the acura is 'ok,' i think you would get bored of it quickly however. it does not have the character of a merc.

__________________
Jonathan
1998 S600
2001 E430
1994 E320
1991 560SEL
1994 Turbo R

Considered a BMW 530i? If you can handle the styling, the powertrains are excellent.

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I cannot handle the BMW styling. Nor can my wife. It is horrible. This is primarily her car but the one we would use for trips. I drive the bottom 3 in my signature. She drives the top two. I am and have been a driving instructor for BMW and Porsche clubs as well as a few other sports car clubs for many years. I have had students with all kinds of vehicles with every possible drive train. I used to look down at front wheel drive cars. They handle differently in corners but, nevertheless, handle well. Once upon a time I would automatically rule a car out because it had front wheel drive. Not so anymore.

I just want a high quality vehicle that has all the goodies and looks nice and a reputation for being trouble free. The front of the Acura TL is a little bland. That, the limited adjustment of the passenger seat, and no wood (which adds warmth to the interior) are my only complaints.

__________________
Lawrence Coppari

2002 SLK32 AMG
2005 Acura TL
1987 328GTS
1986 944T

I totally agree with you on the G35 However, this fellow is in New Zealand and I don't think, with the exception of Subaru, they have Nissan Skyline(similar to the G35) and the Chrysler products.

__________________
Flash Gordon

2003 E500 BlackOpal/Charcoal

2004 Infiniti G35X

Last time instructing at Road Atlanta (March this year with BMWCCA), my student had a six speed 330i- 2002 or 2003, can't recall. Impressive car. The new one with the more powerful engine would even be nicer. If only they were larger. They make a really sweet inline six.

I've also had students with Subaru WRX cars as well as the Mitsu.....4 wheel drive sedans. Both had more boost than stock and both were really impressive. Actually, a supercharged Mini will really go in the hands of a good track driver. They put huge Brembo brakes on the Subaru and Mitsubishi.

But we need a sedan. So it's boils down to an E Merc, the Acura TL, or the M45. I have not checked out the size of the G35. We do not have a local Infinit dealer - and that is a big potential problem.

__________________
Lawrence Coppari

2002 SLK32 AMG
2005 Acura TL
1987 328GTS
1986 944T

I would check out an Infiniti before you buy an Acura. My Uncle just bought a new G35 and it is an awsome car. He pretty much cross shopped all of the cars you are talking about. He picked the Infiniti over the Audi because it is a nicer car, interior is better and overall it is a better package.(He traded his 02 I think A6 in for the G35) He wanted AWD for the winter and this is where the G35 beats the Acura. The G35 is a rwd car first and the front wheels kick in when they are needed, also the engine is facing in the proper direction. While the Acura is a front driver first, look at the way the engine is mounted. So the Infiniti handles better and frankly the V6 sounds better and pulls strong.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Closest Infiniti dealer is Knoxville, over 100 miles away. Suppose I have some niggling problems with it. I'd be screwed.

__________________
Lawrence Coppari

2002 SLK32 AMG
2005 Acura TL
1987 328GTS
1986 944T

Yeah that could be a problem, it is ashame though Infiniti has some of the best cars on the market these days.

Car and Driver just ran a bunch of them head to head and the M45 won by a good margin. I think the E350 came in 3rd or 4th. Behind the Acura and maybe the Lexus. For once Car and Driver did not give the BMW 1st! That kind of surprised me.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have to wonder about their ratings. The M45 got 16 mpg with them driving it yet got a 4 on the fuel mileage rating. A 5 is the highest rating. Some of the cars got 20 in the overall testing. Perhaps they ratio the numbers. 16/20 equals 4/5. But 20 compared to 16 is 25% better economy. EPA highway is 23 for M. It is 28-29 for the E350, I think.

The speed of the M45 is good but that is not why I would be buying. Just so long as the car is not a turtle is really what matters. My modified 944T or SLK32 will easily outrun the M - no contest.

__________________
Lawrence Coppari

2002 SLK32 AMG
2005 Acura TL
1987 328GTS
1986 944T

Before you write it off completely, check the actual interior dimensions, or sit in one when it gets to the dealership near you. The 3 series gets bigger with each generation. The E46 3 Series (98-present) has almost identical shoulder- head-, and legroom as my '93 E34 5 series, which is roughly equivalent to a W124. The new E90 is supposed to be considerably larger; check it out, it might be as big as your E class inside.

__________________
81 300SD
08 MDX Tech
93 525i

05 F650GS

The resale value on the big M doesn't hold up as well so that may be a financial factor. I know people that own the previous generation model and they love it and they got a really good deal on it at the time to boot. The depreciation factor may be diminishing since they have brought the marque way up with the G35's as we all can all tell. Anyone have any stats to back or refute this?

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I would say choos eth car you think drives and looks the best.

With that out of the way, here is my opinion on lexus.

Plain and simple, cheaply made. its simply a toyota with different badges in my book. No offense to lexus peole, but I have taken apart cars ranging from regular old hondas to ferrarias and the like.

You can tell a lot about a car by how the interior is to take apart. I just took apart a brand new lexus interior, and all I can say is that it was pretty much all plastic, and came apart way too quickly. If i was a car stereo thief, I could pull those nav units out in less than 2 minutes with a power screwdriver with 10 mm bit on it without braking one panel.

I have worked on audi's and the interior is very nicely put together.

MB, always well put together interiors. it takes time to get them apart.

Volvo, alo well designed interiors. they come apart nicely, and the fit and finish is very good.

Ferrari - easy to take apart, but everything is leather, aluminum and or carbon fiber.

Porsche - same as ferrari, not too bad to take apart, but everything is very nicely made.

The new maserrati quattroport. not badly put together, but some things came off so easy I was shocked because it was like they werent even being held in with anything but gravity.

Overall, I just don't feel that the lexus is all that. it may drive pretty nice, but I hate their interiors, the interior is no better than your typical run of the mill toyota in my book. they simply dress it up with some fake wood and leather.

go with the car that looks best and drives best to you, you are going to have to live with driving it.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

"Overall, I just don't feel that the lexus is all that. it may drive pretty nice, but I hate their interiors, the interior is no better than your typical run of the mill toyota in my book. they simply dress it up with some fake wood and leather."

Agreed. Neither my wife no I liked the interior.

__________________
Lawrence Coppari

2002 SLK32 AMG
2005 Acura TL
1987 328GTS
1986 944T

How about the new Acura RL? Pretty much the TL's slightly bigger brother. It has AWD (haldex system), wood as well as aluminum trim inside, and has a little bit more power than the TL.

heres one from left field. subaru legacy/ outback.

__________________
'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend