Hey guys.. So for a week now I've been planning to get the 2016 Acura RDX. I was pretty well entirely fine with the idea of the base model.. However I've been having second thoughts and wondering if I am really missing out by not getting the tech? Will I regret it? Is it really worth the additional $3000... Helppppp. I want this vehicle to be my future vehicle for the next at least 6 years, so obviously I want to be as happy as I can with it! Thanks guys!

Ps. This will be my first Acura

 

Get the advance then so you get all the bells and whistles since you plan on keeping it for years to come. It's worth it to me which is what I'm doing this weekend. Unfortunately it doesn't arrive until the 15th.

I also have a 2014 Acura TL SH AWD with Tech. Very happy with it as well so tech you can't go wrong at least. I wouldn't go base model personally.

 

We do not have the advance here in Canada, I think it works a bit differently. We only have Base, Technology Package, and Elite. They are all AWD.. and some other differences I believe. Thank you though, I think I am leaning towards the tech for sure now.

 

The new RDX is a sexy beast!

I was in your position not long ago with my TLX. I decided to go with the base. I don't like all the driving nannies and real leather vs the leatherette is not a deal breaker for me. I also don't give a hoot about ELS. I go aftermarket for sound.

I am very happy with my car. I don't regret it one bit. Just my I hope you get the one you want! Don't settle

 

Since I'm not a dad, I'll channel the coach in me and ask a couple of questions...
How much money you got, Jen? Dropping over 40 grand on your second new vehicle is pretty strong(especially since your 'old' car is only 3 years young). It's pretty easy to become 'car poor' when trying to pay the note on such a nice vehicle...quite a step up from your Elantra. Was the Elantra paid off?...giving you a $15k down payment?...or are you going in 'cold' on this one or maybe even a lease?

Are you a tech chaser? Will you want 'more' than the more basic models offer in the RDX line? No fun coming back in a year or two just to get the next gizmo. In that case, the Elite might be the way to go...to alleviate any buyer's remorse that centers on the 'lack' of appointments. On the other hand, the extra thousands of dollars for all the goodies can make that car note even a little tougher as that financing doesn't go away any time soon.

I ask these questions as someone who has spent WAY too much money on vehicles over the decades...even though I often got great deals on the new purchases. Trading every two-three years keeps you in a newer vehicle under warranty; but you pay dearly for the privilege. For likely 90% of the drivers out there, the RDX would fit all driving needs. Might you decide to get something larger in the next couple of years ?...or might the sporty bug bite you and we will be reading about your trading the RDX on a nice convertible?

If you are flush with cash, buying the top series in a vehicle can be a reasonable 'investment', as much of that marginal cost is recovered at trade-in or sale down the road. I'd hate for you to be driving a few months from now 'missing' the extra bells and whistles and thinking of trading for a '17 ! On the other hand, all those goodies DO cost a bit.

Did I mention I don't think it's an easy decision?

Good luck with whatever you decide...ENJOY!!!

 

I did not have money when I got my car, I wanted an SUV at the time, but could not afford it. Unfortunately my mom has since passed away, and I received some inheritance.
I have enough that I could buy the vehicle outright if I wanted to, but want to wait as I am opening a business, and plan to purchase it with my business in a couple years time from myself, or title transfer it, whatever lol. My car is entirely paid off, I do not plan to use it as trade-in or down payment, i'd rather it sits in an account making interest and I can use it as payments until about the time I have my business to take over the vehicle.

Yes I do enjoy tech things. I feel if I got the base I likely would be disappointed that I didn't go higher. I know now for sure that the Tech is worth it for me, but I don't think I feel the need to get the Elite. It does not bring that much more to the table in Canada in terms of features over the tech... it's also not a huge price jump ($1500 if i'm correct) but still.. just because I have the money, doesn't mean I want to be silly and spend it all on a depreciating asset. Originally I wanted to buy myself a nice fancy fast car with my money, but ultimately I know that is not smart, so this is kind of my "meet in the middle" i'm getting a practical vehicle that will fit my lifestyle for the foreseeable future, but... a fancier one than the Santa Fe or etc I looked at for a lower price point. I wouldn't have been happy with that vehicle long, and would want to upgrade. It sure is not an easy decision!

Thanks for all the advice.

 

It seems Jennifra is flush with cash at present, which is great. CoachRick's advice is sound though. I guess it comes with experience.

 

It all depends on what your goals are. The radio wealth managers say that you shouldn't buy a new car at all until you have $1M of net worth. The extreme wealth manager says to only buy a new car up to 10% of your annual salary. So making $60K, you get a $6K vehicle. But with the average price of a new car being $30K, I don't think there are 16 million people making $300K plus buying the cars every year, so get what you want, cause you only live once.

 

With the extras that Canadian Acuras get, the Tech packages offer a very good bang for the buck. Looking at the RDX, the Tech package adds:

• 8-inch LED backlit VGA display: nicer controls
• On-Demand Multi-Use Display: nicer looking instrument cluster
• Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition: not the greatest but can be useful in areas out of cell coverage and integrates well with the multi-use display in the instrument cluster
• AcuraLink connectivity system: It's kind of cool being able to view the status of your car on the Internet, you get a 1 year subscription to the highest package so you have time to try out and decide if you like the service.
• Acura/ELS Surround® 410-watt Premium Audio System with 10 speakers, hard disk drive (HDD) media storage, in-dash CD player, Dolby® Pro Logic™ II: Highly regarded sound system.
• Blind Spot Information (BSI) system: Useful safety aid, I've found on the TLX that it's very accurate.
• GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system: Not too big of a deal.
• Heated 2nd-row seats: Nice to have if you're in a colder Canadian city and often have passengers.
• Leather-trimmed seats
• Power folding side mirrors: Nice convenience to have when parking in tight spaces or wanting an extra bit of buffer room.
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers: Not too big of a deal.
• Cross Traffic Monitor system: Useful safety aid when backing up, I've found it be good in tracking vehicles and pedestrians.
• Bi-directional remote engine starter: Nice to have if you're in a colder Canadian city. If it's like the one in the TLX, it has a range of up to 800 m with clear line of sight and also doesn't shut off the engine when you open the door.
  

I think with that list of extras, I feel it's more than worth the extra cost. Though the one option that it should have really have in Canada is the heated steering wheel.

 

Having started several small businesses, I'm here to suggest your worst expense (I don't use investment as that implies possible appreciation, not depreciation) you could take on would be an expensive new car. Drive your existing car until your business is running and successful. In the U.S., 90% of small businesses fail within a year or two !! You don't need a pile of useless debt right now IMO !! Craig

 

Hey guys! So I went in the other day and signed for the 2016 RDX Technology package in Pearl white with Ebony interior. I am very excited, and still just waiting on my car to sell. My business would be a franchise, but I do realize it could fail. I'm also second guessing the business... life is so confusing. But anyways, YAY RDX!! Can't wait to pick it up!

 

Awesome..... congratulations on your new RDX. You'll love it more as you drive it more (as we all do ours). If you have any questions keep asking and I'm sure someone will find an answer. Lastly please post some photos of your new ride whenever you get it. Your RDX will never look better than when new....
p.s. Why aren't you trading in your old car?

 

Thanks!!! Yes i'll definitely post pics once I have it. I wasn't planning on trading in because they wont offer as much as I could get if I sold it privately. However, selling privately is looking bleak right now and i'm re-considering trading in.. but if the numbers still aren't close enough to what i'm asking.. i'll hold out as long as I can.

 

I hope you are aware of the tax benefits of trading in. I'm not sure about the laws in Canada but in U.S. if you trade in your car, you pay tax only on the difference in price (the extra amount you pay to get the new car). If your previous car is worth very little it may not matter but if you have a fairly expensive car to trade in, then the advantage is greater. For a private sale to be beneficial, you have to make enough profit to offset the tax advantage.

 

Same tax law for trade-ins in Canada.

Congratz on the purchase.

 

Yea I realized that, but unless I missed something my tax advantage isn't huge. I live in the Province with the lowest tax at only 5% GST. They offer me around $10,000 for my car, which privately I could sell for approx $14,000. If by some chance the dealership would give me $13,000 trade in. I'd be saving approx $600. But it's super unlikely that they would give me $13,000 for trade, and as I go down in trade, the tax benefit becomes practically worthless. I could deal with the $600 cause it would put me close enough to $14000 on top of the 13k.

Am I coming up with these numbers correctly though? Math is not my strong point

 

I'm a bell and whistle guy and did not want to regret it later so my RDX is coming with advance package even though dealer had a couple of 16's with tech package

 

I ended up with the tech package. I felt it was sufficient and that the additional stuff our Elite model came with, weren't really much and aren't things I would use all that often. The only bit i'm at all upset about not having from the Elite is the ventilated seats. But I definitely wanted the bells and whistles the tech had to offer, I would have definitely regretted it otherwise.

Heres a link where you can see a break down of what the tech and elite add near the bottom. We only have 3 models in Canada.

2016 Acura RDX Specifications