From the pictures it definitely looks like the '05 RL no longer has a touch screen. It looks like it requires you to use a BMW iDrive-like wheel.

Worse, that wheel is awkwardly placed on the center stack, vertically, in front of the shift lever. BMW's iDrive and Audi's MMC place the wheel horizontally on the console behind the shift lever, where it can be reached without stretching.

I wonder....

 

Repeat post. The screen is no longer touch-like. It's knob-like, a la BMW / Audi. Shame..

Apparently clients complained that they want the RL more like the upscale German marques. Buttheads. :banghead:

 

I don't get it. Why couldn't it be both knob-controlled and touch-controlled? The TL does this with the joystick (which I personally almost never use). Are we sure the new RL doesn't have both? Is there a link to that info?

 

Wow. If that's true, that is very unfortunate. The touch screen is one of the key features of Acura's Navi. I would not use a Navi that required you to enter text with a "knob control". Maybe they've enhanced the voice commands to facilitate text entry?

 

touch screen is more expensive... however, becareful using your touch screen... eventually it will left finger print mark and then scratches the touch screen and it will become less and less responsive.

 

On a similar post a few weeks ago someone had mentioned that a film can be instelled on the touch screen and protect it (like the ones that exist for pda's). Does anyone have any particular product to reccomend?

 

The link is www.strongengineering.com

 

Have you actually ordered from them? Satisfied by the product? Was it "custom-made"? In such a case can I just give them the name of the car and do they have the dimentions? Just being simply paranoid when it is to apply something on any screen

 

Yes, yes, and yes. They have the dimensions of our Navi screen, thanks to some other diligent people on this board.

It adheres using a thin strip of sticky stuff around the edges - hardly noticeable. Fingerprints come off it much more easily than directly off the Navi screen itself. And you have that sense of comfort that if it gets scratched or beat up over time, you can just peel it off and put on another one, while your actual screen remains pristine. I ordered two.

 

Hey, TLGator -

(1) Do you find that the film slightly degrades the quality of the Navi graphics? I know that my PDA display is more "washed out" and less "crisp" when I use a screen protector.

(2) Is the screen protector anti-glare?

 

(1) Yeah, or at least maybe. I find the screen itself does not handle glare well even though I am told it is an anti-glare screen. The protector also doesn't seem to handle glare well, and might degrade the pix just ever so slightly. Certainly not enough, though, to make me want to take it off.

(2) Oh, I guess I sort of answered that one already! Not sure if it is officially anti-glare, but if so, I'm not impressed.

 

Having both an ES300 and an 04 Max, both with Navs, I can attest to the fact that I would not want another Nav without a touch screen. It takes far more time to input data on a jog shuttle like the Maxima than a touchscreen like my ES. Big big mistake by Acura to do this on their flagship.

 

I bought their screen cover for the 2004 TL when they started offering it on their site. The ones they sent were too big and they said it was an error. They said replacements would be sent. It's been over 2 months and no replacements so I guess I am not satisfied with Strong Engineering.

 

I ordered from them and received mine within a couple of days. They fit perfectly so I'm happy with them.

 

Does your ES330 or Maxima allow you to enter addresses or other info while in motion. I thought the Toyota systems turned off input at 5mph.

 

Jss1 - You should contact Strong again. They are customer-friendly but somehow forgot about you. I believe they will make it up to you.

 

if it has voice command forget touch screen

 

Yup. I don't know of any Nav systems that allow you to input while driving anymore. The last car I had that did that was the 99TL. I understand the safety aspect, but it can be a pain at times.

 

Doesn't TL allow you to enter while driving? Our '01 BMW does.

 

I don't believe you'll find any newer cars allowing that anymore. The legal guys are pretty strict on that.

 

Maybe it should, but the Navi on the '04 TL doesn't restrict input while in motion. I've had passengers punch stuff in while I was driving. I think the restriction is unreasonable for that very reason.

 

Gator, are you sure??? This is the first I've heard of that! Does everyone else with the TL Nav have the same experience? I thought my test drive car would not allow input beyond 5 mph.

 

I'm sure. On the Interstate, I won't say how many MPH - my passenger trying to find us the nearest Home Depot - punching into the thing like mad - I was about to ask him if he found a video game on the Navi