People are still buying them. What hardy, individualist souls they are.

The RL is the only Acura that is down for the full year to date, by 25% compared to last year.

Acura sales were up 21% overall, though, led by the MDX. It looks like the economic recovery is fully underway.

 

I think Acura is just trying to kill off the RL....no marketing, no dealer hype, one or two on the lot. I would say it is due to the currency conversion issues, but the TSX (also made in Japan), seems to be selling well.

 

OTOH, 150 seems to be a steady number the last few months. Sort of like they found the floor.

 

I think it is more the controlled inventory issue.

All the RLs for the MY were built out by January. The dealers have limited availability.

Maybe that is simply the average of all RLs distributed (and subsequently sold) for the month.

My guess is that Honda wants to keep the RL presence until a new model launch. And producing enough to keep this amount available and sold is the manner they have chosen to do so. They did it in 2008, 2009 and 2010. They also did the same with various other models with reducing production and controlling inventory volumes.

I expect they know that is all they are likely to sell. Produce in a few months, and distribute enough monthly to keep the presence in the product line. Use the assembly factory for other models and spend no marketing dollars if there is no expected bump in sales. Conservative and frugal.

 

That is the Honda way. That is why they are so successful. They just don't build to build [ala dodge, gm, etc]. That being said, the RL is still one of the best kept secrets for a luxury sedan. It handles like few others! That is why I am considering being one of the 150 new owners this or next month.

 

Yeah when I went to have my RL serviced this past winter, I asked if the dealer had any '09 or '10 RL's to look at. To my surprise, he totally downplayed the RL, but probably because he didn't have any on his lot.

 

isn't that the truth! If the dealer has 5 new RLs on the lot, he will tell you what a great car they are... when he has piles of new TSXs and TLs and NO RLs...he's going to tell you that the TL is more car for hte money, etc etc.

there are honest car salesmen out there who will try to put you in the car that best fits YOU...but in my experience... MOST car dealers will try to sell you what they HAVE. that's how they stay in business!

that being said - the RL *is* a great bargain in the luxury car segment. While the new ones are great cars and truly nice looking.. the CPO / used ones are smokin deals. I cross shopped E classes and 5 series. to get one of those in the same price poiint as an RL, you wind up with a stripped model or one with high miles. to get the really "nice" ones...one that is equally equipped as an RL and with a more poweful V8 engine..expect to pay $10-15k MORE tahn you would for the RL.

if you can live w/out V8 power/torque...the RL is a FAR better buy than anything the Germans have to offer... i'm n ot knocking those cars..if you an afford them, they are great..heck, I'd have an M5 if it made financial sense....but you get what you pay for most of the etime...but in the case of the RL..you really do get MORE for your money vs the competition.