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Acura TL vs 2007 Toyota Camry
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Comments
the TL and the Accord, except for maybe the
air condition vents! TL is much, much better
looking than the Accord. Not to knock the
Accord; it also has a very nice interior,
but the exterior is boring.
I've been looking at the brochures on the
Lexus ES and I do see a lot of similarities
between the Lexus and the Toyota. But I like
the Lexus better. Yes, it's more expensive,
but I think it blends everything together
much better and looks better. Again, the
Camry is much improved from the previous
generation, but I've got to say, the
current Lexus ES is definitely getting my
attention, whereas I've always turned my
nose up at this car before, due to, once
again, boring styling, not sporty enough.
Times are-a-changin'!
Peter.
I come form a family that has had more Acura vehicles than Toyota (not to mention a father in law in Acura sales/management for 15+ years). I was going to buy a TL (an A-Spec, actually). I drove the new Camry and decided the money savings was worth the performance (handling) sacrifice since I wouldn't be able to make significant use of the TL advantage. I wanted an A-Spec because I like things that aren't being driven by every one else in the world. Sort of ironic, since I ended up buying a Camry which is one of the best selling (quantity) cars in the world. Hopefully, my color/option/trim combo will be rare (relatively speaking). Now I am using the thousands I saved to do some things around the house.
what's a "dressup":
1. take the same engine/transmission/suspension/chasis/...
2. modify a bit whereever needed (size, power, badge, etc., so that marketing can fool the less knowledged)
3. must put a better interior
there! make it $3000 better and you can sell $7000 more, business 101. Not to cry foul here, samething happens everywhere, some just want the niche and will pay for it. Fair game when both buyers and sellers are happy.
In the end though, a dressup is still a dressup. camry/ES/accord/tl => FWD midsize sedan.
Fortunately, for me, my car only has a "faded" dash and my tires flat spot in the morning. Other than that, the TL is one great ride.
Good luck with your next purchase.
Really? Correct me if I am wrong but the Camry SE does not come in a 6MT right? Although both are FWD, the 6MT has a certain "fun factor" to it, something the Toyo cannot offer, at least for now....
There is also standard equipment in the TL that is not even offered in the Camry i.e. superb sound system, xenon lights, dual zone a/c w/ climate control, homelink, faux wood interior, controls on sterring wheel, power driver and passenger seats w/ memory seating & sliding sunroof/moonroof. Forgive me if I missed something here, but this list leaves the TL with alot more over the Camry SE than just a badge....IMHO.
Thanks for clarifying Tedescm1's post. Makes alot more sense.
We test drove the VW Passat, Honda Accord, Acura TSX,TL, Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300.
Since this thread is only about the Acura and the Camry I will stick to those two.
We took both machines on the same test drive, which was a freeway test, and a back road test between Ashland and Medford. A turning test in a parking lot for steering and a break test on a gravel road.
Both cars did well on the gravel brake test doing what they could at not sliding on the rocks.
The backroad test revealed that the TL seems to have a stiffer ride and a bit twichy on bumpy roads with corners and pot holes. I also own a mod'd Mustang that rides kind of like that, I guess on the "sport" side its good, going for more of a luxury feel, we didn't like it.
Freeway test was close the camry is a lot quieter on the inside then the tl again, not a lot but it was quieter.
Freeway test 2 was passing, we came up on a car at 80 mph and then punched it, the camry promtly dropped gears and took off upto 110mph before we backed off and went around. The TL also promptly dropped gears but just didn't have much left to gain speed.
Parking test, we took it to the same parking lot drove the wrong way up the parking section (slanted parking stalls) and then make a turn to park right next to another car. The camry made the turn into the stall perfect, the tl crossed over the next slot, we tried that 3 times, couldn't hit it.
I don't think you can go wrong with any other them, you are going to get one of the best built auto's in the world. This was just my experience.
The big strike against the Camry was the weak AC system. We drove 4 different Camry's all had the same weak AC. The TL blows ICE cubes.
If the Camry SE would have had a better AC it would have been hard to pass it up.
I bought the TL so I don't have anything against Acura (or Honda) - but do not see the Acura brand as anything special (as in upscale).
Interesting to hear that. My 2005 SE-V6 also has what I would call a weak AC system. Doesn't get nearly as cold as my wife's Highlander. Takes quite a long time to cool the car down on a hot day.
We test drove on a very hot day - but it took 15-20 minutes before the car even started to cool off - since many of our trips are short - a quick cold AC is a must - I live in Houston.
2003 RSX 39,000 km = $17,700 to $19,550
2003 TL 39,000 km = $14,650 to $16,900
2003 Camry SE V6 39,000 km = $14,700 to $16,000
So my RSX holds it's value better than either the TL or Camry. I paid $27,000 for it.
Anyway, I'm off to test the TL this week, along with the G35 and IS350
SE
Engine, great grunt, great sound!
Interior, imo decent dash, ugly front stack, which in the dark lights up in this horrible pale blue, what's wrong with red, orange or dark blue? Also the plastic fake chrome looks very cheap
Driving experience, Good, transmission seemed to kick down propmptly when floored
TL auto
Engine, Doesn't feel and sound quite as powerful as the Camry but seems to get up to speed quickly
Interior, Great looking dash, nice front stack, feels like quality
Driving experience, Good, handled very well
TL type s auto
Engine, Sounds and feels like the most powerful of the 3, virtually launches itself when you put the pedal down
Interior, Great looking dash, nice looking guages, too bad you have to take the navigation package in the type S
Driving experience, Good, handled very well, not sure how often I'd use the paddle shifters
The type S of course looks the best, they've done a nice job with the quad exhausts, grill work and gauges. The type S didn't feel like it was going to ride much harder than the regular TL, both felt more forgiving than the RSX we are trading. Slight wonder on the reliability and maintanance of the type s vs regular TL. Don't need a navi package but have to take it in the type S.
The Camry motor feels great, but that front stack just jars me, not sure if I could live with it.
Put the TL interior in the Camry and then you'd have an under the radar, well priced sports sedan!!
thanks
Nick
But the Camry Hybrid caught my attention. Both cars provided what I needed (reliability) and some of what I wanted (navigation, heated seats, etc.) within the same purchase price range that I thought appropriate. But by my estimates I would save about $8000 over 6 years going with the Camry Hybrid due to reduced fuel costs, the tax credit, and the slightly lower purchase price (MSRP for the Camry).
Acura vs. Toyota isn't an issue for me. But I prefer the drive, power, looks, and navigation goodies of the TL. Is it worth $8000 to me? I haven't made up my mind. But I really understand why the cars are being compared by certain types of buyers.
So the 170hp Accord w/ 165lbs of torque felt the same to you as a 258hp TL w/233 lbs of torque?
IMHO the interior between the 1995 accord and TL are vastly different.
The TSX is the European Accord not the TL.
I am FURIOUS about this. My company develops electronic products, including wireless, and it is clear that the Acura engineers didn't do a very good job designing the system to make it meet all the Bluetooth compatibility requirements. I can go out and buy ANY $20 hands free headset or 3rd party handfree kit and it will work immediately with ANY Bluetooth phone I may have - but NOT this $35K car unit! Thanks ACURA.
SO - if your phone is not working properly with the car, check the list - it is probably not on it. This is a BIG oversight on the part of Acura engineering.
FYI one of the other half-baked features is the so-called "surround sound" system. It ONLY works with DTS audio DVDs, so it has no effect on your CDs and the XM stereo. The algorithm to convert 2-channel stereo to surround is included FREE with the DTS license, but Acura decided NOT to install it. Why? Who knows. I only know that I am not going to replace all my CDs with DVDs, so the feature is as USELESS as the handsfree system.
Just a heads-up for your consideration. I doubt that Toyota would release such systems that PARTLY work.
If I had to choose between the two- the nod goes to the TL.
With 400,000+ of these on the roads it is not as pervasive as many would have you believe from reading on the forums. If you count the very vocal posters here ( who I am certain do have signigicant issues ) it's less than 100 certainly.
My wife and I just purchased a new Solara to replace her MR2. I will be monitoring it for any hesitation because the 'old' technology of the 5 Spd with the 3.3L was also DBW and potentially susceptible to it. My feeling from driving the Highlander ( same technology ) is that we will make it accustomed to our driving and vice versa.
Then again, not everyone has problems pairing their phones to the BT in the TL either.
My nod still goes to the TL.
I just purchased an 07 Camry LE V6 with the 6 sp. auto.
I had the chance to buy an 04 TL with Nav but it had 50K miles. Now I now thats not really high but in Pittsburgh it is very hard. Lotsa hills, potholes etc. I ended with the camry and am kicking myself for not getting the TL. I will have one in a year or 2.
Why the change of heart so soon after just purchasing the Camry?
What did you not like about the Camry that a test drive didn't reveal?
Most cars with bluetooth have only a select few phones they will work 100% with. The Land Rovers I sell are like this and although they have gotten better every year there are still problems. The used BMWs that have bluetooth are the same way. Hey go try a mercedes with hands free phone service and good luck getting it to work with more then a couple of phones.
automophile, "Acura TL vs 2007 Toyota Camry" #139, 11 Jan 2007 1:30 pm#138
Vicki
The Camry has tons of positives, quiet, great MPGs, roomy,
the ENGINE is amazing BUT it is in direct contradiction to the suspension, its like they said "Lets stuff a fast, SPORTY engine but screw the suspension, it still needs to ride like a Buick or Bonneville} THe skid pad ratings on a regular Camry are .01 % better than a CR-V. WOW, thats scary
I know its "Buyer Beware" ANd I wish I didnt fall for the Motor Trends Car of the year BS and wish I read up HERE b4 purchase.
At least I bought this and not leased so when a yr or 2 pass, I can get out of it and into a used HOPEFULY better TL.
I agree with you on the Camry front seats = uncomfortable.
I also agree with the ride = soft, but as a family sedan, I don't think it was meant to throw around, and never was in prior model years(I had owned a 89 V6 5 speed Camry, and kept it for 10 years).
Now, as for the engine and trany problems with the V6, it's very scary to drop that kind of money on a "reliable" vehicle and be disappointed; Toyota needed to step up to the plate very quickly and rectify the major troubles with their products.
I have crossed off (at least for this model year) the Toyota and the Lexus products.
I have yet to take an Acura out for a drive, but the Accord was quite a bit noisier than the Camry.
I can maybe just lose 30-40 pounds :P
Well, ES is the same car as Camry but with more luxury features.
TL and IS are sportier and are in the same class.
I sorta disagree. At 6'4" the differences are REALLY apparent. The IS feels like a subcompact (I couldn't be comfortable in that car), while the TL is more the size of a 5-series BMW.