There is another thread that seems to indicate that 09s will be arriving at dealerships beginning in June. Currently, we can get pretty good deals on the 08s. I've been contemplating what possible changes for 09 would force me ot wait. It would be nice to have a power hatch, power passenger seat, auto down windows with the remote. But I'm not sure those differences would be worth the couple of thoussand difference between MSRP and invoice or better pricing of today.

What sorts of changes would you consider worthwhile waiting for in the 09s?

 

There are no deal-breakers with the '08, just a few items (you mentioned some) that would be nice to have but as you also said not worth a huge price premium.

I think the only reason to wait for the '09 right now would be to see if the discounts on the '08 get even greater at that time.

 

A turbo-diesel would be enough to make me trade in my '08. Short of that, nothing would entice me to trade.

If I were buying new now, I would wait for the '09. Read up on end of model year deals -they are usually not the deal they appear to be. Because they are one model year old (by definition), the deals are more than offset by instant depreciation. Unless it is many thousands off, it will be cheaper in the long run to wait for the '09's

 

Turbo diesel and/or ipod integration like the new TSX is what I really would like for the '09. As far as how low the '08's will be sold for when the '09's come out. Does anybody have any ideas? I am looking for a base rdx and would love to get one for 30k or below.

 

I'm the one who told everyone that the 09's will be here in June. We still don't know what changes will be made. (I'll post when I know) I'm betting that we get the new grill. If you think about it, 09 RL, TSX, TL will all be getting this grill in the 08 calendar year to go with the MDX that already has it. I don't think they would leave the 09 RDX hanging like that. It would be the only one left. I could be wrong, but that's my educated guess.

 

I'm not quite sure why everyone is raving about the diesel fuel engine. Right now diesel fuel is $.50 more per gallon than premium fuel (in MA) so why would you want a car that's going to cost you more in gas? Plus limit the places that you can actually get gas (not all stations have diesel).

There's definitely something I'm missing here when it comes to diesel engines. Help me out!

 

If it gets 30% better mpg then before and only costs 15% more at the pump, i would say thats a big benefit. Also, diesel will eventually go back down as it is cheaper to make then unleaded.

 

under 30k? dunno bout that. thatd have to be one hell of a give away, thats far under invoice. altho, im not up to speed on acura's clearance events (if they even have them?) i know with a honda it'd be possible

 

I think 50% better economy is likely (mid-30's instead of low 20's) for 15% more cost per gallon. This is WAY better than the gasoline solution.

Also, the torque available is staggering compared to gas. The gas RDX has an impressive 260 ft.-lb. at a fairly low rpm. An equivalent displacement diesel is likely to have more at an even lower rpm and better mileage.

If Americans can wake up and realize that diesels have actually changed since 1975 they will realize that they are a better answer than complicated and expensive hybrid technology (which will seem so "00's" someday fairly soon).

 

well i have already seen some people getting base 08 rdx's for 31k. So I was wondering if 30k was do'able when the '09's come out.

 

If 09s get the grill, I'll probabbly get the 08s.

 

If Americans get into diesel vehicles in a big way and Europeans continue to purchase diesels, then the 15% differential between gasoline and diesel prices will increase substantially given that we have limited worldwide capacity to refine diesel.

 

ya i got mine for 31k as well. in mass, and knew one of the GM's. if the 09 doesnt change, i cant see them axing the 08 price much.

 

I don't agree. Refining diesel uses roughly the same equipment and is actually a less involved, more efficient process than refining gasoline. So, if there are more diesel cars (using less fuel because of the efficiency) and the fuel is refined at the same refineries, it will actually free up refinery capacity, decreasing the price.

 

The price of diesel is high because the companies can charge what the market will bear. It's the price we have to pay to live in a capitalist society. As most of you are aware when you buy premium gas for your Acura is that the price is usually 20 cents higher than regular, but the refining cost is only about 10 cents a gallon, so the oil companies are making an extra 10 cents profit off us.

As to what comes from a barrel (42 US gallons) of oil here is the info from the US Dept. of Energy:
The most common products from petroleum are energy products: gasoline, heating oil, and diesel fuel. Other petroleum products are: ink, crayons, bubble gum, dishwashing liquids, deodorant, eyeglasses, records, tires, ammonia, and heart valves.

A barrel of oil yields these refined products (percent of barrel):

47% gasoline for use in automobiles23% heating oil and diesel fuel18% other products, which includes petrochemical feedstock—products derived from petroleum principally for the manufacturing of chemicals, synthetic rubber and plastics 10% jet fuel4% propane3% asphalt(Percentages equal more than 100 because of an approximately 5% processing gain from refining.)

 

can we please stray from making this another useless mpg/gas/energy thread. one way or another , WE R ALL heading to hell in a handbasket, that is undebiable fact. bush will be sitting in the front seat.

and in all honesty, if any one of us on this board actually cared just SO MUCH about this topic, about energy in general, about having a diesel engine.... i would tend to think the last car you would have purchased would be a turbo truck

if energy/gas cost is that bad, or in general if ya got a problem with it or the way in which we obtain our energy and its cost etc....no one is preventing you from dumping a gas guzzler and buying a matrix or a prius.....

the problem isnt Diesel, or petrol/ gas etc....its gas in general. this country is so affixhiated on GAS, how come there isnt the mega push towards renewable energy...solar? wind and so forth....everyone has their head in the sand....the ethanol policy right now is the biggest lobbying joke going. in the end, its not going to be about diesel, gas, how bout biofuels and sustainable energy., its going to HAVE to come down to that. the us energy policy is that we have no energy policy. we have a war going on over it and for the "greatest" country in the world (lol) a place like brazil can sustain itself from the rest of the globe. boggles my mind. there are ways...there just may not be political money in other ways $$$

ok so now after my rant...i guess my conclusion is, WHO CARES??????????????? for the time being, we are all screwed. i can accept this.

 

but if they had a diesel, i think i would buy it ...hahahhaa

 

I've been wondering about that, given the whispers of the 60 mpg engine being engineered by Honda for Accords. It would be very popular IMO, driving up demand for diesel that I'd think would not be met, at least temporarily. OTOH, I'm sure the use for passenger cars (getting 30 mpg+) will pale compared to that for commercial vehicles (getting <10 mpg - just a guess) for quite a while.

 

vtec.net is reporting that 2009 will be a carry-over year and that 2010 will be the mid model update. I wouldn't expect any major changes until then.

http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=752737

 

I was not expecting any great body changes other than the fugly corporate grill perhaps. I am going with the '09 over the '08 if it offers the XM Weather, auto on/off headlights, and a few other things. They would not be offering the '09 so early (June) if there weren't some changes. Otherwise, they would wait until September.

 

edmunds says there is $1500 in manufacturer to dealer $$ (at least for my zip code). Through June...

So a savvy buyer should shoot for invoice -$1500, this leaves the dealer the holdback $$. If you really want to be agressive offer invoice - $1500 - holdback.

carsdirect.com has a target price of close to $30k for the base model '08 so I am assuming dealers will sell them at this price, there are hundreds of them on the lots around here.

It has me thinking a lot about picking one up, I looked at them when they first came out but it was full sticker at the time. Honestly it's the mpgs that are holding me back (I drive 300-500 miles per week)...plus I really prefer a manual transmission, but must admit the latest autos are pretty good.

 

I don't know how Acura was able to get the grill so right with the MDX (IMO of course) but have it translate so badly over to the TSX and RL. There's never really been anything wrong with Acura's performance-wise...I think their recent slump comes from poor design choices and marketing. Make the RDX sexier looking and there'll be those that won't care about MPG.

 

Thanks for the feedback on the benefits of diesel. I'm not disagreeing with any points of view I just wanted to fully understand the pros and cons between gas vs. diesel better.

But as I read this thread I can see that there are many differing opinions on the use and process of diesel vs. gas. As there is with everything else.

Thanks.

 

the changes for the 09 RDX are on this page on vtec

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=752737

 

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There isn't any hard information on changes there. VTEC just SPECULATES that big changes aren't coming.

Personally, I think there is probably a reason why the 2009 RDX is going to hit the floors in June (pretty early). I suspect that part of an issue is an upgrade to the tech. I can't imagine Acura wants to go into next year with features in the TSX not being available in the RDX.

 

I agree.

I think the early release is to increase the feature set to stimulate sales.

What I'm surprised at is how little information (rumour) there is in the public domain given that the 09s are supposedly coming in a month or less.

 

Why? if anything, no release of info will drive sales of remaing 2008's. keeping a dealer in the dark will make them push what they have on the lot. The sales guys on this board, r u gonna tell a customer to come back in a few months or are you going to say hey i have an 08 will give u great deal, we dont know anything really about the 09 so chances are your best bet is what we have now..

i dunno, just seeing the other side of the coin here

 

I am sure the dealers know (probably embargoed by Acura), and of course, the production line workers in Ohio know what the changes will be. However, as you pointed out they want that profit now; not when gas hits $4.50-$5.00 for premium in June and buyers become scarce. As I say when I am haggling, "Some profit is better than no profit!"

 

I promise you... We don't know. If I knew, I would post it here. The minor changes that they might make to the 09 will not keep people from buying the 8 or 9 RDX's that we currently have in stock. People will still buy those. There is no reason to lie.

 

White,

Where are you located? I have decided that I am interested in leasing an RDX Tech. I posted on here a month or so ago and asked opinions on the TL and the RDX. I am an educator so I really need the extra room for papers, boxes, etc. Plus, I have had 2 Accords so I think it will be a nice change to go with a CUV. I really wish I could have jumped on the April special for $399/ month tech with $1999 down, but it wasn't a good time. I may try again this summer when I am out of school.

I don't mind going for an '08 at all. Polished Metal/Ebony is my color choice.

Thanks!

Bamagirl77

 

I was not insinuating you, or anyone else was lying. My point is that someone in the dealership knows what the changes are going to be, and that s/he cannot devulge the info to anyone else in the dealership until such time Acura says to release it to the salespersons, etc.

 

They really don't tell the dealers much of anything until it's officially given to us through the IN or Interactive Network. Anything given otherwise is pure rumor in my opinion. I don't like to post info on here from something that I heard, etc.... I could, but then I'd just be adding to the rumors like the almost 60 page 09 TL thread. Page after page after page of the same stupid rumors.

 

@White92: I actually don't mind listening to rumors as long as they are people kind of in the know (people that work at dealers) instead of little kids making up crap.

 

Well in that case, I heard that there is going to be an RDX Type S for '09, with 330hp and 350 lb ft of torque. I'm kidding of course.

 

good lord i almost jumped out of my seat until I saw the "I'm kidding" part

 

ugh...about a month away and I still don't have any clue to hop into a '08 rdx or and '09.

 

I'm in the same boat. It seems like the scuttlebutt is that the changes for 09 will be minor. I'm actually considering the 09 TSX now given the prognosis for gasoline prices. I actually saw a 09 TSX and the grill does not look too bad.

 

I just want integrated ipod control like the tsx, i don't care if all the other changes are minor. If they would just tell me whether or not the 09 will have it, that will make my mind up for me.

If it doesn't have it, i would go ahead and hop into a 08 and get one of those neo adapters for my ipod touch.

 

I though the 08 RDX had an outlet for Ipods. What is the difference between an integrated ipod control and just an outlet?

 

The 07 and 08 RDX's have an Ipd/mp3 outlet. This allows you to connect your Ipod and play music through your stereo. With this setup all music selection has to be done through the Ipod.

With the integrated Ipod control, you have the ability to change songs using the vehicles stereo controls. It will also show the artist/song title on the vehicles audio display.

There are after-market kits that will allow you to turn the RDX from an outlet to an integrated Ipod control.