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The RL/RLX has been uncompetitive in its class LONG before the move for companies to slash sedans.
Thank you for pointing this out. No RL was ever competitive in its segment, ever. Nobody ever seriously compared it to a European Competitor or the GS, heck, I would argue that it couldn't even compete with a late 90's Q45 which at least was on a RWD platform with a V8.
Early 2000's, all 3 were super strong European alternatives. 10-15 years later, all 3 cancelled. Smh.
Infiniti might be done, no one knows what is going on with Acura, and Lexus is confused. Times sure have changed quick!
It is very sad times to be a enthusiast/buyer, the Japanese have more or less given up competing with the Europeans and even somewhat Koreans and more and more are giving up on Tier 1 Luxury, sad we are losing 3 choices in mid sized lux/performance sedans. I really hope they eventually come out with replacements in a few years and that they aren't hybrids or electrics.
Legend, RL, RLX were solid competitors, not the most exciting but good cars, 2nd Gen Legend was the best selling lux car in the US for a couple years, the 2nd Gen RL had the nicest interior in class and one of the best choices in its segment.
Totally agree. I had a 2000 TL--at the time, the RL had about the same power (maybe even less), was a little bigger on exterior dimensions but not significantly bigger inside, had a handful of minor additional features (fog light being one of them), but cost way more.
Sorry, but the early 2000s RL was not a "strong European alternative". It wasn't even a strong alternative to the GS and the M. The mid-2000s RL was a mediocre alternative to GS and M.
Early 2000's RL were actually pretty nice cars, it had a nicer interior then the Lexus GS at the time, its engine was not very strong, but no worse then GS300 engine.
Mid 2000's or 2nd Gen RL was a excellent car, sold well its first few years, I found it much better then the 3rd Gen GS aside from not being as quick when the 350 came along. 2nd Gen RL had the best interior in class, best build quality too.
Agreed. Even the original RL, while a nice car, was completely out of its league, totally uncompetitive in the segment it was supposed to be part of. Literally every single competitor in that entire class was on a dedicated RWD platform with an available V8 (and a few had V12s), while the RL was a stretched and reworked Accord with FWD and an anemic V6.
1st Gen RL was a pretty solid car, it was actually as nice or nicer then most competitors 6 cylinders at the time, it just did not have a 8 cylinder option, flashy looks, nor was it sporty. It was not based on a Accord chassis either, it had its own unique Longitudinal platform shared more with the 2nd Gen Acura Legend.
1st Gen RL was a pretty solid car, it was actually as nice or nicer then most competitors 6 cylinders at the time, it just did not have a 8 cylinder option, flashy looks, nor was it sporty. It was not based on a Accord chassis either, it had its own unique Longitudinal platform shared more with the 2nd Gen Acura Legend.
It is very sad times to be a enthusiast/buyer, the Japanese have more or less given up competing with the Europeans and even somewhat Koreans and more and more are giving up on Tier 1 Luxury,
i guess you don't consider genesis tier 1? with the massively award-winning g70, the upcoming g80 and gv80, and refreshed g90 they have a world class line up. there's still features they don't have that mercedes, etc. has, but they're now streets ahead of lexus.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
I particularly always liked this RL:
to me, that gen was trying too hard to look like an ls400.
Thank you for pointing this out. No RL was ever competitive in its segment, ever. Nobody ever seriously compared it to a European Competitor or the GS, heck, I would argue that it couldn't even compete with a late 90's Q45 which at least was on a RWD platform with a V8.
They were somewhat to pretty competitive in their segments, 2nd Gen RL was very competitive for the first few years, had the nicest interior in class, good package. Even with a V8 and RWD the RL's still outsold Q45's. RLX had its plusses, had much more rear seat/leg room then most of its competitors including all the GS's, the SH hybrid was quicker then all GS's aside from the GS-F.
I really hope they come out with a good replacement that will be seen as fully competitive in its segment but the Japanese just seem to be giving up on this segment and others in the luxury/performance arena.
I totally dismissed it when I was looking for a used GS300/GS430/5 series but I was only going by the first year RL. I couple years later I was at a Acura dealership and sat in and test drove both the 1st and 2nd Gen RL(which I also mostly disliked at first because it didn't have a V8 or RWD). I was blown away by the second Gen RL as soon as I shut the door, it was just so solid, the interior design was gorgeous and looked better in person then in pics, just touching and pressing buttons it felt so high quality, completely and totally blew away my GS430 and the 3rd Gen GS, it was one of the nicest interiors I was ever in and aside from some more features I did not think the LS460 interior was any better and maybe not as nice in some areas. Driving it was great too, it felt so solid, it felt better to drive then my GS430, more planted, better steering, good power. I was totally sold, it's looks really grew on me in black and dark grey ones, I still would love to pick one up.
I also got in a 1st Gen RL but one a few years after they debuted that had a update like what you showed and I was shocked at how nice it was, I was like why did I dismiss this car and not consider it. It had a nicer interior then my GS430, more wood trim, felt more solid, buttons and switches felt higher quality, design was nicer though it did not have the optitron gauges which I really liked in the GS, it had a few features my GS did not have, I was not blown away by it but I was very surprised how nice it was and disappointed I never at least considered looking into one though it was not really a car for someone in their mid 20's. It was smooth to drive but not as sporty as the 2nd Gen RL even though it had a superior platform layout, it did not have the explosive acceleration of my GS430 or as good as the 2nd Gen RL but it was still decent. It had a nice elegant design after the update, the first year or two it was out the styling was kind of bland and the interior was not as nice but it got a really nice update.
The 3.5 RL was a solid car that was evolution of the 2nd gen Legend.
It kept the Longitudinal engine layout but lacked the sport dynamics, great styling, and top performance that Legend had when it first came out.
The 3.5 RL was more luxury oriented in terms of ride but still had superb build quality and fit/finish. They were fine cars back in the day.
, but I believe the Millenia was the first product in North America to offer the Miller-cycle engine as an option.
It was, and was garbage like most Mazda engines. (RX-8, etc.) The Millenias with the regular 2.5 far outlasted the "upgraded" Millenia Ss with the Miller Cycle.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
I particularly always liked this RL:
Same. It was dead reliable and sort of a Lexus LS light, at least the early ones with the 4 speed auto. The RL that came after it had all kinds of issues. This one was solid.
I drove a few, it's no LS but it had refinement and good build quality.
