After two years and 61,000 miles, I've decided to make a change. And since its too expensive to divorce my wife, I thought I'd trade in my '05 Opulent Blue Pearl (w/gold package) RL. All the usual suspects are in play: M35x, GS350 awd, '08 535ix.

I have truely loved my RL and seperation anxiety is a concern. But I don't see a 'refresh' anytime soon to our beloved car and I can't afford to take another bath on the trade value by opting to the 07 or waiting on the 08. My 48k investment in '05 is now 26k according to Kelly BB (high miles hurt, I know). With that said, I don't regret my two years in this car....thats how much I liked it.

The Lexus was easy to rule out. At 6' 2", you can't adjust the seat sufficiently to avoid touching the roof with your head. There is an annoying protrusion just before the gas pedal, along the trans. hump, which bumps out against your right ankle. During my test drive I asked the salesman, "where is the design engineer (who thought this was a good idea) working now?"

The Infiniti test drive is next week and the new BMW hasn't made it to Erie PA yet.

I've learned alot from you, my brothers and sisters on this forum. Is anyone else in the same boat? Will the 08 RL be worth waiting for? Will any of you lend me the money so I can 'really' afford that BMW?

 

Most elegantly stated Dr. Decatherm! Good luck in your quest...

 

I test drove the m35 and g35s. I was very surprised of the power and luxury the g35s has. The m35 just didn't feel right on the road. I would go for the g35s. I haven't test drove any of the bimmers but I hear alot of problems of old owners.

 

I'm curious Doc, why are you trading in a car you love after only two years? Of course your taking a bath! You've just passed through the steepest part of the depreciation curve plus you put on some serious miles. You'll take a bath on any car that you sell under those circumstances.

Why not keep the car another year or two -- to catch some of the slower depreciation years -- and then sell it on Ebay for retail. You've still got a lot of trouble free driving left on that car.

On a related point; Everyone keeps talking about the bad depreciation with the RL. I don't understand the fuss. Although that's technically true, we're only talking about a few points lower then average. Hardly a reason to avoid a car you love. It's not as if the cars are worth half of what another car would be worth at this point. The main reason for the lower valuations is that Acura keeps dumping their new units way below MSRP with all the constant incentives. That's the main factor in accelerating depreciation on ANY used car -- not so much the slow sales. Watch the Black Book auction rate on a particular car. If the manufacturer comes out with an incentive one month, the next week all used versions of that car will drop in value by about the same amount. It happens that quick. Loose the incentive and the value will go back up. The cars worth is heavily based on the cost of a new version of that same car. Therefore, if you caught one of those incentives you're probably right in the ball park with the depreciation rate.

 

Yeah I am missing the logic in trading it in if you "love it so much"...just you wanting a change for the sake of change?

 

GM had that "employee discount" campaign which destroyed resale values on their cars. Have they recovered from that yet?

 

I've learned alot from you, my brothers and sisters on this forum. Is anyone else in the same boat? Will the 08 RL be worth waiting for? Will any of you lend me the money so I can 'really' afford that BMW?[/QUOTE]
Get the BMW - you will have lots of time to read about i drive while it's in the shop! Seriously though, good luck to you and let us know what you buy and we will wait for your comparison writings.

 

You're right, SpicyMikey. I plugged in a comparable Lexus and Audi to KBB and the trade values are very similar to the RL. You must admit however, the constant drum-beat that RLs have lower resale values gives us pause when deciding whether to buy another.

If only Acura would spend more than a nickle to market this vehicle. The pitch should be: "just drive one". I'm out there, right now, researching and willing to buy. I have the luxury of holding the competitors in this class up to the standard I've been accustom to with the RL. It looks to be a daunting task to find a car, near 50k, that has the style, gadgetry, comfort and ride that I want.

And as to your initial question S-Mik, I'm getting old, I love cars and I want variety. 60,000 miles is alot of windshield time behind one steering wheel. I could: work more hours, manicure my lawn or shop for cars. What would you guys do?

Thanks for your post (you too tcwhite and shotgun), all good info!

 

Thanks db22 for the added pressure! But your right. All the cars in the running have their 'issues', idrive being one. Lexus and Infiniti don't let you input nav commands while in motion.

And Rob L, yes.....change just for change sake. I don't have the courage to die my hair or buy gold neck chains.

 

You middle aged people and your mid life crisis. hehe j/k

 

[QUOTE=And Rob L, yes.....change just for change sake. I don't have the courage to die my hair or buy gold neck chains.[/QUOTE]

hey Doc, at least you know your reasons and thought it through. That's all I was trying to question. Plenty of people want a new car every two years. Nothing wrong with that as long as you can afford it.

Since you like swaping cars every couple years, I agree, try something else. The spice of life is variety -- so they say. My "inside" sources told me there's nothing new with the 08 RL -- at least nothing significant. Get something else and come back to the 3GL RL in 2010

Good luck with your next car -- whatever that may be.

 

How true. I'm convinced that people are writing this car off without even sitting in one, much less a test drive. I almost dismissed it and I HAD an ACURA and could see an RL everytime I took in my TL for service.

Good Luck.

 

GoHawks, You are correct. When my Legend was giving me some problems, I automatically discounted the RL, because I figured it was too expensive. I was looking at a TL or RDX, then got pulled to the "dark side" by this board (literally since my RL is NBP/Ebony). I am very happy I did.

Good luck on your choices Dr. Decatherm. Let us know which car you pick. No Mecedes C350 4Matic, Volvo S80 V8 AWD or Audi A6, or even better, an S4 on your list? Maybe like me, you shy away from European cars, but everyone has to at least look at a BMW!

 

Ditto here. When I bought my 05 TL, I never sat in or drove the RL....and I am already an Acura customer. No need to win me over from another brand.

I even wrote a letter to Acura and the editor of Acura STYLE magazine with my dismay they had no mention of thier flagship vehicle in the last issue. Nice STYLE!

I too have perpetual new car fever. But I think the RL will last me a few years. My biggest worry for the next gen RL is NOT that Acura designs it....but that it likely will be built in the US. I favor Japanese reliability over German driving dynamics, but even Japanese design built in the US has let me down.

That was the primary reason I traded the TL for the RL. But so far, my RL has been all I hoped for. I am anticipating my RL will be a keeper longer than my cars of past.

 

The Mercedes' have such poor reliability ratings, Chas2, I thought I'd pass them over. Maybe I should give the C class a look. As far as the Volvo, don't your kids have to play soccer in order to buy one?

 

Like many others, I never really thought about the RL until I drove it. I had a 2005 TL and thought that I would never waste the "step up" money to go to the RL for nothing more than the hpyed up "SH-AWD". Boy was I ever wrong!! This is the best car that I have owned to date and plan to hold on to it until the 3G RL makes its appearance.

 

Hey Doc, if reliability is not going to be an issue for you, check out the Audi 8. Now that is a NICE car. Overall, Doc, the RL just can't be beat. Let us know what you decided on, I would be very curious. If I was going to buy another Luxury cruiser, I don't know what else I could live with after driving a RL.

 

Welcome to AZ, Doc. I see the welcoming committee has already posted, and I agree with them that you have a tough decision to make. It's too bad you found us when you're ready to trade.

I understand frequent car-swapping, though--it's a lot easier to trade cars than wives. Luckily, my wife is an understanding soul who occasionally takes advantage of this tendency (witness our new Pilot). I'd never trade her...

But anyhoo....if I were going to trade my RL in for one of your options, it would be the M35x. It comes standard with a sporty ride, it's good-looking, and the only issue I have with it is the interior...RL wins hands down in that comparo. Second choice would be the Bimmer. Is it available without that lousy iDrive, though? I guess I could ignore that as the reason to buy that car is the driving dynamics, anyway.

 

Ditto!! Just change "05 RL" to "06 RL" and this is my exact experience. I even bought the extended warranty--something I've never done before.

Best of luck with a tough decision. I think Dr. Bob has it right--I guess I'd try the (noisy) M35 or (ubiquitous) 5-series Beemer first. Saab and Volvo--pretty crude by comparison with the RL--been there, done that. Audi maybe? Not me, I have it implanted in my brain from years back that they're unreliable. Mercedes? Definitely no, not now that M-B quality has fallen to match that of its sister company Chrysler. Lexus? Only if you feel a need to make other people think you have money to burn, and like a floaty ride.

Here's an out of the box suggestion: how about a 2007 or 2008 TL-S? Decent pricing and acceleration out the wazoo! Only problem I see, other than the boy-racer looks and a less plush cabin, is that a complete redesign is reportedly coming in 2009. Then you'll get itchy feet again!!

 

A little off topic but, I recently got a G35x service loaner with 1000 miles on it. That little goes like stink and is a riot to drive. If I were looking for a car in that class the G35 would be on top of the list.

Err, that would be a big negative. I agree with your assessment, but the 07s are gone and the 08s come with 528 and 535 (550 too pricey for me). The 528 doesn't have enough power and I don't want to be Guinea Pig with a first year twin turbo BMW motor.

I wish they would just hurry up and launch the next gen RL now!

 

Thanks Mr. Mega-Mod. I have learned a great deal as a 'lurker' for a long time on this forum. I can't stress enough the value you provide to owners. I just never wanted to bore others with my drivle. I do need some well thought-out opinions now, and based upon the team that posts here, I expect I'll get some.

I'm looking forward to test driving the M35x exactly because of interior. The photo shopping I've done denotes a very pleasing cabin. The wood dash and hooded nav screen appeals to my taste. Its the exterior thats hard to love. Placid, bland almost an apirition. I'm worried that it will be like: when you turn 40 and go into a pick-up bar.....no one notices you. My well waxed blue Rl never had a problem turning heads.

Good tip though, I'll know more when I see it in person.

 

I had a deposit on a M35 but backed away I could not live with the interior, other than that it is a great ride. If I were to move up from the RL it would be like what Scott did & get a great deal on an AMG, M or S that would go like stink. I would even condier a sts v. The bump in performance for one of the std cars with an 8 would not be enough to swap out of my RL.

 

I'm pretty sure my RL is a keeper now that it's in the "over 300 HP" club and has been customized beyond anything I ever thought I was going to do. (Thanks, AZ!)

As far as "built in Japan"....I had only minor issues with my 3G TL and only traded it in because I fell in love with the RL, so I can say that my fellow Ohioans must have known I was going to be the buyer when it was on the assembly line. I do recognize that I was the exception, though....

@ssim3.....the E55 is not on his list, but..... to what you say anyway. used E55>>>>>>RL in fast category.....mmmmmmmm......

 

Yeah, I think so. I just threw that in because it is about $50K and you get a V-8 AWD sedan. I threw that choice in because everyone complains that the RL does not have a V-8.

Good luck with the search.

 

Chas2, I didn't think the v8 volvo was awd. Thanks for putting that on my radar.

 

The s80 looks very impressive. But I expect the s80 with be the RL/ LEGEND of European models in this segment. It will be nicely built, safety and technology laden, good performance.....and lackluster acknowledgment from the critics, enthusiasts and followed by consumer ignorance. IMHO, aside form the V8 offering, the s80 looks like it tried to copy the RL / LEGEND. Hopefully its market acceptance will not be copied as well.

 

If 4 wheel drive is necessary I would look at the s4 & RS4

 

I've owned one lemon in my life and it was a Volvo/Ford S80. What a nightmare car it was for me. All S80 owners complain about the check engine light. If the gas cap isn't turned exactly 4 clicks the check engine light will come on and stay on for a month! It has more bugs than Lake Sebago, Maine in August.