OK, I love my TL Type S and had planned to Trade In it for a 2005 TL. However, I saw the new RL at the New York Auto Show and thought that it was great. Have any of you seen the new RL, (out in September), and what did you think? It will come with everything standard, including AWD, Navi, etc, as standard equipment. But what did you think of it's looks? Sporty or not? Now I'm torn between the TL & the RL... Are there any good links for RL discussions? Thanks!

 

My only beef with the RL is the lack of a manual tranny. Furthermore, its definitely going to be slower since 30 ponies will not make up for the weight and drivetrain penalties. If those minor nitpicks and the additional price (at least 10K) are not an issue I would certainly go with an RL.

 

Slower becuse it has AWD ? If you have some time test drive an '04 MDX, you will be very surprised at it's quickness from 0-30. The 3.5 has a lot more torque than the 3.2.

Not saying that is faster than a TL but for a SUV it is surprise when you stomp on the gas. The RL will have more power and be much lighter than the MDX.

It matter not how fast you got there, but how you got there.

 

Forgot to mention, the Acura Reps that were at the auto show said the the RL will be selling for $45-$50 K. Also, the car will be built in Japan.

 

Not worth the extra cash over the TL.

 

Definitely the TL looks more sportier and aggressive. Depends on what the customer is looking for. Sporty and aggressive - TL. Stylish yet conservative - RL

 

My thoughts exactly. IMO, the RL is just too conservative for my tastes. That isn't a bad thing as it is the market that they are going for. I think that it is up against some heavy competition at that price range.

 

Thanks for the advice. When I saw the RL Concept I thought that it looked great. It stacked up very nicely vs. the 06 Lexus GS430 and the 05 Infiniti M45. I would probably go for the RL over those 2. Then I had to go to my companys headquarters for the last 2 days and wouldn't you know it, there was a new TL siting in front of the entrance both days. Dark Gray, and it looked Hot!!! Now I'm back to trying to decide TL vs. RL??? Oh well, cannot go wrong with either one...

 

I agree! I had the same dilema with the TSX. I decided to wait for the TL because I was addicted to the 6 cylinder. I dont regret the decision, but I don't hesitate to recommend the TSX, that IMO, is another great car with just a little less thrust. Given the long model life of the RL maybe I'll pick one up when my lease is up!

 

I'd have to test drive the RL before I would be able to compare it to the TL. I do like the traffic capability of the Navi though, would be handy here in LA.

 

The RL is aimed at a more "older and conservative" crowd than the TL. It will definately be more luxurious and and feature-rich than the TL. However, despite a 300-hp V-6, it's still won't match the competition like the LS430, BMW 740i, Audi A8 and MB E500/S500 where V-8's are standard.

 

It wont cost 70k+ either, and with 300hp it will compete quite well with their 8's. Acura is absolutely right, For Lux cars offering both 6's and 8's the sixes outsell their more expensive brothers by a factor of 4X to 5X, ergo the sales pool is limited and probably wouldn't consider an Acura anyway since they buy solely on image anyway. I think the car is going to be a homerun and nail some nails in some "luxury" brands coffins.

 

Acura is not going after the LS430, or the 7 or the MB S or the Audi A8, but are going to go after the A6, E320, GS430/GS300 and the M45. At a different web site (VTEC), you can hear the designer talk about their market. He says that 75% of the above cars are sold with 6 cyclinder engines and that's where Acura wants to be. I agree that most people in this price range want the nameplate of a MB or a Lexus, etc. Acura is only planning to build 12,000 to 15,000 a year and would be happy selling that amount. My problem is that I think that the TL looks great, but I also think that the RL also looks great. Now I don't want to give a way my age, but I fit into the demographics for a RL and yet I want a hot, sporty car like the TL, (I still think that I'm 37)... decisions, decisions...

 

TLS02

How 'bout one of each??

 

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I saw you on the other site (TSX). Have you found a RL Site yet?

 

I think that if the new RL comes in with a base price of $38-40K, it will definately hurt TL sales. Right now, the TL has all the glory with the virtually "dead" '04 RL but once the '05 RL hits the showroom, a good chunk of TL shoppers may be wooed over.

 

It will be $45-50K

 

I don't know, dude. It is supposed to have aluminum body panels and subframes, as well as carbon fiber in places. It might be as light as the TL, but we won't know this until the weight is finally published. One of the guys from Acura stated that they targeted the BMW 5 series and that over 85% of all BMW's sold had V6's. That was the reason they chose not to go with the V8.
If you have highspeed internet, you owe to yourself to check out the video on TOV's website. I was very impressed with the RL, especially the "Super Handling All Wheel Drive". The president did say the demographic they were going for was a 50 year old male with a household income of $150,000 a year. I think my TL fits my lifestyle perfect right now but another 10 years and $30,000 bucks a year and that might me the ride for me.

 

I don't know what you are thinking, but the current RL with 225hp FWD and no all the technology of the TL and it COST $45k

Acura said it will be around $50k....I think $48k to $52k

 

No, they will not go over the 50k mark, according to Acura's USA vice president. As far as performance goes, it should match the TL or exceed it due to the aluminum/carbon fiber weight reduction and the 300 HP. Looks, that's your call, but I think especially the front view is pretty aggressive. The Nav is better, the sound is better and damn, the friggin torque steer of the TL is HISTORY with the new AWD system. I'm only 32 but I'd take an RL in a MINUTE over the TL if I had the income and I suspect most that could afford it would too although they might not admit it.

 

As for price, I think you might see it start off in the low 40's. They want to make an impact on the market. As TL said above, they are targeting the 5 series, M45, GS, market. That being said, they don't want to only price match their competition, they want to beat it bad. The TL was a prime example of that. Also I have a feeling that there won't be many optional choices. The Nav ties into so much, now XM radio etc, that I see it as a standard option. same with the sound system etc.

As for that 150,000 income. Infiniti said the same thing about their target market for the FX. Do you think it turned out that way? NO. It's all about prestige. They want buyers to feel like they are getting it with the RL. That's the reason for saying that.

I am not in the typical demographic Acura sees for the RL, but I like it a lot and would possbly get one if it performs, handles and most importantly looks good. It took me a day and more pics to really like it.

Hopefully there will be a choice of wood, or no wood. However that is personal preference.

 

Do you leave your brain at work???

How do you come up with low $40s when the old gen wich has nothing to compare to the 05 has an msrp of $45k....plus it was already anounce by acura to hit the $50k price range.

BTW the current M45 has an MSRP of $43,250 and it does not include navi and many other things.

Forget it people it will not be under $48k that is for sure.

 

We are entitled to our opinon, and no I did not leave my brain at work, but thanks for asking.

First off there are many new cars entering this segment. you have the M45, BMW 5 series, E320, 2005 Audi A6, 2005/6 GS400, should I go on? all of these cars will be in the 45,000 range well equipped. yes some will go over the 50,000 mark but I do not think Acura can compete in that market yet. They are in the midst of rebuilding the brand, and because of that, what is going to lure in customers. Certainly not the Acura name alone, it's going to have to be price, and what options come standard as opposed to the multiple packages their german counterparts have. The success of the TL is because it broke a barrier in the automotive world. The TL gave more options standard than any other car before it and at a price point that undercut the competition by 5-10,000.
Do you think all of a sudden Acura is going to be so big headed that they are going to outprice the car, so people look at other options? or are they going to price it aggressively enough, that when the customer is shopping around, they see that they are getting more bang for their buck. I'll let you be the judge.
BTW I am not the only person who thinks this. Go over to vtec.net and read one of the moderators posts that actually sat in the car and interviewed an memeber of the Acura team. The video is there to watch it also. His prediction was the same as mine. Low 40's. Even the Acura employee said the car would be under 50,000. Could we be wrong? sure, but so can you.

Last note, as technology becomes more readily available price goes down, what you see are prices reflecting options of yesterday, when those options were more expensive to make. ie. NAV, bluetooth, XM, etc. Now a days these products are much cheaper to produce. Again Acura displayed this with the TL. Don't you think that is going to carry on? Or is Acura going to get the Mercedes Syndrome, where charge outrageous prices for sub par technology?
Only in Spt-Oct will we know for sure.

 

you got some gray hair ?
then you may qualify for an RL...

it's definitely more conservative.

 

Well, one of the major reasons why the TL has been so popular is due to the fact that it's a great value compared to the competition. And one of the hallmarks of Acura is value, no doubt. So, if the RL's base doesn't actually come in under the M45, 530i, A6, and E320, there may be problems. (Biggest competition will once again come from Infiniti--M45).

 

Oh, my! I don't know where I left mine, but my brain is CERTAINLY MISSING! If you find it, please return it ASAP! Without it, it is impossible for me to parse obnoxious, arrogant preambles to poorly written replies riddled with typographical and grammatical errors!

Thanks in advance!

 

LOL!!
I guess my post evokes such intellectual responses. Never knew I had that kind of impact. I guess opinions here if not agreed by a moderator are shunned and result in insults to the postee.

 

One more thing I would like to point out to Bitium,
The RL is priced at 45,600 currently. However it does not sell for that price or lease at that price. There are incentives from Honda and large discounts from dealers to move that vehicle. Right now, you can lease one for less than a TL.
As of right now the TL with Nav commands almost MSRP. This has been since Oct. What does that tell you? The price of the TL is so good, and in such demand, that the TL does not have to be discounted heavily to move. Don't you think Acura see's this? Do you think they want to price the RL high enough where they run into the same problems they are having in moving the current RL?
When you play in the 40-50,000 plus range, you are playing with some heavy hitters with very established track records. The SH-AWD is a new system that doesn't have any sort of track record. It could be a big screw up like idrive was/is to BMW. No one knows. In reality, that is the biggest thing besides the Nav with real time traffic that the new RL has over the TL. and over other cars. Now they might throw in some stuff for the production model,(hopefully a backup camera, or sensors) but from what they releaded on the protoype, there wasn't much to gush over in terms of technology that we haven't seen before.
On the other hand with the TL, there were a lot of firsts. They realistically could have priced the TL in the high 30'swith all that technology that came standard, but they went low 30's instead. Why? To make an impact on that market share.

 

Prelim numbers on weight for the RL/Legend is 1700 kg or 3748 lb. 5AT TL w/o Navi is 3575 so I figure the new RL will be about 150 lbs heavier than a comparable 5AT TL NAVI.

Acceleration will probably be close to or better than the TL because of the extra 30 horses and having 70% of the power to the rear wheels at WOT. That should improve traction and eliminate chirping off the line. We'll have to see how many horses are lost in the SH-AWD tranny.

In terms of MSRP, I'm guessing $44-$46K. There are more gadgets but the '05RL will be based on a global platform so it will be cheaper to make. The 1st Gen RL was a stand-alone platform for they couldn't share parts with other models. Plus, if Acura prices it too high, they're going to bury their racehorse before it even leaves the gates.

 

Yup, I do have some gray hair, but I still want to drive a car that looks hot and is fun to drive. I LOVE my TL Type S! Now I have to decide between the TL and the new RL. Of course I'll know more after it's released and after I drive one. the more I stared at it at the NY AutoShow, the more that I liked it, (and so did the crowd around the platform!) Yet I do not want an "Old Man's Car", so that is my problem. Go with the TL, a smaller, hot sporty car; or with the RL. a bigger, hot(?), classy car... oh well, time will tell.

 

TLSO2 said:

Yes its: The Acura Legend & RL Community at http://www.acura-legend.com/vbulletin/

However, it doesn't seem to be a very ACTIVE community, much more action here and the TSX site. I would look around more at TOV too, but I can't figure out how the site is organized ... just seems to be a lot of thread trees. Not dissing, just my observation, and it could just be my ignorance. So, yes, I am hanging out at the Legend site which is fine since I own a '92 Legend, but searching other sites for RL as the occasion arises.

I might contact my local Acura dealer to see if there will be any early test drives available by invitation this summer.


Thanks for asking!

 

Oh, and by the way TLS02, I have some gray hairs too and have the same issue with TL vs. RL styling. Actually, my wife was not saying anything when I looked at the TL, but when the I showed her a picture of the RL I think she was RELIEVED that it is more conservative-looking. I don't think you could go wrong between the hot-looking TL with value pricing and the new stylish RL (providing it does not sell for more than $48K).

 

Old person car.

 

At the price range at 45-50k, prestige really comes into play. That is why expensive Volvos, Infinitis and Audis sell like crap. They may be good cars but not convincing to the public. Acura has this problem too. Though with the Germans making some serious mistakes and the competition getting better and better, people will try different things.

I think the looks of the new RL is what will kill it. B/C is has the hardware to compete. SH-AWD, 300horses, lovely interior, gadgets.

 

I think the exterior will look better in person. The promotional pics don't do anything for me, but according to those that have seen it in person, they were suprised how much better it was in the flesh.

 

You're certainly wrong with the low 40's price. There's NO WAY THAT WILL HAPPEN. Also, Acura didn't do that with the TL. Yes they made the price reasonable. However the price still went up. No way will that add all that stuff and bring the price below the current RL. Its certainly gonna be around 48K. You can bet on that.

 

Well the fact is no one knows, but this is a different market they are going after now like I said above. If they want to be competitive, unknown technology needs to be proven first, and to get people to buy into it, the price needs to be attractive. I think the 04 TL speaks for that.

 

Exact same problem. I was going to buy a 05 TL as soon as it came out. Trading in my 02 TL-S. I am guessing that the RL will be $48.5. The Acura rep at the auto show told me that Acura has not got a firm price yet, but they are going to price between 45-50. I looked at the new M45 and the New GS430 and they are both priced around 50-52 with comparable equipment. I hate to admit it, but my wife will probably have a big influence on which car I go for. Now the problem will be, if I go for the RL, do I wait for the 2nd model year? 2006 RL? I hate to get 1st year models. My son bought a Lexus GX 470 in its 1st year and has had nothing but problems. Oh well, 4 more months to see the RL in the flesh...

 

I would definitely wait until the 2nd year for a model as complicated as the new RL. Then, to make the decision even worse for you, the new 2006 Lexus GS will be released next spring. If you like that, you'll need to wait yet ANOTHER year for the reliable model! Isn't the car game FUN??