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Comments
My dealer has been very diligent about working with me on this door handle problem. The service manager told us that once they get all the "electronic bugs" worked out the RL will be an incredible car. He also admitted that not all the service technicians have as yet had adequte training on fixing the new problems.
That being said, as the former owner of two MB E320s, I love my RL. I live in Minneapolis and that AWD is a life saver!! I also like the AWD just for general handling in cornering and rainy conditions. This car hugs the road!! It is a beautiful autmobile and in my opinion is a bargain for the price. And I love, love, love my navigation system!!!
Lynnminny
(Disappointed to note that the reliability rating for the Acura TL was only average).
LIY
I don't think the RL exceeds the performance of the M35; actually I think the M35 somewhat exceeds the RL's performance.
First let me say I own a 04 TL and plan on ordering a new 05 RL later this month. However I must say the interior trim of the RL was a slight disapointment for me.
I have the Parchemnt with black dash and light wood trim in my 04 TL and it is stunning compared to the 05 RL Parchment,and medium brown and dark wood combination in the new 05 RL. In fact the rather drab interior color combination in the RL was almost a show stopper for me. I love my TL and it is a whole lot of car for the money. A lot of luxury for the money. Yes I do want an RL and like the idea of the techno toys it has. I think it is a super car and I dont mind paying the difference, but disagree when you say "the TL doesent come close", and I understand the rave reviews the TL interior gets and I agree 100%. Sure the RL is a little roomier and has more techno features, but they could have done a better job with colors, contrasts and materials when compared to the TL. I love my 04 TL interior but will live (put up) with the less appealing 05 RL interior because I want the other features!!!
As for my "invidious" comparison to the TL, I should have been clearer: the TL has a nice, sporty interior--the strong "sporty" contrasts--appealing, I would surmise, to a younger demographic. The RL is more refined in terms of interior noise, "luxury" ride, and so on. It's color palette is more like a luxury car.
Less sarcasm = who cares what CR thinks?
Check out Car and Driver, Road and Track, Automobile, CAR, Motor Trend, etc. As I recall the "car magazines" love the RL. The only criticism I can recall out of any of these magazines is the RL's lack of an available V8, despite the fact that the BMW 5 series and the Audi A6 both are generally (90%) sold with 6's.
An endorsement by/from CR may be a desirable footnote, but that is all that it is good for IMO.
Regarding the color pallet though take a look at the Lexus GS 430/300. It would seem they like the parchemnt/black with burdseye maple combo like the Acura TL uses. I think the Lexus GS is a luxury car at almost $48 to 55k comporably equipped to the RL.
I like the RL better in some ways like the exterior styling for example. But luxury color schemes don't have to be drab and without contrast. Too bad the AWD version of the Lexus only comes in a 245 HP version V6.
I guess there are always short commings no mater what you are looking for. Just have to find the best overall package to suit ones taste.
This problem just developed. Does that sound intentional?...a means of hyping the additional programs? Anyone else experiencing this?
As for the 2004 TL, I mentioned this before. It's interesting how we differ. We owned a 2000 TL and when the long awaited 2004 TL arrived both my wife and I were very disappointed in what they did to the car especially the interior. A year later the 2005 RL came on the scene and we we both blown away by the beautiful taupe leather interior design and how it blends perfectly with the celestial silver exterior. Again...just our opinion. And by the way ...congratulations on your decision to upgrade from the TL to the New RL. You won't be disappointed my man!
I do really like the look of my TL, but the ride is a bit harsh and I would like just a bit more space like the RL, not to mention all the tech gadegts.
I really think the Taupe color interior combination is a better match then the Parchment I want, but the outside color I want is the Redondo Red Pearl and while I like the look of the black interior, I dont like how hot it gets in the summer. The only other option is the parchment. Plus I just like lighter interiors for some personal taste issue I guess. Anyway I am looking forward to getting mine. Since the red isn't as popular on the dealers lots my dealer is ordering one from the port.
Thanks!
Overall, love the car. That's the first glitch......among many hours of having a smile on my face.
re the comparos......interesting reading about who is imitating whom. I went from Audi to Acura. Haven't regretted it a minute. Loved the Audi, too, but I think the advent of so many brands offering advanced AWD is going to challenge Audi to maintain market share.
Thanks!
We need some expertise in this area.
I actually like CR but for some reason never relied a whole lot on it's automotive findings. Were you surprised by inconsistencies in CR'S reasonings or the folks that were critical of CR?
I sent them some mail as it's impossible to raise them on the phone. They promised to answer in 24 hours...I'm still waiting...it's been two days. I had no problems yesterday but, again, this morning stations in my pre-set jumped to XM Raadio promos.
My wife and I have come to love XM and this is really frustrating. I'll let you know if I hear back from them.
George
I think that some critics (CR, in this case) are vexed that it took nine years to bring about a model change for the RL and that their expectations for a luxo-cruiser to compete with the Lexus 430 were dashed. CR treated that small critique of the RL in a very brittle manner. I suspect that the full test of the RL will be negative judging by the "...but ride and handling are nothing special." comment.
Frankly I enjoy and rely on the musings in Car and Driver and Autombile and CAR when I want to know about a car.
Consumer Reports writing car reviews simply lacks credibility -- I would not expect to use CR as a source of movie reviews either. They just can't seem to bring themselves to much subjectivity. Cars are hardly an objective part of our culture.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I am wrong 52% of the time based on surveys.
Oh, and an afterthought...I can't imagine what survey would have Cincy wrong even 5% of the time!
Just my Opinion.
Here's another piece of the letter. It appears that XM's growing presence has caused them to raise their rates from $9.95/month to $12.95/month starting on April 2nd. However, they are now giving you their High Voltage Channel (????), a $1.99/month value and their XM Radio Online option - a $3.99/month value for the $12.99 monthly rate. I guess that should make me feel good. I'd much prefer to stay at the $9.99 level, but that's not one of the options.
They also have offered 1 to 5 year subscription plans which range from $142.45 to $599.40. XM Nav/Traffic is offered at $3.99/month if you subscribe to the radio plan.
Has anyone else received this letter? They want me to respond before April 2nd, because these new rates go into effect then.
Maybe your XM Radio is jumping to Preview channels because of these changes.
I can see the 2008+ auto-trader now, listing "2005 Acura RL w/2nd gereration NAV CD". Geez! Just send us the update for god's sake!
Just my thoughts.
Thanks for the reply and update.
3 months subscription free on the Acura TL
It is stated in the brochures.
Also,
I agree $9.99 is a better price. I am not sure if I would even pay that much...I would like the choices of XM but with current FM radio and all the CDs I have, $10 and now $13 a month may not be worth it.
But to each his own...if you like it buy it...if you don't like it don't buy it.
But...it would not hurt to tell XM that the price increase is a bad idea (may not make them change...but let them know anyway)
I will certainly not renew my XM when it expires.
I know some people that really love it..but...
However, if I was to get XM, the main reason would be for the "less mainstream" stations.
I would love to have access to the "blues" stations. We have one station in Hunstville Alabama that plays jazz and blues, but it is mostly jazz (WJAB).
The only other station(s) that I would like would be (i believe it is or was called deep cuts) is one that a friend told me about that plays deep cuts from classic rock artist.
There are plenty of classic rock stations around, but most seem to play "basically" a top 40. Very limited play list. The deep cuts plays many/most of the same artist, but it plays different album tracks than are normally played.
For example:
The group "Mountain" has many more great songs than just "Mississippi Queen".
and..."Steppenwolf" has more than 3 songs (Hey Lawdy Mama, Born To Be Wild, and Magic Carpet Ride).
Dennis
This is less because XM is divine than it is because std commercial radio has become such a hopeless pile of soundalike drivel.
When I first started driving across the country, on both sides of the Mississippi, car radio was a fabulous cultural treasure. As you crossed counties and states, radio (mostly AM than) gave you a terrific impression of the regions you traveled through, their feel, their politics, their dialects and their culture.
Now, tanks to the vision of the radio conglomerate Clear Channel and its ilk, what you pick up on the road is one endless, homogenous, putrid porridge. They all sound the same; they play the same, nearly indistinguishable, 40 idiotic songs; they carry the same newsfeeds, with the exception of a couple of minutes of rip-and-read that may or may not carry news of the community they serve. Radio in America is bordering on a lost art on the scale of competent shoe repair and mechanics at service stations.
This is where XM and/or Sirius offer a high quality alternative. My particular choice is XM, largely because of Ch. 73, Frank's Place, which does a marvelous job presenting pop standards -- lately more often referred to as "The American Songbook." The classical side is a little too reminiscent of a college peculiarity called "music appreciation," but it isn't all bad. The news and other information channels enables me to be away from major newsmedia for extended period while keeping up-t0-date. With over 100 channels, many of them fat-free, I find myself using CD's in the car less and less. And living in NYC, the traffic channel is a treasure.
And all this for 10 bux if you sign up right? Hell, I tip barkeeps 10 bux. If they're any good...
Our crass culture, spouting 23 minutes of commercials every hour, has been shown the door!
I would think XM would be beneficial for those NOT living in major metro regions who are starving for variety, rather than the other way around...
Anyway, I personally haven't found my favorite station. The decade stations are a great idea, but the programming is terrible. I find the decade station on Yahoo online much better. I like watercolors when I'm mellow, sometimes like the Hear Music station, but generally find myself flipping stations more than listening... I really like new age music and just don't like the Visions selections at all.
However, I caution you that if you call and discuss the subscription issue with those that answer the initial calls, be prepared to ask for their supervisor. I spent too much time explaining and hearing a response not to my liking. I also had to spend up to 20 minutes on hold waiting to speak with someone, and that only got me armed for action.
I was first told that I had to renew now to lock in the current rate options and therefore forego the balance of 9 months of trial service. Wrong answer for me. That's when I wanted the supervisor. After explaining all over again in a manner in which they should want my business, they agreed that when my trial ends in December 2005, I can extend at the current $9.99 plan options.
If you enjoy this new listening media, here's the best part and action you should take. XM offers extended plans of 1,2,3,4,and 5 years. At the 5-year level, you invest $499.99, which nets out to $8.33 per month. If you cancel the service at any point during the plan, you are refunded the balance of the remaining months. Since I wanted the 5-year plan, the supervisor noted it in my profile and informed me that when my trial expires, they would bill me for the 5-year plan at that time. This is a fair deal at $8.33 with an option to cancel. Your only issue is the up-front investment of $499.99.
For those interested, I suggest you contact XM Radio and discuss your current plan and ask to be placed on one of the current extended plans when your current plan expires. Make sure you agree on the cost options. Here they are for your reference -
1-year $119.88 = $9.99/month
2-year 214.99 = 8.96/month
3-year 314.99 = 8.75/month
4-year 410.99 = 8.56/month
5-year 499.99 = 8.33/month
Challenge them and lock in the savings if your enjoy XM Radio.
Rich
Given such a short period of time from delivery to this update, I would agree that Acura should make some accomodation for updating all owners within a certain timeframe. The majority of these initial cars have been sold at list yielding significant profits for dealers and Acura. The issue is whether dealers would share in the cost of upgrading this software.
Stay tuned....
I think Acura took the wrong direction with the new RL, albeit to save development cost by basing it on the Accord/TL platform, which it was designed to accomodate from the beginning. When comparing the Accord vs RL, you'll find that the RL's overall length is less than 4" longer, wheelbase is only 2" longer, but the trunk capacity is smaller and rear seat legroom is slightly less. It just seems to me the price Acura is wanting for it can't be justified solely by the increased tech content.
Is it just me or am I missing something?
I've test driven a TL and ridden extensively in a friend's Accord. In my opinion, the RL beats both hands down, though I do slightly prefer the styling of the TL to the RL. However, if you should ask whether the RL is worth the extra money over either one, it's all subjective. In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes.
But this summer, XM will have a baseball channel. Now, the sound of baseball om radio is a thing of beauty. Baseball on radio is, IMHO, better than baseball on TV. Although I have spent more time in NYC than in any other part of the world, I am tired to the death of the NY Yankees and the Nets.
My favorite baseball team on radio is the Cincinnati Reds. And this summer I'll get a number of their games. Sirius, meanwhile, will have football games in the fall.
On radio, football is not very interresting. Baseball is music. I'm a football fan too, purely for the love of the game. Proof of that is that I'm a Minnesota Viking fan (having lived in that miserable place for a few years too. We all have our crosses to bear). But football is not a radio sport. Baseball is.
Finally, Sirius just spent something on the order of a Pentagon budget to sign up that swine Howard Stern. 'nuff said. Appreciate your XM gift with purchase, folks. It's art. Pure art.
Sometimes you read posts that tell you what you want to say and feel in your gut, and this is one.
*****************************************************
also after reading:"More on XM by mungoac... I'm a semi-retired investigative journalist"... "Appreciate your XM gift with purchase, folks. It's art. Pure art."
I enjoyed reading your reasons for enjoying XM...I can't help but remembering one of the Canadian's comments that they get the RL with the ventillated seats but not the XM satellite radio and thinking that trade off isn't even something I would want as a Canadian much less a mid-westerner in the USA.