Okay, So I've had my RDX with tech for little over a month now and I am not really seeing a lot of value in the navigation system....

Here are my questions/concers:

1. Is it possible to use the Acuralink iPhone app? What is the pin it's asking for in the app?

2. Is it possible to send address from iphone to the Nav? It takes FOREVER to type in the address. Google maps are so much easier to use on the iphone.

3. It seems like every time I use Acura Nav, I get directions that are longer than the ones I get from google maps. Is there a way to change settings?

4. Are there any shortcuts and ways to make Nav more like-able? I just don't want to feel I wasted an extra $2000 - $3000 on the tech package

 

^^^ Although I agree that the NAV is not necessarily the best on the market, your thread talks about the tech package that includes more than the NAV such a higher output stereo, HID, Power liftgate etc. - While purely subjective, for me, I don't regret going with the tech, despite some of its short comings.

 

'Tech Pkg' is not a synonymous term with Navigation. To me, the HIDs, lift gate, upgraded stereo, and Nav traffic are key components of the pkg to be considered.

 

^^ Great minds think alike

 

We have a 2013 RDX without the tech package. I don't miss the Nav as I have it on my phone. The headlights mean nothing to me as we do minimal night driving and the plain lights illuminate the road fine. The sound is not bad, not great. Tho for $3000 I can live with the standard sound system.

I miss the auto liftgate to some extent. We had it on our Lexus and what I did not like was the fact that I had to get out the key fob to use it and the RDX seems to be the same. It's much easier to touch the button on the hatch, it unlocks automatically like the doors with the key fob in my purse, it opens easily, the only problem is closing it with one hand.

All in all, I'm glad we saved the money and find the standard RDX to be a very good vehicle.

 

I kind of agree. If I had it to do over again I would probably have waited six months to buy(til just before the 14s arrived) and bought the base. Probably could have saved $6k versus what I paid and been just about as happy. I like all the stuff ok but not that well.

 

thank you all for the replies..but now could some techies answer questions 1, 2, 3, 4?

thanks again

 

I drove both, for me the integrated navi, not to mention the larger screen with far more features on it, the stereo HID lights, Power liftgate are well worth it. I would not have bought the base model.

 

I'm a sucker for the tech package stuff

I love the HIDs, big screen, power tailgate (our other car doesn't have one and it sucks having to pull that thing down when your arms are full), and better surround sound.

 

I do love the HID lights (one of the best in the market), surround sound, and power liftgate.


What I don't like about the nav is when you're driving and you use voice activated system, you literally have to spell out each word....

I wish there was a faster way to type stuff on the nav screen

 

Just picked up my 2014 RDX tech AWD in Kona last night. Love the tech. My wife had to have Nav and the nav package is great. Same with power tailgate. IMO those 2 are worth it alone and the HID and stereo are just added benefits.

It also adds to the value of the vehicle and with our lease we are only paying for 50% anyway if we return the car so $1500 for 4 years for the features was worth it.

Our code was 0000

 

I called Acura and they said the Acuralink app on iphone can only be used on the 2014 MDX and RLX..

 

Is there a way to automatically change nav screen from daytime to nighttime display? That display is so bright at night...

I know there's a manual button that changes it...

 

To me, the tech package is worth it but I also take advantage of the upgraded audio and use the power lift gate daily. I consider myself a bit of an audiophile who used to pick up 2-3 CD's at Best Buy weekly so I enjoy storing tunes on the HDD, making playlists and testing the featuers like HDD-search or Gracenote.

My opinion on navigation:
It's convenient to have an integrated map which shows the current location. You can get by with a standalone GPS or cellphone, but I've never lost the signal with the RDX GPS unit, while I have lost the signal my iphone and Garmin. The other benefit is you don't have to worry about hiding the GPS or installing an extra mount.

I can understand the navigation interface has some limitations so what I've done to improve usability is:
1. I always enter directions starting with City, Street, tthen Address Number...Usually the results filter down pretty quickly so you don't typically have to enter all the letters of your destination.
2. Now I save any destinations I enter immediately and categorize them into groups like "Personal", "Work", "Eat", etc. You can also customize the marker on the map when you save it to a category.
3. I changed the NAV display mode to show the entire list of directions, instead of just the upcoming direction. I also customized it to read out the street names. This method works the best for me.

My biggest gripe is lack of ability to change directions while moving...this a real-world use case and the "workaround" to use the voice command is near impossible.

 

It should change to night mode when the headlights are turned on manually or in auto headlight mode and daylight mode when the headlights are off. If it is not doing this you probably have the dash lights set too bright. That will cause it to override to always daylight mode unless you manually change it. Set the dash lights to medium brightness and it should switch modes automatically again.

See page 128 of the owners manual and page 30 of the navigation manual.

 

I can't add much new to this thread. Other folks have covered the issue very well. BUT, if you bought the Tech package for the Nav system, you should have saved your money. Acura should hire a few Garmin engineers to completely redesign the Acura Nav system.

Regards, Jim

 

I agree. And my wife needed Nav. So to buy the base model and then use an iphone or gps didn't make sense not only from a practical use but from an esthetic one as well.

 

You don't have to spell each word. The best way for me to enter addresses has been: VC (voice command) "address" VC "street" VC (street name then number). At that point a listing of cities should come up and you can easily choose the line number. If its a common street name then you should start with city. I've only had to spell a street name once because it didn't understand me.

It's no different than my mercedes, it also locks out once driving. Not an issue to simply use voice commands, in fact I find it easier. I think many people don't like the system because they simply don't know how to use it well and that's not Acura's fault.