shazam

So,

I'm looking for a new car for my wife. I always loved the way the TL looked, but hated the way they drove. Quality is great to.

So, for the heck of it we drove the new RL. I was shocked. It was the funnest, largeish luxury sedan I have ever driven. We were planning on getting an Audi A6, but not a chance now. While the interior is fine, its not A6 nice. The outside is fine, but doesn't stand out. But it drove so well and was so much fun we are getting it.


I'm shocked. I mean, the reason I got the RX8 over the G35 was that it was more fun to drive. I don't care too much about stats. More so, how it feels to me. I have to say, If I could do it again I would get the RL for me it's fun enough. Not as much fun as the RX8, but moreso then the G35.

KC_Prelude

They don't call it super handling for nothing.

rx8pilot

i have been thinking of ways to get 49K for that car..any ideas? lol

i drove it and i have to say if i won the lotto..that would be my first purchase...honestly. would be my everyday driver and i could turn my rx-8 into the beast it deserves to be :D

did the sales guy play you the surround sound cd???? god that thing is awesome..
i was having a blast with the easy to use nav too..the thing is so nice..if any of you guys get the chance to take it for a spin..do so..you will be impressed i assure u.

Aratinga

Well, if the exterior's too bland for you, just get her one of these fancy RLs (called Legends outside the USA):

It's even got a V8. :D

Aoshi Shinomori

A V8 making damned near 600 horsepower too(590bhp and 380 lb/ft torque) Too bad Mugen won't sell them :p

Steiner

It's a very good car. The commercials make Acura out to be some sort of pioneer of AWD technology though. I believe they show an illustration of power shifting to certain tires based on road conditions. Thing is Audi, Subaru and Mitsubishi have inserted that same level of technology into their AWD platforms already...and have been for about 10 years now. It doesn't take anything away from the car though. The RL is a great buy IMHO.

chaona

Honda Accord Euro-R

Aoshi Shinomori

This SH-AWD system IS revolutionary. The amount of power it can shift side to side is something incredibly new and I'm positive that Subaru nor Audi have done this yet. I really wanna take a test drive in the RL, but I don't think they'll let a 19 year old college student test a $50,000 car :D

OKC RX-8

My wife's mother just picked up a black with Tan leather only after driving both the 3 & 5 E-Series Benz, Jag, and checking out the Audi. As far as bang for the buck, Acura has always had it. The gizmo's this thing comes with are unreal. Car & Driver rated it the Best in class for a reason and on the 10 Best list for a reason-

Chrisbert

Be wary...Honday trannys and brakes are notoriously hideous.

OKC RX-8

This is true, I dumped the tranny on my '98 CL, wholesaled it, and bought the 8. Most RL drivers however probably aren't going to drive as hard or keep there cars for more than 4 years or so, so it shouldn't be too much a factor for those in that echelon.

draco067

Honda or Hyundai? Sounds like a mishmash there.

Hideous brakes/trannies? Didn't really notice, put 75k on my last honda in less than 4 years.

Steiner

The Audi Quatro AWD system was so advanced it was outlawed for WRC use. Additionally, Subaru and Mitsubishi have been putting SAYC and AYC in their STi and Evo models for at least 5-8 years now. This is another example of Honda slapping a new name on an existing technology...for example variable valve timing on a Honda is VTEC. The technology itself is great and Honda improved upon it...but they didn't invent it. BMW has being doing it for a while now...they just never felt the need to market the technology with a "VANOS" nameplate on the valve cover or somewhere on the outside of the car.

gansan

AFAIK, neither Subaru nor Mitsubishi can transfer 100% of drive torque side to side. They have electronic control over the tightness of the differentials, and if you tighten the differential all the way, it's 50% to each side. They also cannot accelerate one wheel faster than the other. The RL's system is more like the Prelude SH's system, but with AWD.

As far as variable valve timing, name a BMW from the late 80's (when the European CRX SiR was released with the B16A VTEC engine) that had VANOS. Also note that VANOS does not vary valve lift or overlap like VTEC does, only camshaft timing.

Double VANOS, which came much later, allowed independent control of intake and exhaust timing (which also controls overlap).

Chrisbert

Mishmash intentional. Don't know what year your Honda(y) was, but my 01 Acura had, and now my Wife's 02 Acura has tranny and brake problems to the extreme.

Visit www.acura-tl.com and search.

Steiner

I'll take your word for it on the VTEC vs. LANOS question.

From the Acura website...

I don't believe that's a unique feature. With the STi (and JDM and EDM Evo) the power can be shifted via a **** to as much as 100% RWD. The Evo and STi in the USDM also have limited slip differentials and an active center differential. When looking for cutting edge PERFORMANCE technology I'll go with Audi, Subaru or Mitsubishi. They've been doing it longer and better than anybody else. I believe the Acura to be a safer vehicle and an exteremely balanced LUXURY vehicle, but the technology they're billing as cutting edge performance sounds to me like a hyped up version of LSD or DCCD. Am I wrong?

Reactionary

I think there were some recalls on Honda automatic transmissions in the recent past.

If you're worried about it, just get the Ford F-150. Apparently, according to someone and some mag that astutely named the Thunderbird car of the year not too long ago, it's the best truck, period. Why take a chance on a Honda/Acura? Play it safe and go for a Chrysler 300 or Cadillac.

shazam

I don't mean to be too harsh here, but I think you are speaking without the proper information. I'm an Audi/VW fan. Between my car and my wife's I've owned an S4, A4, TT, VW Beetle, VW Passat, and a GTI. I would say I qualify as a fan. But, all of those cars are numb and not a lot of fun to drive. Even if the numbers are good, TT and S4, they would lose comparisons to BMW for just that reason. (I cant speak for the current s4) The acura drives like more of a performance car (as far as feel then any audi).

MrH

Please, inform yourself before you go around spouting off this junk. The AWD system on the new RL is revolutionary. It is the first, and only as of now, system that can proactively transfer torque between left and right wheels. The STi has a center differential, which you can control the amount of torque going to the front and rear wheels, and has a limited slip differential both up front and in the rear I think, but the entire system is reactive. The EVO actually has 100% of it's torque going through the front wheels normally, and only sends up to 50% of it's torque to the rear wheels apon slippage, again, making it a reactive system.

The RL takes into account yaw rate, steering inputs, and all sorts of other information, and proactively distributes torque between it's back right, and back left wheels. This allows it to speed up the outside wheel, and effectively rotate the car in a turn.

There's a huge difference, and the RL truly is revolutionary. I can't say how it drives, but it's an interesting concept I'd like to see it in a more sporty car.

Steiner

The question mark at the end of my post should have been your first clue that I was anxious to learn more. Just the same...thanks for the info...you've simply regurgitated the dumbed down dribble already posted on the Acura website.

The Mitsubishi Evo VIII has a front helical torque-sensing LSD. It appears that torque, at least up front, is already managed electronically. The end result is the same...no? <<<question mark :D

Aoshi Shinomori

Honda's VTEC is also a better version of any of the variable timing technologies as far as I understand it. I'll dig up some information on it and it's competition tomorrow, but just from looking at dynos of VTEC cars against VVTL-I or Variocam or Vanos or anything, the spike in the dyno and the increase in power is far greater on the Honda. Alright, good night all.

JeRKy 8 Owner

I wasthe first person to post about the RL on here. Thats all that counts

draco067

VTEC varies timing, but not actively. There is simply a bigger lobe on the cam that, at a pre-set rpm (with a few other conditions like oil pressure, etc), the valves switch to in order to gain increased lift and change timing. It wasn't until i-VTEC that the cam timing was able to be changed independently of the lift (sounds like VANOS). (Something like +/- 30 degrees of timing at all engine rpms, if I remember right.

gansan

Actually, a helical torque-sensing LSD is a 100% mechanical device. it has worm gears trapped in a housing against another gear in the middle. When the left and right wheels are travelling at different speeds, the worm gears are thrust outward so they wedge against the housing, making them resist turning. This resistance makes the differential lock, to limit slippage. It's a brilliant design, but completely mechanical and passive.

The latest Evos have the active center differential that really is electronically controlled. But it is still 50% to the rear, max.

gansan

Let me quote what I was replying to:

I never said that the original VTEC had continuously variable cam phasing like VANOS and i-VTEC, but it DOES have active control (i.e. a computer controls the spool valve to activate the system). My point is that it IS the first production car-based variable valve timing system, that is far older than VANOS, and it is not "another example of Honda slapping on a new name on existing technology."