A fully loaded MDX has AWD, almost the same engine and is $13,000 Cdn cheaper.

Now I know you cannot compare the driving experience of these two but in terms of the cost to build them, shouldn't they be closer together?

Perhaps it's an economies of scale thing?

 

What do you mean??

You know SH-AWD ain't AWD, right? And, SUV and luxury sedan serve the different purposes and meaning to the customers.

FX35 and RX330 also differ from M35 and GS300.

 

Try building a comparable Merc E320. That should change your view.

I gave up as the website redraws everything after each option. The base car is comparable pricewise, but you must need to add every possible package and there are at least 10 different ones to equal the RL. I bet the cost was around 75,000 if I had gone through with it.

 

I test drove an MDX before going with the FX35, and there is no comparison in the quality of materials used in the MDX vs. the RL. The RL is vastly superior. I know that doesn't answer your question re: cost to build, but the reason for the price difference is evident in the details.

 

I have priced an E320 4Matic at the MB Cdn site. With similar equipment the price came to NINETY THOUSAND.



hermants,

The reason the RL costs what it does here is simply because that is the market.

 

What the market will bear seems to be the most reasonable answer.

But that would imply that there is a lot more profit for Acura in that price.

Of course it's a moving target. They have to amortize research costs (SHAWD) into the price as well. But if they offered it at $62k instead of $70k, I'll bet they would sell three times as many cars and therefore lower their unit cost.

The bottom line is I may still end up buying one! But I have a hard time swallowing the price difference from a TL.

Hopefully an SHAWD TL will be available soon.

 

Remember that the RL is imported from Japan and the MDX is built here in the states....

 

Good point!

 

But the same can be said for any luxury car. BMW could offer a 5 series for 10 K less and sell more. Lexus could offer the new (or current) GS for 10 K less and sell more. This isn't specific to Acura. It is just how car companies function.

The only company that seems to be going against the market is Infiniti with the new M...it is cheap here compared to the rest of the competition. I hope they sell a lot to get other brands to lower their prices.

 

LegendC:
Your wrong, the MDX is built in Canada, not the USA. RL is 100 % Japan made.

Dseag:
My 2004 RL is VASTLY better built (fit/finish/Quality) than my 2005 MDX !

 

We agree then... right? I said in my post that the fit/finish of the RL was far superior to the MDX. I was referring to the '05 RL, but I've also been in the '04 RL and thought it was excellent.

 

yes I agree ! I think the next gen MDX will step up a bit in quality fit and finish. They have no choice !

 

Canadia is the 51st state anyway

Being built in Japan is one of the strongest points for the new RL, my 94 Legend has better quality in it then the 2nd gen TL's and CL's, IMHO.

 

LegendC:
Your correct about the CL and TL because they are made in the 50th states of America called Ohio !
Mdx: canada
Civic: canada
RL/NSX (1st and 2nd gen): JAPAN
RSX: I think Japan
TL/CL/Accord: OHIO USA
Legends: JAPAN
1st gen Honda CRV's: JAPAN

 

Civic is also built in Ohio. The Si hatchback comes from England.

 

My brand new 1991 Honda Civic SI at the time, was built in Canada !