MDs1

Dear Acuraziners,

With much sadness and anger I have finally decided to leave the Acura family and move on to something more exciting. I have been frequenting on this site since 2007 when I bought my first Acura (a 2007 TL). Didn't post much but always have been reading the forum posts with great interest and learning about all the tips, tricks, problems and solutions. I drove the TL only for a year and traded it for a 2008 RL Tech. I loved that car and enjoyed each and every minute that I drove that car (except for the annoying 1500 RPM vibration - the reason for which I sold my 2007 TL in the first place.) I was in a serious accident in 2010 may - the 2010 RL was rear ended at a stop and go traffic on 395 here in DC area at least at 50-55 mph. Long story - but the RL was totalled but saved my life. I only had a bad whiplash and had to go through physical therapy.

I replaced the 2008 RL Tech with a 2010 RL Tech package after the accident out of loyalty since the 2008 saved my life. However, the 2010 has not been driving as smooth as the 2008 - the 1500 RPM vibration, torque converter lockup, etc. has been driving me nuts since I purchased the vehicle. The recent software update for the judder didn't take care of the problem. I took it to the dealer at Pohakna but it was very difficult to replicate the problem. I have been frustrated with the car and somewhat disappointed that all the last three Acuras had similar vibration and torque converter lockup problem. I simply didn't have time and patience to take the care repeatedly to the dealer. I was also doing very poorly with the gas mileage on the 2010 RL compared to the 2008 RL tech. Sometime I will get only 15.5 miles max with a combined hwy and city driving. On strict hwy driving I could never max more than 21 miles (yes, I don't have a lead foot).

I have been test driving several cars - the MB, Audi and BMW. Finally I pulled the trigger on a 2013 535i x drive with premium package, technology package, HUD, backup camera, parking assist, heated driver/passenger seats. The x drive is soooo much more smoother, the gas milease while test driving during ruch hour got me to 19 miles...I hear that on highway I get more than 30 if in echo mode.

Well, I exactly don't have my car yet since the dealership only had space gray metallic and white cars with the options I wanted. I liked the titanium silver metallic and the dealer will have to bring it from another dealer from outside DC area. I have a loner 2012 535i with similar package in the meantime. I couldn't agree more with the other Acurazine member who recently replaced his RL with a BMW 535i - the 535i does everything that RL did and better! Now, I can't wait to get my new ride. It will arrive next Tuesday .

Thank you all once again for your valuable and informative postings. I will upload some photos as soon as I get the car of my dream!

Mds1

neuronbob

Another one moves to the dark side.

Just kidding. Congrats on the new ride. Check out our Car Talk section, where there is a devoted ex-Acura, BMW contingent, aka "Bimmerzine".

Sorry to read of your difficulty with the driveline vibration. I don't remember that from the three Acuras I owned. I guess some people are more sensitive to such things than I am.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Congrats on the new car! I'm surprised you switched after your automotive history in your signature. BMW's are great cars, I seriously pondered a black on black E46 M3 when I was looking. It seems all Acura drivers are at some point in time drawn to BMW . I'll be looking out for pictures

MDs1

Dear neuronbob,

I still remember your post back when you moved to CTS.

Yes, it has been very annoying with the torque converter lockup, the exhaust growl and vibration at 1500 RPM on the 2010 RL which you would least expect from a $46K car. I can also relate my poor gas mileage to the converter problem because my car was sluggish. The technician at the Pohanka Acura in NOVA acted like I was crazy and did not even consider that I have a problem. What a joke...and it made even easier for me to move away from Acuras. Till this day, I never drove anything but Hondas - 2000 accord, 2003 acord, 2005 accord Ex v6, 2007 TL Tech, 2008 RL Tech, 2010 RL Tech (all three Acuras from the same dealer - Pohanka - which is about 45 minutes drive from my location in Northern Springfield area). This is the first time I thought enough is enough with being loyal to Hondas. Time to move on where you get the bang for the bucks. Sad thing is that I put only 17,800 miles on the 2010 RL - so you know I didn't enjoy driving the car and mostly drove my sons MB 350, my wife's Toyota Corolla and not to mention, my younger son's C350.

Best,

MDs1

MDs1

HI projektvertx,

Thanks for your reply also. I really wanted to love my Acura RL - it had everything that I liked - size, interior, etc. I wanted to keep the car and hoped that I would get a solution to the converter lockup and vibration problem. I am not a guy who will want to continuously spend time and bring the car back and forth to the dealer to resolve the issue. The denial factor of the Acura dealership that I have a problem prompted me to switch. I know one fact for sure, I have left Acura world for good and will never come back. Honda has a lot to catch up in terms of quality and customer care. I know that I will never recommend Honda/Acura to any of my friend or family member.

Best.






en!

Matt W

Good choice, my next vehicle will likely be a used BMW in a few years. You just have to make sure you do your research and pick a model that has proven reliability. BMW's have a huge enthusiast community with an enormous selection of aftermarket mods and parts available which is an important thing to me.

Regardless I think if you switched to BMW to expect better quality and reliability then you may have been misguided. Quality and reliability is one of the most important things Honda has going for them over other brands and really is the only reason I purchased the used RL over a comparable used German or American vehicle. You may be disappointed to find yourself at the BMW dealership for service more often than you like.

Here is the 2012 automaker reliability ratings, Honda/Acura rates 6&7 only to be bested by other Japanese automakers. BMW rates 16 but you can see their vehicles have the largest range as far as the reliability spectrum goes. So this backs up my previous statement, I hope you did your indepth research.

oo7spy

Congrats on the ride. If I could afford to maintain a German, I would consider buying one. They make beautiful cars that are fun to drive.


BUT, this statement is just, "HUH?!?"
Maybe that dealer needs to work on their customer service, but that is not a reflection of the American Honda Corporation as whole. Many people on this forum have had issues with dealers that are resolved VERY easily by a simple call to Acura. In addition, switching from a Honda to a BMW and then mentioning reliability as a deterrent is just ignorant.

Still, while most will see my honesty as being rude, I do sincerely hope you enjoy your new car.


EDIT: Case in point.

MDs1

This is my second day on the loaner 2012 BMW 535i. My 535i has more options than the loaner i.e. HUD, premium package, etc. etc. However, I am sooooo much impressed with the 2012 (and was more impressed with the 2013 I test drove with the same options I have ordered but in different color). The performance, gas mileage, handling, response, even in echo mode the car is more responsive to the RL. I guess I was blindfolded with the Acura reliability as they claim... there are other better options than the Acuras. I am glad, I have invested in the BMW!!!

By the way, when I went to take a test drive of the new 2013 535I, the car was at the Landmark mall parking lot in NOVA area. In the same parking lot I saw at least 2-300 other Acuras collecting dust. I wonder why they are not selling as many cars! Honda/Acura has a long way to catch up with the quality of the cars and the client service. You spend 48K on a flagship car and they let you down... I know, for sure, I am not going to buy any other Honda car in my life time....I hope Honda/Acura is listening.

MDs1

If you are satisfied with your Honda/Acura product that is fine. But that doesn't give you the license to call folks who had to deal with unreliable Honda/Acura products as ignorant.... Enjoy your ride and I appreciate your loyalty to Honda (as I was for 20 years). Time to move on....

oo7spy

Please read my reply again as I did not attack you or call you ignorant. All I said is that you made an ignorant comment. The facts are there. Many people have had issue with their dealer approving work under goodwill or warranty. A simple call to Acura Care has fixed those member's dilemmas many times. From the explanation of your experience, you did not bother to call Acura. Instead, you took Pocohantas Acura (or whatever their name is) at their word and blamed Acura for one dealership's bad business practice. I have heard multiple members complain about BMW dealership's customer service. That doesn't mean BMW doesn't care.

When it comes to reliability, the facts are overwhelming here too. Please take a look at Matt's post. Go ask CSMeanace how much he spent on his 7-Series warranty and if he thinks it was worth it. (The answers are: $10k & without a doubt.)

To say that Honda has betrayed you b/c of one dealer and that their reliability is over stated after moving to a BMW is ignorant. I am sorry I offended you with the truth.

I really do hope you enjoy your car. The new 5-series looks sharp as hell. I saw a brand new S6 parked at my work this week. If I could afford to own a German, I would.

oo7spy

One last and mostly insignificant comment: At $48K MSRP, you did not buy the flagship. You bought a base model.



(I missed the edit window.)

037

Congrats on the Bimmer. I would have tried a different Acura dealership before dismissing the entire car brand due to bad experience at the dealer.

and to 007spy's point, you did spend a lot more money on the BMW with msrp of $62,795 give or take

NHTSA front rating of 4 stars.

--end rant from a former 2009 Acura RL driver

terdonal

Congrats, I hope your new car serves you well.

06RL/NBP

My Brother has a 2008 MDX that he bought new and has 60,000 miles on it. He started having the same problem with the torque converter. He took it to our local agency which is Sussman Acura and they did the software update also. It helped a little but did not entirely fix the problem so they will replace the entire torque converter and Acura will pay for the complete cost. Perhaps you should have contacted Acura Care specialist in your area for the proper guidance. If you traded your 2010 RL to the BMW dealership then the next owner will be purchasing a car with a problem. Wouldn't it have been a better choice to resolve the problem before trading it in? Sounds like you have yourself some bad Kharma my friend. I truly wish you the best with your new car.

aimtimes100

congrats on the new car. Hope everything works out. Curious to see how bmw treats you as a customer, being a bmw owner myself and a regular on Xoutpost and other bmw forums, i've seen many switch to acura for a number of reasons, acura's better customer service is often one of them