Acura RL thread(new pics, A-Spec) $49,479
#106
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It's interesting that in this thread and others, some folks have made the assertion that Lexus is trying to be the Japanese Mercedes while Infiniti is trying to be the Japanese BMW. Those are gross oversimplifications, but okay...
So what does that make Acura? Judging by their recent releases (TL, TSX, and now RL) it appears that they are taking both head-on at once. These cars outperform their competition, and out-feature them as well, all at a price point thousands less. Say what you will about prestige or corners cut regarding build quality (only time will tell if Acura keeps blowing trannies, for example), but I don't see how anyone could objectively doubt that Acura is serious in the upscale auto market.
I will come back to a refrain I repeat here often--I'm GLAD Acura is raising the bar, because that will force Lexus and other carmakers to work that much harder. Competition keeps every manufacturer sharp, and the real beneficiary is the consumer...
So what does that make Acura? Judging by their recent releases (TL, TSX, and now RL) it appears that they are taking both head-on at once. These cars outperform their competition, and out-feature them as well, all at a price point thousands less. Say what you will about prestige or corners cut regarding build quality (only time will tell if Acura keeps blowing trannies, for example), but I don't see how anyone could objectively doubt that Acura is serious in the upscale auto market.
I will come back to a refrain I repeat here often--I'm GLAD Acura is raising the bar, because that will force Lexus and other carmakers to work that much harder. Competition keeps every manufacturer sharp, and the real beneficiary is the consumer...
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#107
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Originally posted by Iceman
These cars outperform their competition, and out-feature them as well, all at a price point thousands less.
These cars outperform their competition, and out-feature them as well, all at a price point thousands less.
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Originally posted by Iceman
I will come back to a refrain I repeat here often--I'm GLAD Acura is raising the bar, because that will force Lexus and other carmakers to work that much harder. Competition keeps every manufacturer sharp, and the real beneficiary is the consumer...
I will come back to a refrain I repeat here often--I'm GLAD Acura is raising the bar, because that will force Lexus and other carmakers to work that much harder. Competition keeps every manufacturer sharp, and the real beneficiary is the consumer...
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#108
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Originally posted by Iceman
These cars outperform their competition, and out-feature them as well, all at a price point thousands less. Say what you will about prestige or corners cut regarding build quality (only time will tell if Acura keeps blowing trannies, for example), but I don't see how anyone could objectively doubt that Acura is serious in the upscale auto market. (1)
I will come back to a refrain I repeat here often--I'm GLAD Acura is raising the bar, because that will force Lexus and other carmakers to work that much harder. Competition keeps every manufacturer sharp, and the real beneficiary is the consumer... (2)
These cars outperform their competition, and out-feature them as well, all at a price point thousands less. Say what you will about prestige or corners cut regarding build quality (only time will tell if Acura keeps blowing trannies, for example), but I don't see how anyone could objectively doubt that Acura is serious in the upscale auto market. (1)
I will come back to a refrain I repeat here often--I'm GLAD Acura is raising the bar, because that will force Lexus and other carmakers to work that much harder. Competition keeps every manufacturer sharp, and the real beneficiary is the consumer... (2)
As far as 2 - AMEN!
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#109
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Interesting debate going on here. I just read over the whole thing and really enjoyed the many points made by everyone involved.
I've never been a big fan of Acura only because of their FWD and V6 vulnerbility. The new cars are nice but still lack those two things I seek in my top features of a car.![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Barring that, the car is quite nice and full of gadget goodies. I give Acura a thumbs up for a good attempt.
-Anthony
I've never been a big fan of Acura only because of their FWD and V6 vulnerbility. The new cars are nice but still lack those two things I seek in my top features of a car.
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Barring that, the car is quite nice and full of gadget goodies. I give Acura a thumbs up for a good attempt.
-Anthony
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#110
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Originally posted by wantAnewLex
A company that shows such flagrant contempt for potential customers really makes me boil.
A company that shows such flagrant contempt for potential customers really makes me boil.
Originally posted by bitkahuna
Wow, chill, it's just a car company, dude.
Wow, chill, it's just a car company, dude.
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Classic
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#111
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Wow.
Wantanewlex makes me embarrassed to be a Lexus owner. What a friggin brand *****.
The BEST thing is he goes on about the RL not being a luxury car yet says it isn't because styling but because it is FWD biased (who cares when it is going in a straight line? when not going around turns/bends I don't notice a diff between my RWD IS and FWD cars I have driven) and the V6 engine. Dude, what makes a luxury car is basically the bloody interior and features!!! Man. I have to wonder if I was that clueless and ignorant when I was 19. Also love how he makes comments on the cars performance yet has never driven the bloody thing. Way to post a great useful opinion there buddy.
I hope that when the car comes out and everyone gets to drive it and the mags test it they find it out accelerates the majority of cars out there (I saw one first drive where they estimate the 0-60 time to be 5.9 seconds) and out handles them as well. In fact, I hope it out handles every Lexus model to date just to simply shut that 19 year old jackass up. But hey, I am sure he will keep shooting his mouth off with his useless comments. I will laugh if it outhandles the new GS coming out and to be honest, I bet it will. Oh and I also hope it turns out to be one of the quietest cars in the world (say behind the LS) and one of the smoothest riding but then again, it still won't be a luxury sedan.![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
I found it funny reading this thread and having most people just comment on the exterior and ASSume the car is junk because it has a conservative styling...do you people really just buy cars based on the exterior? if so, that is pathetic. Don't know about you but I spend most of my time with my car INSIDE DRIVING IT and I really don't give a rat's *** if some avg joe likes the look of it or not. I have pity for you if you need to have strangers boost your ego by liking the look of your posessions.
So far I find the RL to be much better based on pics/specs than the new GS. Am I allowed to say that around here since I am not blindly on my knees orally servicing the Lexus nameplate? The funny thing is I am a huge Lexus fan (probably have owned more lexus cars than anyone here) but I am mature and comfortable enough with myself that I can like other manufacturers' cars.
The best thing I think is that if this was a lexus model so many here would be covering their walls with white goo over the specs/pics. You gotta love how humans can be so biased which in turn just shows off how silly/dumb they can be.
Wantanewlex makes me embarrassed to be a Lexus owner. What a friggin brand *****.
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I hope that when the car comes out and everyone gets to drive it and the mags test it they find it out accelerates the majority of cars out there (I saw one first drive where they estimate the 0-60 time to be 5.9 seconds) and out handles them as well. In fact, I hope it out handles every Lexus model to date just to simply shut that 19 year old jackass up. But hey, I am sure he will keep shooting his mouth off with his useless comments. I will laugh if it outhandles the new GS coming out and to be honest, I bet it will. Oh and I also hope it turns out to be one of the quietest cars in the world (say behind the LS) and one of the smoothest riding but then again, it still won't be a luxury sedan.
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I found it funny reading this thread and having most people just comment on the exterior and ASSume the car is junk because it has a conservative styling...do you people really just buy cars based on the exterior? if so, that is pathetic. Don't know about you but I spend most of my time with my car INSIDE DRIVING IT and I really don't give a rat's *** if some avg joe likes the look of it or not. I have pity for you if you need to have strangers boost your ego by liking the look of your posessions.
So far I find the RL to be much better based on pics/specs than the new GS. Am I allowed to say that around here since I am not blindly on my knees orally servicing the Lexus nameplate? The funny thing is I am a huge Lexus fan (probably have owned more lexus cars than anyone here) but I am mature and comfortable enough with myself that I can like other manufacturers' cars.
The best thing I think is that if this was a lexus model so many here would be covering their walls with white goo over the specs/pics. You gotta love how humans can be so biased which in turn just shows off how silly/dumb they can be.
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#112
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RL costs $50k which can almost buy a GS430.
I really doubt that 3800lb sporty/touring car will outhandle an IS in the dry, a stock GS should give it a good run.
I still cant figure out what it competes against, maybe it just allows Acura fans someplace to step up into.
Why would you be embarrassed about owning a certain car, simply because of one person's opinion?
I really doubt that 3800lb sporty/touring car will outhandle an IS in the dry, a stock GS should give it a good run.
I still cant figure out what it competes against, maybe it just allows Acura fans someplace to step up into.
Why would you be embarrassed about owning a certain car, simply because of one person's opinion?
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#113
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Originally posted by Rob L
Wow.
Wantanewlex makes me embarrassed to be a Lexus owner. What a friggin brand *****.
The BEST thing is he goes on about the RL not being a luxury car yet says it isn't because styling but because it is FWD biased (who cares when it is going in a straight line? when not going around turns/bends I don't notice a diff between my RWD IS and FWD cars I have driven) and the V6 engine. Dude, what makes a luxury car is basically the bloody interior and features!!! Man. I have to wonder if I was that clueless and ignorant when I was 19. Also love how he makes comments on the cars performance yet has never driven the bloody thing. Way to post a great useful opinion there buddy.
Wow.
Wantanewlex makes me embarrassed to be a Lexus owner. What a friggin brand *****.
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
I hope that when the car comes out and everyone gets to drive it and the mags test it they find it out accelerates the majority of cars out there (I saw one first drive where they estimate the 0-60 time to be 5.9 seconds) and out handles them as well. In fact, I hope it out handles every Lexus model to date just to simply shut that 19 year old jackass up. But hey, I am sure he will keep shooting his mouth off with his useless comments. I will laugh if it outhandles the new GS coming out and to be honest, I bet it will. Oh and I also hope it turns out to be one of the quietest cars in the world (say behind the LS) and one of the smoothest riding but then again, it still won't be a luxury sedan.
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
I understand that you're bitter about the comments wantanewlex made, but comments such as "shut that 19 year old jackass up" aren't going to help win you any votes either.
I found it funny reading this thread and having most people just comment on the exterior and ASSume the car is junk because it has a conservative styling...do you people really just buy cars based on the exterior? if so, that is pathetic. Don't know about you but I spend most of my time with my car INSIDE DRIVING IT and I really don't give a rat's *** if some avg joe likes the look of it or not. I have pity for you if you need to have strangers boost your ego by liking the look of your posessions.
So far I find the RL to be much better based on pics/specs than the new GS. Am I allowed to say that around here since I am not blindly on my knees orally servicing the Lexus nameplate? The funny thing is I am a huge Lexus fan (probably have owned more lexus cars than anyone here) but I am mature and comfortable enough with myself that I can like other manufacturers' cars.
So far I find the RL to be much better based on pics/specs than the new GS. Am I allowed to say that around here since I am not blindly on my knees orally servicing the Lexus nameplate? The funny thing is I am a huge Lexus fan (probably have owned more lexus cars than anyone here) but I am mature and comfortable enough with myself that I can like other manufacturers' cars.
All in all I think it's hard to dispute that the RL is a world-class car. Just because it won't outhandle the 545i or shoot past the GS430 on a straight away doesnt make it a bad car, afterall, many Lexus products don't take top spots in their classes for performance. I do have to say that I think the squabbling could be put aside, and a more indepth/mature argument could be had
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#114
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Originally posted by Rob L
Wow.
Wantanewlex makes me embarrassed to be a Lexus owner. What a friggin brand *****.
... I have to wonder if I was that clueless and ignorant when I was 19.
Wow.
Wantanewlex makes me embarrassed to be a Lexus owner. What a friggin brand *****.
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
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What do our moderators think? Anyone? Bueller?
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#115
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Interesting debate on RWD/FWD.
I personally prefer RWD but a lot of people prefer FWD. My boss owns a 2003 ES300 but said he wanted a GS. Why the ES? Because the wife told him she wanted a FWD car and of course the GS doesn't fit that profile. The boss had spoken. Point is, many people will NOT buy a car if it is RWD. Look at the Majority of luxury cars and they're RWD or maybe AWD. This means Acura may have an advantage having the only FWD car in this class. This doesn't necessarily sound like a bad thing to me. Oh wait, it will be (SH)AWD
so what are we talking about?
I personally prefer RWD but a lot of people prefer FWD. My boss owns a 2003 ES300 but said he wanted a GS. Why the ES? Because the wife told him she wanted a FWD car and of course the GS doesn't fit that profile. The boss had spoken. Point is, many people will NOT buy a car if it is RWD. Look at the Majority of luxury cars and they're RWD or maybe AWD. This means Acura may have an advantage having the only FWD car in this class. This doesn't necessarily sound like a bad thing to me. Oh wait, it will be (SH)AWD
so what are we talking about?
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#116
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Originally posted by MPLexus301
[BAs far as outhandling the GS or IS? Not to sound like a troll, but there's not a chance. Especially the IS, which is preffered over the 3 series by many magazines, and remember the 3 series was considered to be the handling champion.
-Michael- [/B]
[BAs far as outhandling the GS or IS? Not to sound like a troll, but there's not a chance. Especially the IS, which is preffered over the 3 series by many magazines, and remember the 3 series was considered to be the handling champion.
-Michael- [/B]
We had a Lexus driving event recently (last week?) and we drove ALL Lexus models along with its competitors around an autocross track and a road track (going over 70MPH on the straights).
Before I purchased my GS4, I really thought my next car would be either a 330i, IS3 or G35C. I loved the 330i ever since the E46 came out.
Then with the IS3 came out, lots of talking smack between 3 series and IS3 owners. I have test driven both these cars at the dealership. Felt the same to me since I wasn't pushing it.
During this autocross thing we went to, I really prefer the 330i over the IS3. I'm not talking about power....I'm talking about the way the car handles. The steering of the 330i is so damn awesome!
I also drove the G35S at the event as well, the brakes on that thing puts you through the window!
But back to the RL, some say they need a V8. But why? They're not trying to market their cars to S500, LS430 owners.
Although I would prefer a V8, but would it make a difference if the RL has a V6 300HP engine or a V8 300HP engine? For the average Joe, it wouldn't. The average Joe won't be racing with it. I think it the engine of the new RL is just fine for the intended customers they want to cater to.
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#117
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Originally posted by LexusLuver
RL costs $50k which can almost buy a GS430.
RL costs $50k which can almost buy a GS430.
I'm betting the new GS330 with AWD and comparable options will be very close in price to the RL.
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#118
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As an owner of an Acura and Lexus I find this whole thread rather interesting. Last week I tested the TL at the Taste of Luxury. (also tested the BMW 530i and 745i,Mercedes, LS430 on the same course.)I was very pleasantly surprised by the terrific performance on a test track. Forget status labels. Look at the car inside, feel how it drives, compare the prices! I have a RX400h on order, but I admit that I'm interested in the RL for what it offers. I'm not impressed with its looks, but I wonder if I'd fall in love with its driving capabilities. I plan to test drive one. (I'm sure my 400h won't surface for a long time.) I love Lexus service and even complained to the Acura people that theirs didn't measure up. But, I'm willing to give the RL a test drive.
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#119
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Originally posted by doug_999
You mean the existing GS430 which is a technological dinosaur compared to the new RL.
I'm betting the new GS330 with AWD and comparable options will be very close in price to the RL.
You mean the existing GS430 which is a technological dinosaur compared to the new RL.
I'm betting the new GS330 with AWD and comparable options will be very close in price to the RL.
So far Lexus is calling it the GS300, but I suspect it will be a 3.3L
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#120
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Originally posted by LexRexBlue
As an owner of an Acura and Lexus I find this whole thread rather interesting. Last week I tested the TL at the Taste of Luxury. (also tested the BMW 530i and 745i,Mercedes, LS430 on the same course.)I was very pleasantly surprised by the terrific performance on a test track. Forget status labels. Look at the car inside, feel how it drives, compare the prices! I have a RX400h on order, but I admit that I'm interested in the RL for what it offers. I'm not impressed with its looks, but I wonder if I'd fall in love with its driving capabilities. I plan to test drive one. (I'm sure my 400h won't surface for a long time.) I love Lexus service and even complained to the Acura people that theirs didn't measure up. But, I'm willing to give the RL a test drive.
As an owner of an Acura and Lexus I find this whole thread rather interesting. Last week I tested the TL at the Taste of Luxury. (also tested the BMW 530i and 745i,Mercedes, LS430 on the same course.)I was very pleasantly surprised by the terrific performance on a test track. Forget status labels. Look at the car inside, feel how it drives, compare the prices! I have a RX400h on order, but I admit that I'm interested in the RL for what it offers. I'm not impressed with its looks, but I wonder if I'd fall in love with its driving capabilities. I plan to test drive one. (I'm sure my 400h won't surface for a long time.) I love Lexus service and even complained to the Acura people that theirs didn't measure up. But, I'm willing to give the RL a test drive.
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When pushed to the limit the front weight bias, and inability to torque steer (I'm not some roadracer) will hamper the car.
Honda knows very well that rwd is best at the track, on the street awd may be prefered. However the RL wt is still biased up front since the motor is transversly mounted. The G35 pulls the motor behind the front axle. I'm thinking Honda's factory is set-up to build fwd cars and they dont want to bother changing it around.
I personally would much rather see an rwd or awd TL/RL than any more fwd biased cars from Acura.
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