I borrowed an RDX Tech from my local dealer for the evening. I had been on two brief test drives over the past few weeks. I wanted to take it out longer to get a better feel for it. It's quite a ride, folks. Most of you [RDX owners] already know this, so please forgive me for stating the obvious.

I didn't get on it as I reserved this evening for "sensible" driving to see what kind of mpg I could get with taking it easy. So I limited myself to probably 90% sensible/10% spirited (but safe) driving. After about 30 miles, the trip computer was showing something like 18mpg. It started at 14, and there was actually quite a lot of stop and go...probably half was city traffic and lights. I suspect the mpg would increase to a combined 21 if I made a habit out of [mostly] taking it easy.

This is clearly a performance vehicle. It is ready to go when you are -- although it also seemed fairly easy to keep the turbo in check and thus mpg higher. (Scratching my head on all the confusion here; maybe I have a refined right foot from driving standards the past 20 years?) Tomorrow morning the genie comes out of the bottle: I plan to get a better feel for the performance angle.

Gripe: I don't know if it was just this one tester, but the heated seats were slow to warm (for both my gf and me) and when set to low they were not adequate. When set to high, they were just barely adequate -- high felt like low. This is over a perod of 30 minutes or so with outside temps of 40F. And I'm generally not a cold person.

Has anyone else noticed a problem with the seat heaters? Maybe this one car has a bad set of butt warmers. Suffice it to say I won't be buying THIS RDX; another one, yes, there is a very good chance. Contrast this with the seat heaters in my late wife's '99 TL which warmed quickly and really roasted you if they were set on high.

Last gripe: I gave it a good listen, and the engine was louder than I suspected it would be. But that will likely be dismissed in the morning after taking the RDX through some paces. With the radio on, loud engine was gone. So the point is mostly moot unless your lady/s.o. "wants to talk." Then it's time to turn up the radio anyway, eh? J/K, ladies.

The headlights offer extraordinary vision, very much like my S2K. The interior is nicely appointed and has a sporty yet upscale feel. No, not burled walnut and champagne glasses, but ack I'd rather have things on the sporty side than the Robin Leach one. Everything seems like it'll be pretty easy to operate once the manual is digested. Acura: make the fogs HIDs as well. Tsk, tsk.

The suspension is taut, indeed. It doesn't bother me (it's actually an improvement on my Element, ha) coming from my other rides. But I CAN see where it would bother someone who came over from a minivan, sedan or MDX-type of vehicle. Tradeoffs of a performance vehicle, you know? This is not a cushy ride, folks. For that, stay in the sedan or van/large SUV.

Seats: comfortable, supportive. GF did not complain like she does when I take fast corners in the E. (She is usually almost in my lap after a fast corner in the E...uh, sorry, babe!)

Paint: Didn't get a real good look at it as it was late afternoon when I took it. I will say this black tester looks A LOT better than I thought it would. I had my mind set on bronze but this black has me thinking of switching...it seems to have some blue in it that gives it an intriguing look. My last black car was an '86 Prelude and it sure looked great -- when it was CLEAN, ha!

I'll be interested to see what my dealer offers for the Element.

If you're shopping the RDX, I hope this helps a bit. Good hunting, all.

 

btw, you must a bad butt warmer. i can't keep mine on high for fear of getting a burn! they heat up in seconds! low is perfect.

 

Great review. I think I'll go to the dealer and request that he let me take it out for a 30 + mile "jaunt".

Thanks for the effort in the write up. Good job and I appreciate it.

.

 

I scheduled a test drive for tomorrow. Can't wait!

 

The seat warmers in my 04 TL are weak too. It does take them time to warm up on the High setting. They're nothing like the ones I had in my old 00 Monte Carlo. On high, it would get uncomfortably hot.

I also went on an RDX test drive with my Dad the other day, he's lookin at an RDX or MDX. I didn't drive it, but liked the inside. The only bad thing, and possible deal breaker, was my right knew was only about an inch away from the dash with the seat all the way back.

Joe

 

Update: I took the RDX out again Thursday in spirited mode. Suffice it to say that while I'm no expert, it moved and drove great on both straight and curvy roads. I didn't experience the understeer others have mentioned; maybe it's because I didn't floor it from a stop. In my driving, I typically put my speed bursts on from 5 or 10mph to 60mph...such as when turning onto an onramp or passing on the interstate...so that's exactly how I drove this RDX. Maybe that's the reason I didn't have a problem with it. That, or I'm inherently used to driving Hondas and their acceleration behaviors just feel completely natural to me.

I can also say that turbo lag was not an issue for me; by saying "not an issue" I mean whatever lag there may or may not be, acceleration was not a problem for me. I'm not being dismissive here, I just honestly didn't feel like lag was a problem.

The RDX actually feels and behaves somewhat like my S2K -- just point it and go. (Granted, the RDX weighs a lot more, and that's evident in an extremely tight corner, but man can this thing move for being a big boy.) And I'm kind of eating my words here as I had chided FabVSix a few weeks ago when he (IIRC) made a similar comment. He clarified by saying something to the effect of their engines had a similar feel, and he is right on the money: raspy and ready to run is how I'd describe them both. Handling the road is a ridiculous amount of fun in the RDX. I also did a braking maneuver that left me utterly impressed at the car's responsiveness, control and safety.

The heated seat (driver's side; I didn't have a passenger that morning) warmed better and faster than it did the night before. I can't explain that other than maybe like the car, they just have a short break-in period as well.

Thanks for the kind words on my review. Again, I hope this is helpful to those looking at the RDX. As I've been talking with several dealers the past week or two, I can also tell you it's best to shop around. The deals are out there for those willing to look.

 

Glad to hear the seat heaters are working better. Mine are perfect. Heat up fast and low is a comfortable temperature.

In-law's Blazer seat heaters set your on fire on low!

 

So what's your next move?

I noticed understeer when taking corners casually, about the same as most other vehicles. When you push it a little harder and apply throttle exiting a turn, the tail will come around a little better as the SH-AWD works its magic. Somewhat similar to a RWD vehicle where you can modulate understeer with the throttle. With SH-AWD, you just have to push it a little harder. The guys at TOV noted this as well.

 

I hear you on all that. My next move...is to see what avenue will be best for the sale of the Element. Then make the best deal I can on the Acura. I'll probably buy before the month is out.

 

do you guys think dealers are desperate right now?

would be great if they give you tmv for your trade-in while giving you the rdx for invoice. that would be the best case scenario for a prospective buyer such as myself. Everyone knows the dealer always go a few grand below its' true value, which sucks. That would be the cost of me negotiating for an rdx at invoice is them ripping me off on the appraisal.

Do you guys think a dealer would be that desperate (especially end of month, and end of year and really slow RDX sales) would lose out in such a way? I really hope so when I check the car out, tomorrow.

 

I got this email yesterday:




AAA-Rated No.#1 in Best Buying Experience


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***Every NEW RDX In-Stock Will Be***
***Priced at $300 Over Invoice ***

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*First Complimentary Oil Change with Every New Vehicle Purchase
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*$50 Gift Certificate to anyone in our Referral Program
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P

 

wow, next step is to haggle below invoice ^_^

 

Animagix is right. A couple of us have received quotes uunder invoice. I bought for $200 under invoice but did get a last minute quote of $500 under. Plus with the special financing (3.0% for 36 months and 4.9% for 48 to 60 months) this can make for one sweet deal. Jay

 

the interest rates are VERY good (if you qualify). The RDX was projected to sell 40,000 a year and since it launched in august, that gave it half a year to sell at most 20,000 cars. Based on the reports I've seen, they only managed to sell around one thousand vehicles per month or less and are now overstocked.

I was initially turned off by the $36k pricetag w/tech until I went on this forum to see that invoice prices or lower is not only possible but is widespread.

BTW, I'm meeting acura at noon today. Any tips I should be armed with? I'm bringing an rx8 as a trade-in, if that info helps any.

thanks,

 

Just do it. The cars alot of fun, and the service is #1.

 

If they send me unsolicited emails for $300 over invoice, it tells me you are right and they need to move some units.

My advice to you is: So long as you know your numbers and have done your research, you will be ok.

#1 Rule: Dont get emotional !! It's just a car and there are plenty of others around. That's how a lot of people end up getting buried in thier car purchase - they get emotional (which includes being "tired") and they give up and "roll over" as we used to say.

Side note: Be reasonable. If you keep grinding for a below invoice deal and decide that is all you are going to take - so be it. But for me a $200 to $300 over invoice deal is good also and I'd loose no sleep over the difference. Heck, that's the kind of deal you get on a GM vehicle right now, and a RDX is not a GM POS.

Good luck

 

aren't GM's made in ohio as well? J/K.

 

What Rizzo said. All of it.

 

just came back from a test drive from plaza auto mall of brooklyn. The car felt nice, i'm not going to write a review of my experience except it was very positive and everything I expected. I don't entirely believe what the Trip meter is reading. It fluctuated from 11mpg to 24 mpg and I remember seeing the same thing on my 2000 A4. The service guy who took care of us hadn't a f@ckin clue about the car, I did most of the talking and it seemed like I was trying to sell the car to him. lol.

Anyway, I think it was pretty possible to get the car around invoice, the dealer sounded pretty desperate to get rid of them. They tried to sell the damn thing for 37k, told them to try again. Seems like these guys will bring it down to invoice. The only problem was, they wanted to lowball me for my trade-in (2004 rx8 gt w/nav 6spd 19,500 miles) for $13,000. I just laughed at the guys' face and left after that.
I'm just going to wait to see if anyone wants to purchase my old ride first. The finance guy said the value for mazda's go down very fast, which is true. So will his RDX's since no one is buying/leasing them. I'm not desperate so we'll see.

 

I think this coming week will be the week they try to push sales. Not too many people are going car shopping the week after xmas.

 

Good attitude, it will help if they are more desperate than you.

I was able to negotiate the RDX for invoice way back in October, and that's more or less been the best deal as I continued shopping around through November. They are always about $2K too low on my trade however, which has held me back. If RDX sales continue to slump, I expect they may do better on the trade. Especially if Acura pushes dealer cash at some point, as they did with the RL.