You're right, a few months ago when I checked their were at least 8 Advance 11/12 RLs with decent mileage; great price. They have seemed to have disappeared from the market, most likely because they have all been snatched up, and many people who bought the RL new, thought it wasn't worth it to opt for the adv. model over tech.

At this time, I can't seem to find any 11 Adv., so it'll be hard to get a relatively low mileage car, for under 30k. However, at the moment there are some 2012 Adv. cars, having trouble posting working links. Just do an autotrader search for 11-12 Acura RL. You'll find them.

 

So true. The RL is a solid car and I really wouldn't mind owning one. I just wish Acura would've updated to the HDD based navigation system and music storage like the 4G TL. HDD audio is a big plus for me since I own over 1000 CDs. I just feel like a 6 CD changer is outdated. The song by voice HDD feature is my favorite on the ZDX. At first I really wanted a Lexus GS 350 F-Sport, but the lack of HDD music storage was a deal breaker.

 

I agree, I Acura should have upgraded the nav system to the same one in the ZDX, with the multi-view rear camera. Why they didn't will never make sense to me. However, I don't mind the absence of an HDD. I have a 32gb ipod touch hooked up to my usb connector, in which I always leave the wi-fi enabled. So when ever I pull the car into my garage(home wi-fi connection area), it'll automatically sync with itunes on my computer.

 

I have 101,000 on my 2006 RL and will keep it until I am to old to drive.

 

Until automobile engineering adopts universal platform infotainment systems you will see models 'locked' into certain feature technology. Car refreshes cannot keep pace with techno-gadget lifecycles. When a car model is launched there are parts suppliers with contractual agreements to source x number of components for car y. The RL was a very low volume seller in the latter years. Where dozens of car were built, Honda may have had a much higher commitment to the volume of infotainment units from the supplier. Until that contract volume is satisfied or an upgrade cycle is built into the supply channel, you will get the old technology until the manufacturer exhausts the supplier agreement.

If the RL sold as well as it did in the 2005-06 MYs it would have likely been offering newer technology in the latter model years. It is a catch 22.

But technology addicted drivers are slowly changing the automobile industry. Not only do we have Google and Apple launching auto platforms, Ford has contracted Blackberry to replace MS Sync. Beyond that horizon there is much interest in abandoning in car infotainment system platforms altogether, but instead offer display and audio sourcing from the driver's smart phone which would serve as the infotainment source. That would remove the current frustrations trying to align the OS, Carrier and phone brand / model combination to the manufacturers infotainment platform and hardware limitations.

 

Until it fails.

Like everyone, I like its Japanese discreetness.

And its mad handling.

The big question is, where the hell do you go from here? Especially since we are denied things like the TLX and the KC1 (thankfully!) by Honda Europe's suicide bash.

 

Audi, Benz, & Cadillac have proven to be the natural progression here.

 

Hard to say, Audi, Mercedes, Cadillac, BMW, have horrible reliability, the quality of the vehicles can't compete with JDM. Oh, and only the dealer sells the parts, maintenance will kill you. If you want to keep a American, or German car for more than 3 years, good luck. Not lying, watch this video.

 

This is true. On audis, you need a computer to retract the rear brake pistons, which means you can't change the pads or any other rear brake component yourself.

Does anyone these days actually buy those cars? My impression is that 90 percent are leased. In that video, he mentions poor resale value due to high cost of repair. No way I buy one of those without a very long warranty.

Oddly, I find myself lately looking at a mini, pretty nice car, fun to drive, decent on gas and awd, plus many have turbos. Obviously, in a different class, but for a daily driver, it's peeked my interest. I'm not getting rid of my RL, though.

 

New, or '13 CPOs seem to be in the same price range as the '11/'12 RL. My old boss had an '09(M35x?) that was a very impressive ride, put on 30K miles per year and it kept humming along.
I was never particularly impressed by the body style/aesthetics but, it seems to be a good alternative to the RL. I'm flat out uninterested in a RLX PAWs.
Any opinions/comparisons?

 

I did not know Bobcat Goldthwait was also a car mechanic???

And for the record. If ANY mechanic was to work on my car with a dog leash clip and keys on the from of this belt, he would be:

shot
cut up in pieces
set afire
ashes launched into outer space.....

 

I plan on running my 2006 RL into the dirt. New cars today are just now starting to catch up with the technology it has, but they are no where near as refined. I like how the onboard computer lets me program everything, for example--and maintain separate programming for the second driver.

 

Nice! Maybe I've seen you on 91 or 84 at some point I have a '05 with 128k - White on Tan. Like you, I'm trying to ride the storm. So far everything is holdnig up well, with the exception of the chips/dings from highway driving on the front...

 

I hate you for posting that video... LoL

 

Thanks bro.

 

 

You good, bro?

 

 

tl:dw.

Do you have any imperical evidence to back your claims, or do you get all of your data from YouTube?

 

Of course I have 'evidence', 007. One of my good friends owned an 05 BMW 535(bought new) he kept his until 2012, where he had to sell it. The car had so many problems, catalytic converter, water pump, main computer, and many other parts and systems of the cars. Outside of regular oil changes, he had spent $7,000 on repairs, and only the dealers could do the repairs. And he only drove about 7500 miles a year. By 2012 he had the car taken to about 3 different mechanics, and 4 different dealers, they all said the car needed another $6,000 of the work, and the car only had 66,000 miles. And the dealer recommended another $3500 worth of "mandatory" work. A 50k with 15k in repairs alone, in only 7 years? This blows my mind, German cars aren't built well, the don't last and repairs will eat up your life savings. I have a friend who has a Benz E 07, with less than a 100,000miles and he's having many problems only the dealer can fix. And my other friend bought a Jaguar XF 08(new), and he got the extended warranty and he's having so many problems, that warranty won't cover any, and he's finding the car hard to sell, and trade value is so low, due to the amount of Jaguar problems. I don't think I know anyone who has kept their German, or British car for more than 3 years, and has not had problems. Apparently, the new Audis are very reliable, but I have a friend with a 13' A6, he's already have some quality and mechanical issues; thankfully he leased it for 3 years.

 

"Empirical"

 

FWIW, I have been a loyal Volvo owner, 13 in the past 40+ years. My current V70 just over 9 years old with 113K miles has been rock solid, I eschewed the turbo cuz I know from experience they bite the dust around 100K and didn't need 300hp for a M/T. 90% of $$ spent has been maintenance/prevention i.e. timing belt, water pump, oil/filter every 3K miles etc. I still have the original battery and the A/C has never been recharged. The leather is in astoundingly great shape despite doing nothing to protect it.
I have shelled out for tie rods & axles but, that's due to our wonderful NY roads. This is my "baby".
All this being said, I wouldn't buy another today, Ford raped the brand and the Chinese have done nothing. They're teetering on the brink of extinction in the US.
I can't even remember how I stumbled across the TL a few years ago but, was immediately impressed when compared to the competition, including the 2010 Accord. At lease end I re-evaluated the new Accord Touring and discovered a whole new version replete with MANY of the Acura innovations. IMO it was the "best bang for the buck" in the category despite lacking AWD.
So now, I'll try to find a new home for my 2005 baby, get a late model RL and wait to see what transpires with the RLXh.

 

Tampa, I had that exact experience once a few years ago. The rain was cascading down so hard that I saw a late model BMW pulled over and parked beneath an underpass. I sailed along at the same speed you did, occasionally touching the steering or brakes just to make sure I still had traction. I did.

I felt very good about my purchase that night. I still do. I've had to service a few items -- armrest blistering, driver's door lock mechanism under warranty, A/C blower motor, a headlight and a light in the console -- but at 100k, I've already invested in my next timing belt and am looking forward to the next time I'll have to. No desire to move on. None. I hope gas prices and my own economic station let me keep this thing for the next 20 years.

 

Good call.
So... you're saying your sample size is one? Or is it two? I can find 10+ members here that have spent $1000 or more on repairs for their RL. What conclusion do you draw from that?

All I am saying is anecdotal evidence is worthless. The minimum quantity for a significant statistical analysis is 30, but really 1,000 is where you can start to draw conclusions that mean anything. The numbers are out there, and they show that Benz isn't very far behind Japanese. Cadillacs don't have a whole lot of issues either. BMW, Audi, and Jaguar are generally low in the rankings, but their ratio of issues when compared to a Honda are low, not even 2:1. That's because Hondas fail too. Read about the Marysville 5AT issues, piston rings on the J37 (I'm sure you would be interested in this one specifically), J-series plug ejection, or the Oddysey issues from 1999 to 2008. If you talked to the owners of Hondas with those issues, they would tell you that they can never trust Honda again, and with good reason, they branched out past JDM because buying a car is taking a chance no matter what dealer you go to.

Still, even beyond owners who have experienced issues, we have historical evidence of member's decisions regarding what they chose after the RL, and Cadillac, Audi, BMW and Benz are the top choices. Me personally, I bought a 2005 Tundra with 140k miles. To each his own.

 

You really don't get do you, the German cars are very sneaky, especially BMW. The cars are engineered in a way, that keeps you coming back to the dealership, things will malfunction, that only the dealer can fix. For example, the new BMWs have no oil dipstick, this way after years, the dealers can make it mandatory to have the oil read sensors replaced as scheduled maintenance. If you can afford a 50k car, this might not sound like much, but think about how only the dealer with complicated computers, have access to all functions. No one else can touch the car, except the dealer, so they charge whatever price they want, for parts labor and service. Mercedes-Benz aren't the best either. If you watch the video, another example 4/5k of maintenance on that Benz. If your looking for proof, take a look at consumer reports, they survey over 1 million vehicles annual for new car reliability. You'll find #1 Lexus, #2 Toyota, #3 Acura, #4 Audi. I personally can make sense of all the top three, but Audi? They haven't changed their lineup since 2012, in 2012 they were in the bottom 3rd of new car reliability. Maybe, Audis have improved their reliability, haven't driven one in a while. But the German cars are all about planned obsolescence. After surveying millions of people(Consumer Reports), even the new GM and BMW products rank in the bottom 3rd(new reliability). I can't even imagine how the cars will hold up over time. The term 'planned obsolesce' is written all over German cars. Just my opinion.

 

Ahh, I see now. It's a conspiracy!!!

Exactly.

 

 

I like JDM vehicles over most German made cars simply because they come apart easier. With all my Honda's they are easy to take apart, use pretty standard hardware and go back together just as easily as they came apart.

German cars on the other hand require some UFC training paired with a doctorate to pull the panels off properly, most of the hardware is hand made by Tibetan monks, and putting it back together... I've shed tears over B-pillars before.

 

I haven't had my RL for a year yet and I already thought about replacing it with a Audi. That was about 3 months ago but I've since had a change of thought. I really do like like it and it has grown on to me. I don't see a whole lot of RL's in my area so for me I like the feeling of driving something that everyone doesn't have. This video has probably been posted here already but I viewed it for the first time recently. I enjoyed looking at the car from the outside and in motion at different camera views.

 

it's been 6 great trouble free years.
plan to keep until car is totaled.
hopefully it won't be sometime soon as I do not see any other vehicle in segment that can replace RL.

 

Hopefully you will run it until it disintegrates and not get totaled.

 

maybe he is related to 007....

 

.....awaiting the Lucy vs. Ethel smackdown.....

 

 

*cough*

nasty

*choke*

 

its really no fun if he isnt here...

 

 

....let the games begin.

 

I prefer to go out with a bang. I like his style.

 

well, friend recently got his 05 RL totaled and got a 07 GS350 awd.
I also went thru good amount of cars totaled due to other driver's faults.
Sustained good amount of internal body injury due to that as well.

Following are options in segment:
RL / A6 / 5-Serise / CTS / 300C / M35x / XF / GS350 / MKS / E-Class / S80
What would be your pick and reason?