ViperZ

We decided to trade in the 2014 Tech for a 2017 Elite. Its with mixed emotions, as I tend to like the look of the pre 2016 version more than the post. it looks more balance with out the aggressive Jewel eyes and lower body fairings. It would be different if the SUV was to be a tuner car, but it is after all first and foremost a SUV to me, As such needs to be able to be used as such for back road journeys off the beaten path. The reason for the trade? I was made an offer I could not refuse My 2014 had a few issues with the electronic power steering not working at -30C Saskatchewan temps. They replaced a relay, but that did not fix it, they then replaced the entire PWS assembly, so far so good, The RDX also had the shock strut failure at 30,000kms, as well as the variable engine management shudder at cold temps. Currently it has 60,000 km on it, and its been a great travel unit, inspire of the problems listed.

2017 Elite. I have not taken delivery yet as it is enroute to me.... Let me get this off my chest in that I absolutely hate the Elite Wheels!!! What was Acura thinking when they designed those? I would rater have the 2017 Tech wheels, and will tey to even trade for my 2014 Tech wheels with the Blizzarks in exchange for the new 2017 Elite wheels. I have a set of 18" Summer all seasons DAI's that looks good as well and does the job.

I have been considering a set of Konig Oversteers, however want them in the 19" Opals rather than the 20". I really want the car to look more OEM+ than Tuner, and I feel the 20"s start to push it there. Feel fee to comment on this if I'm not thinking straight on it. 1010 does not have them in stock yet so I will have to wait. I was thinking of paring them with the Michelin Sport Pilot 3+, and if I don't get my Blizzaks back, I will get a set for the DAI. Regardless I can see the Eltie wheels sticking around.

Here is my 2014 RDX on a camping trip last summer


My 2014 Techs with Blizzaks I would trade for the Elites

thoiboi

Elite?!?!


Awesome ride sir!!!

Skidoor

I think even the 19" Oversteers will give the same tuner-esque look as the 20's..or close to it...check out the Fastwheels website and buy Canadian! I'm waiting for my FC04's to come in. Great photo, BTW.

ViperZ

Thanks! I'm looking forward to the enhanced features, for sure, and hopefully the looks grow on me.



I think the 19" / 50 series should look spot on. OEM + Plus. Looks OEM, just sharpened a tad, with out looking tuned. The OEM 18" / 60 while fitting doesn't yield the new car bigger wheel look, where as the 20" is pushing it, so the 19"s should be just right, as Goldilocks said On the upside the dealer said they would not see why we could not just trade wheels, for they get new wheels and tires. I get wheels I like better and get to keep my Blizzaks. Win Win while I wait for the Konigs to come in stock at 1010 tires. Thanks for the link. I had a look, and there wasn't much that appealed to me for the RDX. The Fc04's are nice for sure. What size are you getting?

I was told I can pick up my Elite tomorrow. I'll post some pictures with the older 2014 Tech wheels

ViperZ

I picked up the 2017 Elite. They where not able to swap over my old Tech wheels with Blizzaks until Saturday. So I took it home as is. The wheels look a bit better in person, but I'm still not a huge fan of them. They do look newer, and the whole package looks newer. I miss my old 2014 tech, but the advancement of this 2017 Elite is already selling me. Gone is the Variable Engine Management shudder and shakes at ~50km/h speeds. The passenger seat is now height adjustable, big plus!!! I love the single remote with remote starter, no longer do I have to carry 2 fobs to remote start. The Jewel eye headlights seem to put out a nice whit cast. I have only driven in the city, so I'm looking forward to how they perform on the highway. Love the power folding mirrors. Looking forward to getting accustomed to it.

I seem to keep waffling between going to 20"s or staying the course and getting 19"s. I guess the upsdie is I still have a set of 18" summers, so I have time to decide.


2014 Tech Old Solider


2017 Elite ready to go


11km on the clock


Beside the old gaurd

ViperZ

So the craziest thing.. I decided to keep the Elite wheels Not sure why but I did, so then the dealer offers to by my spare set of summers form my 2014.. Still thinking about it, as I thought I could rock those with new winters, or if the Elites start to bug me again. we'll see.

Thanks for reading

Acura604

I did some plastidipping on the elite wheels to see if I could make them less busy. Was looking for a civic SI look and I figure the shiny parts will show more than the darker gray areas.

ViperZ

Thanks for posting your work Acura604! Great minds! I had been playing around in Photoshop the other day wondering the same thing.

OEM


Dipped like you did



If I get new wheels, I'll probably leave the Elite wheels as is. Currently the wheels at the top of my list are the Konig Oversteer and the Verde Quantums. However the Quantums really lend themselves to a 20". The more I look the more I think a 20" wheel would be not so bad, which bothers me, so I need a break

Konig Oversteers in Opal, was thinking a 19 x 8.5 with 255/50/19 Continental DWS 6



Or Verde Quantums in 19 x 8.5 withthe same tires

Acura604

here are the dipped wheels from a distance.... polished blades stand out alot more now. maybe next time i may dip the inner grey spokes to black...but that'd be quite a project.


Attachment 100814

RDX10

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER THAN STOCK! Like this is what it should have come with.

ViperZ

Looks better, yet still not there... I can't put my finger on it, however it seems like the new styling trend... Part of me wants to like the OEM, yet part of me just can't give in

SkylineEX-S

I hated the OEM elite wheels but the way you dipped the made them look much better!
I only use them for winters though so as long as they are covered in dirt/mud it's OK.

I vote Oversteers but I'm biased...

ViperZ

Thanks Sky, yeah I like the oversteers, and have been waiting for 1010tires to get the 19 x 8.5 Opel's back in stock. However the longer I wait, the more I'm not really caring about swapping out and just feel like letting it ride. I really don't want the car to draw attention or look like a tuner car, or one of those SUV's that looks like the husband modded for the wife. It's primarily her vehicle, and she like the OEM wheels.

I have these that were the summers for my 2014, I'll get a set of Blizzaks for, and see how the wheels play out.

Skidoor

19 x 8.5 in the Titanium finish (which I thought looked waaay nicer than most of the gun-metal gray finishes on other wheels...the Titanium is a bit lighter color and totally loaded with metallic flake)
Tires are 255/50/19 (Michelin Premier LTX, the quietest tires I could find based on hundreds of reviews)
At first I ordered 35 mm offset for the rear only (front standard 45 mm offset) but I decided to change the order to 45 mm all around. I just called 1010, they are supposed to be in in about 2-3 weeks.

BTW, in my personal opinion, the 18" OEM wheels (on the 2014 at least) are plenty tall enough when compared to the size of the vehicle...I was almost content to stay at 18" wheels and 60 ratio....almost.

ViperZ

Sounds nice! Looking forward to pictures! Yeah I agree, the offset is key to keep it looking more OEM than tuner. Too much offset places the wheel more flush with the fender edge, creating that jacked up look, accentuating the wheel gap. More inward and the gap is not as apparent. That's why when most people get wider wheels and tires for their stock sedans, once they are bolted on , they feel it visually needs to be lowered, because the gap is so apparent now. I go to great lengths to keep my cars looking OEM+ and not look too over customized, or tacked on mods, if at all. Its hard work, as most wheels look too custom to start. However the new trend of the wheels such as the Elite and other manufactures certainly have lots of facets and bling now.

The 18's certainly don't look out of place, however the 19's should sharpen the car visually with out looking over done, or again "Tuner" like by going larger, 20+. Some people may like the look of a larger wheel more, and I don't blame them, larger wheels and rubber band tires are sexy, however the RDX sits too high stock in my mind. For me this is an SUV, to be driven on gravel roads with light off road duty sometimes, so I have to balance looks and utility.

I will keep an eye on 1010 and your RDX, as I do like the look of a 19" wheel/tire combo, however I'm really settling down to the OEM even if the wheels are still not winning any beauty contests in my opinion. I'm rationalizing I have 2 sets of wheels for this unit already, so just use what a person has in hand. Makes it easy to keep the OEM look

What's funny is I was watching my wife pull into the driveway the other day, and damn if the 2017 Elite didn't look good! I said to her "Looking good in the 2017 Elite Dear" to which she responded, "Even with those hideous wheels! " Ha Ha, bless her sole for making me laugh

ViperZ

Took the 2017 Elite for its first real road trip to Calgary and Banff skiing. The SUV handles very nice and surprisingly very different yet familiar to the 2014 tech. The car does seem to drive smoother overall. The LKAS was a novel feature, however I turned it off as it just seemed as if two people were steering the car. The adaptive cruise control was pretty good, and I like driving with this feature. Not so much as in letting it handle the throttle duties 100%, more I take control of the throttle, and then it resumes with out having to brake or press Resume on the wheel. The seat needs a bit more break in time as it is not yet molded to my specifications The roads out were a bit dicey, yet the car handled it will with the all seasons. I'm loving the car for it's intended purpose.

Driving down 570 Alsask to Drumheller, there were many small snow drifts ont he road we had to drive through. This ended up packing the insides of the wheels with a thick ring of packed snow. It eventually threw the balance of the wheels out slightly. I had to stop and clear the snow out of the rear wheels twice to run smooth.

The one thing I've noticed is the 2017 does not have the blue windshield border tint on top like the 2014. While this greatly increases the window of view, I 'm also missing it. I'm not sure why Acura would have removed this, standard feature, in most cars since the 70's maybe something to do with the rain sensing wipers? Just grasping at straws.....

The new GPS and the lower touch screen key pad is a welcome addition to using the jog dial, although the dial can still be sued its nice to have both options. Its secondary window with intended ramp/exit target and distance count down was intuitive and easy to fit to the actual road. Nice improvement. I like how the Sat Radio has a memory buffer so you can skip the tracks back and forth. Now if that could be applied to the regular FM radio stations that would be sweet.!

Heading to Calgary


Not too dirty upon arrival


Washed up to also clear the snow form the wheels


Good snowfall in Banff overnight to ski with


Cleared up to head to Lake Louise


Gassed up ready to roll


At Lake Louise, skiing conditions were awesome!

ViperZ

I just installed the bolt in LED fog light replacements. Strangly they replacement units sit at a 2&7 o-clock position rather than 9&3 like I would have thought. Regardless, the color match is closer, though, still slightly off as the LED I got were 6000K and not the 5000K. I could not find 5000k at the time and decided to try these for $40 shipped on ebay.

I really don't use my fog driving lights an any of my cars, and this was more just to remove the halogen look. I may find myself going for the Moritmoto fog light upgrade if i decide to look for more.

The kit was $39CAD shipped






H11 Halogen


Comparision


LED in place


Excuse the dirty spring melt on the car