jchau2012

Hi all,
I have a chance to buy an RDX 2012. Do I buy now or wait for 2013 comes out and what is the price and spec difference?

thanks in advance,
jc

JMJ3rd

Post your question here in the Acura RDX Discussion. You may get a better response. This is the Gallery for pics.

x2lacrosse

I know this is quoted too much, but it really depends on what you're looking for. IMO, the '13 has morphed into a much more mature and dare I say, less sporty look. While a lot of people thought the current one looks too jagged and awkward, I think it looks more sporty and has an edge to it. The new one seems to have "grown up" and looks a little too bland for me. It also has hidden exhaust look, so if you want to see it (which I do), then the '13 would be a no-go. The other huge diff is the engines as the '13 has switched to the J35 engine. If you're using the car as a DD and do a lot of city driving, then I'd think the new one would be the better way to go. I have an '08 and while I think it's a blast to drive on a back road, the lag makes it harder to deal with in traffic. We all know the Turbo 4 miserably failed Honda's fuel efficiency goal; thus the switch to the J which is supposed to be more FE, despite being a much bigger engine.
Also, the '13 has a few new tech features like built-in texting, Pandora, push-button start just to name a few.
In all the articles I've seen, I don't think price points for the '13 were announced.

For more details on the '13, dimensions are at bottom of article:
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1038191

Pics here:
http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-ar...cle_id=1039529

If I were to pick, I'd get a '10, '11 or '12 version.

mrgold35

I have an 08 RDX tech and the all new 2013 has caught my eye. I'm just a little leary about buying the first year of a new model. I like to keep my vehicles +150,000 miles and usually the 2nd to 3rd model years are pretty rock solid for Acura.

Acura will have a mid-model make over by 2015-2016 and I expect updated styling, improved tech, and maybe an advance model. I rather wait until then before replacing the 08 RDX.

If I was only keeping my new vehicle for a short amount of time (4 years/50,000 miles or less) I would go for the 2013 RDX. I think the 2013 upgrades are worth the price over the 2012 model.

x2lacrosse

Prices have been posted:

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1042689

Acura604

2013 FTW. U really want a 2010-2012 with the ridiculous front end beak?

x2lacrosse

The '13 still has the plenum grill, or beak as you call it. Personally, I'll take the beak on the old ones b/c the rest of it looks more sporty than the new one. The new one really has morphed into a small MDX and looks too soft and conservative to me. It's weird b/c numbers-wise, the new one is not much bigger, yet it looks bigger. People have always bitched about Honda's being too boring. Well, I think the 10-12 RDX stands out and looks good enough while doing it.
Not to mention that the character of the new car will be drastically different; it will go from an actual sporty CUV to just a touring vehicle. The stiff suspension was one of the things people complained about most, so I guaruntee that this new one will be much softer and compliant 2 please the masses. The new one will not make you want to seek out a back road; it will be happiest touring on a highway, running errands in, taking the kids to their game, etc. The engine switch completes that philosophical change.
So, while looks are important, so is the character and mission of the vehicle. For me, I'd rather have the current RDX for it's sportiness and ability to play on a nice back road.

jcl78

Yeah, that's a good reason to get a 2013, the new soccer mom mobile because of the beak. First off, the 2010+ is a much more cohesive design than the 07-09, exhaust finishers, one piece front end, fog light surrounds etc. Compared to the 2013, since there is no fire in the RDX I would take a 2010+ > 2007-09 > 2013. Scratch that, I would never buy a 2013 RDX for any reason.

Opinions are like... well you know.

08FLrdxSH-AWD

I did get the chance to see and stand fairly close to the new 2013 RDX at the cleveland auto show this past month. I will say that the new approach that they took on it is what they should have done to it 6 years ago, to me, the looks are pretty bland, almost lexus-like. the new AWD system in them too is not what we are used to either, rather than being "Super-Handling" like the previous model, it is a much more dulled down and straightforward system. Although Acura does say that it will help with weight (shedding between 200-300 lbs) i just dont see al the excitement behind this new one like i thought i would.

richardyc

The biggest deal breaker for me is the CRV AWD system now the 2013 has, I just can get pass that it's a cheaper system yet they charge more for it.

NJSGTI

I have never owned a RDX but I have driven a 2008 and 2010 model before when my Acura was in for service and I test drove a brand new 2013 two days ago. Overall I think the 2013 is a better car. The exterior styling is a little bland but overall pretty good looking in my opinion. I never really loved the front end styling of the last generation. I really hope they offer some optional wheels cause the stock ones are kinda small and boring looking. The interior was very nice and a lot roomier than the older models. When it comes to driving the car I think it has a smoother and more pleasant drive but that also takes away from the fun factor that came with the turbo. My girlfriend had a 2010 Lexus RX350 and I think the new RDX is pretty close to that car but has a little more feeling when it comes to the steering and handling. The 2013 also has better mpg which these days is a big +.

Joe Las Vegas

Save your money and get an 09

backwoody

I'm just a new guy, but it appears to me that the '13 RDX has some decent engineering advantages over the previous incarnation (regardless of differences in driving preferences). The new engine is a substantially stronger, with a smoother power curve across rpm ranges. New tranny is 6 speed, suspension is markedly improved, IMHO, with two-stage shocks that ride smooth on decent pavement but still react properly to the bumps of dirt roads, gravel, snow/slush, etc. MPG is much better - even better than advertised in my case - close to 33 on the highway.

Some drivers will prefer the ride, engine, tranny of previous models - but most drivers will find the '13 version more suitable. The '13 is also more spendy.

For thrashing about, I strongly prefer a good sports car - not an SUV. :-)

DRR98

^And when I'm in my cuv I prefer it to be more performance oriented than most. You'll never hear me complain about too stiff suspension.

I'm trying to learn to love the '13 as we will be near 100k miles in about 3 more years at the rate we are using ours. and used RDX's are not as good a value, or hold re-sale too well for me to buy used. I may have to look at other than Honda in 3 years. (If still employed!)

And yes, we do own a sports car, a gm vert. Still the RDX is our go to car. Both are fun to drive. I don't know what you mean by thrashing?

Torque vectoring is not needed by everyone but a driver gets an added value using it.

backwoody

DRR98, sorry I used the term 'thrashing' - my wife used it first, riding with me on what was probably her first ride in a higher-performance car, near the limits of the car's capability. I called it a 'ride'- with hard accelerations, quick braking, and high-G turns on a twisting mountain road I know well. She called it a 'thrash' - and I don't expect my new RDX to perform that way. Plus - my lady would be cranky. :-)

DRR98

Ha, I think of moving violently when I hear "thrashing about".

In a car? Thats called crashing, right?

Smooth is more disireable. But I guess my wife slightly leans that way in feelings about this too.

Vividsi

I wanted the most performance thats why I chose the 2009. stiffer shocks over 2010+, SH-AWD over most 2010+ and all 2013+, the new 2013 RDX is more like the CRV with a nicer interior, just like the ILX is a civic with a nicer interior. Its getting harder to tell acura from honda with these two new cars. I really wanted to buy the 2013 RDX but when they revealed it having the same AWD as the CRV that was the deal breaker, otherwise everything else was what I wanted fixed on the 12 model.

DRR98

^You don't mention the turbo. Not sure how missing that turbo kick is a fix?

Oh mpg vs performance (>tq) you mean?

Turns the RDX into a typical Honda product, that is, put your foot in it and wait, and at some point up the revs it starts to finally make power.
More top end power than bottom end grunt, which is where you really need it most.

Thirsty

MotorWeek just reviewed the 2013 RDX on 10/21/12. I watched it a couple times to really get a feel for what they thought of it. I watch MotorWeek often and they usually speak in positive terms even when something isn't to their liking. What I took away from the show was that they liked the older model due to it's sporty-ness and SHAWD, and felt that Acura targeted the "been-there-done-that" (their words!) folks with the new RDX. I don't think they liked the intrusion of the CRV AWD or other characteristics, nor were they impressed with the styling and the larger than expected price jump. Overall the 2013 RDX is a great vehicle but they couldn't express that it was a major improvement over the older model. Personally, I like hearing about the new 6-cylinder and better gas mileage.

Vividsi

I could really care less if my rdx had a V6 or a turbo 4 becuase both of those motors make great power, I bought it becuase of SH-AWD, Acura has just closed the gap between the CRV and new RDX.