Some local NSX pics

[ChrisK]

A bunch of us got together not to long ago for. Here are some pics of each car.

[jinny]

is this one yours?

[ChrisK]

Yes, that one is mine. I sold the rims and some other stuff.

[jinny]

yeah I just saw the post in the legend area...

good stuff.

your older brother is one lucky fella.

what are you gonna do now? you mentioned a few cars that you were thinking about I seems to recal a 2005 RL being a possibility too
I forget, do they have Navi data for Hawaii for the '05 RL?

[1/2]

I was in Honolulu two three weeks ago! Would love to have seen you guys. Hopefully I'll be back out soon.

Looking fantastic as usual!

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by jinny

what are you gonna do now? you mentioned a few cars that you were thinking about I seems to recal a 2005 RL being a possibility too
I forget, do they have Navi data for Hawaii for the '05 RL?

Right now I'm driving an old 93 SC400 that I had plans to fix up, but I decided not to. Instead I'm fixing up my wifes 04 RX330. The reasn why I decided to do that was my son is nearig 2 years old so it was time to install the vido system so he could watch movies in the back seat. Since I'm doing the wholoe A/V system, it was cheaper to just go a ahead and get some rims and lower the RX and later get a nice body kit for that car rather than try and fix up a 12 year old car into show condition. Plus locally, nobody has done an RX330 for the car shows so hopefully I'll be the only one. In a year or two I may either get an RL, but I'm leaning toward the new IS350 and maybe even a GS430. I think I'll probably end up with the IS350 though since it is about $15k cheaper and will have everything the GS has except in a slightly smaller car and more HP too. It supposed to have 315 HP. Later the GS360 supposed to come out, but that probably will be more expensive than the GS430 so that is too much for me.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by hafid

I was in Honolulu two three weeks ago! Would love to have seen you guys. Hopefully I'll be back out soon.

Looking fantastic as usual!

Just send me a PM or email and we can try and get together

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by jinny

I forget, do they have Navi data for Hawaii for the '05 RL?

Yes they do. The 05 Acura RL is the first to offer nav in Hawaii. It is about time the car manufacturers offered it for us. We could use the portable nav for a long time already, but for some reason the car manufacturers never had maps of Hawaii for their systems. The RL uses the smart map pro like Alpine so the new Alpine navigation units will also have maps of Hawaii when it comes out later this year. I would have thought Lexus would follow and bring nav in the 06 line up, but they did not. Hopefully they will do it for 07 or they will fall behind Acura a bit.

[jinny]

I like the new GS more than I though I would... it looked bloated in the initial press release shots, but the actual car doesn't seem that bad. I really like the comercials... they are different from the past Lexus comercials, but still manage to keep that Lexus lookand feel somehow... although they may be over emphasizing the whole start button thing.

I'm guessing Acura's hand was played in terms of Navi for Hawaii in that they don't have a non Navi option for the 05 RL... so either they had to sell RL's to Hawaii with a largely useless Nav system, or not sell it there at all... Lexsus on the other hand still offers their Navi as an option, so they aren't pressed to offer Hawaii... and from what I have felt when raoming the HQ offices here in So Cal, Lexus corporate doesn't really acknowledge Acura as direct competition... even though though they clearly are in many ways... perhaps they are just playing mind games with themselves. regardless, I never understood, why they wouldn't offer Hawaii to begin with... it's' not like there is that much more data compared to the rest of the US. Oh well... Acura got it now, so that's good.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by jinny

I'm guessing Acura's hand was played in terms of Navi for Hawaii in that they don't have a non Navi option for the 05 RL... so either they had to sell RL's to Hawaii with a largely useless Nav system, or not sell it there at all... Lexsus on the other hand still offers their Navi as an option, so they aren't pressed to offer Hawaii... and from what I have felt when raoming the HQ offices here in So Cal, Lexus corporate doesn't really acknowledge Acura as direct competition... even though though they clearly are in many ways... perhaps they are just playing mind games with themselves. regardless, I never understood, why they wouldn't offer Hawaii to begin with... it's' not like there is that much more data compared to the rest of the US. Oh well... Acura got it now, so that's good.

Interestingly enough, all the new Lexus' (At least so far in the new GS and upcoming IS) will use the same touch nav screen whether you get the nav option or not. The only difference is if you don't get the nav option you will not get the nav hardware so the touch screen will be used for the radio, AC and other stuff but the nav section will just be blanked out. Basically, this means all they need is the map and they are good to go. Nobody considers Acura competition, but the new RL is giving them a good run for their money. I tell you what. At the car show the new GS was kind of fun to play with, but Acura was showing off the navigation, the bluetooth phone and making phone calls, it definately was a much better presentation in terms of wow factor. Personally I think the RL is a better car than the GS300 and GS300 AWD, but the GS430 is a step above. Car and Driver rated the interior of the RL higher than the GS. Most don't believe it, but I made a specific effort to really compare the two. I would agree with them. The RL leather feels much more plush whereas the GS feels harder. I ran my hand over the plastic and vinyl trying to get a feel and they both feel good and about the same. Checked for fit and finish gaps and I did notice a few flaws in both of them, but nothing major. Once Acura strengthens their name they should be a major player. If the RL had a V8 to cater to those people it would be at or near the top of all the V8 competition (M45, GS430, 545 and such).