How many of you think that RL looks like an Accord.

 

I do. Someone else in this forum said that RL is Accord on steroid.

 

I have the pic where Motor Trend posted a picture of the RL with the words Honda Accord underneath it, lol.

 

similar lines, but no where near the car.

 

Not at all. I just traded in my '04 Accord EX V-6 on the new RL. Visually or otherwise, two totally different cars.

 

I dont think they look that close. Obviously they have some similarities from the side but I could compare 85% of the cars out there and find design similarities...doesnt mean they look the same. I fail to see how anyone can say the RL front and back look like the accord. Even the side, while similar in spots, is different enough to tell them apart. Hell, I could say my former IS300 looks like the RL. It holds as much vailidity as the RL/Accord comparo.

I always chuckle at people when they compare exterior of car A to car B and say they look the same...I must have diff eyes because 98% of the time this is done I dont see wtf they are talking about. The best one recently is that the new IS350 looks like the Mazda 3. Seeing as my buddy owns the 3 i can say with certainty they dont look the same.

 

there is obviously a lineage there, but seeing them parked next to each other....... the RL is a star.

the RL holds its own next to 5 series, E class

definately not "just an accord"

mark

 

I agree, I think that front and back is totally different. However, from the side they do look similar, but only from a distance. People also say new Lexus GS300, is the same as Maxima from the side.
I have also noticed that splash guards and visor on nighthawk pearl black complements RL very much, and puts to rest all speculation that it looks like an Accord.

 

Of course there is a family resemblance - manuafacturers try for a family look. RL is rich cousin to Accord; ditto the M and Maxima; ditto the GS and Avalon - what is the big deal about that anyway?

 

It also has features similar to the BMW 5 series. I'm not sure what you are getting at?

 

ROFL.

 

There's is definately a family resemblance but I see that as more of a complement to the Accord rather than an insult to the RL.

But personally, I would have preferred more resemblance to the TL/TSX.

 

What is the point? and Why should I care?

 

I agree that, from a distance, the RL and the Accord resemble, especially from the side. However, I think that is by design, considering that both US version of the Accord and the RL are sold as luxury Hondas in the Japanese domestic market.

 

Whether the Accord or something else, it is an attractive car but lacks something visually. What can I do to enhance the look? I have a black pearl RL, and had the trunklid spoiler added but it's not enough. The 17" wheels are terrible and not at all sporty but I didn't want to pay the extra $$ for 18's that aren't much better. Maybe the splash guards will help? What about getting rid of some of the chrome? It's everywhere!!

 

Actually, I like the chrome. What makes the TL look good from the side is that groove that runs the length of the car, a design element that Acura blatantly stole from BMW. Maybe some kind of stripe can simulate the effect on the RL?

 

The Legend/RL have always looked like their little brothers.

 

I had a 1993 Accord SE, and it was truly a baby Legend. It had leather, a Bose system, etc. Probably my favorite car of all time. It had absolutely ZERO issues, ever - and IMO, the look is timeless.

 

I've seen one or two of those around.. VERY nice cars

 

^^ Exactly. even the early reviews of the rl threw in mention of the Accord. But I dont see why someone should get annoyed by it...the Accord itself is one of the finest cars you can share platforms with. saying the RL looks like a beefed up Accord is more of a compliment than an insult, IMO.

 

I agree to a certain extent.
Sharing platforms with the Accord is fine, such as the TSX and TL.

But I don't think it completely works with your flagship luxury sedan.
It would probably be better if they developed a RWD/V8 platform, and knowing Honda's wonderful engineers, it would make for an awesome car.

 

I think if they can bring a SH AWD design in at $50,000 that should be the drive system for all the RL's. It puts the car head and shoulders above other similar cars.

What improvements I would like is a bigger trunk and better low end torque. Whatever engine they use to do that would be fine by me.

 

Well it is based off the Accord so I guess it has to look like an Accord. Again. Yes, it looks like an Accord but some people like bland and unremarkable.

 

Unremarkable? You call state-of-the-art technology unremarkable? And the highest features-per-price ratio is unremarkable? What's unremarkable are mediocre cars that sell based on amorphous concepts like "soul" (which is basically an excuse to wax poetic about the "greatness" of European cars) or status (which is the real reason why people buy Benzes, since they have fallen from their pedestal in every other way).

Personally, I'd rather have a car with Accord-like looks than one with Accord-level feature content. . . but maybe that's just me. I guess some people prefer a car that that's no so bland looking. Hey, such cars will look stunning when you're sitting in traffic and even better when sitting in the shop for yet another defect.

 

Calm down, he's talking about aesthetics, not features and content.

What you're rambling about isn't even related to what he commented.

 

How about an aftermarket supercharger?

 

Not a big fan of superchargers on an engine of this high of a compression ratio. If they did do that I would want to see an outboard engine and transmission cooler along with a head cooling strategy.

 

Huh? unremarkable, b/c no one is buying it. Clearly. Its average. it maybe the best Acura sedan ever, but is that saying much?

 

Sure, there are similarities, but that doesn't make the car look bad IMHO.

The worst really is the Lexus ES series. That's 100% Camry.

 

The Acura RL is NOT based off the Accord. The Acura RL chasis has it's own exclusive version of Honda's Global Midsize Platform. The Honda Accord has it's own exclusive version of Honda's Global Midsize Platform. The two platforms pretty much start off looking like a couple paper clips before it's built for each car. I could have two steel beams and call it Honda's Global Platform if I wanted. Eventually in the end, the RL chassis and the Accord chassis have so much added and tweaked and tunned that in the end, they are virtually different. The Honda Global Midsize Platform is merely just a starting step for building a chassis. So to correct you, again, the RL is NOT based off the Accord.

 

Or even worse than that is the fact that the RX330 is based off the Camry too. Atleast Acura had the respect to base the MDX on the Oddy, a much better candidate to be turned into an SUV. Could you guys imagine an Accord SUV?

 

The funny part is that the Camry-based RX is the top-selling Lexus model. Many of the units sold don't even have AWD! Do you think that says something about Lexus drivers?

 

I don't know, what does it say about Lexus drivers other than the fact that they obviously don't buy the car for it's SUV "capabilities." Then again, who does these days.

 

My feeling has always been that if you buy an SUV without 4-wheel drive you don't need an SUV. I have an 05 Honda Pilot and all Pilots have always had 4WD. The Honda website states that the 06 Honda Pilot will be available with 2WD or 4WD - Don't know about the MDX. If I didn't need 4WD I would have bought the Odyssey.

 

First an SUV is a Street Utility Vehicle I dispise Minivans yet needed seating for 7 so we bought a '99 Expedition (at the time the best choice between Expy, Durango, Suburban, and Land Cruuiser). Traded for the Odyssey based MDX in '01. The MDX has a type of 4-wheel drive called VTM-4.

 

We must think alike. I had a 98 Expedition and we both had a 1980 200SX. I looked at the MDX before I bought my Pilot. I use the Pilot in my business (land surveying) and the MDX is just too nice to haul all my equipment and drive through fields. My wife wanted me to get the Odyssey, but I'm like you and don't like minivans. I told her if she liked the Odyssey so much we could trade her RL for it. She didn't like it that well!

BTW did you leave for the hurricane?

 

No; I'm in far west Houston. Predictions early Thursday were for a landfall near the TX/LA border.

 

Actually, Honda Pilots and Acura MDX's have AWD, while the Honda CRV has 4WD. Either way, I'm glad it's standard equipment in those vehicles.