Honda Car Forum

Anyone have transmission problems with the '05 RL? I have had some
nasty transmission lags with Hondas and Lexuses and wonder if the RL is
the one model that combines Japanese quality with a transmission that
actually downshifts when demanded by a hard pressdown of the
accelerator. If the transmission actually works as it's supposed to,
I'm signing up to buy one next month! Otherwise, I will wait, maybe for
a used Audi A6!

Can't comment on the reliability as I don't own one (yet), but have
test driven several new RLs along with some of its principal
competitors, and it is a pretty good transmission. It downshifted
promptly with little prodding from the accelerator, sometimes even two
gears when I pressed just to 3/4 throttle on the highway. Its controls
seem well programmed to make the most of the engine in the RL, which is
powerful at the high end, but a little sluggish at low rpm.

Overall I was fairly impressed, but my main complaint was that while
the tranny is extremely smooth compared to most cars, when you compare
it to its peers it comes across as very rough (in a relative way, or
course). For a real "apples to apples" drive an RL and a V-6 STS back
to back; if not for the tach I could barely discern when the STS up- or
down-shifted, while the RL's shifts were very smothered, but could
still be felt. Perhaps a little unseemly in a $50k car, but not
necessarily a deal breaker for me.

My $0.02 worth.


ichoor0416@yahoo.com wrote:
> Anyone have transmission problems with the '05 RL? I have had some
> nasty transmission lags with Hondas and Lexuses and wonder if the RL
is
> the one model that combines Japanese quality with a transmission that
> actually downshifts when demanded by a hard pressdown of the
> accelerator. If the transmission actually works as it's supposed to,
> I'm signing up to buy one next month! Otherwise, I will wait, maybe
for
> a used Audi A6!

On 18 Jan 2005 21:53:23 -0800, ichoor0416@yahoo.com wrote:

>Otherwise, I will wait, maybe for
>a used Audi A6!

A used Audi?....good luck.
<I took the RSB Pledge - 2002>

LOL, I know. I guess I'm just desperate for a Jap car that combines
reliability with a responsive drive by wire transmission. You're right,
though, there's no need to cause myself grief by suffering Audi bugs
and electronic defects, quattro or no quattro.

The problem with luxury cars like the RL is that the average buyer is
usualy 50 or older and is too old to notice any transmission lag, if it
exists. The Lexuses have HUGE transmission lag and lots of people
complain, but even more people say they never noticed! I'm pretty sure
that younger buyers would notice. I just want to make sure that a
broken in RL engine does not have similar lag! This is not a small
amount of money for me and I plan to have the car for 12+ years.


Brian wrote:
> On 18 Jan 2005 21:53:23 -0800, ichoor0416@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> >Otherwise, I will wait, maybe for
> >a used Audi A6!
>
> A used Audi?....good luck.
> <I took the RSB Pledge - 2002>

<ichoor0416@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107625629.410788.256560@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
> The problem with luxury cars like the RL is that the average buyer is
> usualy 50 or older and is too old to notice any transmission lag, if it
> exists. I just want to make sure that a
> broken in RL engine does not have similar lag! This is not a small
> amount of money for me and I plan to have the car for 12+ years.
>
>
> Brian wrote:
Uh, while you're dissin' older folks about transmission lag, keep in mind
that your statement, "broken in RL engine does not have similar lag", has
nothing to do with transmission lag! It's the transmission that's the
problem,..................older guy! : )

Yeah us darn 50 plus old people just don't feel nothing. Have a TL and I'm
55, never take it out of 2nd gear, scared I might lose control or get a
breeze coming from the window or something. Only use the car primarily as a
heating pad with the heated seats anyway. Saves money on Ben Gay making car
more than pay for itself. hahahaha

Wish you enjoyment with it for next 12 years. Trading it in at 24 will be
great!

George in NY 2004 TL

Age and treachery will always overcome youth and inexperience.




<ichoor0416@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107625629.410788.256560@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
> LOL, I know. I guess I'm just desperate for a Jap car that combines
> reliability with a responsive drive by wire transmission. You're right,
> though, there's no need to cause myself grief by suffering Audi bugs
> and electronic defects, quattro or no quattro.
>
> The problem with luxury cars like the RL is that the average buyer is
> usualy 50 or older and is too old to notice any transmission lag, if it
> exists. The Lexuses have HUGE transmission lag and lots of people
> complain, but even more people say they never noticed! I'm pretty sure
> that younger buyers would notice. I just want to make sure that a
> broken in RL engine does not have similar lag! This is not a small
> amount of money for me and I plan to have the car for 12+ years.
>
>
> Brian wrote:
>> On 18 Jan 2005 21:53:23 -0800, ichoor0416@yahoo.com wrote:
>>
>> >Otherwise, I will wait, maybe for
>> >a used Audi A6!
>>
>> A used Audi?....good luck.
>> <I took the RSB Pledge - 2002>
>

Haha! Thanks for your good-humored responses. I didn't mean to insult
the AARP set. Just pointing out that RL is expensive, therefore older
people drive it. Older people usually drive more conservatively,
therefore, they wouldn't notice transmission lag. By "broken-in"
engine, I meant that the computer chip controlling throttle is supposed
to adjust (I stress "SUPPOSED") to driver style. In my broken in Lexus,
transmission lag is very bad, very noticeable, and very dangerous. I
just wanted to make sure that Acuras don't suffer the same problem.

Not too sure just how much "older" will be those people who will drive
the '05 RL. In fact, I suspect you will see the opposite because of the
"intimidating" look, use, and general feel of the instrument panels,
both on the dash panel and overhead.

My guess is that "older" drivers will top out at around mid-60s (or
those still working for a living) and one will not see "older" drivers
in their 70's (even less those in their 80's) driving the new RL. I'm
not saying some techno-savvy 75 y/o with higher than expected cognitive
functioning won't buy one, but the perception among these older age
brackets will be that the car is just "too complicated." They will
continue to opt out for their Lincolns, Mercs, and, in some cases, Lexus.

I'm not down on the car. I bought one last Dec. I like it.



ichoor0416@yahoo.com wrote:
> Haha! Thanks for your good-humored responses. I didn't mean to insult
> the AARP set. Just pointing out that RL is expensive, therefore older
> people drive it. Older people usually drive more conservatively,
> therefore, they wouldn't notice transmission lag. By "broken-in"
> engine, I meant that the computer chip controlling throttle is supposed
> to adjust (I stress "SUPPOSED") to driver style. In my broken in Lexus,
> transmission lag is very bad, very noticeable, and very dangerous. I
> just wanted to make sure that Acuras don't suffer the same problem.
>


--
PRNole
--------------------------------------
For email reply, please remove the 195

"PRNole" <pro195sete@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dAGPd.11480$oO.1618@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> Not too sure just how much "older" will be those people who will drive the
> '05 RL. In fact, I suspect you will see the opposite because of the
> "intimidating" look, use, and general feel of the instrument panels, both
> on the dash panel and overhead.
>
> My guess is that "older" drivers will top out at around mid-60s (or those
> still working for a living) and one will not see "older" drivers in their
> 70's (even less those in their 80's) driving the new RL. I'm not saying
> some techno-savvy 75 y/o with higher than expected cognitive functioning
> won't buy one, but the perception among these older age brackets will be
> that the car is just "too complicated." They will continue to opt out for
> their Lincolns, Mercs, and, in some cases, Lexus.
>
> I'm not down on the car. I bought one last Dec. I like it.
>

People who have been in technical occupations all their lives won't be
intimidated at all. I'm only 52, so I am not part of the over 70 crowd, but
most of the retirees from our department would not be intimidated by any
vehicle known to man. They would do a creditable job of troubleshooting any
vehicle - including a space shuttle.

That said, in any age group the percentage of people who are comfortable
with busy interfaces is limited, and the percentage comfortable with the RL
may taper more quickly with age than with, say, a Chevy Cavalier (shudder).

Mike

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 06:58:22 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> came right out and said:

> Chevy Cavalier

Did you have to be vulgar to make your point?


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