Wanting to get rid of our big gas guzzler explorer for something that gets a little more MPG...............

So I started looking at the RL's since they off SH-AWD. What should I look for? What good or bad things should I check out before buying? I'm looking at the 05's.......is there any differences between the 05s and the new 07s?

Thanks.............

 

Depending on the type of driving you do, don't look for the RL to get you much more mpg (especially if you're commuting on surface streets or stop'n'slow).

Otherwise, the good things to look for are that other cars you'll drive won't seem quite as nice!

Rob144

 

As a general rule of car buying try to avoid the first year the car was out. If you can get an 06 or newer. Not saying an 05 will be a peice of junk but it can have a lot of little "quarks."

 

certainly, but the prices on the 05 are really low to be ignore.

 

As a person that test drives cars weekly, I can tell you for the $ there just is no better car out there.(imo) I notice your concern about gas mileage. The RL is not a gas mileage champ, but it will set you a very high baseline as to what a luxury car is suppose to be(this is both good and bad). The car is very smooth and handles very well for the size of the car. If I were you, I would opt for the 06 as there are many TCB fir the 05. The problems I haver read abut for the 05 are , air conditioner going out(bad compressor mostly,(a honda hallmark) squeaking brakes, exhaust tips that allow the bumper to become dirty, and a few other things I cannot remember at this point. To my knowledge most if not all of these things were addressed with the 06 on up. Lastly, I will say I do not like the styling of the 09 RL, and for this reason I have been looking to another brand, that can offer me the same value and luxuries of the RL. The only cars that have come close has been the Caddy CTS and the Jag.XF. Even with these seemingly fine cars, they do not have the value of an RL. Be careful what you ask for

 

If you are concerned about gas mileage, the RL is not the car for you. It's likely better than your Explorer, but in mixed city/freeway driving, I am getting 19 mpg. On long freeway trips, I do far better, 25-26 mpg.

If that's acceptable to you, go for the RL, it's a great car.

 

heh my rl gets worse mileage than my wife's CRV. this is not a car for those concerned about mpg.

 

Agreed, if you want more mpg, you need to go for a lighter 4 cylinder car, The RL also takes premium, so about $75 a fill up is the norm for now, but you know that will be continue to go up.

Regardless, it is a marvelous luxury car. If you can, find an A-Spec suspension car.

 

Another consideration is what you plan on doing with your Explorer. You will get severely low-balled on a trade-in price, if the dealer will even take your vehicle.

Definitely not a good time to be unloading trucks or SUV's.

 

Thanks for the inputs..........I just stumbled upon looking at them the other day when I saw one on the road and thought they look pretty damn good.

So are the 06's better on TCB's???

Yea with the way its going is it better to take the hit now or take even a great hit down the road.........I'm going to lose either way. Might just hold onto it but was looking at what options are out there. I really like the styling of the RL and the roominess...

I guess we will probably just hold onto it and wait another year to year and half to get a MDX since that's what the wife really wants.

Thanks again.........

 

I just got my 05 RL with 15k miles for $31k and for $2k more got a extended bumper to bumper warr till 2013 or 84kmiles from a Honda Dealer.

 

Damn that's a hell of a deal..............

I think I might try to stay away from the 05's w/ the issues people said they had.

 

The 2005s are perfectly fine, as long as all the TSBs are taken care of. The primary limitation is that you can't put an Acura rearview camera on the car because of the way it's wired. There is the first model year thing as well.

Don't limit yourself if a good deal happens to present itself.