Used 2005 Acura RL Consumer Reviews
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170 K miles and still running great
ejet, 08/18/2010
2005 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
I have put 170K+ miles on my 05 RL so I can confidently say I know this car. Still looks new and draws attention. Front tie rods replaced twice, once under warranty. Two sets of brakes and on third set of tires. Front head light adjusting warning light has been on for the last 100K, can't be turned off and I am not paying to replace the head lights. A few minor electrical problems but that has been it. I runs like new. I have driven 12 hours staight, great seats, quite, comfortable and reliable. Not good in snow even with AWD. Buy four Blizzak snows if you drive in the white stuff. Dealership service has been A+. The BEST GPS system made on earth. Waiting for the 2011. Best car ever.
A hidden gem.
D del, 11/05/2015
2005 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful
I traded an 05 Lexus GS300 for this car. I found the GS extremely comfortable, quiet, and with solid build quality. But I wouldn't go back to that because it was just a bore to drive. Now to the RL. I could care less that this looks or is often mistaken for a Honda Accord. I'll readily admit Acura doesn't have the prestige factor of a Lexus or Audi, both of which I've owned. It's not why I buy cars. The RL is really a hidden gem, a sleeper of sorts. It might not look special, it might not be the fastest, most luxurious nor the best driving car. It ccomplishes what I both need and desire in a car - AWD (sh-awd is no gimic, this system should be the AWD standard. I've owned a few Audi's and while Quattro is great in its own right especially in snow, Honda has something great in SH-AWD), reliability, sportier driving dynamics, luxury features, decent style in/out (nothing flashy, not overstyled, something that will age well, which conservative styling typically achieves) And honestly, I think it's a great looking car. There are a couple things I'd change which I know Acura has in newer models. The 5 speed tranny is slow to shift in manual mode. It also seems more geared toward fuel economy over sport, which I'd get but the fuel economy isn't the greatest. There are bigger cars with V8's that get better mileage. I don't like that I have to switch to a different menu to control the climate. The voice commands are helpful but not always practical (like if a passenger is trying to sleep)
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Great car but needs more quality control
Fritz, 02/15/2010
2005 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
The SH-AWD is very fun to use around turns, but I doubt most people will ever push this car hard enough to experience it. When you go into turns you really just have to push it and let the computers take over which is a bit unnerving at first, but you can really feel it pivot as the car overdrives the outside wheels. The dash is controls are very easy to use and pretty intuitive and I love that everything can be done through the Navigation screen which is large, easy to read and sits high in the dashboard. My biggest complaint with this car are the rattles and creaks. That is a deal breaker for me, but fortunately it doesn't bother my wife who drives it.
The Best car overall
Kim, 08/05/2010
2005 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
I searched for a luxury used car after my BMW 525 totaled by an accident. Acura rl was the answer. Its interior is beautiful and comfortable. I wasn't impressed by exterior first but it keeps growing on me. Navigation system is the best so far. My wife and baby daughter love back seat sunshades. It doesn't drive like a BMW but its awd really works. The cabin is Lexus- quiet and stereo sound is the best I ever heard. RL's unpopularity, price is more reasonable which was good for me. Unfortunately, fuel economy is pretty bad in city. For luxury used car for a price, rl just can't be beat. Last, I am happy with acura's reliability which I had suffered from BMW.
Overall great car - a lot of technology for 2005.
ron williams, 05/30/2018
2005 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Been a great car, great in snow.. On the downside - too many recalls, nearest dealer 80 mioles away, has been an issue.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
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