2003 Acura RL Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
This is a true story. I owned a 2000 RL, was very happy with it, and in 2004 traded it in with 90,000 mi for a new 2004 RL. I always had great luck with these RL's no repairs ...just oil changes , breaks, wipers, tires etc. In Jan 2008 I traded the second RL in for a new 2008 Honda Accord. The Honda dealer gave me $15,000 trade in for the 2004 black RL with 88,000 miles on it. The new Accord was the top of the line...6 cyl., leather etc etc. I drove the Accord for a year and put 22,000 miles on it. But I missed my RL! When I slammed the car door or the trunk on the Accord it wasn't solid like the RL. When the Accord hit a NY pothole or rough road, I could feel every bump, not smooth like the RL.....In early Jan.2009 I did something that made my friends and family think I was crazy....I began searching on the internet for another 2004 RL with LOW mileage. In late Jan 2009 i found one. I baught another 2004 RL silver from a Lexus dealership in southern Florida, they had taken it in as a trade-in from a senior citizen. They had it listed on the net for $15,700...internet special with only 31,000 miles. I flew down to Fla with my check book and credit card, the dealer met me at the airport,...and it was mint, not a scratch, and it even had 4 new tires. i baught it for $15,000. !!! Then I had the car shipped from Fla to NY on one of those huge car trailors for $475. The roundtrip airfare cast me about $350.....so the car cost me less than $16,000 before taxes. And remember, I got $15,000 for my first 2004 RL ...black one... in the trade in for the 2008 Accord. Now the Car.... the ride on the RL is smooth....smoother than a 500 series Benz that my friend owns. Comprable to a BMW 528 that I drove. The leather is plush and the seats are extremely comfortable. the lines on the car are classic-boxlike, not like the new style which was changed in 2005 to make it more sleek and sporty...I'm 53, I dont want fast sleek and sporty, I want classy. The owners manual recomends premium fuel but I learned with my other RL's that it runs fine on regular. Well anyway I look like a superstar because I "gave" the 08 Accord to my 19 and 16 yr old daughters to split but i know I got the best of the deal with my second 04 RL. p.s. the dealer in Southern Fla said alot of "northerners" who want to get nice used cars with low mileage go down to Fla to search....many senior citizens provide low mileage well kept cars that haven't been "raced", and havent seen the snow and harsh winters of the north. Well I hope you liked my story, good luck with your car search. If you can find a nice clean RL with low mileage for a good price....get it!
VS
Critical Review
I bought this car with 180,000 miles for $2,600. This is way below kbb, but the breaks, ball joint, and steering rack need changed. Ball joint is pressed into the lower arm, so I have to buy that too (for each side). Overall I will have a decent car when all is fixed. This RL will be around $4,000-4,500 car with new breaks, new steering and joints. I've looked at the civics, acura tl, and accords and all of these cars are much lower class and (with higher mileage) much more expensive then this RL. I just love this car. It is a very smooth ride ... feels like a cruise ship .... a very fast one! The mpg isn't great, but again the power and the sound of the motor are just AMAZING! I would say, if you can find a decent one, get it! However, these cars are really rare to find. I've being to two junk yards ... there are plenty of honda legends, lexuses ls 400, but none of these RLs. Nevertheless, I think many acura legend's parts fit on the RL because it's pretty much the same car with a different look. For example, I was able to get a trunk/in-door button and a power seat missing button from the legend. The car has plenty of gadgets and I love it. Still think whether I should sell it or keep it. More inclined on keeping it since everyone says, "it can go forever." I'll do a tranny check next week and if it's strong, I'll keep the car and change all the required parts for sure! Hey, heated seats, sun roof, power everything, leather, .. what else can you dream of?
2003 RL Reviews
Showing 8 of 219 reviews.
I enjoy driving this 4-dr sedan across the country and around town. It's roomy in front and back. My mother purchased it new, then I bought it from her when she bought a new Acura TSX in 2012. The leather remains soft, comfortable, and without cracking (it's garaged when not driving). The sound system still operates like new; it has a cassette player I no longer use, but I love the six-CD changer in the trunk. It's required no major engine work for 21 years. A failed driver's side belt buckle was replaced at no charge under Acura's SRS warranty. I perform Royal Purple oil and filter changes myself regularly and replace the air filters occasionally. This older sedan lacks the electronic bells and whistles, but I don't miss them much. I prefer my Garmin GPS to the nav. systems in newer cars. The worst attribute of this car is low gas mileage. The excellent high-performance 6-cyl engine requires premium (91 oct) gasoline. I drive it now only about 2000 miles annually. I plan to drive it into the ground, but it may outlive me.
still looks good for its age very low mileage
needs some work, door handle, passenger window
low mileage, 131000 . passenger side window doesn't work up and down. driver side door handle is broken. ac is good moon roof is good cd player in trunk is not connected but is there. gold color needs some TLC. 2 brand new front tires 2 weeks old. drives like a dream.
This car gets lots of compliments wherever I go and it was built for comfort and longevity. Best car out of the 30+ I have had.
Great car to drive, super heater/air conditioner
Just had new brakes and new shock absorbers installed. One rust spot removed and touched-up. Black finish ---- low mileage for age!!!!!
The accura 3.5 RL functions excellently
The accura needs to have the hood refinished and d
The accura 3.5 RL functions excellently, the rotors and braking system has been replaced with new parts. The air conditioning system has been serviced including new compressor and filters. The altinator and drive belts also
It was always fun to drive
No the engine was quite
This car was my dream when it was purchased in 2005. I kept maintenance up on the car while driving it. It has over 200000 thousand miles on the engine, need tires, brakes battery. It has not run for 4 years. I just want to sell, don’t plan to fix up myself.
Smooth ride and quiet with lots of pick up.
This car was bought used 10 years ago and has been the best car for performance and luxury of any new cars I have owned outside of Acura. Same engine and has over 240000 miles. The car needs paint after 20 plus years but drives like a dream. I am always asked if I would sell it due to their reputation. I will have it painted soon. No need to replace her, I'm so impressed with Acura.
Well built 2004 model and everything still works
Parts can be expensive to replace
Purchased car used in 2014 with 94000 miles on it in Pa. Now 6 years later the mileage is 147000. It is a well built cruisier that loves to run on the highways of New Jersey. I have been driving Honda products for 40 years and this is my third Acura and the Best of the lot
