Interesting thing happened the other day. I was at the light, and when it turned green, I took off rather aggressively. I then noticed (rather heard) the car next to me gun it as I could see he seemed to want to play. THe lanes weren't merging or anything, I think he just wanted to have a go at it.

I thought to myself, "you wanna go? let's go then". In my peripheral vision and sideview mirror, I was able to notice that it was a previous gen Lexus GS, and he couldn't catch me. I wasn't pulling away from him any more, but he wasn't able to gain ground on me either.

Then up ahead was the car in my lane taking the SLOWEST amount of time making a right turn. I didn't have enough room (without cutting the guy off next to me), and I was getting real close to the guy ahead, so I let up.

As the car passed me to the left, I saw the emblem and it was a GS 430!

Again, it was the previous gen GS, but I was impressed that the RL held it's own against a V8.

THought I'd share.

 

I'm sure if the GS430 wanted to, he would win.

Curb weight of RL is 4014 lbs.
Curb weight of GS430 is 3,748 lbs.

Also, he has the V8 with a bigger liter engine. Therefore more torque.

And it's a rear wheel drive.

 

Maybe the GS owner got some wheel-spin, holding him back...

 

Maybe he just badged his Rexus with the '430' or he was a wimp.

 

The guy in the GS wasn't racing, or was overloaded. I dearly love my RL, but the GS430 would win in this situation even without a good driver.

 

depends on the year of the GS 430. The older ones (2007 V8s and before) put out only 290HP/319lb-ft with the new SAE ratings. It's almost humbled by their (GS 350's) new 3.5-liter V6 (303HP/274lb-ft) even.

That said, if GoHawk was aready rolling before the GS punched it out of the dig, he might have had a hard time reigning him back in.

Now, if it were a GS460 (342hp/339lb-ft)

 

GEEZE.....GH won the race....PERIOD. V6 FTW this time.

 

I don't need a V8.

 

Coulda had a V8, hee hee.

Honestly, my choice was among a 2007 TL (performance), 2006 RL (luxury), and a Prius (fuel economy, carpool lane stickers). This was a year and a half ago, prior to the big gas price spike.

I decided in favor of luxury with tradeoffs in performance and fuel economy. Nowhere did a V8 enter my thought processes. Introducing a V8 now--unless it is amazingly economical--would make no sense for Acura or anyone else, as the Big 3 have learned to their chagrin.

 

Previous gen 430 (early '00s) only put out about 300hp.

Now saying that, they weren't hampered by driving an extra 2 wheels.

I know he was pushing it, unless I just misread the emblem as it went by, but I was sure it was a 430.

 

honestly imo i believe the Rl wouldn't need a v8 if it came with a Dohc vtec v6 much like the nsx's whether it be at 3.5 or 3.7 liters instead of the current single cam application

 

There are way too many things to take into account. It may have been a GS430, but was it rebadged to make it seem so?

I walked all over an 02 GS300 with an 02 TL (non S).

Now you all should know that an 02 GS300 and an 02 TL are kind of even, however the GS will kill me.

It turns out the guy had been putting 89 octane in his tank instead of 91. Which probably caused the reason i walked him twice.

So it may have been an 01 GS430 (as an example for year), but if he was using 89 octaine as well, the RL would pull without worry. If he was using 91, then i'd suspect the GS would win...unless it were playing catch up. then it'd take a bit, because even with the V8, it's still a 7 year old car, so they're putting down roughly the same power, and if they're putting down roughly the same power, it'd take a bit for the GS to pull.


My guess is if they kept going, eventually, slowly, but eventually the GS would have caught up to you...no offense.


As for your question, no one needs a V8 unless you haul stuff in a truck.

 

I don't think the RL needs a v8 but it could use a powertrain like the supercharged jaguar XF I drove last week. Forget m5 v10's or other crap.The jags supercharged v8 is the most polished powerplant in the planet, period. It produces 420 ponies and 400lbs plus torque like if nothing was happening, simply effortless thrust at any speed. Furthermore its match to the six speed transmission was perfect. Paddle shift operation was stellar bip, bip, bip up or down without missing a beat and at lightning speed. The car has a normal setting for relaxed driving (not dissimilar to the RL driving expirience) and a sport setting that changes redline, shift points and suspension settings and throtle response., On sport, the car offers essentially all the performance of a 911 but still maintains commendable comfort, the only thing that would keep you from using the sport setting 24/7 is the fact that the car accelerates like a pent up bull at the slightest provocation. Quite astonishing, too bad it doesn have an Honda nameplate or I would have bought it on the spot. Of course the car was beautiful, and surprisingly the interior was very comfortable and ergonomically correct except, for the less than ideal seats. If Acura offfered a powetrain of this caliber there would be no more questions about its cred.

 

No offense taken. I'm not arguing any point really, just stating my experience.

Contrary to the title of this thread, and contrary to the current oil prices, unless American views change, people will still think that Acura needs a V8 to be considered a legitimate luxury brand. Regardless of whether or not it is really needed from a practicality standpoint.

 

From a practicalty standpoint many V8's get superior mileage to the RL's 6. For all of Honda's fame for bulding economical cars with smaller engines that can compete with larger engines, the RL is a dud. Especially the new 3.7 which the new Car & driver says gets the same tine to 60 as the 3.5, but worse milage. What gives?

 

The 3.7 wasn't ALL about the 0 - 60 time, it was also about better torque in normal driving situations. But I think you will find that the car in the test may have been a little tight, because Jeff at Temple of Vtec is of the opinion that the new model is indeed quicker.

As for fuel consumption I would wait for some real world figures to come in before judging.

 

Maybe he wasn't trying to "race" you and just instead wanted to get you to think that is what he wanted.

I will have to remember next time I am on the road and some guy is driving beside me that he wants to race instead of just trying to be a prick and annoy me.

Oh and I am fine with my RL's V6. No V8 needed here.

 

even better a DOHC Vtec v6 3.5/3.7L Rl with a 6-speed auto would be

 

I drove the new one. I noticed the low-end torque but it sure didn't feel any faster than my car.

Then again, one doesn't buy an RL for speed.

I wish there'd been a 6AT with the MMC. Maybe next time!