NALM 2013 Announcement & Acura RLX Reviews
Odometer (Legend): 519,715
Odometer (ILX): 27,319
I’ve always loved being on the go. Check out the scowl on my face while I rolled around on this Big Wheel in the early 1980’s in northern Utah. Road rage?
Later I graduated to a “big kid’s” bike. However, those mismatched tires weren’t very stylish.
I guess I’ve come a long way! Here’s the ILX on a chilly (for Phoenix!) morning. Only twice have I had to activate the defrosters on the mirrors and the rear window. This was one of those days.
But once the Arizona sunshine comes out, it’s a gorgeous time of year for us. I took the Legend to work just one day this week. Here’s a picture at a church building on Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale, Arizona:
Saguaro Cactus off Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard:
And northbound on Highway 87 for a quick afternoon run up the mountain:
Sunset time:
Fueling up in Payson, Arizona. This sign surprised me — not the speed limit, but the fact that they use radar in a 25 mph zone! Can you picture a cop alongside the road with his radar gun nabbing people for going 35 in a 25? I guess it could happen!
Now in its 9th year, the National Acura Legend Meet (NALM) brings together Acura owners and enthusiasts from around the country for an annual gathering. Last July, NALM was hosted by a team of individuals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I drove my (then month-old) 2013 Acura ILX the nearly 4,000 miles round-trip to attend. It was the first year that my 1994 Legend wasn’t present at a NALM since the event’s first year in 2005 in Dallas, Texas.
Today, it was announced that the 2013 event will be held in Asheville, North Carolina from August 22-26, 2013. If I’m able to pull this off, it’ll be a 3,990-mile round-trip long-haul. And I think I’ll bring the Legend back since it was absent last year. Is the old car (and am I!) up to a 4,000 mile trip? We shall see.
The Legend went in for its 160th oil change at Acura of Tempe this week at 519,701 miles. The technician was extremely thorough in his inspection and made a list of quite a few maintenance recommendations:
- Front differential seal
- Driver’s side steering rack boot
- Passenger side inner CV boot
- Passenger side lower ball joint bushing
He indicated that these leaks (at this point, anyway) are minor and do not affect driveability. I’ll hold tight on having any repairs done at this point. The car still runs & drives just as smooth as can be.
While I waited for my car’s service, I enjoyed the amenities of the Customer Lounge.
I peeked into the service bay (looking to see if my car was on the lift, of course) and I spotted the all-new 2014 Acura RLX in there. Two of them, actually.
That sure is a light colored interior! This is the inside of a black RLX. The instrument panel has two touch-screens.
The RLX will be priced between $48,500 and $60,000 depending on how it’s equipped: Base, Navigation, Technology, and Advance.
This car boasts 6 world technology firsts and 13 Acura technology firsts in a press release that was distributed today. In addition to the innovative P-AWS (Precision All Wheel Steering), it’ll also offer the following which I thought were pretty cool:
- LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System): Detects lane markings on the road and actively assists the driver in keeping the car in a detected lane.
- Automatic Brake Hold: Maintains the vehicle’s position without the driver having to maintain pressure on the brake pedal. This one I’d have to experience to see if I like it or not! I’d be afraid not to “hover” my foot over the brake pedal just in case the car started rolling again.
Autoblog posted a review of the RLX and said that it handled ‘light on its feet’ for being a nearly 4,000 pound car. A video posted to YouTube today by the Temple of VTEC shows some of the all-wheel-steering action. That 3.5-liter, 310-horsepower powerplant sounds great under wide-open throttle.
This car technically has sixteen (16!) headlights. These are a patented design called “Jewel Eyes” – a first for Acura AND for the industry.
Simon, the technician who installed the accessories on my ILX last June, was working on putting some bodyside moldings on the white RLX. He said that the car handles amazingly. Can’t wait to try one out!
I’m off to southern California in the Acura ILX tomorrow morning with two friends so stay tuned for a write-up in the near future! Check out the picture that new owner “tech332” (Danny) from Texas put together for his Silver Moon ILX. The top image is of his car, and the bottom is a photoshop rendering of the look he’s going for. Pretty cool! Thanks, Danny, for sharing.
drivetofive 
February 15, 2013 at 10:44 pm
I can’t wait to drive the RLX I wonder if 4WS is enough to make it a “drivers” car, I think the market needs a choice other than BMW in this segment for those who really enjoy driving. I think Mercedes has brake hold as well, the idea is you come to a stop press the pedal to the floor and the car maintain pressure until you touch the accelerator. I guess it sounds good particularly when waiting for a train to pass but I usually select neutral and put the park brake on. I guess this way the brake lights would stay on showing others you are stopped. *end tangent*. Anyways I really should show up at NALM for once. Already seeing if I can get my friends to run with me.
February 17, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Yeah it’d be cool if you can make it to NALM. It’s going to be a stretch for me (and for the car) but I’ve got some time to plan and see if I can make it work. Re: the RLX, most of the reviews I’ve heard have great things to say. One recurring ‘issue’ I’ve heard a few times is regarding the fact that it’s front wheel drive and that many prefer RWD handling.
February 17, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Well I mean of course it is still FWD and since it is the only car in the ultra luxury segment that is, they should judge it independently. Acura should have launched the hybrid first that way they could do an apples to apples of the 2011 RL and the new RLX. (both awd) but to be honest having the only FWD in the segment makes comparison a bit difficult. But if you have snow where you live this could end up being first on peoples list.
February 16, 2013 at 6:28 am
I have been to Asheville!! You have to experience it too.
February 17, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Clogging competition, right? You’re surely welcome to join!
February 16, 2013 at 9:43 am
Hello Tyson. You do realize that Asheville is next to one of the top scenic roads in the country don’t you? The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right by Asheville.
February 17, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Carlos, yep, I’m excited to check out the Blue Ridge Parkway. That’s one of the scheduled activities already. They’ll also be doing a ‘road rally’ event through Mount Pisgah / Sliding Rock area. I’ve been to just the far western edge of NC before (as in, a picture at the NC state line and that’s as far as I went) so this would be a new area for me to experience.
February 20, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Tyson,
I am thinking of making another trip to the Blu Ridge Parkway this year. I was there last year. The Parkway was so beautiful, I have to go back. Do you think you can stretch out your trip a little more and drive to its northern end? Ashville is located at the Southern end of the Blu Ridge Parkway. I am thinking of going to the northern end and then driving south all the way to the end. An Acura convoy along the Parkway would look mighty nice 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Carlos, that’s very tempting. What’s the total distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway? I haven’t yet done any research on the area. We should definitely try and get together. Will the timing of your trip coincide with the NALM dates? If so, you should definitely stop by! Any Acura is welcome!
February 21, 2013 at 6:27 pm
Total mileage for the Blue Ridge Parkway is about 469 miles. I was planning a trip in July but I may be able to delay it till August. Have you decided for sure you are going or is it just a possibility?
February 21, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Okay, good to know on the total distance. Would be great to meet up if you’re able to make your trip in August. My attendance is “pending” at this point – I have to get some time-off approvals at work since I’m taking so much vacation this summer. But I should get that all taken care of in the next few weeks and I’ll let you know. A friend who lives in that area said I absolutely have to check out the Biltmore (“America’s Largest Home”) while I’m in that area:
http://www.biltmore.com/
February 23, 2013 at 8:52 am
The Biltmore Estate is unbelievable. I visited that place last year (in the Acura TSX of course). It is beautiful. From the entrance gate to the Inn at the Biltmore estate (which is the hotel) the drive was like 4 miles!! The place is GIGANTIC. I did not stay at this INN because it is crazy expensive but man, it was nice. Tyson, if you are planning to stay overnight at this Inn….start racking up the overtime at work asap!