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Yes, one day I might learn to change my own oil. As of now, I live in an apartment building and I don't even have my own parking spot, let alone a garage to change my oil in. I leave my key at the garage, where they jam the car into whatever little space they have at the time.
Isn't city living great?
Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone again for all the advice. I feel better knowing that there are others out there who have faith in the Acura product.
Later,
Peter
Thank you.
http://www.cars.com/carsapp/national/?srv=parser&act=display&- amp;- amp;tf=/features/autoshow2003/coverage/chicago/posted/coverage_02- - _03_01.tmpl
It may be cheaper to buy a 2003 than lease.
The residuals on the 2003 is ~47-48% (~$21.9k), down from 54% ($23.3k)on the 2000. The 36mo/15k yr lease is ~$535 before taxes due to the low residual. My credit union found one for $570 before taxes.
My insurance company's bank (USAA) is offering 4.99% six year loans, so I'm going to buy out my lease for $23,350 on my 2000 RL, which gives me $376/mo payments for six years.
I hope to be able to sell the car in four years for about the balance due at that time on my loan (~$9,500). I estimate the car will have 110k miles on it.
If I turned my car in, I would have a $750 mileage penalty due, which would have to be "added" to the cost of any other vehicle that I purchased.
I recently purchased my first REAL LEGIT LUXURY CAR. It is an 99 Acura 3.5 RL with 28350 miles. It is the CLASSIC RL color - Nighthawk Black. A lease return from Mass. I just wanted to ask a few misc things that hopefully other RL owners will have experiance with.
I was going to use Zaino from everyone's recomendation. But i was wondering what everyone uses? Want to get at least a leather conditioner and something that will maintain the AMAZING shine on the black. What should i get - Z-2, Z-3, Z-6 ?
Also I was wondering if anyone has info on tire sizes. The stock wheels are very nice and shine, but ultimatly i would like my next purchase to be some really nice alloys or chrome rims. I am asking because I remember someone saying that either a 17 or 19 SHOULD HAVE FIT, but didn't and requred shaving. Anyone put on different size tires?
Any knowlegde on things you have heard or experianced is greatly appreciated!!!!
I am glad to say that I am now a LEGIT member of this board. I feel SO SO at ease in my RL so far. I bought it Wed, Feb 5th 2003. THANKS
What is certain: Honda does not have a V8 program and sees no reason to try to beat the Big 3 (MB, BMW, Lexus) at their own game. Honda's strong suit has always been technology. So: ?????
JW
It's expected to have either 300hp or close to it, and similar torque output. With that in mind, I strongly doubt it'll still be FWD, unless Honda can manage to prevent torque steer.
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=07799113
According to Autoweek.com, Acura says rear drive is not critical to its success.
It says that Acura coupes and sedans with up to 270hp still have a luxurious feel with front drive. Anything more would require all wheel drive.
It looks like the next RL will have AWD. Isn't it supposed to debut at the Chicago Auto Show this weekend?
And the RL is due for Chicago, at least according to the Edmund's teaser for the show.
It's my guess (or hope?) that the TSX ($$) will now fill the bill above the RSX ($) and the TL/CL can move up a notch higher ($$$) with the new RL ($$$$) with full features and between $45k and $50k .... still safely below the MB, BMW, and Lexus price floor but (fingers crossed) with a technologically advanced platform.
It doesn't need to be wildly popular (a luxo hybrid would be interesting) but it does need to be attractive enough to give a halo effect for the rest of the lineup, along with the '05 redesign of the NSX which is also long overdue, no matter how lovely it is.
JW
Why didn't anyone else think of it?
Makes me want to go out and buy lotto tickets!
Honda definitely has the goods to go head to head with MB, BMW, Lexus, and Infiniti. I wonder why they're so conservative. Is it because of cash? They're relatively small compared to the other players, so maybe they don't want to throw cash around like it grows on trees.
You would think that they would have a decent amount of money lying around from the 400,000+ Accords they sell every year in North America alone.
JW
The lights were on so it was hard to see the front. I snapshot the picture, but can't seem to get the imc src syntax right to put it here.
Based on my observation, Honda's strategy appears to be profit based growth. This could be one of the reasons why they managed to grow slowly but steadily, even in bad times. Unlike Nissan, they may not be willing to take financial risks, especially in a competitive market, and be gobbled up by a larger player. Nissan too, could revive its lineup because of the cash flow it received from Renault, otherwise $37 billion in debt is nothing to brag about.
From sales point of view, the marketing execs must believe that there is little to no advantage going RWD, and they may be right. Acura may be heading in the direction that Audi has been using, and Volvo is trying to emulate as well, FWD layout, with optional AWD. This may be reflected in next RL. Even for 2004, it wouldn't surprise me if Acura lifted the power train off Acura MDX, including VSA, and put it in the RL. It would give the flagship a much needed shift in terms of bragging rights, the 260 horses to go with it.
I hope Acura does the right thing. We'll see on Saturday...
I have been driving my '96 Camry since new in Dec. of '95. It only has 58k miles and drives perfectly, but I am getting antsy. I plan on buying something in 12-24 months. My question: with the new model coming out soon, will the resale value of the current model RL's take a nose-dive over the next couple years?
If the new '02 and '03 models are being discounted to $35-$37K, what would you predict to be the target for a low mileage (20-30k)'02 RL in a couple years? Any educated guesses would be appreciated.
What RL needs as just a bit of power boost, in-dash CD, few extra comfort features, that's it. And most importabtly - remain in the same price range. I also wish RL got better fuel efficiency, but without using V-Tec engine it is not going to happen.
04 RL might be just a stopgap measure for Acura. As drastically redesigned RL is not ready yet, but current version desperately needs some refreshening even if for psychological reasons. But that stopgap version might be exactly what many people are looking for. I would have bought 03 RL right away had it had at least one of the items from my wish list in comparison with 02s. But 03 came disappointingly same as 02.
As to question of prosepcitve prices for used 02s 03s. RLs suposed to have steeper depreciation over their MB, Lexus counterparts. But with recent manufacturer discounts on new ones, I haven't seen that translate into better prices for used ones. I've seen asking prices on used RLs ridiculously close to what you get new one for these days. But by any reason they should collapse. Used 02s should be in low 20s in few years. There is no point of paying a penny more for used RL. Maintenance costs after warrantee expires is really high for RLs.
As far as goldkey's comment about high maintenance costs after warranty, that has not been my experience at all. My RL has been trouble free w/ 104K. That is one of the reasons I went with this car in the first place and I have not been disapointed. I'm not one to pamper a car and this one has just been driven. I do nothing beyond oil changes and just drive until a problem arises. Maybe I've been lucky, but i don't think so. just my $.02
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=autoshows&loc_code=&content_code=01803770
Acura has a meeting with the media tomorrow, so we should have some solid information at that time.
I also noticed that on Edmunds site for Future vehicles all refrences to 04RL as future vehcile have been removed and replaced with 05 RL without any more info. I wonder what's the story. Looks like Acura is not ready for major RL redesign by 2004 production cycle. But I can't beleve 04s will continue to be the same as 03s, which is the same as 02s, which is essentially the same going back to 96. Yes, Acura is conservative company, but it was never distinguished as technologically outdated either to have their flagship so lacking in modern technological innovations and trends.
So, I am intrigued what is the stopgap solution Acura has for RL?
I guess we'll have to wait on an update from the media....
The current RL certainly doesn't compete with the 5 or the GS. Its competition is with other $35k cars, no matter its MSRP as this is where it sells. Think ES300, Avalon, etc. It's a very niche market. People who buy this change their own oil and expect to change out their own brakes, or do it at the corner station, at 105k.
The '05 Acura, if a drastic revision, will win new buyers and send many of the old ones scurrying for the used car dept.
JW
This sounds like a rewritten announcement for the '02. Then they featured an added 10-15 hp and OnStar. Now it's standard Nav and XM radio.
Dear Honda: Yawn.
JW
Press Release:
http://www.hondanews.com/Forms/acura/RL/*ws4d-db-query-Show.ws4d?- *ws4d-db-query-Show***003987***-wieck_media***-***acura(directory- )RL(directory)***.ws4d?acura/RL/results(r)_text.html
Interior
http://hondanews.com/Forms/acura/RL/*ws4d-db-query-Show.ws4d?*ws4- d-db-query-Show***003988***-wieck_media***%20-***acura/RL(directo- ry)***.ws4d?acura/RL/results(r)_JPG.html
http://hondanews.com/Forms/acura/RL/*ws4d-db-query-Show.ws4d?*ws4- d-db-query-Show***003992***-wieck_media***%20-***acura/RL(directo- ry)***.ws4d?acura/RL/results(r)_JPG.html
3 month of free subscription!? Ooh-ha!
If RL pushes this thing on people, I expect consumer revolt.
2000 lease residual - 54% >> $23,350 lease buyout
2003 lease residual - 47% >> $21,915 lease buyout
Based on this, I expect the 2002/2003s to sell as used cars in 2005/2006 ~5-10% lower in price than the 1999/2000s are right now.
Also, buying a 2003 for $35,421 and expecting about 18% price depreciation each year (.82) for three years gives a price of $19,530.
When that '05 makes its appearance, if it has 270 to 325 hp and doesn't exceed $50K MSRP, I'll talk turkey with Acura. Till then, I expect to continue the trouble-free miles I've enjoyed ever since I picked this one up in Oct. 2000 with 36.8K miles.
I tried to email you at your aol email address, but it kept bouncing back. please email me at mattlemon@columbus.rr.com if you have another email address.
matt
Keep in mind that I think Acura switched the method of painting slightly from 99 to 00. But still not knowing enough about these terms, I don't know if that would even effect if it was clear or reguar coated pain.
THANKS (tjones my e-mail is danfortner@snet.net, sorry)
JW
In short, Honda you blew it. 2004 should have been the year for an all new RL. I love my 2002 RL but will go out of my way to encourage anyone who is considering a new RL to simply avoid the 2004 altogether. Besides, there's still a few 2002's sitting on dealer lots (not to mention 2003's). Buy one of them and save some $$$$.
I've now finished my rant. Good night.
Relentlessly,
Lee
You can see why Honda is reluctant to go RWD and V8 with the RL, not just to stand behind their philosophy, but because unless you're Lexus, BMW or Mercedes, V8 and RWD doesn't sell.
JW
The RL is a fine car at a mid-30s price tag, but suffers from lack of technological improvements. Honda has to do something quickly if it wants to retain RL followers, who have spent good money in buying a flagship car, which supposedly is the torch bearer of the Honda/Acura nameplate.
JW
Joe, you are such a poet.
You could really say that pricing drives all car volume, whether it be $20k or $45k. What car wouldn't have higher sales if the price was dropped 20%. Even the Pontiac Aztek might.....no, I not sure even that would help move that design.
Not disagreeing with the point, just don't think the M45 fits with that group of cars.
JW
For clarification, I listed M45 along with other "comparable" cars simply because of its price and standing in the luxury car segment -- style or no style has nothing to do with the list.