There has been talk previously on this forum regarding the tip-in settings of the drive-by-wire system and also people talking about needing to "mash" the pedal to get the car going.

I've come to realize that the pedal on the RL is hinged at the bottom instead of the top (like every other pedal I've ever driven). In other words, other pedals are pushed at the bottom but the RL pedal needs to be pushed at the top.

When you push at the bottom like you're accustomed, it's hard to push and the pedal doesn't travel much based on the pressure of your foot compared to other cars.

Try pushing near the top of the pedal and man does the car get-up and go compared to pushing near the bottom.

Are other Hondas/Acuras this way or just the RL?

 

The 3G TL was like this, first. You simply get used to it. Because I owned a 3G TL prior to the RL, I was already accustomed to it by the time I bought the RL. The biggest disadvantage to it is that it is hard as heck to clean behind it.

 

Neuron is correct, the lower hinged pedal is a tribute to traditional german setup, beginning with the betttle and original Porche cabriolet. Having learned to drive in a beetle its my favorite.