Got delivery of my RL last Monday and it's been great driving it since. It is quite a different feel from my Audi A6 and my other previous lux sedans, but the RL makes it very easy to get comfortable. The salesperson took the good side of two hours going through the nav, mid, linking, audio, etc. It'll take me a good week-end to get familiar with all the tech marvels.
So, now that I am an official RLian (as my son calls it) I wanted to put in my two cents in the mix.
1) No! The engine is not underpowered. The mild-moderate engine growl in more serious accellerations is to be expected. The engine does haul the weight efficiently and with power.
2) Turning radius is not perceptibly larger; it is not an issue in real-life driving and parking.
3) The ride quality does suffer from the Michelen Pax run-flat tires. The bumps become almost harsh. It is however an issue innate of the tires themselves (Honda MiniVans and, yes, the RR has the same ride quality with the Pax tires). The dealer told me that the real difficulty with the Pax tires is the potentially very expensive repair/exchange due to the currently very sparse repair tire shops in the U.S. that can handle these tires. Furthermore, presently the great majority of Acura and Honda dealers do not have the machine to fix/change these tires and hence the rim and the tires has to be replaced together??? Someone please tell me it isn't so.
4) Gas milege has been pretty average for such a car. I drive about 100-120 miles/day and have not found the engine to be guzzling gas down.
5) Head turning? Yes; People look. But frankly dear, I don't give a damn. The RL is an understated technical and engeneering jewel made for the mold of people that have no need to be defined by outside semantics, logos, or perseptions of opulence.

I think that's it for now. Thanks for all the great threads out there. And Thanks for taking time to read this.
Best Regards
CTMAN

 

I also came from a 2003 Audi A6 2.7t. That was a great car, and I miss the Audi brand. I'm surprised that you don't seemingly have any regrets.
Chuck

 

Woooa - gents!

I currently own a 2000 A6 2.7t - what a car! Every day it's fun to get into, spool up the turbos and jump the gas at just the right time. Just a blast. Quattro is great, car steers beautifully and she is a good lookin Black Beauty.

Of course, every OTHER day, it pulls a CEL (as of yesterday;-)), some electrical gremlin pops up or whatever. What would you advise:

1. Get an '06 Black/Parch RL for $40k new?
2. Keep my Tuesday dealer appointment, get things fixed ( for at LEAST 6 months...) and get me some nice new wheels?

I drove the RL Wednesday and it felt just fine. You certainly don't get the oomph you do with the turbo's - but it felt plenty fast overall - I actually liked the drive better than the M35x.


In retrospect - what would you guys do if you were me?

Thanks!

SC

 

No brainer for me.
After years of problems with non Honda products, we only buy Honda/Acura. Still look at Lexus/Toyota but even my kids buy Honda.
Once you try cars with super ergonomics and reliability, it is hard to leave.
I love the way Audi's drive, but look at consumer reports on reliability.
SH-AWD makes the RL handle ALMOST as well as my NSX, check the times in the mag, it really works.http://world.honda.com/HDTV/news/2004-4040401a/

 

SC, 40k is a great price, jump on it. Japanese reliability is great.

 

I posted in another thread....I've had the RL for a week. Granted, it is starting to grow on me a little more, but I would still take another Audi any day of the week. The Acura lacks the soul that the A6 had. I can't drive the RL nearly as agressively as I could my A6 with worn out tires.

 

I've had 2 clients with Audi buy-backs. Great design, lousy execution. I think my old Alfas were more reliable.

 

No regrets. I still have it. My wife drives it most of the time.
I have had some diffiiculties with the AUDI dealers over the years but overall, it has been a good experience.

 

I have had different Audi A6s for the past 8 years. The 2.7T has a great turbo and have enjoyed it lots. Over the past 2 years I have had a few major glitches, one of which (radiator portion) needed a part from Germany and so the dealer handed over a loaner for 10 days while they gor the part.
Overall, I like Audi. But at this time I like the RL better. My advise: go for the RL now and enjoy that killer price and the car. You won't forget your Audi but the RL will take over your senses swiftly. Best Wishes.

 

Interesting video. What is telling in it is that is seems they have SH-AWD in an Accord which may affirm the fact that the TL in the future will get the system.

 

Well I'm sorta in the same situation.

I have a 1999 A6 Avante, slow go (2.8L 200HP 6 with no turbo). 130K miles on it and repairs, although minor, that are huge costs. Not by the hundreds but by the thousands. Example: front suspension repaired 3 times each side, 1k each repair, cooling fan with control unit reapired 750. On and on and on same repairs over and over again. Cam shaft seal tensioners repaired 3 times and is leaking again each at 1K. A/C control unit replaced 3 times, front passanger window regulator 3 times. However very fun car to drive, I think very safe, powertrain will probably last a longtime. Body interior and exterior holds up very well.

So after all of this grief I buy the RL,which I love, and hope will last longer and have many fewer problems. But I can't get rid of the A6 . I will probably give it to one of my kids due to safety features, and in the mean time use it around town. It runs fine to the tune of about 300 per month in maintenance costs brakes, tires, repairs.

BTW the RL is a great car for the price. I was going to drive the Audi for another year or so before buying a car, but when I saw that I could get an Rl for around 40K I just had to jump on it and am glad I did.