benezet

Hi! I'm new to this forum and am looking for some insight. I just sold my car and am going to buy an RDX AWD (not tech). When selling my car (and other cars too), I know that there is steep depreciation from one model year to the next, even if the cars have the same mileage. And I know that the RDX has changed model years for 2013 and 2014 in early April.

Given all that, I'm trying to figure out when to buy the RDX. My husband has a car and I can try to muddle through until April by sharing with my daughter, but it is somewhat of a pain. But I also don't want to buy a 2014, and have it worth $1200 less than if I just waited six weeks.

Does anyone have any experience in buying a 2013 right before/right after the 2014 came out? And how much of a discount did you get? And when the new model year comes out, are there still discounts? Right now TrueCar is showing about $1700 off for a 2014 AWD no tech, for a price of $35100, although I think I may be able to get it for $34,600.

Thanks!

wildeklave

You can probably get some good deals on the 2014 models. If you wait 6 weeks the deals will be even better. Since you are not getting tech you may not see many updates. No one knows what will be updated but most likely the tech items will be updated first.

I would suggest getting a price from TrueCar, Costco, or Edmunds and then see if the dealer will beat it. You can always threaten to walk out and say you will be back in 6 weeks.

If you like the car the way it is today and are not waiting for updated features than just try and work your best deal now. If there is a feature you want and it may be available next year then wait for it.

benezet

Dealers haven't beaten TrueCar/USAA. In fact one dealer wouldn't even meet USAA price. Said you can get anything off the internet. So best I can do now is about $2100/2200 off MSRP.

Are changes expected? This is only the third year after remodel?

Can't get Acura to tell me when 2015 will be released. Grr.

BlackDogRDX

... Anything. Don't hold your breath for anything - features or release date. If you can keep waiting, the price will keep going down as the '15 model approaches and is released. But that's also weeks and months without the car. Depends if it's worth it to you.

ottoman101

When the 2015's are released you probably wont get any deals or discounts right away, prompting you to wait a few months longer. Just something to consider. I personally wouldn't bother waiting.

Besides, any new car will lose value quicker than your payoff rate in the first year or two. Just dont think about it and enjoy the car. LOL

wildeklave

I know a couple of people that got deals better than True car by shopping around. They got prices from True Car and Costco (basically the same price). Then they went to dealers and played the dealers off of each other via emails. They were able to get a few hundred below True Car. Of course there may have been a factory to dealer incentive that was unknown by the consumer.

You mentioned USAA which means you may be in the military. Edmunds shows Acura is offering $750 to active military and their spouses.

For the AWD tech version they are offering $750 dealer cash.

They also have .9% financing for up to 36 months. I remember last April when the new model came out, the outgoing model got the .9% for up to 60 months.

Many dealers have President's Day sales that may get you a good price this coming weekend.

benezet

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, I earned USAA through my dad so not in the military. Don't want tech so can't cash in on that deal. And will be paying cash so financing deals won't help. However, the price difference between model years with same mileage is a big difference. I had low mileage BMW X3 and difference between model years was $1600! Ouch.

disgookonfiya

Don't know what the true car value was, but I bought my 2014 rdx with tech package for 36k before taxes...

stuhFAN

If you're paying cash, why not look for gently used 13's & 14's? Let someone else take the initial depreciation hit. Waiting around for when Acura might release the 15's, or when the 14's might get discounted (if there are any left), might prove fruitless. You seem very concerned about depreciation, if that's the case you shouldn't even be looking at a new car.

GoesByFish

Why not look for 2013's? Are you dead set on a new new car? I found 2013 FWD RDX ton true car for around 30k. There were zero changes between 2013-2014 and likely won't be any for 2015 so why not save a few thousand $$.

benezet

I have thought about 2013s, but the prices for them at dealers are high for the mileage they have one them.

weather

benezet...Welcome to Acurazine and we appreciate people coming here and asking these questions as we all like to help each other out. As others have correctly point out, if you are not interested in the latest technology, then I think you wouldn't have to worry too much about the 2014 versus the 2015. I think the styling tweaks will be minimal so you can see a change in the front fascia (with updated Jewel eyes) and new wheels....possibly a slight tweak on its rear end.

Keep in mind the following though, I think the MMC on the RDX will likely be in the calendar year (summer) as a 2016 MY since the truck/SUV have a 6 year life cycle compared to the cars that have a 4 year life cycle (if I am correct). If that is the case, the RDX will not see any change for the MY 2015 and will likely come out in the late summer or early fall as per the standard model introduction period.

To me, I wouldn't worry too much about the 2014/2015....if you are truly concerned about the depreciation, I would suggest you get a used one. If you want something new, then you will have to take the depreciation hit one way or the other so might as well start enjoying the RDX now. Keep in mind of one thing, if you keep it for a decent amount of time (which I suspect you will otherwise you would lease)....if you buy a model through the middle of the model year, you get better deals as others have said, and also, when you come to sell it down the road, your 2014 RDX will have somewhat lower mileage than if you would have bought a 2014 in October of last yeat....so that may actually play in your favor too (in a small way).

Again, I hope you will get the sound advice you are looking for but keep in mind that purchasing a vehicle is never going to make you ahead financially....Get the wheels you get, enjoy it, don't over analyze it and it seems that you got a lot of great advice by all my fella Acuraziners....

I will close by saying that again, if you want to get the latest technology or gadgets, my advice would be totally different....but for a little bit of money, I would say the worth will not be worth it.

Finally....Please make sure that if you decide to buy the RDX that you don't stop visiting this site. We love having valuable members so please make sure you come and hang out with us from time to time. We have amazing female contributors and keeps the room with the checks and balance we need....and neutralizes some of the testosterone level at times *lol*