when I buy a new car, I already know everything about it before I ever hit the showroom floor. Salesmen usually learn things from me. Needless to say there are no christmas surprises for me...until tonight...because of the method of hand in the door handle to unlock, I never use the key fob (except on a hot day to open everything) Well tonight after dinner, I actually unlocked the car with the remote and much to my surpise the door handles lit up...how could I have missed it...but what's embarassing to me is all of you probably already knew about this nifty feature.

 

Haha. Yeah, it's Acura's version of "puddle lamps".

Cool, huh?

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yeah, but wouldnt it be nicer if the lamps would come on just with touching the handle?
for example, if I open the drivers door, and all the doors unlock, as my wife is waiting to open the door it would be nice if the lamps would come on so that the passenger can use the 'puddle lamps' feature.
I just dont get some of the quirks of the car.... why have the door lights ONLY come on with the fob, and not just come on with both, fob or proximity touch?

 

Well, I can't speak for the people who designed it that way, but I guess they figure if you have already found the door handle you don't need more light. And, if you want light, all you do is use the fob.

But I see your point about the passenger having some light. Seems like my last Lexus did what you're describing, IIRC. Maybe Acura will change that on the next redesign.

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yeah, I see what you are saying, but its in my mind a finesse, a subtle refinement that speaks to: there are only benefits that could be had, and no drawbacks.
Now it seems to me to create the programming that turns on the lights with the FOB, or tells the lights to remain off if the handle is touched, that someone somewhere didnt think this all the way through with refinement.
its the little things that make cars (and other things in life) top of their class, and not wanna-be's just slightly out of reach at one level lower.

 

I can top that. There's no reason, technologically, that the puddle lights couldn't come on when you approach the car (and do nothing).

After all, the keyless access system is recognizing you, and it could turn the lights on. It could also have a photocell that would turn on the puddles only if it was dark. And it could have a greater range than the keyless access, for security purposes.

So, it's dark outside and as you walk up to your car (key in pocket), the puddle lamps on both sides come on and provide a soft glow of light to welcome you and help you avoid puddles ... or doggie doo, whichever applies.

How about it, Acura?

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I believe the Lexus does exactly what you have described.
these things are really very little added cost to the car for production.... but they dont add them to the car.
Lets face it, if it added $100-$500 to the cost of the car, and they raised the sticker by that much, would it keep us from buying it at the price point... no, it would actually make the car appear more value added in comparison to a car that is thousands more.
For example, I have a 06RL with tech. thats their highest line in 06.
then I go a month later and buy a dealer demo 05 MDX, and the MDX has moisture sensing wipers.
I immediately think... now why couldnt they have that on an RL?
In some ways, Acura is very GM-like.

 

I think I can top that one. When I bought mine, I didn't know there was a sensor on the INSIDE of the door handle...just the dimple on the outside. So everytime I tried to open the door, I'd hit the outside dimple with my thumb. Sometimes the doors would unlock, but most of the times it would just re-lock. I'd try it a number of times until eventually it would open. I scheduled an appointment with the dealer and ended up getting an education on how to open my doors!

 

Not sure they are puddle lights as much as just lights for the door handles.

 

Yeah, it may be a matter of definition, but the lights are a lot brighter than they need to be just to show the location of the door handles. OTOH, the light they throw on the ground is helpful only in the darkest of places.

I just tried it in the darkness of my garage, and I could clearly see my shoes, so I guess it might help you avoid a puddle under the right circumstances, but they're not the best of puddle lamps.

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