Sutto

Today I dropped my TSX off at the dealership for service (door rattle, trunk recall, backseat armrest coming off it's hinge) and I told them I needed a loaner. Imagine my surprise when the loaner document said "Loaner - Acura RL"!

Then I saw it being pulled around noticed it was a 2004 and I thought

I have realized that Acura did themselves a favor by overhauling the RL. The loaner I have is an '04 with about 35k miles on it and it feels and looks like a '94. The dash is hideous. The TSX completely outclasses this thing on every level (aside from power). It's ugly as sin, handles like a semi-truck, no sport-shift on the 5AT...and the list goes on. The only plusses I've noticed so far are more power, locking "beep" instead of the heart-attack-inducing horn, and memory seats. I'm sure there are more but I've only spent about 10 minutes in it so far.

I'll take my TSX anyday.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Actually, I didn't think the 04RL was that bad. It was just really mediocre, but it wasn't horribly bad.

biker

In ten years the same thing will probably be said of the current RL.

phirenze

The NSX is in a simmilar situation as the '04 RL. People still love it though. Imo, it's time for an overhaul. Can't understand how acura lets some models drag on for so long.

MSZ

Actually, Sutto...

04 RL has a 4-speed AT not 5...LOL

DCyamaha

I bet you feel 80yrs old driving that boat

matelot

Whiskers

When I was shopping for my TSX, a dealer wouldnt let me look at the 04 RL and had a look as if he was saying, Get away from that horrid beast. Now the dealer I got it from actually kicked the TSX out of the showroom to make room for the 05 RL, what a difference a year makes.

MrChad

I actually think these are nice cars cert. used....if you just need something to kill mileage on in a hurry, as a commuter to save the other family car or something.

They depreciate really fast, but it's still a leather v6 Honda/Acura with bells. I think a lot of the American car buying public would be quite happy with one.

I've seen lots of Cert. USED RL's with say 50k mi selling for 20's which I think is a fair price for this type of car. I'd likely buy a used RL over a new LX Accord.

But that might be just me. I'd steer my mom toward an old RL if it was a deal.
I think it's still one of the good old Hondas, simple cars that just plain run well and hold up. I think it's lost somewhat on the more modern models.

matelot

those RLs are probly better built than the current TL & TSX

Saintor

I don't see what is really so bad about this car, once you understood its Buick personality. I am more deceived of the new one, given its anonymous line, price and mission.

MrChad

Well it made the C&D 10 Best list, I know it's not gospel but I think C&D usually picks the winners.

Sutto

I'm not saying it's a sh*tty car or anything, but I'd definitely take my I-4 TSX over it's V6 any and every day of the week. However, like MrChad said, it is a nice car compared to a lot of other cars on the road and I would also choose it over an Accord.

I just got back from driving it tonight and I couldn't help but feel like I was in a mid-90s Toyota with it's green dash lights. Oh, and all the power I was raving about earlier, it isn't THAT much. This thing also handles like a barge.

I'm not bashing it, just saying it definitely isn't for me. It doesn't have the upscale luxury feel that I'm seeing from Acura these days. They did a good job with the overhaul.

Just my .

phile

Before the overhaul of the TL and the intro of the TSX, the 04 RL was practically the only thing that could be described as upscale and luxury in the Acura lineup.

Sutto

Hmm....I thought the fully-loaded MDX was kinda nice.

Anyway, what I was saying is that I (a new guy to Acura) see Acura as a pretty nice brand and this RL that I have is NOT luxurious at all. Honestly, it's almost identical (inside and out) to my mom's old '94 Lexus LS400. That car is 10 years old.

swami

I think the auto manufactures are starting to get it finally. In the motorcycle industry that I live in, the manufactures are on a 2 year window. They come out with a new bike and have to live with it for 2 years. The first year the break even, so to speak, the second year they make a buck. The competition forces them to do this. The funny thing with the old RL is, if they would have put some cool wheels on it, they might have sold a few more. Being we're talking about Honda, I hope there gonna apply the motorcycle formula to the car division.

biker

Not gona happen and Honda certainly didn't use that 2 year cycle on its ST1100 model - they let it age gracefully and milked it for 11 years - just like the RL.

swami

I wasn't referring to the old dinosaur ST1100. I'm talking about the cutting edge stuff, CBR1000RR and 600RR. This is the battlefront the big 4 concentrate on, their bread and butter, so to speak. These are the 2 most important classes as far as the bean counters are concerned. The CBR600RR was new from the ground up in 03 and it's received an extensive makeover for 05, same due for the 1000RR in 06. In regards to the ST1100...It's not like they had any competition in that segment.

biker

They did (the BMW RT1100) but like the RL it was not judged to be important enough to spend the R&D money on a full redesign.

dabuda

haha...still a RL

Revenent

Ugh, I got the same thing when I took my TSX in yesterday.

That thing handles like a freaking boat. I couldn't feel the road at all. I was sooooo glad when I got my TSX back.

Just being able to feel and hear the revs made me appreciate the TSX that much more.

The steering was so light, I couldn't tell if I was turning hard or not. Felt like one of those video games with no FF or something.

Anywho, back to work.

Sutto

Exactly how I felt...I got my TSX back today!