Down from 522 for the same month the year previous or -39.5%

Year to Date August 2008 is 3,507, down from 4,562 or -23.5%

No detail as to how many 08 vs 09 sales, nor would I expect there to be.

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/804/releases/4718

 

I think part of the problem is supply, there are so few RLs available at the dealers.

A major dealer here in LA had 1 2009 model in stock and it was tucked away in the back till they sold the 5 2008 models. I would expect this to be a similar situation in most places.

 

If somebody wants something they'll find a way to get it.

 

My dealer currently has no RLs on the lot and said to date they have had and sold, exactly one '09.

LL

 

if you don't have them, you cant sell them. Keep in mind this number is a combination number of 08's and 09's. My guess is that Acura doesn't want to produce any RL's that they will eventually have to provide dealer cash as the past three model years. The dollar is weak and with these high rebates and low sales Acura has to be losing money on every car they sell.

 

So why did the bother doing Acura's most major mid-model change ever if--for the reasons you state, which seem reasonable--they did not plan on producing many cars?

I suppose that it is possible they did it for european sales of the Honda Legend which, apart from the nose and badging seems very similar.

 

I never allowed what others thought or sales figures to decide my decision in car purchasing. I am thankful that there are not as many RLs on the road as 5 series or other cars. Done right the RL can be a striking standout from the crowd of that matters. I purchased the RL because it has everything I wanted in a daily driver (nav,traffic,bt, xm, sat,awd,etc) leaving my other cars for garage duty.

 

I think it was wise to keep the RL/Legend around as North America is the only market with the TL, so without the RL/Legend, the Accord (US TSX) and/or Inspire (US Accord) would be the flagships in the European and Asian markets.

So we wait with the MMC till they next gen comes out which should change everything. Hopefully the grills will be redone by then too.

 

I agree. I was first attracted to the 2G RL because I liked the way it looked and continued to like it during the time I owned an 02 BMW 530 and an 03 TL. Only when I was ready to replace the TL did I actually drive the RL and really liked it; I told my friends that it handled as good as or better than the 530. Now that I own it (06 non-Tech) I have not been disappointed but that is a personal issue; some folks are more demandiung than me.
I really don't care how many are sold as long as I remain satisfied and the car can be serviced efficiently and economically.

 

I actually like the 09 RL better than 08 though. I just saw one yesterday around my campus with gray color, and it looks sooooo good in person. It looks bigger and more upscale, so it makes it so stand out in my point of view

 

I agree, the number of sales never influenced my decision, but it did enhance my ownership experience. Not only did I pay $3000 under invoice, I drove a vehicle I rarely saw on the road, an exclusivity factor. I think the sales numbers are more of an informative thread than anything. The numbers don't surprise me at all. IMO, the MMC ruined the exterior of the car, which is the main reason why I didn't 'upgrade' to an 09. The poor numbers hopefully will force Acura to do the things to the RL that it needs....

 

I'm with you, except sales have been poor for sometime and look what we got.

 

The RL in general has grown on me. When I first saw the 05 I was underwhelmed and thought it was a bit boring. Now really like it and the 09 version, except the grill, and think the 09 does have more presence than the 08.

 

I think the presence you speak of is really more the fact that it is new, the fact that the 05-08 looks better with time smacks of design success over presence. Unfortunately, the 09 hasn't been growing on me, but of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, hell, they have sold a few so far....

 

Unfortunately, you make a good point.....

 

My wife and I were out on a Sunday afternoon when the dealership was closed (and I mean no one around to bother us except for security inside watching over the lot) to look at the new TSX in person and they had a white 09' RL on the lot that was parked on the side. I gotta tell you even my wife agreed that these Acura's look so much better in person than on these internet photos you guys post. This was back on a Sunday in late July out at Goodson Acura here in the Dallas area. She made the comment that the TSX looked "mean" from the front with those headlights. I just couldn't believe that they left that RL out in plain view like that. I thought they would be hiding it until the official release or something. IMO it looked really classy in person. The grill does not look that bad at all when I saw it up close. I was in Acura heaven the whole time I was out there walking around.

 

5thgen -- I have to agree with you on the looks of the 09 RL. I still don't like how it looks in photos, but in person, it looks good! I've spent a lot of time on Acura lots lately while buying my new MDX and the various 09 RLs I've seen really look pretty good.

Oddly enough, I find I dislike the chrome trim on the rocker panel far more than the new nose.

I wonder why neither of the more recent RLs photograph well?