phile

I don't see any confusion...it's clearly marked + and -, just like on cruise control when you want to go faster or slower, there's accel and decel. You gotta be real dumb to screw that up.

1SICKLEX

I don't see ANY RL owners using those things. RL= very conservative buyer. With the new ones conservative styling, it won't attract any younger buyers interested in such items.

phile

Just checked it out again. They're also auto-leveling.

heyitsme

I don't see the confusion or misleading info. They said paddles and they have the thumb paddles on the wheel. Bmw having column shifters means nothing. Bmws system is electronic, they could have put the controls next to the window switches or on the radio controls if the wanted too. Its all about comfort of shifting. If acura has their manumatic shifters within a comfortable reach of the driver they will be fine. Its up to the buyer to realize, acura hasn't developed a race transmission, its rather an auto with thumb shifters.

phile

I don't think buyers would care. I doubt the paddle shifters will attract/detract buyers...they're just there; nice to have 'em.

gocubsgo55

in some senses, yes. But the target market of this car seems directed toward affluent males in a midlife crisis. They want to have some fun along with their luxury. Just my opinion.

biker

While in general true, we've heard plenty of folks with statements like "I didn't buy that car cause it had/didn't have xxxx".

phile

Things are heating up. Read on A-CL that the new Lexus GS will get heated/cooled seats, and 6-speed auto, among other things.

biker

Not news. Virtually all of the info about he new GS was out last January when the 06 GS was shown. The GS300 AWD should be the direct competitor for the RL with an MSRP of about $44K (before options) but it will be down in HP at only 245. Like the Infiniti M only the 6 cyl will be offered with AWD.

ccheung

RL official MSRP is out tonight!

ccheung

I don't know whether I can disclose it yet!

phile

Sure you can

ccheung

$49,479. I hope everyone is happy now!

ccheung

Sorry! $49,470. Sorry for the typo!

mg7726

how is that 'significantly' under $50k??? what a rip Acura!!

Booo!

ccheung

mg7726

please go check out the vehicle before you make that comment. i drove it on the same day, on the same track with MB E320, BMW 530i and Audi A6 2.7 T quattro. It beats every single one and price below the other 3 comparably equipped!

ccheung

BTW, who said "significantly" below $50k anyway!

Dan Martin

I guess 1% under $50000 is significant to Acura.

I wonder what invoice is on that thing?

phile

Acura reps.

phile

I didn't expect it to be that much...at most, 48K was my guess.

phile

Oh yeah, just checked the demo on the Acura site. The headlights are also auto leveling.

gocubsgo55

STILL worth the price in this segment at that number, but when the likes of Audi, Lexus, and Infiniti pricing slightly lower, the ignorant will take name/better bagels over exceptional quality/awesome refinement/technology. The A6 and GS really are nothing special. The same cannot be said about the M and RL from Infiniti and Acura, 2 very refined cars with tons of features for the price. Shame, I bet the fugly x 10 GS "Alien" crap will sell a lot more. Back to the topic, I expected 47 minimum, 48.5 max. 49 in my opinion is a reasonable price, but Acura isn't a Lexus. HOWEVER, this car just might set them up to be and establish reasoning for the price.

JeffS

Does that include freight??

biker

Just goes to show that you can't believe anything before you see the car in the dealer showroom with an actual sticker. While you won't get the current 5-7K off sticker for a while I'd venture to guess that by this time next year, you'll be able to get a significant discount off the MSRP. In real terms the price of the RL went up 10K from 04 to 05!

Stevens24

I don't think you will see "significant discounts " simply because production numbers are not enough. With most dealers receiving only 8-10 units per month(unlike TL 20-30 units per month). I think this will be a vehicle that has 2-3 month wait very quickly simply because it is such a revolutionary technilogical advance for Acura. Acura has a vehicle that will compete against any other vehicle in its class. No more "If it was only RWD" comments. To Acura, who doesn't count destination when commenting on MSRP, $1100 dollars is significant. It's like a customer telling a salesman he wants a payment under 300 dollars, the customer is thinking 250 and the salesman is thinking 295. it is all perception. Our dealership is selling into December shipment already, with no brochures, cars or anything. I like the cars chances.

biker

$1100

jwaters943

Not to be a jerk, but I'm not sure I believe this is the "real" price of the RL. I'll believe it when I see it on Hondanews.com. It just doesn't correlate with what Acura has said about the pricing. ccheung, didn't your dealer give this price to you? If so, we know how reliable and accurate dealerships can be.

With that said, the RL is a very nice car and probably worth $50k, but it's still more than many people would expect to pay for an Acura sedan that isn't significantly bigger or more powerful than the TL. For approx. $15k more than a TL w/ NAV you get slightly more horsepower, real time traffic updates, more voice commands, additional power controls, sunshades, adaptive headlights, real wood trim and the big one...SH-AWD.

I personally think I would be just as happy driving a $37-38k TL w/ SH-AWD (Acura, make this car!! ). Just my .

biker

Even if the MSRP is $47K that will still be almost 10K more than some people paid for 04s. The real test will be around May of next year when all of the competition will have their models out (and the inital rush will be over).

phile

That's the real price, Acura's press release stated it also.

Stevens24

Acura sold slightly over 9k 2004 Rls. it is an outdated vehicle. Most deal were leases. You can't compare the 2 vehicle in any aspect theonly thing shared is engine displacement (not engine) and the name of the vehicle. All I get at my dealership is Lexus ,Audi and BMW customers waiting for this car.

biker

That number makes sense with the freight included - the price without freight would be 48,900 - a more typical MSRP.

jwaters943

What press release???

STL

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=285378

iamhomin

Like all Acura cars, it's still worth its money.

ccheung

I was just one of the early birds logon to Acura Interactive Network last night and got the info. Please go experience this car before you make a decision whether it's worth the money, especially the state of the art new technologies!

ccheung

BTW, all freight charge is $570 except for NSX

ccheung

I have been with Acura for 5 years. Acura has not put a disapointing new model in the market since 1999!

1SICKLEX

Yeah, the CL did not get discontinued. That is too much. So a 50k car basically when they add floormats, mudguards, paint protection pack and other B.S.

45k should have been the deal. At 50k, people will be happy with their E320s. Shit you might be able to squeeze a V-8 GS 430, M45 there.
If AWD were so appreciated, the A-6 would be tops in it's class since 1998.

50k is too much. Period. I guess we'll see.

ccheung

1SICKLEX

Again, please go drive the car and understand the new technologies before you make this statement and being ignorant won't help!

BTW, I personally drive a 2003 Acura CLS 6-speed. I enjoy it very much! Just the market and vehicle plateform changed so Acura discontinued the CL. Please do some research!

ccheung

I will definitely consider leasing another CL when the next Acura 2 dr mid-size coupe comes out in the market. It suits my needs perfectly!