JSakaBuck

I have been searching around for a 2016 model year. Now that the 2017's are coming out, now seems to be a good time to be shopping. A few RLX hybrids are available with 100 miles of my home, but I have been paying particular attention to the serial numbers. Assuming early model year '16 serial numbers lower and late model year cars, should I be concerned about differences between early model year and late model year differences. I understand the '17's are "identical", so I'm hoping that my concerns are baseless. A particular car has been on the dealer's lot for over one full year, but I am skeptical about its condition after so long.

Thoughts?

TampaRLX-SH

There are no known variations in the '16 MY. The cars were all built out at the same time. From what I can estimate from VIN #s, about 275 were built. The '16 MY was reduced to two trim levels, Tech and Advance. You may want to check the TSB thread just to see if any of the potential TSB issues apply to a specific VIN range, but being so few cars built, I doubt you will find anything to that specificity. There are no current recalls for the '16 MY. Also there are no changes in the '17 MY so a '16 'leftover' should be very negotiable.

Last I checked, there were around 40 Advance models listed on AutoTrader or Cars.com. You may expect to travel out of your area for delivery or negotiate a car being traded and shipped to your dealer of choice.

Good Luck! We expect to see your post in the new owner thread.

JSakaBuck

I did it. I brought home my 2016 RLX Hybrid Advance yesterday. I am blown away by the car. I am happy to be back in the Acura family after 4 years in my '13 Cadillac XTS.

pgeorg

Welcome and congrats. I wish you many safe and enjoyable miles!

TampaRLX-SH

Congrats! Did you have to go far to purchase it?

Someone on the board was looking for a graphite luster over ebony SH. There is one at a dealer here in Tampa.

AZ must have a significant percentage of the SH owners by now?

Scott in AZ

Re 2016's >> I have 2016 VIN 379. According to the door jamb plate is was manufactured in April 2016.

JSakaBuck

I live about 2 hours from the Philadelphia dealership where I bought it, so the drive was definitely worth it for the savings. Pomegranate/Seacoast. The 2016 VIN said #202 and the manufacture date on the door-plate said "8/15". There were 235 miles on it when I test drove it. The dealer considered it new, and sold it to me as such. This is my fourth Acura, an '86 Legend; '90 Legend; and '05 RL all came before. In between were a Saab 900 Convertible; Mercedes E class; Saab 9-5 Wagon; and an Accord, before coming back to the '05 RL. After that, came an '09 Nissan Maxima and '13 Cadillac XTS......both disappointments. I feel I'm "home" again being back in Acura's flagship. It's good to be home.

TampaRLX-SH

Thanks for reminding me Scott. The 2016's were built in 2 groups. The initial group was built in 2015 (May - Oct - I believe). My 2016 RLX SH was delivered 7/8/15, built 5/2015.

Then there was a break, likely to build other configurations (JDM, Asia, Korean, Chinese, Canadian). At year later (actually spring of 2016) another batch was built. I could be wrong, but I believe that gap also resulted in the VIN range gap. I have been tracking (informally) VINs to get a handle on how many were built in US configuration - and I did discover VINs in the 300+ range (such as yours). I would expect they projected selling more and had capacity at Sayama (which is a constraint in itself). However there was a range of approximately 90 cars I could not locate VIN #s, and exactly what that range was - I do not recall.

It is very difficult to get specifics like this from Honda / Acura - thus I did my best to extrapolate from the VINs I searched online.

neuronbob

Congrats, JSakaBuck!

VT Skier

FWIW, my car's VIN is 205 and was built in 9/'15, according to the door jamb sticker.