Other brand/models to consider other then Rdx?
#41
Intermediate
Link: CVT and Seats Shine On Long-Haul Road Trip - 2015 Nissan Murano Long-Term Road Test
From the blog post:
The Murano's 3.5-liter V6, however, has torque at low revs with no waiting. It turns out that ample low-end torque is a key enabler allowing CVTs to shine. In the Murano, there's always plenty of thrust on tap, no matter where the tach needle points, so the CVT doesn't need to zing the revs to redline just to move off the line. Nice.
Plus - and this is the clincher - the CVT is always smooth. When left to its own devices, there's zero shift-shock. None. There's just an endless, seamless hydraulic shove as you accelerate from zero to whatever mph. No traditional transmission can touch the CVT in this respect. Freeway passing is a breeze.
Plus - and this is the clincher - the CVT is always smooth. When left to its own devices, there's zero shift-shock. None. There's just an endless, seamless hydraulic shove as you accelerate from zero to whatever mph. No traditional transmission can touch the CVT in this respect. Freeway passing is a breeze.
On a side note, the seats seem to be well regarded, too.
#42
My comment wasn't based on "stereotypes" at all. We put 116k miles on our Murano, so I know the CVT well. Yes, I've driven the new Murano and the CVT has been improved, but it still does not feel as refined as a good automatic. Save the questionable styling, I like the Murano a lot, especially the interior. But the powertrain isn't as sophisticated as the Germans, and that is the car's greatest weakness.
#43
My comment wasn't based on "stereotypes" at all. We put 116k miles on our Murano, so I know the CVT well. Yes, I've driven the new Murano and the CVT has been improved, but it still does not feel as refined as a good automatic. Save the questionable styling, I like the Murano a lot, especially the interior. But the powertrain isn't as sophisticated as the Germans, and that is the car's greatest weakness.
Having no shift shock is actually a somewhat nice thing as well, feels very wrong and odd, but still nice. I will however state that after I sold my Touareg, and am now stuck with the murano as being the only form of transportation (till my RDX comes hopefully soon) in the house, I actually really really miss having gears and no matter how good they make a cvt, it will never be like a true geared transmission.
#44
The Q5/Touareg/Cayenne siblings are excellent cars. Audi reliability is quite good - but - as with all Germans - maintenance costs are high and the dealership experience is far below Lexus/Acura.
When I was done with BMW, I went with Acura for the rock solid reliability and far more pleasant dealership experience.
I frequently get my mom's Lexus serviced, had experience with Mercedes, BMW and Audi as well as GMC and Jaguar (all within the last 10 years). Here are my rankings:
Lexus ($40k RX)- $60 oil change, free barista made coffee or sodas and bagels, Lexus loaner if over 2 hours wait. Spotless waiting room.
Acura ($40k TSX) - $53 oil change, Keurig coffee or sodas and pre-packaged pastries, Acura loaner if over 2 hours. Clean waiting room
Mercedes ($60k E) - $200 oil change, Keurig coffee, no snacks, Enterprise loaner. Spotless waiting room
Jaguar ($60k XJ) - $300 service, coffee pot, Jag loaner always since every service takes forever. Empty waiting room
Audi ($60 S6) - $150 oil change, vending machine, Enterprise loaner. This dealer is directly next to the Lexus dealership, shares a driveway and is owned by the same company. Audi's waiting room is so-so
BMW ($55k 335) - included service (normally $100 oil change), $6 coffee handed to you by somebody pulling a spigot on a coffeepot, $5 croissant, Enterprise Kia loaner (really!), sometimes Impala, Sentra, Altima, Cavalier, Mazda6 and the infamous Mini. I once got an X5, twice a 328 (Enterprise) and a 5 series that wouldn't start (hence the KIA). There is no waiting room, just a few chairs in the showroom.
GMC ($45k Yukon) - $45 oil change, there is a Dunkin Donuts next door and we'll give you a ride to the Metro if you want to wait a half hour. Grimy waiting room.
Honorable mention goes to Honda ($25k Civic) - $43 oil change, Keurig and fresh pastries, chips and hot dogs at lunch, Honda loaners. They are happy to service Acuras (no warranty work) but will give you a loaner.
When I was done with BMW, I went with Acura for the rock solid reliability and far more pleasant dealership experience.
I frequently get my mom's Lexus serviced, had experience with Mercedes, BMW and Audi as well as GMC and Jaguar (all within the last 10 years). Here are my rankings:
Lexus ($40k RX)- $60 oil change, free barista made coffee or sodas and bagels, Lexus loaner if over 2 hours wait. Spotless waiting room.
Acura ($40k TSX) - $53 oil change, Keurig coffee or sodas and pre-packaged pastries, Acura loaner if over 2 hours. Clean waiting room
Mercedes ($60k E) - $200 oil change, Keurig coffee, no snacks, Enterprise loaner. Spotless waiting room
Jaguar ($60k XJ) - $300 service, coffee pot, Jag loaner always since every service takes forever. Empty waiting room
Audi ($60 S6) - $150 oil change, vending machine, Enterprise loaner. This dealer is directly next to the Lexus dealership, shares a driveway and is owned by the same company. Audi's waiting room is so-so
BMW ($55k 335) - included service (normally $100 oil change), $6 coffee handed to you by somebody pulling a spigot on a coffeepot, $5 croissant, Enterprise Kia loaner (really!), sometimes Impala, Sentra, Altima, Cavalier, Mazda6 and the infamous Mini. I once got an X5, twice a 328 (Enterprise) and a 5 series that wouldn't start (hence the KIA). There is no waiting room, just a few chairs in the showroom.
GMC ($45k Yukon) - $45 oil change, there is a Dunkin Donuts next door and we'll give you a ride to the Metro if you want to wait a half hour. Grimy waiting room.
Honorable mention goes to Honda ($25k Civic) - $43 oil change, Keurig and fresh pastries, chips and hot dogs at lunch, Honda loaners. They are happy to service Acuras (no warranty work) but will give you a loaner.
Just an FYI, the q5 is based on the a4 platform, the cayenne/Touareg/q7 share a platform.
Lastly, does Acura always give out loaners? Even if someone were to bring in a 2007 acura for service that wasn't bought from there?
#45
In my experience, the wrenches working on your vehicle will 'enjoy' a slightly older challenge. Beats the 'same old, same old' scheduled service on dozens of the same vehicle...something different for a customer who can appreciate the value of keeping a vehicle.
#46
That's going to depend on the dealer. Doesn't hurt to have a relationship with folks in the service dept. Last night, I was at the gun range with the service manager and 'my' service advisor from the local dealer. Pretty sure that won't hurt my chances of getting a loaner in an 'iffy' situation.
In my experience, the wrenches working on your vehicle will 'enjoy' a slightly older challenge. Beats the 'same old, same old' scheduled service on dozens of the same vehicle...something different for a customer who can appreciate the value of keeping a vehicle.
In my experience, the wrenches working on your vehicle will 'enjoy' a slightly older challenge. Beats the 'same old, same old' scheduled service on dozens of the same vehicle...something different for a customer who can appreciate the value of keeping a vehicle.
Oh good idea haha, also helps for times when "good will" is needed for just out of warranty repairs or even repairs that are generally not covered by warranty.
#47
Three Wheelin'
#48
The XTS front looks sharp, but the rear is the same as before.
#49
From this shot the XT5 looks kinda chunky, almost minivan like. Maybe it'll look better in person. They should've made the headlights more prominent.... but I guess the trend now is to have huge grilles that cover most of the front of the vehicle.
#52
Instructor
The 4Runner Pro is excellent for off-road though, maybe the best there is
#54
I don't know if I like it or not, it has some really good angles to it, I personally like the new front end and I find it sharp. I hope that they don't make the front drop forward like the old srx did and instead make it blunt and flat like the new sorento. The rear end I am not yet sold on, I think it is too squinty and almost looks like it was bitten off. I also hate how the window line jumps up like that.
All in all, an improvement over the current dying srx.
No its' biggest rival is the lexus rx, the nx is a class below it, while this is considered medium class like the RX.
All in all, an improvement over the current dying srx.
No its' biggest rival is the lexus rx, the nx is a class below it, while this is considered medium class like the RX.
#56
#57
Oh I see, I thought it was some sort of rule for Acura dealerships. I have never owned a Japanese vehicle before, I only ever owned German and never got a loaner so was happy to hear people were getting loaners from Acura, but I now see that is an exception and not a rule. Guess I will ask when I need service and see what they say.
My dealer took care of the amp battery drain issue found on certain early tech models even though it was out of warranty. They always have Starbucks in the waiting room but lately, I have always been put in a loaner of my choice. I've driven a couple different versions of the TLX when they were having trouble diagnosing an issue my car was having. Recently, I got a 2016 RDX with under 1000 miles on it. All the loaners I've had look brand new, inside and out.
BTW, this is David McDavid Acura in Plano, TX if you're in the DFW area. Ask for Jordan, she is awesome!
#58
I bought my 2007 used from a Toyota dealer but my local Acura dealer has treated me like royalty. I think it really does vary by dealership so call around asking for quotes on service before you take it in and see if they offer loaners.
My dealer took care of the amp battery drain issue found on certain early tech models even though it was out of warranty. They always have Starbucks in the waiting room but lately, I have always been put in a loaner of my choice. I've driven a couple different versions of the TLX when they were having trouble diagnosing an issue my car was having. Recently, I got a 2016 RDX with under 1000 miles on it. All the loaners I've had look brand new, inside and out.
BTW, this is David McDavid Acura in Plano, TX if you're in the DFW area. Ask for Jordan, she is awesome!
My dealer took care of the amp battery drain issue found on certain early tech models even though it was out of warranty. They always have Starbucks in the waiting room but lately, I have always been put in a loaner of my choice. I've driven a couple different versions of the TLX when they were having trouble diagnosing an issue my car was having. Recently, I got a 2016 RDX with under 1000 miles on it. All the loaners I've had look brand new, inside and out.
BTW, this is David McDavid Acura in Plano, TX if you're in the DFW area. Ask for Jordan, she is awesome!
#59
x3 lease to high
If you are shopping for luxury compact SUVs (kind of same category of RDX) my advise is to go and test drive a X3. The 28i engine is pretty peppy, torquey and proven, the ride is very sport, nice steering feel in sport mode, butter smooth/fast shifting/reliable 8 spd trans made by ZF, great visibility and ergonomics, great electronic pilot-like/joystick gear shift lever, excellent AWD fulltime system with RWD bias (60/40 in default mode) which make it very stable in turns, great suspension that is sporty but comfortable at the same time, huge pano sunroof with the premium pkg, beautiful style in M sport mode (I wished I had bought it with it but it cost $), excellent iDrive system (NAV + Audio + BMW connect + Apps)
MUSTs:
- Premium pkg (Nevada leather, pano sunroof, memory seats, comfort access with keyless entry, folding mirrors, all 3 mirrors are dimmed)
- Lightning pkg (angel LEDs in front together with xenon plus LEDs in rear)
- Fineline wave wood trim (Beautiful and classy; I cannot stand the silver trim -> looks very cheap)
- free maintenance for 4y/50k miles
- Great insurance premiums due to excellent X3 crash reports
VERY NICE TO HAVE:
- M sport trim (m sport seats, 19" m sport wheels, thick steering wheel, paddle shifters, m sport pedals, badge)
- Adaptive suspension: Really, ... really nice
CONs:
- RFT: They ride ok but I like having a place for a spare for long trips
- Can get expensive with the needed options
- Warranty runs only for 4y/50k miles. Need for an extended warranty after that because although this vehicle has proven very reliable BMW repairs tend to be expensive
If you have the $, I would recommend to go and test drive it
Note: I owned a 2013 RDX w/ tech for 19 months and sold it with 17k miles. I usually lurk in this forum to check the new Acura models, see if the problems [that I had] with my RDX from 2013 have been fixed, etc
MUSTs:
- Premium pkg (Nevada leather, pano sunroof, memory seats, comfort access with keyless entry, folding mirrors, all 3 mirrors are dimmed)
- Lightning pkg (angel LEDs in front together with xenon plus LEDs in rear)
- Fineline wave wood trim (Beautiful and classy; I cannot stand the silver trim -> looks very cheap)
- free maintenance for 4y/50k miles
- Great insurance premiums due to excellent X3 crash reports
VERY NICE TO HAVE:
- M sport trim (m sport seats, 19" m sport wheels, thick steering wheel, paddle shifters, m sport pedals, badge)
- Adaptive suspension: Really, ... really nice
CONs:
- RFT: They ride ok but I like having a place for a spare for long trips
- Can get expensive with the needed options
- Warranty runs only for 4y/50k miles. Need for an extended warranty after that because although this vehicle has proven very reliable BMW repairs tend to be expensive
If you have the $, I would recommend to go and test drive it
Note: I owned a 2013 RDX w/ tech for 19 months and sold it with 17k miles. I usually lurk in this forum to check the new Acura models, see if the problems [that I had] with my RDX from 2013 have been fixed, etc
#60
Greetings,
I'm both new to the forum and a first time owner of the Acura 2015 RDX AWD non tech and this thread looks like a good place to jump in since I’m a previous BMW owner (2008 X3 and 2014 X1).
I enjoyed owning the BMWs and in terms of mechanical reliability they were just about perfect. 18 months into owning the X1, there were several non-mechanical issues which led me to trade in and purchase the RDX.
I'm both new to the forum and a first time owner of the Acura 2015 RDX AWD non tech and this thread looks like a good place to jump in since I’m a previous BMW owner (2008 X3 and 2014 X1).
I enjoyed owning the BMWs and in terms of mechanical reliability they were just about perfect. 18 months into owning the X1, there were several non-mechanical issues which led me to trade in and purchase the RDX.
thanks, Sumoto
#61
I had an X1, too. Put 34k miles on it in about a year and a half. Easily the most disappointing car-buying experience of my life. And I'm not alone ... American X1 owners are second only to Buick Regal owners in dissatisfaction. I can't imagine ever owning another BMW.
#63
I had an X5 and will also never own another BMW again, crossed WAY off the list. Engine eating oil, transmission odd shifting, poor poor handling, bunch of electrical problems, pano roof stuck....never again.
#64
The car was delivered without the standard paddle shifters. Turns out dealers had to check the option box even though the paddle shifters were listed as standard equipment on the M Sport trim. The build sheet even showed the car had them. BMW offered to rebuild the car correctly, but delivery would have been pushed past the rebate expiration date, and both BMW and the dealership refused to honor it. In other words, it would have cost me another $1,000 to get a "standard" feature.
The runflats were brutally hard. I expected to dislike them, but not as much as I did. After a few thousand miles, I replaced them with conventional tires and emergency repair kit.
The M Sport suspension was a little firm on asphalt, but not harsh. About what was expected. On aged concrete, however, the suspension was beyond harsh. The car would crash and porpoise over expansion joints. On multiple occasions passengers complained of motion sickness while traveling in a straight line.
Faulty TPMS system wouldn't pick up the tire sensors. Replacing the sensors didn't solve the problem so they had to replace the module. Somehow in the process of doing so, the XM radio was completely wiped from the system. Full software download from BMW required - a lengthy process. Five days in the service bay over three trips to get TPMS and satellite radio operational.
The auto start/stop was beyond intrusive. You could disable it manually, but you had to do so every time you started the car. (Thankfully no longer the case). Another trip to the service dept to have the system reprogrammed to maintain previous setting on start up.
The fuel economy was disappointing. Really, REALLY disappointing. EPA highway rating was 33. My best all highway tank was 29. It is the only car I've ever owned that couldn't achieve the highway rating even under the most ideal conditions. Heck, I never got remotely close. Most highway trips averaged around 27 mpg.
Wonky electronic joystick shifter. I expected to adapt to it, but even after 34k miles I still hated it. I fail to see what is gained from such shifters. Lincoln/Acura push-button shifters aren't much better from a functional standpoint, but at least they save console space. MB's column-mounted joystick seems even worse. I'll take a mechanical shifter any day, thank you.
Inconsistent and at times severe throttle lag when starting from a dead stop. Sometimes the car would lurch forward immediately, but other times it was like the throttle wire had been cut. The delay was downright painful. It always seemed worse when pulling out into cross traffic. The problem was exacerbated by turbo lag, and got worse over time. Service advisor checked and determined the car "behaves as programmed". I say get new programmers, because the ones you have aren't very good. Throttle lag is a common complaint among modern BMW owners.
Finally, there was the poorly executed brake recall that nearly got me killed. Owners of 2.0T BMW's were notified of a pending recall for potential loss of power brake assist. Shortly after the recall was announced I experienced loss of power assist. I was driving at a relatively low speed on a side road coasting to a stop, I applied the brakes and had a firm pedal but nothing was happening. In the fraction of a second it took my brain to assess the situation and react by standing on the pedal, my momentum carried me through the stop sign and into cross-traffic, directly into the path of a minivan. Thankfully the driver was paying attention and swerved to avoid me. I would have t-boned if she had been texting or tuning the radio, and I can only imagine how ugly it would have been if there were a car in the other lane when she swerved. The Service Advisor acknowledged that my car was part of the recall, but they wouldn't do anything for me until BMW came up with a fix. He explained that they had a fix in place for serious cases, but that required an engine rebuild. They were working on an alternate, less costly fix for cars that weren't deemed serious. I asked why near-misses such as mine don't qualify my situation as "serious", and I was told they performed some sort of test that indicated my car shouldn't be symptomatic. In other words, I must have imagined the whole thing. I did experience the issue at least one more time while waiting for BMW to do something, but I was parallel parking on an empty street at the time and it wasn't a close call situation. It was another two or three months before I was finally notified that the parts were available for the "cheap" fix.
There were other minor annoyances, but every vehicle has those. The X1 wasn't without it's charms, but they were greatly outweighed by its many faults. Mechanical issues and even the occasional bad dealer experience are to be expected, and sometimes you just get unlucky. But BMW's handling of the paddle shifter fiasco and the recall is unacceptable. They made me feel like I should be grateful that they allowed me to be a customer. Even if the X1 were the greatest vehicle ever engineered (trust me, it isn't), there is no excuse for putting corporate profits above my family's safety.
Last edited by HotRodW; 07-05-2015 at 11:02 AM.
#65
I think I documented most of my issues previously, but the search tool doesn't seem to work since "X1" is deemed too short(?). So here are the highlights of my experience with a custom ordered X1 M Sport:
The car was delivered without the standard paddle shifters. Turns out dealers had to check the option box even though the paddle shifters were listed as standard equipment on the M Sport trim. The build sheet even showed the car had them. BMW offered to rebuild the car correctly, but delivery would have been pushed past the rebate expiration date, and both BMW and the dealership refused to honor it. In other words, it would have cost me another $1,000 to get a "standard" feature.
The runflats were brutally hard. I expected to dislike them, but not as much as I did. After a few thousand miles, I replaced them with conventional tires and emergency repair kit.
The M Sport suspension was a little firm on asphalt, but not harsh. About what was expected. On aged concrete, however, the suspension was beyond harsh. The car would crash and porpoise over expansion joints. On multiple occasions passengers complained of motion sickness while traveling in a straight line.
Faulty TPMS system wouldn't pick up the tire sensors. Replacing the sensors didn't solve the problem so they had to replace the module. Somehow in the process of doing so, the XM radio was completely wiped from the system. Full software download from BMW required - a lengthy process. Five days in the service bay over three trips to get TPMS and satellite radio operational.
The auto start/stop was beyond intrusive. You could disable it manually, but you had to do so every time you started the car. (Thankfully no longer the case). Another trip to the service dept to have the system reprogrammed to maintain previous setting on start up.
The fuel economy was disappointing. Really, REALLY disappointing. EPA highway rating was 33. My best all highway tank was 29. It is the only car I've ever owned that couldn't achieve the highway rating even under the most ideal conditions. Heck, I never got remotely close. Most highway trips averaged around 27 mpg.
Wonky electronic joystick shifter. I expected to adapt to it, but even after 34k miles I still hated it. I fail to see what is gained from such shifters. Lincoln/Acura push-button shifters aren't much better from a functional standpoint, but at least they save console space. MB's column-mounted joystick seems even worse. I'll take a mechanical shifter any day, thank you.
Inconsistent and at times severe throttle lag when starting from a dead stop. Sometimes the car would lurch forward immediately, but other times it was like the throttle wire had been cut. The delay was downright painful. It always seemed worse when pulling out into cross traffic. The problem was exacerbated by turbo lag, and got worse over time. Service advisor checked and determined the car "behaves as programmed". I say get new programmers, because the ones you have aren't very good. Throttle lag is a common complaint among modern BMW owners.
Finally, there was the poorly executed brake recall that nearly got me killed. Owners of 2.0T BMW's were notified of a pending recall for potential loss of power brake assist. Shortly after the recall was announced I experienced loss of power assist. I was driving at a relatively low speed on a side road coasting to a stop, I applied the brakes and had a firm pedal but nothing was happening. In the fraction of a second it took my brain to assess the situation and react by standing on the pedal, my momentum carried me through the stop sign and into cross-traffic, directly into the path of a minivan. Thankfully the driver was paying attention and swerved to avoid me. I would have t-boned if she had been texting or tuning the radio, and I can only imagine how ugly it would have been if there were a car in the other lane when she swerved. The Service Advisor acknowledged that my car was part of the recall, but they wouldn't do anything for me until BMW came up with a fix. He explained that they had a fix in place for serious cases, but that required an engine rebuild. They were working on an alternate, less costly fix for cars that weren't deemed serious. I asked why near-misses such as mine don't qualify my situation as "serious", and I was told they performed some sort of test that indicated my car shouldn't be symptomatic. In other words, I must have imagined the whole thing. I did experience the issue at least one more time while waiting for BMW to do something, but I was parallel parking on an empty street at the time and it wasn't a close call situation. It was another two or three months before I was finally notified that the parts were available for the "cheap" fix.
There were other minor annoyances, but every vehicle has those. The X1 wasn't without it's charms, but they were greatly outweighed by its many faults. Mechanical issues and even the occasional bad dealer experience are to be expected, and sometimes you just get unlucky. But BMW's handling of the paddle shifter fiasco and the recall is unacceptable. They made me feel like I should be grateful that they allowed me to be a customer. Even if the X1 were the greatest vehicle ever engineered (trust me, it isn't), there is no excuse for putting corporate profits above my family's safety.
The car was delivered without the standard paddle shifters. Turns out dealers had to check the option box even though the paddle shifters were listed as standard equipment on the M Sport trim. The build sheet even showed the car had them. BMW offered to rebuild the car correctly, but delivery would have been pushed past the rebate expiration date, and both BMW and the dealership refused to honor it. In other words, it would have cost me another $1,000 to get a "standard" feature.
The runflats were brutally hard. I expected to dislike them, but not as much as I did. After a few thousand miles, I replaced them with conventional tires and emergency repair kit.
The M Sport suspension was a little firm on asphalt, but not harsh. About what was expected. On aged concrete, however, the suspension was beyond harsh. The car would crash and porpoise over expansion joints. On multiple occasions passengers complained of motion sickness while traveling in a straight line.
Faulty TPMS system wouldn't pick up the tire sensors. Replacing the sensors didn't solve the problem so they had to replace the module. Somehow in the process of doing so, the XM radio was completely wiped from the system. Full software download from BMW required - a lengthy process. Five days in the service bay over three trips to get TPMS and satellite radio operational.
The auto start/stop was beyond intrusive. You could disable it manually, but you had to do so every time you started the car. (Thankfully no longer the case). Another trip to the service dept to have the system reprogrammed to maintain previous setting on start up.
The fuel economy was disappointing. Really, REALLY disappointing. EPA highway rating was 33. My best all highway tank was 29. It is the only car I've ever owned that couldn't achieve the highway rating even under the most ideal conditions. Heck, I never got remotely close. Most highway trips averaged around 27 mpg.
Wonky electronic joystick shifter. I expected to adapt to it, but even after 34k miles I still hated it. I fail to see what is gained from such shifters. Lincoln/Acura push-button shifters aren't much better from a functional standpoint, but at least they save console space. MB's column-mounted joystick seems even worse. I'll take a mechanical shifter any day, thank you.
Inconsistent and at times severe throttle lag when starting from a dead stop. Sometimes the car would lurch forward immediately, but other times it was like the throttle wire had been cut. The delay was downright painful. It always seemed worse when pulling out into cross traffic. The problem was exacerbated by turbo lag, and got worse over time. Service advisor checked and determined the car "behaves as programmed". I say get new programmers, because the ones you have aren't very good. Throttle lag is a common complaint among modern BMW owners.
Finally, there was the poorly executed brake recall that nearly got me killed. Owners of 2.0T BMW's were notified of a pending recall for potential loss of power brake assist. Shortly after the recall was announced I experienced loss of power assist. I was driving at a relatively low speed on a side road coasting to a stop, I applied the brakes and had a firm pedal but nothing was happening. In the fraction of a second it took my brain to assess the situation and react by standing on the pedal, my momentum carried me through the stop sign and into cross-traffic, directly into the path of a minivan. Thankfully the driver was paying attention and swerved to avoid me. I would have t-boned if she had been texting or tuning the radio, and I can only imagine how ugly it would have been if there were a car in the other lane when she swerved. The Service Advisor acknowledged that my car was part of the recall, but they wouldn't do anything for me until BMW came up with a fix. He explained that they had a fix in place for serious cases, but that required an engine rebuild. They were working on an alternate, less costly fix for cars that weren't deemed serious. I asked why near-misses such as mine don't qualify my situation as "serious", and I was told they performed some sort of test that indicated my car shouldn't be symptomatic. In other words, I must have imagined the whole thing. I did experience the issue at least one more time while waiting for BMW to do something, but I was parallel parking on an empty street at the time and it wasn't a close call situation. It was another two or three months before I was finally notified that the parts were available for the "cheap" fix.
There were other minor annoyances, but every vehicle has those. The X1 wasn't without it's charms, but they were greatly outweighed by its many faults. Mechanical issues and even the occasional bad dealer experience are to be expected, and sometimes you just get unlucky. But BMW's handling of the paddle shifter fiasco and the recall is unacceptable. They made me feel like I should be grateful that they allowed me to be a customer. Even if the X1 were the greatest vehicle ever engineered (trust me, it isn't), there is no excuse for putting corporate profits above my family's safety.
#66
I am an Acura owner, but I'm not an RDX owner. I took a serious look at the RDX before buying the X1, but my nearest dealer is an hour away and wouldn't negotiate ($500 off MSRP on a cash purchase). Even if I had been willing to pay the asking price, my wife would have hated me for making her put up with the low passenger seat. She was really uncomfortable sitting so low.
#67
I think I documented most of my issues previously, but the search tool doesn't seem to work since "X1" is deemed too short(?). So here are the highlights of my experience with a custom ordered X1 M Sport:
The car was delivered without the standard paddle shifters. Turns out dealers had to check the option box even though the paddle shifters were listed as standard equipment on the M Sport trim. The build sheet even showed the car had them. BMW offered to rebuild the car correctly, but delivery would have been pushed past the rebate expiration date, and both BMW and the dealership refused to honor it. In other words, it would have cost me another $1,000 to get a "standard" feature.
The runflats were brutally hard. I expected to dislike them, but not as much as I did. After a few thousand miles, I replaced them with conventional tires and emergency repair kit.
The M Sport suspension was a little firm on asphalt, but not harsh. About what was expected. On aged concrete, however, the suspension was beyond harsh. The car would crash and porpoise over expansion joints. On multiple occasions passengers complained of motion sickness while traveling in a straight line.
Faulty TPMS system wouldn't pick up the tire sensors. Replacing the sensors didn't solve the problem so they had to replace the module. Somehow in the process of doing so, the XM radio was completely wiped from the system. Full software download from BMW required - a lengthy process. Five days in the service bay over three trips to get TPMS and satellite radio operational.
The auto start/stop was beyond intrusive. You could disable it manually, but you had to do so every time you started the car. (Thankfully no longer the case). Another trip to the service dept to have the system reprogrammed to maintain previous setting on start up.
The fuel economy was disappointing. Really, REALLY disappointing. EPA highway rating was 33. My best all highway tank was 29. It is the only car I've ever owned that couldn't achieve the highway rating even under the most ideal conditions. Heck, I never got remotely close. Most highway trips averaged around 27 mpg.
Wonky electronic joystick shifter. I expected to adapt to it, but even after 34k miles I still hated it. I fail to see what is gained from such shifters. Lincoln/Acura push-button shifters aren't much better from a functional standpoint, but at least they save console space. MB's column-mounted joystick seems even worse. I'll take a mechanical shifter any day, thank you.
Inconsistent and at times severe throttle lag when starting from a dead stop. Sometimes the car would lurch forward immediately, but other times it was like the throttle wire had been cut. The delay was downright painful. It always seemed worse when pulling out into cross traffic. The problem was exacerbated by turbo lag, and got worse over time. Service advisor checked and determined the car "behaves as programmed". I say get new programmers, because the ones you have aren't very good. Throttle lag is a common complaint among modern BMW owners.
Finally, there was the poorly executed brake recall that nearly got me killed. Owners of 2.0T BMW's were notified of a pending recall for potential loss of power brake assist. Shortly after the recall was announced I experienced loss of power assist. I was driving at a relatively low speed on a side road coasting to a stop, I applied the brakes and had a firm pedal but nothing was happening. In the fraction of a second it took my brain to assess the situation and react by standing on the pedal, my momentum carried me through the stop sign and into cross-traffic, directly into the path of a minivan. Thankfully the driver was paying attention and swerved to avoid me. I would have t-boned if she had been texting or tuning the radio, and I can only imagine how ugly it would have been if there were a car in the other lane when she swerved. The Service Advisor acknowledged that my car was part of the recall, but they wouldn't do anything for me until BMW came up with a fix. He explained that they had a fix in place for serious cases, but that required an engine rebuild. They were working on an alternate, less costly fix for cars that weren't deemed serious. I asked why near-misses such as mine don't qualify my situation as "serious", and I was told they performed some sort of test that indicated my car shouldn't be symptomatic. In other words, I must have imagined the whole thing. I did experience the issue at least one more time while waiting for BMW to do something, but I was parallel parking on an empty street at the time and it wasn't a close call situation. It was another two or three months before I was finally notified that the parts were available for the "cheap" fix.
There were other minor annoyances, but every vehicle has those. The X1 wasn't without it's charms, but they were greatly outweighed by its many faults. Mechanical issues and even the occasional bad dealer experience are to be expected, and sometimes you just get unlucky. But BMW's handling of the paddle shifter fiasco and the recall is unacceptable. They made me feel like I should be grateful that they allowed me to be a customer. Even if the X1 were the greatest vehicle ever engineered (trust me, it isn't), there is no excuse for putting corporate profits above my family's safety.
The car was delivered without the standard paddle shifters. Turns out dealers had to check the option box even though the paddle shifters were listed as standard equipment on the M Sport trim. The build sheet even showed the car had them. BMW offered to rebuild the car correctly, but delivery would have been pushed past the rebate expiration date, and both BMW and the dealership refused to honor it. In other words, it would have cost me another $1,000 to get a "standard" feature.
The runflats were brutally hard. I expected to dislike them, but not as much as I did. After a few thousand miles, I replaced them with conventional tires and emergency repair kit.
The M Sport suspension was a little firm on asphalt, but not harsh. About what was expected. On aged concrete, however, the suspension was beyond harsh. The car would crash and porpoise over expansion joints. On multiple occasions passengers complained of motion sickness while traveling in a straight line.
Faulty TPMS system wouldn't pick up the tire sensors. Replacing the sensors didn't solve the problem so they had to replace the module. Somehow in the process of doing so, the XM radio was completely wiped from the system. Full software download from BMW required - a lengthy process. Five days in the service bay over three trips to get TPMS and satellite radio operational.
The auto start/stop was beyond intrusive. You could disable it manually, but you had to do so every time you started the car. (Thankfully no longer the case). Another trip to the service dept to have the system reprogrammed to maintain previous setting on start up.
The fuel economy was disappointing. Really, REALLY disappointing. EPA highway rating was 33. My best all highway tank was 29. It is the only car I've ever owned that couldn't achieve the highway rating even under the most ideal conditions. Heck, I never got remotely close. Most highway trips averaged around 27 mpg.
Wonky electronic joystick shifter. I expected to adapt to it, but even after 34k miles I still hated it. I fail to see what is gained from such shifters. Lincoln/Acura push-button shifters aren't much better from a functional standpoint, but at least they save console space. MB's column-mounted joystick seems even worse. I'll take a mechanical shifter any day, thank you.
Inconsistent and at times severe throttle lag when starting from a dead stop. Sometimes the car would lurch forward immediately, but other times it was like the throttle wire had been cut. The delay was downright painful. It always seemed worse when pulling out into cross traffic. The problem was exacerbated by turbo lag, and got worse over time. Service advisor checked and determined the car "behaves as programmed". I say get new programmers, because the ones you have aren't very good. Throttle lag is a common complaint among modern BMW owners.
Finally, there was the poorly executed brake recall that nearly got me killed. Owners of 2.0T BMW's were notified of a pending recall for potential loss of power brake assist. Shortly after the recall was announced I experienced loss of power assist. I was driving at a relatively low speed on a side road coasting to a stop, I applied the brakes and had a firm pedal but nothing was happening. In the fraction of a second it took my brain to assess the situation and react by standing on the pedal, my momentum carried me through the stop sign and into cross-traffic, directly into the path of a minivan. Thankfully the driver was paying attention and swerved to avoid me. I would have t-boned if she had been texting or tuning the radio, and I can only imagine how ugly it would have been if there were a car in the other lane when she swerved. The Service Advisor acknowledged that my car was part of the recall, but they wouldn't do anything for me until BMW came up with a fix. He explained that they had a fix in place for serious cases, but that required an engine rebuild. They were working on an alternate, less costly fix for cars that weren't deemed serious. I asked why near-misses such as mine don't qualify my situation as "serious", and I was told they performed some sort of test that indicated my car shouldn't be symptomatic. In other words, I must have imagined the whole thing. I did experience the issue at least one more time while waiting for BMW to do something, but I was parallel parking on an empty street at the time and it wasn't a close call situation. It was another two or three months before I was finally notified that the parts were available for the "cheap" fix.
There were other minor annoyances, but every vehicle has those. The X1 wasn't without it's charms, but they were greatly outweighed by its many faults. Mechanical issues and even the occasional bad dealer experience are to be expected, and sometimes you just get unlucky. But BMW's handling of the paddle shifter fiasco and the recall is unacceptable. They made me feel like I should be grateful that they allowed me to be a customer. Even if the X1 were the greatest vehicle ever engineered (trust me, it isn't), there is no excuse for putting corporate profits above my family's safety.
On a sidenote, I disagree about the push button shifter crap. It doesn't save any space at all. On the lincoln models, you have 2 big cup holders in the middle of the console and that is all. That Mercedes shifter is the reason I didn't buy an ML. Just give me a real shifter and get over this IMHO stupid and non-intuitive touch button interface.
#68
I recently picked up a 2016 Acura AWD Tech w/Acurawatch plus. I also have a 2010 Acura FWD Base. Before buying the 2016 I considered the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 among others. I never considered the X1 because I felt it was too small. My issue with BMW and Audi is as follows:
To get any color other than White or Black BMW charges an extra $550. I know that you can probably negotiate on this but it bothers me that they nickel and dime you on a car that costs $40K+.
In order to get similar safety features on the Audi Q5 that Acura provides with the Acurawatch plus you have to get the Audi drivers assistance package. It order to get this you have to get the prestige trim; which make the cost in excess of $50K.
To get any color other than White or Black BMW charges an extra $550. I know that you can probably negotiate on this but it bothers me that they nickel and dime you on a car that costs $40K+.
In order to get similar safety features on the Audi Q5 that Acura provides with the Acurawatch plus you have to get the Audi drivers assistance package. It order to get this you have to get the prestige trim; which make the cost in excess of $50K.
#69
Intermediate
I'm surprised to see that nobody here has mentioned the new Land Rover Discovery Sport as a direct competitor for the RDX (and other premium CUV's for that matter). It's an all new model and is priced very competitively.....at least here in Canada. When we priced one out, it was difficult to get a close match in terms of features to the RDX Tech package as you give up and gain some different features in the DS. We test drove it and were really impressed with the ride, and especially by the interior fit and finish. Being a Land Rover you know that it will be capable in the winters that we get up here.
After driving it we decided that it was the vehicle we wanted, but when it came time to discussing pricing, the timing was not in our favor. First, there is a waiting list for them since it is all new. Second, demand is so high right now that there are few, if any discounts offered. Finally, the interest rates on it were quite high (5.9%).
Given that our existing lease was up and we needed a ride right away, we couldn't afford to wait, but if we could, I am 99% sure we'd be getting into the Discovery Sport right now instead of the RDX. Note however that we just finished a lease on a 2013 RDX, so we were really hoping to get something different. The RDX is a fantastic vehicle (so much so that we ultimately leased another one).
After driving it we decided that it was the vehicle we wanted, but when it came time to discussing pricing, the timing was not in our favor. First, there is a waiting list for them since it is all new. Second, demand is so high right now that there are few, if any discounts offered. Finally, the interest rates on it were quite high (5.9%).
Given that our existing lease was up and we needed a ride right away, we couldn't afford to wait, but if we could, I am 99% sure we'd be getting into the Discovery Sport right now instead of the RDX. Note however that we just finished a lease on a 2013 RDX, so we were really hoping to get something different. The RDX is a fantastic vehicle (so much so that we ultimately leased another one).
#70
Doesn't the new model have the fixed glass panoramic roof like in the Evoque? I would have tried an Evoque, but the fixed glass panel roof was a deal killer. They should have at least 1/2 of the glass area open up. Cadillac SRX panoramic roof is like that.
#71
Intermediate
It does in fact have the fixed glass roof, but it honestly I'd rather have that than the small one that does open in the RDX. The glass roof just made the interior so bright and spacious/airy.
Since you bring up the Evoque, we tested that out too as with the launch of the DS they are having a tough time moving the Evoques. They have interest rates of 0.9% on them plus are happy to discount them. Having said that, it's lacking in features when compared to the DS, costs more, and offers much less interior space (particularly the trunk) so it was a no go for us.
Since you bring up the Evoque, we tested that out too as with the launch of the DS they are having a tough time moving the Evoques. They have interest rates of 0.9% on them plus are happy to discount them. Having said that, it's lacking in features when compared to the DS, costs more, and offers much less interior space (particularly the trunk) so it was a no go for us.
#72
I'm surprised to see that nobody here has mentioned the new Land Rover Discovery Sport as a direct competitor for the RDX (and other premium CUV's for that matter). It's an all new model and is priced very competitively.....at least here in Canada. When we priced one out, it was difficult to get a close match in terms of features to the RDX Tech package as you give up and gain some different features in the DS. We test drove it and were really impressed with the ride, and especially by the interior fit and finish. Being a Land Rover you know that it will be capable in the winters that we get up here.
After driving it we decided that it was the vehicle we wanted, but when it came time to discussing pricing, the timing was not in our favor. First, there is a waiting list for them since it is all new. Second, demand is so high right now that there are few, if any discounts offered. Finally, the interest rates on it were quite high (5.9%).
Given that our existing lease was up and we needed a ride right away, we couldn't afford to wait, but if we could, I am 99% sure we'd be getting into the Discovery Sport right now instead of the RDX. Note however that we just finished a lease on a 2013 RDX, so we were really hoping to get something different. The RDX is a fantastic vehicle (so much so that we ultimately leased another one).
After driving it we decided that it was the vehicle we wanted, but when it came time to discussing pricing, the timing was not in our favor. First, there is a waiting list for them since it is all new. Second, demand is so high right now that there are few, if any discounts offered. Finally, the interest rates on it were quite high (5.9%).
Given that our existing lease was up and we needed a ride right away, we couldn't afford to wait, but if we could, I am 99% sure we'd be getting into the Discovery Sport right now instead of the RDX. Note however that we just finished a lease on a 2013 RDX, so we were really hoping to get something different. The RDX is a fantastic vehicle (so much so that we ultimately leased another one).
So how much of price difference was there for a comparable model of LR discovery vs RDX tech/ advance?
#73
Intermediate
The DS ended up being about $2,000 more than the RDX when looking at MSRP, but obviously that gap widened when you factor in the discounts being offered on the Acura.
#74
It does in fact have the fixed glass roof, but it honestly I'd rather have that than the small one that does open in the RDX. The glass roof just made the interior so bright and spacious/airy.
Since you bring up the Evoque, we tested that out too as with the launch of the DS they are having a tough time moving the Evoques. They have interest rates of 0.9% on them plus are happy to discount them. Having said that, it's lacking in features when compared to the DS, costs more, and offers much less interior space (particularly the trunk) so it was a no go for us.
Since you bring up the Evoque, we tested that out too as with the launch of the DS they are having a tough time moving the Evoques. They have interest rates of 0.9% on them plus are happy to discount them. Having said that, it's lacking in features when compared to the DS, costs more, and offers much less interior space (particularly the trunk) so it was a no go for us.
#75
Intermediate
I really don't understand why the Japanese brands seem so against panoramic roofs.....they are widely available in European and Korean cars and have been for some time now. Either way, not a deal breaker for us, but it would be nice for Acura to include this feature on future vehicles.
#76
I'm surprised to see that nobody here has mentioned the new Land Rover Discovery Sport as a direct competitor for the RDX (and other premium CUV's for that matter). It's an all new model and is priced very competitively.....at least here in Canada. When we priced one out, it was difficult to get a close match in terms of features to the RDX Tech package as you give up and gain some different features in the DS. We test drove it and were really impressed with the ride, and especially by the interior fit and finish. Being a Land Rover you know that it will be capable in the winters that we get up here.
After driving it we decided that it was the vehicle we wanted, but when it came time to discussing pricing, the timing was not in our favor. First, there is a waiting list for them since it is all new. Second, demand is so high right now that there are few, if any discounts offered. Finally, the interest rates on it were quite high (5.9%).
Given that our existing lease was up and we needed a ride right away, we couldn't afford to wait, but if we could, I am 99% sure we'd be getting into the Discovery Sport right now instead of the RDX. Note however that we just finished a lease on a 2013 RDX, so we were really hoping to get something different. The RDX is a fantastic vehicle (so much so that we ultimately leased another one).
After driving it we decided that it was the vehicle we wanted, but when it came time to discussing pricing, the timing was not in our favor. First, there is a waiting list for them since it is all new. Second, demand is so high right now that there are few, if any discounts offered. Finally, the interest rates on it were quite high (5.9%).
Given that our existing lease was up and we needed a ride right away, we couldn't afford to wait, but if we could, I am 99% sure we'd be getting into the Discovery Sport right now instead of the RDX. Note however that we just finished a lease on a 2013 RDX, so we were really hoping to get something different. The RDX is a fantastic vehicle (so much so that we ultimately leased another one).
Sumoto
#77
Summer is Coming
I really don't understand why the Japanese brands seem so against panoramic roofs.....they are widely available in European and Korean cars and have been for some time now. Either way, not a deal breaker for us, but it would be nice for Acura to include this feature on future vehicles.
I guess the asian brands figure that they can make the car cheaper with a traditional sunroof but still offer something that doesn't turn off some of their buyers.
#78
Burning Brakes
I'm enjoying the panoramic sunroof on my Sorento. The retractable headliner is always available at the touch of a button when the situation warrants it. Plenty of headroom on this model.
#79
Intermediate
I would not buy a car with a pano roof. I did test drive a Lincoln MKZ with a pano roof and it was a huge mistake on that car. The frame for the glass cut into the head room. Must have cut 2" off the head room. Plus in this part of the country who needs all that glass and heat load coming into the car. It must also add weight to the roof. On my wifes Mini we opted not to get any sun roof and it is great. Lots of head room and we never use our sunroofs anyway. I'm also sun sensitive.
I guess the asian brands figure that they can make the car cheaper with a traditional sunroof but still offer something that doesn't turn off some of their buyers.
I guess the asian brands figure that they can make the car cheaper with a traditional sunroof but still offer something that doesn't turn off some of their buyers.
#80
Safety Car
Broke down the list to:
16 Tucson
16 RDX
16 LR Discovery Sport
15/16 Rogue
15/16 Outback
Now down to just the RDX, Outback, and Tucson.
Tucson pricing was released a few days ago. Fully loaded (Limited plus Ultimate) at $34k. Pano, nav, BLIS, auto braking, lane assist, bending HID headlights, you name it.
I am down to this, the 2015 Limited 2.5l Outback, and the RDX. RDX is by far my least favorite, but the wife has it on the list. there wasnt enough substance in the RDX to differentiate itself from a honda. Personally, i think the Outback is the nicest, and looks/feels like a $40-$45k car for $32k. Hyundai seems a bit pricey for the badge, and you are forced to check every box just to get a pano roof. personally dont like the idea of spending $34k on a compact SUV Hyundai (granted it has every option), when most people associate it with a $20k rental car.
Discovery Sport was AMAZING. But the starting price is a joke. Most of the examples on the lot had $20k of options, bringing the sticker to mid/high $50s....Sunroof, nav, etc. and you get into mid $40k quick. Ruled this out.
The Rogue has a great value with all of the options one would need. But whenever I rent nissans, I find myself needing to pay extra attention to stay in the lane. The steering just has no feedback. It you divert attention for a few seconds, you could easily end up in the other lane. It is really dangerous, IMO. Ruled that out too.
going to see if there are any discounts to be had on the tucson in the following months, otherwise, the Outback just seems like the best fit, most substance, all at the lowest cost.
16 Tucson
16 RDX
16 LR Discovery Sport
15/16 Rogue
15/16 Outback
Now down to just the RDX, Outback, and Tucson.
Tucson pricing was released a few days ago. Fully loaded (Limited plus Ultimate) at $34k. Pano, nav, BLIS, auto braking, lane assist, bending HID headlights, you name it.
I am down to this, the 2015 Limited 2.5l Outback, and the RDX. RDX is by far my least favorite, but the wife has it on the list. there wasnt enough substance in the RDX to differentiate itself from a honda. Personally, i think the Outback is the nicest, and looks/feels like a $40-$45k car for $32k. Hyundai seems a bit pricey for the badge, and you are forced to check every box just to get a pano roof. personally dont like the idea of spending $34k on a compact SUV Hyundai (granted it has every option), when most people associate it with a $20k rental car.
Discovery Sport was AMAZING. But the starting price is a joke. Most of the examples on the lot had $20k of options, bringing the sticker to mid/high $50s....Sunroof, nav, etc. and you get into mid $40k quick. Ruled this out.
The Rogue has a great value with all of the options one would need. But whenever I rent nissans, I find myself needing to pay extra attention to stay in the lane. The steering just has no feedback. It you divert attention for a few seconds, you could easily end up in the other lane. It is really dangerous, IMO. Ruled that out too.
going to see if there are any discounts to be had on the tucson in the following months, otherwise, the Outback just seems like the best fit, most substance, all at the lowest cost.
Last edited by ThermonMermon; 07-20-2015 at 06:30 PM.