Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2014 Acura RLX; Day 1

[bombastic]

The LED headlights look killer IMO.  And they do provide a benefit.  Longer lasting, higher visibility and less energy usage (which means better FE) as well as requiring smaller wire for weight savings.

If you take LED from Audi or MB they have a shape and look cool. The one from RL are just there covering the whole headlight. Yes, they do have benefits. No doubt. I was referring to their look. 

[Vanstar]

I have also experienced LED lights and they seem pretty much the same and the HID's in my car. I am pretty sure the LED's last a lot longer but I wouldn't expect the life of the car. Still, they have to be cheaper than HID's in the long run as the bulbs for the lights in my car are like $150 each, which I am told is pretty cheap for HID's.

I wouldn't own a car now that didn't have the special lights. Big safety advantage.

[Noto]

Wonder what the replacement cost is for one of them?  I had to replace the hid assembly in my old lincoln ls due to a crack and the msrp was almost $1K! 

When we got the RX400h (one of the first to use the pivoting lenses), we were told that if we wanted to write off the car, hit a wall at 5mph - it'd crack the headlamps, which were $9k each to replace.  That was from the dealer, which is not a reputable source, and I'm sure the costs have come down significantly (especially with them becoming available from scrapped cars) - but yes, better technology costs more to replace.

A quick look on ebay is showing them at about $350 each - and bulbs are 2 for $29.95...so I don't see HIDs as all that expensive (assuming you don't encounter ridiculous dealership mark-ups).

In any event, I'm all for better tech - LEDs have amazing capabilities, and if they're being under-engineered (using more energy than xenon bulbs, not lasting more than 10 years, etc), then it's something to do with the manufacturers cheaping out...not the tech breaking bad.

My diving torches are both LEDs.  I use the Princeton Tec Torrent LED.  It started as a Xenon, then LED, and now improved LED.  All use the same batteries (8AA) and the same construction.
1) Xenon - 115 lumens; 8 hrs of burn (http://www.karstsports.com/prtectoxe.html#.Ulf64dLrw2Q)
2) LED (1st) - 126 lumens; 30 hrs of burn (http://www.leisurepro.com/1/2/12553-princeton-tec-126-lumens-torrent-led-dive-light-black.html)
3) LED (2nd) - 280 lumens; 30 hrs of burn (http://www.leisurepro.com/p-ptctl/princeton-tec-280-lumens-torrent-led-dive-light)

So between the 2nd and 3rd, same flashlight, same everything, but they got more than double the light output with no increase in battery consumption.  If any of the car LEDs mentioned here aren't performing well, it's because they're not designed to - not that they're not capable of it.

[KD]

Wonder what the replacement cost is for one of them?  I had to replace the hid assembly in my old lincoln ls due to a crack and the msrp was almost $1K! 

When we got the RX400h (one of the first to use the pivoting lenses), we were told that if we wanted to write off the car, hit a wall at 5mph - it'd crack the headlamps, which were $9k each to replace.  That was from the dealer, which is not a reputable source, and I'm sure the costs have come down significantly (especially with them becoming available from scrapped cars) - but yes, better technology costs more to replace.

A quick look on ebay is showing them at about $350 each - and bulbs are 2 for $29.95...so I don't see HIDs as all that expensive (assuming you don't encounter ridiculous dealership mark-ups).

In any event, I'm all for better tech - LEDs have amazing capabilities, and if they're being under-engineered (using more energy than xenon bulbs, not lasting more than 10 years, etc), then it's something to do with the manufacturers cheaping out...not the tech breaking bad.

My diving torches are both LEDs.  I use the Princeton Tec Torrent LED.  It started as a Xenon, then LED, and now improved LED.  All use the same batteries (8AA) and the same construction.
1) Xenon - 115 lumens; 8 hrs of burn (http://www.karstsports.com/prtectoxe.html#.Ulf64dLrw2Q)
2) LED (1st) - 126 lumens; 30 hrs of burn (http://www.leisurepro.com/1/2/12553-princeton-tec-126-lumens-torrent-led-dive-light-black.html)
3) LED (2nd) - 280 lumens; 30 hrs of burn (http://www.leisurepro.com/p-ptctl/princeton-tec-280-lumens-torrent-led-dive-light)

So between the 2nd and 3rd, same flashlight, same everything, but they got more than double the light output with no increase in battery consumption.  If any of the car LEDs mentioned here aren't performing well, it's because they're not designed to - not that they're not capable of it.

I certainly don't have any arguments with your comments and my question was more of an observation based on past experience.  I'm all for better tech as well, but it definitely has some inflated cost associated with it in the first few years until it becomes mainstream.  This is still a relatively new technology in the automotive field.  It has become more mainstream in the last couple of years for residential lighting options and the prices have gone from ridiculously expensive to reasonable in just a couple of years, so I am sure the pattern will follow in the auto world. 

[hemusbull]

LEDs are semiconductors and as such they have production cost ten up to thousand times less then incandescent or halogen bulbs when high output manufactured. But in real capitalism the retail price is more driven by demand. How to explain a regular LED replacement for residential 60W LED bulb that has a price of 25$ in Home Depot? The same incandescent bulb is just a dollar or two...I know I do compare a cheap product with short life span and long lasting but expensive one. Well, you pay more to be fancy, nothing else here!

[Noto]

The same incandescent bulb is just a dollar or two...

I can get a 4-pack at Dollarama for a buck.

I agree - supply and demand is greedy and rude.  Then again, if I were on the receiving end of the payout, I'd do it too.

[KD]

The same incandescent bulb is just a dollar or two...

I can get a 4-pack at Dollarama for a buck.
I agree - supply and demand is greedy and rude.  Then again, if I were on the receiving end of the payout, I'd do it too.

A little off-topic here, but when i built my home theatre i put in 26 pot lights and the owner of the store where i bought all my lighting threw in a case of 30 halogen bulbs.  The problem is that they were some no-name chinese made crap and i ended up replacing 7 bulbs within the first two weeks!  I then took all the bulbs back and traded them in for a brand name product which have been ok, but they are still not really reliable as they avearge only about a year a piece.  I was gradually replacing them with the LED replacement bulbs which can be purchased at costco for around $15 a piece and are supposed to be good for ten years, or so and are dimmable.  The problem with the LED lights is that i dont like the cool white color they put out, but mostly it is because I can hear the "ringing" from the built-in transformer when they are dimmed and that is a definitely not a desirable trait in a listening room.  So i removed all the LEDs i put in my HT as a result and have only been replacing the ones in the drop ceiling which I never use when watching movies, or listening to music.  I also have 10 pot lights upstairs that i have been replacing wth LEDs as these issues are not a concern there.  Anyway, sorry for rambling on, but something to consider for those thinking of doing the same.

[sacrat]

Ugh...Help...65 grand for a Honda....Erk...Jack

or a toyota, or a datsun, or a hyundai.....

Case in point Hyundai Equus. $64,799 before delivery/destination.

Sept 2012- 10 sold in Canada

Sept 2013- 8 sold in Canada

That's an astounding 20% drop in one year !

[mmret]

That's an astounding 20% drop in one year !

Not sure if serious

Or statistically significant troll

[TerryB]

Okay, so which would you rather buy, this Acura RLX or a Hyundai Genesis?

[Bubba]

Okay, so which would you rather buy, this Acura RLX or a Hyundai Genesis?

No contest.  Hyundai Genesis.  Because RWD.

[KD]

Okay, so which would you rather buy, this Acura RLX or a Hyundai Genesis?

No contest.  Hyundai Genesis Acura RLX. 

Fixed it for ya!..

[dragonfly]

 I'm amazed that you consider the styling of this car a 4.5..I think it's blandville..maybe a 3....Big bucks for this car..

[wing]

I think it looks great.  A design that will last for years.  Unlike the over the top designs acura has tried lately, and much better than the old RL

[Ace]

The Legend was a good handle, but I really like the new Acura "Relax".

[Noto]

The problem with the LED lights is that i dont like the cool white color they put out, but mostly it is because I can hear the "ringing" from the built-in transformer when they are dimmed and that is a definitely not a desirable trait in a listening room. 

Being diodes, they can produce any colour we want...it's a shame they are defaulted to this ridiculous white that is beyond unnatural based on our traditional expectation of lighting.

The ringing would have to do with the dimmer, and I have that in my halogens too (well, I did...it's the dimmer itself, not the LEDs).

[mixmanmash]

The document you pointed to says:
The LEDs are maintenance-free and designed to last the life of the car.

They may not last, but they are designed to lol

LEDs have been used in industrial settings for years now.  They aren't sensitive to harsh environments that have a wide temperature range, vibrations, etc.  I think they would be more durable than HIDs or halogens.  As a matter of fact, the ones I have seen in the industrial setting are rated for 100,000 hours of operation.  That equates to over 11 years of operation.  I don't think the lights are going to be kept on for 11 years straight, hence lifetime.

[KD]

The problem with the LED lights is that i dont like the cool white color they put out, but mostly it is because I can hear the "ringing" from the built-in transformer when they are dimmed and that is a definitely not a desirable trait in a listening room. 

Being diodes, they can produce any colour we want...it's a shame they are defaulted to this ridiculous white that is beyond unnatural based on our traditional expectation of lighting.

The ringing would have to do with the dimmer, and I have that in my halogens too (well, I did...it's the dimmer itself, not the LEDs).

It's not the dimmer.  There are halogens on the same circuit and I can easily localize it to the bulb itself.  I have never had a ringing issue with halogens, even with the cheap halogens! I agree about the default color statement.  I've been told the warm white bulbs are available, but not the affordable ones. 

[Ice]

The same incandescent bulb is just a dollar or two...

I can get a 4-pack at Dollarama for a buck.
I agree - supply and demand is greedy and rude.  Then again, if I were on the receiving end of the payout, I'd do it too.

A little off-topic here, but when i built my home theatre i put in 26 pot lights and the owner of the store where i bought all my lighting threw in a case of 30 halogen bulbs.  The problem is that they were some no-name chinese made crap and i ended up replacing 7 bulbs within the first two weeks!  I then took all the bulbs back and traded them in for a brand name product which have been ok, but they are still not really reliable as they avearge only about a year a piece.  I was gradually replacing them with the LED replacement bulbs which can be purchased at costco for around $15 a piece and are supposed to be good for ten years, or so and are dimmable.  The problem with the LED lights is that i dont like the cool white color they put out, but mostly it is because I can hear the "ringing" from the built-in transformer when they are dimmed and that is a definitely not a desirable trait in a listening room.  So i removed all the LEDs i put in my HT as a result and have only been replacing the ones in the drop ceiling which I never use when watching movies, or listening to music.  I also have 10 pot lights upstairs that i have been replacing wth LEDs as these issues are not a concern there.  Anyway, sorry for rambling on, but something to consider for those thinking of doing the same.

Look closely for the colour temperature... the Philips ones should list it on the packaging. If you want a incadescent like look then you need to buy the latest ones they are putting out which are 3000k or a slightly whiter 3200k colour temperature. The white LED's that most people associate with are more like sunlight in the 4-5000k range.

[KD]

The same incandescent bulb is just a dollar or two...

I can get a 4-pack at Dollarama for a buck.
I agree - supply and demand is greedy and rude.  Then again, if I were on the receiving end of the payout, I'd do it too.

A little off-topic here, but when i built my home theatre i put in 26 pot lights and the owner of the store where i bought all my lighting threw in a case of 30 halogen bulbs.  The problem is that they were some no-name chinese made crap and i ended up replacing 7 bulbs within the first two weeks!  I then took all the bulbs back and traded them in for a brand name product which have been ok, but they are still not really reliable as they avearge only about a year a piece.  I was gradually replacing them with the LED replacement bulbs which can be purchased at costco for around $15 a piece and are supposed to be good for ten years, or so and are dimmable.  The problem with the LED lights is that i dont like the cool white color they put out, but mostly it is because I can hear the "ringing" from the built-in transformer when they are dimmed and that is a definitely not a desirable trait in a listening room.  So i removed all the LEDs i put in my HT as a result and have only been replacing the ones in the drop ceiling which I never use when watching movies, or listening to music.  I also have 10 pot lights upstairs that i have been replacing wth LEDs as these issues are not a concern there.  Anyway, sorry for rambling on, but something to consider for those thinking of doing the same.

Look closely for the colour temperature... the Philips ones should list it on the packaging. If you want a incadescent like look then you need to buy the latest ones they are putting out which are 3000k or a slightly whiter 3200k colour temperature. The white LED's that most people associate with are more like sunlight in the 4-5000k range.

The problem with those are the price.  Last i checked HD was selling them for around $24 + tax, so too much IMO.  Costco only carry the white type at present.