...
| Quote: |
"Scott C" <sns1820@aol.com> wrote in message
news:cYxqd.26299$zx1.22269@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
You guys are bad! ;-)..
I'm not sure if the question is, does the BMW drive better.. yes, is the
answer. I have the 1990 535 and my wife has a 2002 325i.. both are great
cars.. this is why I'm looking at the 545, and yes, I have driven it.
When does it become about value for the money we spend?
This is the core question, and the answer is different for every driver.
It
is a question that only you can answer for yourself.
Another poster said it almost perfectly, the bitterness of low quality
remains long after the sweetness of low cost is gone. If you can save ten
grand and be happy, then do it. If you need to spend the ten grand to find
happiness, then do it.
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Matt O'Toole
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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Dan Drake wrote:
| Quote: | On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 07:47:41 -0000, "TonyK" <Aenuff@bobsplace.org
wrote:
I could drive a $200,000 Lotus,
You could? What one? Seriously are they *that* expensive in the US?!
Nah. A new Esprit is about $90K.
|
You could buy 4-5 Elises, rent a track, and race all your friends. Or buy one
Elise, and campaign it for a season or two.
IMO the Elise is the *best* *real* sports car ever sold in the US.
Matt O. |
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Matt O'Toole
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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JD wrote:
| Quote: | "Scott C" <sns1820@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Odwqd.35517$6q2.1461@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Test drove the Acura RL today - a nice car, for $10K less, same
equipment, as the 545. Provides an interesting choice. Standard on
the RL is a Nav System, heated seats, 6 disk CD changer, remote fuel
door release, trunk pass through, voice activated controls, RF key -
no key needed in steering, plus a few other things I have forgot..
RL is 300HP, 260lb torque, 545 is 325 HP, 330lb torque. I did not
like the car as much as the BMW, but it's $10K less - there are no
options, all standard equipment.
The disappointment of the 2nd choice lingers on much longer than the
thrill of the lower price....
|
I agree. If you like the BMW better, but don't want to spend all that money,
get a used one. You'll probably be happier.
Acuras, etc., are really nice cars, for most people the equal of BMW. The
bottom line is, if you can feel the difference and it matters to you, get the
BMW. If you can't see what all the hype is about, buy the Acura or whatever and
save your money.
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool BMW driver, but I'd never criticize someone's choice of
something else. This market is crowded and very competiive. Most of the
products are amazingly good, especially compared to 15 years ago.
Matt O. |
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Dan Drake
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 20:03:19 -0500, "Matt O'Toole" <matt@deltanet.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | Dan Drake wrote:
On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 07:47:41 -0000, "TonyK" <Aenuff@bobsplace.org
wrote:
I could drive a $200,000 Lotus,
You could? What one? Seriously are they *that* expensive in the US?!
Nah. A new Esprit is about $90K.
You could buy 4-5 Elises, rent a track, and race all your friends. Or buy one
Elise, and campaign it for a season or two.
IMO the Elise is the *best* *real* sports car ever sold in the US.
|
Sure, but the Esprit is a different car to the Elise. The Esprit has
Ferrari-like handling characteristics, plus it has grunt, in spades.
The Elise is a Seven with clothes on, if you get my drift, but a well
prepared Seven will always kick it in the balls. It is a very nice
car though.
--
Dan Drake |
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fbloogyudsr
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:43 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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"Scott C" <sns1820@aol.com> wrote
| Quote: | Test drove the Acura RL today - a nice car, for $10K less, same equipment,
as the 545. Provides an interesting choice. Standard on the RL is a Nav
System, heated seats, 6 disk CD changer, remote fuel door release, trunk
pass through, voice activated controls, RF key - no key needed in
steering,
plus a few other things I have forgot.. RL is 300HP, 260lb torque, 545 is
325 HP, 330lb torque. I did not like the car as much as the BMW, but it's
$10K less - there are no options, all standard equipment.
|
Did you (and the other responders) notice that the RL is AWD with
a very interesting active DSC/TCS? Why are you (and other responders)
worried about things like Bluetooth and nav when that single feature
makes the RL the clear choice if you live in snow country, etc.?
Floyd |
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Dori A Schmetterling
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:44 pm Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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Because most participants seem to live in LA, which is not, AFAIK, famous
for being "snow country", and so satnav etc are more important.
DAS
--
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---
"fbloogyudsr" <fbloogyudsr@nwlink.com> wrote in message
news:10qo24g2q7bohaa@corp.supernews.com...
[...]
| Quote: | a very interesting active DSC/TCS? Why are you (and other responders)
worried about things like Bluetooth and nav when that single feature
makes the RL the clear choice if you live in snow country, etc.?
Floyd |
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Ramone Cila
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:39 pm Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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Nor does the all wheel drive make it a clear choice for those who live in
snow country. I live there, in fact today this morning it is 6 degrees F,
the roads are ice and snow from our weekend storm, and here in Colorado most
people drive RWD and FWD without problem. 4WD/AWD is nice, but I hardly
think it is a single or most important reason to buy a car unless you live
somewhere that the roads are constantly covered in slick stuff from November
to March.
Put good snows on a FWD/RWD car and it will perform great in slick
conditions. I'd make my choice based upon it's dry road performance rather
than AWD for the occasions when the roads get snow or ice.
"Dori A Schmetterling" <ng@nospam.co.uk> wrote in message
news:41ac6033$0$19165$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
| Quote: | Because most participants seem to live in LA, which is not, AFAIK, famous
for being "snow country", and so satnav etc are more important.
DAS
--
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---
"fbloogyudsr" <fbloogyudsr@nwlink.com> wrote in message
news:10qo24g2q7bohaa@corp.supernews.com...
[...]
a very interesting active DSC/TCS? Why are you (and other responders)
worried about things like Bluetooth and nav when that single feature
makes the RL the clear choice if you live in snow country, etc.?
Floyd
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Somebody
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:40 pm Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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"Ramone Cila" <dontw@nt.spam> wrote in message
news:Wu0rd.3$io4.320@news.uswest.net...
| Quote: | Nor does the all wheel drive make it a clear choice for those who live in
snow country. I live there, in fact today this morning it is 6 degrees F,
the roads are ice and snow from our weekend storm, and here in Colorado
most
people drive RWD and FWD without problem. 4WD/AWD is nice, but I hardly
think it is a single or most important reason to buy a car unless you live
somewhere that the roads are constantly covered in slick stuff from
November
to March.
Put good snows on a FWD/RWD car and it will perform great in slick
conditions. I'd make my choice based upon it's dry road performance rather
than AWD for the occasions when the roads get snow or ice.
|
I've had RWD, FWD and AWD cars clad in proper snow tires. AWD still wins
hands down. As for better weather, there are some things my AWD car does
that none of my others have been able to very well, that I really appreciate
at times:
1. Get through a mucky spot in a grass parking lot without getting stuck
2. Launch firmly with two wheels on a gravel shoulder and two on pavement,
with no drama
3. Get out of a parking lot quickly into traffic and get up to speed
smartly even when it is raining hard
4. Accelerate through patches or sand or standing water on the road without
drama.
5. Deal with patches of sand or water on sweeping curves
A *properly executed* AWD system is useful in all weather. I'm converted
now, I'll probably never buy anything that is not AWD for a daily driver.
-Russ. |
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Matt O'Toole
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:48 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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| Quote: | "fbloogyudsr" <fbloogyudsr@nwlink.com> wrote in message
news:10qo24g2q7bohaa@corp.supernews.com...
a very interesting active DSC/TCS? Why are you (and other
responders) worried about things like Bluetooth and nav when that
single feature makes the RL the clear choice if you live in snow
country, etc.?
|
Dori A Schmetterling wrote:
| Quote: | Because most participants seem to live in LA, which is not, AFAIK,
famous for being "snow country", and so satnav etc are more important.
|
I disagree on both points. First, as a skier, I've been driving BMWs in the
snow for years, w/o any problems. I do not see how an Acura RL would be
superior in this respect. A BMW is as superior as anyone needs. I'm sure the
northerners/midwesterners on this newsgroup would agree.
Second, LA may not be famous for being snow country, but it's surrounded by
mountains with lots of snow. If you drive out of the city in winter, you may
have to go over snowy mountain passes, and if you're a skier you'll certainly
have to deal with it.
Matt O. |
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fbloogyudsr
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:33 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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"Matt O'Toole" <matt@deltanet.com> wrote
| Quote: | Dori A Schmetterling wrote:
Because most participants seem to live in LA, which is not, AFAIK,
famous for being "snow country", and so satnav etc are more important.
I disagree on both points. First, as a skier, I've been driving BMWs in
the
snow for years, w/o any problems. I do not see how an Acura RL would be
superior in this respect. A BMW is as superior as anyone needs. I'm sure
the
northerners/midwesterners on this newsgroup would agree.
|
I mostly agree: I drive a 330xi with Michelin Pilot Alpines and definitely
have
no problem. However, it is far superior our '91 525i w/LSD (indeed, any
current
non-X3/5 BMW) in handling snow/ice/gravel (other than very deep snow...)
FYI, the current Car & Driver rates the RL right up there with the 530i.
Floyd |
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Ramone Cila
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:53 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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"Somebody" <somebody@nospam.russdoucet.com> wrote in message
news:bo1rd.85347$vO1.495671@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
| Quote: | A *properly executed* AWD system is useful in all weather. I'm converted
now, I'll probably never buy anything that is not AWD for a daily driver.
|
I didn't mean to imply that there were not advantages to AWD, just none that
would cause me to make it my deciding factor between cars because I live
where weather is bad and don't really see an consistent overwhelming need
for AWD. Particulalry given the fantastic traction control in cars like BMW
and Merc. Bottom line is that I wouldn't buy an Acura over an E60 on the
basis of the Acura having AWD. My position is exactly opposite of yours in
this regard: I have 4WD cars and trucks but use a RWD Bimmer as my daily
driver and employ the Jeeps and F350 when the weather dictates.
I don't worry too much about getting stuck in a grassy field, accelerating
on a wet highway or accelerating from a gravel ditch up and on to a highway.
Two of them haven't happened in recent memory and one of them poses no
problem whatsoever. |
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Somebody
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 01, 2004 4:21 am Post subject:
Re: BMW 545 vs Acura RL |
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"Ramone Cila" <dontw@nt.spam> wrote in message
news:XZ5rd.11$io4.2266@news.uswest.net...
| Quote: |
"Somebody" <somebody@nospam.russdoucet.com> wrote in message
news:bo1rd.85347$vO1.495671@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
A *properly executed* AWD system is useful in all weather. I'm
converted
now, I'll probably never buy anything that is not AWD for a daily
driver.
I didn't mean to imply that there were not advantages to AWD, just none
that
would cause me to make it my deciding factor between cars because I live
where weather is bad and don't really see an consistent overwhelming need
for AWD. Particulalry given the fantastic traction control in cars like
BMW
and Merc. Bottom line is that I wouldn't buy an Acura over an E60 on the
basis of the Acura having AWD. My position is exactly opposite of yours in
this regard: I have 4WD cars and trucks but use a RWD Bimmer as my daily
driver and employ the Jeeps and F350 when the weather dictates.
I don't worry too much about getting stuck in a grassy field, accelerating
on a wet highway or accelerating from a gravel ditch up and on to a
highway.
Two of them haven't happened in recent memory and one of them poses no
problem whatsoever.
|
I don't think I'd pick the AWD Acura over a RWD bimmer either, I'd just get
a used 330xi. :-) But I can understand how living in a climate like you
do, you'd opt against AWD, the other plusses are not so huge for you. And
traction control helps with those items, certainly.
Your choice of the RWD cars over the 4WD car is not dicated by wheel drive,
but by the car! If you had a 2WD Jeep, a 2WD truck, and an AWD car, you'd
still pick the bimmer as your daily driver, and you know it. :-)
-Russ. |
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