Here's the situation. My 2005 BMW X3 has gone over 200,000kms and is starting make increasing demands on my wallet. It's a great vehicle and I've enjoyed it but the newer versions aren't lighting my fire and neither is the smaller BMW X1.

The requirements are a comfortable, reliable AWD that can handle winter driving in rural Ontario and yet be small enough to fit into Toronto's postage-stamp size parking spots when I'm there on business. I test drove a 2014 RDX and was suitably impressed but not completely blown away. The steering is lighter and didn't handle as crisply as the BMW. The nearest contender is a fully-optioned Subaru Forester XT but I am not convinced on the long term merits of turbo-charged engines versus the RDX's six cylinder power plant.

I have ruled out the Ford Escape and Edge, Toyota Rav 4 and Venza, Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Rogue and Murano and Chrysler and GM products. The Mazda CX5 and Hyundai Santa Fe Sport also remain possibilities but the former is a touch small and the later has the same concern over turbo charging.

So help my Acura dealer. Make a case for the RDX against the field. Or explain why I shouldn't buy one.

 

I'm thinking that asking a bunch of RDX owners why you shouldn't buy one might not get you the most objective information.

It sounds like you just about ruled out all the competition and hit the major points of why I bought mine.

It may not have the handling of a BMW, but out of everything else I tried, the RDX was most like a sports sedan and its handling sealed the deal for me. The salesperson had me drive it on a twisty road, and I was sold. If you haven't done so, give it a try.

I'm sure the new Forester is a good vehicle. And while it might get cross shopped with the RDX, I personally don’t think they are in the same class.

Also, I don’t know if you've ever owned a Honda product, but that was a big plus for me. Including my motorcycles, this is the 7th Honda vehicle I’ve owned, and I have never been disappointed. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that what I've spent in actual repair costs for ALL of those vehicles don't add up to what you spent on your current BMW - and I'm being serious.

All that being said, I'm not sure what the "winter driving in rural Ontario" requirements are. If I thought I needed a "real" 4WD, I'm not sure the RDX would be my first choice.

Good luck!

 

The average snowfall in the area is around 60" per year with occasional trips to areas with more. The rural roads are not plowed as often but if the storm is that bad there's an F150 in the driveway. I don't plan to be plowing through snow drifts in an RDX but I can't say it won't ever happen. The X3 was always good and my previous Nissan Maximas made it through okay and they were FWD.

I haven't owned a Honda product but my friends who do speak very highly of them.

 

Badenoch, I am very curious to hear what has cost you so much with the X3. Since my lease on the TL SH-AWD (which I LOVE) is running out soon, I have been looking for a replacement and both the X3 and RDX are on my shopping list.

There is a HUGE price difference between the two......... and then we are comparing a smooth V6 of the RDX vs. the turbo 4 of the X3. OK, the price gap is even wider if we consider the X3 with the V6, but interestingly, Consumer Report tells people to stay away from the X3 with V6 due to its reliability issues....

Is the Q5 on your shopping list too? But I guess Audi has worse reliability than BMW....

 

The AWD system is more than up to the task for safe driving in winter conditions. The HVAC system pumps out serious heat and does so quickly. It's a great vehicle all around.
I have only one complaint with the vehicle and that is the rear shocks. They are noisy under certain conditions when the temperature drops below 10C. I had them replaced twice under warranty but the issue remained until I replaced them as per my signature.

 

In the last two years I have replaced a sunroof mechanism ($1,800,) a rear drive shaft ($2,000,) assorted gasket and valve covers ($600 or so,) rear springs ($900) rear windshield wiper motor ($400,) two O2 sensors ($250 each) all prices are approximate, in CDN including taxes. There was also a replacement seat cover and seat heating mechanism after the original heater burned my bum and ruined a pair of pants and wallet. After several amusing exchanges with BMW Canada they reversed their original position and paid for the car repairs but not the pants and wallet.

Except for the burned bum all of this can be attributable to age and wear and isn't all that stressing. I could probably keep it on the road for a couple more years until something major arises such as an engine or transmission and I just might.

BMWs are great when covered by their factory warranty. Not so good afterwards. They also do all maintenance while under warranty which should be considered when pricing the vehicle.

No Audi for me. They just don't have the same appeal.

 

One of my coworkers owns an X3 - guessing about an '08. He even let me drive it around a bit. Very nice handling and solid feel to it. He drove it many times on snow and ice to his Big Bear cabin, bragging about the vehicle's AWD prowess.

He paid big bucks buying it used. And constantly moans and groans about the huge maintenance costs. That, alone, ruled out the BMW line for me. I could buy some pretty fancy toys (yes, plural) with the five-year cost of ownership savings.

In my opinion, get the X3 if money is no object; get the RDX if you want the most bang for the buck.

 

WOW! You pretty much spent about $6000 over the last 2 years on the X3! That is pretty expensive.... no wonder why you want to replace it!

Yes, I heard it from many people already - BMW's are great if it's under warranty or extended warranty! Otherwise, it could be quite hard to live with.... or at least expensive to live with!!!

 

Any x35 engined BMW will be trouble. I went through 4 fuel pumps and a vanos valve in the year and a half that I had my 335. Based upon my experience with every BMW dealer in the DC Metro and the Colorado areas, I will never, ever purchase another BMW in the US unless BMW takes great strides in revamping their network.

I've driven more Enterprise loaners in that year and a half than I've driven with all other cars combined.

It is ALL in the dealership experience and the Germans haven't "gotten it" yet.

My current Acura dealer is open 365 days a year with 6am to 11pm service during the week and 7 to 7 on weekends and holidays. They don't need appointments and have a huge Acura loaner fleet - one service advisor told me that they had over 150 loaners. I've always gotten an Acura loaner that was equal or better to what I brought in. They have a free coffee bar, sodas and snacks.

My BMW dealer had a vending machine or a coffee bar where somebody would sell you a cup of coffee and a stale donut for $10.

Is the Acura as engaging as a BMW? No, but it makes up for by being dead reliable and more comfortable.

BTW, you can prepay maintenance (48m/60k miles) for about $850-1000 depending on where you buy it.

I

 

I second everything ceb said. My 335 didn't have as many problems, but it was starting to. Suspension bushings were shot and would take about ~$1k to fix (this was to possibly fix the nasty braking vibration, but nobody could be sure until the bushings were installed), some shaft seals were going bad which would have been another couple hundred, wheels/tires/alignment were perpetually being destroyed by crappy roads, and the turbo wastegates were rattling horribly, which meant they were getting ready to lock open and require the turbos to be replaced to the tune of $4-6k if done at the stealership. The car was a blast when it was working right, but I still cringe thinking about everything else I could have done with the money I threw at it... and it still was never fully fixed.
The dealership experience is definitely an upgrade too. Mine is open until midnight on certain days and always has free refreshments and car washes and a big loaner fleet. Ironic that the cars that need the least amount of service have the best service areas.

The more I drive my RDX the happier I am with the switch, though I'll be honest and admit that some of that is because of where I live. Central Ohio with lots of straight roads makes me appreciate the vastly increased comfort and not miss the handling, but that's not to say the RDX doesn't handle well. You'll (mostly) get used to the light steering, and considering the fact that it's a small SUV, the RDX handles pretty damn well. For me it's worth the tradeoff in turns when it feels so much nicer everywhere else. Acceleration is good, gas mileage has been great for me, maintenance is easy and parts are cheap if you do your own work, and while the interior isn't quite as nice as a loaded X3, I think it's nicer than an X1.

You said your requirements are comfort, reliability, and winter-weather-capable. The RDX is all of this, so you now just need to decide whether you're cool with just liking your car instead of loving it. I don't love my RDX but I definitely like it, and when I think of how much I can do with all the cash that's left over it makes me a whole lot happier with it. If you still want performance, the thousands you'll save in repairs could buy a pretty nice motorcycle...

 

Right, but the dealership experience is so horrendous that nothing makes up for that.

 

I reckon individual dealers will vary; but I'm surprised the Volvo XC60 isn't in the mix. After 3.4 years in a T6 AWD, I would have likely been back in a new XC60 IF I needed AWD. As it is, the RDX FWD is quite capable for central Texas roads; but the Volvo might bridge the 'gap' between some of the vehicles on your list and the BWM experience.

 

I second the XC60 as a viable option, The styling and interior updates for the 2014 model look great, and the Haldex AWD system will take care of you in the slippery stuff. You can still get the NA inline six if you don't want the turbo, but that engine is going away in the near future as Volvo moves to an all four-cylinder lineup.

Despite the reputation, Audi quality and reliability is greatly improved. Closing in on 40,000 miles on our Q5 and still not a single issue. I plan to get rid of my X1 sometime in the next year or so, and I'm looking forward to testing several vehicles, including some models that haven't been released yet. My personal not-so-short list in no particular order:

XC60
V60
MKC
CX-5 diesel
Outback (rumored to be all-new for 2015)
Forester XT
VW Alltrack
Cherokee (the not-quite-as-homely Trailhawk)
Lexus NX
RDX if SH-AWD returns at mid-cycle update (not likely)

It should be a fun year

 

If reliability is important...

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...rvey/index.htm

 

I just traded my 2009 Forester for a 2014 RDX and they are without a doubt not in the same class. I love my RDX by the way - like you I live in the more rural area of Ontario and work close to Toronto.

 

I was considering switching to a car and shopped the CTS and ATS vs the TL. The sales manager at the Cadillac dealer used to work at the Acura dealer where I purchased all my previous Acuras and I asked him his opinion re: reliability of both makes. He said Acura had the edge. I bought my 6th Acura.

 

I also had a 2009 Forester, and I completely agree. But to be fair, the 2009 and 2014 Foresters really aren't in the same class either.

 

Hmmph. All these people throwing Volvo into the mix. I think Volvo translated from Swedish means, "Yes, your car will break down frequently, often with disastarous effects, but we will give you great customer $ervice at our dealer$hip."

My buddy's XC70 AWD cost him so much in repairs from 60k to 90k miles, that he reckoned he could've afforded a two-year lease on a fancy Lexus. He nicknamed his car "The Money PITA."

 

There are plenty of horror stories out there. I listen, but I don't let them stop me from buying what best suits my needs. Case in point: our current Audi has been 100% trouble-free. never expected that. And the one time I bought a car based solely on expected reliability I regretted it. I mean, who would have thought a Toyota's transmission would fail shortly after the warranty expired? And that Toyota would refuse to help cover the cost of the repair? I bet there's even one or two Acura owners with a story to tell.

 

I was about to suggest the Volvo XC60 and then noticed that others beat me to it. I test drove one a few months ago and was VERY impressed. However, the T6 is out of my price range sadly. Still, take a drive in it and you will be pretty impressed. I also challenge someone to find seats as comfortable as Volvo.

The XC60 3.2 is slightly underpowered in my opinion, but that is objective. The T6 has balls and even though its a turbo, definitely worth a look into if you want something that has some raw power behind it.

Or you can be like me and wait for the Volvo V60 T5 to be released in January. The RDX is still on my short list, but I need to drive the V60 before I make a decision.

 

The Volvo isn't in the mix for me because the base-model RDX is in the upper reaches of my proposed budget. Once you start adding comparable equipment onto the XC60 the price goes well into the MDX range.

 

Fixed it for you

 

Good point...I've had Volvos over the years, going back to a '72 wagon I had in college. IT was a slight pain, but it was WAY used when I got it. Fast forward to our first 'modern' Volvo in 2000, a completely trouble-free S40 that we drove for a couple of years before getting the '04 V70. We also had an '04 C70 ragtop, admittedly not the most stable handling vehicle we've ever owned, but no debilitating problems with it up to the time we traded it for the hardtop '08 C70. Not a problem with it at all until we traded on our current '11 C70. The '07 XC70 was never in the shop through the time we traded it on the '10 XC60 that we had for 3.4 years. The CUV was darned near trouble-free, although it did eat batteries...all replaced under warranty.

For us, Volvo has been as trouble-free as just about any vehicle we've owned...aside from the '91 Miata that had manual windows, brakes, steering, top...essentially nothing to fail other than the engine and trans.
NOW, as you can see, we don't keep the vehicles much out of warranty...never over 60k miles; BUT, how many folks here sincerely plan on driving their next vehicle for 100k + miles? I'd put the Volvo up against BMW and Audi in a 'trip back to the dealer' contest any time. Actually thinking of getting a final-year '13 C70 and maybe keeping IT ...until Acura comes out with a convertible!!!

 

It might not be the demographic on this site, but the average age of a car in the US is I believe the oldest it's ever been - something in the 11-12 year range. So I think many people have to keep cars past 100k, and reliability becomes key post warranty.

 

Not arguing that SOMEone drives the vehicle past 100k miles; but is it usually the original purchaser? Lots of folks like me out there...trade when the warranty runs out, if not before, especially with 4 year warranties now. Not like the old days of 12/12 warranties. Yep, I've 'lost' tens of thousands of dollars buying cars over the 40 years...just doing my part to keep the car dealers in business.