EDITED 6/26/07 to reflect official information from acura.com

The official trim levels and prices for 2008 are:

A) Base RL without navi or wood trim (has fake wood trim), $46280 (2007: $45780)
B) Technology package: Navi, real wood trim, rearview camera, mp3 port, Active Front Lighting, $49900 (2006 and 2007: $49400)
C) Technology package with CMBS and PAX, $53700 (2006 and 2007: $53100)

No announced changes from 2008 model over 2007.

2007 changes were: Addition of base model, previous base model becomes "Tech" model, new "Tech with CMBS/PAX" model; addition of rearview camera and mp3 port in the center console for Tech and Tech/CMBS/PAX models

2006 changes were: Addition of Tech model (CMBS/PAX), rearview camera and iPod port as options only

2005: Single model (no CMBS/PAX available)

 

Interesting, says there tech package now includes a rear camera.

 

No wood trim? Yikes, can't wait to see what that's going to look like...

 

I want the mp3 port

Any idea of where it's located?

 

I think it does have wood trim, it's just fake wood.

 

but that change sure makes a big impact! love having my mp3 player hooked up to my car

 

Does the 07:

Turn the MID on all the time to the last viewed menu instead of having to do it everytime you start your car?
Does it allow you to view 4 wheel torque when in cruise?
Have they eliminated the stupid chime everytime you open the door in a parking garage with the lights in Auto?
Can you play MP3 DVD's?
Can you program the mirror not to Dip in reverse but leave the selector in L or R?
Does it have a clock on the LCD display?
Does the rear sunshade go back up when you take the car out of reverse?
Does the car have cooled front seats?
Is there more range on the tilt and telescope of the steering wheel?
Does the front seat move back before an exit? (programmed of course)

I'm sure that a little bit of software would go a long way to adding some finesse to the car.

 

No comments from 07 users yet? Are there any out there?

 

Well, there's AsianTL, and he got a tech package, and a couple others on our board. No one has signed on here with a base RL yet. Are they even selling?

 

If they are selling, it is probably to the retirees who didn't want the Nav system because they were afraid of it. Think about how likely they are to use an online message board!

 

Ther has to be some 07 users by now. Any answers?

 

The base RL is selling. Acura made it to target older people who really wren't interested in the nav due to their lack of knowledge on how to use it, enev though acura has the most intuitive nav there is. As for db22, none of those features are in the '07 RL. And the '07 also does not have OnStar, acura did away with that in 2007, they finally realized that it really wasn't worth it. The only differences are: the OnStar, the Backup camera, the mp3 port, and there is a chime for the passenger who doesn't wear their seatbelt.

 

There are two base 2007 RL owners who've posted on the board so far. One is trying to figure out whether installing the navi disc will make for a working navi system.

 

Yeah I was wondering what ever happened with that experiment. I can't imagine Acura would make it that easy.

 

I highly doubt it. The base RL doesn't physically have the same buttons as the Tech RL, it doesn't even have the MAP/GUIDE button, how would you input directions w/o that? Acura is not that dumb, they would not make it that easy.

 

Any info on the 2008 MDX changes

 

I am a retiree (retired at 56) and love my navi and all the new high tech stuff that comes out. Can't wait for HD Radio, DVD Video, and rain sensing wipers in the new RL.

 

db22...to answer your questions:

Does the 07:

Turn the MID on all the time to the last viewed menu instead of having to do it everytime you start your car? - No

Does it allow you to view 4 wheel torque when in cruise? - Not sure although I think it does

Have they eliminated the stupid chime everytime you open the door in a parking garage with the lights in Auto? - Nope, sorry.

Can you play MP3 DVD's? - Couldn't say

Can you program the mirror not to Dip in reverse but leave the selector in L or R? - No

Does it have a clock on the LCD display? - Yes

Does the rear sunshade go back up when you take the car out of reverse? - Yes

Does the car have cooled front seats? - No...although I wish it did

Is there more range on the tilt and telescope of the steering wheel? - Haven't seen a pre-'07 so can't say

Does the front seat move back before an exit? (programmed of course) - If it does that, I haven't found the feature

 

There is a big move that i think nobody noticed yet, i think we were all waiting for it, what could it be ?? Colled seats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they finally did it ( at least toyota camry users will stop makeing jokes about us )


-----------------------------------------------------
2005 RL user

 

Eh? There are no cooled seats on the U.S. RL, only on the Canadian model.

 

well, i don't know about that, after i heard about it i called few friends that work for a dealership and they told me that the tech package will have it

 

does anyone know the invoice price on 08 RL w/ Tech? (i believe MSRP and invoice are two different prices)?

 

Cars.com shows the invoice price on 08 RL w/Tech to be: $44,805

 

thanks woof

 

"Have they eliminated the stupid chime everytime you open the door in a parking garage with the lights in Auto?"
I thought someone said this was fixed in 06 model.

 

Our '07 does not chime with the lights on 'AUTO'.

 

Nor does my 2006, which is pretty much permanently on "auto" lights.

 

Does anyone have any history of what they actually paid for an '08 RL with Tech? Is it reasonable to expect a price around invoice? Are there any incentives out there yet? Finally, what does the a-spec cost and what are the driving benefits besides the aesthetics of the spoilers?

 

I paid $50,500 for my '08 RL, but it has the CMBS/PAX package....

 

The full A-Spec package includes 18" wheels, suspension, and body kit. A quick perusal of the Acura dealers on eBay shows a combined price of about $3,000 for the suspension, wheels, and tires (or about $2,200 for the suspension and wheels alone) plus installation costs unless you could do it yourself. The body kit looks like it costs around $1,500 if bought at an Acura dealer, plus installation.

The suspension and 18" wheels definitely improve the handling of the car vs. the stock setup and makes the ride a little rougher. The suspension lowers the car about 1".

 

The underbody spoilers add no benefit other than to reduce the Cd, which you'll never notice tooling around in heavy traffic. Not worth the money IMHO.

The suspension and wheels totally transform the driving experience in this car. The ride is not rough at all, though it is firmer. There is reduced body roll, less squat/dive, and far improved road feel. It can be a canyon carver with good tires. Worth the money.

 

It is difficult to believe that we both have '07 RLs w/the Tech package and have different features. For example: mine does allow viewing the torque when in cruise; mine does not chime when opening the door after parking with the lights in auto mode (unless, of course, I have neglected to turn the ignition switch off completely); my rear sunshade does not return to the up position automatically when I take the car out of reverse - I have to raise it electronically. For a car that is all about technology, craftsmanship and luxury, the tilt and telescope range of movement is pathetically minuscule and there is no front seat movement. Try the Nissan Maxima and see the difference.... the seat goes all the way back, and the (heated) steering wheel retracts fullly and rises completely out of the way. That Acura should have to learn from Maxima, which makes no pretension of being a luxury automobile (and sells for nearly 20k less), leaves much to be desired.

 

According to the factory specs, the A-Spec suspension on an RL drops the car a whopping 10 millimeters.

 

I'll have to see if I still have the Acura installation instructions from when I had it done on my 05. I was pretty sure that the specs showed a 1" drop. The eBay ads from the Acura dealers all refer to a 1" drop as well. I'll try to find the specs tonight when I get home.

 

I have 2 quotes for the 2008 Tech Package of $45,500. 1 dealer is willing to throw in the first service at 7500 miles. As far as I know there are no incentives on the car right now.

 

I found the install instructions for the A-Spec suspension but it does not have any specs in it related to the drop. I'm sticking with my 1" claim.

 

Here is what Honda said at introduction. This is where the oft quoted 3/4" drop comes from.

http://world.honda.com/news/2004/4041102_a.html

Acura Announces RL A-SPEC Package At SEMA

LAS VEGAS, U.S.A., November 2, 2004 – Acura today unveiled an A-SPEC performance package for its RL luxury performance sedan at the 2004 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas. It will go on sale in the spring of 2005 at Acura dealers in the U.S.A.

The all-new Acura RL, which went on sale last month, features a bold new design, a powerful 300-horsepower engine, the SH-AWD all-wheel drive system and an assortment of leading-edge technology including a real time traffic information system. The RL A-SPEC package enhances the already crisp handling and aggressive styling with a track-tuned suspension package that lowers the car by approximately 3/4 inch, 18-inch alloy wheels equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport tires, an underbody kit, and a deck lid spoiler. The RL A-SPEC kit will be covered under a factory warranty.

 

My drop was just under an inch.

 

I recently test-drove an MDX out of curiosity while my TL was getting some work done on it at the local dealership. I'd already driven an RL and I've been mulling the idea of buying one but although I love the driving experience I can't help feeling that the luxury equipment on the RL has slipped behind the competition. And now the competition is the MDX. Sure, it's a much-despised fake SUV crossover with all the curb appeal of a pimple on the face of some young actress, but inside... heated rear seats that recline, three-zone climate control... and the 3.7 engine that provides just a bit more low-end torque and high-end power.

Acura, were it not asleep at the marketing wheel, could easily incorporate these features into the 2008 RL. Nothing about them requires sheet-metal rework; they are all small additions - yet they would add some credibility to the "luxury" tag the RL strives currently to justify.

As so many people have noted, there's nothing wrong with the RL. It's a great all-around car, but it's just out-classed by others. Acura is never going to turn it into a best-seller, but if they want to appeal to people like me they need to provide more than the-year-before-last's notion of luxury features. I don't want to have to explain to my children why the car's rear seats aren't warm in winter or why they can't have warm air just because I want cold on my face. After all, the Land Rover LR3 we use as a short-trip vehicle has these things and for heaven's sake so does our new 2008 Hummer H2 that we use for true wilderness get-aways. So if Ford (Land Rover's erstwhile owner) and GM can work out that simple things like 3-zone climate and heated rear seats are easy and useful, why on earth can't Acura wake up and install them on its so-called flagship model?

Seems like what Acura really needs is to hire someone to do serious consumer research and then translate the findings into actual model features.