I made a point to go see the new TL in person today. on my god, its even more ugly in person, there was row after row of TLs at the local dealership. all of them are butt ass ugly. With that being said Acura will never be on my list of cars to buy until they do a full redesign.
I'm looking at cars up towards the 40K range, a Mazda is no where near my list of cars I'd even think of for a replacement, I'd take a 70K mile TL over a new mazda anything, anyday. Again, not looking for a basic car, i want something loaded and refined, even the Subi STI, while a great car IMO isn't refined. Just open the door and close it, then check out a C class and open/close the door, it has a whole different sound, ones solid. the other. meh, not so solid, even my 350Z has a very cheap feel all over.
Looked at the S5 and A5 today, nice cars but I dont trust audi at all, they hold resale value worse then most any other car. They had a really good looking TT with the GT3 orange, really good looking, but too small.
I spent about 2 hours at the benz dealership, its hard to believe just how different of an experience going to a BMW/Benz dealership VS acura or god forbids, a normal honda/mitsu/mazda dealership.
I went to at least 6 different honda dealerships looking for Linhs SI, everyone was a pain in the ass, if they couldn't make the price I wanted to pay work, they'd fall back to 4 other cars until we'd just walk away.
Lower end car dealerships try to sale you a car, if its missing an option, they give you a reason to not need it or if you dont want it they try to talk you into wanting it.
Bens/BMW they know the cars are good and its not a matter of talking someone into buying one, but rather making sure they get the car they want. Even if it means NOT buying a car from them.
I checked out the C class 350 with the sport package, nav, tech, and AMG wheels/rotors. Power wise the car feels great, handles great, however the auto tranny......... meh, at least unlike the Lexus it doesn''t auto shift when in manual mode. Over all I really liked the car, it looks bad ass in white with the black roof.
Down sides I didn't know about, it doesn't have the same toys as some other cars. No keyless auto luck/unlock and button start, you still need to insert the plastic key and turn it. Also no back up cam and the parking sensors are an option.one thing that really bugged me was the shifter, to upshift you push it right, to down shift you push it left.... no forward/back. Total cost new looks to be around 46k with the options I want.
Lexus on the other hand with the tech/nav package gives you all the good stuff.
Im going to give the g37 coupe/sedan a look, see how that goes. While I do have a 350Z the G37 coupe in stock from is nothing like my Z however either way I'd still like to stick with a 4 door just in case any kids show up.
while speaking highly of the local bmw/bens dealerships, I do have to say Lexus of Annapolis can kiss my ass, I've had to many stupid issues with them to ever bother buying a car from them, whenever you hear "are you seroius about buying a car?" when you ask to see something.... Fuck you.
Went in there just before buying my 350, not a single person even looked at me, went back in last year to check out the IS350. Got treated like a 12 year old.
I do like the C350, it fits my style, I just wish it had a bit more "toys" and a manual.
As far as selling the TL, money talks.
what would you sell it for if you could sell it to me?
