Acura's are expensive too..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RG5384 · #1 09-11-2006, 10:20 PM

Alright, time for you guys with your MB's to make me feel a lil better about my acura. For what its worth, i currently drive a 96 Integra special edition with 130k. In the past two years i have replaced: Clutch hydrolics, clutch itself, flywheel, axles, lower ball joints, a/c blower, starter cut relay, rebuilt the starter, radiator, condensor fan, a/c evaporator, new tires for the 3rd time(stupid rim size only making high performance summer tires or snow tires, 195/55/15), new pads all the way around, spark plugs, battery(twice, but my own stupid fault, dont buy wallmart batteries) and the rotor cap. I think thats all, but i'm sure i forgot some stuff. What got me thinking is when i organized my files the other day, i had over 3500 in maintenance receipts alone for the past 3.5 years of ownership, and i do 99% of labor myself!!! Granted, i put the same into my old benz in 2 years, maybe more, but that car was 20 years old!! I suppose the saying is true, you either make payments or repairs....OH well, as long as i'm not making payments AND repairs i suppose i'm happy.... ON the plus side, even when the clutch hydrolics and clutch itself went out, the car has NEVER left me totally stranded, which is much more than i can say for my old 300SD.... So, someone share their 15k in one year repair bills with me and i will feel much better....thanks guys
Ryan

Southern · #2 09-12-2006, 06:46 PM

My 2001 Acura TL is one of the most inexpensive cars to maintain I have owned along with my previous 1988 Honda Accord. I also do 99% of my own labor.

My 1998 Mercedes E320 is more expensive to maintain mainly do to the fact that the parts cost more.

I tend to get rid of my cars when the cost of the parts to repair exceed the cost of the vehicle.

RG5384 · #3 09-12-2006, 08:14 PM

For the first 2 years i had my integra it was virtually problem free, its been mainly in the past 1.5 years its been giving me fits. Had any tranny issues with that 3.2tl yet? From what i've researched its really the only flaw to that car, apparently the type S's have it worse than the base though.
Ryan

Hatterasguy · #4 09-12-2006, 08:20 PM

I did a lot of work to my at the time 9-10 year old Camry, probably about $1k. But if it makes you feel better I spend more on my SDL every year than you have spent during your ownership time of said Acura.

On a side note I was recently riding around in a 2006 RL, and was frankly under impressed. The quality doesn't go to the bone like it does with BMW and MB. Jumped out of an X5 and into the RL, felt like a down grade thats for sure. Are RL's expensive? I don't know much about them, I'll guess they are about a $35k car?

Southern · #5 09-12-2006, 08:49 PM

Ryan,

The trans in my TL died 1 week after I took it in for the recall. Then they replaced the entire trans with a new one with all the updates. It didn't cost me a dime, they even gave me a free loaner. Since then I have not had any trans related problems. I also read that the type S TL's have more trans failures.

The big difference between Honda (Acura) and Mercedes is that I get voluntary recall notices in the mail from Acura offering to fix known problems at their expense. I had the passenger side air bag seat sensor replaced because of the voluntary recall even with the car out of warrantee. Acura also would have reimbursed anyone who had this sensor replaced before the recall.

I still havn't received a notice from Mercedes about my the harmonic balancer issues with the W210 vehicles nor will I hold my breath since I replaced my failed harmonic balancer myself.

Hatterasguy,

The new RL's are very expensive (around 50K). They are an all-wheel drive car, the older generations are front wheel drive. I prefer the ride of my Mercedes over the Acura mainly because I prefer rear wheel drive cars. The one advantage Acura's have is that they come fully equipped. On my Mercedes the leather seats and sunroof were considered options, I believe that it is a game they play to get the base price to appear lower.