As part of my investigations into trading in '05 RL (clean history, 40k miles) for either an '07 or '08 RL w/ tech or w/ cmbs/pax, two dealers have quoted me $28k and $26k so far. Isn't it ridiculous!

I'd be interested in estimation numbers for your respective cars (if you have had it done) please.

TIA

 

You have a CarMax around you? They give fair trade in values on cars. Almost straight KBB value. You don't even have to buy a car from them. I've done it several times.

 

KBB says $28.5k is reasonable for a 2005 RL with 40k miles in "good" condition (which most cars are in).

A more realistic approach would be to use the Galvez Book (sorry, costs a little $), which is what many dealers do rather than using KBB or Edmunds. or at least that's what nfo is promulgated on these forums. The value is often, but not always, lower than either of the others.

I used it when I traded my 3G TL for my RL and it was close, but lower than, what the dealer ultimately offered.

 

thanks for the suggestion Mikey. I will do so this weekend. I saw that local carmax has a couple of '05 RL listed to be around $35K with 30k miles on them.

 

Thanks for the suggestion bob. A value (from galvez book) lower than $28k of kbb does me no good .. hehehe

 

Sent you a PM.

 

I think those trade in valus are about right. I just bought my 05 for $27.5k privately. 50k mi

 

26-28K trade in for a 3 year old car with 40K miles sounds pretty reasonable. I have to say if I could purchase a new 08 tech for 42-43K and knew I could trade it in 3 years later for 27-28K I would jump at that offer in a hurry. The problem is with the redesign coming out by then I think the chance of getting that high a trade in 3 years are far from a sure thing.

Pat

 

one of the biggest confusion i have is whether i should ride out another year or so on this baby (wait-and-watch) or trade it now for, an 07/08 and wait for comments from others on the supposed 09 RL before buying it.

 

imho, trade only if you just gotta have CMBS. otherwise no way.

 

You seem pretty geeked on buying a new car. Why not try to hold off for another year to see what the 2009 MY brings? If they choose to bring out the new RL next MY, then you can get into that, or wait two years and let the first-year bugs be worked out.

 

If you do wait, wait the 2 years. Having had the 05 RL, I wouldn't want to go through the 1st "growing pains" again with a new model. Let someone else be the guinea pig.

 

Why is everyone talking about the 09MY. I bet anyone here that there will be no new RL for 2009. Maybe a MMC w/ a new rear end and +10hp but no new engine etc. Think about it, 09MY brings a new TSX and TL. Why would honda try to develope three new car's at the same time? They wouldn't. The RL was just introduced to other gobal markets why replace it just yet? The last RL was around from 96-04, thats 9 model years. The current RL is only on it's 4th. Mabye a new one will come out in 10,11, or 12. And for those of you who say that RL sales suck so they have to do something. Just look at how bad the last Gen RL's sales were and it was much cheaper.

I personally think honda doesn't give a shit about the RL. It's just a show peice, a concept car. They put all their latest and greatest into it just to show you they can and then intergrate them into mainstream models. Look the accord now has our navi, the mdx and rdx have sh-awd, etc.

Sorry for the rant, but I see no way a new RL is out next year.

 

I think this statement hits the nail on the head and is a point I've made before. The 1G RL was also a showpiece for tech that eventually made it first to other Acuras, then Hondas. The 2G RL is the same. We are basically paying for a concept car.

Only Honda knows when the next RL is coming, but we've got lots of rumors saying it's coming sooner than later. We'll see this time next year. Given Honda's intensely conservative nature, it may really come to pass that the RL won't change. Unfortunately, that also means that Acura will not be taken seriously in the luxury market. That may very well be what Honda wants, as it places the majority of its vast marketing machinery in the U.S. on the Accord, HMC's bread and butter.

 

Yep, but aren't concept cars really cool.

I love the RL (excluding my lack of AC), but I bought the RL knowing it flies under everyones radar. I still think it's a really cool car.

 

Another reason there won't be a new RL for 09 is honda cycles every 6th year or more.

Model - Major Redesigns
Accord 03, 08
TSX 04, 09
TL 04, 09
Civic 01, 06
MDX 01,07
RL 96, 05
Pilot 03, 09??

 

Not to point out the obvious, but those numbers you listed don't all go in 5 year cycle.s However, it's worth noting that none go any sooner then 5 years. I'm not sure what that means. It's not statistically significant enough to conclude a redesign will always come in 5 years for Honda.

Based on some things I've heard, I think something is happening next year with the RL. Not sure what that will be; agressive MMC or a full platform redesign. However, I'd bet money 09 will not be a carryover like the 08's.

 

Like I said 6th year or MORE. But it is statistically significant enought to conclude that a redesign will not come in less than 5 years. I wouldn't be suprised at all if honda doesn't change a thing about the RL for 09, considering 08 should have been the year for a MMC. But if they do make a minor change for 09 I think that would mean that a full redesign is coming to come even later than 2010. Like I said before, they didn't care about the last RL and it was around for 9 years. So far it looks like they don't care about this one either. But that's ok I care about it even if they don't.

 

It's true, I guess it doesn't matter what they do. I don't own Honda stock or work for them. Personally, I like the RL just like it is. Also, their conservative business practices keep their costs down and allow them to deliver true value compared to MB, BMW, etc.

It's just interesting to test our prognostication skills

 

thanks for the advise bob... waiting seems to be the right thing to do.. but you know how it is... we like those things that aren't really good for us

 

In my humble opinion, this statement should be revised to

Honda doesn't seem to give a shit about Acura, and subsequently, Acura doesn't seem to give two rats' asses about RL...

 

Boston/Briny/Mikey, i tend to agree with your assessment about the 2-year wait. Common sense would rule out trading in the RL right now.. (i am hanging on the unrealistic hope that after 10-yrs of me owning RL, it might actually be a collector's item... teeheheheheh_

 

Well, I didn't follow my own advice. I owned my 2004 TL (3G) for three years and I TRIED to hold out for the next TL, but the RL and M35x kept begging for test drives.....and the rest is history. I am going to try to hold out in the RL for as long as possible, but there's always something newer, flashier, better coming along. Terrible financially, isn't it? My logic is that you live this life only once, why not try new things?

Personally, I'm just humbled and thankful I can afford to even consider expensive new cars, since I came from nothing and bootstrapped my way up financially.

 

Just got offered $33,000 for Op Blue 06 w/ $25000 miles to trade in on a northstar srx 06 certifeid w/6700 miles mega sunroof crappy nav & factory DVD. They will take RL & $2000. A lot better deal than I could get on a new MDX. Its RWD which is fine for me & white/tan which is great for Ga heat.

 

Wow, the 2006 model sure took a hit. To be expected, given the low volume of sales, the low price of admission, and the fact that the 2006 model is now two MYs old.

 

op blue takes an unpopular color hit also.

 

I just sold mine '05 RL to CarMax last Thursday (25K Miles) Gray / Ebony. and got 31K. Then went to Lexus and bought a '07 GS350 (White / Cashmere) - What a difference!!!!