Had to bring my car in for sevice today and was given a 2010 RL as a loaner. The exterior and interior colors were the same as my '06, silver with taupe interior. A big difference in the paint was the "Metallic Silver Jade" did not have the glitter of my Lakeshore silver.

I have to say, what impressed me the most was the get up and go. Very quick off the line and always gave you the feel that it just wanted to take off. This kind of low end torque could make me forget about having a 6 speed with a V8.

The interior was a big disappointment. The simulated wood made the interior look cheap in my opinion. It was a dark grey with dark brown vetical lines that enhanced the fake look. It also didn't go well with the taupe. I liked the wood steering wheel but I could get that for the '06, I just don't like it enough to justify the cost.

Finally, the exterior is what it is, and I am not a fan of what it is. The one improvement I noticed is the fog lights appear to have a plastic lens to protect the fog lamp from getting trashed. I wish they had done that with the earlier versions.

All in all a nice vehicle, it just didn't have enough improvements that I would expect from a vehicle that is 4 years newer than mine.

 

Cool write-up. I've wondered how they differ. I like the idea of more get-up-and-go.

The '06 years definitely had some more sparkly colors before they went pearl on most of them. The grey simluated (or real) wood looks kind of tacky no matter the color of the interior (though the silver-infused wood in the new M37 has enough depth can you tell its real).

I just brought my '06 in and got an '07 CMBS as a loaner (Pearl with tan interior) with about 10000 miles on the clock.

The first thing I noticed was that the interior was already pretty tired looking -- definitely needed a detailing, or a least a wipedown.

The ride was smoother than mine, but I've got the A-Spec wheels and tires (gets me thinking I'll try a less aggressive tire at the next change).

It otherwise drove just like mine. I missed the plood steering wheel and shift knob.

 

That reminds me Rob: you ever eat at Applebees in Mira Mesa? I was parked next to a silver '06 about a month ago but couldn't pick the debonaire owner out of the crowd inside the joint.

 

That wasn't me. If we're going to Applebee's we pile into the minivan (and it's been a while).

However, I do recall seeing a grey RL heading onto 15N from Mira Mesa Blvd a few days ago......

 

I'd love a brand new RL.

 

I am a TL owner myself 2003 and 1999. I must say that while the RL is nice, it just doesn't have enough extravagance as the TL has. I cant see buying an RL at this time. Until they make the RL special (not look like a honda accord), the incentive to buy it over the TL wont be there. I liked the RL when it was the Legend.

Z

 

i like the new RL's its fresh.

 

Hi Rob, what dealer in San Diego gave you an RL as a loaner?

--Conrad

 

i wonder if partly why the newer RL felt so much peppier was the 3.7L engine vs your 3.5L.

I have an 06 RL and 07 MDX. the MDX has the newer / bigger 3.7L engine and I swear sometimes my MDX feels more powerful at some spots in its powerband than the RL... the MDX is heavier..so my gut always tells me it shoudl feel slower in all respects, and I have to admit, I've never taken both cars out to "drag" them...that's not something I'm interested in doing...

and of course things like gearing could be making a difference, but I swear, the MDX feels like it has more pull at some spots.. or maybe it's just more responsive...

i've driven the newer TSX, the old and new TLs..and those cars seem to have a more instantaneous throttle response.. you gas it and BOOM.. you go... okay, not as responsive as my boxster... but you get the idea.. you give the car gas and the car seems to take off right away.. my RL sometimes feels like there is a hesitation, especially pulling away from stops sometimes..as if the car hesitates and the tranny is waiting to engage..THAT aspect of my RL is annoying...

i suspecg they may have remedied that in the nwer ones and you are feeling a more responsive engine response, coupled with a bit larger engine, making the car feel faster..

the RL is a great car, and for what I paid for my CPO one, I'm in no rush to replace it.. yeah it does sometimes look like an accord... when I see older acords... I can clearly see the similarities..although if you park side by side with one - which I've done (guy at work has whatever year accord is the MOST similar to our cars) and once side by side, the accord looks cheap and plain compared to the RL which looks upscale and elegant... but the overall lines,size,layout is VERY similar..so I see why people make the analogy... BTW, before buying my CPO 06 RL I drove a 2009 fully loaded V6 Accord... YUCK. yeah it was nice...nothign wrong iwth it.. but it was NOTHING like an RL. NOTHING. rode bouncy and firm more like a base TSX with the V6 power... felt very very cheap compared to an RL.. as it shoudl given it's a car that sell for about half...

anyway... it would be nice if there was some way to upgrade the tranny/engine programming on the RL to make it more sporty like the newer RL or hte TLs..but I ssupect that that is not a possibility...

 

Absolutely. According to Acura, there is 9% more torque between 0 and 3K rpm. That is very noticeable compared to my car.

 

3.7 vs. 3.5 is a lot of the reason for difference. The main reason though is the new J-series motors have vtec on the exhaust cams too. A 1st for the sohc v6 for 2009. This feature broadens the powerband a lot. Is said to add 10-15 more ft/lbs of torque in the midrange compared to the previous 3.7 liter motor in the 07-09 mdx and pre-09 RL.

 

so when my 06 wears out...i can upgrade to a 2010 CPO RL..

 

i know this is off topic but does the 05 have 10 more hp then the 06-08?
and whats the reason for that?

 

no. was an adjustment in how hp numbers are calculated. the motors are same as well as power. its kinda like lbs/kg. the way hp numbers were calculated in usa was changed.

 

So in August 2004, a new SAE standard was put into place that changed the way horsepower and torque were calculated at the crank. The 2005 RL went on sale in Fall 2004. but in publishing all the specs, Acura properly used the then current pre 8/04 standard which calculated out to 300hp. 06-08 RLs were required to use the new SAE standard, so even though the engines were unchanged, the appearance is that the 06-08 RL's had ten hp less. Every manufacturer selling in the US had this issue, it was not limited to Honda/Acura.