Tell me more about the Acura RL

I'm in the process of looking for a new appliance car and the Acura RL popped up on the radar meeting all my requirements. Problem is I know exactly 0 about the car. I'm assuming it's the Acura version of the Avalon? Is it the J35 motor? How is the Awd in it? Same style as the rest of the acuras?

I'm basically looking for a comfy highway cruiser with AWD and gets decent fuel economy that isn't German or a Subaru. I'll have a 45 mile commute a couple days a week and that'll take me from Co. Springs to Denver. I've got my g37 that works for the most part but its rwd. Should he fine but I'd rather have awd just so I don't have to think of it. 

I'm assuming it's the Acura version of the Avalon? Is it the J35 motor?

Kind of except the SH-AWD actually impacts its cornering ability. I want to like the 05-08 but I have a hard time knowing how much better they got in 09. An 09-12 i would definitely take over an Avalon. Whether i would take it over a GS350awd though, is uncertain. 

I really want to like these cars, but have not heard good things about that auto trans with that engine in that car. I had a friend of a friend who was a Honda tech that said they changed the trans fluid as often as the oil to keep them alive. Not a great sign in my book. 

The first gen RLs are the ones with the really tragic torque converters.  The second gen is basically just a big fancy accord.  Most of the ones I see have 200k+ on them, and apparently they are fairly reliable, it’s a Honda.  They seem to have been bought by people who had an Accord before and wanted something better but loved their Accord.  

I’d rather have the awd gs. Honda’s and tranny’s of that era...

I'd be looking at the later ones 06-12 so I think the trans is better by then. I like the Awd GS but I just can never get comfortable in one. My boss drives one and just wasn't a good fit for some reason. 

Thanks for the info. I'll have to put it on my to test drive list and check the tranny fluid of any I test drive.. 

If you like your G37 (I have one too and love it), why not just get a G37x?

Klayfish, 

.the biggest reason is the lack of fold down rear seats. My ski bag doesn't fit in the little opening in sedan. I'd have to find a coupe which isn't out of the realm of possibility here since I don't need a sedan.