Odd question...and have wondered since I bought my RL w/nav in May '07. My car does not have that funny little navigation fin above the rear window, yet I see most of the RL's out there with it. When I bought I was glad it wasn't there, so just wondering do they make different types?

 

The fin was mainly for On-Star. Once On-Star was dropped, so was the need for the fin.

 

This thread pretty much explains the Onstar fiasco----> OnStar

 

I have the same fin on my '08 Lexus, and they don't use OnStar (thank goodness).

I thought it was an XM antenna.

.
.

 

That's what I thought too, but the '07 obviously proves otherwise.

 

I don't think anyone knows why there is a fin on some cars and not others. I bought my 07 without NAV in June, 07 and it came with a fin...the roads may never be safe again...

 

Knock, knock .....

Yes?

Pizza delivery.

Pizza? We didn't order pizza.

Pizza delivery.

(Opening door) Look, we didn't ord.... AAAAARRrrgggg! (dum-DUM ..... dum-DUM ....)

Landshark.

.
.

 

Since the fin is there for OnStar, it would be neat to convert it to be a range extender for a cell phone-it already is designed to work in that frequency band by definition, and having a means to get a better signal to the cell phone while in the car would be a nice feature. BTW, there was a LOT of misinformation about analog vs digital cell phone signal strength in that old thread, but I won't bore anyone here with the link analysis since it is OBE (overtaken by events) with the demise of analog service.

 

I'm only a NooB to this site as I just purchased a used 2007 RL a few months ago that was an American Honda Exec car from Torrance Ca. Absolutely love the car! Have an MDX too. Anyway......

When I bought it, I asked the salesman why the one I bought did not have a "fin" when others did? I liked to fin. He told me that the newer models that have the Technology Package upgrade do not have the fin.

Whether the saleman is correct or not, I don't know, but that was his story.

Bergie

 

BMW did a commercial based on this SNL sketch...found it on YouTube. Not sure if anyone remembers this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMaKQJbSJx0

Thought it was funny; Acura could have done this with the RL

 

The landshark skits on SNL are classics. Too bad the show isn't that funny anymore.

.....and welcome to AZ, Bergie! Don't forget to post your purchase info in the "RL owner sign in" thread at the top of the RL forum. Helps others in the market.

 

the shark fin in Japan is revered as a sign of sexual prowlas

 

Our '07 Tech/CMBS doesn't have a fin. Personally I think it looks much cleaner without it. Just my

 

Sorry to ruin it for you but I'm pretty sure they 'rent' OnStar. Mercedes-Benz maintains its own network.

 

True statements. OnStar does operate Lexus' telematics under the "LexusLink" brand name. Tele Aid is on Mercedes' own network.