stevemo

I am in the market for a new car (used really) and I drive a ton of miles. The RL's have popped up as I was looking at MB 320's and Lexus E/GS 350's.

I like the car and since I drive a ton of miles I am drawn to the reliability of the Lexus/Acura's of the world. I need a little more room than an IS/TL would give me so therefore the bigger body styles are winning out.

I have a 2006 RL in my sights and might pull the trigger. It has 84k miles on it and I was wondering if, since it has that many miles on it if it would make sense for me as a high mileage driver to step into it. The car drives like a sports car in a luxury car's clothing. Sometimes, it is too stiff I feel, but I am sure that comes with getting used to the car.

I am looking for a ride something between my current car and a Lexus. I think the Lexus might be too much of a "cloud" feel.

I am coming from a Pontiac Grand Prix, 2004, and I have attached 175k+ mikes on that thing! It is still running strong too! However, I would like to get out of it and step into something newer with some gadgets (read BT, NAV, sound system, etc).

Here are some things on my mind:

1: Should I expect to get (obviously with set maintenance) 200+k out of this car?

2: What is a fair price to pay for this vehicle? It is in good shape with a scuff on the rear fender and 84k worth of wear in the interior...it has everything (AWD, NAV, Bose, - everything except a back up camera).

3: What known issues should I be worried about - about this mileage some mechanical ghosts come out of the closet! I am going to buy an extended warranty however so I should be covered on most things.

4: Will this car be a good road warrior car? Meaning I will be driving this UH-LOT!

Thanks for your help!

Steve

neuronbob

Welcome to AZ!

I owned a 2006 RL and will tell you that it was an excellent car for me. It will be a MAJOR upgrade from your Grand Prix as it is a mid-level luxury car. We have members with well over 100k miles on their cars and one member who at last report in the last couple of months had 260k miles on his. They definitely last, and the 2006 had relatively few issues.

To answer your questions more specifically:

1: Should I expect to get (obviously with set maintenance) 200+k out of this car?

See above. It's a Honda. Next question?

2: What is a fair price to pay for this vehicle? It is in good shape with a scuff on the rear fender and 84k worth of wear in the interior...it has everything (AWD, NAV, Bose, - everything except a back up camera).

Depends on where you are. KBB says with that many miles, in my area, it's worth $14.5-17k (private party value), and the SRP from a dealer would be $20k. If you look in the "RL owners sign-in" thread at the top of the forum, you can get an idea of what people have paid for theirs. BTW, the car is AWD and had Nav and the Bose system stock for that year. The only option is the PAX runflat system, which also added CMBS (collision-prevention system). Rearview camera and iPod integration were dealer-installed options for that year.

3: What known issues should I be worried about - about this mileage some mechanical ghosts come out of the closet! I am going to buy an extended warranty however so I should be covered on most things.

Door handles, propeller shaft replacement, battery issues, but that's pretty much it in the 2006. If you search around this part of the site, you'll have a good idea of the issues.

4: Will this car be a good road warrior car? Meaning I will be driving this UH-LOT!

Yes. It is comfortable, safe (5-star ratings all around), and with addition of A-Spec suspension and stickier tires, it can be sporty to drive.

Keep looking around here and let us know how your search goes.

23109VC

I just bought a 2006, but mine was low mileage, Certified pre-owned from an Acura dealer. (CPO). Mine had 29k miles, I paid $26,500 + TTL. that was around 7 months ago.... used car pricing seems to have increased or held steady as more people are looking at good used cars vs buying new in this depressed economy...keep that in mind when shopping...

84k miles is not terribly high for that model year - if it was sold early in the production run, and was driven regularly, it was on the road for 4 solid years... 20k/year = 80k. a lot of people drive 20k/year. what I would want to know is how was it driven, was it maintained, does it have service records? was it inspected? is it a private party sale, some shady car lot, or a dealer?

you can always take a used car to another dealer / mechanic and get your own private inspection - you'll pay for it, but it's money well spent. you can have some peace of mind that you aren't buying a car that has hidden problems.

obviously, if you can find one with lower miles - all the better. keep in mind, with these cars, not much was an option - so when you see all the different RLs for sale in your area - they will all be almost identical except for colors/mileage and any dealer accessories that were installed. but htey all have the same engine, transmission, navigation, bose system, etc.

if you can find an 07 - you will get a backup camera standard and an aux audio input in the center console - small details but I wish I had them on my 06...but prices will liekly go up for an 07 vs 06 as well... so find the best deal you can.

overall, I"m VERY happy with my RL. like you, I was looking at cars that were sporty yet luxurious and stuff like the IS / TL were too small. the RL is a very UNDER-rated car. it is a ton of car for the money and like bob says - you can toss in some suspension from Acura, upgrade tirs, and it becomes VERY good in teh turns. those items are on my "to do" list.

definitely tint the car - makes the car look 10x better. also consider rear spoiler. i added it, and think it made the car look more aggressive.

good luck.

danmm7

iTrader: (1)

It is a very nice car and you'll enjoy it. Here are couple of pointers from me:

1. Look for a lower miles car! 80k+ to start with may be too much. This is a car that is really worth to go out of state and get a nicer, lower miles one if you find one. IN other words, if you find a great deal on a 2006/2007 RL with 50k miles but it is 1,000miles away from you - go get it!! You won't regret it.

2. Get a 2006 or preferably 2007. 2005 and early 2006 seem to have more issues than later models. (not a surprise here)

3. Price: do not be afraid to negotiate. It really depends where you live but just to give you an idea... i got my 2006 RL, last June (09) with 36k miles for $24k out of the door, ...this is in N. California. Check Ebay!

4. Repairs: I put almost 20k miles on my car and so far the only major issue i had to address was the propeller shaft. It was replaced under warranty. It is a very expensive part to replace on your own so keep that in mind. Also....around 100k miles you'll have to do the Timing Belt. Not cheap.

5. Not sure if you care about the gas mileage and how you're going to drive the car. On the freeway, it is great and you'll get 25+ MPG most of the time. In city driving or stop-and-go ... it won't be anywhere close to that. Expect 18mpg (or even less) if you put more aggressive rubber/wheels.

Good luck!

stevemo

I just received the carfax from the guy (the dealership - it is a lot that a couple guys run - basically go and get cars and put them on the lot...however, they are all PREMIUM Import CARS) and it has been involved in a couple accidents. Driving the car, you would NEVER KNOW IT!

As far as going out of state, this is a few miles from me and he is looking at $16,200. I thought that was fair - but looking further into it with a couple accidents, I feel a little weary!

Again, I got it up to about 80 and it drove straight as an arrow!

Thoughts on that?

Steve

danmm7

iTrader: (1)

I would do more research... since i would not be happy with the Carfax report. Car may drive straigh and all, but given the complexity of this car, all the electronics, differentials, axles, sensors .... how do you know it was repaired properly. Not to scare you but some Acura dealership don't even know to fix these car, forget some collision shop. ( i had to take my RL to the dealer 3 times to get my headlights adjusted and they could not do it. I did it on my own)

I am sure you can find other nice RLs in a radius of 400-500miles around you. Take your time! Drive around and test drive other RLs.

TampaRLX-SH

The RL is an ideal vehicle for one who spends a lot of time in the car. It has the most comfortable seats of any vehicle I have ever driven. The telematics of the car are great for checking messages while on the road. The NAVI system, though 6+ years since inception is still better than most any on the market to date. Voice recognition is still unsupassed IMHO.

That said, driving this car has been more organic than any other I have owned. The refinement and build quality is subtle, but over time it becomes a benchmark you will not see in this price range. The RL truly offers a serenity and ease that it not obvious at first. We tend to be drawn to flash and verve, not to refinement and intuitiveness.

The RL also has exceptional range from being a luxo cruiser to a sporting twisty champ. It can accomodate most any mood of my driving style. But the serentity and security of this car has proven to be my most favored. Still a day driving country backroads can make me smile and giggle like a school girl. SHAWD is something that can both make you rest easy with driving security and make your adrenaline flow.

No car is perfect, but this car nearly 4 years later continually pleases me, assures me and delights me unlike no other car has. I would dare to say this car has enchanted me.

Find a clean, documented RL that was cared for. Best if you have a warranty option as technology laden cars are not cheap for repairs. Be sure all TSBs have been applied and you will have a loyal, reliable and engaging vehicle. We have a member whose RL has 200K+ miles before he had to have the tranny rebuilt, but is now well past 250K with an RL that looks and runs as a youngster.

neuronbob

What kind of accidents? Fender-benders with bumpers replaced or more serious? That will determine whether you accept this car, or decide whether you look further afield for an RL in better condition.

I still personally wish I had room for both my CTS-V and an RL. Maybe when I hit the lottery...

TonyCD

It is just a little stiff over small ridges and expansion joints to me, too. (I have a pampered butt, I think -- to me, the TL was a LOT stiff.) Tires may be a factor that could help that. It also has a little more tire noise on grooved pavement than you'd expect from such a luxurious car, though I certainly wouldn't say it ever gets loud. But that's a small price to pay for such a remarkable compromise of luxury and nimble all-season road manners.

Also, my gas mileage sucks (literally -- 14 city/22-24 highway). That about exhausts my list of complaints.

My situation is nearly identical to 23109's, and I second all of his comments. Neuronbob and TampaRL know everything, too.

I drove everything, except for some of the Germans. For the all-around, all-season car I wanted, nothing else measured up -- especially for the price. Every time I get in my RL, I feel pampered and special. That's a pretty good description of a proper luxury car, in my view.

Richbum

just needs a V8 or a supercharger IMO for it to be a perfect car. MB invited me to try the new E550 sedan and I am in love. Considering trading in the RL for it.

SouthSyde

sorry to hijack the thread but since we on the subject of maintenance for the rl, i wonder if the timing beltand water pump is warrantied under the dealer if you have a 7yr/100k drive train warranty?

stevemo

I am going to go get it looked at on Monday. We will see what they say. I can get a bumper to bumper (tech included) in a warranty and I will most likely do it.

I love the ride and have made contact with a couple others that seem to have lower mileage. But more money.

I will keep you updated....

Chas2

Timing belt change is at 105K so no, unless it broke and killed your engine during the warranty period.

SouthSyde

thanks alot.. i was in the same shoes as you.. i was debating between the lexus gs350 or the rl. the lexus drives a little smoother but the rl is a little more sporty. personally i preferred the interior of the rl. another thing that made me get the rl was the fact that there is not that many on the road. the lexus is a dime a dozen. i personally think the rl is the better bang for the buck, considering same year same milage as the gs. just my 2 cents..

stevemo

I am going to steer away from the one I think had some issues. I found a 2005 for 19,700. 63k miles. It was a certified Acura and has only been driven 5k in the year owned by owners#2!

Pretty stoked! Hope I can get all the paperwork done this wekend! Woo-Hoo!

Steve

FireNation23

I got a question for all the Northeast owners... How did the RL handle in all that snow. I hope it drove thru it like butter, like all the bmw commercials in the snow.

Chas2

I think it did great, even with the crappy Michelin Pilot HX MXM4s. It would be pretty bulletproof with snows. Just look at some of the stuff FNP90 was plowing through a few years ago in MN. That is snow country also.

SouthSyde

damn that sucks... i thought most hondas timing belt is suppose to be done before 100k miles..