gavriil

Acura says its "flagship" sedan, the 2002 3.5 RL, will be priced starting at $43,150,

For 2002, the car gets a "significant" increase in horsepower, a sport-tuned suspension and the addition of the OnStar communications system, the company said in a statement.
The powerful, 225-horsepower engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 with a computer-controlled 4-speed automatic transmission, which has Grade Logic Control that automatically holds the proper gear to all but eliminate unnecessary shifts and gear "hunting."

The 2002 RL also has subtle enhancements to the exterior including redesigned alloy wheels and select body-colored molding and trim.
The only factory-installed option for the Acura 3.5 RL is the DVD-based Acura Satellite Linked Navigation System.


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Gabriel
CL Type S

NOVAwhiteTypeS

Tell me this WTF would u need onstar if you have a navi?


and they call 225hp powerfull! pleeezze

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CL-S
White/Ebony/Navi/Spoiler/Visor/Full Bra/Mud Guards/Cargo Net/Acura Car Cover/Tint 20%,35%,5% on Sun Roof, Rockford 250a2 Amp w/JL10w6 / K&N Drop in Filter. Comptech Springs. Polarg m-6.
Comptech Headers, Comptech Sways, Eurolite Xenon Crystal high beams.
AEM CAI once they decide to make the dame thing.
235/40/17's or 225/45/17's once I found out which one works for me.

gtech 0-60 6.03 w/ 438 pound load. preheader.

sneakypete

Nav will not remotely unlock your doors if you lock yourself out. It also will not alert rescue when your airbags deploy.

fbazakos

also w/onstar you speak directly with a human...

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Black 2001 Type S
*Eibach Pro-Kit (Waiting to be installed)
*Xephyr Cold Air Intake
*PIAA 19169 Road Lamps
*Acura Winter Mats
*Mudguards
*Mobile 1 Synthetic
*Rockford 500a2 [FOR SALE]
*Pioneer 12" @ 400w (x2) [FOR SALE]
*77237-SOK-A02 (Holder Assembly)
---Still 2 rims not scratched---

e1828

225 hp?? with a 4-speed auto trans? When is the RL with the V8 due?

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2001 Satin silver CL-S
* no navi, spoiler, mudguards
* wheel locks, full front mask
* fenderwell and door trim
* soon Comptech springs and sways
* 5% tint rear side, back

gavriil

2004


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Gabriel
CL Type S

e1828

Wow if that is the case I do not know how the RL will commpete against the other Japanese 'flagship' cars like the LS400 or Q45.. heck even the GS430 is a much better deal (yes I know these cars are much more expensive)

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2001 Satin silver CL-S
* no navi, spoiler, mudguards
* wheel locks, full front mask
* fenderwell and door trim
* soon Comptech springs and sways
* 5% tint rear side, back

SilverCL225hp

Hey the new Q45 starts at $50500. Only 7 grands higher than 2002 3.5RL, but you know how much you get more from the new Q? 340hp vs. 225hp; RWD vs. FWD; Five speed auto transmission vs. Four speed auto transmission; V8 vs. V6; 18" rims/tires vs. 16" rims/tires, and much more. Hey come on Acura.....

Closer

Very disappointing.
I've never been impressed with the RL. For the longest time, I thought the TL was the higher model. Now when I hear this... I know it is.

X3.2CLSX

with the onstar u can speak directly with a human......the fuck.....Im deaf...how the hell am i gonna hear the damn person....god damn the world always forgettin us DEAF people

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NightHawk Black CL-S
Black Interior
Clear Headlights
Nokyo Halogen Bulb Artic White
Coming Soon: AEM Cold Air Induction

Black CL-S 4-Life

Come on Acura! My dad was thinking about buying the 2002 RL, but after this news, I'm definitely going to steer him away from it. It's time for Acura to grow up and play with the big boys and put in a V8!

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Drive Fast Live Fast!

gavriil

I think $39,500 would have been the magic number to make this car a good value. But even at low $40s, it is still a pretty good alternative for someone that does not want to go into the $50s.

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Gabriel
CL Type S

oonowindoo

first of all... I have never seen an Acura or honda with a V8s... that s not honda's style.. Honda = Less Liter and More Hp...But i think RL is just .... TOO weak. For a big and luxury car like that, it only has 225? I know Honda can tune that shit to at least 300. 3.5 L RL V6 300HP .. starting at 46000

gavriil

You know, I just realized the the 3,5 liter used in the RL is not the same engine used in the MDX. I thought, what are the chances of a small auto company like Acura to have 2 V6s of almost identical displacement not being mutually derived?

WOW!!!

What is up with that? What engine is this anyway? The MDX's exact displacement is 3471 cc, the RL's is 3474 cc! MDX has VTEC, RL DOES NOT!! MDX is ULEV, RL is LEV! MDX has 10:1 compression ratio, RL is 9.6:1. Bore and Stroke are completely different too.

What engine is this? One thing is for sure though. All of the above imply that this engine in the RL is FOR SURE at the end of its life. They are obviously buying time and money till the V8 comes out. All specs show that this is an inferior engine for the times.

Very interesting.

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Gabriel
CL Type S

F=ma_RENAMED

Its a C35A, I forget which one, C35A1 or C35A4 something along those lines. The NSX is a C32A. That doesn't necessarily mean that the engines share a lot in common. The Legend boys know a lot about this, I remember learning it all from Todd, the Torque Nazi.

I'm not sure if you knew this or not, but the first J-series engine was NOT the 6th generation Accord V6. I believe it was the 3.0 CL. You can look at the RL and MDX engines and tell they're not of the same family. But Yeah I agree that they should have, if they were going to so called "redesign" or "facelift" the RL, put a stroked J32 in there. It could also have used the dual stage induction for a boost in low end torque.

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Kenny
Slow TL

F=ma_RENAMED

Hahaha Gabriel, I was looking through old posts that I had replied to...


regarding engine codes:


http://www.acura-cl.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002268.html


//edit: I edited the post to say J35A5 instead of J32A5, that was a typo on my part.

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Kenny
Slow TL

Closer

Just talked with my sales dude. He said the RL is only coming out in this package for 1 year. They're not really expecting to sell any, especially since the redesign is probably going to be leaps and bounds better.

gavriil

The character of the RL is to be a luxury cruiser. Those types of cars require as much torque as possible down low. This can be accomplished with either a large engine or supercharging. Honda is against forced feeding so that leaves the "big engine" alternative as the one to follow.

3,5 liters will result in no more than 250-260 lb-ft of torque at low rpm levels like 2500 rpm-3000 rpm and it will make the engine cost almost as much as a 4 liter V8.

The competition is making at least 300 pounds of torque. To make that, you need at least 4 liters. Engines that are 4 liters large are usually 8 cyl engines. SO there is your reason. There are other reasons too like bragging rights which is directly a function of customer perception (e.g. ...ah the LS430 and Q45 all have V8s, I am not buying that V6 Acura RL).

This is a good opportunity to discuss the issue of how displacement in an NA application is related to torque. Yes you can make infinite HP from a given displacement engine. The more you raise the rpm of that engine's efficient operation the more HP will keep raising. Try to do that with torque though at low RPMs. ONLY enlarging the engine or forcefeeding it will result in substantial increase of low rpm torque.

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Gabriel
CL Type S

Type S

isn't it carry over from 2000 model?

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2001 Acura Red CL Type S.
1997 Honda Civic EX.
!!!! VTEC Power !!!!
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typescl@yahoo.com

superdds

you forgot ayrton senna's v-10 mclaren honda formula one car

Nashua_Night_Hawk

Another Schoker, future nsx is a V6 3.4l 350 HP! 239 lb.ft of torque only, WITH Electric Motors!!!!

Reference:
http://www.vtec.net/news/items/634.html

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Black, Ebony, 3.2 CL Type-S.
- Acura NAV.
- 3M clear bra (full front bumper, and side mirros)
- Wheels locks
- Mooonroof visor
- Splash guards
- Winter mats
- Trunk liner
- Acura Spoiler
- Valentine V1 Radar Locator
- HELMS Service Manual
- PIAA 19169 road lamps
- 03/19/01: Injen Polished CAI

JZ

Ah, Acura playing catch up as usual. Maybe they should start paying overtime to their employees to get something done.

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Black/black CLS
Comptech headers, springs, swaybars
Koni yellows
PIAA 19169 road lamps
Solaris Hi beams
Potenza RE730 225/45/17
Red AEM CAI
35% mirror tint next

AC_RENAMED

I never thought the RL was even a close competitor to the LS or even the Q. Hell at best, it competes with the GS300 and the 5 series (540 excluded since it's an 8). Acura, also known as chicken shit, seems to be contempt with the entry level stuff. In a way, I don't blame them cuz there's a lot of tough competition up there. They would have to go after Lexus and beat the GS300, then face the midsize luxury kings the 5 series, then maybe, if they came out with something hellatious, then compete with the 540 and the E Class. Long, long, long way from the LS430 and S430 market. When they come out with the V8, they'd have to earn the right to compete with the likes of the Lexus LS430, MB S430, Audi A8, and BMW 7's. The new Q is something to watch for, but we'll see how it does against those big boys.

e1828

Value wise I would take the TL over the GS300 anytime. I don't think the RL was meant to compete with the GS300 at all.. it is just that it is way outdated (even the GS300 had a 5-speed auto back in 1996), just like the NSX (expensive V6), and sorta like the Integra which has been in its current style for 8 years (though it did quite well in sales). And I think the new Q45 is a worthy adversary to many of those cars you mentioned.. mainly in the areas of performance (as for luxuriance and other intagibles I would not know as I have not sat in a Q45 before) but with the Q's new engine they run 0-60 mph times of 5.9 sec.. faster than all the cars you mentioned .. yes faster than even the V-12 BMW 750 which according to mfg's data runs it in 6.6.. faster than even the Mercedes S500 but not the S600 or S55 which go for $100K.. and with their new voice recognition commands I think Infitini by preliminary looks of it seems to have brought forth a more than worthy competitior to the lux sedan market.. many of us here are waiting for Acura to step up in this market as well.. we will have to wait to find out.. out of all the luxurious cars you mentioned the MB S430 has the least hp at 275.. quite a far cry from the RL's 225.. and all of them were at least 4.2L V8's.. to make a strong showing nothing less than a 4+ L V8 with at somewhere around 350 hp (just to up the Q45) would divert some of those other companies customers to look at the RL.. enough rambling .. let's go drive!!!

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2001 Satin silver CL-S
* no navi, spoiler, mudguards
* wheel locks, full front mask
* fenderwell and door trim