I was thinking about my car for the past few weeks and how little I actually get to drive it. At my job I drive a company vehicle, so I only really get to drive my car on the weekends, sometimes for a few minutes during the week, but otherwise it just sits in my garage. What about you guys? I would just be interested to know who actually feels they get what they paid for.

 

We all have different perceptions of value or worth in our rides. For some it is style, prestige, brand, economy, safety, performance, necessity, and many combinations thereof. So not one person can speak to this outside of what apeals to them personally and specifically. So I will offer my take....

I have been considering an MDX in addition to my RL simply for the room & utility needs. It would likely be the weekend veicle and perhaps reduce mileage, wear & tear on the RL. I am seeing my RL as a long term ride in my garage. Perhaps something alternative to it alongside.

But then I think of the cost, double insurance for 2 vehicles I can only ride one at a time. Double the labor for my anal care care needs. And double the new car fever each time newer models are released (I for one, am pleased the RL model changes have been stagnant). This is just my personal sickness.

So I keep coming full circle that the RL is the only car I need. And it is the car I want to drive & own.

Now what a second vehilce could offer, I wonder if you experience already? Each time I am away form my RL for a couple of days, on a biz trip, a rental or even a loaner from my dealer, not only do I miss my RL, I appreciate it even more when I return to driving it. That experience of 'absence makes that heart grow fonder' is my affirmation that the RL has been worth it.

I have said it before, I'll continue saying it. For me, the RL has been the best vehicle I have owned, period. It was the best offering of the commonly discussed competitors for my tastes and needs. It still love the style, the features overwhelming, the balance of performance handling and comfort / luxury are right on as well as the balance of economy, power & ULEV2 I find impressive.

I am approaching year 1 and 12k miles and I get the same thrill when I enter this car now as I did when I drove it home from the dealer. Am I gushing? Yep...and I am glad I am gushing...my bank account took a 41K hit. No regrets.

 

Absolutely! My RL has been a great car, arguably the best that I've owned so far (and that includes my 1990 735iA). It is my daily driver (Mon-Thur, I drive my CRV on Fridays) and even at that, I would love to drive it more. So far, worth every penny.

 

Well, I do 15,000 miles a year each in two different cars, and I still consider the RL as my "nice" car. The new MDX is nice, too, for an SUV, but it's not the one I'd pick to drive to a fancy restaurant or a wedding reception at the country club.

And I've been trying to "bank" a few miles on it for the road trip we're taking next month ... don't want to go too far over the 15,000 miles per year allowance on my lease!

But I'd say yes, I'm getting my money's worth.

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Heck yeah I'm getting my money's worth. And more. I love this car.

I'm only sorry I have to give up my RL for ten days as we make our yearly pilgrimage to Colorado to visit my parents. Unfortunately, that funny-shaped trunk in the RL will simply not take all of the baby's gear (pack-n-play and stroller take up hella room), so unless I come up with a creative packing method, we're taking the Pilot. I'm already going through withdrawl and the trip's a week away.

 

Well look at the bright side at least your RL wont get all those extra miles put on it.

 

19K miles in just 14 months of ownership. I would say yes. I actually wish I didn't put on that many miles.

 

Bob . . . . . . you said hella, I'm at a loss for words here

 

Since I put 500+ miles a week on the car, I'm getting good value

 

Best car ownership experience ever (granted i haven't owned many).... Currently on a 5K east-west road trip, and have nothing but good things to say about this car... 17+hrs daily in it and i can barely feel it.... if back/butt start hurting, i just turn the seat heaters on for a few seconds to restore blood flow and viola!!!

I can't wait to see what '09/'10 models look like! If they contain features deemed as must-haves (by ppl on this forum), then its the only way i will trade my existing RL i.e. one RL for another one (nothing else is worth the trade IMHO)

 

Coming up on one year in August and 20K mileage....Still perfectly content.

 

Now at 11,000 miles and 7 months of ownership. Driving this serene and capable vehicle makes the famously painful SoCal commute almost bearable. Definitely worth it!!

 

Value: Hell yes.

All I think about is having paid 4k more than a loaded up discounted Avalon. Its like paying a dollar more per pound for Filet Mignon over ground chuck.

 

I just took my baby for a spin, it is like seeing a loved one after being away all week

 

Wow, you either buy really expensive ground chuck, or really cheap filet mignon. I just paid $12.59 for a pound of filet, which was about $10 less than ground chuck. :-)

 

Value is either perceived or actual. I perceive my RL to be a good value, but when I look at the operating costs per mile* (80 cents) my RL is not so good.

Car payments = $7,812
Insurance = $600
Gas and Oil = $2,000

Total = $10,412/yr for 13,000 miles/yr = 80 cents

 

Oops, the ground chuck was $10 less than the filet.

 

Well I guess what I meant is I'm getting filet mignon for the price of ground chuck. The RL is alot of car for the money.

 

Check out Edmunds.com. The true cost to own the RL is the lowest of any luxury vehicle on the market. True cost to own is factored by the cost of vehicle, depreciation, insurance and maintenance cost. Maintenance on the vehicle over the lifetime is considered to be very low relative to other luxury cars.

 

I knew that about what Edmunds.com has to say, but until I have my car paid off (which is not likely since I trade so often) my "true" cost will remain what it actually is, unless Edmunds wants to help pay my bills.

 

Well I hear ya. However if you had a comparable Lexus or Infiniti and certainly an Audi or BMW I gurantee you your costs would be much higher, Maybe a $1 per mile on the German cars.

 

If the car was priced twice as much as it really is, my wife would pay it. That's how much she loves this car!

As for getting your money's worth on a car, I sold my S2000 after 4.5 years of ownership with less than 20k miles on it. My e36 M3 has racked up a staggering 1500 miles since last November, though I've flushed all the fluids at least a half dozen times. Both of these cars are well worth my money in my little insignificant world

 

I do have to say, the RL is the first car I have owned in a long time that doesnt have me itching to trade in, in a year or less. My last car was a 05 TL and I owned just over a year.

 

Ditto. As impressed with the TL I was, it lasted just over a year. The RL is now on its 1st year and I grow happier with it as time progresses. I too suffer from new car fever and think the RL may be a cure. That is, assuming I don't decide on a second vehicle!

The RL just grows on you and as much criticism it gets for styling, I see it looking handsome many years down the road, just as LEGENDs still look appealing to me. I like that I see so few on the road. I swear I see more TLs than Accords anymore (not to say I've lost any lust for the TL styling). And for being too anonymous in the styling department....I sure get a lot of looks!