Acura three.five RL (2000)

Acura 3.5 RL(2000)

The summit-of-the-line 3.five RL is the largest, near expensive automobile Acura makes. This is just speculation on our part, but nosotros'd guess that Acura designers had a huge affiche of a Lexus LS400 upwards in the pattern studio when they penned this baby. It's similarly shaped, similarly sized, and comparable in a number of ways. It besides happens to be a lot less expensive, with a cars.com target price of $42,000 (vs. $54,000 for the Lexus).

Driving Experience

AcuraOverall, it's a very easy machine to bulldoze every 24-hour interval. The ride isn't quite as soft equally the Lexus'. This is a sportier luxury motorcar. The 3.5 RL comes with a 210-horsepower V6 engine and an automatic manual. Information technology has enough of ability, and the handling is excellent. The ride is a little on the stiff side, which is a choice Acura made, shooting for a ride/handling balance somewhere between German language-style-luxury (potent) and American-style-luxury (Jell-O). There could be a little more resistance on the steering for our preference--it was lite enough to bring back distant memories of Uncle Nunzio's '74 Rivera.

Anti-lock brakes are standard on the 3.5 RL, and the forepart-bike-drive should provide practiced traction in pelting and snow.

Interior

This car is slightly bigger than its predecessor, and you'll notice that on the within. In that location's at present plenty of room for you and your passengers. The leather seats are supportive but not too firm, and they warm not only your posterior, but your back also.

Acura threw every amenity they could think of into the three.5 RL: power windows, ability seats, and power door locks, electronic tilt and telescope steering column, power moon roof, heated mirrors, and a torso-mounted CD changer. There are even split air conditioning controls for your mother-in-law in the back--ideally suited for sending her into a hypothermic blackout. The simply thing missing is a lap pool.

AcuraThe 3.5 RL has one serious flaw--although, fortunately, it's an optional flaw: a navigation system that, to put information technology politely, doesn't know its Aspen from its Elbow Lake. It did succeed in keeping Tommy out of town for a week when he tried using it, making it a valuable accessory--if you're Tommy's wife. To be fair to Acura, nosotros've tried other navigation systems that have too been flawed, and nosotros're non sure if it's Acura'due south fault, the fault of the software, hardware or due to a cataclysmic solar hemorrhoidal flare up that irradiated the GPS satellites. The bottom line? The navigation systems are still a lot of coin, and far from perfect. So if you basically know your style around, you may want to relieve the extra dough and await for the price to come down and the functioning to go up.

Ergonomics

AcuraIn full general, almost controls in the three.5 RL are well laid out and piece of cake to find and operate, only there were a number of small annoyances. Why do yous have to plough the ignition key further than one twist of the wrist to get the thing started? Why is it and so difficult to turn up the radio volume without accidentally increasing the fan speed? Why are the seat controls so hard to attain, downwards between the seat and door? How come the cheapskates at Acura couldn't install auto-up windows, when you can at present find them in cars well-nigh half the toll? Why are the heater controls and so complicated? The bug we had with the Acura were typical of what we encounter in lots of luxury cars these days. In an effort to impress the customer, the manufacturer makes razzle-dazzle controls that are excessively complicated. Editors concur that the best writing is the clearest and simplest. When will luxury carmakers figure that out?

Aside from our niggling complaints, near of the Acura's ergonomics are pretty practiced. The instrument displays are articulate and well laid out. There are also radio controls on the steering cycle, even if changing the station while turning tin be hazardous to one's health.

Styling

Nosotros saw one of these at a car show, and it was drawing no interest whatever. It had merely come out, and not a person was fawning over information technology or peering in through the windows. You could have started it up and driven off with information technology (although, if you were using the navigation system, you'd probably still be in the exhibition hall, looking for an exit.) It's best described every bit inoffensive. And so once again, that seems to be exactly what Acura was shooting for. Acura saw how successful Lexus was with the inoffensive LS400, and they're looking for a slice of that action.

Reliability

The 3.5 RL should be as reliable equally any other Honda/Acura--which is to say, don't await cards from your corner mechanic on your birthday, considering you won't be helping him with whatever gunkhole payments. Await excellent reliability.

Maintenance

AcuraThis is a car that you definitely want to accept to the dealer for service and maintenance. Information technology's a complicated vehicle; yous're not going to want your neighborhood mechanic trying to put a timing chugalug on the 3.5 RL.

Overall comments

The iii.5 RL is comfy, smooth, big, powerful and well appointed. It has tough company, withal, with the BMW 528i, Mercedes E320, Lexus GS300, and Audi A6 all in the aforementioned cost range.

Acura doesn't really seem to know where they're going with this machine. It may still have some inner conflicts to work out. In some ways, it's soft and cushy like a knock-off LS400, while in other ways, it'south sporty, suggesting an try to compete with BMW. It'due south either the perfect compromise, or non enough of annihilation. It looks all-time when compared to the Lexus LS400... It'due south got comparable room, styling, features and reliability--with a cars.com target price that's $12,000 less expensive. So if you're craving a full-size Japanese luxury cruiser, but can alive without the V8 and don't intendance to shell out $54,000 for transportation, the 3.5RL might exist your new car.

[Test Drive Notes Alphabetize]

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