Acura ILX BASE VS Golf Highline

[malecoke]

Acura ILX Base - $33,747 All inclusive
Golf Highline - $33,888 All inclusive
(Both figures are pre-negotiation)

If I'm going to be keeping the car for 7 years, is there any reason why I should choose the ILX over the Golf? The only main thing I can really think of is the Acura being more reliable/less problematic after 5 years. Other small advantages includes slightly better fuel economy, doesn't require synthetic oil changes, and smaller tire size which translates into lower tire replacement costs. But other than that the Golf Highline beats the Base ILX in terms of performence and features. Resale should be very similar after 7 years.

Am I missing anythere here? Input guys?

[qpixoraw]

If u want to keep more than 5 years, go with Acura, you can't go wrong with it. For ~$1k More I would get ILX dynamic manual transmission instead of base weak engine... Another option it's waiting for fall promotion to get TSX which much better...

[gilboman]

if you're keeping it , go with Acura. Also the 2.5L I5 in the golf is a horrible horrible engine, they are scraping it for next gen of golf finally. It's harsh, poor fuel economy and and power is not really there. fuel consumption of a 6 cylinder, performance of a 4, NVH of a mack truck

real world fuel economy of the golf is horrid

[malecoke]

If u want to keep more than 5 years, go with Acura, you can't go wrong with it. For ~$1k More I would get ILX dynamic manual transmission instead of base weak engine... Another option it's waiting for fall promotion to get TSX which much better...

Sorry but I don't know how to drive manual and have 0 intention of learning it ...lol

Hmm...the TSX...the discount will have to be huge in order to match those prices though...the BASE TSX with manual STARTS at $31k plus taxes...I dont know if discounts will be steep enough to match those prices...

[qpixoraw]

They will have discount this fall cause the TSX 2013 is coming, wait until dealers are desesperated to sell it...

Its just a matter of right time unless u really like ILX then get it :)

Oh I see u can't drive manual thats too bad... Get automatic instead then.

[mr_raider]

I would throw in the verano for comparison too:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1206_2013_buick_verano_first_look/

[Andro]

I would go with Golf highline, GTI should not be far off that price. If you can afford afford GTI go with GTI, really nice car. I believe Golfs are made in Germany same as GTI.

[booblehead]

Once warranty runs out ....

Maintenance
German = $$$
Japanese = $$

Resale
Japanese > German

[malecoke]

I would go with Golf highline, GTI should not be far off that price. If you can afford afford GTI go with GTI, really nice car. I believe Golfs are made in Germany same as GTI.

I'm not going anywhere close to a VW with DSG tranny.....lol

[malecoke]

I would throw in the verano for comparison too:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1206_2013_buick_verano_first_look/

Driving a Buick at this age will make me a laughing stalk for years to come...

[oksir]

The base ILX has nothing. The highline golf have pretty much everything+better handling/performances. If you are willing to sacrifice performance for fuel, TDI golf is great. Good on gas and will run forever.
A lot of people like to avoid first gen cars (ILX) as well? MK6 golfs are at the end of its gen, so kinks should have been worked out. MK7 are not out till year 2013, the "2013" models are still mk6. Not to mention 2012 golfs have 0% 5 years right now.

[mr_raider]

Driving a Buick at this age will make me a laughing stalk for years to come...

The laughs are irrelevant when they are coming from people two car lengths behind you.

[IndusVally]

The laughs are irrelevant when they are coming from people two car lengths behind you.

Lol what got walked by a 2.4L n/a Verano? A VW hippie bus?

[mr_raider]

Lol what got walked by a 2.4L n/a Verano? A VW hippie bus?

I was referring to the 2.0T.

[Andro]

I'm not going anywhere close to a VW with DSG tranny.....lol

Good for you. I had my DSG for about 5 years now and it's still awesome. Had one recall done to mechatronics unit (free), no other problems. Only did recall to get new unit + free tranny fluid flush, old unit was working fine.

[malecoke]

Good for you. I had my DSG for about 5 years now and it's still awesome. Had one recall done to mechatronics unit (free), no other problems. Only did recall to get new unit + free tranny fluid flush, old unit was working fine.

Yeh it's one of those hit or miss and you'll have to take a gamble. But for me, tranny failure is too big of a gamble. The consequences of having false neutral when I'm on the highway is not something I wanna face. Guess you're one of the lucky ones.....

I tried googling false neutral and these problems are still present on late models DSG (MKVI Golf for example)...

[Andro]

Yeh it's one of those hit or miss and you'll have to take a gamble. But for me, tranny failure is too big of a gamble. The consequences of having false neutral when I'm on the highway is not something I wanna face. Guess you're one of the lucky ones.....

I tried googling false neutral and these problems are still present on late models DSG (MKVI Golf for example)...

Previous to this I had 2 brand new Hondas both of which needed a new tranny after 3-4 years. Thankfully both covered under warranty. Definitely hit or miss.

[bluedcfive]

ILX is a confused car, move up without settling down or whatever their dumb slogan is? Car and Driver just reviewed it and said the suspension is very disconnected from the car + FWD and ***** tires?
I laugh at all those commercials on TV with the two douches walking down to their cars from work/club. Get a real (non FWD) sports sedan 3 series, A4 or C class.

[bluedcfive]

The laughs are irrelevant when they are coming from people two car lengths behind you.

LOL
you are kidding right? buying a buick to go light to light? Did you chip it?? hahahahaahah

[oksir]

ILX is a confused car, move up without settling down or whatever their dumb slogan is? Car and Driver just reviewed it and said the suspension is very disconnected from the car + FWD and ***** tires?
I laugh at all those commercials on TV with the two douches walking down to their cars from work/club. Get a real (non FWD) sports sedan 3 series, A4 or C class.

How is A4 a sport sedan?

[garyhudson]

How is A4 a sport sedan?

Sporty sedan.

For me I'd go for the Golf. The base ILX (I will refer to it as the CIvic from here on since I cannot accept the concept of a Honda with a wrong badge) is quite.....basic. It is about 1-2K more than the fully equipped Honda Civic Sedan with Nav, but you get things from the Civic's EX-L trim level. The Golf on the other hand, does have a bigger engine (if you dont like the 2.5 I5, no problem, there is a turbo gas engine coming next year, or you can go TDI), drives more solid & sporty and for the base price of the CIvic, you can get a pretty nicely equipped Golf (sportline/highline).

If you really like a civic, get a Honda civic EX-L and a nice Garmin nav from Costco. You will find it a much better value combo than what Acura tries to sell you.

[gilboman]

Previous to this I had 2 brand new Hondas both of which needed a new tranny after 3-4 years. Thankfully both covered under warranty. Definitely hit or miss.

Difference is Honda fixed it and is no longer an issue.. VAG never did because they don't know how, still an issue. That's how VAG rolls.. they don't fix problems, they just carry them over and over and over. Blackberry of the car world

[mr_raider]

LOL
you are kidding right? buying a buick to go light to light? Did you chip it?? hahahahaahah

Here is what a tuned LHU can do:

http://www.trifectaperformance.com/DynoSheets/2011BuickRegalTurbo.jpg