Purchased a 2009 RL CMBS in late July. The final decision was between the 535i and the RL. I like the 535i's handling and performance but the price gets inflated very quickly after all the options are added. Also there are just too many 5-series around, especially in the Bay Area. I'm glad I went with the RL. It's certainly not the best looking car out there but I kind of like the RL's generic/understated/composed exterior.

So far the car has performed well. The cabin is quiet at cruising speeds. There is plenty of torque to move in and out of traffic. SH-AWD just works when needed. All the electronics are working as advertised (BT connectivity, voice commands for just about everything, iPod integration.) I have not tried the BT Audio because I don't have a BT Audio device. I do like the feel of the wood steering wheel and shifter - it just gives the car that sense of sophistication. Also the weather has been warm for the past couple of weeks so the cool seat feature came in handy. Overall the car just feels solid on the road.

I just wanted to share my experience so far. Glad to be part of this wonderful forum.



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2009 RL CMBS, Silver Jade/Taupe
1990 Legend LS Coupe, Pearl White/Beige

 

Welcome to the 'Zine -- its a great forum.

Inquiring minds will want to know what you paid. And when you'll be posting pictures of your new ride!

I totally agree on the wood wheel, by the way. Its my favorite upgrade to my RL so far.

 

Welcome of the world of the few who know.

 

Welcome!! Nice to see some 09 real world reviewers here on the forum. You made such a better choice with the RL over the BMW 5. I also test drove the 535xi, did not compare, IMO. The 550 of course is little hard on the wallet. Congratulations!!

 

Your choice of the RL over the new 5 series is a good one in regard to safety. The 5 series finished last in side impact tests when compared to a group of cars that included the RL. Even a model by Kia performed better than the 5 series. The RL and the Volvo S80 were best.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...ct_luxury.html

Hopefully none of us will ever be involved in a major side impact but it is nice to know that your car is designed as well as a car can be to handle it.

 

Wow, you were a real 'lurker'

 

Thanks for the kind words.

The RL received government safety rating of 5 stars for all categories (frontal crash driver/passenger, side crash front/rear seats and rollover.) This was definitely a factor in considering the purchase. Hopefully I will never find out how well the safety systems work on this car.

There are a few minor things that I think can be improved on the RL:

1) The display meter for the SH-AWD is great for indicating the active over-driving status for each wheel, but the display gets blocked by the steering wheel when you are going through a turn, and that is really when you like to see the SH-AWD status. (I don't have the need to see the SH-AWD meter when I'm cruising straight down the road.) It would be great if there is a heads-up display to indicate speed, RPM, SH-AWD status and gear position.

2) As for the SH-AWD, it works only when the accelerator is pressed. It does not actively drive the outer-rear wheel if you are coasting through a turn. I have not driven my car hard enough to notice the stability control system kicking in, but does the stability control system break the inner rear wheel if it senses under-steering? (Kind of like the inverse of the SH-AWD system)

3) I wish the turn signal has the 3-flash feature like all the German and other luxury brands.

4) A true push start/stop engine button (the TL will incorporate this.)

5) A way to have the rear sun-shade NOT automatically stow when I put the transmission into reverse. I suppose this was a safety feature.

6) The grocery bag hooks in the trunk can be better designed. The placement is too low and they are too small to keep anything hooked. (I'm being picky here but they should be a convenience feature that is actually useful.)

7) In order to close the hood I have to literally slam it down shut while it is opened 12 inches (and these are the instructions from the owner's manual, yikes!!) Why is this?? I mean I really have to slam it shut in order to close the hood. I can't just gently let it drop from 12 inches up. I've tried this and the hood will not close if I gently let it go. Maybe I'm doing something wrong or the latching mechanism needs to be looked at??

I have no major complaints or issues about the car, just these observations from daily use. I did my research and I like the RL and that's why I bought it. Also I have had very good luck with my other car, the first generation Legend, which gave me over 18 years of trouble free use (it has never left me stranded.) I just appreciate all the engineering that goes into these cars.

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2009 RL CMBS, Silver Jade/Taupe
1990 Legend LS Coupe, Pearl White/Beige

 

Great choice. I have seen the 2009 in the flesh, and it is not as bad as in the pictures for some reason...likely I have gotten used to it. It is still a polarizing design. One son says they ruined the car, the other says it looks hot and aggressive, but the bottom line is both noticed the car, which may be what Acura is after, kind of like the Cadillac family of designs. You know its a Caddy, whether you like it or not is a different story.

The car sounds better in every way, otherwise.

 

I believe the SH-AWD will overdrive the outside rear wheel when coasting in a turn if enough yaw is created in the turn. As soon as you apply brakes it disengages. When you come off the gas and coasting you should see one bar to each rear wheel which will go to only one bar coasting in the turn. Regarding the inverse with braking, I thought that I read somewhere that it would brake the inside rear wheel slightly more than the outside wheel, the inverse of the SH-AWD system, but don't quote me on that because I have forgotten the source. I also wish the RL had a heads up display.

Some of your nuances have been discussed by others as well, but as you've mentioned, they are more preferences and rarely detract from the enjoyment of the car. There's no question the RL is an amazing vehicle.

 

Thanks for posting your experience. I think you're the first or second to post who actually owns a 2009 RL. I'm glad you're enjoying it. As DoctorTuna notes above, the nuances will not keep you from a positive ownership experience. I only wish I could retrofit some of the new features to my 2006! (The beak excepted, of course, though I am becoming inured to its existence.)

 

I can attest that the stability control will keep you straight and prevent a spin. An over zealous left turn from a stop....definitely felt the SH-AWD kick in and then the stability to keep me out of a spin. Beat the kids in the 09 TSX though to the on ramp

 

I beat a Viper in a big left turn, from a standing stop, however as soon as it was straight, he was gone of course.
I do believe he was shocked though.

 

Here's what's being offered in central NJ.

2009 Acura RL

$549 per mo 36 mos
$2,555.00 down payment
10,000 miles per year
$3,699.00 total due at signing

MSRP $47,040.00

 

Thanks for the info. I don't understand why manufacturers and dealerships don't disclose the residual and money factor for their factory leases on these advertisements. Well, actually I do understand, the less the consumer knows, the better for the dealer. I'll rephrase, I WISH they would disclose this information up front, it would be much easier to compare apples to apples. You wouldn't finance a car without knowing the interest rate...

 

There is an interesting thread that stopped on 9/4, about the experiences Jeff at temple of vtec had with his press loaner 09 RL. I expect he is probably working on the review article.

http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-messa...sage_id=779206

 

My bad, this is a very old thread. Never mind.

 

Actually that thread has some interesting information relative to a discussion going in another thread on this forum about SH-AWD effectiveness and problems with oversteer. If I am reading Jeff's comments correctly from the VTEC thread you cite it would appear that Acura has made some modifications to minimize the problem on the 09 :

From the VTEC thread page 1:
SH-AWD is very good from a grip standpoint - there is essentially zero wheelspin in almost any condition you can imagine.

And here's a little update to my earlier comments. After driving it around a bit more on some more familiar local roads, I think I may have been a little quick to dismiss the SH-AWD updates - I had a few chances to charge through some well-known right handers in 1st gear and on one of them it had just started raining and I switched the VSA off; whee, oversteer!!! Well, there was just a little bit of that, but it was fun being able to hang the tail out. Similar attempts in the earlier RL resulted in massive front tire scrubbing.

 

Tam - I'm in Belmont. Hope to see your new RL on the road.
Did you get it from Mike Harvey or the Dealer in Redwood City

 

Hi getakey,

I got the car at Stevens Creek Acura. I checked all around and they were the only one that had the color combination I was looking for. My initial test drive of the car was at Sunnyvale Acura, however.

This might be off topic but these are my personal impressions of the the dealerships around my area:

Mike Harvey Acura (Burlingame): Pushy. Didn't go into very much in explaining the updated features of the '09 RL. Just wanted you to buy the car now. Didn't have the color I wanted. No thanks.

Hopkins Acura (Redwood City): Friendly staff. Takes the time to explain the car's features. Their standard test drive is a 12 mile loop from the dealership up to 280 and back which lets you test out the car on various types of roads. Just didn't have the color combo I was looking for.

Sunnyvale Acura: Salesperson was friendly enough, but didn't know the RL to any great detail. I actually went there back in mid June and inquired about the arrival date of the '09s, and I get a load of cr@p about "oh they won't be here until late this year, so how about one of these nice '08s..." I'm not looking for an '08. I'll take my business elsewhere.

Stevens Creek Acura (San Jose): They had my color choice. The salesperson was friendly and did know about the car a little more. Overall an average-plus purchase experience.

 

I went with Serramonte .. for price. I also tried Pleasanton, but they couldn't match my price.. Also bought my TL at Oakland, for price, of course. For me the bottom line is the best price and of course it has to be right color combo.. Also I used edmunds forums, acura, prices paid, to get a good gauge on price paid.. I am thinking the RL should definitely go on sale once the TL is out.. in a month or so..

 

tam - great info
I bought my 05RL at Mike Harvey. Did all the negotiation by phone.
However, Service was awful, they did not know how the car was supposed to work let alone fix anything, but maybe because it was new model year. Have been getting Service at Mark Hopkins, but not sure they are all that much better.

 

OMG! I was at the dealership(Steven Creek) this weekend trying to get my car fix and ask about the 2009 RL. The guy said someone bought it off the showroom for full price. I was like what the hell...I really want to see it. One guy said they are getting a newer one at the end of the month; the other guy said at the end of October. I'm glad you like it. I was eyeing on the 2006 RL LSM while waiting to pickup my car.

 

Ooo, you're jumping to conclusions...I like the car but not so much to pay MSRP for it. Maybe that was another RL sale at Stevens Creek. I paid 54K even out the door, which works out to be about a few hundred dollars over invoice, I think. Do you believe everything the car sales people tell you?

 

I agree, salesman were feeding me BS about the 09 as well. My dealer told me that they couldn't "keep them in stock" C'mon. It's purely a supply issue, Acura doesn't want a glutton of RL sitting on the lot and have to provide market support to move them, hence the reason I paid $3K under invoice for my 05.

There's no question you got a good deal on your RL though. MSRP $54460 You paid $54k OTD, your cost was $50232+7.5tax. Invoice from Edmunds is $48229. You saved $4k, the dealer made $2K, that's a fair compromise I think. I think the only vehicle they might come close to getting MSRP for is the 09 TL that has been pre-ordered. ( I personally never do that but to each their own)

 

Thanks for clarifying. Actually the tax rate here is 8.25, plus add in some other fees, so I suppose the dealer made $1300 or so all told.

 

Even better!!

 

we need pics!

 

What do you need pics of? If you want to see an 09 there are plenty of pics on the web.

 

we prefer real one with real people.

I see. They only have one RL in the showroom. Looks like you got a good deal on it.