'05 acura RL vs '05 infiniti M45

these two look to be very comparable to each other. myself i think the infiniti looks better but the AWD system on the acura is cool as hell.

300hp V6 awd for the acura vs 340hp V8 rwd infiniti

the awd scores very big points in my book along with the expected acura fit and finish and quality, but 340hp V8 in better looking skin i think puts the infiniti back in the game. tough choice if you ask me.

http://www.infiniti.com/m/cma/v/m45/imgs/m_prod_wallpaper11.jpg

http://w01.us/pv/2004/04/07/HON2004040738906_pv.jpg

save yourself the trouble and let's not get any other car involved. keep it between these 2 for now.

the thing about the m45 is that there is also an m35(kind of like the FX series) you can get a rwd 270+ hp(supposedly it will break 290) 3.5L v6 or a 4.5 345 hp v8. the v6 version also has an available AWD option. the infiniti gets my vote.

you can price one out already at:
infiniti's web page (http://www.infiniti.com/content/0,5757,cid-33903_sctid-52321,00.html)

the thing about the m45 is that there is also an m35(kind of like the FX series) you can get a rwd 270+ hp(supposedly it will break 290) 3.5L v6 or a 4.5 345 hp v8. the v6 version also has an available AWD option. the infiniti gets my vote.

you can price one out already at:
infiniti's web page (http://www.infiniti.com/content/0,5757,cid-33903_sctid-52321,00.html)


yeah? i didn't know the infiniti had the awd option, but only as an option on the V6? that's unfortunate coz i think i'd take the RL in that case coz awd comes standard and has more power. but between the RL and the M45 it's a little tougher choice.

Although I havn't driven the new SH-AWD system Honda/Acura is using on the new RL, I have a feeling that it will be incredibly good. The idea of transferring power from left to right and vice-versa on the turns is incredible. There is so much potential in that to handle like a god. Im also like the Acura interiors over the Infiniti interiors, so my votes goin with the RL.

I'd take the RL, just. One is a re-badged Cedric- a car that once would have gotten laughed out of the Western world (Mainly because the Interiors were so tacky), but improved in the late 90's.

The RL has the Stigma of the Legend- the fastest depriciating car in history- attatched to it.

However the RL looks nicer (As opposed to a G35 with a Q45-like front end tacked on)- muscular and brawny and has what is quite possibly the most advanced AWD system yet.

So, the RL please.

well since the old RL and current RL is still crap and low tech. anything would be better then the older RL. however the new RL does look quit nice. but i'm still a nissan guy so i'll stick to the M45. i saw it in person at the auto show and it looks much better in person then that RL which i also saw in person. the RL is still very bland just like the Legend ( RL to us yanks ) that its goin to replace.

It'd be unfair to write the about-to-be-replaced RL off as low tech. It was certainly bland, definitely too big and drove the wrong wheels. But with its 1998 facelift it introduced some pretty smart airbags (They could detect what was in the passengers seat) and had its fair share of techno doo-dads.

It just did everything else wrong.....

It'd be unfair to write the about-to-be-replaced RL off as low tech. It was certainly bland, definitely too big and drove the wrong wheels. But with its 1998 facelift it introduced some pretty smart airbags (They could detect what was in the passengers seat) and had its fair share of techno doo-dads.

It just did everything else wrong.....

ahah i always find it odd that the cheaper lower class TL was soo much more high tech. the TL had a 5 speed auto with sport shift, the RL didn't. the TL had a 3.2 liter 270hp engine. the RL had a 3.5 liter 240hp engine. plus its a front wheel drive. and acura keeps on saying its it's flag ship. sorry that but is one sorry ass flag ship. the newone however is goin to be much different. but its not goi nto be enough to change my mind on how the RL was for the last decade.

One is a re-badged Cedric- a car that once would have gotten laughed out of the Western world (Mainly because the Interiors were so tacky), but improved in the late 90's.
That's the current M45. This thread is comparing the next gen M45, which is not based on the Cedric.

I'll take the M45, no contest. It probably won't cost much more(if not less) than the RL, and has more power available. If I coudn't afford the M45, I'd get the M35 and save money over the RL for sure.

i think the 6 cylinder version of the M(the M35) will be comparable to the RL. eventhough the RL boasts more hp the nissan will put more tq down the Honda's always boast high HP, but that doesn't mean it will be faster. and with the M45, as far as i'm concerned, there is no contest. The vk45 is a sick motor and puts down tremendous amounts of tq and hp for its size.

While the new RL is certainly a great car in many ways, it's in the wrong part of the market. The message has become loud and clear over the last decade - to compete in the midsize luxury segment, you need a big V8 and RWD. Of course, this goes against Honda's philosophies, so they used a high-revving V6 and AWD instead. This is all good and well for the younger generation who is fascinated with such technologies, but it won't fly this far upmarket.

Then again, Cadillac's new STS comes with AWD (as will the next Lexus GS), and the Germans have been offering AWD in their luxury cars for quite a few years now, so maybe Honda is simply getting ahead of the game by offering such a highly advanced AWD system on their flagship luxury sedan.

well i'm just glad that its AWD instead of FWD. i mean who da hell sells a luxury flagship thats a FWD? and they brag about how hi tech it is esp since hte TL is waaay more advance then that aging car. so i'm glad its nto a FWD. anything but that.

Peugeot (607), Renault (Vel Satis), Alfa Romeo (166), Citroen (C5), Hyundai (XG) and Nissan-Europe (Maxima QX) all do, then again, none of those car ever did too well....

the maxima is only the flag ship of hte lower division of the nissan. you would never see a infiniti with a front wheel drive as a flag ship. in fact with the only exception of the I35. there are no front wheel drives in the infiniti line up.

i mean who da hell sells a luxury flagship thats a FWD?

Jimster, all the cars you listed are from basic ho-hum daily driver companies, not luxury/sports car companies. The only one that I agree should be on there is the Maxima, and that DOES need RWD pretty badly. Or maybe it needs AWD :)

See TatII, I didn't make you eat your words this time... :)

I think I might also add that Cadillac's flagship luxury car (The DTS) is front Wheel Drive.

Next, there is very little that can be called ho-hum about Citroen or Alfa Romeo (Citroen did go a bit ho-hum in the early 90's, though)

Secondly, every vehicle I named is aimed at the luxury sector of the market. The 607 Peugeot has more doo-dads than an E500, the Vel Satis costs about as much as a 5 series, the Maxima is the flag ship for EUROPE (Even though it's a taxi in the making), there is no Infinity here.


I should also add that the RL is badged "Honda Legend" everywhere else.

I think I might also add that Cadillac's flagship luxury car (The DTS) is front Wheel Drive.

Not anymore. The new CTS and STS are rear-wheel-drive. And I know that Citroen and Alfa Romeo have made some sporty cars, I think almost every manufacturer has. But the flagship sedan is what represents the whole company, and if the company makes mostly FWD daily drivers, that's probably what the flagship is going to be. Luxury/performance brands usually make RWD cars, so that's what their flagships are.

exactly. the Legend is the flagship HONDA sedan period. that is the BEST that Honda has the offer. while the Maxima is only in the middle of the Nissan food chain. its not even close to be the car to represent the Nissan as a Whole.

Not anymore. The new CTS and STS are rear-wheel-drive. And I know that Citroen and Alfa Romeo have made some sporty cars, I think almost every manufacturer has. But the flagship sedan is what represents the whole company, and if the company makes mostly FWD daily drivers, that's probably what the flagship is going to be. Luxury/performance brands usually make RWD cars, so that's what their flagships are.
You are missing the point, until 2006, Cadillac's flagship car will be FWD and has been FWD for over 20 years now.

Also, While Citroen specialise in quirky econoboxes, Alfa Romeo specialise in Sport-Luxury cars, they have always competed with BMW, as opposed to Ford. Come to think of it, Lancia also make Luxury cars and thier flagship (Thesis) is also FWD and has been since the Thema of the early 1980's.

Well, Cadillac has realized that FWD luxury = no-no, and are working to fix the problem. And with the introduction of the new CTS and STS, both of which you can go buy right now, the DTS is retired to an entry-level position, similar to the Lexus ES 330 and Infiniti I35.


I apologize for my lack of knowledge about Citroen and Alfa Romeo. Those brands are not offered here in the States. But just because they are still using FWD on their top models doesn't make it right (unless their top models aren't very expensive).