Alright guys, here are 2 questions up for your input and opinion....

1) Is the 2009 TL moving up in class from being a Sport Sedan to a Luxury Sedan?

2) If it is moving up in class, where does that put the RL? Wasn't it the Luxury Sedan of the Acura line?

 

Steven,

How should we classify this if it turns out to be both? By all accounts it is quieter and better riding than the outgoing car. What do we do if it refuses to be put squarely in one hole by being both more luxurious, better handling and faster to boot? The TSX guys have a similar dilemma. The new car, is larger, better handling (not counting the EPS), faster, and gets better fuel economy.

For part two. Who knows what the future holds for the RL. Its the best kept secret in the automotive world, but it will probably continue to languish. I think that the AWD TL will be tuned much more sporty than the RL is, so while these may have an overlap in price, I doubt they'll steal too many buyers from eachother. If the 2WD TL is indeed tuned for luxury, it will have a sufficient gap in price (to the RL) to stop the cross shopping.

Come to think about it, this might be a damn good strategy?!

 

How does the new RL compare to the new TL? The RL has always been the top of the Acura line, but the TL has been the most popular model. Is the new TL still a step-up to the TL?

 

Personally, I considered the TL to always have been a luxury "sporty" sedan even when I had my '04. To me, the 3 series, with its RWD, higher torque engines, and sportier suspensions was more of a true sports sedan than the TL. To me, Acura has emphasized the luxury part of the TL much more in the 4G...probably to attract a bigger demographic of buyers (i.e. older buyers and women). I guess you can say that the new TL is about 80-90% of the RL in a much more affordable package.

 

I would say that the TL is moving up in class and that Acura wants to add a bit more Luxury (and technology) to their historically Sport Sedan.

From what I've heard, the RL will also be moving up a class. The new RL will be a bigger car and along the lines of the Lexus LS460.

 

What cars does the RL compete with and how does it compare to those cars?

 

Every magazine I read compares the RL to the Infiniti M35/45, BMW 5 series, and the MB E-class. .....and almost every time, in head-to-head tests, the RL comes in last.....and the Infiniti, it seems, almost always come in first.

 

Wow, that doesn't bode well for the RL or it's future!

 

Its a real image problem that they need to solve. Acura does not seem to be fish nor fowl in the public eye.

Ask the general public what a sport sedan is they will most likely say BMW-3, M series or the Mercedes-Benz AMG series.

Ask them to name 4 luxury brands & you will get Lexus, Mercedes Benz, BMW & Infinity in response. Ask them to name 5 & they will give the first four quickly then search around for #5

 

When it came out the RL did pretty well in comparison reviews, 2nd place in Car & Driver's comparison test beating a 530i, E350,.... the winner was a M45 (although to be fair probably should have been a M35 since the rest of the competition were V6's!)

 

I heard from some of the Acura head during the new launch of 09 TL at Tustin Acura dealer that new RL (2010-11 model year) is BMW 7-series fighter.

 

In general the mjosrity of car owners will probably say Mercedes, BMW and Lexus and search for a 4th (maybe Audi, Acura or Infiniti). Infiniti has had it's own list of problems like Acura in promoting the brand. In my neighborhood many of the MB, BMW, and Lexus owners scoff at any Infiniti or Acura putting them in the also ran Japanese category.

 

Edmunds

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=106555

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=104808


Car and Driver

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

 

The edmunds links are duds. 2nd place in C&D compro test is impressive though.

----------------
Now playing: Tosca - Oscar
via FoxyTunes

 

Well, considering that the new 7 series has a new 400hp twin-turbo V8 and revised chasis/suspension components, I'd say that Acura has its work cut out for them.

 

No problem with that.

In my subdivision (14 houses) there are two Acuras TL's & both are either the 3rd or 4th car. There are also a few Acura SUV's.

The first & second cars are pretty much an even split among MB, BMW & Lexus. Except in my case where the second car is an Expedition EL

The next most common is the Infinity, which is why I picked it. Did not notice any Audi's in the sub division but they are still pretty common on the streets in North Raleigh.

 

Problem with Edmunds linking, try from this link, there are two comparisons.

http://www.edmunds.com/acura/rl/2009/testdrive.html