The wife and I picked up her Grigio Metallic / Taupe
RDX with tech package. She loves it so much better than her X3si. So do I.

After driving it over the weekend and once the glitz and glam wore off. (ok, some of it has) I noticed the RDX is missing some simple things in this price range. I was wondering what else you all noticed or would like in yours.

- Heated steeringwheel
- Audio mute button on the steeringwheel
- Auto on headlights (that work without leaving them on all the time and letting the auto off shut them off.)
- Auto sensing wipers
- Homelink that doesn't work until the key is turned to position one or two. (this is a safety issue)
- Larger side mirrors

Have read all the litterature and it seems all of these features are missing features in the RDX tech package or base model.

Bob

 

The homelink in mine works without the key in the ignition at all.

 

I think he's saying that it should not work without the key in the ignition. In case you park on the street and someone breaks into your car, they can push the homelink button and get into your house by opening your garage.

 

Yeah I misunderstood thanks

 

Mine is missing self dimming mirrors (all of them)
Electric passenger's seat
A/C vent for rear seat
Maybe heated rear seats
DVD/A - Really?? WTF, save that and give me a memory card/USB slot
Adjustable suspension/power setting to Eco/Normal/Sport (two out of the three would be good)
and in the "really wish was an option" section, Diesel engine and Manual tranny

 

In order of importance to me:

- Power tilt/telescope
- cooled seats
- auto wipers
- auto lights
- power passnger seat
- auto dim side mirrors

I have a heated steering wheel on my Maxima and it's awesome, but there are bigger fish to fry.

 

A bigger turbo ;p

 

HID Highbeams
6th Gear
Comfort/Sport Suspension

 

In no specific order:

1) power tilt/scope - tied to the memory settings
2) better wheel/tire package
3) auto on/off lights
4) auto dimming instrument lights(my Lexus has this and it works great)
5) Rear a/c vents
6) multiple speeds on rear wiper
7) please for the love of all things holy do not bring the new Acura grill to the RDX
8) Ability to lower windows from key fob(the Acura web site says the car does this for years but I still see no proof)
9) Speaking of key fob..how about push button start and proximity entry
10) More power ports
11) Better iPod integration..along lines of new tsx
12) Power mirrors tied to memory settings
13) I dont need this in Florida but maybe a cold weather package for you northern people that adds the seat heaters in front and rear. For me this would allow me to not select the package and save some coin.
14) Type S model


whew...that isnt asking too much is it

 

The mirrors are tied to the memory settings (at least in my 08).

 

Ok so I had this issue with our Ridgeline actually. According to the dealership your keyfob has to be programmed for this. Apparently our Ridgeline wasn't set up this way from the factory so the tech at Honda took care of it for us. I think there is a way to do it yourself on the RDX. Ours worked from the get-go. To use the feature, as you may already know, you have to click and release the unlock then click it again and hold. The windows and sunroof should all open up until they are all the way open or until you let off the unlock button.

One thing I would like is the ability to roll them up with the keyfob! A power passenger seat and rear AC/heat vents would be nice too.

 

Started talking about it here

https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-rdx-2007-2012-147/missing-key-fob-controls-2009-a-684853/


Dont really know the resolution but pretty sure the RDX doesnt have this feature in '07, '08, or '09

 

I know ive said this a bunch of times in the (whats the 07 missing, 08 etc.) threads.

id say the most missed feature is the rear heat/ac controls/vents. they should be there. Also, figure out a way to make the floor align so that the passenger seats can recline (maybe just give them a few inches slack) but at least give them the ability to adjust. The CRV lets them recline because the cargo floor is extremely low/seats dont fold flat, ie they can be adjusted.

not that i would use it, but even the accord has auto ON/off headlights. that should be there w/o question.

Less plastic, more solid materials. No plastic allover the dash...use a nice metal type composite like the TL, it just adds a better overall impression to the car. The plastic pulls the looks dept. off...but then you realize its plastic.

other than that, i gotta say, pretty happy with the package...any additional stuff i would consider icing on the cake...seeinga few acura spec parts as options would be nice...maybe a handling package or something to that effect ya know? brakes/rims (like the type s TL) etc. Why not? they already make the stuff why not offer it as a dealer installed type thing..wouldnt hurt. If anything, the truck needs better breaks right off the bat.

 

Start/Stop button
Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel
Footwell lighting & ambient in the rear
Courtesy lights on back doors
Better cargo area lighting
Auto on/off headlights
Rain sensing wipers
HD AM radio
RDS radio display
Active noise control

 

Just to confirm what I think you said in your post... Your RDX has the ability to lower the windows from the remote?? What year do you have?

 

u hit on a good one, the lighting in the truck sucks...especially the cargo area...1 tiny little light, that you need to switch on, at night its a frog's breath. id definately say better lighting and/or led lighting

I differ on the noise control....unless its a better or different system, the one they have out now does next to nothing....BUT, the RDX would benefit GREATLY from much better sound damping/deadening its just too noisy and makes the truck very unrefined. I take a drive in the Accord and you know the suspension is working, except you cant hear it. Same drive with the RDX, you can hear almost everything going on under the car

 

Coming from an '06 RL my '08 RDX is certainly lacking in many areas. However, the RL was $49K and the RDX was $36. That $13K buys a lot of extra goodies, but I still fault Acura for making the RDX on the cheap sort of.

 

BINGO! this is a safety issue. Yes, the obvious answer is don't leave your RDX outside unlocked or even outside. Anybody can just push the button and whala, your garage is opened and they are in your house.

Anybody from Acura or Honda visit this forum? I'm too new to the site and don't know the frequent posters.

 

My RDX lives in the garage, but my TL has to live outside on the driveway. I purposely un-programmed the homelink from the TL for this very reason. If someone breaks into my car outside, they would have access to my house! When I drive the TL, I carry the garage door remote with me. I never leave it in the car overnight.

 

Is the electrical wheel adjustment that big a deal? I only adjusted the steering wheel the day I drove off the lot, not even when my wife and I switch cars is it moved....
I want to add to my original list the RDS radio display (that's what tells you what's being played, right?)
Push start is more of a luxury I believe, I do find the key annoying though, I don't think it needs to be that big...
Rain sensing wipers are good, I love them in my Saab, However, I think that the Acura is good without them...
I would like to have the ability to turn off the DaytimeRunningLights, I hate the fact that there is no manual override of it.
Ipod integration would be nice, specially if you consider that the Sentra based Rogue has it at a very much lower bracket of car.
For us in the colder climates, how about a factory remote starter?

 

Not a huge deal, but the tilt/telescope isn't the most user friendly system and I need to adjust it up/down on exit/entry. Something electornic with memory is very nice.

Also, Canadians can get a remote start as a factory accessory (I have it). It's a big fob and it shuts off when you unlock the doors (which goes against pretty much every remote starter on the planet) so you have to restart once you get in. it also has fairly weak range, but it is a 2-way starter.

 

ya id say from a practical standpoint, how many times is the steering wheel adjusted?

 

If you share the car with someone else it becomes more of an issue. My wife is over a foot shorter than I am and believe me it is a big deal. If it is electric it is tied to the memory settings so it is always in the same place. Also some electric steering columns do an auto move up and in when you turn the car off to make it easier to get out. Then when you start the car it puts it to the memory setting.

My point on these issues is that Acura IS a luxury brand and some of these are like you said a luxury. When Nissans and Hondas have these same features it just would be nice to also have the top tier brand have them.

 

For me, everytime I get in and out. Some cars are better for this than others, but I need to adjust everytime in the RDX and it's not the best system either. Nissan has a spring loaded system which is far easier to do (one hand for example).

 

just out of curiosity, why are you moving it when u get in and out? Why not let it stay?

 

Our HomeLink buttons work normally when the car is completely off. Perhaps you're thinking of the HandsFreeLink (phone link)?

Other missing features often found in this price range are reclinable rear seats and an auto open/close rear liftgate. Bigger brakes would be nice, too.

- DDB

 

Doh!! Sorry folks...I was totally wrong on this. Sorry to mislead anyone here. I just had a mental brainfart and thought this car, like our other 2 Acuras and the Ridgeline, had this feature but I guess not.

 

Here's my list (3 gripes):

1. A Nav display that's actually viewable in bright daylight (no matter how I adjust the brightness, contrast, or black-level)!!!

2. A memory function for the position of the driver's seat and mirrors (I'm 5'10" and my wife is 5' 1", and it's a drag re-adjusting the seat & mirrors)

3. Better gas mileage! Our RDX sees 60% - 40% of city - highway driving and we are averaging only 14 mpg!!!

 

Your #2 was addressed for 2008. I get 19 mpg in pure city driving - which is decent.

 

I knew that the '08 added my #2 gripe, but I'd sure like to know your 'secret' to getting 19 mpg in pure city driving (that's outstanding)! Whenever we do anything close to mostly city driving between fill-ups (with our '07) we only get about 11 mpg! Was there an engine mod in the '08 that increased mpg?

 

Not that I know of. I drive reasonably normal. A few WOT runs but mostly a bit reserved. I'm running about 34 psi in the tires, have a K&N drop in filter and run typical gas (usually 91, but right now I'm running 94 octane E10). I almost always turn off the A/C too, unless I need it. My mileage will likely drop when the weather gets a bit colder as well.

On the highway. I get about 22-23 at 75-78 mph.

 

I'll have to check my tire pressure, but I don't think it's as high as yours. Btw, what is a K&N 'drop in' - a fuel-filter?

 

The K&N is an air filter. The drop-in is just a direct replacement for the stock air filter (as opposed to replacing the entire box).

 

The seating position I have, I would have to squeeze under the steeting wheel. I've tried adjusting it different ways, but there just isn't an easy way in/out.

My old car, I could adjust it down and just leave it - but not this one.

 

The previous owner of mine (only had it for 5K) couldn't fit in it very well, he had to upgrade to big brother MDX....

 

ddb,

You missed the point. Why should your home link work when the key is not in the ignition? This is a safety issue.

It should not work this way. When the key is in the off position or not in the ignition your Homelink should not work.

 

Really the passenger power seat is the big thing I wish I had--more for the near infinite adjustment than the convenience.

Don't need any of the heated stuff--I live in the Dallas area.

Don't need rain sensing wipers--again, I live in the Dallas area and it just doesn't rain enough to warrant the expense.

USB would be nice, but real functioning iPod link would be better.

I don't think I have ever parked my car outside of my garage at home other than when I was installing the radar detector.

I think the car has rear toe vents under the seats.

I think memory seats would be neato, but obviously (I have a 2007) were not a deal breaker.

My biggest wish--that the car ran leaner on 93 octane and made more power with lower consumption. I think a good 93 octane tune would pretty easily make 300 hp. The factory tune dumps gas under boost--I would love to see an A/F graph.

 

I wish I could find one with the 19" wheel option to test drive. There is not one dealer out here for me to test one at all. I don't even know what it looks like.
aaron

 

The reason you can't find an RDX on the lot with the 19s is that the MSRP would be about $43K and no one I know will pay that for an RDX.

 

I looked up the prices for the wheels and tires on my dealer's website. They range from $3,434 to $3,721 (depending if you want the sparkle ones or not) without the 7% Indiana sales tax. The wheels alone are like $561 to $632 each plus tax.