I'm an Audi A6 4.2 owner looking at the RL as something different after two Audis in a row.

A feature of my A6 that I really appreciate is the backup sensor system. Parallel parking is something you have to deal with frequently around here and the sensors definitely make life easier.

Acura gives you a choice of sensors or backup camera system. Since it's dealer installed, I'm thinking that mechanics with drills installing sensors doesn't sound like a good thing. Everybody happy with their sensors or is the camera the big winner with the RL?

Thanks.

 

I opted for the camera over the sensors for the very reason that I didn't want to have my bumper drilled into after the fact. I really like the camera and am glad I chose it.

 

Camera- Better and more functionality. I can see objects (small kids etc) rather than decipher beeps and guess.

 

On the RL the camera is a winner.

On my previous VW Touareg the sensors were better - but if you didn't turn them (front/rear) off they would beep even in traffic...

 

I prefer the sensors, as I can use my own eyes to make sure the field of view (outside the camera's range) is clear and the sensors alert me to objects directly behind.

 

Not when kids are darting back and fro. Nor will it alert you to crap on the pavement when you are backing up.
Nothing wrong with sensors-I have used both, the camera is more functional because sight is more informative than beeps.

 

image on camera is crappy

 

I have the sensors on my 05 RL and am happy with them. I have them on another car and like how they work. I had a MDX with the backup camera while they were installing my sensors and did not care for the camera. It was also hard to tell how close you were to something with the camera, but I assume you would get used to that over time. It does look kind of cool though to have the camera there. If I had an 06 I would consider going with both, but only because the backup camera is cool looking.

Kris

 

Anyone know offhand how much the back up camera for a 2006 is installed?

 

Do a search. "Some problems are user error related..."

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...mera+installed

 

Thanks for the link to the thread (all 9 pages). What's with the rest of your comment?

 

I got mine for $500 including installiation.

 

I did my test driving yesterday and drove a car with the camera installed. One thing the salesman noted was that the backup camera occupies the spot where the "latch" to open the trunk is located, so you can't open the trunk without using the key or trunk release. Minor inconvenience but it can be a problem at times.

I'm still not a fan of the camera. You can see what is behind you, but it is not as helpful as sensors for locating the corners of your car when parallel parking...at least in my humble opinion.

 

I thought that the trunk opening "button" was moved but not eliminated when the rearview camera was installed. I believe it gets moved to the right about 10 - 12 inches??

 

I'd rather have senors. I love sensors and it bugs me the RL doesn't have them as standard on the back/front bumper.

Does the backup camera give you a distance reading?

 

I dont need distance reading with the camera. I can SEE the distance.
One other benefit to having a camera, 2 days ago I was at a friends home who happens to have a long driveway with a couple of lazy curves to it. It was a $hitty night raining again here in northern Il and I couldnt make the complete turn in the circle driveway because of construction at the site.
No lighting on the premesis-so it was dark, wet and drizziling.
Put the car in reverse, and used the camera as my viewfinder to back out the unlit driveway.
I didnt have to look behind me, no neck straining, no look back and then look forward.
Just follow the path as lit up by my reverse lights and my led brake lights.
And if you want more lighted view on the display using the camera, just hit the intensity button (thats the one that lets you make the GPS screen brighter or darker or off) to daytime and you will get a brighter display on the screen-brighter than your eyes can see by just looking in reverse.

The backup camera has more uses other than just for parking.

 

I wish someone would invent a sensor for people who are parking near your vehicle. It'd be nice to give them an audible warning when they're getting too close to your car

 

its moved 5 inches to the right. small button.

 

Thanks for clarifying the button is still there, but just moved. As usual, I was a victim of "uninformed sales guy" syndrome. It seemed weird to lose the ability to open the trunk with your hand.

 

Like CWdonohue above, I have owned two Audi A6's, both with Parktronic. When I bought my '06 RL, I opted for the camera instead. It is great for seeing things directly behind the car, but as it uses a "fisheye" type lens, it is very difficult to see where the corners/sides of the bumper are. Also, my trunk release button was not relocated, and so I have to use the remote.

 

soteri, is it the same type of release button as before. There are no additional "knockouts" on either side of the license plates lights.

 

yeah follow a screen...that's a great way to drive. Would have been funny if someone to the rear side darted out and it was too late for you to brake since you were focused on a 7" screen but had you been doing the proper thing of actually WATCHING where you were going you'd have seen the person. I guess I backup differently than most humans since I am scanning side to side instead of just what is directly behind me. In my 11 yers of driving and having to backup up like once a day I have yet to have anything right behind my car that I hit or barely missed. I guess I chalk that up to the fact I know how to reverse my car.

And I doubt you can SEE the distance on a screen meaning you could tell exactly how far you are from something based on it.

I also would like to know how a backup camera that is designed basically to show/distort stuff in the middle of behind the car helps for the sides of the bumpers where sensors actually do help.

The ideal would be sensors and the backup cam but if I have to choose one I take the sensors. They serve me more use than the camera.

 

Can a mod please rename this to REAR instead of READ please?

 

Aha, so if I was looking backwards, I would be able to see someone darting from either side on a darkened private driveway.... with no lighting other than what I was putting in reverse and my brake lights.... Cmon get a clue.
Not every situation calls for using the camera and display, but this time it did.
Try backing up a darkened driveway with your sensors alone.

You can doubt all you want-but since I have it- I can tell U I can.
Or maybe I am just a more seasoned driver than you.
Maybe after years of driving when they didnt have sensors and cameras, I learned how to park without playing bumper cars, and the camera is an additional tool.
And oh, while I was backing out at 5 mph or less (cause I had my foot on the brake to help illuminate the driveway) maybe the idiot who would dart out on a drizzling dark private driveway was a trespasser and not authorized to be on the property-cause it was a friend who is not married or with kids- and it was PRIVATE PROPERTY.
So, take your half assed flame and put it elsewhere.

 

no its not, its a round button, and they have to drill into the plastic 5" to the right to install it.
Took a few days to get used to it, but all things considered, I preferred it to having my bumper drilled and hoping that some ding-dong who didnt know how to park without playing bumper cars damaged the sensors in the bumper.
Dont forget-if you get snow or ice on the sensors, they wont work right.

 

I have only limited experience with backup sensors. My dad's Citroen has them and I drove his car a few weeks ago. One very intuitive thing was that the beeps actually came from behind as in where the obstacle was. I thought this was smart. When the damn thing begins to beep you would instinctively look towards the noise and hopefully see the obstacle.

Personally I wish there was a camera that showed how much clearance there is on the right side of the car. I like to park close to the curb but hate scratching up the wheels

I think a camera is a bad idea. You're supposed to look behind you. I know, I got hit while backing up slowly in a parking lot. The other guy was backing up too, from the side. I doubt a camera would have shown him in time. Sensors probably wouldn't have either. Only me looking over my left shoulder instead of my right would have prevented it.

Problem with some of these toys is they can give you a false sense of security. That's why I also don't care about lane change warnings and some of these other new systems.