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Acura RL vs. Infiniti M35
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Comments
1. The key... I believe on the RL, if the battery in your key pod dies, there is a way to start the car with the manual key. I believe this is NOT true on the M35. Is this correct? If so, is there any way to drive an Infiniti M if your key pod battery dies?
2. Climate Control... You would think that the climate control system on any luxury car would keep the occupants fairly comfortable with little effort. However the system on my wife's new Infiniti FX is terrible - always seeming to be too hot or too cold and always requiring a continual tweaking of the adjustments. I wonder if this is also true on the Infiniti M35, and how it compares with the RL in this regard?
You can start the car if the fob goes dead in the M. There is a metal key inside the fob to open the doors; the fob can then be inserted into a slot to the left of the wheel to start the car. The key/fob combo is also used for valet service. You keep the metal part of the key after locking the glove box and the trunk pass-through with it (I am not sure if there is another step you need to take to prevent the fob from opening the trunk, although I know the trunk can be set to only open with both the key and fob).
I would agree with Doc about the effectiveness of the climate control system in the M. In fact, I prefer it to any that I've had in a Benz, BMW, or Lexus. The air conditioning easily handles the summer heat and the heater is strong too.
At the last minute I decided to purchase rather than lease. I'm curious, why did you decide not to lease?
Bottom line....I don't want a monthly payment long term.
Re RL vs. M35... I could have gone either way. Both fine cars that are fun to drive. I ultimately decided on the Infiniti because I am both big and tall, and I just fit better in it. A "skosh" more room in the front and lots more room in the back with the M35. Also I liked the radar cruise control feature.
Re Buy vs. Lease, I was all set to lease and changed my mind at the last minute. An interest rate of 4.9% from USAA helped in the decision. I'll probably sell the car at 36-40 months, but I had a little extra money to put down, which reduced the payments, and while I like putting money down on a purchased car, it makes no sense (at least to me) to pay down capital on a lease - especially not in PA, with a 9% lease tax. Also, in 36-40 months, on a 60 month loan, I'll have much more equity in the car than I would with the lease. That means I won't have to pay so much for my next "high-tech" car. :P
Thats a good one.
So if you lean towards BMW, you'll like the M. If you lean towards Lexus, you'll like the RL more.
In any event, it's on my short list for next summers new vehicle purchase.
I am hoping by then;Infiniti would do the car justice and introduce a more appealing rear end.
It defaults to route you using the fastest available route however bear in mind navigation systems can be as old as 3-5 years old at the time they are placed in the new models. In the M you have other route priority options such as avoiding freeways as well as the shortest possible route. It is hard to go wrong with the M
My NAV on my M has always been dead on except for about 1 mile where there was no GPS signal (it showed me on the map as being in a field about one block from the street I was on--and that was when I wasn't using NAV for a destination).
The only problems arise when you are outside of an urban/suburban area. It will sometimes mark your destination, but it won't give voice prompts.
It appears from your posts that you are an RL owner. Be sure you spend as much time learning the M's NAV system, because I have heard no similar complaints to yours.
Most say the two systems are equivalent with different strengths.
On the M45/35 discussions, there are quite a few people barking about the mpg's they are getting on their 35's. Can we have some real avgs from those of you that have both the RL & the M35/35x/45???
thx.
Ace
thx for your response/info!
Ace
I can attest to there being flaws. When I had my last RL, with navi, I was driving and remembered there was a shortcut to the major street I was looking for. I looked at my map and saw a street that went over to the other street, so I turned. After several blocks the street ended at a park that had obviously been there for years, but my navi showed the street going straight through. I wrote to Navteq which provides the maps for Acura. They acknowledged the error and promised to correct it.
I felt I would be happy with either car...but the deciding factor was that IMO the M35 looked sportier, and that is what I wanted at this time.
.......
I wrote to Navteq which provides the maps for Acura. They acknowledged the error and promised to correct it.
Now we are getting to the heart of the issue! In the long run, each NAV system will only be as good as the map provider's diligence in keeping their map information current.
I have asked that question of my Inifiniti dealer. i.e., the expected update frequency & subscription process to obtain future NAV DVD updates for my M35x. I have yet to get a definitive answer. It seems to me, the update interval and procurement process have the potential to be a significant differentiator among the different NAV systems going forward.
I like to say, "It is the drivers that make the difference, not the cars."
For casual drivers who will only be a race car driver for 10 minutes on a back road, I would choose RWD cars. However, if you are a very skilful driver, then AWD cars is your car. If you worry about the weather and you are a typical driver, then buy a FWD car.
I like to say, "It is the drivers that make the difference, not the cars."
For the most part, you're probably correct. However, I still disagree overall. When I had my 99 RL, on two occasions at freeway speeds, the front end skidded slightly on wet curves, enough to scare me. Then a couple of months before I bought my 05 RL, I was on an on ramp in heavy rain, going about 25 mph. I completely lost control and did a 180. I don't believe any of those three problems would have happened with an RWD or the SH-AWD on my 05 RL.
I don,t see how the RL could possible do a 180 going 25 mph in the rain.
The tires must have been completely bald.
I don't know how it happened, either, but it did happen (it was a torrential downpour). The policeman who came upon the accident accused me of speeding. However, I pointed out to him had I been speeding, I wouldn't have made it that far - the turn onto the on ramp from the street was far sharper than the curve of the on ramp and I would have spun out upon entrance had I been speeding. The tires had less than 5,000 miles on them at the time, so they were certainly not bald, or even worn very much.
Glad you lived to tell the story
P.s. I somehow think some of the accidents happened due to the belief that AWD cars have "much better handling" than other cars in bad weathers.
Glad you lived to tell the story
P.s. I somehow think some of the accidents happened due to the belief that AWD cars have "much better handling" than other cars in bad weathers.
I'm sure you're right about hydroplaning - that was my thought too. It's also possible that AWD or RWD wouldn't have made a difference; however, I believe FWD added to the problem.
Yes, I'm sure people have accidents with AWD because they believe they're somehow invincible to bad driving conditions. It's like the suvidiots who drive fast on icy roads in their 4-wheel drive SUVs thinking they're protected by virtue of 4-wheel drive. Whether you're in a vehicle with FWD, AWD, or RWD, all have their virtues and weaknesses, and none should be taken for granted.
While FWD cars do have an advantage over RWD cars in bad conditions (I have never fishtailed simply from accelerating in an FWD), the exception is going uphill in icy conditions. Some FWD cars actually have to choose another route or back up the hill.
If I were to live in a dry climate without much rain, snow, ice, or sleet (like southern CA ), I would agree that FWD cars would suffice for most people. I would take oversteer from a RWD car anyday over the understeer of FWD, though.
http://reviews.cnet.com/2006_Infiniti_M35x/4507-10865_7-31352784.html?tag=tab
Navigation
GPS Navigation system - CD ROM data Not available
GPS Navigation system - DVD data Not available
Trip computer Not available
Live traffic data Standard
Touchscreen navigation Not available
Voice activated navigation Standard
DVD navigation system (non-GPS) Standard
What is Non GPS Navigation..and does the M35x have Live traffic Data? and i thought the M35x had a touch screen display. Are they just wrong?
The only real negatives i have with the RL is the no "cooling" seats, love that with the Navigator and no DVD-Video
On the M35x does it have Park assist or is that the camera? And does anyone have any experience with the Park Assist addon for the RL?
The only downsides for me on the M35x is the Real time traffic..but is that a deal breaker? I dont know yet.
Yes, I added the Park Assist on my RL. It's great. I have to parallel park frequently and it allows me to get in fairly tight spaces without playing bumper cars. Also, my office parking garage is awful, with lots of columns and corners. It's very helpful there.
It does not have a touch screen. I consider this a plus as you don't end up with marks on the screen that have to be frequently cleaned (it does get dusty, though).
The back-up camera is great.
Real-time traffic is only useful in a few cities in the U.S. If you are not in one of those cities, it is useless. I believe there is an extra $3 charge per month for that XM service.
Does anyone know when the RL 2006 is coming out?
On the plus side, I liked the quality of the interior and the standard equipment list.
On the minus-side, when I test-drove the RL, I was surprised about how much searching I had to do to figure out fairly basic functions on the center panel- audio and other functions alike. I also had difficulty with the b-pillar which was somehow always in the way when I turned to the left to look at traffic on that side. The lack of a rear-view camera or sensors really bothered me, as I had gotten to love them in our Honda Odyssey Touring - they make parking so much easier. I was struck by the 'soft' feel of the gas pedal and brake. I could clearly get the car to accelerate pretty well if I needed to, but it required a heavier foot than I was used to, and that made merging into traffic less pleasant that it should have been. The same applied to the brake feel. I love the Honda/Acura Nav system, but was somewhat irritated at the lack of a touch-screen and the hassle that added to using the system. I do not use the voice activation more than 10-20% of the time.
I tried the M35x fairly reluctantly, as I was put off by the additional cost to configure it similarly to the RL. My first impressions were that the interior did not 'wow' me as much as the RL (but I have gotten to like it a lot now), but that the gas and brake pedal feel were great in comparison! It has much more accessible acceleration and stopping power than the RL - by an order of magnitude.
The Navigation system looks better (with Infiniti's Bird-View) but I find that I still can get more out of the Honda system- there are more ways of inputting data, in more logical sequences, and you have access to a lot of usable functions while the car is in motion, that Infiniti does not let you do. One thing I miss a lot is Honda/Acura's ability to look forward at facilities available at exits along a route that you have. It was great for planning rest stops or hotels during long drives. Overall, I think Honda are still the leader with these systems, but the Infiniti version is not bad by any means. One warning- a source of major aggravation for me on the Infiniti is the cut-off with titles with the XM radio display, so that I cannot see full names or titles. It drives me nuts!
The back-up camera beats Honda’s system easily. I wish I had sensors as well, but do not miss them terribly. It would have always been a source of annoyance in the RL, even if I paid $600-1200 to install them. I'm told the bluetooth setup in the M35 is slicker, but I cannot vouch for that since I did not try it in the RL. The lane departure warning system is neither here nor there for me, but I like the laser cruise control. There is definitely more engine noise in the M35x, but it is a pleasant growl only when I accelerate. At cruising speeds, it is a very quiet cabin. The premium audio system is great, but so is the RL's. Another downside was I opted for a full-size spare, not realizing that it takes 3 cu ft away- the trunk is definitely smaller than I'd like.
Overall, I love the much sportier drive, the backup camera and the interior room in particular, and have been very happy so far with the M35x.
As far as this comparison goes, I think both cars are very good all-around, but do certain things better than one another. In the end, it is a matter of preferring sportiness of the M or the quiet, luxuriousness of the RL. If I had to pick, I would say I'd go with the RL because it is still a pretty good handling car with good power, but it is seling for around $40K these days (as opposed to another 4-5K more for an M).
Purely subjective. I find the M35 to be more luxurious and just as quiet (as ocrice did as well) as the RL. :shades:
In spite of the superior rear-view camera in the M, I have yet to be able to see my car's rear end as I drive down the street. :surprise: I sit and drive on the inside and consider any car's exterior to be subordinate to its interior. Overall I find the M with Full Aero Kit to look better than the RL; hgowever I do agree that the M's tail lights are its weakness
Yep Edmunds has their OPINION, and so does Car&Driver, and so does Motor Trend, and so does CR, and so ...
I however was giving you my opinion :shades: You see I have been on numerous extended test drives in more than one of each and I know how quiet each one is on roads in my area
Here's fact instead of opinion:
Here's the interior noise level of the M35 compares the the RL per Autoweek magazine.
INTERIOR NOISE (dBA) M35 RL
Idle: 44 40
Max first gear: 75 70
Steady 60 mph: 65 63
Perhaps one of the engineers on this site can explain the logarithmic significance of dBA measurements.
The only FACT that matters is the one bewteen my ears :shades:
Unless of course you are buying
Here is a FACT that cannot be denied. I test drove two RLs and two M35s - they were exactly the same to me in terms of interior noise level. If someone else is paying then their perceptions carry weight. Otherwise :sick:
Every 3 decibels is a doubling of sound, every 10 is a ten-fold increase....However (there is always a, "however"), every 10 decibel increase is roughly a subjective doubling of sound.
I just purchased an RL. For what I paid ($42K w/ 18" chrome rims), the value far surpasses an equally equipped M35. If purchase price for both vehicles were comparable, the decision to choose would have been extremely difficult.
Congrats and good luck. I agree that interior is more important than the exterior as a deciding factor.
Must take daughter and husband and a tall person will not fit in the back of the RL. It is really tight back there.
Could put him always in front but that is what it would take.
M has better clearance.
Other stuff seems about equal. Love that M demo disc for the surround sound. Might buy the radio and get the car as option.
I have not reset the milage calucation in about 6000 miles so it is a true long term average.
I wish the fuel tank was a little larger to increase my range. was used to getting 300 plus miles per tank in the Saab I drove prior.