
To refresh everyone's memory, when Honda rolled out their new five-speed automatic transmission, there were some major issues that caused Honda to recall all cars with the new transmission. Our 2001 Acura 3.2 TL at the time was one of the cars with the new transmission. Considering that the 2011 Acura RL was the first of Honda's vehicles to roll out with the new six-speed automatic, I was naturally very skeptical. Luckily, nothing happened with the transmission. Hallelujah!
During a road trip to Pismo Beach, CA last year, we drove the RL. During the three hour drive, the car proved to be comfortable and quiet, even on pot hole filled roads and uneven pavement. On a detour to a local winery, it remained composed, despite a number of muddy unpaved roads. On the drive back during heavy rain, the car never felt nervous or uneasy, thanks to the SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system smartly managing the available traction.
Throughout our three years with the RL, there are only three major complaints I can think of. The first one is the technology. For a car from 2011, the navigation system and rear view camera are incredibly dated. I later learned that throughout its life cycle, the second generation RL had used the exact same DVD navigation system for the entirety of the seven years the car was in production. It bothered me more because the same year we picked up the RL, we also acquired a 2011 Acura MDX Tech that had the newer, brighter, and higher resolution hard disk based navigation system. The fact that Acura thought it would be OK to use technology from 2005 on its flagship sedan was a potentially fatal flaw for the car's sales.
The third complaint is a recent development. For one reason or another, the navigation system has developed a hiccup where it will ask you for the four digit factory navigation code after the car starts. Normally, this only occurs when the battery dies or if there are any power surges in the car, and usually the car will ask for the radio code as well. What makes this situation strange is that the RL is not showing any symptoms of the battery running out of power, nor is it ever asking for the radio code. A brief search into the problem reveals that owners of the first generation TSX with navigation, as well as third generation TL owners with navigation are running into the same problem. At this time, I have not yet found a solution, and neither has anyone else. It is bothersome, but seeing as the car is no longer in our hands, it is now Acura's problem to deal with before reselling the car.

So, as we say goodbye to the 2011 Acura RL Tech, we also welcome the addition of a brand new car to the East-West Brothers Garage long-term fleet: the 2014 Acura RLX Tech. Even though we have already reviewed the car, please look forward to what we have to say about the RLX Tech during its extended stay in our fleet!
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