Seeing some recent threads has me wondering about the differences between the NA '05 RL and '06 version...and '07 for that matter. I'm not talking about options or models, rather improvements/refinements Acura/Honda may have made.

For example a co-worker test drove an '05 and thought it was 'too darty'. I haven't noticed anything like that in my '06. We were wondering if Acura tweaked the suspension?

Curious to know your input.

Regards,
Dave

 

AFAIK, the changes were minor things like the cruise control mod and run flat tires. I think some of the standard things on the '05 became option packages in '06. The '05 came one way...loaded. I haven't heard anything about suspension changes. I have an '05 and certainly wouldn't consider it 'darty'. Maybe the one he drove just wasn't setup correctly.

 

Minor things like the headlight chime were addressed in '06. The '05 loaded version became the base version in '06 and the "tech package" (CMBS, ACC & run flats) was the only factory options in '06.

In '07 a decontented base version was introduced (No Nav, No AFS, and fake wood). The tech version now has adds Nav, back-up camera, and real wood. Onto the Tech package you then can add the CMBS, ACC & runflats (one option package).

 

Is there any way to tell and 05 from an 06 from outside the car? I guess 07's will be easy due to no more shark fin, or backup camera off to the side of the trunk.


Rob144

 

Not that I'm aware of unless the '06 model has the tech package. The Acura logo in the fron is different.

So if you see that along with the shark fin, it's safe to say that it's an '06 with the tech package. I don't believe you'll be able to visually distinguish an '06 "base" with the '05 model.

 

the cigarette lighter actually flipped up correctly!

 

On which model?

 

They fixed the cigarette lighter on the '06, it was sticky on the '05. They fixed the annoying headlight chime from the '05 (when the lights were in "Auto" and you had the door open at night, it would ping the headlight reminder chime, which was annoying as hell....). They fixed the MID, which used to show nothing but a giant "CRUISE CONTROL" when on cruise in the '05, to a split-screen on the '06 that shows the MID and a little "Cruise" icon.

And, in my car at least, they fixed most of the horrific rusty-squirrel-wheel rattles.

I found the cars to be identical in terms of ride and handling. And no, they didn't put "ten less HP" in the '06, either.

 

Why is the shark dorsal fin going away on the 07's?

Regarding the 300 vs 290 hp, the SAE changed their rating system and most cars register less hp under the new system.

 

No more OnStar.

 

The shark fin is the OnStar antenna. For 2007, no more OnStar. (I believe they hid the XM antenna inside, under the rear window ledge--that's why the manual says no metallic window tints.)

 

Yep.... the actual power output didn't change, only the measuring method... but that doesn't stop people from having no clue as to why the numbers are different, and as I recall, more than one person relayed a story about dealers trying to sell '05's as cars with more horsepower....

 

I like the dorsal fin look.