Owner of brand new 2018 RDX Base 2WD. When shopping, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my wife and my non-negotiable items were standard on the RDX - backup camera (which is basically standard on all cars these days), memory seats (because of our massively disparate heights and driving position), and power tailgate. As such, and since I don't really like purchasing options, I basically decided on the base model.

I have no qualms about not getting AcuraWatch. But I do feel a tinge of regret not getting the blind spot monitoring system. I've been driving over 20 years without any of those technologies without a single accident (knock on wood) so I was thinking they weren't necessary. But the RDX is the first SUV we've owned and I realize the blind spot monitoring may have been useful. That being said, people drive older MDXs or heck Suburban sized SUVs without any of those newer technologies and do fine, so hopefully I'll get used to it.

 

have you set your mirrors, correctly?
if set correctly, there is no blind spots, ever.
basically, set the mirrors wider to where you dont see your own car's door. the widened view lets you see ALL things beside you.
takes a bit to get used to tho..

and I always came from a "Be happy with what you have" mantra!

 

my wife is happy with her 17 AWD base model, but then she came from a Mazda Miata.

I think the tech gizmo's are nice but make the driver lazy

 

BSM is one of the must haves for me on an SUV. I didn't realize how good it was until I had it on a car. I think the leather seats are a lot nicer than pleather as well and the color display in the instrument cluster is much classier than the standard non color version. Obviously they drive exactly the same though no matter what version you buy.

 

"the color display in the instrument cluster is much classier than the standard non color version"

I think this is why more drivers are distracted nowadays. Instead of paying attention to driving - they are lulled into a false sense of security with sensors and warnings, while playing with all the do-dads and their phone.......

 

You did not have any regrets while buying the car, you shouldn't have any now. Base or loaded version, the RDX is a nice luxury car for the money. Don't get sucked into that buyer's remorse thing...it's a very expensive obsession !!! I still use my 5 year old iPhone and I have no regrets and no desire to upgrade until it dies......
Forget everything and go enjoy the drive.

 

I had cervical (spinal) surgery this year and I still can’t turn my head like I used to (75%) even after lots of physical therapy, so the BSI is essential. On our old Crosstour we had fish-eye mirrors. Similarly, back in the’80s when the kids were little, we had an ‘84 Dodge Ram custom van where the only rear view was with the outside mirrors. The fish-eye mirrors we installed were a lot larger and the mirrors themselves were quite large.

The BSI and the rear camera with the cross-traffic warning, essential at shopping malls, are now “minimum requirements”.

But there’s sure nothing wrong with the base RDX otherwise, so have no regrets and enjoy it just like we-all do.

 

The greatest threats to safety stem from human error. Anything that can be done to make the job easier is an improvement.

 

put the gawyam phone down and drive!

 

you mean like the morons who rely on their blind side monitoring instead of turning their head to see if a motorcycle is passing them at a high rate of speed before they change lanes

 

In that case, I'd say the moron was not the guy in the SUV. Like I said, anything to increase safety is an improvement.

 

I got a new 16 awd with awp in april 2016, as it was cheaper with the AWP than the new 17 awd on the floor. since the models were identical with no changes I went for the 16. the ACC is a nice extra, and the lane change is extra safety.

awp is acura watch package.

 

i do enjoy seeing other people's mirror light up! this way i know they wont come into my lane.

 

ha ha good point.