Hi,

I'm just wondering what you guys think about purchasing the 2013 RDX w/Tech. Do you think it's worth the $3.2k or so extra? Navi isn't a big deal to me especially since it's not touch screen... But the other features, I'm not sure. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

If you can...I'd say go for it! The fog lights, HID lights, bigger screen and ELS stereo is a good reason I would think. Use discretion, if getting the tech will make you financially tight, then don't but if you can afford it, don't go through buyers remorse

PS...I had to do a second stare at your avatar! I burst out laughing! Although, if its yours, I'd say skip the tech package and buy a razor and shave that hairy thing! LMAO

 

OMG....Is that real?!? You know what I thought that was, lol. Borderline pornographic, even if it is is a pooch....ROTF

 

3.2k for everything you get is an insane price. Go and add those options to anything else and watch the price jump 8K +

 

The HIDs and power tailgate are very nice to have. The ELS Stereo? It's doesn't knock my socks off, given the geometry of the vehicle or the tuning within, frankly. Bigger screen, yes. Navi, it's ok. HDD, nice to have too, if you still have CDs laying around. If all you have is mp3 music, then, the HDD might not help you much, unless you record XM radio.

The other thing to consider is the trade-in, when you sell it. What will be desirable years from now? Will anyone want a non-tech 2013 RDX? <crystal ball gazing>

 

Ok, I made a mathematical error when calculating the difference between the base and w/tech. It's about $4k. Those things are nice though. The ones I really like are the fogs and power tailgate. I'll post in the pricing thread of the Internet price quote I received...

PS: Weather's and Madrye's posts made me laugh out loud! Hahahaa!

 

I am not exactly sure what the Tech package includes in the RDX, but my TL was about $4000.00 extra and included Navi, Back-up camera, excellent stereo system, push button start, touch entry, larger scree and spoiler. I cannot believe if you are ponying up the money for the RDX anyway, what's another $4000.00 and these features are well worth the money.

 

I find it hard to see the value on the Canadian version. The upgrade is the nav, stereo, power gate and gps solar ac system. It's $3k extra.

 

As a base owner I feel a duty to defend us non-techies. I have found that the technology embedded in cars can get stale pretty quickly. For example my BMW740 had a cell phone. 5 years later it could not work because it was not GSM and thus no longer supported. Same thing with the on-star in my Pontiac. The out of production DVD audio disk format in the tech package seems like deja vu. I like my Garmin GPS - I get lifetime map updates and don't have to worry about it being out of date. If it breaks I throw it away and buy another for $200. As for resale value it depends on how long you keep the car. You will get some of the $4000 back if you sell in the first two or three years. Wait much longer and the tech does not add much at all. Buyers figure it is obsolete, broken or a potential repair expense. As with color and accessories, it boils down to a personal choice and how you want to spend your money. I passed.

 

I agree with Dorsey - most of the tech cars/SUVs in the used toyota, honda, and acura dealerships around here are outdated. Most of the ones I looked at were 2009s & 2010s and the salesmen even told me they were nice then, but quickly becoming obsolete - technology changes SO fast. If you LOVE the tech stuff and need the mapping and stuff, I think it's great. But, my iphone gets me anywhere I need and answers all my questions about restaurants, gas prices, etc around. While I would LOVE to have the HID lights that are on the Tech package, I won't pay $3-4K more for them.

 

I feel like the Acura navigation is already outdated compared to competition and a $100 gps or iPhone is more than adequate.

 

I agree, non-tech all the way!

All smartphones have some kind of GPS/maps. Or if you prefer grab a Garmin/tom tom/whatever for less than 200.

Stereo is ehh, HID's would be nice but not for that price. Never really understood the power tailgate thing, you need 1 hand free to push the button to open/close it, so you could just use that hand to manually push it closed. Plus they open/close soo slowly.


P.S. I too LOL'ed at the porno dog!

 

Another non-techie here. I use iPhone for nav, would have liked the power liftgate but not worth the $$, but what I really didn't like was the larger bump on the dash on the tech version to accommodate the larger screen. The first RDX I test drove had nav and the big bump on the dash was an issue for me. Definitely look at both and see what you think. Just my opinion.

 

I also fall in the Base-biased group. The base model kept us well under $40k out the door, which was a psychological barrier for us. The base stereo system sounds great to us (once we set the sound to our taste). I am happy with a Garmin, which I replace every few years with the latest model for a couple hundred bucks. The power tailgate is no big deal to us. The smaller hump in the base dash is more aesthetic and less obtrusive in our opinion. We can always update later to HID, and fog lights are no big deal to us.

Like some others, I feel that an abundance of technology gimmicks are just more things to break down later. It's probably a somewhat silly concern to have since the entire base vehicle is rife with technology, but it's just another psychological thing for us I guess.

We're thrilled with our RDX and can see why it's the best-selling compact luxury SUV. They don't last long in our local dealership, that's for sure.

 

Welcome...TampaJack.....I have the AWD, Tech. RDX, and now that I've had it for 10 days, I really think you guys are right about the need for the Tech. package. I normally pride myself on doing my homework before each purchase. And, I did to a great extent waiting for this newly redesigned RDX to hit the dealers.

But, I should have studied both sides of the equation a little better.....Non Tech model vs. the Tech. model. I feel now I could have done without the Tech. package. I could have added the fog lights later...but, other than that I feel I could have lived without the other "things" and still been quite happy with the new RDX. And saved some money! But, it's an individual choice. Like I said I should have done more studying of the two models...and thought it through. It's not like I'm new at this...this was my 60th vehicle since I was 16, and my 30th new one.

But, that being said, it's OK....I still like it a lot. And, my wife really likes it.

Congrats on yours!!

 

TampaJack - Welcome to (I assume) a fellow Hillsborough County resident. What color did you get?

 

I doubt I'd get the vehicle without the tech package. I just don't want a same-year Honda Accord running around with better tech than me. lol. Seriously, though, if I didn't get the tech package, it becomes equally difficult for me to justify what I paid $35k+ for that I couldn't get in a $25-$30k car, and was it really worth it for me to pay another $10-$15k for the vehicle.

It boils down to anybody paying more than $30k for a vehicle will undoubtedly find a way to justify why they spent what they spent and what they spent it on. No matter what you did or didn't get, you'll find a way to justify it was the "right" decision. Just buy whatever you like and enjoy it - the only person you have to justify it to is you and your family.

 

I honestly believe that no one NEEDS the tech package and those that do get it, don't do it because they feel they are getting a bargain....Its like wanting to say that I got the vehicle loaded with everything it had to offer. Acura knows that the tech package is not worth the amount they are charging for...its a prestige thing so no one should ever analyze whether or not they made a smart purchase decision because when it comes to tech, its not about doing the smart thing, its about wanting it.

Its like the brand name that people pay a premium for....Does a BENCH jacket really gives you a better jacket than a regular non brand name?? Of course not, and people that buy a BENCH don't question if this was a cost effective purchase, they do it because they want the recognition that they paid the premium and they don't mind.

If you can afford the Tech package and having the goodies is something you like, the you do it, and enjoy it. If you don't like the bragging rights and feel you don't need the goodies and can't really afford, then the base is the way to go but either are GREAT vehicles. Keep in mind, why do most of us didn't spend the extra cash on the Audi Q5? Because most of us don't need the goodies that is buried in the cost of the Q5....so we chose the RDX. Its all about how much are you willing to part with your money never because it makes sense I drive a 2012 Hyundai Accent and to be honest, if you want to talk getting your bang for your buck....I am quite impressed by that little thing.

My 2 cents.....

PS>..I do not regret my Tech RDX.....did I need it, absolutely not. Would I do it again...in a heartbeat, but that is just me When you are faced with that decision, listen to the little voice inside, that is the one that counts.

TO ALL MY AMERICAN ACURAZINE FRIENDS: Happy 4th of July!!

 

I was concerned about the stereo, but the base one is solid.

At this point, my biggest regret is because of the lack of Xenons. But does that alone justify $4,000 or whatever? No.

I wish Acura would not have bundled so much in the package. Nav is one thing, the rest of it is just a trick to get people to buy a package they don't need, because everyone wants at least one thing in the package.

 

I did not think the base radio would be as good as it is but I am impressed and it is simple to operate. In my case with tax included the difference would have been $3,800 or over 10% more than I paid for the base. The halogen low beams are still projectors and are better than any other vehicles I had. I never had HID's so I don't miss them. I added the fog's for $400 dealer installed before I picked it up. Never had a power tailgate so I wont miss that either.

 

Though I have the Base model, I can definitely understand the desire for the Tech package. It's got some cool stuff, which made it a tough decision for me. Since it was 50/50, I erred on the side of cheapness.

Colorado Guy and Dorsey, thanks for your warm welcome and for all your informative posts. I live in downtown Clearwater (I'm not sure why I chose "TampaJack" rather than "ClearwaterJack"... sounds better I guess.)

My RDX is Silver Moon with ebony interior. Ha, once again I had to make a tough decision... the stylish & less heat-absorbing parchment leather versus the stain-hiding & always good-looking ebony. I went with the latter because I felt it looked best with the Silver Moon (and because my wife spills things, though I'll deny I said it.) It was love at first sight (and drive) with the Silver Moon RDX in the showroom and we bought it that same day.

 

Hi all -

First time poster and soon-to-be first time Acura owner. I'm about to pull the trigger on a new RDX and am going back-and-forth every day on whether or not to do the tech package. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on here, but one thing I'm surprised that hasn't been mentioned is the voice recognition system. For those of you who have the tech package, do you use the voice commands or do you find yourself doing things the "old fashioned way" even though you can utter a voice command and let the car do it for you?

Thanks in advance!

 

I use it, but not as much as I thought I would. I bought the tech package for the sum of its parts - not any one particular feature. I have no regrets.

 

I have Voice Recognition in my '12 Accord Cpe. and I don't use it. I can do what I want faster manually. It's not that difficult!! We've been doing it ourselves for generations! Sometimes the computer doesn't get it right anyway.

As I have already written about this subject...I can get by just fine without an automatic rear hatch. I can get the fog lights installed cheaply enough. The std. audio is quality enough...for me at least. The base model comes with blue tooth. The ELS is turning out to be a "flop" since the DVD-A technology went bust some years ago. Yes, the Demo disc sounds great...I like 5.1 surround sound....but, as in another thread here....the discs are fairly rare now, and are costly.

So, I can live without the Tech. Pkg. I bought it, but, realize I truly don't need it. Each to their own. But, to me not worth the extra money....or needed, to be able to enjoy a great SUV.

Today's society thinks they have to have the "latest" in technology in everything we do. Kinda takes the fun out of life in a way. Doing things yourself has it's advantages too. Yes, anyone can make a "claim" for all the great uses of this technology....but, seriously folks...come on....true driving enjoyment also needs to be more of a visceral experience....rather than the vehicle doing most everything for you.

 

Well, my first post here. Just found the site a few days ago. Bought a 2013 RDX non-tech June 1. Graphite with partchment. First new car since a 1994 grand am! LOL. Anyway, that is of interest, because that $13000 car came with fog lights standard, which I thought was odd since the $35000 RDX does not. Anyway, I, like many have wondered if I did the right thing with non-tech due mostly to trade-in concerns. The back and forth on this thread is somewhat reassuring. I know I would not need the Nav. or the power tailgate, but would have liked the fog lights (for looks, not too foggy here in Dallas) and the ELS. (Which reviewers said was great, but posters here, maybe not so much)
Anyway, the fact is, I bought this car because of the power. It is a rocket on the road and it is so nice to be able to move effortlessly through Dallas traffic. Bonus is that it is incredibly quiet. My neighbor with a top of the line Lexus sedan says mine is much more quiet than his.
Also good to hear the car is selling well. I have seen only one other on the roads since I bought mine, so was a bit curious about that. Funny, I want it to sell well, but not too well... Would hate to see as many of the RDX as you do the Lexus RX350. Anyway, hello to all proud RDX owners! My other half has a 2009 TL. We love that as well.

 

Congrats, it is a very nice SUV.

 

Well, I don't think you made a mistake. The non Tech model is also a great SUV to have, just as you have discovered. Depending on how long a person keeps their vehicles....getting a return on your investment will NOT be so comforting once the vehicle is past...oh, about 3 years old. The technology will be outdated....may not work as well, etc, and therefore doesn't make it that valuable when selling or trading.
If you got to have it, and money is not object and you trade at least every 2 years then go for it!!

That's my penney's worth!

Congrats on your new RDX. It is selling well, and I was inspired to see it is outselling the BMW X3 which is one of it's chief competitors.
And, it's way outselling the old RDX.

I invite you to read all the posts you can on the ELS surround sound system. Yes...it sounds great. What are you going to use as a source of music to get the FULL 5.1 surround sound system affect and enjoyment?? DVD-A's fell flate some years ago. Some are available but, few choices and the costs can be high for a disc.

 

I've been on these forums since 2003 and been lurking or posting in the RDX, TL, MDX, etc. groups for a while. One thing I often see is people regretting they didn't get the Tech package on their vehicle for one reason or another. If you can afford it and aren't strapped for cash, just get it. Once you decide not to get it and find later you want it, you're screwed. And from what I've seen, that's a painful feeling. lol.

But again, if money is tight or you truly don't give a flip one way or the other, save your money.

 

When I bought my TL back in 2003, I thought this was the coolest feature Acura had. This and the DVD-A features were 2 of the things, along with styling, that helped steer me to buying the TL instead of the G35 I had long thought I would get. Since I've bought the car, the only voice command that I've used "regularly" is "display current location" when I'm on long trips and decide I want to know what the current elevation is and what podunk town I may be near. That's about it. Half the time with my sunroof and/or windows open the system can't understand me screaming to "display gas stations" and instead sets the AC to 350 degrees. Most of the common features I use are within hand's reach anyway. It's one of those "neato" features that turned out to be a "whatever" feature for me. Other people use it extensively.

 

The Nav system is really quite crippled and annoying.
I love the new high resolution but I wish they spent more time refining it. You can only do "find chinese food" so many times, still almost impossible to enter an address

 

I'm not sure if it's worth the money for the tech package, but I certainly regret not getting it. Since I am usually buying the latest in technology (phones, tablets, computers), the GPS navigation in the RDX looked outdated and lacking features and that's why I decided not to get it. I figured I will use my phone for everything. Now, I regret not buying the extra tech package. I'm constantly trying all kinds of car docks for the phone. Still haven't found the perfect one. The ones that you attach to the wind-shield either don't stick well enough and then I risk damaging my phone or I can't find the perfect spot on the windshield and always bothers me. I just bought a dock that goes into the CD slot. It blocks volume and radio controls. Then, when I'm using my phone as a GPS it gets extremely hot, I turn it off after a while because I'm afraid it will get damaged.
Bottom line is that I'd really want to have the built-in GPS navigation that is built perfectly for the car even though it has some shortcomings. It's too late for me, but maybe this is useful for future buyers.

 

Just to throw my 2cents in, I'd rather have the $4k in my pocket. Purchased an RDX w/o the tech package last week, no regrets.

 

That's funny....I bought a base graphite/parchment combo on June 1st as well. They say to buy at the "end of month" for good deals, but got a great deal on that day. Congrats on our June 1st RDX.

 

9 days into the ownership experience, and I would say the tech package is worth it. The headlights/foglights alone might be worth the price of admission, enormous difference coming from a car without this, and the safety and comfort in driving at night is a huge plus. The stereo is top notch, and if I wind up spending 1 or 2% of the purchase price in the next few months to pick up dvd-audio discs, I'm thinking I still come out ahead. I've been playing an REM greatest hits disc, and it's tremendous -- Nightswimming, Losing my Religion.... Also consider the upgraded stereo provides more power and three more speakers over the standard system, and sounds pretty good even on regular CDs. Finally, the power lift gate is clearly unnecessary...but still sort of fun and handy...and the auto power down means no messy fingerprints all over the rear cargo door. Nothing like getting the loaded version of car, no regrets.

 

Completely agree...then throw in the navigation and voice command too...its a bargain in my opinion. I have nearly 4,000 song on my iPod. It sure is handy to press a button and say "Play song (song title)" or "List artist (artist name, all while never taking my eyes off the road. Just the ease of accessing my music would nearly be worth the price of admission all by itself.

 

Value is in the eye or pocket of the beholder - tech it or leave it .. lol.. happy with my fwd non tech

 

To each their own and that is why Acura offers with and without. I got the tech and love it. The one thing that I really love about my car is that I don't need to take the key out of my pocket...ever. I just touch the handle and the door unlocks. I don't know if the non-tech has that or not but I sure like it.

The navi is clunky but I don't buy cars for that anyway. I find a car I like and if it has things I like then I get it. The navi is just a bonus for me.

 

The non-tech has the same keyless entry feature and I agree, it is great.

 

It's a matter of preference, but here's my thinking: One reason I bought an Acura RDX over a Lexus or some other luxury SUV is because it's high-tech. The last thing a geek like me wants is wood paneling. So why get a high-tech vehicle without the tech package. Yes, the Nav is nowhere near as good as a Garmin, but I don't have to hook anything up and prevent it from sliding off the dash, or wait two minutes for it to find the satellites... The stereo is awesome. Forget the internal hard drive. I just leave an old iPod hooked up to the USB and I have all the music I need, or stream Bluetooth from my phone.

 

Hard drive is actually pretty handy, assuming you still have CD's. I've copied about 100 discs to the drive, and the system lets you shuffle all songs, play by artist, by album, etc. Can load a disc where you only like a song or two, you can select the songs, hit play, and it copies only them, eject the disc before it mindlessly copies the rest. This keeps the USB free to charge the iPhone versus swapping in an iPod or USB stick.

I'd highly recommend the Tech Package!!