TL better than RL?

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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 03:37 PM
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TL better than RL?

We're having a little debate over in the TL forum.

Would you say that the TL is better than the RL?

What's the difference?

Are you happy with your RL?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:03 PM
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hmm, I wonder what people in the RL forum are going to say....

Of course the RL is a better car. Japanese designed and built with higher quality materials and more advanced construction. The RL has many useful features like cooled seats, swivel headlights, and integrated sun shades that are not available on the TL.

I mean, what do you expect? People pay a 20% price premium over the TL for an inferior car?!
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:05 PM
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But the TL seems to be top of the line, aka TL?!?!

I think you have to agree!?!
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:05 PM
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Better is a subjective term that cannot be measured by any factual data so let's get that out of the way. Also, it should be clarified if we are talking about 3rd gen or 4th gen TLs. Let's assume both compared to 2nd gen and MMC RLs.

Here are some quick thoughts, mostly facts.
- The TL is quicker. It weighs typically 200 lbs less than an RL and has an available 6MT. Both have speed limiters so neither is faster overall, but the TL has a sportier suspension so it should be faster in corners (assuming both have SH-AWD).
- The RL is more luxurious. More wood grain, more bells and whistles, and a more luxurious ride.
- The TL sells MUCH more volume, probably due to a lower price tag. However, this makes the RL much more exclusive. You rarely see RLs.
- As a result of ^, the TL has much more mod options b/c of the wider customer base.
- The RL SH-AWD is standard and has been since 2005.
- The TL transmission seems to have common issues, and I have yet to see a handful of RLs with transmission issues.
- The RL is completely manufactured and assembled in Saitama, Japan. The TL is 70% manufactured (I believe) in the US and assembled in Ohio.

All that said, the RL is better than the TL.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by EazyRider562
But the TL seems to be top of the line, aka TL?!?!

I think you have to agree!?!
Troll much?

You think the car is better based on alphabetic order???
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:24 PM
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My wife and I have owned seven Acura's over the last 23 years. I am 100% convinced that one has made the right choice when they buy one. I have owned three TL 's and currently drive a 2007 Rl with 155,000 trouble free miles. I still enjoy everytime I get in the seat and start her up.

The TL is just different. The exterior shape and ride are much more sportier than the RL. The Rl for me has been the progression as I have gotten older (more experiened) to want a quieter and softer ride as has been stated above and to want a little more of the comfort features. I have many friends with the newer TL. They love the car. I have detailed them, something I enjoy doing. A few items that I do not like are the emergency brake sitting in the console. I have never used an emergency brake and to have to stare at it seems strange. Acura put a pedal down on the floor like the RL. I don't like the dark dash. They show every bit of lint and need constant dusting. My dash is a light gray. I also am not crazy about the chrome strips on the roof pillars.

Both are great cars but different.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:27 PM
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So do you prefer the RL?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by EazyRider562
So do you prefer the RL?
I would say his avatar says it all.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:39 PM
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hey you never know until you ask? i mean, i own a TL but if someone were to ask me if I prefer an Aston Martin, I'd say OF COURSE!
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:53 PM
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Easy, why cannt you accept the fact that the RL is the top of the line?

Acura made it this way.
no matter what you think, The RL is the creme de la creme.

We get it, you love your TL.
STOP trolling. and accept it.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:56 PM
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Or you can ask yourself thaw questions:
Is a GS better than an LS?
Is a C-class better than an E-class?
Is an A6 better than an A7?
Is an M35 better than an M45?
Is a 3-series better than a 5-series?

Although Acura has dramatically closed the TL-RL gap in the last year and some would answer yes to these questions, the majority of people would say no. Go to car talk and start a poll. That would give you a better idea.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 04:57 PM
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For FUCKS sake....



Originally Posted by EazyRider562
Can someone break it down to me?

I'm really happy with my TL and wouldnt trade it for the world.

I'm guessing TL means top of the line?

RDX is sporty, not as luxury.

RL, is smaller than TL, but still nice.
Originally Posted by EazyRider562
Oh so RL was supposed to be better from the beginning, but then they started to put more time and effort into the TL, so the TL is actually the better of the two? Interesting!
Originally Posted by EazyRider562
How can something be better than the the TL?
Originally Posted by EazyRider562
So would you prefer an older RL or newer TL?
Originally Posted by EazyRider562
So the 4G TL is better than the RL? But the RL is more expensive??
I'm happy I decided on getting my TL then?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:00 PM
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TL means top of the line is what I'm saying.... Enuf said!
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:03 PM
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^No.

Please, contact Acura.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:08 PM
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So what does it mean then boss?

What does RL mean?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:13 PM
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the RL is based off the flagship the LEGEND.
Please wikipedia Acura's History.

The LEGEND is the the flagship car. the best of the best. in Japan, the car is still called the LEGEND.
in the United States, they changed the name to the RL.



Originally Posted by Wiki
The Acura RL is the flagship car for North America luxury brand Acura — marketed in Japan as the Honda Legend and manufactured in Saitama, Japan. The alpha call-sign "RL" is an abbreviation for "Refined Luxury."[2]
The first-generation Acura RL was a similarly rebadged version of the third-generation Honda Legend, and was first introduced into the North American market in 1996 to replace the second-generation Acura Legend. Previous to the 1996 introduction of the first generation Acura RL was the second-generation Acura Legend (1991–1995), equivalent to the second-generation Honda Legend, which in turn was preceded by the first-generation Acura Legend (1986–1990), equivalent to the first-generation Honda Legend.
The current second-generation Acura RL is a rebadged version of the fourth-generation Honda Legend and was introduced into the North American market in September 2004 as a 2005 model. This iteration of the RL received an extensive mid-generational facelift for the 2009 model year.
Originally Posted by Wiki
The Acura TL is a mid-size sports sedan manufactured by Acura. It was introduced in 1995 to supplant the Acura Vigor and was rebadged for the Japanese-market from 1996 to 2000 as the Honda Inspire and from 1996 to 2004 as the Honda Saber. The TL was Acura's best-selling model until it was outsold most recently by the MDX since 2007, and it has ranked as the second best-selling luxury sedan in the United States behind the BMW 3 Series.[1] Four generations of the Acura TL have been produced to date, with the latest fourth generation TL premiering in 2008 as a 2009 model. The current version is not sold in Japan.
TL stands for Touring Luxury

No matter what you think, the RL is the top of the line vehicle in Acura's line up.
Sure, they have closed the gap between the RL and the TL, but only because the TL is the bread and butter. it sells more.

Last edited by justnspace; Sep 9, 2011 at 05:17 PM.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by dcdomain
cl = coupe luxury
tl = touring luxury
rl = refined luxury
TL does not mean Top of the Line.

The RL is Acura's flagship sedan. That means when all the makers get together and bring their best sedan, Acura will bring an RL, Lexus will bring an LS, Hyundai will bring an Equus, BMW will bring a 7-series, MB will bring an S-class, so on and so forth. Although the RL will barely hold ground with those players, bringing a TL to the show would result in a prompt shitting on for Acura.

Last edited by oo7spy; Sep 9, 2011 at 05:18 PM.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:14 PM
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I was going to respond, but I see now there's no point. You must be 16.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:22 PM
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Easy, you got nothing to say all of a sudden?


enough said!?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:36 PM
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Quiet about what? I'm just saying that TL is top of its class of Acura, I called the dealer who sold me my Acura and he agreed I did very well for myself.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 05:46 PM
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 06:02 PM
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I don't understand how you can blanket statement say that the TL is better than the RL. they are two different cars with multiple facets that allow them to be marketed far differently from one another. As already stated, the RL is Acura's top positioned vehicle; there is no debate here on that fact.

I think what you want to say is that you absolutely love your TL and there is nothing that would top it (as it applies to you and only you), and there is no problem at all with that. But when you want to branch outside of your personal opinion you're seriously stepping on people's toes, and going against the marketing and positioning of Acura's vehicles.

Now that my logistical arguments have been made, i reserve the right to speak my mind about your posts in this thread:

grow a pair, swallow your pride and for fucks sake, respect fact alike the opinions of others...
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 06:12 PM
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Coming from owning a few Civic's, 3G TL-S, and now the RL. To be honest the RL is in a different category than the TL. TL is still sporty, not as Luxurious as the RL. the ride is so much more comfortable. the interior in the TL just feels cheaper compared to the RL.

IMO RL>TL
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 06:17 PM
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^he's comparing the 4G vs the 2G RL.

of course, his TL is gonna feel nice. it stole features from the 2nd Gen RL.
but it does not change the fact that the RL is the flagship car.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by EazyRider562
Quiet about what? I'm just saying that TL is top of its class of Acura, I called the dealer who sold me my Acura and he agreed I did very well for myself.
LOL TROLL

"The Acura RL is the flagship car for North America luxury brand Acura" (from Wikipedia)

pretty much says it all
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 07:14 PM
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Acura says it best: TL Touring Luxury and RL Refined Luxury.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 07:16 PM
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touring implies sporty while refined means simply that. Refined.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 07:27 PM
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I just purchased a 2012 TL Advance. IMO, the RL is a nicer vehicle.

The reasons that the TL made it into the garage ... 1) The fuel economy rating was much higher on a TL FWD; 2) The RL cost more to purchase and maintain and; 3) The average residual value, as a percentage, was higher on the TL.

I could have written the larger check, but I chose not to. The 4G TL is more than satisfying. Give me a few more years, and another back injury, and I might not see things in the same way.

The ONLY thing that the RL did have that I would have liked to see on the TL ... adaptive cruise control. However, I can appreciate Acura's position in keeping some items for the exclusive enjoyment of those that purchase "the flagship" sedan.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 07:44 PM
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I see your stand point but the TL is also a quicker vehicle, and you can't deny the interior on the TL is extremely nice!
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
^he's comparing the 4G vs the 2G RL.

of course, his TL is gonna feel nice. it stole features from the 2nd Gen RL.
but it does not change the fact that the RL is the flagship car.
The RL really should be compared to the 3rd gen TL because the TL got a complete model change whereas the RL has only been freshened since essentially 2004.

When comparing my RL to my friend's 2008 TL-S (that has the RL engine), the interior is significantly cheaper quality. The car also feels very cramped for some reason.

Another thing is that I think a lot of people confuse platform sharing with rebadging. Yes the Accord, TL, TSX, and RL use Honda's Global Midsize Platform. But Honda has really mastered the art of saving resources by platform engineering. You can tell that the Toyota Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES are based on the same platform. But Honda has mastered the art of using a single initial platform to make virtually their entire lineup.

Even the wheelbases between the RL and 3G TL are different (110.2" vs 107.9"). So it should be obvious that Honda's platform sharing is vastly different from other manufacturer's version of platform sharing.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by EazyRider562
I see your stand point but the TL is also a quicker vehicle, and you can't deny the interior on the TL is extremely nice!
Both cars will only go up to 70 mph when I am driving them ... I have an intense adversion to tickets and insurance increases.

The TL does have a very nice interior, exterior, navigation system, sound system, etc. I also judged it as a better value. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say the TL is a nicer car - it isn't IMHO.

The TL Advance suits my needs and tastes, that's all that really matters.

Of course, had the TL not been offered in the Advance trim, I would have purchased the RL. I wanted the blind spot indicators and ventilated seats and wouldn't have comprised. In the same respect, I opted not to get the SH-AWD this time around, since I didn't care for the contrasted stitching and 19" wheels (rougher ride and more costly to replace).

Everyone has different needs, tastes, budgets, etc. That's why Acura makes different models and trim levels.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:09 PM
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Well said!

I'm thinking of doing a few modifications to my car as well. It's pretty fast but I wouldn't mind a few extra horse power.

What do you think? new intake? exhaust. I'm looking to spend about 1K for the first upgrade.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:14 PM
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^barking up the wrong tree.
i answered your question in your other thread.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:36 PM
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Thanks... would you recommend taking my ride to a car shop?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:38 PM
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^ if you can't perform the work yourself.
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:53 PM
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Is it difficult work?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:56 PM
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^whats your skill level?
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:56 PM
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 08:57 PM
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Old Sep 9, 2011 | 09:42 PM
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Not that good tbh.
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