A narrow impression for sure, to keep things on the RL track.

I have never been to the DC auto show before, but in comparison to the San Diego Auto Show I went to in late 2007, before the financial crisis, this show was flat. No energy. The domestic automakers, especially Ford and GM had more engaging exhibits than the "foreign" marques, and I was particularly disappointed in the Acura exhibit. The TL was displayed prominently, with some people climbing in and out, along with the MDX. The RL was relegated to a back area, and there was no one, repeat, no one even near the car. Talk about a forlorn model.

The only interesting thing, somewhat unconnected, was that I was at the
Acura dealer the other night, and a couple was browsing the RL inventory, and said to each other, PAX, what is PAX? So I had to explain PAX, ACC and CMBS to them, and to tell them to check carefully, because I thought PAX had been dropped in the 2009 RLs and that the dealer had sloppy web work for their inventory.

 

That is interesting. I had a similar experience at a recent local auto show I attended: one base RL (supplied by the local dealer-his only one) and a myriad of TL's, MD/RX's, a couple TSX's.

I just had it verified by a second dealer that production of the 09 RL has now stopped. No new ones can be ordered from the factory. There may still be some incoming for an allocation cycle, but all others will have to be located and transferred from other dealers.

Both dealers say that while they lack any definite info, they expect the 2010 model to arrive at the usual time in the fall. Of course, they have no idea what-- if any-- changes would occur.

The rollout, distribution and numbers of this 09, the "most significant MMC that Acura has ever undertaken" defies understanding. They certainly made a push with this car, including some very nice, expensive print and TV ads, but never produced many cars to sell.

I don't think this can be simply explained by the economy either, for they have about 20 09 TL's for every RL out there.

Another riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an igloo.

 

Thanks for the comments, Chas2.

The TL SH-AWD is, for all intent and purpose, the Acura "flagship" for now and will be for the next year or two.

I'm hoping that Acura doesn't screw up the next RL!

 

I was at last year's DC show and if I remember correctly Acura had 1 RL on display and it was literally at the rear of the display as if they purposely did not want to draw attention to it.

In many ways I am happy that Acura has not and does not promote this car. I purchased my CPO 2006 CMBS RL with 4700 miles on it a little less than a year ago. I have put 40k miles on it in less than a year. It is a very competent luxury cruiser, has top-end technology, and is dead nuts reliable and cheap to maintain (much cheaper to maintain than my 2007 VW GTi).

With little marketing support and a limited interested audience for the RL, late model pristine condition RL's can be had for bargain prices and IMO the RL is one of the best CPO values in the automotive marketplace.

The only thing I miss in my RL is the super slick short-throw 6 speed stick I had in my 2003 Acura CL-S......I kept that one from new to 183,000 miles and it still drove like like new when I sold it to Car Max (in 2007) for $6k.

 

Exactly the same this year, MMC and all...

 

This thing needs a V8 badly

 

I agree with CadiGTI in that the RL is currently the BEST bang for the buck in the used luxury market.

Hopefully Acura will get the marketing message right the next time. The RL doesn't deserve the fate it's received. Booooo Acura!

 

I disagree (Blazing GT), I have driven the 2009 TL SHAWD. That V-6 hauls. As long as the grunt/torque and fuel efficiency are there I do not think the # of cylinders is as important as it once was (and gasoline will not stay this cheap much longer).

A year ago I would have fully agreed a V8 was needed for image.

 

I'm hearing from some salespeople that the RL has ended. It is no more. They have stopped producing 09's (widely verified) and---if this info is true--there will be no 2010.

Acura plans to coast on the TL and a new v6 TSX that was just announced.

I want to believe that this isn't true. This appears to be the end.

(This is especially hard to take because I just learned today that Klondike has officially stopped making the York Peppermint Pattie version of their ice cream bar. Like the RL, this was the best version that brand ever introduced.)

 

The scuttlebutt is indeed that 2009 production ended quite a while ago, but rumors indicated up to now that work is still ongoing for the next RL model. Of course, Acura can always change its mind and become a two-car (TSX/TL) and two-truck (RDX/MDX) model line until the economy recovers. Too bad, really.....though it'll be better for Acura to do this to survive the economic downturn. If they do it right, they could do well enough to bring an RL back into production.

All I ask is that they do the RL/marketing/etc. right the next time.

 

marketing? I think they just need to drop the price, worked for me!