Removed the cheap looking plastic piece from grill. Probably doubles air flow to radiator and condenser.

I like it, wife doesn't. It's my car!!, it stays off.

 

Hmmm great way to ruin a nice car.

Plasiti dip it and put it back on, or paint it. Either way doesn't look good now.

 

That looks ridiculous and broken.

 

I think the front beak is very good looking.

 

 

Yuck

 

Sorry not feelin it.
Airflow wise it might cause more aero drag vs. the smooth beak.

 

It makes your RDX unique looking for sure... wish the mesh grill is behind the beak instead of the blocky squares they are now. Maybe paint the beak 'black' and see how it looks.

 

JimMac,

If you don't mind, what was involved in taking the beak off? I haven't had time to play with my RDX yet to start customizing it. I'm tempted to plastidip my grill and its ton easier if you pull the piece off first.

I plastidipped the front silver wing on 2008 STI..which like the RDX's beak..just isnt to my liking. Totally changed the front end appearance for the better.

 

Just paint it flat black and put it back on. Increased airflow won't help anything. Acura engineers designed it to cool just fine with the front beak in place. If anything you are hurting the aerodynamics and possibly the gas mileage.

 

Like you said, it's your car.

 

yikes!

I've taken a lot out of my car; but the aesthetics have to stay!!
put it back on!!

 

Me no likey

 

I gotta admit I don't love the beak, vinyl wrap it in matte black and put it back on, it will disappear that way.

 

put it back on, looks cheesy

 

When I saw your pic it came to mind those people that park on top of the separator with the idea of preventing dents or chips (using 2 parking spaces); That irks me to tell you the truth ... but I understand that your pic does not necessarily indicate that you do that

 

Not a fan either. Just purchased a black/tan '13 for my wife a few weeks ago and she doesn't like the beak either. Hit it up with some PlastiDip, like others have already said, and to me it looks a lot better. I only did the piece you took off (did it on the car) and now she wants the chrome surround done.

Its $5 well spent my friend!

 

Pics please.

 

I'd be happy to, just don't know how to post a pic!

 

guys..this chrome/aluminum piece is a high aesthetic piece of this car...by removing, it just looks like as if somebody stole it...

if you guys can't stand the aesthetics of a car you're going to spend $40,000, why even buy it? why not just get a car that is going to please you esthetically?

 

Host the photos on a photo sharing site, like photobucket.
once uploaded, you can paste the URLs here.

photobucket even gives you the correct forum tag!

 

Not sure if I did it right, but here you go;

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b610/es1055/null_zpsf19f129c.jpg

 

Sorry for the crappy pic (assuming it works) but there was a downpour and could roll it outside for a better pic.

 

Yup, THAT looks good and is what the original poster should do. Looks 1,000,000 times better than removing it and making your $40k car look like it was in an accident or something.

 

I don't know........now it looks like the Mazda "smily face" grills. I think what has to be done is just leave a 1" portion not blacked out. A thinner silver "beak" might work.

 

When I have the time I am going to black out the outer silver trim so it is all black except for the Acura symbol. I'll post up when I finish it.

 

That was my first thought when seeing the picture, that the trim would look better blacked out. Post a new pic after you get it done!

 

***
Yes, that looks good. The paint is not as shiny as the body paint... have you polished and waxed it to shine it up a little?

Thanks for the picture.

 

You can't wax PlastiDip, but they do sell a "glossifier" that you spray over the top that gives it a shine. Haven't tried it as you'd have to order it online and I guess I've been too lazy to do it. The good thing is its a low cost investment that if you don't like it you just peel it off.

 

Looks like an older SUV
Just my 2 cents

 

Wow! Instant Mazda.

J/K.... it actually looks pretty good.

 

...what is 'plastidip', where can i get, and what might i need to know to emulate what you did...melikee....

 

Its a rubbery type material that you spray out of a rattle can. You can find it at Lowes and Home Depot in the paint aisle. Really simple to use and the beauty is it doesnt take long to prep before you paint, the encourage overspray since it peels right off and if you don't like it or grow tired of it you can peel it off. Its also fairly durable.

They don't carry many colors at the store (probably just black), but you can find various colors and how to videos on dipyourcar.com.

 

While I have to admit, the look is "tacky", that's the insignia and "look" on ALL Acuras.

 

Its your car so you do what you want BUT i think it looks horrible.
Albeit you do get more flow, i'd be worried now you have massive amounts of rain & forced air into the engine that you're hood latch will be stressed & you run a greater risk of debris flying into your air intake nozzle

buy thats my .02 #noshots!

 

You can't wax plasti dip BUT there are some sites like dipyourcar.com that sells METALLIC plasti dip, i've been kicking around a gunmetal grill & rim combo on my forged metallic

 

For the low cost, I say do it and post up pics!

 

Finally got around to finishing the grill surround with plastidip for those that want to see what it would look like. Would love to pull it all off and have it painted professionally or at least find a company that sells it that way.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps92d2e65a.jpg

 

It looks great in the photo... but I noticed it is matted not glossy. Would be nice if it can be polished and waxed to gloss.

 

@JimMac
Omg, the first picture is hideous. Please tell me that's photoshopped. Is your car wearing a necklace?

I understand that it's your car, and that individuality is important, but I think the wife might have a point.

@es1055
Nice job on the plastidip. It looks good, but I do agree with dcpc. Might look better if it were glossy.