Acura -vs- Lexus ...

[HOMELANDEFENDER]

Narrowed a possible next car purchase to the '07 Acura TL type S, OR the Lexus IS350. The Acura is Front drive and less $$ - The lexus is rear drive, faster and more $$ -- What do you guys think.... The Acura would be a manual tranny.

I am a "car guy" -- so keep this in mind with your suggestions. Pro/cons -- personal experiences of each brand/mark will be appreciated.

Thanks.

HLD...


http://www.acura.com/

http://www.lexus.com/models/IS/

Nice examples of how I'd like mine to look tricked out...

[CrazyLad_v2]

I'd go for the Lexus. They are extremely reliable and I just prefer just about any Lexus over an Acura. My mom has one and if anything goes wrong with it they will come to our house (or where the car is) pick it up, tow it, and leave a loaner lexus. You can't beat that customer service and most if not all lexus dealerships will do this.

[maxama10]

oooo, them are purdy.

good luck choosing! err does it snow there? Might be a consideration, rear vs. front wheel drive?

[HOMELANDEFENDER]

oooo, them are purdy.

good luck choosing! err does it snow there? Might be a consideration, rear vs. front wheel drive?

One word - Bridgestone Blizzaks ...........Well - more like two
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=Blizzak+WS-50

HLD...

[RobOpel]

On first thought, Id go for the lexus, like you said rear drive, faster, ect. But the big thing for me would be what type of trans can you get in the lexus? If you cant get a stick, this would bring up a problem.
I dont see rear drive being that much of a performance benefit on the street...if you want your car to be a little more tail happy, slap it with a bigger rear antisway bar...you implied you want to upgrade it anyway, so why not?
If youre going to be driving it hard, which one has an lsd? If neither do, then the lexus's rear drive (if it has a manual...) would be the way to go, but if the acura has a lsd, its kinda a moot point.

If it were me, Id get an old body style IS300 and hit it with toyota's 4.3 liter 8...the uz? I cant remember anything from them that doesn't have a 2jz or 3s in it...

-Rob

[rikgao]

Lexus.

Better in:
Reliability
Resale value

[Steelrat]

I like the Lexus, it's sharp.

[personman]

Let me just say, you are a lucky man for being in such a dilemma.

[Steelrat]

Out of curiosity, have you looked at the Infiniti G35? I had one, and it was awesome.

[Outbreak]

I'm a proud owner of a 99 Acura CL and 04 TL and have nothing but praise for both cars. They have been the most reliable and fun sport/luxury cars I've ever owned. Not a single leak, knock, ping or hesitation out of either machine during my ownership.

While I haven't driven a new IS350, I did own a 2004 IS300 for a short time before I found the TL and I wasn't impressed. I've also read the backseat in the new IS350 is rather cramped.

The Lexus certainly has the upperhand in displacement (306hp compared to the TL-S's 286) and a rwd platform but I highly doubt you would be bored with the TL and close-ratio 6-speed tranny.



Of course my opinion is biased and I would suggest test driving both before making a decision.

[pennywise]

Honda or Toyota...

[Thordic]

IMO, Acura is nowhere near as nice as Lexus. Lexus beats them in every category. Acura drivers tend to be jackasses who scraped up enough cash to trade up their Civic and now they think they are big pimping.

Lexus drivers, on the other hand, think they own the road and drive like total morons, ignoring everyone else on the road. It seems like 50% of the time I get pissed off because someone is driving like an obnoxious idiot, they are driving a Lexus.

So I guess you have to decide which group you want to get stuck in with

Seriously, if I had to choose between the two (I'd never actually want to own either of them, but IF I did), I'd go with Lexus. They are just nicer cars. Acura's are just prettied up Hondas. Lexus actually has some style.

[Pneumagger]

Technical aspects aside:

I feel that the Manual Acura (when tricked out) will get more respect than the Automatic Lexus. On the other hand, the driver of the Lexus will get more respect than the driver of Acura.

/that's just how the world is.

[surfbum]

lexus and acura both have amazing reliability so in that respect they are pretty equal

get the acura, its a manuel, you can not have fun driving an automatic transmission
plus lexus' have a souless drive

both are great cars and you will probably love either one you get, but if you are actually a "car guy", you are going to enjoy the acura a lot more

[kosmo]

Lexus. FWD is gay, sucktacular, and lame all in one. The SMG in the Lexus is just semi-lame. Add to that the fact that everything else in the Lexus is better, and youve got a pretty easy choice. Honestly, if the A on the front of the Acura was an H instead, thered be 0 reason to attempt to compare the cars. The IS250 I sat in was the most comfortable car Ive ever been in. Its ridiculous what you get in those for the price.