Worst selling car of 2011...
Thread Starter
Black
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 18
From: Atlanta, GA
Worst selling car of 2011...
Senior Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 20,067
Likes: 4,699
From: Cleveland area, OH
Dude. That makes it rare and collectible! 
Watch out for the 2011 RL in 30 years at Barrett-Johnson or Mecum's! 
Edit: The replies are hilarious. My favorite:
So which AZ member is this, I wonder? It's not me...
Watch out for the 2011 RL in 30 years at Barrett-Johnson or Mecum's! Edit: The replies are hilarious. My favorite:
Dear Honda,
You do not know what the customers want better than the customers.
Here is some free advice: The formula for a luxury-performance sedan is a front engine and rear wheel drive platform. You also need V8 and AWD options. People associate luxury cars with BMW and Mercedes, they are RWD. Infiniti and Lexus have this figured out, and you have not.
If you decide to stay with a front wheel drive based platform, at least give it a RWD proportion, like the new Audi sedans (except the A8/S8) or your second generation Legend and the first generation RL. Currently, your RL looks like an Accord from two generations ago, but it costs 50k. At this price range, people want style. Having 7-series interior space without the style means nothing to luxury customers. The beak needs to go.
Also, not everyone wants a hybrid. If you make your next RL hybrid only, like your CR-Z, you are screwed.
You do not know what the customers want better than the customers.
Here is some free advice: The formula for a luxury-performance sedan is a front engine and rear wheel drive platform. You also need V8 and AWD options. People associate luxury cars with BMW and Mercedes, they are RWD. Infiniti and Lexus have this figured out, and you have not.
If you decide to stay with a front wheel drive based platform, at least give it a RWD proportion, like the new Audi sedans (except the A8/S8) or your second generation Legend and the first generation RL. Currently, your RL looks like an Accord from two generations ago, but it costs 50k. At this price range, people want style. Having 7-series interior space without the style means nothing to luxury customers. The beak needs to go.
Also, not everyone wants a hybrid. If you make your next RL hybrid only, like your CR-Z, you are screwed.
Last edited by neuronbob; Jan 6, 2012 at 11:52 AM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 308
Likes: 4
smh.. and it wasn't even close either.. what an undeserving fate for such a reliable, safe & luxurious bargain!! Acura is to blame for poor marketing though as I haven't seen an RL commercial ever since I bought my own..
Although the two big silver linings in this are our exclusivity and since 2006, many Aziners including myself got 5k-10k off MSRP when we purchased our RL's!! Where else can someone score a buy as good as that for such a great car!!
Although the two big silver linings in this are our exclusivity and since 2006, many Aziners including myself got 5k-10k off MSRP when we purchased our RL's!! Where else can someone score a buy as good as that for such a great car!!
Senior Moderator
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 31,897
Likes: 7,251
From: Austin, TX
I like how in the reply Bob quoted they say "make the RL hybrid only". It truly shows how little the consumer knows about what they are talking about. A hybrid SH-AWD and a hybrid civic are not the same idea.
I saw a bunch of RLs in commercials this past month. "The season of reason" campaign featured an RL and an MDX at the end of the commercials. However, it did not state it was an RL.
I saw a bunch of RLs in commercials this past month. "The season of reason" campaign featured an RL and an MDX at the end of the commercials. However, it did not state it was an RL.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 107
Likes: 12
From: Orange County, CA
I like how the RL has always been a practical car. I have tried the last gen GS, it was tight and a bunch of blind spots. I couldn't even sit in the middle. Not to mention the trunk space.... bad.
I love how the RL can still carry people and cargo. Not to mention the awesome AWD system Acura gave. Overall, i'm pleased with the car. Not so much with city MPG.
Assuming this next RL is hybrid, I hope they find a good place for the battery. Please do not sacrifice the trunk space!
Acura is definitely PRACTICAL LUXURY. PL? Name of next Acura sedan? haha
I love how the RL can still carry people and cargo. Not to mention the awesome AWD system Acura gave. Overall, i'm pleased with the car. Not so much with city MPG.
Assuming this next RL is hybrid, I hope they find a good place for the battery. Please do not sacrifice the trunk space!
Acura is definitely PRACTICAL LUXURY. PL? Name of next Acura sedan? haha
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 308
Likes: 4
The trunk space & rear room are slightly below avg imo for a car this size & I do agree about the city mpg is a little suspect.. but other than that, it's a great car & I'll take it if that's the only negative things I can think on the fly..
oo7 yeah I've seen those commercials as well although yeah they never mentioned the RL like you said so it doesn't hold as much weight.. When I was talking about lack of RL commercials however, I was referring to commercials specifically for the RL only & not just a general one..
oo7 yeah I've seen those commercials as well although yeah they never mentioned the RL like you said so it doesn't hold as much weight.. When I was talking about lack of RL commercials however, I was referring to commercials specifically for the RL only & not just a general one..
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 88
From: NY
"Wow. 5000 lbs. 500 HP. and it still gets better mileage than an 2008 Acura RL.
What a cool beast."
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
nuff said
What a cool beast."
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
nuff said
Senior Moderator
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 31,897
Likes: 7,251
From: Austin, TX
Hey, I have an idea. Let's compare a brand new resdesigned 2013 model car to a 2008 model car using technology from 2004 and try to draw a meaningful conclusion from it. 
Honda is implementing DI, cylinder shutdown, 7-speed trannys, and hybrid drive trains. Let's give it 6 months before jumping to conclusions.
Honda is implementing DI, cylinder shutdown, 7-speed trannys, and hybrid drive trains. Let's give it 6 months before jumping to conclusions.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 46
From: Pennsylvania
So here's my take on things. My '05 RL is long gone, but I regret selling it to this day. A visit to the Acura website shows virtually NO RL's available for sale anywhere in the country. Go ahead, try to find one for sale. I'm seriously considering buying a '12, if I could only find one out there. It may be old tech, but I've yet to find anything comparable for the money.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 30
From: Boston, MA
Even if the 2013 RL is a home run, I'd wait for the 2014 model. If all that new tech is in the car, there are bound to be bugs, just like the 2005 RL. It kind of sucks for me - I'll be ready for a new car by the end of the year, but would need to wait until the fall of 2013 for a new RL. I'm not sure I can wait that long.
takin care of Business in
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,994
Likes: 4,733
From: Kansas City, MO
I drove the E350 and swore i will never buy that car....puny little v6 powering the 3800-3900 lb car.... 
i took the older model for a drive, and making a U turn at the light the dealer said "step on it" my reply was "dude my foot has been sleeping on the car but this car doesnt wanna go forward" and he kept saying some BS about how they "turn the hp down" on test drive cars....
but yeah i swore that day, no mb e350, if you wanna buy a mb then mb e550 or c63 amg
i took the older model for a drive, and making a U turn at the light the dealer said "step on it" my reply was "dude my foot has been sleeping on the car but this car doesnt wanna go forward" and he kept saying some BS about how they "turn the hp down" on test drive cars....
but yeah i swore that day, no mb e350, if you wanna buy a mb then mb e550 or c63 amg
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 123
Likes: 1
From: UK
So here's my take on things. My '05 RL is long gone, but I regret selling it to this day. A visit to the Acura website shows virtually NO RL's available for sale anywhere in the country. Go ahead, try to find one for sale. I'm seriously considering buying a '12, if I could only find one out there. It may be old tech, but I've yet to find anything comparable for the money.
takin care of Business in
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,994
Likes: 4,733
From: Kansas City, MO
^^^ STATUS mah man....
am a desi, and one thing WE like is showing off.....trust me....we are not modest by any means LOL....
my girl got a super expensive Lexus, just for the badge....the minute i told her lexus were made by toyota like acura is made by honda, she was like lets get a BMW/MB....
Audi has yet to reach that status symbol i guess (atleast for the desi community LOL)
am a desi, and one thing WE like is showing off.....trust me....we are not modest by any means LOL....
my girl got a super expensive Lexus, just for the badge....the minute i told her lexus were made by toyota like acura is made by honda, she was like lets get a BMW/MB....
Audi has yet to reach that status symbol i guess (atleast for the desi community LOL)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 993
Likes: 288
Having in mind 2013 is coming out soon that news is not going to help to boost the numbers for 2011 year... They needed something economical that competes with Series 7 and S-class... 2013 should bring something like it...
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 308
Likes: 4
LoL you mean the "everybody has one" E-Class?? It's a great looking car but they are a dime-a-dozen here on LI.. & yes the fact that ppl spend 20k more for the status symbol cracks me up..
As for spending 50k on a new 2012, aren't well informed RL buyers still getting 5k - 10k off MSRP due to the low demand & lack of advertising??
As for spending 50k on a new 2012, aren't well informed RL buyers still getting 5k - 10k off MSRP due to the low demand & lack of advertising??
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