I'm considering upgrading my car.

I have not driven a 2009+ RL.. but wondered if with the retuned suspension, and 18" wheels, along with the 3.7L motor, vs my 3.5L... and perhaps a retuned transmission?? how much different do they drive than the 05-08?

I really like how the newer ones look... I think they look very very slick. Dropped on H&Rs... even on the stock wheels, I think they look great. the interior has more wood trim, cooled seats... I can get a newer one, and given the equity I have in mine, I can likely keep my payments about the same, just be paying slightly longer.. which is fine with me.

So my question sis this - for those of you who HAVE driven the 05-08 AND the 09+..... do they drive/ride very similar or is there a noticeable difference?

I"m wondering if the 09+ feel quicker/more powerful due to the bigger engine, and is the handling sharper?

My other option is to look at a 09+ TL SH-AWD.... I'd miss some of the luxury.. but maybe the sportier edge would be just what I want..

i just think the newer RLs look sweet..

thanks for any input.

and 037 - no I don't want a Hyundai.

 

I'm glad I got a note at the end of the post because I am in fact selling an 09 so I would probably be inclined to sell that to you first

So, any questions about the car, let me know, I've been tracking 09+ models on ebay to see what the competition is and I doubt you'll find a better deal on an 09 on ebay.

Auction here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Acura...-/280736643918

PM me if you're curious, I can drop the price down for a fellow member and remove whatever addons you don't like. I got all stock parts.

 

I have a 2007 silver with the taupe interior that I love but have to admit a white 09 with the ivory interior has my eye. An RL is the only car that I would buy. My wife has a Lexus SC430. IMO Lexus and Acura are the only two manufacturers to own. I test drove a LS460. My brother-in-law just bought a white 2007. Very very nice car but again IMO there is no way it is worth the extra $. I felt very much like I was in my car but with a dinosaur of a navagation system. I will be interested in how members will respond. Like you, I love the wood interior on the console and steering wheel on the 09-11.

 

wood interior is only on the CMBS models, and judging by how often I see them...I would guess you won't.

 

And the crisis rolls on...

I've driven an '11 model, but it was my first time every driving an RL. I didn't drive mine until 2-3 months later so my comparison isn't worth very much. I remember them being VERY similar (go figure). I don't think you will find the change you are looking for in another RL, but I could be wrong. Is there one in your area you could drive?

 

 

my wife is on board. tonight she was looking at CPO 335i and 535i on auto trader. she said I should get one.

the crisis may soon be resolved.... oh boy.

 

I'd say the new one is stiffer and corners flatter. I'd liken the regular one now to the A-Spec version of the original.

 

my fav's about the 09 are the cooled seats, paddle shifters, body design w/ colored beak.

apart from that, fav upgrades include ss lines and nice grabby pads/rotors.

Also...you don't see them every day nor do people know what it is when they do.

I'm starting to consider parting out the upgrades so if you still want the bimmer, now's a good time

 

AcuraCare doesn't care about the intake?

 

if it breaks nothing, no.

if you remove the filter and blow up the engine, of course.

 

still with this mid car crisis?

 

two car crisis

 

Fixed.

 

not a car crisis..... just may upgrade.

not really sure if I'd consider an 09+ a major enough change to be worth the financial investment.

a 335i would be about the same $$ as an 09-10 RL.... but would be a lot faster. Reliability would likely be nowhere near as good.. but all that boost and torque would be intoxicating...

i have been buried with work that past 30 days.. things just slowed down.. maybe this weekend or next i'll do some test drives....

i gave up the RX8 idea... too slow... crappy gas mileage... I still think they are cool cars and I love how they look/handle... but for the same money, or not much more there is better stuff out there.

a 335i for example....

with a $500 juice box install - a 335i can be making mega hp.... low 13s high 12s... easily. that is unreal.

but sometimes I like the cruiser ride in my RL and I do have to admit.. I think the newer RLs are really slick looking.. even more exclusive than the05-08. I once in a while see an 05-08 RL... I *rarely* if EVER see an 09+. in my area... I think I've seen ONE 09+ RL in the past couple years..... I see a 3 series around every corner...

 

From Blazing's honest testimony, which I appreciated, it came across to me that he liked the RL interior slightly better than his 5-series. I can only imagine it would get worse with a 3-series. Just a matter of luxury-vs-power.

 

not slightly better...


ALOT BETTER!

 

I wasn't 100% sure that's what you were trying to get across so I said that very cautiously. Now that you have confirmed the superiority, I will use that against would be Bimmer fan boys. Then they will quote acceleration and handling -vs- my RL and I will shut up and go home .

 

No question about it, the RL has the most luxurious interior out of that group and many others.

 

the 09 RL is also even more luxurious than the 05-08....

honestly.. I like my RL.. just wish it had more power. handling is pretty good... not perfect, but nothing a set of H&Rs can't fix....

how much faster is an 09-10 RL vs an 05-08?

if you were to get the 6speed RL with the 3.7L.... is it quite a bit quicker and more punchy or not much?

also, is the sluggishness in the tranny...resolved and better.. like when you slap it into sport mode does it drive/accel/shift more aggressively... or is it still way more tuned for luxury and comfort... and really not much different than the 05-08?

 

3.7 has the paddles that you can use even in full auto, I found them very useful when the tranny stops 1 gear too short.

11' RL is supposed to be half second quicker to 60 than the 09. I also think the tranny got faster for 09 vs 05-08.

If you're on the east coast you can try mine.