So here's my RL story.

Firstly, I always likes the Honda brand. I had a ZX50 bike when i was 11 which made Honda my first gas vehicle to ever own. then i got a t shirt to go with the bike, had all brands on it, with Honda in the middle big, so i was sold.

I after that never owned a Japanese car but mainly German.

after buying this 09 RL a bit over a week ago, here are my rants and raves, which may come in many posts as i discover them, and others are invited to give theirs.

Rant:

Why on earth would a major brand make an upscale brand like acura, make a flagship car, then make the turning signal stick the same as the light switch, and make that, the same as the 1985 honda prelude?

Each time you wanna give a turn signal: tic tic tic, then u turn in the opposite direction, it breaks into neutral. I mean come on.

Rave:

In making a decision to buy a quality car, AWD, with many options, not too expensive and reliable coz that costs more than anything, the vtech and honda trannies, as well as the widely available low cost parts make this RL an excellent buy.

 

Sounds to me if thats all at present for the Rants the Raves win by a long shot.

 

What is your blinker complaint? Sounds to me like every Japanese car I've ever driven, 7 or 8 of them. What do the silly Germans do?

 

Every Japanese car I've ever driven (Lexus, Toyota, Honda, Acura) uses a combo turn signal and headlight switch. Not sure what the issue is.

 

I like the car very much. when i look forward to going out coz i wanna drive, i know i like the car.

I guess it's little things that make you go 'why'

The stick can be more up to par with the intended class. It's the same one. same feel, same characteristics. the same.

One thing is i like when i give the stick a nudge and it does three blinks then stops.
As for the rest, those who drive German cars can tell those little differences.

This car mrsp was most expensive in its class...

 

I know that Honda/Acura now has the 3-blink auto signal. Remember that you're driving an 11 year old design (2nd gen started in 2005). I've also extensively driven an ML-class and X3 and I didn't find the blinker to be any better. Different yes, but not better. In fact, I was cursing why they didn't put the headlight switch at the end of the stalk like Japanese cars do! My only real complaint with the RL's touchpoints is the thin steering wheel. I wish it were more beefy. The new '16 Civic's steering wheels feels great. Very thick in the right places!

 

Some German cars and some American cars I've driven have the light switch right above the fuse box.

What you're describing is a standard Japanese car thing. I honestly hate the three blink thing in newer cars, but that's just me.

 

I don't understand what your gripe is about the switchgear. I find Honda switchgear to be some of the best in the automotive world. Very solid feeling and consistent from vehicle to vehicle. At least it's logical unlike some of the others that make you think, "Why did they do that?" Try driving a GM product if you want to experience crappy, cheap-feeling turn signal stalks.

 

Wait, what?!? I thought you knew Germans.

Luxury Sport Sedan Comparison - Acura RL vs Audi A6 vs BMW 535i vs Cadillac CTS vs Infiniti M35 vs Jaguar XF vs Lexus GS 350 vs Mercedes-Benz E350 - Motor Trend

 

I think it was actually the cheapest in it's class which was part of it's appeal.

 

Depends on what you compare it to. Motor Trend stuck to the mid-size luxury sedan class, and it was 4th behind the Germans. However, if you use the flagships or each maker, it easy falls to the bottom.

 

Is it possible in Canada we got different pricing?

the article was talking of how Acura japan imposed a price of 66 Canadians on Acura Canada, which put the price at worst on par with an A4 and a 5 series.

 

At least here in the US, the RL was the value leader, albeit with conservative styling (some say boring) but that styling does up against time. The car still looks handsome 10+ years later. The level of equipment it came with was also a value leader with things like proximity key and radar-based auto-brake, which at the time was only available on the highest end German cars.

 

I got this car car under 2 weeks still. I'm like evaluating everything about it.

One thing's for sure, mileage is no good. My A4 was more economical.

 

How on earth do we edit posts?

my A4 was a 6 cyl. 3.0 .

 

I stopped looking at my mileage because it's so depressing.

 

Lol, RL with questionable plastics while they rave about A6's interior. I've sat in dozen A6s and interior quality is so low I couldn't believe it. German bias as usual

 

All audi interiors have been the same since 2001. LOL

 

Your A4 weighed 400 lbs less. RL city mileage sucks. Highway is actually pretty impressive.


Answered that in your other thread.

 

I had to replace the turn/light/stalk in my a4, 3 times, every time it failed my headlamps would not work. What a splendid design. (not)

 

My mileage is around 18-20 mpg and it's 75% city driving. Agreed it's not great, but not unexpected as it's a 4000 lb car with always-on AWD system and 290hp.

 

I had my 1.8t at around 280 and i could beat the snot out of it daily and get no worse than 26mpg.

 

How much did that car weigh? Did it have AWD?

 

oh yeah def quattro, weighing in at around 3500lbs with me in it. lol

 

It also had half the displacement and a turbo. We have ventured out of apples and oranges at this point.

 

The RL curb weight is a tick over 4000lbs with a motor twice as big. Probably explains the number differences.

I've seen tank numbers as low as 14 with the RL when it's all city, traffic jams and spirited driving. Hence why I get depressed by some tank numbers

 

I love the RL, it trumps the audi, but you def feel the weight in the corners.

And yes it may be apples to oranges, still sedan vs sedan. i'd figure an 05 rl would def trump a 97 a4 in most categories.

 

what i mentioned so far, and the general feel of it. it doesn't tick. at least my audi, and recently the benz replacement we had, no ticking.

 

I agree. the steering wheel feel thin. also, the turning is different. Like you feel the car floats around, like turning a boat. While Germans you turn and it more responsive. More sporty i suppose, and the RL isn't sporty. at least the 2nd gen perhaps.

 

Mine has a tick after warm up its a drive belt tensioner on mine, thankfully drive belt and not timing belt....

 

Your biggest rant is the multi-function switch? Really?
Personally I like the headlight control within the same switch. The interior already has enough buttons as it is.

Why not rant about the poor arm rest quality or the bubbling glove box, or the keyfob buttons, or the lack of an aux, or the useless OnStar? You could complain about many other things but instead complain about the multi-function switch? Really... Many other manufacturers use them. GM used them until recently around 2014 when they started using a physical dial on the dash to control the lights.

 

no i was talking about the left/right turn stick ticking while you steer etc.

 

Noo I said i'll be writing them as i discover them, that wasn't all of it. I can do bigger rants than that!

Arm rest is kinda awkward.
By box is bubbled I'm afraid
I got an aux tho.
Don't have onstar.

My complaint about the stick is a general one nonetheless., if i list the little things that project to you "i am a buffed up honda accrod" they'd be many. I merely used to stick to say: When you make a luxury brand, then make it's "flagship", for the love of God these little honda prelude options... upgrade them. Do it right. That's all.

 

Oh that's right the later year 2nd gen got aux, my 05 doesn't, and has the completely useless OnStar. Look up at the domelights where the sunroof buttons are. You'll see to the left is where OnStar use to be and Acura just capped off that portion.

The arm rest will rip and the foam will go flat, don't go to the dealer it costs $640, you can buy the leather covers for $35 and get the foam for like $5-10 and do it yourself in an hour. I just haven't done mine yet.
Also did the alternator too recently. Also the sensors on the door handles will stop working if you like locking the car without the keyfob.

 

Why are you putting on your right blinker and turning left? Or conversely, your left blinker and turning right? The Japanese are right; your logic is flawed. The silly Germans may have mastered the art of mechanical engineering for impractical or trivial situations, but I guarantee you the Japanese have mastered the art of electronics far beyond the Germans. Your complaint is almost entirely moot.

 

hehe.. really, i said that?

 

Coming from a guy who personally owned a 2010 VW GTI in the last year I can speak for myself when I say they will drive you crazy when it comes to the electronics. You have to use special LED bulbs on the exterior if you convert from the regular bulbs because if you don't then the dash will light up like a Christmas tree. That's just the tip of the iceberg. I personally won't own another German car. GTI was a fun cat but couldn't stand the electrical headache.

 

Its a honda, sooner or later it's going to have an engine tick. fact. lol

 

 

I am still unsure what your complaint is. I thought it was the turn signal returning to neutral upon the wheel turning the opposite direction. Now I'm guessing that's not it. Are you talking about the steering column ticking as you turn the wheel in the direction of your blinker while it is on?