Acura RL sales have tanked - Acura Forum

gwestbound · 02-22-06, 05:40 PM

Autoweek today reported Acura RL sales have tanked. Acura is considering stripping features out of the car and reducing the price. In my view Acura got greedy and overpriced it, and it's biting them in the ass. This stellar example of automotive marketing lunacy ranks with Acura abandoning the famous Legend name for its most prestigious model, and squandering the nearly insurmountable lead it had in the premium Japanese car market. It will destroy RL resale value and alienate current and future customers.

Acura has to decide what market the RL is in. If it wants to compete with the Lexus LS, it has to build a first class, large, V8-powered car and price it significantly lower until it achieves similar cachet. If it thinks it's a BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 or a Mercedes E-Class challenger it has to design and produce a better car than those and price it accordingly. It cannot build a tarted-up Honda Accord, put a fancy interior in it, and ask for twice the money. As it has learned to its chagrin, there aren't enough rich, stupid people out there who will pay serious money for a smallish car with a high-winding, low torque six-cylinder engine that consumes prodigious quantities of premium gasoline, an unresponsive transmission, a dodgy suspension, and a huge turning circle. This dog don't hunt. The RL is at best marginally superior to the TL, and costs $15,000 more!

The Autoweek article may be accessed here.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...221002/1024/L- - - - - ATESTNEWS

Brown Chaos · 02-22-06, 10:32 PM

As much as i hate to admit it, Acura isn't on the exact same platform as Lexus and Infiniti. it is in a sense that the higher end Acura's are, but without the highest level Acura, above RL, and it's smaller lineup, it doesn't work.

Acura has acknowledged the problem, it means they have some way to fix it, and in a few years with the V10 coming out, they will have a V8 and two new cars...so give it a bit of time...It's only time before Acura destroys the competition and leads the pack, as it did/does with the TL-S, RSX-S, TSX, NSX (back in the day) and MDX. RDX will destroy it's competition too...

It's only a matter of time...Live it up BMW, Lexus, Benz....Soon you'll be eating Ac's dust.

RL was never meant to compete with the LS either way. It was made to compete with the Lexus GS, which although it also has a V8, it has a V6 little brother. And in the comparisons, it did infact beat the BMW 5, Audi A6, Benz E, GS, and only bested by Infiniti's M45. It so seems that the M45 isn't selling all that well either, yet it's the best and the cheapest? So why? It has nothing to do with the car itself. For 15 000 more, the car is good, not worth an entire 15 000, but is worth 10, but with the A Spec, it is amazing.

So i'm stupid for buying the Acura? It doesn't matter, i'm smart for buying it, because i didn't let BMW and Lexus nameplates get to my head. No matter what happens in the world, BMW, Mercedes and Lexus will always dominate, even if they become total shit. Their names are worth more. And with them dropping the Legend name it separates them more from Honda. It wasn't a stupid move, it'll prove to be a better move in the future when Acura rises up.

The RL is FAR more superior, what no V8 so it's crap? Have you driven the new RL and TL back to back? If you have, try again, you'll notice more differences. And if you think the RL is over priced, look at the GS, 5 series and Eclass...those are far more overpriced and Acura has the best reliability of the three! The rest is subjective for looks and feel. Acura lags, yeah, it needs more low end torque, but overall the car is one of the best.

91sedan · 02-25-06, 03:34 AM

This is a name game that Acura is loosing. I know plenty of people that would take a GS over an RL any day for the car AND the Lexus nameplate. Shit, there are still people that have no idea what an RL is let alone and Acura.

None of their cars look the same except for the TL/TSX/RSX...where does the RL fit in that? Lexus, MB, and BMW cars all have front fascia that says thats a BMW without seeing the BMW emblem on the car. Hell, their rear ends say that too.

Here is the REAL question, Is Acura > Honda or does Acura = Honda?

and don't give me that Lexus = overpriced Toyota crap either. We all know that Lexus > Toyota (even though Toyota is the parent company). Lexus is on a higher level. period.

unlemming · 02-25-06, 03:17 PM

When comparing styling/looks (exterior, at least, I don't know enough about the interiors to say definitively), Toyota=Lexus > Honda=Acura. I agree with most of the other statements though...

Fabvsix · 02-26-06, 02:23 PM

I agree with 91sedan to some point. However I would never buy a lexus or toyota.....but what remains is true about the Acura and name branding. I have a 2004 RL and folks allways ask me .....is that a MB, an Audi A8 ???? When I say its an Acura, they are just puzzled........Acura's marketing division is HORENDOUS ! Someone in that company needs to be fired big time. I suspect too much "ole boy network" and brown nosing going on......

91sedan · 02-26-06, 06:24 PM

yeah I get the MB comparison all the time. Does Acura want to be known as that car company that makes cars that look like the prestige cars on the market or a car company with its own unique brand of vehicles.

I know that companies borrow styling cues from each other, but their cars are still unique to the brand. the Lexus LS 460 arguably has some 7 series styling cues, but it's still identifiable as a Lexus and not "that car that looks like a 7 series."

However, my RL is the exact opposite. It's not an Acura, it's the car that looks like a Benz. regardless of the "A" on the trunk lid or the "A" center caps or the "A" in the grille.

I'd much rather someone say "nice Acura" versus "nice benz." Why? because the car isn't a Benz!

A cheapo RL isn't the solution here because its not going to make Acura any more visible that it is right now. Unfortunately for the RL, they can't change the body because it has to stay that way throught it's life. So we're gonna be stuck with a bar of soap looking thing for the next few years.

I don't see many RL's on the road and thats making me think on can be had for under the MSRP. You can't make me pay sticker for some shit you can't sell.

Fabvsix · 02-26-06, 06:33 PM

I knew what I was tracking for years and jumped on the oppurtunity to buy that LAST best kept secret: 2004 Acura RL! I LOVE the fact that there are few on the road! I LOVE my car....

91sedan · 02-26-06, 07:45 PM

i see more 1st gens then 2nd gens on the road

Brown Chaos · 03-03-06, 04:57 AM

I've just started seeing many 1st gens. But really, it's the biased people who give the bullshit idea that because of the name, they are better. BMW and Benz have TANKED in quality, but they nearly outsell. Lexus remaining at the top, with Acura next in line (For japanese luxury divisions), Lexus gets its name quite well, Acura doesn't quite yet.

So it doesn't really matter, I, myself a huge Acura fan, have mistaken the RL for an S500, AND vica versa. But i prefer them trying to step out of the shadow of following Benz. If Honda can destroy the competition, it's only time before Acura follows along.

ChrisK · 03-03-06, 06:17 AM

All Acura has/had to do was offer a few of the standard equipement as options. Mostly the navigation. Lower the MSRP of the current fully equiped RL to about $46,995. Without nav the MSRP would be around $44K. That would make the whole line up much more attractive. Then, add a V8 option into the RL and raise the MSRP to $49,995 with no nav and $51,995 with nav. At $52K I probably would choose the fully loaded V8 RL over a Lexus GS430 that would cost me about $56,XXX or more. Buyers now have a range from $44k to $52K to choose from. That's just what I would do though

91sedan · 03-04-06, 02:37 AM

that might be what acura plans to do with the scaled down version of the RL. I hope it works. I still like the idea of a ultra-lux sedan above the RL, but they'd probably run into the same problems they are having the RL.

they need a good plan of attack since they announced that acura is going worldwide.

MB sucks in quality because they build so many cars and so many variants of the cars they build. they've got at least 2 offerings in just about every segment of the market. that's a lot of cars to build. they build so many that attention to detail gets lost. that might by the same for BMW more or less.

Brown Chaos · 03-04-06, 12:29 PM

...I think i'm getting confused with American pricing as well...44 american...and the TL is 38? right? Since the TL in Canada is 44, i'm asuming that would mean the RL would be 60-75 canadian rather then the 70 it is now.

Although the problems might be a little less if a newer Ultra Luxry sedan were to come in, OR when the new V8 does appear, just fix the RL to keep it the flagship, making it on another level then it is now, and bring in what the RL is now. Either way, since the V10 is coming in the NSX, or should be, they'll have alot more engine varients to play with. A huge problem with this RL was said to be the Engine. Otherwise there's nothing wrong. I love the 06 RL.

Although i understand with it being fully loaded, which is cool, but like Chris suggested, that would be good.

91sedan · 03-05-06, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Chaos

...I think i'm getting confused with American pricing as well...44 american...and the TL is 38? right? Since the TL in Canada is 44, i'm asuming that would mean the RL would be 60-75 canadian rather then the 70 it is now.

Although the problems might be a little less if a newer Ultra Luxry sedan were to come in, OR when the new V8 does appear, just fix the RL to keep it the flagship, making it on another level then it is now, and bring in what the RL is now. Either way, since the V10 is coming in the NSX, or should be, they'll have alot more engine varients to play with. A huge problem with this RL was said to be the Engine. Otherwise there's nothing wrong. I love the 06 RL.

Although i understand with it being fully loaded, which is cool, but like Chris suggested, that would be good.

nah if Acura did that they would leave the RL where its placed in the segment and then bring in another brand new flagship....hopefully one that doesnt look like a bar of soap.

RL A-Spec · 03-07-06, 03:10 PM

I'm reading a forum for 2nd Gen RL devotees, and I am seeing responses from primarily 1st Gen RL owners who complain that the current RL is a lousy car - ??? What is your basis of comparison? Yes, the styling of the RL is understated - it wasn't meant to be a bling machine. One could wish for a V8, certainly, but the car doesn't really need more power - it needs more torque, which is something else again. Overall, the current RL is a wonderful car to drive and to ride in. With the A-Spec suspension, it will outhandle any MB, Lexus or Infiniti, and do it quietly and comfortably. For the money, I don't see anything out there that is in its class. The 2nd Gen is so far ahead of the 1st Gen there isn't really any comparison, so don't put it down until you experience the difference.

Fabvsix · 03-07-06, 03:14 PM

I know the 2nd gen RL is a great vehicle, I just think its fugly! That's my personal opinion.....