BMW 545 vs Acura RL

Scott C wrote:
> You guys are bad! ;-)..
>
> I'm not sure if the question is, does the BMW drive better.. yes, is
the
> answer. I have the 1990 535 and my wife has a 2002 325i.. both are
great
> cars.. this is why I'm looking at the 545, and yes, I have driven it.
>
I too have a 1990 535i, 5spd, 97K miles and just recently had the
headgasket repaired. It runs great!

> When does it become about value for the money we spend? I could drive
a
> $200,000 Lotus, and it would drive better than the BMW.. should I buy
that?
> I think most would answer 'no'.. the BMW is a good value for the
money, or
> perhaps, 'if you have the money, buy it'.. but we don't always (I
hope) buy
> the most expensive thing we can afford.. we buy a compromise between
what's
> practical and what we want. Ever bought any tools besides Craftsman?
Sure,
> we all do.. but we know Craftsman are very good, and cost a bit more.
We
> evaluate the money we have to spend vs the final product and it's
> competition.
>
The issue here is not so much about "value for the money spent", but
which one do you prefer to drive. I haven't driven the Acura, but if
you think it drives *as well* as the BMW, and you can save $10K, then
do it!

Hey, Acura makes great cars. Its electronics like NAV system is far
superior to BMWs idrive, so its not really a "compromise".

> I did state, "I did not like the car as much as the BMW".. which I
drove
> (545), but I wonder where the trade off's are in price / performance
/
> handling?
>
That's subjective. If you "think" the Acura drives as well as the 545i,
why not save $10K.

> Most of us BMW owners like our cars. We think they are the best thing
> going.. but let's keep an open mind. There are other cars out there,
they
> have more horse power, more features, cost less, same warranty, ...
and are
> a better initial value for our dollar - I say initial because we
don't know
> how the car will hold up over the long run.. but the same is true for
he
> BMW.
>
> I'll more than likely get the BMW. Perhaps this was just a comparison
> showing you can get more for your money with the Acura. Let's face
it, BMW's
> are overpriced.. but we all want them.
>
Agree, BMWs are vastly overpriced, especially when a 525i is "around"
$45K+! Ouch! But if you can afford the extra $10K+ for the 545i, get
it.

Of course, this assumes you like the looks of the car....