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- backview camera (dealer-installed in Japan)
- lane keeping
- night vision
- pre-crash(pre-safe)
- laser cruise control
I dislike the fact that Japanese always keep the best in JDM and let US have the 2nd rated cars.
As for night vision and LKAS, they could potentially push the price quite a bit.
Small stuff like workmans comp, the lights, the heat and air, property taxes, parts inventory, payroll taxes, office staff, gas, water, security, service building, employee benefits, salaries, commissions, liability insurance, floorplan, advertising, property maintenance, inventory control, service costs and lets not forget the price of the property and the mortgage payment, etc etc.com .. most dealers are trying to survive on a 3/7% net net profit ~ 41/410% ..? .. maybe on Saturn, tell me when the next flight leaves ..l.o.l....
Most import stores are not high volume stores .. so they survive on what they have, being a Ford/Chevy dealer and selling 400/450 units is a big difference than the average Acura store that sells 90/110 vehicles a month - new and used .............
Terry.
Terry.
Have you guys seen the Mugen RL? The body kits and wheels are pretty nice.
Also, does anyone know whether the passenger seatback heats up? It does not heat up in any new Honda/Acura out there. They cite some interference with the side airbag, but apparently every other company has found a way to work aroudnd this problem. Instead of "heated front seats", they should call it "1.5 heated front seats."
Just personal annoyances with an otherwise fine car.
I agree that it's annoying, but my personal preference is to place safety above bun-warmers.
If you you mean the front seat, yes. That's noted in the new '05 RL brochure.
Mugen Legend M1
Man the new RL is some car. According to John Davis it has a new kind of all wheel drive system that Acura calls “Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive”, or SH-AWD. It has active headlights that steer light around corners and the hi-tech 3.5-liter V-6 five-speed automatic (with manual mode) puts out an even 300-horsepower, 75 more than before.
The Acura RL now becomes one of those unanticipated wonder cars from Japan.
ksso
We’ll start with the RL and its total overhaul in 2005.
The first question a lot of people will ask is if it’s as luxurious as the Germans or even Lexus. The answer is yes. I found the RL nicer than most Lexus models and it has more of a plush feel than the Germans. Everything was nice to the touch from the rubberized buttons and shift paddles on the steering wheel to the iDrive-esque center stack. But my favorite part was the ice blue glowing gauge cluster that seemed almost front lit. The effect was drastic, unique and attractive. Did I mention the car handled like no other?
All the hype about the SH-AWD or Super Handling AWD is well earned. On one great twisty suburban road (which would be a staple in every test for the rest of the day) the RL shined. The roads were wet but the tires never lost an inch of grip and I couldn’t feel any body lean. As a luxury car the RL has an excellent feel for the road and I think offers a real option for those who dislike the looks of the new BMWs and Mercedes."
I will le you know on he colors this or next week.
Delivery date.... 9/14
I have a pearl White (which I had on the previous RL(2000)
I guess we don't have long to wait ... they arrive this week!
--------
Jeff - I personally appreciate your candid first impression and am trying to keep it in that context, a "first impression". Although 0-60 times should not be the ultimate arbiter of what a car is all about - it is, never-the-less, one of the ultimate automotive benchmarks and is highly revered in this country. As such, if your predictions turn to reality and the RL posts 0-60 times in the mid to low seven second range...the car is in trouble! My $50,000 demands that the RL executes it's 0-60 duties, at minimum, in 6.5 seconds or less. Is this wishful thinking? Am I expecting too much? Am I being reasonable here? Your thoughts..?
Sometimes, cars could be too smooth and quiet (the new RL is supposed to be both), to transfer the feel of a fast car. While that might work against it in the world of perception, measured test results could prove it otherwise. We should see a flurry of road tests soon.
Even if the RL pulls a high 6, that would still be class leading. The only car I can foresee besting the RL is the M35, which is due out it March 2005.
Namely if you were to compare the new RL with:
Audi 8L
BMW 745i
Jaguar Vandan plas
Lexus LS 430
MB S430
VW phaeton W8
you would come up ( I am taking the 0-60 times reported in an automotive magazine that ran the comparo for the above models) with only the BMW 745i getting a better time then the RL (6.1 sec vs. 6.4-6.5).
We could say some of the models may have been showing age (MB for example) but after all they are all powered by V8 engines and truly represent the top tier for their respective brands (except for MB again).
That still leaves me impressed very positively by the 6.4-6.5 reported for the RL.
Truly,
Steve
I expect the RL to be a mid to high 6 second car, same with the M35 AWD. The M35 RWD may be a couple ticks faster.
This is basically a high 6, low 7 category. If you want low 6, probably gotta go with the V8.
You just may say that it could be dangerous to drive a weak vehicle in SF bay area. On the other hand, with so much congestion on highways here, it makes more sense to drive Prius since it will be allowed to use HOV lanes starting on 01/01/05 (pending fed approval).
Seriously, if RL disappoints me, I am getting a Prius. Being able to ride on HOV lanes is priceless. Not to mention to the extra $25K I could put into investment.
Since the '05 RL will beat the pants off my '96 RL, I don't believe I'll have to choose a Prius as my next car. Not that I wouldn't mind having an extra $25K to invest, but I gotta have fun in my life, too. And, a fine automobile qualifies to be in that equation. I do not choose to practice self-denial to those lengths.
It'll be faster than the RL, great mileage, and $20k less to boot.
Be careful counting on that, though. Unless Congress acts, the provision for alternate fuel vehicles in HOV lanes expires in 2006.
BTW, only vehicles with combined mpg of 45+ are qualified. There will be 75,000 units allowed. Today, there are 20,000 vehicles that are registered in CA and qualify. Just FYI. Only, Honda Civic Hybrid, Insight, and Toyota Prius qualify as of now. EVs already are allowed on HOV lanes as we speak.
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It might as well be 6.5s, but no one's really done a timed test yet. That'll change soon though.
Anyone see the Black or Carbon Gray on the RL to have an opinion?
"I'll be honest, i'm not a honda/acura fan. I do envy the quality, craftmenship that go into these cars, but i despise their lack value for the price or extra price for name tag philosophy."
I don't understand your comment about "lack of value for the price" or "extra price for name tag philosophy". With respect to the RL, I don't think this has been true. In fact, Honda has been selling or leasing the RL at good discounts for several years now compared to other cars in the same or higher price ranges (probably to entice and introduce new buyers to the Acura RL in hopes of building up future sales momentum). The 2005 RL might just do the trick! The RL has, however, been notching up in price each year and the 2005 may be in the high $40,000 range (hopefully it has not hit $50,000). I am not happy that my beloved RL is getting to be so expensive to replace.
I leased a 1997 and now a 2002 at what I considered a very good discounted deal for the top notch car I have (i.e., your point about envy for the high quality and craftsmanship is right to the point). That alone should justify the price. I have had no problems to report to the dealer with either my 2002 or 1997 Acura--they were problem free since day one. When I bought American cars prior to becoming an Acura owner, I always had to return them to the dealer to fix all sorts of annoying problems because of poor quality control.
Now that you have been exposed to the 2005 RL with your many comments of praise, perhaps you will be a convert to Acura (I hope so!) and recognize why Acura fans like me are totally committed to one of the finest cars built today. I don't need to drive a BMW or Mercedes to impress anyone. The daily joy I get from driving my RL is all I need. I have never driven another car that has made my this happy behind the wheel. I am anxious to drive the 2005 RL, but will probably stay with my 2002 (with only 38,000 miles) for many more years.
Looks good, IMO.