037

DandyG23

Acura RL is always rated under everyone of the cars above. IMO I would rather get the RL anyday of the week.

037

we're comparing the grill not rating.

Rating wise, RL smokes them. Better reliability, better handling, better technology, cheaper.

The issue is the grill

DandyG23

I got that when I was in the photograghy section. I replied to you in the forum about the grill and agreed with you about the issue.

acuda

Today I was driving and there appeared a light blue 09 TL in my rear view mirror. I couldn't stop looking at it. It really has a beautiful yet somehow menacing presence that keeps you looking back in your rearview mirror.

If this is what Acura designers sought to accomplish then they succeeded. I was put off by the grill originally but I must say it really catches the attention in a good way.

Rhlieu

BMW kidney grills are LEGENDARY!

acuda

Whoaa....Littleton Colorado! Do you know you are living in the home of the famous Tom Mabe telemarketer call?

037

I'm sorry bout kidney grills? that looks as lame as it sounds.

Only way it gets away with those is with agressive air intakes right below.

Rhlieu

His prank calls are priceless

Rhlieu

I guess it is a personal preference, I’m digging the current model, but I can’t say the same about the next generation look

https://acurazine.com/forums/automotive-news-6/bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-news-%2A%2Am-package-spied-page-3-%2A%2A-396842/

b0n3

[/quote]

Immediately made me think of this:

Islandsnowz

Lexus is my favorite. I like the more conservative look. BMW is "ok" but it reminds me of a pig's snout.

037

right now the MB is winning 2:1. I guess everyone has their own taste...but I think MB is on par with Infiniti for the ugliest grill of the bunch.

That is a C grill, here is an E grill to put it in the same price range:

sherman_nguyen

the BMw and MB have really ugly grill among all.

DandyG23

I just realized something. I have a friend who has a MB and he just got it for status. He deosn't really care about the looks or the handling.

SG81

iTrader: (1)

Benz hands down

psheu

Lexus for the timeless look......

ssim3

Definitely the Merc, but I may be a little biased.

neuronbob

Audi, Lexus, BMW in that order.

neuronbob

Acura's beak is tied for 3rd. I guess maybe the beak's designers were on to something. I still think it only looks good on the TSX, myself, though it has become tolerable on the RL to me. I still think it's too big and needs different proportion to look better, but I guess I'm in the minority.

k&c06rl

REALLY, All I can say is bOn3 - WELL DONE!!! I prefer the 05-08 grille, followed by the MB.

vladfrenkel

A little biased - but BMW, Audi, Merc

037

looks like everyone hates the Infiniti grill, yet it somehow looks very familiar to the #1 Mercedes Benz. I think you guys all secretly love the Acura grill as your answers don't make sense

buzzmag

Grill looks aside, I can't compare the RL to the BMW, Audi, Lexus or Infiniti but I can tell you I prefer my 2006 RL to my wife's 2008 C350 Sport MB. The MB is a good looking car but from a driving and comfort point of view, it can't compare to my RL. And to make matters worse, the C350 isn't available in the U.S. with 4MATIC. Canada only. Why? I drove the C350 or tried to in two inches of snow and the car would do nothing but slip around.

Just did a 200 mile roundtrip in the MB and it never felt as secure or as comfortable as my RL. Visibilty via side and rear view mirrors not nearly as good as the RL. I'm sort of a straight legged driver and the MB driver seat simply doesn't permit stretching out unless the height of the seat is reduced to the lowest level. Oddly enough, the passenger seat allows for more leg room.

The MB's nav system really fights you and adding phone numbers and destinations to the address book is not simple or intuitive. Nothing can be done unless the car is in Park. Tried to with my wife driving but no can do. The nav's voice prompts do not cut out the sound system.

It's not all negative. The MB's six forward speeds and high and low end torque are fantastic for a 268 HP engine. The steering wheel phone, trip info and sound controls are better than the RL's and the cruise control is really simple to engage and operate using a steering wheel lever. My only complaint is it's too close to the turn signal and wiper lever and I have mistakenly used it rather than the signal lever.

Why my wife picked the MB is another story I won't bore you with.

037

I bet it was the grill! But serioiusly...probably the color.

Zipho

merc
audi
lex
acura
bmw
infiniti

the key differences to me between the merc and the infiniti;
the mers grill slats are wider (remind me a bit of the new Legend grill)
merc grill looks like its part of the front end, inf looks slapped onto the front end
looks like the inf has a chrome strip on the end of the hood, doesn't help
inf looks like it has some vertical slats behind, again not helping the looks

of course it's in the eye of the beholder.

037 I think your doing a good job of representing for the new RL, looking forward to see when you eventually get some rims.

037

haha, thanks Zipho. I am hoping someone will donate gunmetal aspecs for cheap...I don't feel comfortable toying with anything without a forged or Acura stamp of approval on it.

andysdesign3

mb.bmw.lex..acura....!!!

2007-RL-Tech

I just had the fortune to test drive an '10 BMW M3 on a road course during the M Power Tour. 20 minutes of flogging on a great road and no speeding tix. Got into my RL afterwards and it felt like a loose, bouncy Lincoln compared to that machine. The M was quite comfortable actually, but when you take practicality - reliability, long drives to Boston in the rain and snow - the RL delivers for $15k less.

037

so...I just came out of a space ship and compared to that, RL seems to be a lot more roomy, delivers much better gas mileage, and I don't have to wear that radioactive suit...

Blazing GT

Mb

SpicyMikey

Having the photos of all the cars side by side should really prove one thing to us; all the grills are offensive. But isn't that the point? The RL is no more of a slap in the face then any of them. That monstor MB star on the front of the E is ridiculous looking and probably the worst for me. The Audi drop jaw is still something that I can't warm up to. But then again, maybe that's what makes it so great as a brand identifier (until recently when others have started copying it).

So, from an asthetic standpoint, which I assume is what most are using to judge them; they are all bad to me. From a iconic brand identifier, they are all good except the Infiniti and Lexus grills. They could be from almost any $20k "every man" car. Both of them need to follow Acura and go for a signature frontl like the Germans. Beauty is not really the goal; it's about making the owner feel unique and easily recognized. It's chapter 4 in Marketing 101

SpicyMikey

Oh I forgot to say how I voted. I think the BMW wins. Again, imitators have diluted the uniqueness, but it's still the most subtle yet still identifiable of them all. I think it was a homerun at acomplishing the goal (until Pontiac started using it)

SupaRookie

definitely MB.

1stRL

maybach