blacktlsport

Is it just me or does the center console area look too cheap looking? The main thing I'm referring to are the silver columns on each side of all the buttons on the center console. They just don't seem to match with the rest of the car. Probably would have looked better if those columns were black or made up of the maple wood.

For a car that runs around 50K I think Acura could have manage to make that center console area a little more classy looking. Aside from that I think the car kicks ass.

What do you guys think, and is there any way to change the color of those things??

Touge

I personally like the columns, but it's easy to change the color if you want to. Sem plastic paint can do it.

TampaRLX-SH

I too like the look. It is a nice contrast to the wood dash and gives that tech look on the center stack. Although we rag on plastic, it is done well. Considering how easily the aluminum trim in my TL dinged, I am grateful for the plastic, which wears better and damages less easily. Now if I can find the source of the occaision mystery creak I get from it, I will again sleep at night!

acuralvr1

I'd prefer maple wood in the center column instead of the silver columns. I'm going to purchase some maple wood inserts to make the column look richer.

lindros2

So my car was parked at the airport from Wednesday > Thursday, and when I returned my XM was in "LOADING..." mode.

Now, over 48 hours later, NAVTRAFFIC still doesn't work.

XM's response? "Uh, we don't know."

As an XM customer for the past 4 1/2 years, I am absolutely without question more pissed off at these morons than any other service provider. And to be honest, what the hell are they going to do? Refund my $3.50/month NavTraffic fee?

I'd like to rip out my entire XM module and shove half of it up XM's ass, with the other half going right into the skull of Acura's engineering people.

NavyDoc333

Has anyone successfully taken those silver plastic pieces off? Was there much to it? I'd like to do it... not to change them, but to put some felt tape behind them for that 'occational creak'

Touge

I had to take them off when I installed the Apexi RSM. It's not that hard, but you have to be careful not to mar the plastic. I used the KTC trim tools they tell you to get in the service manual. Makes the job easy. While I was at it, I also applied some extra felt.

TampaRLX-SH

NavyDoc, I worship you!

I think you are the only person more sensitive to creaks or rattles than me. If you find a solution please post.

My RL has been rattle free (unlike my TL), but there is an odd creak periodically from this area (I already did the shifter plate and surrounding trim). Sometimes I hear it when I start from a stop, sometimes when I brake to stop and sometimes on very rough roads. It is minimal, even acceptable, but I am ummmm, errrrrr.... well being a Doc...y'know!

Mike_TX

To be honest, my first impression of the RL's interior was that the center stack looked like it had been lifted out of another vehicle and grafted between the RL's console and dash. It looked completely out of whack with the rest of the dash/console area.

But I came to understand that that was done on purpose, to accentuate the "techy" part of the control center ... that is, to visually isolate the audio, nav, A/C and miscellaneous controls from the "driving" controls.

I'm still on the fence as to the success of this styling move, but it no longer bothers me (especially with the taupe interior, which reduces the contrast between the silver and the rest of the interior colors).

Having said that, the 'columns' don't bother me, but if they bother you, paint 'em!

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GoHawks

Well I fell in love with the interior from the outset, and mostly for the center stack. It was just so unique compared to everything else out there. Also love the metallic look as well.

dwboston

You have to remove the black plastic around the shifter first. Unscrew the shift knob, then pull up from the back of the black plastic piece closest to the cupholder. Then pull the front part up near the silver pieces. If you unhook the seat warmer plugs (from below) you can pull the black piece completely out of the way giving you more room. Once the black plastic piece has been removed simply pull straight back from the bottom of the silver plastic trim pieces. It might take a little bit of force but they come out pretty easily.

NavyDoc333

It's a curse. But thanks for the 'worship'!
I dread the change in season... because just when I make things nice and quiet... the temp heats up (or cools down) and I'm at it again.
If only wasn't against the law to prescribe myself Valuim...

TampaRLX-SH

A curse! Indeed!

We had chilly weather here today, 60sF (oh the HUMANITY!) and the occaisional creak reared it's ugly head. But with warm weather on the heals, I expect it will be gone. I only noticed it on some cold (err...chilly) mornings here in Tampa. The RL has been so churchlike quiet I doubt I would have even noticed this subtle creak in any other car. In the TL is would have only been a solo in the choir of sounds that car complained with.

Now not so much the RLs problem is that I have EXCEPTIONAL hearing. Just last month while having a hearing test, the tech conducting the test was in the room next to me with an associate. I heard him whisper to the associate "man, I'd hate to say something about this guy I would not want him to hear, he must be part canine". When he returned to the room I barked and growled at him. He was mortified.

My fear of removing the trim pieces I would either scratch something to hell or introduce some rattle I would be cursing myself for the life of the car.

Is there a Doctor in the house???

GoHawks

I recently removed the plastic that holds the seat warmer switches around the shifter to route the wire for the remote display of my Escort radar detector. After reinstalling it, I immediately started to notice a creaking sound. The plastic was rubbing around the silver "metallic" plastic around the shifter. I was able to narrow it down and install a samll pice of felt, but it reminded me how easily creaks will show up once you start tearing things apart.

synth19

I like the contrast, it gives it a modern look imo.

bmerton

I covered mine with that carbon fiber sticker material you can buy at Pep Gurlz, y0!

Kidding...kidding. I like it just fine. You can't please everyone all the time, I guess. If I were to pick apart the interior of the car, I'm sure I could find something I think could be better.

SpicyMikey

It's just you. The interiior looks more sophisticated and luxurious then most cars in it's price range - IMO

lumpulus

I hadn't really thought about it until I saw this post, but I guess I'd rahter see wood there.
I'd also like to see any chrome pieces gone too.

db22

Has anybody found wood trim for the sides of the console? Who where and how much?

Thanks.

blacktlsport

You would think that by now that the RL would have some descent aftermarket parts but there really isn't that much out there.

Coming from a TL I'd have to say that the aluminum columns on the TL looked more sophisticated than the plastic looking columns in the RL. Anybody other former TL owners feel the same way?

Mike_TX

Actually, no. I have both a TL and an RL, and I think the TL's interior looks too ... well, too metallic. IMO, the TL's dash could use something to take away some of the hard-surface look and feel.

In addition to that, the textured aluminum in the TL would look totally out of place in the RL.

Basically, metallic trim has come to be associated with sporty cars, while more luxurious vehicles are trimmed with richer, slightly 'softer' stuff like wood, leather and painted surfaces.

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lflorack

Personally, I love the interior a lot. The center stack is very well done IMHO.