Build quality. Exceptionally smooth and quiet. Very comfortable interior with outstanding sound system. Xenon headlights, as well as many features that are chargeable options on other cars, @ no extra cost.

Lack of dual zone climate control. Fuel ecomony. 4 speed transmission. Exterior styling could be more dramatic. The car is quietly handsome but is by no means a "head turner".

This is Acura #2 for me. 4+ years without any problem of any kind. Given features included for the price, and reliability I would certainly recommend it

Similar Products Used:

Lexus GS 300. Lexus is a different car for a different market. Lexus handling and acceleration is superior, but it is a coupe, RL is a sedan. If you want handling and luxury (in that order) Lexus is best. If you want luxury and handling (in that order) I like the RL

Solid and excellent craftmanship, smooth ride.

Sharp decline in vehicle value after two to three years. Less powerful engine to carry a heavy car.

The RL is perhaps the best car ever made. The workmanship is excellent both interior and exterior. If you want to sell the car after 2 to 3 model year, however, RL is not the right one to own. But if you want to keep it for over 5 years, RL is the best car to have, period.

Similar Products Used:

Saab 9000, Nissan Maxima GLE.

I originally bought this car brand new in 1988. It now has 76,000 miles on it. In the 12+ years that I have owned this car I have not had one major problem/complaint with this car. During these past 12 years my wife has gone through four American made cars, all of them had major problems.

None at all

I originally paid $33,000 for this car in 1988 and purchased it brand new. It has been the best investment I have ever made when it comes to vehicles. This car has had extremely low maintenance costs, has been problem free, still drives like a new car, is fun to drive, and is still worth $5,000+. I would highly recommend an Acura for a vehicle that is sporty, fun to drive, dependable, low maintenance, and holds it resale value. I have no complaints at all about Acura.

Similar Products Used:

full size Olds, Buicks, Pontiacs. I have had serious problems with every American car that I have ever owned. The Japanese know something special about building cars.

This car still turns heads at 4 years old! It is very luxurious and has top quality matierils. I am very pleased with the performance of this car and the steering system is outstanding. I love the car it is the best acura, and certainly the best car I have ever owned. I would reccomend it to anyone!

I do not feel that the acura brand name is as prestigious as say lexus or mercedes. And I must say that a V8 would be much nicier than a V6 but I can live with the V6, I must say for a V6 it has a lot of power.

I paid $24000 for my 1996 RL with 23,000 miles on it(not even broken in)and in that price I also recieved the 7year/100,000miles bumber to bumber warrenty. I woould have liked to have gotten the premium package which includes heated seats and mirrors, traction control, more woodgrain and a CD changer(which the previous owner had installed anyway). This is a great car BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Acura 3.2 TL and 1995 Acura Legend LS. The RL blows the 2 cars out of the water in every aspect!

This is a very comfortable car. The fit and finish is exemplary-which, in my experience, is typical of Honda products. However, unlike most other Hondas, this car is luxurious. For the two long trips I have taken with the RL, the car was so smooth, I could have fallen asleep. This car is very much suited to anyone enjoys refinement, comfort and few surprises.

Coming from a 2.5 TL, the RL is a better car yet, doesn't really have much more jump than the 2.5 (which is a 5 cylinder). I suspect the added weight for all the luxury appointments is one reason. Also, sometimes I feel like I'm manouvering a yacht around a corner. The car sticks to it's line but, it just feels like a boat (this is mainly a personal bias). Overall, very little to complain about.

I paid the $29,000 Canadian (eqivalent of $18,000-19,000 U.S) for a 97 with 67,000 km (48,000 miles). The car is in superb condition throughout.
Frankly, I was surprised at how affordable the RL's are after 2 or 3 model years. In Canada, a new RL is $54,000. In my case, I paid roughly 40% less than the original sale price for a car that, in my opinion, is barely broken in! Having looked at Mercedes, BMW and Lexus, I think the RL is either undervalued, underappreciated, poorly marketed or a combination of all three. The manager of the dealership where I purchased the RL told me after I bought it that many of his clients that have owned an RL, have become almost loyal to the car. He also said that it is harder to get a new customer to purchase an RL than to keep an existing RL driver as a repeat client. He thought this was due to a lack of profile of the car when compared with the 3.2 TL which is heavily promoted.
The question is, would I reccommend the car? Absolutely.

Similar Products Used:

Acura 2.5 TL, BMW 325i, Honda Accord EXR

Smooth, quality and attention to detail.

20-40hp will be better. Slightly noisy at acceleration.

Good quality, good exterior look, brake works very well. Well equiped, Smooth ride. Paid $33k for 1999 model with 9k miles in April 2000. It
would be better if the CD change is in dash. I tried 2000 model of Lexus ES300, it drives close to Camry V6.

Similar Products Used:

Accord V6

Navigation system.
Bose sound system.
Xenon headlights.
Side air-bags.
Attention to detail.
Overall level of luxury.
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assistance) feature.
The car is very well appointed.

Very little apart from the rather disappointing performance and the overall exterior design which is a little bland and anonymous.

Overall this an excellent and luxurious car at a very reasonable price (~$40k). Also Acura dealers seem willing to negotiate so you should haggle whether leasing or buying. So $ for $ the Acura is probably better value than the BMW/Mercedes unless you must have that V-8.

Similar Products Used:

Excellent value for money compared to its competitors. However, compared to the Mercedes E or BMW 5 Series V'8's, this car is underpowered. It needs a RWD V8 (which would also increase the price!). With that it would be perfect. But also unlike BMW/Mercedes the equipment levels (excl. the Navigation system) are all included in the base price and are not the expensive options you end up paying for with its German counterparts.

LUXURY,LUXURY,LUXURY,GREAT PRICE,SMOOTH DRIVING,BOSE SOUND SYSTEM,ACCELERATION,ACURAS CERTIFIED WARRENTY,CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM,SEAT POSITIONING IS VERY COMFORTABLE,SALESMAN'S PATIENCE

NOTHING SO FAR,MINOR ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING MDE,BUT KNEW THAT BEFORE PURCHASE,OTHERWISE NOTHING

MY GIRLFRIEND BOUGHT THE CAR 2DAYS AGO FOR ALMOST 1/2 THE NEW CAR PRICE WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER GAVE HER THE REMAINDER OF 100,000 MILE WARRENTY BUMPER TO BUMPER!!! THATS BETTER THAN HONDAS' NEW CAR WARRENTY BY 23,000 MILES. SHE REALLY WANTED A NEW ONE BUT $42,000 WAS A BIT MUCH. THE TL DIDN'T REALLY APPEAL TO HER & THE ACCORD DIDN'T PUT CHILLS DOWN HER SPINE WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO IT AFTER DOING SOME SHOPPING. SO SHE BIT THE BULLET,FINALLY, & GOT WHAT SHE WANTED FOR OVER $3,000 UNDER BLUE BOOK. OVERALL FACTOR IS, SHE IS VERY HAPPY WITH HER CHOICE. GOING FROM A 88CIVIC TO THIS IS QUITE AN UPGRADE BUT A WELL DESERVED ONE FOR HER.

Similar Products Used:

2000 HONDA ACCORD EXV6,LOOKED AT THE 3.2TL,TOYOTA AVALON,NEW 3.5RL,HONDA CIVIC??????

Ride is extremely smooth. Instruments are laid out very nicely. The navigation system is amazing, and very easy to learn. Love the xeon lights for great night vision. A like equipt Lexus GS400 was $20K more.

A luxury car should have a real spare tire. While "peppy", the car could use a V8. I love the 6-cd changer, but wish it allowed an in-cabin disk.

Price paid: $40K with Naviagation system. Great value. I have not had any problems - minor or otherwise. Would highly recommend the car.

Similar Products Used:

It is a step up from the 1996 Infiniti Q45. The RL is noticably quiter.

Great luxury at a reasonable price (compared to other products from Lexus, BMW...). Service is outstanding at our local dealership, even though I hardly ever have to go there for it. Although I loved my BMW to drive, it was a pain to handle the excessive number of service calls. I don't have time for it. Acura is a pleasnt change in that respect.

Power is adequate but another 20-30 hp would be welcome. A tigher feel would be nice (i.e., it doesn't sound/feel like a BMW when you shut the door or round a corner) but quality overall is excellent and it is a pleasure to drive.

I am completely impressed with this car. It's got everything you want in a luxury car and more. Compared to more expensive products from Lexus, BMW & Mercedes, it's a terrific value. It's taking a little time for me to get used to a softer, luxurious ride as I finally had to trade in my BMW 328 5 spd for a more practical, family luxury car.
Overall though, I am very happy with it.