Breaking Up is Hard to do!
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RJH_MUSIC
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 33
Likes: 26
From: Brookfield, CT
Breaking Up is Hard to do!
Well, I never thought I would say this, but i am ending my 25 love affair with Acura. Over the last 25 years, I have owned 5 RL's and 2 MDX's. Mechanically, all cars have been great and very reliable. The crowning blow came with my 2020 RLX Sport Hybid. This has been a great car all around, but I there is one headache I just can't get over. I will come back to that in a minute. Back in July of last year, we traded in my son's (hand me down) 2009 Acura RL, (shich I must say is the best one I have owned) for a 2011 RL with 112k on it. My sones had 265k on it and was showing its age. We bought the car from small dealership. The original owner never took care of the car so within a week of owning it, we had to put $8k in repair bills into it. Skip ahead to 2026 and I put it in the shop for service. Another $3k for service and new struts. I now own a 2011 RL for twice what it is worth! Around the same time, we were looking for an MDX for my wife. Bought her 2020 MDX loaded with 50k miles on it. Guess what? Both rear struts were broken and the fronts were leaking. I made the dealer take the car back and we bought a Range Rover. While my son was home for winter break it needed a catalytic converter. Had trouble finding one, so My son brought my RLX back to school and I drove his RL to wait for the part to be fixed. On his way home from school for Christmas Break to swap cars, he hit a a pot hole on the highway in the RLX and caused the steal belt to separate in the Michilin (crap) tire. I brought the car to the dealership and again had to wait for them to locate 2 new front tires, On the way home, I hit a pothole on the other side and blew the tire. Now i need 4 new tires. Way pissed off at this point because in the last month I have spent almost another $8k in repair bills on both..
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
7th Gear
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 6
From: Calgary
Well, I never thought I would say this, but i am ending my 25 love affair with Acura. Over the last 25 years, I have owned 5 RL's and 2 MDX's. Mechanically, all cars have been great and very reliable. The crowning blow came with my 2020 RLX Sport Hybid. This has been a great car all around, but I there is one headache I just can't get over. I will come back to that in a minute. Back in July of last year, we traded in my son's (hand me down) 2009 Acura RL, (shich I must say is the best one I have owned) for a 2011 RL with 112k on it. My sones had 265k on it and was showing its age. We bought the car from small dealership. The original owner never took care of the car so within a week of owning it, we had to put $8k in repair bills into it. Skip ahead to 2026 and I put it in the shop for service. Another $3k for service and new struts. I now own a 2011 RL for twice what it is worth! Around the same time, we were looking for an MDX for my wife. Bought her 2020 MDX loaded with 50k miles on it. Guess what? Both rear struts were broken and the fronts were leaking. I made the dealer take the car back and we bought a Range Rover. While my son was home for winter break it needed a catalytic converter. Had trouble finding one, so My son brought my RLX back to school and I drove his RL to wait for the part to be fixed. On his way home from school for Christmas Break to swap cars, he hit a a pot hole on the highway in the RLX and caused the steal belt to separate in the Michilin (crap) tire. I brought the car to the dealership and again had to wait for them to locate 2 new front tires, On the way home, I hit a pothole on the other side and blew the tire. Now i need 4 new tires. Way pissed off at this point because in the last month I have spent almost another $8k in repair bills on both..
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 288
I second RLX suspension critique.
I just replaced both front lower control arms due to failing... the car had only 67k on the odo... luckily I had Acura Care warranty as the cost by dealer was around $2500 if I remember correctly that was covered... not sure why that much considering the OEM control arms are not that much, but what do I care.
I am currently soft searching for a replacement and considering SUVs, but not sure what to get... will report back what happens when it happens...
BTW, my wife's 13 TL is ROCK SOLID... feels like they do not make the cars how they used to before 2015...
I just replaced both front lower control arms due to failing... the car had only 67k on the odo... luckily I had Acura Care warranty as the cost by dealer was around $2500 if I remember correctly that was covered... not sure why that much considering the OEM control arms are not that much, but what do I care.
I am currently soft searching for a replacement and considering SUVs, but not sure what to get... will report back what happens when it happens...
BTW, my wife's 13 TL is ROCK SOLID... feels like they do not make the cars how they used to before 2015...
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 420
Likes: 140
From: Southwest Ohio
Well, I never thought I would say this, but i am ending my 25 love affair with Acura. Over the last 25 years, I have owned 5 RL's and 2 MDX's. Mechanically, all cars have been great and very reliable. The crowning blow came with my 2020 RLX Sport Hybid. This has been a great car all around, but I there is one headache I just can't get over. I will come back to that in a minute. Back in July of last year, we traded in my son's (hand me down) 2009 Acura RL, (shich I must say is the best one I have owned) for a 2011 RL with 112k on it. My sones had 265k on it and was showing its age. We bought the car from small dealership. The original owner never took care of the car so within a week of owning it, we had to put $8k in repair bills into it. Skip ahead to 2026 and I put it in the shop for service. Another $3k for service and new struts. I now own a 2011 RL for twice what it is worth! Around the same time, we were looking for an MDX for my wife. Bought her 2020 MDX loaded with 50k miles on it. Guess what? Both rear struts were broken and the fronts were leaking. I made the dealer take the car back and we bought a Range Rover. While my son was home for winter break it needed a catalytic converter. Had trouble finding one, so My son brought my RLX back to school and I drove his RL to wait for the part to be fixed. On his way home from school for Christmas Break to swap cars, he hit a a pot hole on the highway in the RLX and caused the steal belt to separate in the Michilin (crap) tire. I brought the car to the dealership and again had to wait for them to locate 2 new front tires, On the way home, I hit a pothole on the other side and blew the tire. Now i need 4 new tires. Way pissed off at this point because in the last month I have spent almost another $8k in repair bills on both..
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
I've replaced one, and one time two tires, on my 07 RL and 18 RLX and never had an issue.
Senior Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 20,067
Likes: 4,698
From: Cleveland area, OH
Could have tried downsizing to 18s to get more sidewall, but I understand not wanting to put more money into the car. And the suspension is “sporty” for a luxury car. Sorry to hear of the bad luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 885
Likes: 338
From: Merrimack, NH
I run 17" wheels/snow tires on the wife's '18 RLX Sport Hybrid, and it's much more forgiving on pot holes and general road cracks/bumps. We put the factory 19's on during the late spring/summer/fall when the roads are in better shape. If I were to run a single set of tires/wheels year-round (here in NH) I'd probably get 18" aftermarket wheels and put a set of Michelin CrossClimate 2's on it. My son ran these on his '25 ADX AWD this winter and they were outstanding in the tough winter we had this year. Thinking of putting those on my MDX ('19, Advance AWD) and ditch the winter tires/wheels this year.
Anyway, sorry to see you go from Acura/Honda. The RLX has been great, but granted we don't put a ton of miles on it and use the MDX largely for most of our driving (ground clearance in the winter, etc).
andy
Anyway, sorry to see you go from Acura/Honda. The RLX has been great, but granted we don't put a ton of miles on it and use the MDX largely for most of our driving (ground clearance in the winter, etc).
andy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 288
Well, I never thought I would say this, but i am ending my 25 love affair with Acura. Over the last 25 years, I have owned 5 RL's and 2 MDX's. Mechanically, all cars have been great and very reliable. The crowning blow came with my 2020 RLX Sport Hybid. This has been a great car all around, but I there is one headache I just can't get over. I will come back to that in a minute. Back in July of last year, we traded in my son's (hand me down) 2009 Acura RL, (shich I must say is the best one I have owned) for a 2011 RL with 112k on it. My sones had 265k on it and was showing its age. We bought the car from small dealership. The original owner never took care of the car so within a week of owning it, we had to put $8k in repair bills into it. Skip ahead to 2026 and I put it in the shop for service. Another $3k for service and new struts. I now own a 2011 RL for twice what it is worth! Around the same time, we were looking for an MDX for my wife. Bought her 2020 MDX loaded with 50k miles on it. Guess what? Both rear struts were broken and the fronts were leaking. I made the dealer take the car back and we bought a Range Rover. While my son was home for winter break it needed a catalytic converter. Had trouble finding one, so My son brought my RLX back to school and I drove his RL to wait for the part to be fixed. On his way home from school for Christmas Break to swap cars, he hit a a pot hole on the highway in the RLX and caused the steal belt to separate in the Michilin (crap) tire. I brought the car to the dealership and again had to wait for them to locate 2 new front tires, On the way home, I hit a pothole on the other side and blew the tire. Now i need 4 new tires. Way pissed off at this point because in the last month I have spent almost another $8k in repair bills on both..
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
My critisism of the RLX is that the suspension and struts are not sufficient to carry the weight of this car and coupled with the fact that you have to put low profile tires on the car, it makes it all that much worse, because there is not enough protection of the wheel Rim. Every time you hilt a pot hole, you hear a firceful bamg when the strut bottoms out. I have spent $3k on 2 new sets of Rims for my RLX in the five years due to bent or broken rims. 2 years ago, i hit pot hole on the interestate and the rim broke in half. I have spent another $2.5k on tires. I had just spent $1.2k on new tires in May of 2025 but since they could not match 2 new ones to it, I was forced to buy 4 new ones just last week. I'm Done! I am not particully fond of feeling every crack and wrinkle of the road in a luxury car and in my opinion, the there is a design flaw in these cars where the struts are just not sufficient for the chassis. Moving on to a BMW 7 series, which drives smoth as glass. I test drove a used one a week ago which was comparable in year and miles to the RLX. Same 19" wheels and tires. When we drove home in my RLX over the same excat raod, my wife remarked that the car we just test drove seemed a lot more smoother on the road. Love ya but gotta go!
Also, I've been checking out 25+ BMW X5 certified, and those are also sort of mid to high 50s...
Couple of alternatives are:
25+ BMW X3 M50 certified OR 25+ BMW 540Xdrive certified for low 50s... These two are lesser preference, but 25+ certified BMW gets me ultimately the same price and 4 year manuf. warranty... worse case scenario I get rid of it in 4 years when the warranty expired... and hope something else better is available... Now if we compare paid off car vs any car to buy now, it really is an easy decision. But considering what happens in the next year or two or three for my 2018 RLX (maintenance wise) price will certainly go down given the battery is no longer under warranty or anything else for that matter... so, may be jumping to BMW myself in the near future :/
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danmm7
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Oct 12, 2012 03:53 PM