Levy

Hi guys,
I'm a salesperson at a dealership. We just got our first RDX '08...

I was passenger when a porter took the car to our external lot. I can confirm that the suspension on the '08 has been "fixed"!

I love the 07's but the setup in those cars is very bumpy and tightly sprung. The result is that driving on the 10, for example, becomes a chore since the car keeps bouncing.

Now, the '08 doesn't bounce anymore. It takes the bumps on the road in a much more civil way, like a softer TL-S. It's also a little quieter, suspension-wise...

I'm pretty sure they changed the suspension because of complaints from dealerships. We lost a lot of customers due to the suspension...

It's nice to be part of this forum,

Luis


edit by Admin Ron A:

Welcome to the forums. Sorry, but I edited out your dealer info per forum guidelines.

jwaters943

Thanks for chiming in, but be prepared for a sh*tstorm of skepticisim and negativity coming your way. (Just a warning)

Why??

1) You didn't give a source of refer to something directly from Acura stating the suspension has been changed/revised

2) You're a car salesman

3) This is your first post

FWIW, I have no reason to doubt what you say and I hope you're correct.

Levy

1) I was in the car myself and I can feel the tinniest difference in suspension setups.

2) Yes I am. I've been doing this for 6 months now - was a QA tester (games) before. I'm a little too honest for this business and I wouldn't lie to you guys.

3) I've been reading the forum for a while. I like to see what people think of the Acuras and I also want to be up-to-date with possible problems, etc.

I'm a nice guy, believe me.

Tripp11

My butt sensor tells me nothing changed between the 07 and the 08, and I've driven both for prolonged periods.

Until I see something definitive in print from Acura, I'm not believing the hype.

BTW, I bought a 08 RDX on Saturday.

XIS

tripp,

I believe your ass sensor....

Levy

I guess my butt sensor and his butt sensor have different calibration

jcbridges

As another Acura salesperson who drank the Kool-Aid on the 08 suspension getting refined as passed that info on as confirmed to the AZine community let me be the first to call

Next time try the search feature first!

Tripp11

Could be a California v. Midwest thing...

Levy

In time, you'll see I was right about the suspension. Test driving the RDX day in, day out - and selling them - allows me to know the suspension pretty well.

The suspension has been re-tuned. I know that from experience. As for Acura confirming it, they would never admit that the '07 setup was a mistake since this is a new model.

black label

They wouldn't admit it was a mistake (I don't think it was anyway), they would say the the 08 suspension was "refined".

From my seat time, I can't tell a difference.

Tripp11

You've been in the car game for 6 months, my fault....you're right.

Ron A

.

pmaggan

Maybe we should check with the parts department and see if there is a different part number for the struts/shocks from 2007 to 2008.

phoward_15

Tripp....what options did you get on your 08 RDX and what was your price? Just curious as I'm getting closer and closer here. Did you lease or finance?

jcbridges

Here is where this debate gets REAL interesting:

Part numbers for the rear shocks are the same from 07-08, but part numbers for the front struts are different!!

The conspiracy continues and MAYBE I take back my apology if my top secret source was right all along!!!LOL

Seriously though, I have driven both and they feel the same to me.

aceventura

Tell me what you think Luis.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1567

Thanks!
Jay

jwaters943

Just out of curiousity, did you make sure the tire pressures were the same in both the 2007 & 2008, and if so, did you drive them back to back on the same exact roads?

Weight can also be a factor to consider....some cars ride better when loaded down with a few hundered pounds of cargo and a full tank of gas and vice versa.

XLR8R

I'm glad that a a salesman is reading the enthusiast forums and educating himself about the product he sells. Really, that's great!

You may be the first car sales person who has a remote clue about the way automobiles function, or any knowledge at all about the specific autos he sells.

Any auto I've ever been interested in, I've researched first. An hour on the internet will yield more model specific knowledge than all the sales people on the floor have collectively.

I had to explain to my sales-person that: the RDX has a timing chain, not a belt; the chain operates the cams, not the fan; the Nav System does not have a touch screen; SH-AWD engages the rear wheels before the front wheels slip, and so on.

You are starting off right. You've chosen one of the easiest brands to sell and you are educating yourself about your product.. You'll have to study if you want to be respected by the modern educated consumer, especially Acura driving enthusiasts.

Hang in there, keep learning.

Levy

I use downtime to research Acuras in Google News, Yahoo Autos and etc (both press and user reviews). I also go to forums to make sure I know about all the bugs, problems, special character traits, etc.

The funny thing is that I had no idea how good Acuras were before I started working here. I was very ignorant about it - all I knew is that Acuras were the "luxury Hondas".

Patton

I'll add my $0.02 on this topic as I just bought a 2008 RDX tonight (CBP/Ebony Tech)...although I don't have it yet...didn't have my checkbook with me so I have to return tomorrow to pick it up. However, I did take a brief spin in it before coming home and I honestly didn't notice a much of a difference, however, its been 3 months since I've been in a 07. The good news is they gave me a 07 RDX as a loaner that I drove home so I should be in a better position to do a comparison tomorrow. It did seem more bouncy/stiff than the 08 I bought, but that could have been my imagination, tire pressure, etc..

I'll post tomorrow evening after I get home with the new car and let you know my thoughts.

Ohh...by the way, I paid $35,250 for my 08 Tech. Can't wait to pick it up tomorrow!

Rich

Lrpba300

:silvercup Now THAT was a good one XLR8R!!

Pacer

To you '08 buyers: CONGRATS and ENJOY! We hope you'll share your thoughts on differences b/w the model years.

To Levy: way to go, man! My kingdom for a knowledegeable, 'net savvy salesperson!

baboola

It's probably more mental than physical difference. Mind over Body! Personally I think it'd be pretty stupid to soften the suspension. RDX is a crossover between a sporty car and an SUV isn't it? If that is the case, why would acura sacrifice the sportiness for comfort when buyers are interested in the "crossover" nature to begin with? just my 2c though. everyone thinks differently and i'm probably an outlier in the crossover world

baboola

that sounds like a great deal. where you buying it?

Levy

Things get even weirder now. Two days ago, I almost sold a very late RDX Tech '07, but the customer (a girl) blew out of finance. Well, we kept the car around and today I got to drive it to the external lot (which we call "airport lot" because it's close to an airport).

Now, this is a very late RDX. We got it one or two weeks ago, after having absolutely no stock for a month and a half. I drove it to the airport then drove back... And noticed that the suspension setup is the same as the '08.

So there it is: in my opinion late '07s have the same setup as the '08. The car didn't bounce and didn't vibrate. It felt very different from our Demo unit, which is a VERY EARLY '07.

At first I didn't even notice it, but then I kept thinking "How come this is so smooth?" That's when it dawned on me, that I was driving one of the last '07s.

Patton

Pohanka Acura in Chantilly...I probably could have gotten it a bit cheaper, but I felt that about $900 over invoice was more than reasonable for a 2008 that just came off the truck a few hours earlier...it was the first 2008 RDX they have sold. :-)

Patton

Hmm...so maybe there was some sort of suspension adjustment mid model year 07 as some have claimed? The 07 demo RDX that I'm driving now until my 08 is ready to be picked up later today looks to be about mid-year...VIN is in the 9000 range. I only had a 5 minute drive in the 08 I purchased, but it seemed to feel less bouncy than the demo I have...but I should have a good basis for comparison when I get the 08 as I will have driven the 07 about 75 miles before I turn it back in.

phoward_15

Patton - When I purchase an '07 what's the best way to verify it was manufactured mid year? Is it the VIN being 9000+ or is there an easy way to find out? What does it mean when the VIN is 9000 and not some other number?

Thanks,
paul

chipt911

To quote a Jan. 07 post: ..."there should be a metal plate attached underneath the front of your windshield toward where the dash meets the windshield...should be on driver's side. That's your VIN = Vehicle Identification Number. The last five digits are what you want to look at; for example, if those numbers are 03811, this tells you your car was the 3,811th RDX manufactured in the 2007 model year."

Patton

That's what I understood as well...and since I believe there were about 25,000 or so RDX produced in 2007, I figured 9000 was a early-mid production vehicle in 2007.

phoward_15

Excellent. Thanks guys!

Is it a bad thing if part of the VIN # is scratched off? The sales person said no.....JUST KIDDING! JUST KIDDING!

I'll be sure to look for at least a 10000.

Pacer

Mine is in the 15xxx range, and I got it at the start of January. Hope that helps. I would also call 9xxx an early model. Not that it matters too much; I think they had most if not all the bugs ironed out by about 9 or 10k in the run. There were a few stereo and batt issues early on as I recall.

number84

you can also find your manufactured date on the sticker on the inside of the driver's side door.

Patton

Just got back to the office with my 2008 and compared to the 07 I had as a loaner, there is a definite difference in the suspension (IMHO). I don't perceive it as huge, but in the 07 I felt like I felt every little bump and felt like I was bouncing along....not in this car....its still stiff, but smaller bumps are now absorbed MUCH better. Could have been tire pressure for sure as I didn't check the tire pressure on the loaner...but there was a definite difference in my mind between the two.

jwaters943

...and the saga continues.

Anybody have any contacts at Acura? I want a definitive answer already!

FWIW, our family owned a 2002 Civic EX Coupe, and I remember reading in a major automotive publication (MotorTrend I believe), that Honda revised the suspension tuning due to complaints on the 2001 model from customers and in the automotive press. I never was able to find anything in writing from Honda NA stating that changes were made to the suspension. My point being.....I guess it's possible Acura did make some slight changes/revisions, but doesn't want to advertise it and potentially piss off 2007 RDX owners.

One has to wonder how the 2008 RDX would have fared in C&D's recent comparison test. The RDX's stiff ride was pretty much their only gripe.

Lrpba300

....ok. wHAT EXACTLY DO YOU CALL "EARLY" PRODUCTION VS "LATE Production? I'm curious!

XLR8R

I think you are right there.

IF there is a suspension softening as some auto mags have alluded to (late 07 models) Acura probably will not acknowledge it in a very public way until all of the stiffer sprung vehicles are sold. Then they will announce the "improvement".

I'm glad I got the first gen!

Levy

Okay. Early production is stock number 07007, our demo unit. Late production is 07494. So roughly 500 cars for our dealership alone.

XLR8R

The original springs will probably be offered as a "sport package" a la BMW X-3.

baboola

if that's the case i'm going to light fireworks and celebrate and laugh at all the '08 owners