2009 RL - disapointment
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 677
Likes: 1
From: US
This is not sexy to me
The design is completely disjointed. The front up to the windshield looks it belongs to one car, the greenhouse looks like it came from a totally different car, the overhang is too long, the crease along the side and bottom of the door (which look awesome in the TL) are out of place here and the rear juts out at an awkward angle.
It has bits and pieces that make sense and the car looks nice from certain angles. But as a whole, to me, the car does not symbolize design excellence.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 9
From: Michigan
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
This is not sexy to me
The design is completely disjointed. The front up to the windshield looks it belongs to one car, the greenhouse looks like it came from a totally different car, the overhang is too long, the crease along the side and bottom of the door (which look awesome in the TL) are out of place here and the rear juts out at an awkward angle.
It has bits and pieces that make sense and the car looks nice from certain angles. But as a whole, to me, the car does not symbolize design excellence.
The design is completely disjointed. The front up to the windshield looks it belongs to one car, the greenhouse looks like it came from a totally different car, the overhang is too long, the crease along the side and bottom of the door (which look awesome in the TL) are out of place here and the rear juts out at an awkward angle.
It has bits and pieces that make sense and the car looks nice from certain angles. But as a whole, to me, the car does not symbolize design excellence.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
I think that is the A spec RL that had a even more gorgeous interior with light birds eye maple wood and two toned dash with baseball glove stitching of the seats. I am not sure if that is the model they stuffed a v8 into but there was a RL going around that had a high hp v8, not sure if it was this one though.
I think that is the A spec RL that had a even more gorgeous interior with light birds eye maple wood and two toned dash with baseball glove stitching of the seats. I am not sure if that is the model they stuffed a v8 into but there was a RL going around that had a high hp v8, not sure if it was this one though.
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=319284
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
That was the Mugen Legend Max.
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=319284
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=319284
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,285
Likes: 0
From: A better place
Wow, I can't believe it. The 2009 RL looks horrible 
.
Honda had a huge chance to do a great refresh on the RL and they really messed it up. Even the 3.7L is barely an improvement over the 3.5L V6 that was there previously. As already pointed out, the 3.7L can't compete with premium V6 engines from others like Lexus or Infiniti.
Acura really seems to be a mess right now, and Honda in general seems to have a problem. The new Pilot concept has received a negative reaction from the press and a mediocre reaction from consumers at the show. The new Accord seems to be stumbling sales-wise and hasn't even fazed Camry sales.
If this refreshed RL indicates the future styling of other Acura products, then things don't look good at all. The 2008 GS MCE seems like a masterpiece compared to this RL MCE.
.Honda had a huge chance to do a great refresh on the RL and they really messed it up. Even the 3.7L is barely an improvement over the 3.5L V6 that was there previously. As already pointed out, the 3.7L can't compete with premium V6 engines from others like Lexus or Infiniti.
Acura really seems to be a mess right now, and Honda in general seems to have a problem. The new Pilot concept has received a negative reaction from the press and a mediocre reaction from consumers at the show. The new Accord seems to be stumbling sales-wise and hasn't even fazed Camry sales.
If this refreshed RL indicates the future styling of other Acura products, then things don't look good at all. The 2008 GS MCE seems like a masterpiece compared to this RL MCE.
The only good thing about the previous gen RL, 1996-2005 model, is that it can be picked up dirt cheap, sort of like the Q45. They aren't bad cars, and for the money they are a steal.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 3
From: none
Great. Acura just americanized the styling of the new RL (just like they did with the 06+ Accord and its LEDs. Now non-car buffs will think it's a Chrysler at the front and a Ford at the back (think Five hundred)
Guest
Posts: n/a
Wow, I can't believe it. The 2009 RL looks horrible .
Honda had a huge chance to do a great refresh on the RL and they really messed it up. Even the 3.7L is barely an improvement over the 3.5L V6 that was there previously. As already pointed out, the 3.7L can't compete with premium V6 engines from others like Lexus or Infiniti.
Acura really seems to be a mess right now, and Honda in general seems to have a problem. The new Pilot concept has received a negative reaction from the press and a mediocre reaction from consumers at the show. The new Accord seems to be stumbling sales-wise and hasn't even fazed Camry sales.
If this refreshed RL indicates the future styling of other Acura products, then things don't look good at all. The 2008 GS MCE seems like a masterpiece compared to this RL MCE.
.Honda had a huge chance to do a great refresh on the RL and they really messed it up. Even the 3.7L is barely an improvement over the 3.5L V6 that was there previously. As already pointed out, the 3.7L can't compete with premium V6 engines from others like Lexus or Infiniti.
Acura really seems to be a mess right now, and Honda in general seems to have a problem. The new Pilot concept has received a negative reaction from the press and a mediocre reaction from consumers at the show. The new Accord seems to be stumbling sales-wise and hasn't even fazed Camry sales.
If this refreshed RL indicates the future styling of other Acura products, then things don't look good at all. The 2008 GS MCE seems like a masterpiece compared to this RL MCE.
I'm sure it's pretty reliable and yes it's comfortable, and I'm sure by now you can pick them up for peanuts.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
I test drove one when I test drove the current RL which I really like. The original RL was not as bad as I thought it was going to be and I liked the interior which again is its best feature, the car had decent torque and felt faster then 225hp which this one had. I even liked the interior more then my GS and felt most of the material were higher quality and the wood was nicer in the RL. The newer RL interior blows the last ones and my GS interior away though. The previous RL did look a bit more upscale and more like a luxury car then the newer RL and certainly more then that dissapointing refresh but like I said I will reserve judgement until I see it in person because I will probrably like it more when I see it in person, it looked better in motion on that TOV autoshow preview site.