from almost every angle...

Interior is nice but exterior is disappointing to say the least. Especially when this is suppose to be the FLAGSHIP (except NSX) for Acura.

I guess I'll keep my 3.2CL.

Oh well, at least Acura made an attempt to compete with BMW, Lexus, MB and Audi.

Maybe in 4-5 years after the release of the 2005 RL will we see something worth buying from the Acura RL lineup?

 

Rl is leaps and bounds ahead of anything MB/BMW/LEX at that pricepoint. Want you want is BMW but not with a BMW badge. Acura isn't BMW and nore will it ever be.....

 

I think the new RL looks GREAT !!!

 

Or a BMW without the BMW price tag

 

pics?

 

Pricepoint...that's the issue, Zap!! When did Acura become a bargain basement price conscious maker? If people want cheaper, buy a HONDA. That was the point of Acura in the first place...to compete with the European makers. Acura was immediately and blatantly copied by Lexus, then Infiniti. Somewhere in the mid 90's, that shit all changed and Acura became concerned about value. Luxury suffers when price is added to the formula.

 

Bargin basement? No. Not quite. Hyundai would be bargin basement.

Compete? It does so very very well. Check the numbers.

There is plenty of lux in every Acura vehicle in the market. As with any manufacturer there are different levels of it. Let's not start to list what Acura offers in the many of the current vehicles that most European and some of the other Japanese car makers do not offer despite being much much more expensive.

 

Interesting argument. And I tend to agree.

I look at the TL and then at the Accord and I try to figure out what I'm getting more of for 10K more. A better warranty, xenons and a larger motor. Oh and free Ford Escorts when your car is in for repair.

Don't get me wrong, because Nissan does the same thing with the Maxima and G35.

 

TL looks better IMO but still a lot better looking than what i was expecting. Inside looks great as well

 

not sure how to post a pic...

anyone want to do it? send me your email address and I'll forward you the picture.

mark_12345@yahoo.com

 

But that's the thing, Zap....when did Acura buyers become so price conscious? Have you ever sat in a Legend? The quality and fit/finish are WORLDS above Acuras today. Lowering the prices was done by COST CUTTING, something that I don't see (at least as MUCH) in Lexus/Infiniti vehicles. I understand that buying any car is a matter of taste, but you said Acura will never be a BMW...even though that was the POINT of Acura in the first place. Legends were knocking the SHIT out of that market back in the late 80's, early 90's. Now it just seems like Acuras have become what we used to hate hearing them called..."glorified Hondas".

 

I agree, I had 2 Legend Coupes and now the CL6sp. Lower priced alternatives to other lux or near-lux plates seems to be Acuras niche now, which suits me fine.
But the Hondas are too close to Acura now. The Accord Coupe with 6 cylinder 6 speed has more features than the CL, except for the HIDs and Limited Slip.
I read the next Acura coupe will move more upscale to near $40k.
I don;t wanna pay that much for a car, if true, I'd wait and get a used one if I like it.

 

I agree it looks like an Accord....I'll pass

 

I agree.
But consider that I paid something like 34,000 for my Legend Coupe back in 1992 and I paid LESS for my CL-S 10-years later.
Something’s got to be downgraded.
The CL-S has a lot more “bells & whistles”, but the quality is definitely down.
And of course the “Made in USA” title doesn’t help.

Shawn S

 

This car looks killer!!!! It's gonna sell so well, mark my words...

 

I agree.. the exterior is a $50k Accord.

 

 

If the RL competes at or around the same price point as the V8 version of the new Lexus GS, I'd take the V8 GS.

But, to tell you the truth, I wouldn't take either right now.

 

it looks hot to me, but i think they shoulda added a v8, like combine to tsx engines, and push 400bhp that would be nice but thats a bit to extreme for honda at the point

 

That is absolute garbage. The RL hasn't proved anything yet.

 

Well with the pics that i have seen I like it... as others have said acura is not a BMW or a Merc... but in my view it the best bang for the buck

 

chon to the rescue



(of ur mother)

 

Ouch. THe RL reminds me of the old TL, it looks fine for a 30-35k car. The new TL looks way better than the RL to me. I just can't see too many people dumping 45-50k on this car. It just doesn't look it.

 

I think it looks good

 

I think yhe RL looks more like the first CL with the taill lights. But I like the 20's.

 

 

What is blah about my statement? The new car is not even sold yet? It has yet to be tested. It has a lot of proving to do. I do think it looks like it has the dynamics to be very competative. Except looks.

 

 

The point of Acura was the offere an alternative and compete. It does both very very well.

Ya old school legend was beautifal. Although I'm not sure what your issue is with the RL. It was and continues to be made in Japan. The current RL is awesome. The majority of Acura cars have always been value buys. How is it that the legend is the rule and not the exception?

It was a decision made by Acura. To increase their market. There are more mid level buyers than are high level. Acura is a relatively new company and it's parent company isn't as big as some others. Many of the decisions might be more business than anything. However, that being said. Acura has offered and continues to offer class leading amenities. Often before many others.

WHy is it that i have to pay for every little thing in an Lexus, infinity, bmw, merc? The base price on those cars is often higher than that of Acuras. Why? Why is that I can purchase a bmw with CLOTH SEATS???????

Sure Acura might not have the Coach leather etc., but it does offer many many things that other lux companies offer and some that they don't at a cheaper price.

Glorified nothing. Every manufacturer is platform sharing. Let's not get into the similarities body styles between toyota/lexus, chrysler/merc, nissan/infinity etc., If you want exclusivity then be prepared to pay much much more than 20-40k.

 

Performance wise, I cannot comment on because the car is not for sale yet. It looks like a camry and an accord had a love child. It dissapoints me the way many of the cars nowadays look the same, that automobile manufacturers are only concerned with the big picture and the mass dollar. Why do they all look the same?? I think it looks better than the new TL however.

 

What is awesome about the current RL? It's outclassed by ALL of it's competition, and even the new TL. It has a 220hp engine vs 270 in the TL, the TL has WAY more features stock, and the RL's design is from the early 90's. The interior is nice, but doesn't have the features many of it's competitors have. It's a car that's WAY too old to be sold anymore.

The new RL looks pretty nice and will definitely be competitive, but the old RL is almost an embarrasment as a flagship for Acura

 

Wow, I'm not even sure how respond to some of the assertions you are making here.

 

Please respond...

Tell me how the current RL is superior to the GS, 5 series, M45, E Class, Jag S Class, etc... Please tell me how a 04 RL is better than an 04 TL other than being made in Japan?

BTW, I am not talking about the new RL. I really like that car, but the old RL is far outdated. It's proven by the sales #'s too. They don't like.

 

1. you are comparing an old platform and older car to completely new cars. New TL that was just redesigned to the previous gen RL??????

2. the post you qouted never said the RL was BEST IN CLASS. It said awesome car and it is. The sales of the car were horrid....agreed. But sometimes good things just don't sell. RL was supposed to have been redesigned quite sometime ago but the lead designer fucked up and Acura had to fire the dude or something like that. Hence the long delay and the previous itteration was out for a bit longer than necessary.

3. previous RL was an excellent car but unfortunately was stuck in the "5 years ago mode"....ya know that was a cool car like 5 years go? Still doesn't make it an embarrassment. That statement is whole ignorant.

4. Nice engine for what it needed to do, beautifal interior, fit and finish was second to none etc., etc., Built 100% in Japan. Like many cars high end cars the price doesn't often reflect the "goodies" you get. Was it worth 45k? Prolly not....does it make it a bad car? No.

 

Zapata: Agreed. Great points.

I just always disliked the RL ever since I got my CL. If I was Acura, I probably would have discontinued it for the 04 model year when the new TL came out, and just had a hole in the lineup until the new RL comes out. The new TL just makes the old RL look so old in comparison.

But at least Acura is back in the game with this new RL.

 

I've seen a grey color and a silver color, both FRIGGIN boring bland-ass colors that probably target 40-60 year olds.

Bring on the BOLD colors.

 

 

I like it

 

Interior is tits, the exterior may take some getting used to though.

 

looks like an old infiniti J35