Q-Tip Mobile? (How Old Are We?)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 175
Likes: 118
Q-Tip Mobile? (How Old Are We?)
i've wanted an RLX Hybrid for a while and am digging my 2016. But I've heard/read the comments about old fogey styling. DW gigged me a little when I brought it home about being an ole' guys car. I don't think so. I recently drove a NISMO 370 Z and a Panamera and my RLX (priced halfway in between) blows the doors off the Z and stands tall against the Porsche. So I'm curious. How old are us 3G RLX drivers? Are we indeed all guys? I'll go first.
51 years young. Guy.
51 years young. Guy.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 1,021
From: Western Canada
I'm 56 years OLD. Guy.
The pricing of the RLX puts it's target buyer well into the wealth accumulation phase of life and it's smooth quiet ride is more "appreciated" (I couldn't think of a better word) by a more mature driver.
If it is an old fogey car, the RLX sure manages to add a lot of fun to this old man's life. Also, not to sound like a broken record (old man term), but the RLX's amazing interior necessitates the exterior dimensions. Furthermore, my RLX's styling has received nothing but compliments from all who see it for the first time (although I must admit that most of those glowing comments that I have received are from people in their 50's) .
The pricing of the RLX puts it's target buyer well into the wealth accumulation phase of life and it's smooth quiet ride is more "appreciated" (I couldn't think of a better word) by a more mature driver.
If it is an old fogey car, the RLX sure manages to add a lot of fun to this old man's life. Also, not to sound like a broken record (old man term), but the RLX's amazing interior necessitates the exterior dimensions. Furthermore, my RLX's styling has received nothing but compliments from all who see it for the first time (although I must admit that most of those glowing comments that I have received are from people in their 50's) .
i've wanted an RLX Hybrid for a while and am digging my 2016. But I've heard/read the comments about old fogey styling. DW gigged me a little when I brought it home about being an ole' guys car. I don't think so. I recently drove a NISMO 370 Z and a Panamera and my RLX (priced halfway in between) blows the doors off the Z and stands tall against the Porsche. So I'm curious. How old are us 3G RLX drivers? Are we indeed all guys? I'll go first.
51 years young. Guy.
51 years young. Guy.
I'm in my late 40's. Does that make me old? I've got a shock of gray hair, too, if that helps.
Torch & Pitchfork Posse
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 1,807
From: Tampa, Florida
53. My SH can be spotted at the Golden Corral for the early bird / AARP specials.
See a trend? And not so much on age, but also understanding the difference between understated styling versus boring. Sophisticated Neon is an oxymoron.
See a trend? And not so much on age, but also understanding the difference between understated styling versus boring. Sophisticated Neon is an oxymoron.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 472
Likes: 201
As my 94 year old mother continues to say, " I am as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth". Am chronologically in my 60s, but the MRI says I have the neck bones of a guy in his 80s and a brain that looks younger than my actual age . . . . . . The RLX seats are appreciated by this periodic road warrior who looks forward to the reportedly even smoother ride of the SH-AWD version.
Last edited by wstr75; Feb 10, 2017 at 01:27 PM.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 1,164
I'm the baby in the group I believe at 47. I think the car is a lot of fun, even with the imperfections. Nothing is without flaws, so to expect none is silly. Drive carefully out there. Watch the potholes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 748
From: NY
I'm 56 years OLD. Guy.
The pricing of the RLX puts it's target buyer well into the wealth accumulation phase of life and it's smooth quiet ride is more "appreciated" (I couldn't think of a better word) by a more mature driver.
If it is an old fogey car, the RLX sure manages to add a lot of fun to this old man's life. Also, not to sound like a broken record (old man term), but the RLX's amazing interior necessitates the exterior dimensions. Furthermore, my RLX's styling has received nothing but compliments from all who see it for the first time (although I must admit that most of those glowing comments that I have received are from people in their 50's) .
The pricing of the RLX puts it's target buyer well into the wealth accumulation phase of life and it's smooth quiet ride is more "appreciated" (I couldn't think of a better word) by a more mature driver.
If it is an old fogey car, the RLX sure manages to add a lot of fun to this old man's life. Also, not to sound like a broken record (old man term), but the RLX's amazing interior necessitates the exterior dimensions. Furthermore, my RLX's styling has received nothing but compliments from all who see it for the first time (although I must admit that most of those glowing comments that I have received are from people in their 50's) .
Unfortunately I got a speeding ticket the other day, but when he handed me the ticket I had this big smirk on my face.....the reason why: The ticker read.....Make: ACURA, Model: LEGEND...... Thanks Tampa
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 748
From: NY
As my 94 year old mother continues to say, " I am as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth". Am chronologically in my 60s, but the MRI says I have the neck bones of a guy in his 80s and a brain that looks younger than my actual age . . . . . . The RLX seats are appreciated by this periodic road warrior who looks forward to the reportedly even smoother ride of the SH-AWD version.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 734
Likes: 562
From: Malibu, Ca
I am about to enter my 7th decade but feel much younger. While i agree the comment about the old fogey styling, for me it is about the drive. My Sport Hybrid doesn't drive like an old fogey car. I do wish for a younger looking body [in my car and otherwise] but I'll take performance over appearance any day. I was a lot younger when I bought my first Acura, a 1984 Legend.
Torch & Pitchfork Posse
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 1,807
From: Tampa, Florida
I got a parking ticket in my client's parking garage recently. It also indicated Acura LEGEND. But the ticket was for parking in the designated FEV spaces. I went to the security office to correct them, that not only did I have a FEV parking sticker (yeah, it's GREEN) in the corner of the rear window, I showed a pic on my smartphone with the HYBRID badge on the front wings. The rental cop disputed the car was a hybrid (a short pimply little turd with attitude). Admit-tingly my SH sticks out of the row of parked Prius' like Godzilla in Tokyo, but this mentality is one reason Sport Hybrid is beyond common understanding. I finally pulled out my tablet looked up the Acura site for the RLX SH and sent him the link. On my way out of the office, he walked with me to the garage, apparently overwhelmed such creature exists. I told him to look up and read about the new NSX. I expect his head will explode like a zit.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 175
Likes: 118
Regarding the demographics of the RLX driver, here is what AutoBlog's Jon Ramsey had to say in 2014...
"Performance wise, the RLX is a first-rate drive. The problem is that you have to dig through all of that milquetoast styling to get to it, which you can only do after forking over what will probably be Audi money. The sticker on the A6 that Acura brought to the event was $63,495. The front-wheel-drive RLX P-AWS from our Review was $57,845 and the Sport Hybrid model in our First Drive was $61,345. Even minus those two extra cylinders and perpetual-motion driveshaft, the RLX Sport Hybrid is good enough to earn the attention of anyone who appreciates proper handling, but based on its exterior styling and Honda cues, it would have to be the kind of person who doesn't mind eating a filet mignon off a paper plate. All right, so that's a tad harsh, but the point stands.That buyer, by the way, is just the one Acura refers to in the 2012 Strategic Vision survey that showed the number one purchase decision for luxury buyers last year was value for the money, with manufacturer reputation coming a close second. Of course, those buyers are out there .... But in spite of Strategic Vision's findings, those buyers are a minority, because the central point of luxury is largely antithetical to the idea of value for money. For proof, note that the 911 Turbo outsells the much less expensive GT-R, the E-Classoutsells the less expensive 5 Series and much less expensive A6, and the A6 – which only does a third of the business of the E-Class in the US – has always done multiples of RL/RLX sales. Acura says the competitive set is "hybrid and/or all-wheel-drive versions of Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Infiniti Q50, Lexus GS, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class." The target buyer is a married, 48-year-old man with a median household income of at least $200,000 and who works in finance, real estate or health care. Those are the same customers buying the competition, but in the RLX Sport Hybrid, Acura is pitching a wolf in sheep's clothing to people who mainly want a sheep that's been branded with the right badge... or a wolf."
The full blog post is a good read, but that's a little off topic so I didn't quote more.
"Performance wise, the RLX is a first-rate drive. The problem is that you have to dig through all of that milquetoast styling to get to it, which you can only do after forking over what will probably be Audi money. The sticker on the A6 that Acura brought to the event was $63,495. The front-wheel-drive RLX P-AWS from our Review was $57,845 and the Sport Hybrid model in our First Drive was $61,345. Even minus those two extra cylinders and perpetual-motion driveshaft, the RLX Sport Hybrid is good enough to earn the attention of anyone who appreciates proper handling, but based on its exterior styling and Honda cues, it would have to be the kind of person who doesn't mind eating a filet mignon off a paper plate. All right, so that's a tad harsh, but the point stands.That buyer, by the way, is just the one Acura refers to in the 2012 Strategic Vision survey that showed the number one purchase decision for luxury buyers last year was value for the money, with manufacturer reputation coming a close second. Of course, those buyers are out there .... But in spite of Strategic Vision's findings, those buyers are a minority, because the central point of luxury is largely antithetical to the idea of value for money. For proof, note that the 911 Turbo outsells the much less expensive GT-R, the E-Classoutsells the less expensive 5 Series and much less expensive A6, and the A6 – which only does a third of the business of the E-Class in the US – has always done multiples of RL/RLX sales. Acura says the competitive set is "hybrid and/or all-wheel-drive versions of Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Infiniti Q50, Lexus GS, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class." The target buyer is a married, 48-year-old man with a median household income of at least $200,000 and who works in finance, real estate or health care. Those are the same customers buying the competition, but in the RLX Sport Hybrid, Acura is pitching a wolf in sheep's clothing to people who mainly want a sheep that's been branded with the right badge... or a wolf."
The full blog post is a good read, but that's a little off topic so I didn't quote more.
Last edited by Scott in AZ; Feb 11, 2017 at 10:38 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 24
From: Chicago
38 yrs young... so I'll take the cake here! The '16 SH fits my life perfectly. I drive in EV for most of my work commutes and engage sport for nearly every other venture. It's has become our regular road trip car along with our 8 month old. Luggage is a bit tight, but it helps us to pack more economically. Undoubtedly, I'm not the target audience for this vehicle (probably Acura would steer me to a TLX SH-AWD), but I much prefer the Japanese-built chassis, which is why our other car is a TSX Wagon...
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 945
From: Atlanta, GA
42 yrs old here. I got my RLX because I was at a point where I could afford a step up. Unfortunately didn't get that step up.
The exterior design was nice, but overall boring. And no that doesn't mean that I need a car with snob appeal or that I have to define myself by a car that draws constant staring and looks. I just like an exterior design that has more attention to detail, with a bit more of a sportier/sexier appeal that creates an emotional feeling for me when I look at it. I don't care what anyone else thinks about what my car looks like. It's what I like to see when I walk in and out of the vehicle. Current exteriors that I love are the A3, A5, TT, Q60, LC500, BMW 3 & 4 series, Accord Coupe, . And of course the NSX, but I'm not quite there yet...
The RLX interior however was fantastic. It's the one thing I miss dearly.
The exterior design was nice, but overall boring. And no that doesn't mean that I need a car with snob appeal or that I have to define myself by a car that draws constant staring and looks. I just like an exterior design that has more attention to detail, with a bit more of a sportier/sexier appeal that creates an emotional feeling for me when I look at it. I don't care what anyone else thinks about what my car looks like. It's what I like to see when I walk in and out of the vehicle. Current exteriors that I love are the A3, A5, TT, Q60, LC500, BMW 3 & 4 series, Accord Coupe, . And of course the NSX, but I'm not quite there yet...
The RLX interior however was fantastic. It's the one thing I miss dearly.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 97
Likes: 56
From: Connecticut
38 yrs young... so I'll take the cake here! The '16 SH fits my life perfectly. I drive in EV for most of my work commutes and engage sport for nearly every other venture. It's has become our regular road trip car along with our 8 month old. Luggage is a bit tight, but it helps us to pack more economically. Undoubtedly, I'm not the target audience for this vehicle (probably Acura would steer me to a TLX SH-AWD), but I much prefer the Japanese-built chassis, which is why our other car is a TSX Wagon...
