info@trinityautosport

+1 ill agree with that. good luck with the decision.

zen68

I used to own a 2004 TL with A-SPEC suspension, it's a nice car with decent handling and excellent reliability. There are a couple things that I didn't like:

1. Torque steer
2. Low-end power, there's nothing there. Once you pass 2500 rpm, it starts taking off.
3. Front heavy. You can feel it when cornering hard.

Here is my take: if you need a reliable compute car, go with the TL. However, the 528i is a better handling, albeit a bit slower.

You might also want to test drive a new TL-S, it's has more power and handles better than the standard TL.

flyingpuck

I personally prefer rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. You have the ability to steer the car with the wheel or any of the pedals that way! Not to mention the handling of a rear-wheel drive car is better (IMHO). So there's my two cents, spend them as you see fit!

providenceleaf

I owned a TL and it was a great fun car, but like most have said since it was FWD it had it's limitations. I loved the strong high reving engine that had TONS of bolt on mods available. Trust me I threw tons of $$$ into that car...I made it into a secret beast. When I owned that car I thought it was the best bang for the buck out there. I used to be a post whore over at acurazine.com myself!

Now that I have my 530 I would have to say that it would be very difficult to go back to Acura or Infiniti. I loved all of my other cars, but nothing beats the handling and styling of this 5 series.

IMO I think comparing the TL to the 5 series is like comparing apples to oranges! They are both completely different driving experiences. Go drive both, then make up your mind.

aqkhan6us

Acura/Honda and some other Japanese cars are good , but old fashioned I think.
They do not have options/features like BMW like ACC, Stop n Go, Push start/stop engine and AWD, mpg compared to HP
The least expensive car in BMW 1 series and 3 series have many of these features that high-end Japanese do not.

swajames

Acura does have AWD (on cars like the RL and MDX) and it's pretty advanced. It can accelerate the outside wheels as the vehicle goes through corners, something BMW xDrive doesn't do but is one of the features on the new AWD system on the X6. Acura also has keyless entry and engine start, and they have ACC too. They also have real time traffic on the navigation and other features like active noise cancellation within the cabin.

porksoda

even corolla has push stop n go.

bmw is not the first to fill the car up with gadgetry... only the japanese put everything standard or pack it with gadgetry.

gene1

I used own a Honda Prelude and if you are comparing pure joy of driving, Honda is the only car that has ever come close to BMW for me.
Numbers aside, they are one of the few companies that make cars for drivers and guarantee a smile on your face.
If $$ is a consideration (which it always is otherwise we'd all be on Bugatti.net ) I would say give the Acura a good look.
(I imagine the Acura is even more fun than the Honda)

Ghostie

Thanks for the feedback all, apologies for not doing a good enough job of clarifying that my budget would limit me to a base 528...........I have test driven the Sport version and have no doubt that it is a superior handling machine and would definitely be getting it IF it was within my price range

Have heard lots of people say that Sports versions drive so much better, but since I can't afford that I'm wondering if I should even bother since I won't be getting the legendary performance anyway (or will I?)

Lots of good information in all the responses, thanks again

flyingpuck

I'd be over at astonmartin.com myself!!