Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Anyway, there are I think 3 (could be 4) settings for both cooling and heating. I only tried out the cooling for a minute or two so can't fully comment on how well it works. When I take delivery of the car I'll see if it is as good as the Lexus LS430's cooled seats. Those work well.
To me, the stated rating just gives me something to compare the "pick-up" power to another vehicle.
I want to be able to enter an interstate without worry or be able to get out of someone's way...but whether it is 6.7 or 7 seconds probably will not matter...
Anyway...to each his own...
I like the car and the power it has.
They show a Was price and a NOW price
Was price is $50,264
Now price is $48,791
Was price includes $379 for paint sealant (WHY ???) plus $338 for protection package that includes mud flaps, trunk tray and wheel locks).
(one odd thing the price on the actual sticker shows a price of 50,135 instead of 50,264 ???)
So this is roughly $1,500 off list (or $1200 of without the sealant).
How does this compare with some of the deals people are getting?
I would prefer another $2500 to $3000 off, guess I will have to wait a little longer...plus I have not seen all the color options (have seen white, black and celestia? silver).
But for now, I suppose, I'm content to be young and foolish...and subjected to the whim of the road.
Today I tried to lock the car with the remote and somehow managed to get all the windows to open about an inch. Had to get in and start the car again to raise them. What did I do?
Thanks all for helping a new kid. BTW, traded in my 2003 BMW 7 series for this car. Yes I know it is a smaller car. The ride is FAR better. Unbelievable feeling for the road.
Outtabeemer
You can set up the car so it makes a little beep to let you know that the doors are locked. When I run my hand over the dimple on the door, it beeps(not a loud car horn, but loud enough to hear)
It is a fun car to drive!!
Lynnminny
I have a related question. When you walk up to the car with the remote fob, does the transponder unarms/unlock the car, so that the lights flash and the beeper beeps even before you pull the door handle?
thanks for sending the pic's. Huge difference with the 20" wheels...looks awesome! I plan to do my homework and see if there is a 20" wheel that will work for the car and not sacrifice ride and handling. I'll let everyone know if I find a package that works.
Of course I am not saying that you'll necessarily run your Audi on the autobahn to self destruction (and in fact I wish you the greatest enjoyment for many years to come with your prized new possession) but simply that JD Power data show that too high a price is paid to reliability issues with european cars.
That is indeed, as you may have guessed, the reason why with age you may reconsider your youth decisions and decide that indeed there is not too much fun in a car that forces you to step down just when you do not have the time or desire (yes life tends to get busier and busier and owning a less reliable car is not so desirable).
Once again enjoy your Audi, I still enjoy driving occasionaly the german imports owned by friends (usually when extra cargo is needed and we swap them for our Honda SUV) and you are right it is really a lot of fun to feel pushed as hard as VW, Audi, BMW can do (especially when you know you are not stuck with them in any long term relationship and the car orror stories you hear from your friends do not affect your night sleep). :-)
On another topic. Kudos to ROBERTSMX and the usual excellent analysis trying to offer a more balanced view of what are the apple and the orangesand the other produce to be compared. It's indeed futile to pretend that the garbling of features, specs etc., made in all possible comparisons (I have not seen rockets yet but who knows it may only be a matter of time) will stay quiet for long but I still plaude the brave souls that like you bring their technical knowledge to offer plausible perspectives.
Well I hope the sometime slightly humorous tone of the post will be enjoyed by most and conclude that to this day I cannot come up with a vehicle that beats the RL when price/performance/reliability and safety considerations are given ( I almost forgot to suggest that the supposed RL obesity of earlier posts may simply spring from the new ACE structure, beside SH-AWD, and I do not mind carrying a few extra pounds if their are need to keep me safer).
Truly,
Steve
I'm 26 and can't wait to take delivery of my RL. I find it to be a nice balance between the LS and the IS.
I also am wondering how people can tell the difference between a car doing 0-60 in 6.7 seconds and one doing it in say 6.3. Apparently some MUST be able to tell which is why they come here to complain about the RL's acceleration. I guess I have yet to acquire that skill where I can tell the difference between 0.3 seconds.:)
Rob
If you drive a 5.7 and then a 5.3 the "feeling" is more dramatic.
There may be other factors too that give impressions of quicker acceleration. 30 to 50 and 50 to 70 times, throttle response, and comparing the RL to others with 6 speed transmissions.
Either way, 6.7 is pretty quick. If I recall correctly that is the time of late 80's Corvettes.
Cheers.
I suppose that the theory I'm operating under is that a German car with an extended warranty is just as good as a Japanese car, but for the time I spend going to and from the shop. Shop timeisn't all that big a deal since they're giving me a free loaner anyhow, and the Audi dealer is much closer to my house than the Acura dealer.
Also, I'm already on a first name basis with my service advisor and the Audi service manager--my wife and I have two Audis currently, and I make it a point to meet these people. It makes it easier to get what I want when I want it.
drum roll please
The '05 Audi A6 4.2!!
I know! I'm just as shocked as you are! Where'd that one come from??? It wasn't even a remote consideration, but I tried it at the recommendation of some forum brethren on another forum and was stunned! I'll be placing my order today!
2005 Audi A6 4.2
Brilliant Black w/ Amaretto interior
Sport Package
Navigation
Voice Recognition
Bose sound w/ Sirius
Cold Weather Package
Advanced Key (keyless go)
Power rear shade and manual side shades
I have the sale price, but I won't give it (in case one of them reads these forums) until I've made my deposit and have the price in writing from the dealer; which will be this morning.
Lynnminny
Putting those 20 inchers on reminds me of my son who has a BMW M3 and for winter driving he ordered out separate custom wheels with mounted low profile winter tread tires. Everything works beautifully until the snows come and then those close tolerances around the wheel well start talking back to him as the snow builds up inside. He waits now for the snowplows to take care of the roads before he drives it.
If you include the extras...to include the worthless paint sealant($300 plus) then you are getting roughly $1500 off sticker. Plus they have the protection package included ($300 plus).
If you take off the sealant and the protection package you get a price approximately 900 - 1000 under sticker(including destination).
I agree that is not much, but my point is that they are advertising them for $1000 under sticker...so...you could probably get a little more off.
Of course, if you give the valet the "valet key" he will then have access to the trunk which you may not want. Also, if you give him the valet key, you'll have to remove the cover from the key hole which is just one more thing to deal with.
99.9732% of people who complain about a 0.3 or 0.5 second difference are lying. bring on the flames.
i test drove the RL yesterday, finally. Lets get the bad news out of the way, I don't think despite my love for Acura cars, this is something I'll buy unless it sells closer to invoice in a couple of years.
Positives, this is the best handling sedan i've driven. I took it out on a loopy road up here that I use to toss around my bmw 3. The car almost went through it all with very good composure. I think, in my perception, it handled better than the 5 I drove on the same road. I think a s2000 or boxter or my 3 edges it out on that curvy road, but hey, they are not even in the same size class! I did some turns at 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 that i'd not dare to do in a midsize at half those speeds, i'd even hesitate to do in a 540 that i recently test drove.
The overall appeal was spectacular in almost all respects. so many many little nice details are put into the car that you will only notice after days or months of ownership..... I was however not impressed with the noise level in the car. It was noisier than what i expected. It felt as noisy as my 3 convertible with sport suspension ... that's not a good thing. I test drove an XJ8L, then drove to the acura dealership, and the difference in noise level was very noticeable...
The car looks far better in person, but somehow, it just didn't make my heart beat faster or slower or irregular. It is a shape that'll likely grow on me, but, it just didn't tickle me. Even the old RL tickled me on the good side... and i'm a guy who actually likes the looks of the controversial bmw 7 and 5.
I wont comment on the sound system, it sounded better than the TL and the TL pretty much beats 99% of car sound systems out there...
The display/dash are fabulous and as usual the NAV is better than 98% of what's on the market... another "as usual" for acura i think. The switches felt good. The dash pictures make the dash look cheap and silvery, in real life it looks appropriately sized and actually very cool.
I loved the comfort of the front seats, excellent bolstering for the twists i did, but the back bench was very uncomfortable and I always dislike the hump in the center. This is not a 760i or a XJ8 Vandan Plas to be a chauffer driven 2 rear passenger kinda car... just give us a nice comfortable flat bench in the back!
Anyway, i'm not convinced enough to go into the RL, atleast not at msrp. Past the launch of the M35/45, it'll all rechange, i'm sure!
ksso
I don't believe that is correct. If you have things set right and don't give the valet the valet key, he can't just pop the trunk. Of course, I still avoid letting a valet have my car, if at all possible. Almost no one drives my car except me!!
I agree about the dash and how in the pics it looks "cheaper" and more silvery but in real life it is very elegant. The interior just flat out impressed me. I kept reading people say it was Lexus like in material and fit/finish but I questioned if they were being tuthful. Turns out they were.
I am trading in an IS300 so I have a sedan to compare the handling to but based on the test drive I felt the RL handles quite nicely especially for its size. I made a comment on the way back to the dealership about how it doesn't feel like a car that is as big as it is. My parents own an LS430 (I'd still say this is my favourtie car I have driven/been in) that I have driven quite a lot in the past and it feels its size while the RL is pretty much equal in size but doesn't feel that big.
When you mention noise do you mean just overall noise or mostly road/tire noise? I didn't pay much attention to the noise level but I will obviously pay attention to it once I take delivery. When I do, I'll be able to compare it to the LS430's noise level...or should I say lack of noise level.:) I do know the car is quieter than the IS300 but that is to be expected.
Anyway, great feedback and I enjoyed reading it.
Nobody can start or drive the car without the FOB in their possession.
That's the basic process. If you don't like or trust it, then park the car yourself. I much prefer to do that.
Hope this helps explain the process.
Yes, you can. I believe you go under Personal Settings and delete previous addresses. If that doesn't work, try the Setup button and click on previous destinations.
but like nebraskaguy I rarely let anyone drive my car except my wife and I'm riding shotgun when that happens. ;-)
Did you get a discount on the A6? What made you decide to get the A6 vs. the RL? How was the ride in the A6, the noise level? Any other thoughts from your testing and shopping? The A6 was not on my radar either nor was the BMW 5 series, but now they are both on my list after reading other forums!!
sacguy
Checking furthur on this there is a switch in the glove compartment that locks the trunk releases but the removable key that locks the glove compartment goes with you and the valet gets the remote! (Also don't forget to lock the pass thru door to the trunk in the back seat.)
Lynnminny
Any questions?
I've only taken one road trip, so far, but I got 26-28 mpg. I'm satisfied.
I tend to agree. However, if you're going to trust the valet with your $50k RL, why worry about the $500 remote.
Great information in your post, but painfully difficult to read. Perhaps I'm just an old fashioned, old school fart. I could manage your final run on sentence fine, it was the previous 30 strung together that had me swimming.
Glad you like your RL (at least I think you do):-)
Contrary to what many americans think it gets quite hot all over the country here. Where I am (Ontario) our summers are quite hot and humid.
Still have no idea why the cooled seats aren't on the U.>S RL