Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
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
Second, you’re correct that a larger displacement V8 will generally give you better low end power, but it comes with a cost. I have seen too many people compare RL to V8 competition primarily based on RL’s MSRP (which happens to be “topped out”) to base price of V8 (far from being “topped out”).
For sake of comparison, in advertisements it might sound nice and dandy to see Acura RL at $48.9K being closer to base price of Audi A6/4.2 at $51K than to $40K of the Audi A6/3.2. But after a reality check, you have to wonder about what would put the MSRP on Audi A6/3.2 to $51K if you build it to have similar gadgetry like xenons, moonroof, heated seats, homelink, premium audio system etc. Now, if a typical luxury car buyer wants a car without these features Acura’s completely loaded offering would make little sense.
In this class, I would prefer to have at least those features that can be found in cars priced much less ($30K-35K), and then some. Stripped luxury sedan do not make sense to me.
Revisiting torque, RL has plenty of it. It may not “tell you about it” by being “rude”, but it is there. For that matter, Audi A6/3.2 is listed to have a curb weight of 3960 lb. with only 255 HP/243 lb.-ft to carry it (the V8 is listed at 4150 lb.). The same goes for Cadillac STS/V6 (3960 lb). And remember, RL’s curb weight is fully loaded. Features can add a good few pounds as well.
in their tracking system. Somewhere between here and San Diego, that's all I know!
On the 2 test drive 20-30 minutes I never figured out how to turn off the GPS system.
XM Radio is great.
Back head rest does not go up but only down. Manual up.
Great looking from the back.
To buyers or those who have test driven the car: your impressions?
John
Dealer prep is a rip-off fee. Prepping the car after it comes off the truck (and the boat) is part of the dealer's job and that cost is already factored into their profits.
Personally, I would never pay that, unless for some reason I absolutely had to have the car right then and there, and even under those circumstances I would call around and find another dealer within 50-75 miles who would sell me the car without that ridiculous add-on fee.
I would not pay advertising fees either.
My only comment is I wish the car was a little larger esp in trunk and rear seat. Equivalent to 2004 RLs would be sufficient. I like it yet I think I will wait for prices to settle down.
It doesn't make that much difference to me if I get a car when they are first released. My expectations were pretty high for this car.
Here are my brief opinions:
Exterior: Conservative. Looks better than the 5 but not as nice as E.
Interior: Very Good, as good as Lexus
Technology: 5.1DVDA is better than ML in my Lexus
Navigation is one of the best in industry. Keyless entry and memory settings work well together.
Performance: Not as fast as I would have hoped but faster than 530i, E320. That being said, SH-AWD is awesome if pushed to the limits.
The one flaw is where my left elbow rests when driving. At first a small indent in the vinyl appeared as repeated pressure from my elbow flexed the underlying foam padding. Now it's developed into a 3/4" flowered crack in the vinyl and a deeper indent in the foam. I want to replace the panel (it requires the ENTIRE) inside panel to be replaced, not just the top portion) but new it's something like $450. Wow! Any suggestions on specialty import wrecker yard databases out there I might try? (Vinyl repair placed estimated a $150. repair...)
The price for the 7/75 was $12xx and the price for the 7/100 was $15xx. Not sure the exact dollars but those prices are within about $50.
I do not sell cars for a living, I employ two sales people (they do not sell cars either) -- but my most truthful answer to the question "when was the last time a salesrep [sic] kept his/her promise?" was the last time I spoke with one.
The rep sees a car come in, sees the sticker and sees the "accessories" without notation that they are accessories. The dealer or the manufacturer perhaps did not fully explain the situation to the actual rep and he/she probably figured "this is the way they come."
I can think of no reason that the rep would deliberately want to set expectations incorrectly -- I suspect it was a mistake.
Like I keep reading here and all over edmunds, we "customers" seem -- often -- to know more about the products than those who represent them.
I don't know whom to fault -- so I will fall back on the "marketing department" of the car companies themselves. My Acura dealer owns an Audi dealer (and some others, too) and it seems that these two dealerships quite regularly have product education; for instance, there were at least two days worth of training on the new A6 -- my long time rep said his last four hours was to explore the nuances of the voice activiation and smart key features (of the Audi, in this example).
My Acura sales rep seems to know EVERYTHING there is to know about Acura's AND Volvos? As far as I know, this dealership has no Volvo affiliation, but this guy thinks that his A#1 competition for Acura is Volvo (I, for one, think the Acura and the Audi are the real rivals).
During the past three years of a soft economy I have come to believe more and more than the sales reps (in whatever industry) are the key to moving the economy forward, for "nothing happens, nothing is made, there is no commerce until something is sold!")
My request, then, is to stop picking on those guys who help me meet my paycheck, and, I suspect, yours.
On the pure Acura subject, what exactly is the issue with the "engine" sound in the new RL (or noise as I think I saw it called)?
Those prices are subject to haggling -- I mean, negotiation.
BTW, the sales hype for RL is there but not as crazy as the MDX 4 years ago. When we got our MDX (the first shipment), we were forced to buy accessaries plus the markup.
Like to know from those who bought, say the MDX when it first came out, if it was worth the price paid. I believe you could get some good discounts now for the MDX.
One needs to have patience when buying a hot new car. Treating it like any investment, do not buy high and sell low. At $50K+...it is an investment.
This does not suggest the Audi will have better reliability. However, let us hope that the new A6 will be "the best" Audi in this regard ever.
My Acura dealer has no RL's that can be test driven yet and the Audi dealer (owner by the same group) only has the A6 4.2.
For once, my lease is working for me, rather than against me.
So, of the cars I want to apples to apples (well, sort of) compare, I can drive NOT ONE of them.
Waiting for the A6 3.2, the RL and the 300C AWD (and heck, by the time all these things settle down, I'll even look at the S-Line A4 3.2).
'Tis a wonderful time to be shopping for cars, it is!
In considering RL/A6/M/GS/5/E..., we do have the advantage to wait, so let's see how the market develops for each model.
I'm pushing eighty and am about to take delivery of my third Legend/RL, the three of which were preceded by three Accords (and three Honda bikes). My Lakeshore Silver should be in by mid November.
I, too, had the impression that the demo RL didn't come off the line as crisply as I had hoped, but it may have been my flawed expectation of what 300 horses would do when I stepped down. I found the RL to be husky looking and executed beyond criticism. The specs of both the trunk and rear leg room are academic. I will admit, however, that you younger fellers will apply more stringent standards than I when evaluating the RL.
Just a postscript: The love of women and the love of cars aren't dampened by age. I still subscribe to four car mags and bemoan my idle tool box, laden with timing lights and dwell meters, now put out to pasture.
Too bad that the Bluetooth phones aren't enabled.
I'll simply transfer my hard-wired Verizon Motorola cell phone to the new RL.
Thank you all for the stimulating postings.
Drive safe(ly)!
George, a/k/a Acuraphile
Keep us informed on the new RL. I've driven one and really like it, but as I've stated previously I wish it was just a little larger. Hey nothing is perfect.
Surrfurtom...What cars are you looking at for more room?
Would be delighted to help you out but my Redondo Red with Parchment will not arrive till 3rd week of Nov. I will joining the sedan board when I get it and have a few trips planned so Hopefully I can add some value to that board. Also I will be doing the bluetooth and onstar phones so I shold have a lot of experiences to speak about. If you want further contact outside of the board you may e-mail me at bobb@mchc.com
I've bought an RL to be delivered in a few weeks. Traded in a BMW 530i which is a beautiful car, hoping I won't miss my manual transmission. Was literally blown away by the test drives I've taken. The 530i has a great combination of ride and handling, I truly did not expect to match it.
Wrong. The RL has a well damped ride that's a pleasure, and at the same time it can turn into a tiger tracking bends and corners. You're right, it doesn't seem so fast off the line, but it may be deceptive, it never seems to strain. Won't know till it's mine and broken in but will let you know.
The paddles for gear changing are prompt and it's easy to downshift before a corner, something few automatics do well.
In the meantime I can hardly wait
Bob alias a car fanatic
LIY
DrFill
Have couple questions:
What is 0 to 60 number?
Second it's missing autodimming mirrors and 'cool ventilated seats' . Will it be available in near future?
Regrds,
Anyway, looks like $50,000 is the sweet spot for fully-loaded V6 vehicles in this class (RL, STS, A6 so far), except the 530i ($55,000 and no AWD) and the E320 AWD ($59,000), which always carry a premium.
I expect similarly loaded M35's and GS300's to run about $50,000 as well.
Thanks
Have couple questions:
What is 0 to 60 number?
Second it's missing autodimming mirrors and 'cool ventilated seats' . Will it be available in near future?
Regrds,
(never considered an Audi before, I own a 2002 BMW 530i, but do not really care for the new 2005 BMW 5 series). I Have not driven or seen either RL or A6 live,in person......but am now split but leaning towards the Audi because of its great exterior looks, the interior in the photos looks a little dated compared to the RL, what is your impression of both in person and how different is the ride, quietness and handling?? I too am a little worried about the reliability of the Audi, but I noticed it has free scheduled maintenance. Also, what options did you purchase and did you test both the 3.2 V6 and the V8 Audi?
Quiet...nothing will beat the RL because it has noise cancelling built into the audio system. You can talk in a normal voice at 90 mph with a passenger.
The ride is great, well damped, not too hard or too soft. Totally comfortable, but at the same time the performance is REALLY there.
And last but not least, there's so much built into this car you'll have to read the manual a few times to realize it. Example, the rear head rests retract to give better rear vision. A sunshade on the rear window. The total is really surprising. And here in Canada it also has free scheduled maintenance.
I find it hard to believe that anyone wouldn't lust after the RL once driving it...but that's what makes the world go round, different tastes.
The RL has a few features that the Volvo doesn't (like BlueTooth), so personal preferences may influence you there. Anyway, I thought I'd mention it because many would consider it quite a bargain in sport/luxury sedans. And there's a wagon version also, but I doubt anyone here is looking for a wagon.
Interested in seeing some of the other colors but I think the White exterior with the Ebony interior will be fantastic.
Based on the discussion board, I am disappointed that the seats are not cooled in the U.S.
I think ACURA may have a winner!!!
I suspect the same will continue with Infiniti and if Lexus continues to do the same that it did with GS300, I anticipate a $41K starting MSRP as well, even if it means cloth trimmed seats (as is true today).
Each generation is different so the discussions should be separate and then if you wanted to know about the history of the model you could check the boards for the other generations.
Please at least think about this....
Thanks.
Larger rims with a tire that has the same overall diameter are going to have a shorter, stiffer sidewall. That's good for handling, not so good for ride quality.
On the other hand, larger rims also weigh more than the smaller ones (even with less rubber on the tire). That adds to the unsprung weight the suspension must handle in order to do its job.
I'm betting the residual value is fine.. What is probably driving that payment up, is a selling price of MSRP. No one has residuals strong enough to make up for that.
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Not always true. I would think that weight at the outer edges of a circle (lighter rims + large heavy tire) has a worser effect on rotational inertia than weight closer to the center of the circle (heavy rims + less heavy rubber), everything else being equal.
"Free" maintenance? Don't kid yourselves, there's no "free lunch" here. It's already paid for in the price of the car. The dealer will make out for the inevitable numbers of people who don't bring the cars in for regular service.
Our Acura dealer once had a pre-paid maintenance plan sold in the F&I along with pro-pack, credit life, and extended warranty. There were two big problems which led to the cessation of this. One, they limited this to the earlier of three years, 36K miles while the mainenance schedule was three years, 45K miles (every 7500 miles). Naturally, unless came in every six months/6000 miles, they'd get cheated out of the 37.5K and 45K services. A lot of complaints were filed. Secondly, a lot of big bonuses were paid out for the sale of this pre-paid plan and not enough $$$ were set aside in a reserve fund to pay for the services. The costs then were charged the current balance sheet.
Needless to say, a lot of customer discontent.
It's the brightest silver you've ever seen, very shiny and highly metallic. It doesn't have any grey or aluminum undertone like the regular silver. I like it so much!
The TL is a great car, but I think Acura would have to make quite a few changes for it to compete well with the S60R. The RL and the S60R are very similar in specifications.
Drove a the Dark Blue demo yesterday and fell in love with the car. Funny tho' , the previous driver had the navigation set for a destination opposite from where we were going and the verbal commands were driving me nuts. It took a couple minutes to figure out how to redirect the Navi as we drove out of traffic.