When I was shopping around for a car during January of '03, I narrowed my car choices down to an RL or TL. Price ceiling was $15,000 simply because I didn't want to do payments.

I LOVED the '99 RL at the time, significant improvements over the '96 - '98 MY but it was out of my price range. Bit the bullet and got the TL.

I will say this much, the TL completely "owns" the RL on steering feel, there is simply too much boost on the RL and NO roadfeel.

I'll write more later as this is election night...

Feel free to share your thoughts

 

I agree.

The design may have been a bit sedated... but thats what I loved about it.

Around the time I bought my 2000 TL, two of my favorite cars were the RL and the A8. Both had a similar, understated, look IMO.

 

The RL at least from '99 onwards has a good heavy stance, it just looks stable and solid at rest.

What I really liked was the interior, the leather was top grade, not too soft like Lexus or rock hard like BMW's. The real wood, power everything and the EXECUTION were top notch. No cheap materials and those seats are incredibly comfortable while still having a bit of lateral support.

 

 

I came close to convincing my father to buy a 2004 RL, since it was so sweet and we knocked the price down to 38K, but after seeing some pics of the 2005 RL, he decided to wait, hopefully he gets one so I can play with it!

 

used rl prices are pretty cheap too

 

I just want the Legend name back in the NA market.

Junkster, whose not so fond of the letter scheme

 

Acura should have kept it rather than try to follow the Europeans. Legend sounds much nicer than some bland alphanumeric designation.

 

Yeah, I agree also...
Killing the 'Legend' name because it was overshadowing the 'Acura' name is imo.

 

Actually if you were to upgrade from your TL Ken... IMO: i'd just get the 2004 RL and not the
new 2005... besides you'll be jumping from the 1st Gen TL forum to the 1st Gen RL forum... I still need to test drive those three cars (05 Accord, 04 & 05 RL)... but just been a bit lazy to drive 45 minutes to get to the Acura Dealer...

Well you can say the legend logo well, became a legend... lol... I kind of like the new alphanumeric badges...

I wonder what my payments would be if I trade in my wifes 96 Accord and give a $2G down for a new RL would be???

 

I always thought the names were much more enticing, but I guess the people with the money make the calls.

 

Like i said in the other thread, my dad has had a 96, 99 and now a 02 RL. The RL is far better quality than my old 02 TL-S was. Its just soo well built without any issues or RATTLES. None of his RLs ever visted the dealer for major work and he doesnt even take care of them that well! He beats on it and it keeps going!

 

we bought a 04 RL this summer. very nice car.

 

RL's/Legend's rock!

 

are there any major problems with the 96-98 model? im lookin to pick one up as a second car.

 

Nothing major. The only thing I've ever heard about was one or two people complaining about the CD based navigation system giving them issues.

The RL is incredibly reliable according to Consumer Reports.

 

the only thing I never liked about the 1st gen RL were the wheels, aside from that, the car was sweet and wasn't given enough credit amongsts its luxury rivals

 

RL is a decent car. but here are a few reasons why its not popular:
extremely boring looks, looks like a car a 75yr old would drive
3.5L is extremely slow
cant handle
bland styling inside and out
why get an RL when you can get a TL for cheaper and it has better styling and a much faster engine.


i will however say that the new 2005 RL is the new king of Acura. Acura did a phenominal job on this, it looks F*cking amazing.

 

Hey, I'm not that old and I think almost all new cars are cheap and ugly looking


O - 60 in 8 seconds. Not bad but yeah a bit slow. I wouldn't say extremely though, it'll scoot around town and pass trucks on the highway just fine.


True, I'd get some aftermarket springs for it. That and some 17 inch wheels, that seems to fix this problem.

Well, what one person calls bland another would call tasteful and subtle. Some people go for that. Its subjective afterall, no one is right or wrong.

 

but hey at least im givin u, that the new RL is the new KING (best acura made yet)
i only have one gripe about it, and thats the fact that it doesent have a V8
i still love it to death though and would buy one if i ever had that money

 

So far, this is the most reliable, best built Honda product I've bought. It serves me well and I'm not 75 years old, but 44 ! I bought one of the last brand new 04 Black on Black on the lot for 36.5K (brand spanken new too ). I drove out like I stole it !

 

Considering you got it for almost $10,000 less than the MSRP, I'd say you got a good deal

 

I'd say this about the 1st gen RL - give me one and I wouldn't refuse!

 

mine is nestled away in the garage for a long winters nap

 

What year is it?

 

I just bought a 99 RL with Navigation but it didnt come with a DVD. Can anyone help me?

Thanks

 

Do you mean cd ? They don't come with DVD if I understand your question....
Welcome anyhow's.....

 

Yeah, I'm quite sure 2000+ RL's have DVD Navy while 96 - 99 are CD based

 

Oh the Navi !!!! I know mine is DVD based.......not sure about converting over....I thought all acura navi systems are dvd based, that was the advantage they had in the market place ! No ?

 

The original Honda/Acura Navi going back to 1995 or so was CD based and continued to be so until 1999 or 2000.

 

"1st Generation RL is misunderstood and underappreciated"

...Agreed. How did I end up here? Some TL drivers in the "Acura Heaven" MySpace group were mocking my RL and booted me out.

I do believe its a gorgeous, distinguished-- not old!-- looking car. My only issue? Its handling. My friend's MDX has a finer turn radius. Poor thing.

Oh, and just a brief introduction. Hi, I'm Amy. I'm from a suburb just outside Chicago, Illinois, battling through high school. I'm not 75-years-old and I drive a 2000 Acura 3.5 RL, blue with grey leather interior. To be honest, I'm not too familiar with the mechanics of... any kind of car, but I'd like to learn!

 

This is the perfect place to ask. I know quite a bit about your RL so don't hesitate to ask me or others. Welcome!

 

Hello! Thank you so much.

And actually, I DO have a question or two. :o)

Ken, earlier you mentioned that some of the handling issues could be alleviated by putting on 17" wheels? Do you think your could elaborate on that? Right now, I still have the 16" all-weather standards... pretty much, the car, other than routine maintance, has been left untouched since my father bought it in 2000-- he now drives a 2004 RL.

I am going to be needing new front brakes (they're down to 20%-- boo!) soon, and was thinking I might get a bunch of work done on the car, as I got those replaced. There are some scratches to be removed-- my dad scratched the front bumper, a chunk of ice fell on the hood, some asshole in the school parking lot keyed the passenger side right below the window. I've heard about some inexpensive and fairly uninvasive scratch removal processes that body shops and some car washes offer. Anyone heard about these and their effectiveness?

Last but not least, I'm looking for a good wax or polish. I've heard great things about Zaino. Anyone have recommendations?

 

Zaino is excellent...

As for the 17 inch wheels, it basically means less rubber/air between the road and the wheel. A slightly firmer ride (but the RL is already a smooth ride!) but more direct steering feel and less body roll. You'll feel more in control.

As for the brakes, you can get those redone for about $150 to $200, I'd know as my TL has the same brake system

 

The brakes should be super inexpensive to get done. This car, considering it's mileage, gets service ALL the time and my father, who drives a 2004 RL that he got from the same dealership this summer, has a 150 mile daily commute. So, they're familiar with us around there and often *cough* cut out the labor *cough*.

As for a bit stiffer ride.... I don't mind at all. European cars are notorious for not being quite as smooth as American and Japanese, right? And one of my favorite cars to drive, still as much as I love the Acura, is my mother's A6. To be honest, I'm a bit short to be driving the RL, as ridiculous as it sounds. My father, who the car originally belonged to, is 6' 5". I'm a whopping... 5' 4". And even with the seat all the way up, all the way forward, I STILL have some difficulty maneuvering the car, seeing all the way down the hood. So anything that gives me that nice, tight sense of control I get when driving the Audi is a plus.

And besides, it gives me an excuse to get some beautiful new rims. XD

 

17 inch wheels from perhaps an Acura CL type S or TL type S would look great or a nice aftermarket wheel set.

If you have the extra $$$ there are a few suspension kits available for your RL as well that keep it looking tasteful yet provice a good ride and better handling.

 

In my trunk the nav unit has a removable component that looks like it could be put into a computer and loaded with new info??? does anybody have any insight into this???

 

DON'T GET THE CL TYPE S RIMS as they were prone to scratches do to their design ! That is why the TL rim the following year were redesigned due to massive complaints from consumers ! Also they are VERY limited to tires applicable ! I had the 01 CL Type S and know all too much about it !