Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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1) Alternator - had to remanufacture the old one since NO dealer had one in stock - had to be special ordered (cost to fix - $220)
2) AC compressor - bought a used one for $120 and had my mechanic put it in for $100
3) Rear wheel speed sensor - cost +/- $140 and replaced it by myself
4) Driver side window regulator - forgot the cost - replaced by myself.
Other than that, the car has been problem free. My wife still enjoys driving it. I, on the other hand, like it only for longer highway drives. Otherwise, it's too soft for my tastes.
Would I buy another one? For myself? No... I'm a "stick" person...
I think that is the way to go as well. Honda execs already mentioned that just having a V8 isn't enough. They used the Infiniti Q45 as an example.
The plan is to create a V6 that produces the same feel as a V8. Isn't that what they tried to do with the current RL?
The Infiniti Q45 who lost their battle with Lexus is because they didn't build up the prestige image in the past. Although the Q45 is a very good car, but not good enough to attract the potential buyers to switch from Lexus, BMW, M-B, or Jaguar.
I hope Acura won't make the same mistake for marketing the new RL. My wife is driving a 00 RL, it has very nice build quality and affordable. I hope the new RL will have a V6 with much more HPs (320 HP maybe), rear wheel drive, and more luxury designs, and keep the price in the mid-40K.
Lucky me.
Take care.
Joe W.
No biggie, still love the car.
I recently noticed that a dealer in Westchester, New York is selling RLs w/o nav for $37,500 (with nav. should be no more than $39,500). I think in the next few months the price will drop more. When it is one or two thousand dollars less, I will definitely cash in for one. Although the LS and Q45 are more technologically advanced, the RL ain't bad, especially when the price is right.
Take care.
Joe W.
You are correct in that the price is listed as such, but I wonder if there is some mistake.
We went for a drive, but the "test track" was very short -- around the block and no more than three minutes. I guess she was in a hurry and wanted to meet other customers. The test car had a lot of rattle and squeaks, and the pavement was not even rough. She jokingly said the annoying noises were free and I need not pay for them. I was not amused and was in fact disappointed with the workmanship and quality of the test car. I was also surprised that she did not know how to operate the nav. Instead of using the nav buttons, she was pushing the stereo buttons. Geeeez! The car also seemed a bit sluggish when I tried to accelerate and the gear shift was a bit awkward to use. You have to push down before you can shift back and forth.
When we returned to the dealership, she asked if I wanted to buy or lease. I told her I would buy and pay cash. She was not happy to hear that; I suppose she wanted to make a bigger profit on finance charges. After she conferred with the manager for a while, she came back and said the price is $37,000 and it was non-negotiable. The price is around my range, but since I was not thrilled with her professionalism, I left.
It seems like every month a new program comes out here in NY!
This will be my second RL...still the best car for the money.
Maybe something in the seat (broken/bent part in the seat) is putting pressure on one of the sensors causing the light to go on. If that is the case, replacing the board and sensors would not fix this problem.
I'm surprised to hear the demo RL had creaks. They are build pretty well. I would have walked away from that dealer as well if they treated me that way.
**Go to a different dealer.
**Don't volunteer ANY information.
**Just ask for a test drive. If you get a ride that is either too short or in a reclamation project of some sort, tell them that you were serious, but if they can't do better, you'll walk now. (You can be professional, but be clear.)
**Don't ask about price until you're satisfied with the information y ou have about the car itself. If they ask you anything about money, ask them to return to selling the car.
**When you ask about price, if the figure is much above your idea of what you'll pay, tell them that (no more, tho). Give them a number quite a bit under what you're willing to pay but still above invoice (-rebates, etc.) When they balk, tell them you're serious if they really want to sell the car.
**If they ignore the rebate accept the number, then say something like: "You mean the $4k dealer cash will be deducted from that?" If not, walk.
**If you still prefer the first dealer, call back (perhaps no need to go), refuse to talk to the moron you had before, prefer the sales manager, tell him of the lousy experience, tell him you have anew, good number and you're ready to buy, and ask if he's ready to beat it on a car that meets with your approval (not the rattle trap).
**Anytime they play the "cash or credit" game, either 1) indicate credit (then change your mind when you're sitting in the finance office) or 2)say that you haven't decided and you need their best deal to decide if you want the car before y ou decide on financing.
This way, you stay in control. The car, by the way, is a LOT better than your test experience.
The sales person, btw, was right about one thing -- they're sold a large number of these this year and are cleaning out the overage.
Good luck.
Joe W.
Take care.
Joe W.
Like mrrogers said, the LS400 originally cost $10K-$15K more than the RL so it's expected that it costs more few years down the road.
Having said that, the RL's depreciation does stink, especially if you are one that bought the car without special end-of-year incentives. Because of that, the RL makes a WONDERFUL used car. Relatively low price, luxurious, very dependable, etc... Don't agree with me? Go over to Real-world trade in values forum and ask one of the resident dealers (Bill or Terry) what they think about it (from the business point of view, not driver/enthusiast's).
We've had our '96 RL for 2.5 years. Paid for it ~$19K the door (59K miles on the odo) out, so far put 45K (relatively trouble-free) miles on it and plan on keeping it till the end. Realistically, at this point the car is worth ~$10K and it would make no sense to sell it.
I don't know the rpm at 70 but I know I get over 23 mpg running at that speed.
There was a recent recall for a brake light switch. Make sure they do that fix when you buy.
Take care.
Joe W.
Styling is conservative and bland, but inoffensive. Even my 21-year-old daughter likes to drive it, even though she's still in the 2-door coupe stage. I may spring the bucks for an RSX for her next month, even though they sell like hotcakes here @ MSRP + ADM + fees. I'll probably get MSRP + fees, based on my long relationship with the dealer.
What kind of gas mileage can I expect with mostly highway miles? I have heard that this model is poor on gas mileage. Thanks in advance for your help.
1. I went out special so I could answer you: the rpm at 70 on mine is at 2600.
2. Mileage, see above. Some have complained, if you want to read up quite a few messages where there was a prolonged discussion of the issue, that they were getting only 18-20. I get 20 in town, 23-24 highway. The car seems sensitive to tuning and to individual driving styles.
3. Problem areas. The car is pretty much bullet-proof: see Consumer Reports. cf: Lexus. But there is the brake light switch recall. And every time a mechanic messes with the car you risk needing a return visit to straighten out some careless mistake he made: for example, after I had the brake light switch repaired, the cruise control wouldn't work -- there was nothing wrong with it but the mechanic didn't hook it back up. Aggravating, but not the car's fault.
4. Would I buy it again? Sure. As a cruiser, it's the best car (for the money) I've owned, including a MB E series. My mistake was in selling my Miata when I got the RL, thinking I wasn't going to have time for it -- I don't, but I need it all the same. I can be eternally comfortable when I'm dead; sometimes I need some fun. Currently looking, not to sell, but to add something with the money I saved in getting the RL.
Let me note that I don't feel the depreciation is as outlandish as many here say; compare it to many luxury cars, especially those that aren't BMW or Lexus or MB, and it is very similar. It's bad (for all of those remaining, including Jag, Infiniti, Cadillac, etc.), and in the Acura's case there is NOTHING wrong with the car -- it lacks 1) prestige (no hood ornament, V8, rwd, reputation with the reviewers, etc.) and 2) popularity (flashiness). My own review would stress that it is conservative, with elegant style and efficient engineering -- all qualities that are not very American. Good. The country needs to be more conservative (small "c"), dignified, efficient ... among other things.
If you want something else, y ou need another car.
Good luck in your choice.
Take care.
Joe W.
The morning and afternoon traffic jams here are hideous, so I avoid them as much as possible. I get anywhere from 18.5 - 23 mpg, which I'm satisfied with. My '01 Odyssey EX has done better at 21 - 24 mpg.
Joe W. and I seem to be the ones most satisfied our 3.5RLs and appreciative of the attributes of the vehicle instead of complaining about the FWD platform, lack of V-8, conservative styling, four-speed AT, etc. The only item I've had to repair other than "wear-and-tear" is an oxygen sensor at 67K miles ...... and that was at "no-cost" under an extended warranty purchased by the former owner and transferred to me.
The one complaint I have is the mileage - freakin' horrible. I owned a Crown Vic and got the same mileage as I get on the RL. Granted I have a bit of a heavy foot, but man you'd think this car was drinking beer.
Joe, I would have kept the miata. I made the mistake of selling my integra after getting the RL thinking that I wouldn't need it.
I think you need both. The RL is extremely comfortable, but sometimes I just want to get into a sporty car and row my own gears.
Looked at a bunch of cars for my weekend trips including the miata (its a beautiful car). I finally have my weekend car, but I still drive the RL most of the time even on weekends. Going from my weekend car to my RL is like going from a soapbox car to riding on a cloud of air. You never realize how nice the RL ride is until you ride in another car for sometime.
I've been thinking of the new 350Z (after the dust settles a bit), drove the WRX and liked it a lot, and there's an actual 356 Porsche available (I don't know your age -- they were new in the '50s, look like an inverted bathtub) for a little over $18k. Now, on that one I could even dig my wrenches out -- which I haven't used since electronics took over.
I agree that the RL is smooth, solid (especially the '02), a pleasure for the eye, and makes me regret losing my Miata.
Welcome vaacura! Hope you enjoy yourself ... you don't say what your mileage is & what you think of as bad. Could there be something wrong in the car's tuning? That combined with a lot of traffic, like you mention, could drop it of course.
Take care.
Joe W.
Was thinking of going back to an acura, was wondering what deals they are making out there?
Michael
Speaking of tires, I had my RL in for service yesterday and had to have a tire replaced (nail in the sidewall) and GEEZ who knew these Michelins cost so much?
I had the brake light recall fixed at the same time (total time on that about 10 minutes). Acura really does kiss your butt at the dealership - and I like that:) I was hanging out with one of the sales guys in the service bay area (it was raining outside so he had no customers) and he tells me to look for a complete redesign of the RL in '03? I hope they don't screw it up as I really like the shape of the current model. Honda did this to me with the Accord when they went from the 90-93/94 series to the bland model they run now. I had a '92 Accord EX Coupe which I loved. Put 140,000 miles on it.