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2009 Acura RL
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Comments
I just got around to looking at my RL brochure. The bottom two models have simulated wood. However, the CMBS model has real wood. I'm not sure I really care either way.
Yes, I'm going to wait too. I was at my dealership last night for a roll-out party for the new TL. A salesman was talking about the 11 RL. It sounds like it will be a totally different car. It will be interesting to see what they do to it. Btw, the 09 TL is a gorgeous car!! Especially the Tech version.
I see problems with this approach in light of the current economic meltdown and the availability of the TL model in AWD at a much lower msrp. But time will tell.
One of the first 09 RL's in my area sold at a $2500 discount from msrp per a salesman I know.
The TL Tech I saw a week ago had an MSRP of $40k. Once the AWD is added in, will it really have a "much" lower MSRP than the RL?
The Acura website lists msrp on a TL with sh-awd and Technology package at 42,235.
That said, I did think that the TL had a nicer nav screen, I think they changed the technology to create a crisper, brighter VGA display. Also, the TL has an option for uploading CD music to a harddrive....nice feature if you don't already have an iPod, which both models now have native USB support for.
(don't know why you use the ID Desert Rat but we recently returned from a trip to Arizona and while there we toured the Desert Museum in Tucson... really getting to appreciate that part of the country... especially after the crazy winters we've had in Wisconsin in recent years.)
Yes, I agree. While I've always liked the TL styling and really like the 09 TL, it just doesn't have the feel of a luxury car, in my opinion, and the RL does.
JJ
George
I think the styling of the 09 RL is improved over the '05-'08, but my main disappointment regarding the RL is that Acura didn't take the opportunity to convert it to rear wheel drive for '05. I think Honda-Acura should have followed the Nissan-Infiniti business model in terms of drive wheel architecture; FWD for Honda and RWD for Acura, with optional SH-AWD for whichever models of each brand is appropriate. AWD makes sense in Wisconsin, but doesn't make much sense in most of the sunbelt, for example.
I think that Honda, even more than Nissan or Toyota, is the most promising Japanese company, from the standpoint of engineering resources and corporate culture, to take on the German luxury brands. To do that successfully, in my opinion, the Rl and TL must be RWD, and since the TSX is now a larger car, they might as well make the TSX a RWD direct competitor to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class.
From what I've read, the next generation RL will probably be RWD. That's good, but also disappointing that it took so long. It suggests that Honda has lost some of the entrepreneurial spirit it used to have, and has been playing it too cautious, hoping that SH-AWD would trump RWD and RWD based SH-AWD. Or maybe they were counting on the fact that most drivers neither know nor care which set of drive wheels move the car.
Incidentally, FWD made perfect sense for the first two or three generation Acuras, when luxury cars had significantly less power. The game changer was when, several years ago, horsepower and torque rose dramatically. That amplified the shortcomings of FWD.
My conclusion is that each drive configuration involves various tradeoffs. That means that one or another is better for certain applications. Of the Japanese manufacturers, I think that Nissan-Infiniti has done the best job of sorting out the tradeoffs.
What is going on with our Badgers this fall?
Your thoughts regarding the RWD based SH-AWD platform are consistent with much of what we have read in the Car Mags. It suggests that you have gone deeper into the competitive engineering aspects of performance based luxury sedans and comparisons are important to you. How do you feel about Acura adding a 420 Horsepower, 4.8 liter, V-8 to the mix? We have seen Spy photos of the 2011 but indications are that the designers have gone back to the drawing board. Many of us really count on THIS one to be designed exceptionally well with show stopper distinction. Acura has an opportunity to knock 'em dead with a true flagship leader this time. I look forward to it.
Good Luck to you.
JJ
Regarding a V8 for Acura, just this morning I read in Automotive News that...
" Acura dealers: A V-8 engine is on the way - Acura dealers say they have been told that Acura will offer a V-8 engine option within 18 months. 'It's confirmed,' says Dave Conant, principal owner of the multibrand Conant Auto Retail Group in Cerritos, Calif., which includes one Acura dealership."
Since I'm not a subscriber I was unable to access further details, such as which model(s) will get the new V8, its size, power, and features to be relatively fuel efficient. I'm sure more details will come out soon.
This will be a big opportunity for Honda to establish Acura as a credible competitor to the German luxury brands, plus Lexus and Infiniti, and Cadillac. It'll be interesting to see how Acura balances the need for a flagship and the increasingly stringent fuel economy requirements. In the meantime, the RL is merely a place holder. That doesn't make it a bad car, but "not bad" isn't good enough in the current environment. With auto sales as weak as they are, the consumer has too many choices and too much power for anything less than an excellent product to succeed. For this reason, and the fact that there's insufficient differentiation between the RL and the new TL to justify the price differential, means that RL '09 sales will be weak, and the cars will be heavily discounted.
The v8 has been well rumored for the past couple of years. It's really no secret but the actual specs are. The v8 could be a 8 cylinder version of the NSX replacement's v10.
It is back with the dealer and they have witnessed the problem multiple times, updated the software, installed a new system, re-updated the software and now are scratching their heads.
The only other problem was one episode of all of the idiot lights going off (CMBX, S
H-AWD, Antilock, Active head lights...).
Any ideas from anyone??
Thanks,
Russ
After six time to the dealer, and my irritation, they ordered a NEW radio and now it works just the way it was supposed to and no more lost channels et al.
Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad
Does anybody have suggestions on how to get this working?
It seems to have them and the XM people stumped. And now that I think about it, it has me stumped as to what to do as well.
It is good to know that they fixed yours and to know that I am not alone (misery loves company),
Best,
RussH
Bottom line, I love this car! The AWD is awesome. The cornering is flat without the loss of a quiet and smooth ride. I wasn't that impressed when I bought it. (I bought it for the 5 star rating, collision mitigation, etc.) But now, I won't buy anything else.
Get one!
RussH
Glad you got straightened out and are enjoying the car.