As many of you know, I've been searching for a '10 or '11 RL to replace the TL coming off lease.
With two in college our budget is very tight and I don't want to stray from that.
I simply haven't found a RL to my liking, as yet.
I believe SH-AWD is the best AWD system available.
Having said all this, I recently looked at the 2013 Accord Touring and was VERY impressed although I haven't driven one yet.
I find myself starting to waiver on the SH-AWD feature now.
The "luxury brand" status symbol isn't that important to me and I feel Acura, as a luxury brand, flies under the radar anyway.
Any thoughts or direct comparisons from a personal perspective are appreciated.
This new Accord seems to have acquired many of the best features that some of the Acuras have, ACC, CMBS, etc

 

you are shopping for '10-'11 and '13, and your budget is tight??
I want to be like you when I grow up

 

For years there has been talk of comparisons between the RL and the TL and you are talking about the comparison of the Accord to the RL which appears to be an even bigger jump in classification.
My opinion of the TL is that it is a Honda quality with an Acura badge. The RL is in a quality league of its own within the Honda family so that brings us to the Accord vs. the TL. The Accord Touring is very impressive and almost negates the need for the TL. The TL brings nothing more to the table except looks that only a mother could love. On the other hand, the looks of the Accord are so bland that numerous cars look similar plus there are already Accords on every street corner.

Exclusivity and quality = RL
If you like fugly then you will love the TL.
If you want the features of a TL, the quality of a TL then get the Accord Touring.

 

I appreciate and understand your view.
Having owned only "luxury" brands for the past 20-30 years, I have been happy overall.
However, the new Accord makes a very compelling case with features not available on ANY single Acura line, including the new RLX.
Which to me is bizarre, since it's the Flagship for Acura/Honda.
There is the "WOW" factor but, I'm not particularly interested in being perceived as prestigious.
OTOH, SH-AWD is the best. If the Accord offered this it would be a no-brainer for me, no indecision.

 

Which features are you refering to that the Accord has that the RLX does not?

 

I may have spoken prematurely but, the Accord has a little camera on the passenger mirror.
At any rate, I'll be moving along since I closed a deal today on a Touring. No dazzle but, it's a good, solid, all round performer for the price.

I'll return in a few years when MY ride needs a replacement. Acura makes a great product

 

You are talking about the blind spot monitoring system which can put the blind spot image onto the Nav screen. The RLX has a different blind spot monitoring system.

 

Good for you. I've been very impressed with the new Accord. It's a somewhat different package of strengths and weaknesses than the RL — newer/better electronic toys, better MPG, no SH-AWD, lower (though still good) grade of materials — but I expect it will serve you well. Enjoy!

 

Congrats, enjoy.

 

Congrats love the 2013 Accord!

 

'This new Accord seems to have acquired many of the best features that some of the Acuras have, ACC, CMBS, etc'

The Accord does not have CMBS, it has FCW, a visual/buzzer warning. The Acura CMBS activates the brakes and is more dynamic, and the new Acura ACC adds slow speed follow, for stop and go traffic, which seems pretty useful.
The top Accord Touring trim does offer ACC.

The Accord has a time jump in new features and is maybe the best Accord yet. but the new Acura sedans coming out will have more.

 

Same with LKAS vs. LDWS.

 

My parents just bought a 2013 Acoord Touring to replace their totaled 2003 Accord EX V6. I have to say I've been very impressed with it so far. You get an amazing amount of tech gizmos for a car in that price range. Build quality is quite a few notches better than the previous generations as well. I'm still not sold on the LED headlights though. I don't think they give the same amount of down the road illumination that either one of our Acuras do with their HID's.