ramilford

Just returned from dealer where I had my first service (B service) that I had to pay for since getting my '04 TL over a year ago (2/04). Salesman told me that 90% of all Acura sales come from the TL and the MDX. Of that 90%, 60% come from TL.
TL is definitely the sales leader for Acura. He said RL sales have been "dissappointing."

VelfarreClubber

I would think so too, i rarely see any RL's around

Batman-JGII

I can see that too. 100% of my Acura purchases fall in the group.

Repecat

I think the TSX is up there too. However, sales people are generally not well informed, so I would question a lot of their utterances.

rets

March 2005 sales records: https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/thinking-about-buying-lot-building-i-got-some-questions-112635/

Year to date (March 2005): 48,414 Acura total sales records

Year to date (Dec. 2004): 198,919 Acura total sales records

Year to date (Dec. 2003): 170,918 Acura total sales records

Year to date (Sept. 2003): 126,227 Acura total sales records

If we roughly cut off numbers from Sept. 2003, we have numbers, 292,024, the total sales of all Acura vehicles, and 88,837, the total sales of MDX since Oct. 03, that 3GTL starts to sell. 113,291 is the total of 3GTL.


Therefore, MDX and TL are "prolly" only 69% of all Acura sales records since Sept. 2003. Acura 3GTL are only 39%. IMHO.

rets

If you only include 2004 and 2005 sales, TL+MDX is around 68%, TL is 39%.

If only 2005, TL+MDX 65%, TL 37%.

Nodoze2004

My wife used to work for the local Acura dealer, and she is hearing from all sources at that store (GM included) that the RL is a 'dud' in terms of sales. There are large numbers of unsold RL's on the lot, and they are having trouble moving them.

I guess it would be a tough sell from a performance standpoint (the TL outperforms it). That leaves only the luxury buyers, who traditionally are looking for more frills (i.e. Lexus). I find the RL to be dull in styling, light in performance, and too expensive....although that is just me! I wouldn't buy one! Now slap in a 360+ horse V8 and that would be another matter. As it stands

We actually just picked up the MDX, and I must say it is REALLY outdated when compared to the TL. I am very underwhelmed by it overall. It's nice, but it is not a TL.

cM3go

Salesmen don't know what they are talking about.

VelfarreClubber

I think the RL is over priced for a 6 banger, it needs a v8 to justify the price for me.

Bob In Miami

While getting an oil change last week my salesman also mentioned the RLs are not selling well. He was told Acura was going to make the lease deals more attractive in an effort to sell more of them. Personally, I like the RLs interior and exterior design. It will be on my list of cars to check out when I am back in the market for a new car.

Bob

NFLblitze1

the RL is a little too pricey.....id rather get an S4 than an RL

matelot

haha what do the salesjerk know OUTSIDE of his shop

ndabunka

Of course, an S4 and an RL are NOTHING alike in ANYTHING other than price and 4WD. What's your point?

I also agree that the RL is priced higher than the market appears to be willing to support it. The RL and the BMW 5-series compete as would the A6 series (size) and the Lexus GS. There was a Motor Trend comparison last month with other "comprable" cars like the 5-series, Cadallac CTX, A6, Infinity M35, etc. The RL came in second to the M35. These cars are all in the $55K price range. At the VERY least, that article should have bumped the RL's sales.

VelfarreClubber

If i had the money for an RL i'd take the 5 series any day! 55k for an ACURA or BMW? its a no brainer

cM3go

You'd also have to remove at least 40% of the standard features that a comparitive V8 car in the price range wouldnt have in the first place...

its not all engine people

neuronbob

Well, DUH. The TL has been Acura's sales leader for years. More people can afford one than an RL. The salesmen at my dealer tell me exactly the same.

VelfarreClubber

Well thats how most people shop for cars, they look at simple things v6/8 powered everything, some basic luxury items etc, im sure the audi 1.4t owners are the opposite. But i do know some females that would buy an a4 just because of the looks and its lower 30,000 price range.

Im not sure of the pricing, but if the RL w/ a v8 is priced w/ the BMW 530i i'll still take the beemer, plus im confident that the beemers bluetooth/nav is much better since you can see your contacts on the screen and various other things.

quake97

I see a decent amount of RSXs on the roads around my house and work too. Same goes for the RSX. I do see a lot more TLs though. As for the RL, the only ones I've seen are people demoing them. The Acura dealership is within walking distance of my house.

Joe

chill_dog

See lots of TL's here; seen 2 RL's. For $50k, I would expect a V8. I'm not too big on the styling, but you have to consider, the RL's target audience isn't 20-30 somethings, it's middle aged to old people (no offense to anyone). Bland styling goes hand in hand with that market...look at the LS, E-series, 7-series, big Lincoln's, etc...all have relatively plain, simple lines, you know, classy, refined. Cadillac, in an effort to draw a younger market, has made their cars more "edgy", more distinct, but prior to that, they were the same as the rest. Maybe Cadillac's on to something...maybe the baby boomers who grew up with performance cars that looked sharp still want performance cars that look sharp as opposed to the WW2 generation who grew up with big bland cars and still want big bland cars. I'll bet in the next 10 years, most auto makers' cars for the older market will more stylish and have some level of performance greater than a Crown Vic.

Pro Stock John

I think the big luxury car market is very competitive and the RL is priced high. Some of us bought the TL because it was 7k cheaper than a comparable Mercedes. I think that mindset would carry for the RL too. /2 cents

HondaOnly

The new RL is a dud. It may be a big improvement over the previous RL, but aside from the AWD system, I can't think of anything special about the RL. The TL looks awesome, the RL looks dull. The TL is a great value, the RL is overpriced. The TL flies, the RL is underpowered. Even though the new Lexus GS is underpowered, I would rather get a GS that an RL. And once the next TL comes out with more power and AWD, the RL will fall of the map.

neuronbob

I actually like the RL's styling, especially in A-Spec styling. However, I don't think SH-AWD + traffic monitoring are worth another 15k. If I had to choose between the TL and RL, the TL wins every time. I have to jump aboard the V8 bandwagon, but.......I have to admit, a V8 would make me look twice.

Otherwise, Acura might as well put SH-AWD on the TL because it will just make the TL a bigger seller than it already is, especially up here in the frigid north.

Nodoze2004

The funny thing is that Acura is touting number comparisons to the OLD RL in press releases. Take a look:

Additionally, strong demand for the all-new RL luxury performance sedan continued with sales of 1,376 up 193.8 percent compared to 2004. Year-to-date RL sales of 4,159 outpaced last year's total of 1,428 by 195.1 percent.

The 2004 RL was an outdated land yacht that hadn't been updated in years. The new RL is a complete dud, yet they refuse to admit it.

elsensei

Poor RL. I think there is no way Acura will make its target of 20k units for the RL this year. There is too much competition (GS, M, etc) that just came out.

Still, if it continues to sell poorly, soon it will be selling at or below invoice. At $44k (invoice), you could get a pretty nice loaded car w/300hp. Yes it is a v6, but it is a more powerful v6 than the GS300, M35, or BMW530. And it has a lot of nice features, nav w/traffic, etc.

I sat in an RL at a recent car show, I found it to be very comfortable and liked the interior better than the new GS. True, the exterior is a little plain, but it looks classy in the right color.

Does anyone like the RL more if you could get it for $44k or less?

navdhanju

Id rather have the HONDA BUILT V6 over a V8 anyday. Reason being.... even though it is only a V6... it is still onew of the most efficiant V6's ion the world.

And that is what HONDA/ACURA is about. Effiency (sp?), while still being overall luxurious.

Nodoze2004

The problem is that while there are some differentiating features between the TL and RL, there are not enough to warrant the 15k price difference (at least that is what many here have said). Both cars are based on the exact same platform (the Accords) which is also another slight in my book as well. BMW 7 series and BMW 5 series are not built on the same platform, the Infiniti M does not share the G35's platform etc!! I think what is truly happening here is that some very serious competition is taking place in the market. Infiniti is going after BMW with a vengeance to become the new benchmark product against which others are judged (Bangle is certainly leaving the door open for this). The new M is kicking ass and taking names (granted the RL did place second against it, but still the M wiped the floor with it in regards to performance). I have to admit that even I looked at the car, and I don't like Nissan's. It is a sweet ride. The new offerings from Lexus are posing a threat as well.

I think that even the TL sales are going to slow up soon with some of the new competition entering the marketplace. The new IS, new Mazda 6, Infiniti G, etc etc. Only time will tell. I like my Acura, but I still think there is room for improvement (service department is a joke).

Acura just sits on the sidelines.....

iamhomin

Nice, and perhaps a lot of things will be mixed and shaken by the year 2007.

thaita78

shoot, for $40K I wouldn't mind getting AWD and better NAV unit. Though, with poor sales, how is resale value affected?

elsensei

Granted it probably isn't worth the $15k from a Nav TL to the Rl. But is it worth $10K? Now you are in a similar ballpark. With TL w/nav's running around $34k (i know give or take depending on where you are) suddenly a RL at invoice $44k looks more appealing. You get AWD (for those who want that), better interior, larger car, etc.

For me the RL would be great at about $40-42k, dump the AWD (I don't need it, and it adds cost), make it rear dive, and keep the rest. Then you are competitive with M35 (280hp) and the GS (245), and keep the AWD as a OPTION for those who want to pay more for it.

BTW the M IS based on the G35 platform! Infiniti says it is 60% new, if I remember correctly, from the current G to the new M. So yes the platform has been changed but it is still based on the G. Regardless, I too checked it out and I think the M's are pretty impressive.

I don't see the platform as a major factor, my wife's odessy is similar to the accord platform and thus similar to the TL. But they drive as differently as could be. As long as the car drives well I don't fault honda for sharing platforms and some components.

elsensei

Well, it is going to take a dump. I think current RL owners will see a steep hit in 2008 or so when they start looking at trade in. The RL has always been a low volume niche car, and with so many new 2006 competitors (plus more on the way, like the hybrid GS later in 06), the current 05 early adopters at full MSRP are going to get burned I'm afraid.

AcuraGT-3

The Infiniti M35/45 does share the G35 platform, which is the 350Z platform (also used in the FX). The car has a stretched FM platform.

HiG4s

You believed a salesman?

I would like to see some facts to back that up.