Motorweek 2005 Acura RL Road Test

[@verothacamaro]

Loved my RL! It was such a well-made car and one of the finest road trip machines.

[@nicholasbabeaux2052]

Extremely reliable, and I believe in 2006 they came with the automatic braking with the technology package. Great used cars.

[@SURENITY]

The first gen Acura MDX is absolutely incredible as well! 💪🏽💯

[@colingrubbs2916]

Known as the Honda Legend in other markets. Also this car offered real live traffic information for the navigation system.

[@bryanCLXT]

So on FB market the legends I have seen are either beat or little over priced so I've been looking into getting one of these used. So add to my 2007 Acura RDX sh AWD

[@617_RL]

@@bryanCLXTyea man the market for them is all fucked up rn but I managed to pick up an 05 aspec with 156k and no lights for 2500

[@617_RL]

@@bryanCLXT jus gotta be patient you’ll find a deal eventually

[@nwezetx1]

@@colingrubbs2916 Funny how you all sing the praises of this car, now that it has depreciated enough for you to afford one. These cars were lambasted back in the 2000s, despite offering great tech at introduction and not appreciating its place in the market. Japanese cars are only good to you, when cheap enough. When they’re new and expensive, all the criticism comes, that German luxury brands never seem to attract. Many of you forget, in order for a car to exist, people must buy it new or there is no business case for its existence. It is why the TLX will soon disappear like the RLX. The always buy it used or never buy the “1st, 2 years, 3 years, of a new platform” crowd.

[@zzoinks]

The navigation map at 4:13 is pretty smooth! Probably way smoother than anybody would expect in 2004

[@bigrig9749]

That interior was so comfortable compared to today’s Acura. I Had a 05 RL and now have a 22 TLX….really feel Acura cut corners over the years.

[@MillerVanDotTV]

Ts because they don’t build them in Japan anymore. RL was J VIN

[@herrgolf]

They don’t design them to be sold in Japan anymore.

[@unimike4637]

That seems to be the same across the board. I'd argue my 04 Yukon Denali is one of the most comfortable vehicles I've ever owned. Newer ones do not compare with in-cab comfort. But I'm here because I'm considering getting an old RL

[@joedogg9836]

2005 was a great year for Acura

[@nwezetx1]

This is late 2004 though

[@timomomomo969]

@@nwezetx1it’s a model 2005.

[@nwezetx1]

@@timomomomo969 Doesn’t matter. Introduced, first manufactured, and released in 2004. Episode taped and first aired in 2004 as well. When you include events at Acura/Honda in 2004, this is among 2004 events. In 2005 had nothing happened at Acura. Following your logic, am I going to pretend I didn’t see in Downtown Detroit, Ford reveal to me the 7th generation “2024” Mustang in 2022? Or that I got first behind the wheel of a 2024 Mustang GT in 2023? I don’t care about arbitrary model years, if I knew about the car in full and fully experienced it before that “year”. They’re just silly marketing speak, poorly understood by the public and taken too literally. This car has nothing to do with 2005, except in name only.

[@timomomomo969]

​@@nwezetx1 First, your specific claim is misleading. Yes, this model RL was introduced in 2004...but as a 2005 model year. If you have this model Acura serviced at Acura or any where else, they're going to refer to it as a 2005. Search for parts for a 2004 RL, and your results will bring you parts for the previous generation. The guy at the parts counter at the Acura dealership will tell you that you're the one confused, not the public. All of this presumes that the OP was making the comment that the RL was actually introduced in 2004. I'm not sure where you're getting that presumption. Maybe he was a mechanic who understands that most people think of this generation as a 2005-2012. Maybe he meant the car was sold in 2005 (we all know it wasn't sold the year you insist on calling it). Or maybe he was commenting on Acura sales for 2005, which increased from 2004. Good luck ordering parts for a 2022 Mustang and trying to fit them to your 2024.

[@nwezetx1]

@@timomomomo969 Google keeps censoring my non vulgar posts and won't allow me to post my more detailed response, so I'll stick to my previous post and this as my final say on this matter. The car was released in November 2004 as a 2005 model. Not literally after January 1, 2005. OP's comment can be easily mistaken for the year of January to December 2005 to the unassuming person, which Jan-Dec 2005 consisted of both 2005 and *2006* . I am still correct, as a 2004 episode has everything to do with what Acura released *IN 2004* . You personally don't have broader context of when Acura put this in dealers, so you're going to casually assume it's 2005 instead and deny my accurate claims. As a historian who is a writer that works as a design release engineer, I don't play with careless misconception of timelines for purposes of historical context per years regarding innovation. I help finalize car designs 3 years out once design department is done with a proposal, so first production dates are my lifeline in addition to MYs for programs. Don't talk to me about parts on an S650, as I know much better how that goes. If a less prestigious car named "2000 whatever" was revealed in late 1998 and released in April 1999, introducing a pivotal new technology as an industry first, it's important that its release date is gotten right and not dismissively forgotten. To accurately denote, that the technology was a landmark innovation introduced in the 1990s and 20th century and not the 2000s and 21st century. Against another more prestigious car belatedly released in March 2000 as a 2000 model by a well known company with the same new tech. Going by many forgetful types' reasoning, it would be okay to state, "That technology didn't exist until the 2000s by X fancy car company, not the 90s." Nevermind the tech might have been developed in 1995 by the lesser known, patented in 1996 before 1998 reveal and 1999 release on a vehicle labeled a 2000 model. Seeing that possibility, I make the effort to ensure I get it right across all nameplates. People accuse designers of copying each other, often on shoddy context, proven to be false. Often this is exacerbated by misunderstanding of MYs. They assume a new 2022 model copied a 2020 model, because they make layman assumptions as an industry outsider. Nevermind that 2020 model design was released belatedly in early 2020 and finalized in early 2018, while the 2022 model design was released in July 2021 and design finalized in December 2017. Yet somehow the 2022 model copied the 2020 model? It's why I take it seriously. I see these examples all the time and people like you never connect the dots, as you're too busy calling others like me pedantic or etc to notice where gaps do exist in terms of reliable accuracy. To me, this is what Acura was capable of selling at best to luxury customers in the year of 2004. The means and possibilities were 2004, not 2005. The rest of automotive world thinks this way, but Americans are too obsessed with model years and lose sight of WHEN it was truly first available. You guys always get so lost with this and I blame this MY phenomenon for that reason. I could name so many examples, but Google is blocking it, so my other points will not be addressed. Timelines are crucial in the context of automotive landmarks and/or innovation.

[@bohan9957]

The RL was the most confidence inspiring sedan I've ever owned. It blows the similar generation Lexus GS out of the water in terms of luxury, handling, and refinement.

[@joestuff8]

I love this design, and especially the interior/dash.

[@pwnranger3496]

I think the RL never got a fair shot in the North American market. Seems like a decent car for tbe money. Acura also didn't change much over the years. My 2018 TLX has the same navigation system they show here lol

[@SibRevs]

I really like Acura cars of this vintage, however, the interiors of these cars have mostly disintegrated by now. Especially that of the Acura TL.

[@F48l4N99]

Love the KB1 👍

[@BlownbigblockSS]

I have an 06’ with over 255,000 miles on it..

[@benleon9905]

Everyone seems to have rosy memories of the RL, but it was a sales disaster for the most of its model life , as it was out done by the BMW 5 series, Mercedes E class, Audi A6 and the Lexus GS. Reviewers found the ride quiet and supple, but under performed versus key rivals and was pricey for what it offered. The from beak grill at the end of its life also did not help much in the looks department and hastened its demise. I thought the previous generation code named KA9 was the best grand tourer in the market, but American consumers also did not share the same opinion.

[@bvedant]

Yeah I only liked it because I was a Honda fanboy growing up lol. It’s still nice to think back to those times though. It was my dream car 😂

[@Jag-leaper]

Hindsight is usually the clearest picture

[@a.c.6475]

Hmm!...you do realize that American consumers are not always the brightest consumers....

[@DivineSadist]

KB1 is the goat 🤙

[@timomomomo969]

The previous generation may look better but it simply doesn’t compare to this version RL in terms of acceleration and handling. This car was revolutionary in the suspension approach and featured the most powerful engine sold by Acura (even more than the NSX).

[@ralphangel561]

The RL needed a v8 to be taken seriously

[@GameOver321]

how many watts did that stereo come with?

[@F48l4N99]

260 watts

[@jackxiao1054]

AWD accord

[@tundrav8georgia]

The rl was never any good on the luxury market

[@matthasaname]

Worst car I've ever owned. It's not even close. I've had 5 Hondas and 2 Acuras. This one was, by far, the worst. Everything broke. Nav, keyless entry, keyless start, trunk button, gas door button, VSA, Awd, AFL. . . ALL the cool features that made this car great when it was new ALL broke down. Not to mention it had 10 recalls.

[@pilotvanquish3886]

lol damn

[@a.c.6475]

Hmm!...did you purchase it as is? Did you invest in a pre-purchase inspection?

[@coreylucas5997]

Aged terrible like an accord

[@Jag-leaper]

Uhhh accord aged well... recently sold my 300k 2006

[@whatiswrongwithus]

Perhaps a bit bland but they were built extremely well. Plenty of tech for the time, tons of power, and an awesome AWD system. Also they are most likely outlasting their European rivals by now

[@Stevenhiggles]

​@Lexrolla-1 my RL is about to hit 300k lol

[@DivineSadist]

My 2008 RL is about to hit 58k 🥹 Fantastic looking car, even today. Its solid, not overstyled or gawdy like everything out today. Its modest and respectful, and if you're handy with the paddles, its 2 full tons of fun.

[@a.c.6475]

Hmm!...that's strange, I see plenty of various model Accords every day, one of the best selling sedans in the world!