E350 vs. TL
 

i keep on going back on forth on which one i want to get. i can get a 2010 e350 4matic premium1 or a 2012 acura tl sh-awd with tech package. they both have about 40k miles and are the same price. the e350 is not certified but the tl is. they have relatively the same features and gas/insurance/maintenance are not a deciding factor for me. the benz looks so classy and elegant but its not sport tuned. the tl still looks nice just not as classy as the e350 but its so much fun to drive and is pretty quick. i know if i buy the tl any time i see an e350 ill be kicking myself because i could be driving a benz but if i get the benz any time i see the tl ill be wishing i was having a fun driving experience. which do you think i should buy? :confused:

TL

E350 vs Acura TL ?
 

Even though you stated that 'gas/maintenance' were not deciding issues, I would be very cautious about buying a non-CPO E350 that was not covered by some period of warranty.

Presumably the 2012 Acura TL is still under warranty, so it would likely be a better long term bet.

If you are really set on owning an E Class, I would look for one that is in excellent condition, has low miles and is CPO. You would have to obviously pay more for such a car than one that is not CPO. The good news is that there is a wide choice of CPO E350 from which to choose. Suggest you go to MBUSA website and select Pre-owned inventory, click on 'E350' and you will see what is on offer from all of the MB dealers in the USA ! There will likely be several 100s of cars offered.

Good luck with your hunt !

Research transmission issues on the TL ..... there's a lot going on there.

thanks! yeah if i got an e350 id just have to take the risk of a non cpo. the tl just drives so smoothly IMO as does the e350 which is even more smooth. but the tl was such a blast to drive! its really going to come down to luxury- e350 or sport- tl

oh really? ill have to look into that. luckily its a cpo!

One is a front wheel drive accord that has been adapted to have AWD. The other is a purpose-built RWD sedan that drives like a german car. They really shouldn't be considered in the same league, even if the TL is slightly faster. Keep in mind, the TL is the best Acura can do while the E350 is the base 212.

This seems to be the issue with all Honda auto transmissions. It seems like around 80,000+ miles, it starts to go bad.

+1

Warranty!!!!!!!!!!.......!!!!!!......!!!!!!

Also depends on who else will be riding with you, family / kids? If mostly solo driving then sport version may be okay. If not, it may get tiring for other passengers in the car. Also look at the safety aspect. Mercs are built like a rock (you will feel it while driving).
Take Derek's suggestion and look at the full preowned inventory available, you may be surprised. Acura may be low on maintenance cost though.

the rlx is actually the best that acura does. and considering price wise that the tl competes with the c class, i think it does a decent job keeping up with the e class. that being said- it is no e class and being offered the two, of course plenty would pick the mercedes. but im also looking for something fun to drive that doesnt sacrifice luxury; i just cant decide between a mix of the two, or more emphasis on luxury with a little on driving experience

about half is driving with friends in the car. and yeah the e350 is a solid tank! the e350 sounds like the obvious choice but idk theres just something that draws me to the tl

you'll regret not getting the benz everytime you see it, hate to sound like a brand snob but the benz name carries ALOT more prestige than the acura, if youre looking to impress people the benz is the way to go. generally people i know only consider benzes and japanese luxury cars if theyre concerned about reliablility and the repair costs of the benz, if thats not the issue then get the benz

Have you looked at a C350? I don't know anything about the prices, but this could be the middle ground for you in terms of the performance/luxury trade off.


The bad news is it's not as luxurious as the E350 OR as sporty as the TL.

Auction Wholesale on a 2012 TL tech AWD with 40k miles and a 2010 E350 W4 with 40k miles is the same.

So if you can not find a CPO benz for the same as the TL certified, your not looking hard enough yet.

Benz is definately more "solid", I personally don't like the TL looks, and acura is suffering heavily with there sedan sales. Drops every month. They are scrambling to fix, but can not get it right. Even the new RLX is a poor seller. (which is a more direct competitor to the E350)

Both should be about $29000 certified, max $30k.

Drsaab: yes, your 1st statement is so true ! :y

Acura has been suffering ever since they enjoyed some initial success with the Legend. Their designs have always a bit off.

I could say the same for the vast majority of Japanese sedans. How is it that a country known for superlative designs in architecture, sculpture, ceramics, and gardens can be so challenged when it comes to the aesthetics of car design ? :nix:

.

I would not have said anything better :y .
Most folks consider japanese namely Toyotas reliable but Toyotas are involved in catasprophic failures like unintended acceleration .

Get the Benz. You will be sorry if you don't. Every time I meet an e class it still looks like a new and beautiful car to me even if it is 3 or 4 years old. Might have a lot to do with the elegant front and the LED lights. Just my opinion and I know that's how I would feel..too bad you couldn't find a cpo as Derek suggests ..good luck and let us know what you decide

Get the MB. It is a fantastic car and after owning it for a few months now, I can't imagine driving anything else. Tank-like and fast (6 seconds to 60 for a two ton car is fast). Let's face it, most of your driving probably won't be scorching corners or testing the 0-60 speed. The occasional on-ramp, or straightaway is about as good as it'll get. The rest of the time will be about safety, comfort, roominess, etc. Lastly, as noted by others, come on now it's a Benz baby!!

I'll take the luxury and solid feel of a Benz over a TL any day. You like the "sportiness" of a the TL, are you bringing it to the track, racing around? Get yourself a CPO 350 and don't look back. Also like Calvu mentioned, look into a C350.. its smaller then the E but will give you that sporty feel.

Really, my only peeve with Acura (and Honda too for that matter) is that they really do a poor job of isolating road noise. Great cars, great dynamics, and Toyota corolla levels of noise isolation. I think you will grow tired of the Acura quickly.

I come from a Honda family (mostly civics and Accords) and we had them for nearly a decade. I liked them for what they offered in terms of reliability and cost of ownership. But the bad part was the ride and road noise. Now let me tell you one thing. When I used to drive Hondas I ALWAYS used to look what others are driving and wonder how nice or worse it could be. Now driving the Benz, I'm in a completely different world. I no longer notice the noises or vibrations or even look at what others are driving. I feel so cocooned in my own cozy little world and it's a feeling that I didn't get with any other cars I've driven. Anyway if you want an Acura, go for it.

I cross shopped "E" Class and TL vs. RL before I settled on the E. Part of it is the badge - and don't let anyone say that is not important. Also,the E is larger inside and has a little more upscale features.
Regardless, the E is a RWD adapted to AWD, so no different than a FWD adapted to AWD. TL's are great cars and reliability is far superior to anything MB makes. Check out Consumer Reports reliability if that is a concern. Also, Truedelta.com.
You might want to check out pre-owned RL's as they are usually very low cost. The RL is Acura's top line vehicle, but has never sold very well so discounted a lot when new or used.
BTW, TL is being replaced with a TLX.
Acuras are know for road noise, so you need to test for that. E's are generally quiter, but you do get tire noise on rough roads.
As for problems, such as Toyota's, been driving them for years and many miles with no problems. If one occurs, they fix it free. Can't say the same for MB.
I do enjoy my E and opted not to get a new Acura RL for less than I paid for my E when I purchased.