I don't know how she manages to consistently get such bad mileage. She used to have a 2002 Nissan Sentra, as basic as they come (in college). She even managed to never get over 26mpg in that thing.

I have the Conti's on mine as well. It's a great tire!

 

Whenever the temp gets below freezing, the valve solenoid starts clicking like crazy! I hate the little box!

 

+1!

 

I hit a record high 21MPG in my RL! No clue how the heck I did it though.

 

Just this past weekend, I also hit a record 25mpg over a 350 mile trip.

 

Quick question for some people...was it just the 04s that received better springs? Or was it starting in 99. Also anyone selling springs?

 

'02 - '04 RL's have identical engines and suspensions

'99 - '01 RL's do have stiffer suspensions than the '96 - '98

 

Thats what my record was. I consistently got 24 or 25 mpg on long trips.

 

Oh really? I didnt know that they had 3 different suspensions setups(assuming just different spring rates) So i could really find spring from 02-04 to get the "sportiest" setup without getting lowering springs...correct?

Thanks Ken!

 

Yes. The ride height might even be slightly lower too.

I believe the springs, shocks and roll bars are all different.

Far less body roll, firm but forgiving ride.

 

Oh yah I forgot about the sway bars. I know the rear is bigger and i believe the front is solid? Now i just have to find them...

 

There was also some stiffening of the chassis on the 02-04. Different bushings etc.

 

Yep and the structure of the rear shelf was dramatically increased in '99

 

Oh come on, you know full well you can't have it all with a mechanical suspension system. Either it is firm or it is smooth--the more you get of one, the less you get of the other. Now, add in sensors and motors... then you can have it all, plus higher maintenance costs.

 

I didn't say that. I did say it was firmer but not too firm (it still soaks up bumps)

You'll get significantly more steering feel and road feel than on a '96. The '96 on the other hand will hover like a cloud in comparison.

 

I'd kill to have these!

 

I can only imagine the shipping price on those... And the turn signals look pretty bright. I'd rock them, though.

On a similar note, it saddens me that over half of the videos on youtube of ka9's are just people shaking the car apart with hydraulic suspensions.

 

Shipping wouldn't be that bad, maybe like 150. Those lights run about $1,000.00 U.S. though

 

I like how the lighting wraps around right till the corners.... but yeah, just a pipe dream if they're priced at $1000.

On a side note, I saw a '99 RL today with 560,000 kilometers or 350,000 miles!!!

It was black on black, and mint for the mileage. The dealer said it needed a new front control arm on the driver's side and it had a power steering leak. That's it! It still drove mint, tranny and engine were great when I test drove it! I'm not interested in buying it, even at $1200, but just wanted to see what it felt like with that much on the clock. I was impressed to say the least.

These cars were over engineered, and this just solidifies that I WILL be getting another one. The car I drove today was like a miracle on wheels. I can't believe these luxury cars are more reliable than Honda Civics. Really!

 

Too bad they shot a video of their $1k lights with a $250 camera.

Also, those reverse lights could easily blind a car behind you.

 

I highly doubt they blind the car behind you, they look the same brightness as the turn signals.

Speaking of turn signals.... I'd get a pair like this just to pimp put my left and right turns.

[YouTube] [/youtube]

 

I really like those ^. If i had a newer RL id look into getting those. Just spent the day doing random things on it and adjusting the rear suspension. Rides alot more comfortable, but not as sporty. I need to get new springs and a new rear sway bar.

 

Ken1997TL, BTW, I get what you are saying now. I think the 99 does a pretty good job on the compromise but I might have made it slightly firmer, sounds like Acura agreed and made the change in 02.

One area where I've pretty much always wanted more though is sway bars, so upgrades there are welcome.

OLD_HATCH, I get blinded by LED brake lights all the time. I literally hold my hand up to block them from my view when I'm behind someone using them.

 

Really? Any car in perticular? I've never really had any issue with led taillights as the seem to be the same brightness as regular bulbs.

 

I think an Infinity, but could be after market LEDs too. Recent Infinity cars are not popular around here, so I don't see many.

 

Well, wish me luck. Going to look at a 2004 RL in an hour. Silver/black. Wife hates silver but it's too good of a deal to pass up based solely on color preference. Might be a good replacement for the 02 for a year or two, I just can't bring myself to spend $24k on a 2009 Pilot right now.

Oh and I accepted a new job yesterday. Soon I will be a field rep driving about 30k a year. Should be an interesting journey. Time to get the GS ready for the road!

 

So what happened?

 

Car was not in "excellent condition" as described.

-whole right side was repainted
-navi screen was only dark regardless of whether the headlights were on or not
-car had 3 different tires on it
-hood was rusted
-steering wheel was all scratched up
-I really didn't like the green wood on the dash

Car ran great, but I didn't even drive it. I was going to get it for $7500, would have been a good deal but the above items really bothered me.

 

I dont know how people destroy their cars and not care. Yes my car has 211k miles and is 16 years old, but i still take care of it as i would if it was brand new. The result is, i have a car thats reliable, and people dont believe its a 1996 with over 200k on it.

On another not, I replaced the rear lower arms(not the control arms, the ones going from the hub to the rear bulkhead) yesterday. Wow, was not expecting the trouble it put me though. The one bushing was "welded" to the bold that pasted through it. The whole bushing was moving instead of it pivoting on the bolt. Ended up having to melt the bushing, then heating up the sleeve and pounding it out. Good news is, no more clunking in the rear end.

 

I bought my '04 RL in December and I am getting about 20.53mpg's. I am running 235/40r18 Continental snow tires. My new wheels are in and I think I will be installing 235/45r18 Yokohama YK580's on my new wheels. I was waiting to make sure all of the snow is gone prior to putting on the new wheels/tires. I run 40 psi all the way around. I am trying to eek out all the mpg's I can. I did not buy the RL for it's mpg's however I'll take all I can get.

Mike

 

Jimmay. Is that what that noise is coming from the rear of my car? Did you take any pics? I thought I was just needing to change out some bushings and end links, but from what it sounds like I may need to do what you did.

Mike

 

No clue if its youre noise. I know if youre end links are bad they can make noise. Bad ball joints will make noise(ive replaced 2 of the rear control arms). I can snap a picture tomorrow of the lower arms im taking about. One of mine was actually bent. I guess its common to replace the lower arms as they get bent/ bushing wear out.

 

Was it this one?:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/2870024960.html

 

Yep, that's the one. Not worth the time looking at it. I was pretty excited about picking it up, would have been a very minimal price increase for a better car - but should have known you get what you pay for.

 

Yeah that black burlwood turns green from the sun and looks rather nasty. I do know a place on long island that will fix that though.

If anyone ever runs into a crashed 04 let me know. A parts car would be nice to have since parts are toi expensive and there's not that many on the roads. S

 

Blacknwhite, heres the picture. It is the arm the runs from the middle of the car to the hub(the shiny new one)

 

So the repair was pretty tough huh? My local independent shop quoted me $800 for the repair since it's not a safety issue there's no way I'm paying that. I'd love to give it a shot on my own but I don't want to get into a situation where I'm stuck and have to tow it to get it correctly fixed. The shop says that it was the strut bolts or something, so the whole strut would have to be replaced but you're saying it's the rear lower arms.

Is this the part?

 

I was looking at that one also....thinking about going to go look at it since it's not far from where I live. But you beat me to it and good thing too. Don't want to waste my time on a poorly kept car!

 

The price was right but the car was not.



Old Hatch, do you by chance live near Tampa?

 

No I'm in Orlando. You saw something else you like?