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Acura RL

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

You are in the Acura RL Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura RL, Sedan

Messages Page 382 of 739

#3806 of 7385 Re: Would I deserve one? [prophet2] by markcincinnati

Sep 22, 2004 (7:12 pm)

Replying to: prophet2 (Sep 22, 2004 12:30 pm)
Our first Audi, in 1978, was followed by over two dozen more -- in November, 2000 I found a FedEx envelope on my front porch.
 
In this FedEx Letter package was a letter and two round trip tickets to San Moritz Switzerland. The letter invited my wife and me to fly to Zurich, be picked up in an Audi A8 and escorted to St. Moritz. Fast forward, we took Mr. Hunt (the apparent author of the letter from Audi of America) up on his offer.
 
We flew Business Elite (Delta) from Cincinnati to Atlanta to Zurich -- we were met by an English speaking Audi of America representative handed ~ $150 in cash and put into an Audi limo. There were two French passengers who rode with us.
 
We were taken to a five star hotel (a castle) in St. Moritz, where we were given Audi winter clothing and allowed to check in for a 4 hour nap prior to our "greeting" sleigh ride, dinner and entertainment slated for that evening.
 
The next three days included non-stop entertainment and pampering all courtesy of Audi. 25 couples from North America were in the group of 50 couples from around the world. We were Audi's guests for the Women's Down-hill skiing racaes in St. Moritz. The first evening's sleigh ride and Alpen (orAlpin?)Horn greeting (replete with an Audi Hot Air Balloon as our marquis) was followed with a breakfast and ride to the finish line (where the skiers finished) where Audi had erected a tent on the snow (complete with a buffet, bar, carpeted "floor", auto showroom and lit with chandeliers!).
 
That evening a black-tie affair with the "singing waiters" who performed Disney classics (in costume) was followed by a chance to meet and mingle with the winning women skiers.
 
The trip, at the risk of sounding trite was truly "magical" -- and, even though the little town of St. Moritz was literally covered with Audi cars, there was not one moment of "Audi" sales or marketing effort beyond the Audi napkins, Audi wine! and Audi clothing provided by the "Audi Bunnies."
 
The short, one-page letter, from Len Hunt that got this all started said it was a "thank you" from Audi to its best customers -- we had purchased more than two dozen Audis and actually, my 2001 A6 4.2 arrived in the US while we were in Europe.
 
Acura may be producing a European beating auto in the RL (there is plenty of evidence that it has hit this one out of the park).
 
Acura, however, could take a lesson from Audi in terms of customer appreciation. Our trip was the third invitation from Audi -- two previous invites we were unable to oblige.
 
I know -- I am one of Audi's biggest FANS and most concerned citizens -- that Acura and other Japanese companies can build excellent cars. I must tell you however, no one has EVER shared such a customer appreciation tale that rivals Audi's.
 
Despite this, the new Acura remains on my shopping list, as I have grown weary of even the smallest of issues relating to auto ownership. My impression after participating in this town hall for these many many months is that with an Acura, I will virtually only have to buy gas, insurance and new license plates and only visit the dealer for service with relative infrequency.
 
I have wondered here and elsewhere if either those who have had Acura and Lexus cars have had great experiences or low expectations.
 
Despite my extreme prejudice, I am willing to "buy into" the notion that Acura will treat me better than Audi.
 
I hope I don't have to eat these words.

#3807 of 7385 Re: Would I deserve one? [markcincinnati] by oman9

Sep 22, 2004 (8:43 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 22, 2004 7:12 pm)
Just an amazing story markcincy!
 
I have owned Nissan/Infiniti cars for 16 years now. Not nearly as many as you have had nor the amazing Acura/Honda poster in an earlier post.
 
I can say that I, for the first time in 16 years, am very intrigued by Acura. At the same time, I can tell you that I am writing this post because of your words re: ease of ownership of an Acura re: just regular maintenance. I can say that this has been my experience with Nissan/Infiniti. I'm not looking at Acura because of a lack of reliability of Infinitis. I'm looking in this direction for additional (and equivalent, in my opinion, in the reliability department) offerings primarily in the RL or possibly TL.
 
I'm not sure the G35 is what I'm looking for (kind of smaller, TL seems a bit bigger at least on the inside) and the new RL is very interesting and will need to be lined up side by side the the new M35/45 from Infiniti.
 
It is a great time to be looking at cars!!!

#3808 of 7385 Question for Acura owners... by oman9

Sep 22, 2004 (9:23 pm)

Replying to: oman9 (Sep 22, 2004 8:43 pm)
I've owned Infiniti for years and have enjoyed their loaner program. Every service I've been given a loaner, even oil changes. I have 121K+ miles and they still give one to me.
 
Does Acura have a similar program? I don't think so, just checking...

#3809 of 7385 oman ...... by prophet2

Sep 22, 2004 (9:35 pm)

You and I deserve trips to Japan from our respective automakers.
 
My brother-in-law's (he has the MDX) parents bought a 1989 Acura L because they liked my sister's '87 coupe. That car was eventually sold to my other sister in 2001.
 
We have also enjoyed a number of Nissans. My brother started it 35 years ago by convincing my parents to trade-in MY '61 Ford Falcon for a new '69 Datsun 510 wagon. He promptly modified it with headers and other parts to race it - he's an ASE certified mechanic today.
 
My other sister replaced her gas-guzzling Camaro RS (350 V-8) with a Datsun 240 SX in the late 1970s. My father-in-law (not driving at age 89) still has his '87 Maxima GXE (40K miles).
 
We also had a used '88 Maxima and a new 1993 Quest GXE which was traded for the Odyssey with 164K miles after eight years.

#3810 of 7385 Re: Would I deserve one? [markcincinnati] by ksoman

Sep 23, 2004 (3:32 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 22, 2004 7:12 pm)
Nice, even BMW & MB don't necessarily do that....
 
ksso

#3811 of 7385 Re: Would I deserve one? [markcincinnati] by jjacura

Sep 23, 2004 (6:16 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 22, 2004 7:12 pm)
Mark, Your postings are the best. Really enjoy your contibutions. Thanks a lot. JJ

#3812 of 7385 Loaner Program [oman9] by acuraphile

Sep 23, 2004 (6:36 am)

Whenever service requires more than an hour and a half wait, I'm given a loaner. Two weeks ago, the service guys were busy and weren't able to get to my car quickly enough to replace a wheel sensor; they gave me a practically new TSX for the day.I bought my '96 RL there and so have compiled some good-will credits.There's nothing wrong with adding a small codicil to your purchase contract mandating use of loaners when necessary.... "necessary" has to be defined.
I'm still driving my "96 RL, with 104K miles on the odo. Going to be hard turning it in.

#3813 of 7385 Re: Question for Acura owners... [oman9] by sjohnson11

Sep 23, 2004 (7:16 am)

Replying to: oman9 (Sep 22, 2004 9:23 pm)
I have purchased two Acura's from my local dealer (01' CL and '02 TL). Since then, we had a child and had to get rid of the CL, I purchased a Nissan Murano as a replacement - Now, when I take the Murano to the Acura dealer to get my oil changed, they still give me a loaner...maybe it varies from dealer to dealer?? Sorry to be off topic here. I am looking at the new RL, the new M35, and possibly the new avalon when it is released next year. I have such a great relationship with the Acura dealer, I have a bias towards the RL, we'll see!

#3814 of 7385 Acura Website by nebraskaguy

Sep 23, 2004 (12:07 pm)

Check out the RL link on the Acura website. The interactive showroom is now active. Really cool!!

#3815 of 7385 by robertsmx

Sep 23, 2004 (1:27 pm)

I’m eagerly waiting for Honda to launch the Legend in Japan. So far, they have not announced it yet for that market, only a mini-site is up. That market is definitely going to get all the additional frills that we won’t (for now) including CMS, E-Pretensioner, LKAS, (potentially) intelligent night vision and intelligent cruise control. All of these features (except nightvision) are already offered in Japanese Accord and Inspire.

Messages Page 382 of 739

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