NICE CAR! MY Razr V3 was instantly paired up with no problems and the car has a rear backup camera. It was raining very hard when I test drove it and the handling was awesome. The door handle lock/unlock was fine with no issues. The car feels a bit faster than my 2000 TL with intake and exhaust. My wife was in the car and she said "I love it!" The wood steering wheel was nice too. The real time nav was very accurate.

 

Yes, yet another rainy day in Bellevue. Perfect weather for test driving an RL though so you can see the traction capabilities of the car. If you are going to get it (I doubt you will regret it) try to negotiate a different set of tires. I have the Pilot Sport A/S and they are a big improvement over the OEM tires in terms of quiet and traction. If you go with the 18" wheels then you can also consider the Pirelli zero nero A/S as an option.

You might want to choose a color other than lakeshore silver as I have enjoyed having the only one of that color in Bellevue for the last year or so. There's probably another one but I just haven't seen it. Just kidding, so of course get the color of your choice and the lakeshore stays pretty clean looking even with all the rain. Oh, I also have the Razr V3c (vzw) paired and it works great with the HFL.

Good luck with the RL buying.

 

[QUOTE=hendjaz]Yes, yet another rainy day in Bellevue. Perfect weather for test driving an RL though so you can see the traction capabilities of the car. If you are going to get it (I doubt you will regret it) try to negotiate a different set of tires. I have the Pilot Sport A/S and they are a big improvement over the OEM tires in terms of quiet and traction. If you go with the 18" wheels then you can also consider the Pirelli zero nero A/S as an option.

Yep - used to live in Edmonds, Washington. Understood. I have the 18" A-Spec wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. Nice combo. Traction in rain and snow is just great and handling is truly awe-inspiring. And the ride is still compliant and won't rattle your fillings: And on these Eastern European-quality goat paths they pass off as roads here in Michigan that is saying something. Toss it into some wet corners that would have sent my Lexus into the trees and it just goes where pointed. No drama.

 

Hey Bellevue RL Owners, I have an Opulent Blue one, with about 5 coats of Zaino and it looks great ! I think there is a Silver one here in my neighborhood (Newport Shores). It works great - love the car, have a big 2300 miles on it !
Broke it in on a short drive to Eldorado Hills, CA and back.

DanF

 

I know a few people who live in Newport Shores, and I live in downtown Bellevue. RL is definitely very impressive. I will go to the dealer and test drive some more.

 

If you do go by there, you might want to ask for Jae Han; he has worked the deals for our new MDX, TL, and then our RL. Very knowledgeable and helpful, knows the market, no B/S'ng around. Tell him Dan and Ginie Franco referred him to you.. DanF

 

"I have an Opulent Blue one"

Dan, I may have seen you going eastbound on I-90 (perhaps in Eastgate or Issaquah area?) on Sunday, early afternoon. If not you, then there's another opulent blue RL around here too. We were returning from kids ski lessons in the morning so had the MDX instead of the RL and were westbound. Back in plenty of time for the Seahawks game.

Which Zaino product(s) do you use on the RL?

 

No, that wasnt us. We drove my Sweetheart's MDX that morning; the RL stayed warm in the 62degree garage.. So there is another one? Now Im jealous!! Not!!
The more the merrier as far as Im concerned. I drove the RL down to Qwest Field for a meeting this morning, and wow, it sure is nice! I think the Michelin HRX tires are a little louder than Im used to, but its ok, I just turn up the 5.1 surround sound with a DVD-A in the slot and I hear nothing but nice !

I have clayed the car, used Zaino ZPC- Fusion to clean the paint again and remove any little scratches, etc., and then put 2 coats of Z-5 with ZFX accelerator and another 3 coats of Z-2 with ZFX. Its gorgeous even when its dirty, it still looks great! And when you wash it with Zaino car wash soap and Z-8 it, well, its a very nicely shaped mirror for anyone walking by!
Let me know if you get one and want to see how Zaino looks - I also have it on the MDX (Sage Brush Pearl) and the Lightning truck (Dark Shadow Gray Metallic) DanF

 

how much did you pay for the RL, if you wont mind me asking?

 

If the 06 you are looking at has the technology package you are going to have very few tire choices because of the run-flat tires. I can not believe that Acura went with these outrageously priced tires that along with being expensive they are hard riding and generally do not handle as well as a regular tire because of sidewall stiffness.

 

From what I understand and from a feedback from one of the 06 RL owners on the forum, the run flat tires don't ride differently. These are PAX tires and designed differently than the previous gen run flates that have stiff side walls.

 

I have them ( 06 with tech)
I didnt want them, I was leary, I tried every way to get the care with regular tires-couldnt do it so I resigned to if I didnt like them, I could always just get regular rims and put on the sensors ( I verified I could get them from Acura) and deal with the cost later.
I am now happy that I have the OEM PAX tires,
They ride well (well enough) to the point that I enjoy the comfort that I do not have to worry about a flat when I am driving in any weather or other condition.
In essence, I cannot notice any difference from normal tires.
They may not be as high performance as other after market tires, but hell, I dont have to worry about changing them asap on the road either.

 

I am personally sold on the concept of running flat tires, and I wish that the PAX system had been available for the 05 RL when I brought it. Our Lexus SC430 has the Dunlop run flats which are really rough to ride on.

 

You will like them until you have to buy a new one, $300 each plus to replace them. And after you have run it flat they are ruined. I realize other companies are using them also but I still do not like them. No matter how they have improved run-flats they still are not as good as a regular high qualty tire and you will have so few choices when you want new tires. For me the technology package is not a step forward for the RL which needs alot of help to improve its sales and THIS is the answer Acura gives us. This car is doomed to mediocre sales like its predecessor. I know Acura can do better.

 

I can't argue with you about the lack of availability if you needed a replacement. I do see it as a step forward in improving the safty of operating a car. The cost is high, but it is true with any new techology. I don't mind paying for the improved safty.

 

How is it safer? Perhaps more convenient until you run it more than a few miles and the tire is no longer serviceable. A tire with better grip that results in shorter stopping distances and better steering response would seem safer to me. As in any new technology it will improve, I am not convinced the technology is there yet. It will be interesting to watch the posts and see what owners experiences are. Michelin has had other forays like this before. The Michelin TRX metric tire which left thousands of very unhappy customers when nothing but Michelin TRX would fit and then Michelin stopped making them altogether forcing many BMW and Ford customers to buy new wheels. I fear Michelin and Honda are the only ones benefitting from this. Only time will tell. I consider you brave for trying.

 

It is safer, in case of a tire blow-out the car would be less likely to loss control (at least according to Michelin). Also, for a driver who could not change a tire (for example, my wife), it would allow him/her to drive to a safer location to wait for help. Also, even for someone who would have no problem changing a tire, some locations, such as the side of a freeway, is not a safe place to stop.

There is a chance that this PAX technology is not there yet, and this is a chance that one is taking. Owners of 05 RL's took the chance by buying a first year car with new technologies. Only time will tell.

 

Ok, cost: Yes its expensive per tire however its more expensive to deal with a flat in a location that removed from a major metro area (if you are taking a road trip) and its far more inconvienient to deal with a flat in freezing weather/midnight hours than to pay for the safety per tire to just limp to the next destination and deal with the tire in conditions that are controlled and SAFE.
Ever change a tire after midnight? Thats like putting a bullseye on your person cause idiot drivers do frequently hit cars on the shoulder.
Ever try changing a tire in freezing snow, or rain, or deal with siezed lug nuts?

Cost for good HP tires... you cant get a tire for less than $150 per, and you still have to mount and balance them. Its a slight tradeoff but its worth it to some people who prefer safety over performance.
As for the performance of these tires- They are exceptional.
Yes they are not HP, but then again, this car is not tuned for HP.
They are better than most of the OEM crap you get on MB, BMW, Cad, Audi, and Lexus.
Besides, if there is an issue-Acura has to deal with it.

And if the tires arent to your liking (as they were not initially to me) you can always get new rims and new conventional tires.

 

I called Tire Rack to see what they sell for. Guess what? You can only buy them at an Acura Dealer. Tire Rack and other retailers are not going to be selling them, at least for now. I asked a friend who is an Acura service writer and he said if the inner support piece gets damaged driving too far or too fast the repair and new tire could be close to a $1000.00. I hope he is wrong but I suspect he is not. I do not trust Michelin based on past experience. These tires can only be serviced with special machines for mounting and dismounting. OH BOY. Some one on this thread referred to RL tires as performance tires. Either RL tire is hardly a performance tire, it would be very easy to buy a better performing tire which would be far safer.
With the cost of these tires a person could drive with a flat until you wreck the rim and it would cheaper. The other item to consider is you do have a limited range with which you can drive on the PAX, what are the chances of being close enough to your destination or an Acura Dealer? I believe until the costs related to these tires are dramatically lowered there will be an owner revolt. I would get these issue resolved before you get too many miles and force Acura to swap you 17" wheels and a partial refund.

 

Thanks for doing the homework for us. I knew it would be a long while before these tires are carried and services by anyone other than Acura, if ever. However, the safety aspects are still there; I don't worry the difference in handling between high performance tires and PAX unless the PAX is as bad as the OEM. The 06 RLs' owners' collective experience would be very helpful in time.

Thanks for the history of Michelin.

 

Time will tell, it always does and I doubt you will be as glib in a year.

 

PAX has been out several years in Europe and has been adopted by other manufactures as well, do some research...

PAX has been available here in the states for a couple of years on RR, Honda, Nissan and now Acura and several other manufactures will be including it on models next year...

Many tire retailers other than every Acura and Nissan dealerships are getting certified and several tire machines including one from Hunter can be retrofitted to service them...

Give it another year and you will see more choices and lower prices...

 

Have you taken the damn 2006 RL out for a test drive and compared it to the 2005 to make this comment or just another silly assumption by you?

51 and you have the logic of a 17 yr old. Scary. What do you consult? People seeking the ability to form opinions lacking logic?

 

RL fans are in so much denial, first the lousy sales and now trying to justify PAX tires. According to Acura the PAX tire in the technology package maintains the fine handling and ride of the standard tire. The standard tire is mediocre at best and so you want to spend all that money and eliminate your choices to get a mediocre tire.

 

Dude, what are you talking about... If I wanted a sports car I would by another 911, I want a comfortable good daily driver with decent all around performance. The RL is that, and PAX gives a nice safety net for the wife and kids when they use it. I have no problem paying an extra 25% premium for tires and such just for the safety it provides my family...

And as far as slow sales, it is meeting Acuras goal and that is great... I hate seeing myself coming and going and not into the "bling" of MB and such... I can afford to drive whatever I want and I decided to drive an RL...

 

agreed.
And if someone doesnt like RL, they can go buy something else.
FYI, I have the PAX system, and I was adamantly against it. I always knew that if I chose, I could scrap the tires and rims and get conventional tires for some extra $$$ if I wanted to.
I didnt buy it for the tires, I actually enjoyed the tech package, suites my driving.
I verified I could just put on the sensors on the rims, and teh TPMS would still work.
Turned out, I rather enjoyed the ride, and the comfort of knowing I dont have to worry about changing a tire in snow, rain, darkness, or if my wife was using the car-she could just limp to where ever and remain safe.