Test drove the new RL

[jlindy]

Earlier this week, my father and I spent the day looking for a new car for him. He currently has an 02 Acura RL and is considering the new RL, or a Mercedes E320. After taking a test drive in both, I have to say the Mercedes does not even hold a candle to the new RL. I also got a chance to drive the TL as well, and while I like it a lot, again the RL is head and shoulders above that as well. It is simply an amazing vehicle with so much thought gone in to making it.

First of all, it looks so much better in person than it does from the pictures. I don't know how many of you have driven it, but it is awesome. The paddle shifters is a great feature and it actually handles VERY well. In the brochure, it list the lateral g's at .89 vs the NSX's .90. (according to the brochure). Being able to transfer power seemlessly from front to back and side to side obviously makes a huge difference. While the TL has the voice activated navigation system as well, it is not nearly as advanced as the RL's with many more features and commands, not to mention the ability to give you real time traffic info.

All I can say is to those who have trashed it, go test drive it and see for yourself. I am seriously considering getting one of these myself and sacrificing some accelartion needs for such a complete package. (I was considering a 2001 M5, M3, 545i, etc.)

 

[whiteNSXs]

If Sochiro were still alive, the RL probably would have been a M5 eater just like the Mugen RL. Awesome car nonetheless.
Steve

 

[brahtw8]

I test drove the RL and was not impressed . It was too heavy and soft, and has little if any extra room over the TL.

 

[EIFFEL]

how bout the INFINITI M45. 2006 model. same price point, 1 sec quicker to 60 mph. RWD.

 

[NetViper]

how bout the INFINITI M45. 2006 model. same price point, 1 sec quicker to 60 mph. RWD.

The M35 beat the RL in the latest Motor Trend comparison, but just barely. And it was about $8K less.

I can only imagine that the M45, same price as RL, would toast it.

 

[nsxtasy]

The M35 beat the RL in the latest Motor Trend comparison, but just barely.

I cannot find such a comparison article in any recent Motor Trend. Which issue, please?

And it was about $8K less.

I can only imagine that the M45, same price as RL, would toast it.

I highly doubt it.

The problem with those "prices" you claim is that they do not represent an apples-to-apples comparison. You have to pay extra for a lot of items on the Infiniti - HID headlights, nav system, 4WD, etc - that are standard on the RL, and most ought to be standard on any $40K+ luxury car IMHO. Furthermore, on the Infiniti, some of them require the purchase of an expensive option package. Price both cars with the exact same levels of equipment and you will find that the Acura is by far the better value for the money.

 

[NetViper]

I cannot find such a comparison article in any recent Motor Trend. Reference, please?

I highly doubt it.

The problem with those "prices" you claim is that they do not represent an apples-to-apples comparison. You have to pay extra for a lot of items on the Infiniti - HID headlights, nav system, 4WD, etc - that are standard on the RL, and most ought to be standard on any $40K+ luxury car IMHO. Furthermore, on the Infiniti, some of them require the purchase of an expensive option package. Price both cars with the exact same levels of equipment and you will find that the Acura is by far the better value for the money.

Ken, newest Motor Trend, just got it in the mail two days ago.

As for prices, they say $41,000 for the M35 and M45 is estimated at $49,000. We'll see for sure when the car comes out. They did not have a price-as-tested.

 

[nsxtasy]

As for prices, they say $41,000 for the M35 and M45 is estimated at $49,000.

Check Edmunds prices for the 4WD version of the M35 instead of the RWD model, for HID ("Journey" package), for a nav system, etc, and you will see that the M35 suddenly costs around the same $49K as the RL that comes with these features. Do the same with the M45 and you will see that it is a whole lot more money than the RL.

 

[NetViper]

Check Edmunds prices for the 4WD version of the M35 instead of the RWD model, for HID ("Journey" package), for a nav system, etc, and you will see that the M35 suddenly costs around the same $49K as the RL that comes with these features. Do the same with the M45 and you will see that it is a whole lot more money than the RL.

I'll take your word for it.

Nonetheless, I would say that if given the option, a lot of people would take the RL in RWD instead of AWD and save the money. I could be wrong. I would rather have RWD and save the weight and $2-3000.

 

[nsxtasy]

I would say that if given the option, a lot of people would take the RL in RWD instead of AWD and save the money. I could be wrong. I would rather have RWD and save the weight and $2-3000.

That's why there are lots of different models available... but if you're going to compare a stripper version of the M35, the TL is a better comparison - and a far better value too.

 

[jlindy]

The M45 looks great, but the options seems very expensive. You can see the pricing on infiniti's website.

 

[EIFFEL]

KEN, Does HONDA have you on the payroll? :biggrin: You seems to love Honda/Acura products. Nothing wrong with that but Acura vehicle is not what it used to be. The RL is basically a FWD design disguised as AWD. The engine sits the wrong way! Most high end luxury buyer wants the engine the traditional way. Not like a civic. JMHO

 

[nsxtasy]

KEN, Does HONDA have you on the payroll? :biggrin: You seems to love Honda/Acura products.

I think false accusations like this (I do not work for Honda) show YOUR BIAS - you are attempting to distract from the real issue here, which is the quality of the Acura cars (and the RL in particular), by claiming that I am biased. I find your attacks personally offensive and shameful.

I like Honda's and Acura's cars when they're good - and most of the time, they are very good indeed.

I also think it's extremely deceptive when high-end automobiles, like Lexus/Infiniti/BMW/etc, claim to have low sticker prices, but when you look closely, you have to pay a whole lot more for options that should be standard on any luxury car, like HID lights, heated seats, leather, sunroof, etc. Compare models that appear to be similar in price, add the options (that almost everyone gets anyway) to give them similar equipment, and you find that the sticker goes way up on those other brands.

The engine sits the wrong way! Most high end luxury buyer wants the engine the traditional way. Not like a civic.

I don't think high end luxury buyers care about whether the engine "sits the traditional way". They care about performance, and comfort, and reliability, and styling, and features, and value - all of which the new RL offers.

It sounds like you have not driven it...

 

[nsxtasy]

Ken, newest Motor Trend, just got it in the mail two days ago.

Got it. They tested six cars in the $45K price range, and as you note, the RL came in a close second to the M35. Both cars were ranked ahead of the Audi A6 3.2 quattro AT6, the BMW 530i Sport, the Cadillac STS V6, and the Jaguar S-Type 3.0.

 

[willabeest]

I test drove the RL and was not impressed . It was too heavy and soft, and has little if any extra room over the TL.

ditto. too slow. also - quality was not up to BMW 5 series standards.
salesman kept saying to compare it to a 5 series BMW. finally i said to the salesman "want to drive my 540?". he shut up after that.

 

[NetViper]

Got it. They tested six cars in the $45K price range, and as you note, the RL came in a close second to the M35. Both cars were ranked ahead of the Audi A6 3.2 quattro AT6, the BMW 530i Sport, the Cadillac STS V6, and the Jaguar S-Type 3.0.

Correct. My only point is that the M45 should come in pretty close to the RL price and offers a LOT more power. But, like you said, they have a lot of options. I was VERY surprised to hear how cheap the STS interior quality was. I would have thought the interior quality would have been the same on the base STS as the AWD version. Not a good showing for caddy.

 

[NetViper]

ditto. too slow. also - quality was not up to BMW 5 series standards.
salesman kept saying to compare it to a 5 series BMW. finally i said to the salesman "want to drive my 540?". he shut up after that.

But how do you compare your 540i to a the new 525i?

 

[willabeest]

But how do you compare your 540i to a the new 525i?

OK i have never driven a new 525 so i do not know about that one.
but the warranty is going to end on my wife's 540 and we are looking for a replacement. i thought the RL would be perfect for her especially since she always loved her (long gone) 1989 legend. she was not impressed by the RL.
she is probably going to spring for another V8 BMW. i hate the new look on the 5 series. she likes it.

Acura's are supposed to be SPORTING! the RL is more like a japanese cadillac!

 

[EIFFEL]

I think false accusations like this (I do not work for Honda) show YOUR BIAS - you are attempting to distract from the real issue here, which is the quality of the Acura cars (and the RL in particular), by claiming that I am biased. I find your attacks personally offensive and shameful.

Man, your are touchy! I did not accuse you of anything, If you find it offensive, then you should just get over it, where in my previous post did I attack you? I was stating you seems to love Acura/Honda products, and a fact that you agree on.

 

[EIFFEL]

I don't think high end luxury buyers care about whether the engine "sits the traditional way". They care about performance, and comfort, and reliability, and styling, and features, and value - all of which the new RL offers.

It sounds like you have not driven it...

We just have to wait and see how many new RL can Acura sell compare to its main competitors, like 06 Lexus GS, 06 Infiniti M35/45, M-B E350 and BMW 5 series. As far as driving the new RL, I don't brag about what I have driven, it is a very nice car, just not my cup of tea. Keep me post it on the sales figures after 1 yr, I know you will have the facts.

 

[NetViper]

We just have to wait and see how many new RL can Acura sell compare to its main competitors, like 06 Lexus GS, 06 Infiniti M35/45, M-B E350 and BMW 5 series. As far as driving the new RL, I don't brag about what I have driven, it is a very nice car, just not my cup of tea. Keep me post it on the sales figures after 1 yr, I know you will have the facts.

The TL has been a huge sales success. It is an incredible car and value for the money. I don't feel the same way about the RL. I like it, but its performance is only so-so for a 300HP V6. The TL is just as fast. The outside looks OK, but I think the TL is a better looking car. However, the interior to me is FAR superior to the TL.

When you are spending 50K on a car, there are a lot of options out there. Only time will tell how the RL does. I hope for HONDA it does well.

I have heard rumors of a car above the RL. That would be interesting, but it would be a MUST to have a v8 to compete with that class of car.

Time will tell.

 

[Juice]

The one thing that Motor Trend always fails to admit is that us northern stationed folk have a hard time plowing through the winter in rear drive vehicles. I didn't want the RL I have now. I was going to buy a M3 as a daily driver. But when reality hit, it came in the form of ice and snow. Front wheel drive is the way to go around these parts. And to those of you who think traction control has come a long way, I invite you to talk to a friend of mine who has lost 3 M BMW's over just as many years due to their inability to stay on the road during the icey months.

The RL has a real advantage that is never discussed. And it still came in a close second in the comparo featured in MT. Personally I hope the RL is a test mule for the SH-AWD and it eventually finds its way into a certain sport car that is currently missing fron their line-up. Who knows?

 

[brahtw8]

The one thing that Motor Trend always fails to admit is that us northern stationed folk have a hard time plowing through the winter in rear drive vehicles. I didn't want the RL I have now. I was going to buy a M3 as a daily driver. But when reality hit, it came in the form of ice and snow. Front wheel drive is the way to go around these parts. And to those of you who think traction control has come a long way, I invite you to talk to a friend of mine who has lost 3 M BMW's over just as many years due to their inability to stay on the road during the icey months.

Exactly. I would be daily driving an M5 if I didn't have a real winter.

I made it through three winters in my old 3-series on Pilot Alpins. It was okay, but not confidence inspiring.

The TL on Blizzaks is heaven in the snow. Having the weight over the drive wheels is a good thing.

 

[jlindy]

Got it. They tested six cars in the $45K price range, and as you note, the RL came in a close second to the M35. Both cars were ranked ahead of the Audi A6 3.2 quattro AT6, the BMW 530i Sport, the Cadillac STS V6, and the Jaguar S-Type 3.0.

Could you possibly post this article. I would love to see the acceleration times of all the cars, price as test, specs, etc. Maybe I will just go and pick one up. I love the look of the M35/45, but I like all that the RL has to offer. I love the exterior of the TL, but like the inside of the RL.

 

[NetViper]

Could you possibly post this article. I would love to see the acceleration times of all the cars, price as test, specs, etc. Maybe I will just go and pick one up. I love the look of the M35/45, but I like all that the RL has to offer. I love the exterior of the TL, but like the inside of the RL.

It is the newest Motor Trend. Should be on stands now or in the next week.