I know we already had a thread about why we love the Acura RL However, I was curious about those of us who actually possess Acura RL's. Basically, I would like to know WHY we chose the RL?

Personally, the RL is my fourth Acura. I decided that I did NOT want another FWD car. I was getting tired of the torque steer problem I had with my 2001 CL Type S and I felt that the problem was slightly worse with the 2004 TL. However, by deciding that I did not want a FWD sedan, I automatically eliminated every production sedan Honda ever made EXCEPT for the RL. That was one reason.

In addition, I test drove the Lexus GS 330, BMW 530, and Infiniti M 350 before I decided on the RL. I already posted a lengthy article on my perspectives, so I won't bore with that here. I will say that the RL's "all or nothing" configuration actually appealed to me. Also, I was impressed by the engineering feat that was SH-AWD. The NavTraffic was been quite helpful, as it the ability to enter destinations while the car is moving. The icing on the cake for me is that fact that the RL is the only car in its class that can play MP3 files off of a CD in the main CD changer.

So, why did you all decide to acquire an RL?

 

Well, I have'nt yet bought an RL but I am still debating.

I have a 2004 TL which I would like to upgrade to an 2006 RL. However, then I think of spending this kind it's forces me to look at other competing brands like Lexus GS300, A6, etc. I hate driving my TL in snow as it becomes quite difficult. Another thing I don't like about the TL is the stiff ride and how small the car is.


However, I love Acura's nav and would like AWD. Then I think the RL is too much money and I could live with a Toyota Avalon. I like the size of the Avalon but no AWD and I hate the interior. But then I love the RL although it's not much bigger.

Then I think if I wait until year end the RL price should drop as I keep hearing people complain about the depreciating values of their car. Although I really should'nt based on posts in this forum, I just feel the 49K is way too high.

However, when I drive these cars I always end up coming back to an RL but the price is steep..at least in my opinion.

My biggest drawback on the RL is that it's small or at least it looks small.....

 

Looks
Power
Superb handling! It's a blast on a curvy mountain road - only my NSX is just a little more fun to drive on that same road.
Gorgeous interior
All the toys including the best Nav in the business
Superb stereo system
My experience with previous (2000 RL) and current (1999 NSX) Acuras.
Looks - Muscular, purposeful - I love the look of the rear end with the jewel like lights and the two pipes

 

Trust me, you should be able to get a new RL for WAY less that $49K and the RL is the same size as all its competitors.

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how Lexus people feel about the ES and GS being the same size?

 

I'm very close to buying an RL. Like many others, I've driven many of the cars that the RL competes with. I really liked the M35 but I'll probably get the RL instead as the RL (with tech package) has a unique safety feature: CMBS that the M doesn't have. (I know that with the Journey and Tech packages the M has a pre-collision system, but it doesn't actively warn the driver and start braking without driver intervention). As others have said, there are many great cars in this segment and in the end it's a very personal decision. The main reason I haven't bought yet is that I was hoping to see if the '06 models have less glitches than the '05 models.

Thanks.

 

The newer '05 models had few major glitches, and those were easily fixed with software updates. I'm pretty sure the '06 models should generally be in good shape.

I'm not quite sure what the pricing is going to be like in San Francisco, but I'll make a wild guess that you might be able to get the RL with Tech Package for $50K.

Funny, I was in San Francisco last month for MacWorld and I saw several RL's during my brief stay. It's nice to know y'all have good taste!

 

For me, it was the best combination of features and price. I loved the way the 530i drove but couldn't stand the interior. Liked the way the M35 drove but the interior was just ok. I liked the looks of the A6 and actually ordered a 3.2 but backed out because of long term reliability concerns (planned on keeping it for a long time). Couldn't really afford the E Class with all the options I wanted. Didn't have a chance to drive the GS. All things considered, RL was best choice for me.

 

My first Acura was the 2005 TL, which I loved. I was coming out of a 2000 Volkswagen Passat 4Motion (which I unfortunately wrecked) and I liked the look, the features and the value of the TL. I traded for the RL because I wanted an all wheel drive car again and figured I would stay with Acura because of the features and the value that the RL offered. I love this car!

 

Is there a problem with the server? I did not write the above.

 

This is gonna be a long one.. sorry!

For us, it was between the 530xi, the GS300AWD and Acura's RL. This was to by my wife's daily driver, and her only requirement was that she needed AWD as she's a teacher up north where snow and ice are the norm in the winter.

The 530xi when optioned out was well out of our budget. Reliability was also a factor, as was its styling. The car was a joy to drive, and felt great, and I seriously considered raising our price range an extra $10k to fit the 530 in.

The GS300AWD came in at a very close second. We had pretty much decided that we would purchase this car until the second test drive. By then we had been familiarized with the majority of the car's features, thus we concentrated more on the little things. The navi on the Lexus is a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice unit, but it's really not as nice as the RL's. The price when optioned out was at the higher end of our range, but definitely obtainable.

We took the M35x out for a test drive and it did not make it into our final cut. The navi, interior and external stylings were not to our liking, and the lack of dealerships in our area made it a difficult choice to consider.

We took a TL out for a spin and while I believe this is a GREAT car for the price, the FWD and the quality of fit and finish of the interior didn’t do it for us. The same could be said about the G35x as after testing the M, the G seemed to be seriously lacking.

The A6 was not a contender as we've had problems with Audi's in the past (99 and 02 A4's).

For the RL, we were offered an amazing deal on a brand new 05 which came in at about $5k less than the GS, and we received about $2k in options as well. The navigation and customizable settings surpassed the competition, and the 290hp led the group in power (though the weight of the porky RL equalized the field). Handling was on par with the 530, with the 530 a little more fun in my book, not my wife's. Power was about the same in the GS and RL, and the 530 felt a bit underpowered. Rear passenger compartment space, blue ambient lighting, bland exterior styling, and the confusing center stack/controls were our initial concerns with the RL, but after the second test drive we quickly figured out that most commands could be done via voice or the steering wheel, and the blue really wasn’t as bad at night as I thought it would be. The rear, well.. The wife has short legs, so anyone tall would feel like they were in our W220 as long as they sat behind her. Styling? Well, I personally think Acura missed the mark with the RL, but the wife loves its classing styling. I just wish they had used a 5x114 bolt pattern for the wheels

All 3 cars are great cars, but in the V6 AWD category, the RL won our hearts.

If we were to do it over, and we didn't need AWD, I honestly think we'd be in the smaller IS350 or E90 330i.

 

Excellent analysis. I'm glad you discovered that most of the commands can be done by voice. This is something Acura salespeople should emphasize.

 

When I was cross shopping, like many of you, I was doing comparisons with the M35x, A6, GS300AWD, and 530xi. I tried to make comparisons as apples to apples as much as I could. AWD was definitely a "must have" feature since I wanted to go up to Tahoe as often as possible this winter. It also still brings a smile to my face when CalTrans stops me at the summit during chain control to ask if my car is AWD. Anyhow, I know I could've have gotten a cheaper AWD car (A4, Impreza, Evo, etc.) but this was the class I was shopping for. My heart was actually set on the A6 (I love the A8), but the Acura stole the show when it came down to pricing. At $41,500 the RL was the best bang for my buck when it came to features, handling, and power. So I guess the price sold me. Anyhow, because I switch cars every 2 to 3 years, I ended up leasing it.

 

Wow. $41.5 was that for an 06 rl?

 

It's for an '05. I monitored various forums on Edmunds for awhile before negotiating. The first RL I looked at had 4500 miles on the clock, so I pitched the $41.5k price and hoped for the best. They accepted, and when they did, I emailed a different dealer and told them the price I was getting. Of course I didn't mention that the car already had 4500 miles. To make a long story short, dealer B matched the price on a new RL (w/o Miles). So I signed the dotted line for a Nighthawk Black '05 that came with rear lip, chrome wheels, all season mats, and wood shift knob. 15k miles/36 months lease.

 

Well played. Amazing price for the car (especially including the accessories).

 

Bravo!

 

Apart from the obvious (power, ride, handling), here's a short list:

1. Keyless entry. Great when you have young kids, and you're carrying them and their stuff around.

2. Doors open 180 degrees. If you have kids who ride in car seats, you will appreciate this as much as any feature when its 95 degrees out, 90 percent humidity, you're wearing a suit, and you're leaning in the car to buckle the kids in. The ease of access and the door not hitting you in the rear while making this maneuver is a huge thing. Trust me.

3. Navigation has no peers.

4. Dual A/C. My wife is always too cold.

5. Phenomenal sound system.

6. Safety.

7. Despite what some say, I think the car looks amazing. My neighbor has a new 5-series; anotehr has a TL. I like the RL much better.

 

Back in Late 04 I was in the market for a car and thought the new TL was superb looking. Went to the Acura web site and then the dealer and was blown away by the TL's Navi, voice command and bluetooth. I had noticed the new 05 RL's that were just hitting the dealers but was told that they were going for full MSRP. Since I always lease all my cars, the RL lease back then was between $700 to almost $800 per month. Yes, thats not a typo. So I leased my 05 TL w/ Navi. Even as I drove out with my new TL my wish was really for the RL.

Fast forward ten months to Aug 05. This forum had a lot of post about the great lease deals Acura was giving on the 05 RL. So I took my TL to the Acura dealer thinking all the time this might be too good to be true. Two hours later I had traded my 05 TL w/ Navi for my new 05 RL. Been super happy ever since.

 

At the time I lived on a street that was a bitch to get to in the winter in my Lexus IS300 so wanted an AWD car and also a car with slighty more luxury. I was set on the GS AWD but then when it got premiered to the world I didnt like the styling interior or exterior. I then got the RL because it had the badass AWD system and was really loaded with features.

I of course then moved after that one winter (so last winter, obviously) and now I don't really need an AWD car. If I still had my IS300 and got a new car now I'd prolly get the IS350 but no doubt I love the RL.