Well the day finally came. 2 years after purchasing a (lemon) 2003 Mercedes E-500, MBUSA finally took the car back and returned my money. Most of it anyway. My new lease vehicle is a 2005 RL (celestial silver/ebony) with 18" rims, 245/45 summer tires, deck lid spoiler, wood trimmed steering wheel and shift knob. I paid only $43,500 for the car + the add-ons I just mentioned which was also discounted. I feel I got an excellent deal overall and I am enjoying the RL experience. Today I purchased a blue-tooth phone to be used with the Handfree Link. I bought the Motorola V3 (Razor) and it works perfectly. I've read comments about the Handsfree Link not working properly or experiencing an echo. I have not experienced any of those problems. Knock on wood! My driving impression overall is that the RL is a very substantial car. For the price it's hard to beat. Even still Honda should have gone with a V-8 in this car. 300 hp in th RL vs. 300 hp in my E-500 and there's not even a comparison. My Benz would stomp the RL everytime. It's a matter of torque (0-60 in 5.7 seconds). Also, my E-500 had tighter handling (when in Sport 1 or Sport 2). Not to nit pick the RL, because it has a myriad of other virtues even when compared to the Merc. Not the least of which is the price difference and the technology.

Personally in my opinion, Honda has proven that they can build substantial, quality automobiles that will rival the best the world has to offer. If Honda were to upgrade the RL so that it were on par with say the BMW 7 Series, Merc S Class, Jag XJ8, Audi A8, etc. I believe there would be a market for it. If they kept the price around $65,000 and did something similiar to what Volkswagen tried to do with the Phaeton, they might have a winner on their hands. Unfortunately the VW was priced out of the market in my opinion and most people wouldn't be willing to spend that much on a VW to begin with. Honda has the Acura nameplate in the same way Lexus and Infinity have theirs. To me it makes sense for Honda to go that way with Acura anyway. I truly love the quiet interior and smooth transmission of the RL. At the end of the day, I think I made a very good choice. Being a part of this forum, I somehow have the feeling you'll agree with me. Pics to follow once the windows are tinted and the rims and accessories are added.

 

Looking forward to the pics.

Keep your fingers crossed on future Acura vehicles. There are strong rumors going around of a sedan that would be above the RL and possibly have a V8.

The main things holding Honda from building a V8:

- High gas prices

- Perceived lack of demand

- Lack of vehicles that would/could use it


IMO, most customers in the $40,000+ dont care about gas prices. The demand will be there if the engine is built and a proper vehicle utilizes it. As for vehicles that could use it.. the MDX, Honda Ridgeline and the unnamed Acura sedan could use it. 3 vehicles seems enough to justify a V8 motor.

Until then.. keep your fingers crossed.

And dont forget, in the vehicle survey that comes with your car, to point out that a V8 would be a major plus!

 

Congrats ...cant wait to see pics.

 

Congrats!

What dealership did you end up going through?

And don't forget to sign-in to the owner sign-in thread.

 

Congrats T Austin!! The ride in your RL should get even better when you get the 18's on.

 

Congrats

 

Congrats! Post some pics

 

Congrats T Austin, i think you'll be really happy with your decision, i as well look forward to the pics of your new ride!

 

A Honda V8 would be tits

 

LOL!
That is what Bob Lutz told auto reporters at the NY Auto show journalist interview last August!

A reporter asked if GM was wise to invest in big V-8 powered luxury SUV's with the gas prices souring to record levels, and in doing so, abandoning its new line of mid size fuel efficient autos. His reply was similar to Kens!

Since his ill-fated comment, GM premium truck sales are falling as oil prices rise...and GM's 32% NA market share before April is now at 25%.
People care regardless of income. GM is learning that the hard way.
Steve C.

 

Congrats. I will never sell our w140 S600 because I believe that after 2000 they were not true Mercedes-Benz.

 

The W140 was the last true Mercedes-Benz. Call me a purist, but no other MBZ out there right now can compare (save for the Maybach, maybe). Ever since Mercedes "merged"--or rather, bought--Chrysler, their entire philosophy has changed. Whatever happened to the philosophy of non-compromising luxury, reliability, and build quality? Whatever happened to quality over quantity? I really have yet to see a new product that is befitting of the three-pointed star.

 

Very well said. It is not surprising that my 1998 S600 had a higher MSRP than the current w220 S600... they are just not built with the same quality and tradition.

 

You know an Acura V8 would have all the bells and whistles, including variable cylinder shutdown. I'm willing to bet it could have just as good highway MPG as a V6 with proper gearing.

IMO, the comparison between a Honda V8 business plan and GM SUV plan is specious at best.

 

Your S600 is the statement of Mercedes-Benz philosophy (of yore). It really is sad to see them go down hill so quickly. I think many people identify this as well--must explain why it's so hard to find a low-mileage 1998 or 1999 W140...speaking of which, how many miles do you have on your vehicle?

 

It has a tad over 58,000 on it and still looks, drives, smells like new

 

My only thought about the V-8 debate is that they have become much more fuel efficient over the years and many now equal the economy of a V-6. By comparison, the RL only manages to earn 1 to 2 mpg better than my V-8 E-500 and both require Premium fuel. Harldy a deciding factor when buying an automobile. The comparison to larger, heavier SUV's is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. Few people considering an RL for example, would have seriously considered an Expedition, Excursion as an alternative. Like many, I too thought about buying an SUV, but decided not to because ultimately it wasn't the type of vehicle I wanted or needed. As somebody pointed out earlier, variable cylinder shutdown would solve most concerens over the fuel effieciency of a V-8 if Honda/Acura adopted it. I now have 500 miles on my RL and my driving impression is that the RL should at least have a V-8 as an option. I think what Honda would see is that most people ultimately prefer a V-8 and would be willing to pay the premium to get it. Those are my thoughts anyway.

 

I definitely think Acura needs a V8. Especially with the people they're competing with. Infiniti's beastly M45 really outpowers the RL. Other than that, comparable cars in the price range (530, E320, A6 3.2, GS 300) are actually underpowered compared to it. Its definitely the best V6 out there. But Acura shouldn't stop there... a V8 to tango with the M45, 545, E500, and A6 4.2 would really raise Acura's status. But maybe I'm biased...heh, a 2007 Acura TL-Type S with SH-AWD and a 350HP V8 would be a dream come true. Or better yet, make that a CL with a 6MT. The V6 is enough for now, but I really believe Honda needs to make one, at least a platform for one. Then the future NSX and RL would really be dynomite. And the Type-S could be born again.

 

I believe the RL and other Honda products will get more power via hybrid technology rather than adding a V8

 

I wish they would offer a V8 on the RL so it would quit people from constantly bitching about it. hehehe

Truth be told if the RL had a V8 option I probably would have gone for it instead of the base V6. Why? No real reason other than I guess because I'm a guy and am attracted to more power...I am sure if all that had happened I would be bitching right now going for the V8 since gas prices here are like $1.03 per litre which for you yanks is over $3.75 per gallon. Right now I am wishing I had a prius...heh.

I do feel the RL has good enough acceleration as it is. Havent once seen an issue where I needed more. Maybe our highways and city streets here are diff than those where people need 0-60 in 3.2 seconds in order to drive

Oh and I say if they are going to tweak the engine they add some hybrid action rather than just a V8...at least do something good for the environment/your wallet.

Also, my main summer hobby is baoting and boats guzzle gas like crazy so the few bucks I can save filling up my car the better.

 

I CHANGED MY MIND. FORGET THE V-8. GIVE US A V-12!! GAS PRICES, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSEQUENCES BE DAMMED! Ha! Ha!

 

From what I have heard from my higher ups is that the only V-8 that will ever be on an Acura showroom floor is that of the juice variety....that being said however, the new 500+ horsepower v-10 they are shoving in the new nsx should more than suffice. also I have personally seen 300+ horsepower TL-S versions with sh-awd being rolled off the factory floor, expect to see them late this year, yummy