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Acura RL

7385 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2013 at 12:02 PM

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What is this discussion about? Acura RL, Sedan

Messages Page 239 of 739

#2376 of 7385 Audi cache. . . by markcincinnati

May 19, 2004 (12:40 pm)

. . .has probably gained a wee bit since 1999, but an Audi is, to this day, in the US at least, not seen as having the same "I've arrived" factor as the BMW's and Mercedes. The Audi may be the German Acura in that regard -- although, the upcoming A6 and the current A8L and perhaps even the current S4 (which won the comparo between it the M3 and the AMG C class Merc, in Road and Track) have moved the brand closer to parity with BMW and even showing some slight possibility of overtaking the BMW's.
 
The thing is, the Audi is still somewhat less sport tuned (exclude the S4 and RS 6, please) than the comparable BMW's. For my money, I think the Audi is far more sporting in nature than the Mercedes, class for class.
 
But Audi keeps moving up the Premium scale perhaps a little bit faster than BMW moves up the same scale -- in theory Audi may catch BMW -- I know that is their stated goal.
 
Right now the pecking order of German cars has Audi bubbling under the premium BMW and Mercedes -- so, my point is that I'm not looking for my car to say I have arrived -- especially if I can have the Acrua for thousands less.
 
No matter what the new Acura RL turns out to be, my assumption is that it will not be something that one needs to park in the back out of shame (for not being in a car that says something based on the hood ornament.)
 
If you must have an I've arrived car, TODAY, Mercedes is about your only choice. No American or Japanese car carries that same message as strongly as Merc. Methinks, however, the times they "B" a changin'. . .

#2377 of 7385 Re: legendman [ksoman #925] RL body resign by legendman

May 19, 2004 (1:13 pm)

Replying to: ksoman (May 19, 2004 3:17 am)
>It does not say I arrived, but to call it uninteresting is an extreme... specially when you haven't seen it in person<
 
I don't think I used that word. But I did say "yawn".
 
I beg to differ. In today's media filled world we all react to visual images represented through television, motion picture and still photography. Moreover, what's a yawn to me may not be to you. I still say it looks like a cross between a Toyota Camry and a Plymouth Breeze; and for good measure, the front end looks like cross between a Mazda and an Infiniti G30.
 
People's taste in car design is as different as people's food tastes.
Some people like chocolate ice cream, some like vanilla, some like strawberry, and some don't like ice cream at all. You don't criticize another guy because of his food tastes, do you? Same goes for car design.
 
I was awed by the BMW 740 iL and the Merecedes S430. I wish I had been awed by the newly designed RL, but alas, I was not. Maybe in time my opinion of it will change.
 
True enough, I have not seen it in person, or in another color, for that matter. I can only react to what I have seen in a photograph. And what I saw has left me uninspired. Just me, of course. Your mileage may vary.

#2378 of 7385 by kirstie_h HOST

May 19, 2004 (1:26 pm)

Don't forget tonight's member-to-member chat - it's open mic night, so come and discuss whatever's on your mind.
 

 
http://www.edmunds.com/townhall/chat/townhallchat.html
 
6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET. Drop by for live chat with other members. Hope you can join us!
 
kirstie_h
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#2379 of 7385 Re: [lexusguy #935] More Car for the Money by legendman

May 19, 2004 (4:11 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (May 19, 2004 10:43 am)
> what the owner of an RL will be able to do is snicker at the guy in the $50,000 530i in the right lane as he roars past him full speed into the next apex as the BMW hits his brakes. <
 
I agree with that. When I first purchased my Legend LS, I had already looked at and considered the BMW 5 series. When I saw how spartan that BMW was, how uncomfortable it felt to sit in, and how much money they wanted for the extra "options" that the Legend offered as standard, the value of the Acura proposition could not be ignored. The Acura was simply a lot more car for the money.

#2380 of 7385 I am amazed at everyone's ability to see. . . by markcincinnati

May 19, 2004 (4:46 pm)

. . . the new RL. All the pictures I have seen on the Internet don't give me much to go on -- this doesn't mean I love it or hate it. I can't be sure. I went to the dealer and he had a fake brochure that he could not let me have, it was in black and white and it had extreme close ups of certain parts of the car, like the tail light.
 
Heck it may be the yawner of century. My estimation of the RL is that I don't hate it -- my affection for the A6 is growing, and I have not seen it in person, but I have at least seen many pictures from all angles of it.
 
And, like the man said, it is in the eye of the beholder. I was "impressed" by the new 7 series too -- my impression was and remains repulsion, at least insofar as the rear end is concerned.
 
Then I saw the new 5 series and I thought "Pontiac" -- even has the squinty cat-like eyes.
 
I like the old 5 series and my friends 2001 7 series, with performance package (big wheels, tires and a hunkered down look) is still fresh and exciting.
 
But hey, I love Audis and I didn't really ever get used to my first generation A8, but the new version A8L is, IMHO, the best in its class.
 
See, it is, as me mum used to say -- well she still does actually -- "to each his (or her) own!"
 
Drive it like you live!
 
I can't wait to see one of these puppies.

#2381 of 7385 by lexusguy

May 19, 2004 (10:07 pm)

The A8L is a very strong contender yes, but then again, so is the LS430 (C&D comparison winner) with the sport suspension and 18" wheels. Its faster too. The A8 may be all aluminum (just where DO you go for body repairs?) but its still a serious porker.
 
Then again, I think BMW is stumbling, and Audi is poised for a serious broadside against the guys in Munich. If the next 3 series turns out to be as "good" as the 7 and 5 replacements, an A4 with the new DFI V6 could easily take its place.

#2382 of 7385 lexusguy by mariner7

May 20, 2004 (5:13 am)

I agree BMW is stumbling, even if the sales numbers don't show it yet, compared to other Germans. 5 is losing comparos to E both here and in Britain. evo says new SLK is much better than Z4. Only a few years ago any BMW would clean up any competition in sight.
 
When RL and M come out, E probably will be the benchmark, not 5.

#2383 of 7385 Here is the real shocker. . . by markcincinnati

May 20, 2004 (7:02 am)

. . .reading a test report in R&T of 7 cars in current magazine. Current A6, which is to say 1997 origin, beat the current 530, which is to say 2003 origin.
 
And the lowly A6 3.0 quattro -- which is a serious dog (and this from a fan of the brand) was seen to be desired over the 530? Now, if this conclusion was reached by ONE car mag reviewer, well, I would take it with a grain of salt.
 
The fact that multiple reviewers filling out forms and scoring attributes more or less independently could tally an A6 beating a 530, practically blew me away.
 
If the '05 A6 which has had all these glowing "improved chassis dynamics" articles written about it lives up to the pre-reviews, well, gulp, the new A6 may be seen as a Bimmer Beater. Who'da thunk it?
 
The next gen A4 is waiting in the wings with a 1/2 way step coming to the US in February -- my how the things in the car biz are getting, shall we say, interesting?
 
Don't you think? Or don't you?

#2384 of 7385 Styling by robertsmx

May 20, 2004 (9:53 am)

I have stated this before, and will do it again. Sometimes, PR pictures on the net/paper are not the best way to judge styling. TSX, and especially, current TL are excellent examples of these.
 
RL will look more substantial in person. From pictures alone, I can see similarities (largest penta-grill of any Acura) between the current and the next RL. The rear is an evolution of late-90s Acuras (CL and TL).

#2385 of 7385 Styling, looks by jeff88

May 20, 2004 (10:14 am)

Anymore, unless the ride is seriously ugly like the new 7, I'm more inclined to be more interested in how the inside looks v the outside. (Maybe because that's where I see the car the most...)
 
BTW, saw an old yet nicely maitained 2002tii last week in CA -- now that is a good looking car! was slightly embarrassed by the line of drool on my necktie...

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