likes: spunky 4-turbo, great handling, decent audio (stock), back up camera, steering wheel and instrument panel quite complicated (like playing with the MID)

dislike: "body feels like a tin can" - easily dinged

 

Like: Turbo, SH-AWD, Seats ( I feel like I sit in it and not on it), HID headlights

Dislikes: MPG, TPMS, 18" stock wheels, HVAC button location, Paying for Navigation system updates

 

'09 RDX Tech

Dislikes:
- inside door handle very weak (crackles with minimal hand pressure)
- low lighting on steering wheel controls
- lack of CD title and track info
- lack of song title info on FM radio stations
- poor iPod integration
- fuel economy could be better
- lack of option to go from awd to fwd/rwd
- expected more mileage between oil changes
- stock alloy rims (cheap center cap)
- Difficult to find places on Navi (ie/ search for Home Depot and first hit is in a different province/state/country)
- cheap speakers (replace passenger speaker within a year)
- same old interior

Likes:
- love the SH-AWD
- good acceleration
- paddle shifts (good for downshiting into a turn)

Summary:
For a car company that brands itself as Advance, you would expect to see better high tech electronics and interior quality. Seriously, the interior of the new CRVs are better quality and dare I say have equal or better electronics.

 

Like Poloroid11, I have a 2009 RDX w/ Tech package.

Like after 2 years of ownership:
- Most, well, nearly everything.

Wishlist if I could speak to Acura representatives / engineers one day:
- Why are we charged so much more for the same vehicle in Canada compared to the US?
- For the amount paid for the car, I would expect to see more - not just for the price of the car in Canada but also because the competition exceeded the RDX in many ways.
- Brighter backlit controls on the steering wheel.
- Motorized steering console (tuned to the memory of the seat).
- Seatback heating for the front passenger's heated seat.
- Side mirrors that fold in with motorized controls when parked.
- Motorized rear cargo door. (Or handles on both sides of the door, not just the right.)
- Better fuel economy (I think I should own Chevron shares now with the amount of gas purchased!)
- iPod integration - not sure why it was never really there until 2010 / 2011.
- Bluetooth integration for phones.
- Better navigation screen - detail, colours, interface - starting to get dated.
- Hard-drive based navigation.
- I agree with what others have said - the touch interface on the CRV and TL for navigation is faster and easier than the control knob.
- Cleaned up navigation (though this may not be Acura's problem - I just want to know why Costco can be listed so many times under so many names when one entry for the vendor will do).
- One more thing on navigation: I would have paid a little more upfront ($200-$400) if they just gave me 5 years, 10 years, or lifetime updates rather than having to order DVD's occasionally.

Overall, if I had to do it again, I think I would, though buying a used RL for the same price would yield a softer, more comfortable ride for nearly the same amount of money.

 

2008 White with tech package

Love:

Handling
Looks - pre 2010 - hate new front
Nav System Very good - easy to use better than my brothers X5 by far
Rear Camera - Clear and bright even at night
Rear floor continuous- No bump
Comfortable front seats
Dearlership had free oil changes for life!!



Hate or to be improved....

OEM tires
Flimsy left foot rest on drivers side
Shift paddles on steering wheel rather than column??? Cant shift while turning unless you are a contortionist. quite amusing actually.
Water in doors after rain or car wash (roll down windows then back up they are soaked??)
Paint Job...plastic pieces very distinguishable from metal because of paint.
flimsy rear seats...feel like cardboard when you fold down
Trunk latch - would love auto shut and open.
Original battery didn't last long though replaced under warranty

 

OK, so if the 2010 RDX has a washer fluid indicator, where is it? I have looked at the parts diagram, and it is not obvious. Would it be possible to upgrade an '09 RDX with this indicator? Anyone try this?

 

In the Canadian models, the washer fluid level switch is installed in the bottom of the reservior aft of the pump motor.

It looks like you would need either the 2010 US parts, or the Canadian level switch and possibly the Canadian reservior with the extra hole for it. (Don't know if the US reservior has that hole capped off or not there at all.)

Also not sure if the older US model has the wiring and connector plug.

However, I have a Mitsubishi car which has the wiring and the connector plug for the level sensor -- all I would need to do is get a sensor and install it.

 

Hate:
-No rain channel on the rear trunk so water drips on your head and down your back. Fixed in the 2010 model though.
-needs a powerlift for the rear as well, and a better handle to close the rear, also fixed in the 2010 model.
-needs automatic lights and automatic rain sensors.
-needs radio RDS

Like:
-wiper blades refills are cheap and easy to clean from the dealer.
-

 

2007 RDX w/Tech Package

I've had mine for four days now. I bought it from a local dealer with 59k miles on it (just getting broken in as I understand). The only reason I bought it was because I know the brand's reliability... and the p/o maintained records that rival mine (I scan all receipts, keep a spreadsheet...) Anyhow...

 

2011 RDX/Tech

Likes: seats, acceleration, sound system, paddle shifters, looks, SH-AWD, probably more

Dislike: MPG, windows don't open from key fob like my '09 TSX, no tailgate release, no power tailgate like much cheaper cars have, lower body panel different color than car (CRV style), My Dealer service department, no push button start like cheap KIA has

 

2008 base

Hate
Lacks HD Radio
Road noise
Lack sun glasses holder

Love
2008 Base features (memory seats and blue tooth)
Style
Price
Reliability

 

likes HID,SH-AWD, MID , Turbo ?
dislikes being told they have to do a oil consumption test and i have to pay for it and its normal to burn 1qt oil per 1000 miles . so long RDX

 

What's an oil consumption test? They look at the dipstick to see how much oil was consumed?

 

you really don't want to know but you can do a search on it. make sure you check your oil at every fill up

 

2007 RDX Base

** Note: most of these would not be listed if I had gotten a 2008 or newer base, or one with tech **

Hate:
MPG
No power passenger seat...just makes me feel like my car is cheap
Lack of ANY tech features in the base (bluetooth, backup cam, memory seats, etc...but this was added in 2008 and on)
No water channel in the rear (someone else mentioned this...getting wet when opening the lift gate)
No auto-dimming mirror (again...fixed in 2008 and on)

Love:
Pretty much everything else, but specifically...
SH-AWD
Paddle shifters
All black interior with only SILVER trimmings (no woodgrain woohoo!)
Turbo
Exterior styling


Some had mentioned there not being a washer fluid level indicator, but I think it does have one. Mine came on briefly (1-2 seconds) when my washer fluid was low. It didn't stay on but I couldn't spray either of my windshields, and once when I tried I saw the light flicker. I don't know what's wrong with my sensor or light, but I know it's there.

 

Likes: Really fun to drive (I can't get enough of it)
Got some power
Handling
Looks

Dislikes:
Engine fan is always on
Voice controlled navigation is a bit of a pain

 

2009 base model

Likes:
Performance
Leather finish
instrumentation
handling

Dislikes:
Rough ride for passenger
premium fuel; but many cars use this now
lack of MP3/iPod support unless you use AUX jack
lack of method to increase threshold for TPM system!

 

I agfree with you. I have simular milage and can never get parts. This weekend the breaks bound up after they were rebuild in April and I have to wait twi days for new brake lines.
Last year it took five weeks to get an air conditioner compressor.

 

The availability of parts is poor in NJ. Could not get an air conditioner compressor for five weeks and now cannot get brake lines for two days. Nothing like being without a car because Acura stocks no parts.

 

Hate: The power lift gate opens too high to allow me to put things inside while in our garage. There should be a way to reset the opening height like in the Cadillac SRX or whatever it is called.

 

2009 Acura RDX
Like: SH-AWD is so good in icy/winter conditions
Turbo--so fun to drive
Minimal maintenance (just love hondas)

Dislike: Cheap leather-put seats down and leather got damaged by seat belts
rubber things at the bottom of the door--such lousy finish
Suspension is just not right
Acura dealers--two I have dealt with just try to rip you off.

 

PLG??? wrong generation.

 

I hate the abysmal MPG driving around town. Lucky to hit 15 mpg. Love everything else about the car.

 

We have a 2018 RDX. We love driving on the highway - smooth, fast. We hate the fact that on local roads, EVERY bump reverberates through the car. It's awful. Our Odyssey road better than this car! We have the tech package with navigation. Complete garbage. Voice prompts not recognized many times and navigation is terrible. We have gotten the wrong directions many times. The car is an overall disappointment. Would not lease another RDX.

 

How did you manage to find this mis-placed thread that hasn't been updated in 5 and a half years? Also, 2018 forums are over here: https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...2013-2018-404/

Still, if you're that disappointed with it, maybe Acura will cut you a deal on a 2019 lease if you turn in the 18. Brand new platform, could be worth checking out. Good luck!

 

The 2018 was the 2nd gen RDX which was very much softened up compared to the 1st gen. If you felt the 2nd gen was too jarring and want a more pillowy soft ride, none of the Acura cars are for you. Look at Lexus or Buick, maybe some Toyotas.