What is the difference between the two, i saw the RL commercial says it can notify traffic updates, etc. Can the TL get real time updates? Do people have to pay for that service on the RL? If so, they must be able track where your car is, are TL's 'trackable'?

 

No one knows if TL would get the same Real-Time Traffic System in the future as RL does. But, lots of ppl here do believe the current TL system may be capable of doing upgrade in the coming future. We prolly won't know the answers unless Acura or Appine decide to release their tech info and ignore the impact to RL's sales records.


'05 RL owners get the 1yr service plan (TL'rs get 3-month). After it expires, yes, you have to pay for it in order to continue your service.


I don't think RL/TL could be "tracked" by the satellites or GPS, it's one way system. If you prefer to be konwn where you're, you could install the aftermarket system.

 

The 1 year/3 month thing that rets was talking about is XM Radio service.

The service that allows for the traffic info is XM NavTraffic (which costs a seperate fee from the radio service)

 

Maybe I'm wrong here... I thought the AcuraLink and XM NavTraffic are together and the 1st year of AcuraLink is included in teh vehicle purchase in addition to XM Satellite Radio service.

 

There must be some length of free navtraffic service which I guess Acura just calls AcuraLink. http://www.xmradio.com/xmnavtraffic/index.jsp

 

The TL gets 3 months free of XM satillite radio.
The RL gets 1 year free of XM satillite radio and XM NavTraffic. (Not sure about AcuraLink and OnStar)

AcuraLink is a type of message system in the RL that connects to Acura. They send messages to the navigation system. These massages have tips, recalls, and service appointments from Acura. Information is sent from the RL to Acura. This information includes engine information and system information. When you get a message from Acura, in the RL, an envelope icon is shown in the upper righthand corner. Clicking on this will bring up the message to veiw. Messages can be stored or deleted. Messages can also be read with the navigation's text-to-speech feature. XM NavTraffic can also be utilized through AcuraLink.

Up-to-the-minute traffic information through AcuraLink is provided by XM NavTraffic. It shows average speeds on metro area freeways to indicate traffic flow. It also shows the cause of the delay, whether it be an Accident/Incident, Construction, or a weather related problem. These can also be read to you with the navigation's text-to-speech feature.

For more information, visit the Acura site: Acura RL- Interior Showroom
Actually the RL can be tracked through OnStar. This feature, in OnStar, is useful for if your car gets stolen. The TL does not have this, so it cannot be tracked.

 

ok so aside from Traffice updating in RL, what else is the difference ?

 

1) AcuraLink, that can connect the RL to an Acura server.
2) More voice commands. (TL-250, RL-550)
3) The text-to-speech feature.
4) The Zagat reviews.
5) You can speak addresses, as well as street and city names.
6) XM NavTraffic feature.
7) There is a climate control screen.
8) TL- touch screen, joystick, buttons; RL- interface dial, buttons (no touch screen)

Basically the TL's and RL's navigation systems are almost the same, exept for a few additional features. These features may be added to the TL when we get an update in the future.

 

Btw, I believe RL/Odyssey use the new IBM system (Voice Recognition System)... better, faster and more accurate to recognize owners' commands...

 

The RL has 1 year of free XM, Navtraffic/Acuralink and Onstar. After that point you must pay for the XM service - and I read recently that the navtraffic is $9.99/month after that.

I do not believe the TL will get the text to speech feature (at least our current TL) or the zagat review. It is my understanding that the RL has a faster processor to be able to use those features - same with the MDX which has the zagat review - it has an upgraded processor.

The navtraffic I believe is something our system is capable of; however, at this point I doubt acura will offer an upgrade for us. I do think it will come in future TL's. If we did get navtraffic then I think we would get the notices from acura about recalls (through acuralink) but we will not have the capability to review error codes and understand what they are on the nav screen like the RL can do - that feature would require a direct link into the ECU (i believe)

 

The current TL model's navi is direct linked to the ECU also.

 

i actually lik our tl's better than the rl's

1) the red traffic lines and other colors kinda 'blur' out the real highways \
2) climate control screen
3) mainly that they r touch screen

 

Yup, the TL navi has the advantage. The touch screen is the main point. The IBM voice recognition might be more advanced and accurate than the TL, but there's still errors when trying to recognize human voice. There's no perfect voice recognition than perfect touch a button.