LS 430 vs Acura RL
12-24-17, 10:38 AM
#19
Racer
12-25-17, 06:57 PM
#20
I owned/drove a 2002 RL before I got the LS. The RL was front wheel drive mated to a 3.5L V6 with NAV. It did nicely for me as a 30-something year old driver. The tranny was a very clunky first to second shifting, 4 speed. I think I purchased with 30k miles and paid $21k?? Can't remember.
Some interesting tidbits from my 7 years of ownership were a seized passenger right rear brake caliper. Had dealership repair it. I had leaking antifreeze from the radiator filler neck area. It was made of plastic and developed a crack. I had the dealership replace the radiator. A couple weeks later I noticed the black paint flaking off the radiator, and I looked a little closer, and there was no DENSO markings on the radiator while the old one had a flat area on the top edge, with DENSO embossed on the plastic. I suspected they used an AFTERMARKET radiator. Imagine, a dealership using aftermarket parts, WITHOUT informing me.!?
I took it back, and confronted the service manager, and he admitted they used an aftermarket radiator. The repair including hazardous disposal fee and all the added on BS came to about $300. I thought that was appropriate for an OEM, but not aftermarket. Regardless, I demanded they replace the aftermarket with a DENSO radiator. He complied, and I felt happy for winning that battle.
Another interesting item was during the wintertime. We had freezing rain/sleet, and when I went to open the driver's side door, the door handle BROKE because the door was frozen shut! That was a sight using an extension cord and hair dryer trying to thaw out where the door met the body!
Another interesting story is my RL shutting off around the DC BELTWAY during 7pm Friday night traffic!!!! I was literally cruising about 70mph in the second to fast lane when ALL the idiot lights came on, ding, ding, ding, and silence!!! 69mpn, 68mph, 67mph and sheer silence besides tire noise! Cars approaching quickly from behind, and I place right turn signal on and move all the way to the right hand shoulder. I sat there with hazard lights on trying to figure out what the hell just happened???? I cranked the car and she started fine. I place into drive attempting to merge into beltway traffic and she konks out again!!! I pull over again and now I'm worried, and it's dark, and cars are ZOOM. ZOOM. ZOOM! Luckily I had a cellphone, and called Acura roadside assistance. A flatbed arrived about an hour later, and took me to an Acura dealership outside of DC. Get this, it's a Friday night around 9pm and the dealership is STILL OPEN! Woot-woot!!!
I kid you not...as soon as the flatbed pulled into the Acura parking lot, about 4 Asian looking guys RUN up and eventually push my car into a bay. I felt like I was a NASCAR driver and the Asian pit crew from heaven were servicing me!The service writer interrogates me, and I said it simply shut off, the engine simply shut off while driving 70mph!!! He said to take a seat and they'll figure it out.
25 minutes later, he says it's ready. The bill was about $200. I said it's fixed?? He said yup. There was some sort of a fuel relay under the dash somewhere that was faulty! I said, do you mind if I drive in circles around your parking lot and facility, because I simply don't TRUST the car anymore, and I'm going onto the beltway, and I have to traverse the Chesapeake Bay BRIDGE/TUNNEL, where there is no breakdown lane!!! He said no problem, take my time.
Needless to say, I drove in circles for about 15 minutes before heading on my voyage again. I was on pins and needles and always in the slow lane and SO aware of vehicles around me after that experience. (Can you imagine how some of us drive, tailgating, etc, if the car in front of us has some sort of engine failure????!)
When I eventually sold the car with about 120k miles, it sounded like the car was riding on 4 pieces of granite. Turns out, the front wheel bearings were on their way out.
Other than those fond memories, and oh yea, the GPS was able to be manipulated while the car was in motion, I loved the RL.
I upgraded to the LS because the new RL at that time, was too small for my tastes.
Some interesting tidbits from my 7 years of ownership were a seized passenger right rear brake caliper. Had dealership repair it. I had leaking antifreeze from the radiator filler neck area. It was made of plastic and developed a crack. I had the dealership replace the radiator. A couple weeks later I noticed the black paint flaking off the radiator, and I looked a little closer, and there was no DENSO markings on the radiator while the old one had a flat area on the top edge, with DENSO embossed on the plastic. I suspected they used an AFTERMARKET radiator. Imagine, a dealership using aftermarket parts, WITHOUT informing me.!?
I took it back, and confronted the service manager, and he admitted they used an aftermarket radiator. The repair including hazardous disposal fee and all the added on BS came to about $300. I thought that was appropriate for an OEM, but not aftermarket. Regardless, I demanded they replace the aftermarket with a DENSO radiator. He complied, and I felt happy for winning that battle.
Another interesting item was during the wintertime. We had freezing rain/sleet, and when I went to open the driver's side door, the door handle BROKE because the door was frozen shut! That was a sight using an extension cord and hair dryer trying to thaw out where the door met the body!
Another interesting story is my RL shutting off around the DC BELTWAY during 7pm Friday night traffic!!!! I was literally cruising about 70mph in the second to fast lane when ALL the idiot lights came on, ding, ding, ding, and silence!!! 69mpn, 68mph, 67mph and sheer silence besides tire noise! Cars approaching quickly from behind, and I place right turn signal on and move all the way to the right hand shoulder. I sat there with hazard lights on trying to figure out what the hell just happened???? I cranked the car and she started fine. I place into drive attempting to merge into beltway traffic and she konks out again!!! I pull over again and now I'm worried, and it's dark, and cars are ZOOM. ZOOM. ZOOM! Luckily I had a cellphone, and called Acura roadside assistance. A flatbed arrived about an hour later, and took me to an Acura dealership outside of DC. Get this, it's a Friday night around 9pm and the dealership is STILL OPEN! Woot-woot!!!
I kid you not...as soon as the flatbed pulled into the Acura parking lot, about 4 Asian looking guys RUN up and eventually push my car into a bay. I felt like I was a NASCAR driver and the Asian pit crew from heaven were servicing me!The service writer interrogates me, and I said it simply shut off, the engine simply shut off while driving 70mph!!! He said to take a seat and they'll figure it out.
25 minutes later, he says it's ready. The bill was about $200. I said it's fixed?? He said yup. There was some sort of a fuel relay under the dash somewhere that was faulty! I said, do you mind if I drive in circles around your parking lot and facility, because I simply don't TRUST the car anymore, and I'm going onto the beltway, and I have to traverse the Chesapeake Bay BRIDGE/TUNNEL, where there is no breakdown lane!!! He said no problem, take my time.
Needless to say, I drove in circles for about 15 minutes before heading on my voyage again. I was on pins and needles and always in the slow lane and SO aware of vehicles around me after that experience. (Can you imagine how some of us drive, tailgating, etc, if the car in front of us has some sort of engine failure????!)
When I eventually sold the car with about 120k miles, it sounded like the car was riding on 4 pieces of granite. Turns out, the front wheel bearings were on their way out.
Other than those fond memories, and oh yea, the GPS was able to be manipulated while the car was in motion, I loved the RL.
I upgraded to the LS because the new RL at that time, was too small for my tastes.
Last edited by LS430inDE.; 12-25-17 at 07:04 PM.
12-27-17, 05:57 PM
#21
RIGHT ON! Before my 02 RL, I had a white 94 Legend with taupe leather. THAT car was awesome, and a head turner! I recall the 1 thing I didn't like about the Legend was, when closing the driver's side window, it didn't seal properly at the rear top corner if you tried closing it at highway speeds lol.
12-27-17, 08:48 PM
#22
Racer
RIGHT ON! Before my 02 RL, I had a white 94 Legend with taupe leather. THAT car was awesome, and a head turner! I recall the 1 thing I didn't like about the Legend was, when closing the driver's side window, it didn't seal properly at the rear top corner if you tried closing it at highway speeds lol.
01-02-18, 10:09 PM
#23
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