Currently a have a 2014 RLX PAWS. Found a 2020 RLX SH-AWD ... did you of you guys just sell/trade this guy in? Has less than 10K miles on it. It's a stretch but wanting to know what issues previous owner had.

 

My red flags are up. But let’s just give it the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe it didn’t live up to the owners expectations of what a hybrid should be? cuz I’ll be honest I love the performance but I’ve yet to crack 25mpg on my SH no matter how lightly I feather the pedal & I feel a sort of way about it. I chalk it up to my environment because the min I get it going in its electronic motors it’s time to either make a stop or turn & i’m back to gas.

Aside from the place dialing back the odometer, that’s the only other scenario that comes mind.

 

The one from Rahal Acura? I was looking at possibly upgrading to that one if it is the same car. Sales guy I was emailing with said they are going to CPO it - should be good to go once that is done from my perspective. Carfax is clean and nothing jumps out from the pictures (at least to me).

 

My CPO 18 RLX Sport Hybrid was returned by the original owner to the dealership they purchased it from around a year with only 7200 miles. The Sales manager used it as their daily driver until I purchased it in Dec/2019. I can only imagine the price of +$62,000 for a new 18 RLX Sport Hybrid gives that kind of buyer a lot of choices in the purchase/lease department. That would make it hard to justify the RLX Sport Hybrid with an outdated interior over a BMW 5/6/7 series, M-B C/E class, Audi 6/7/8 series, or Lexus GS/LS. That is one of the things I like about the RLX Sport Hybrid because it's a $62,000 vehicle I can purchase for +$20,000 under MSRP at the time and I can drive it for +100,000 miles with schedule maintenance and CPO warranty. So far after +3 years it has been the right decision.

 

My wife has a 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid that she bought as a CPO in April 2019 with 1200 miles on it. Today, nearly 4 years later, it has only 17k miles on the odometer. She loves it. But she's retired and doesn't drive it a lot. So don't generalize that low miles necessarily means problems. See if you can look at the repair visits thru the dealer or Carfax and see if there's a pattern of repeated visits forthe same thing - that would be my red flag. Covid, for some, cut down on mileage on their cars. Good Luck!

 

Excellent point ... we all sometimes need to remind ourselves that RLX SH is not a car that the younger buyer base would consider... it does have 377hp, but these types of cars are bought buy mostly by people who are retired and who do not drive it as much... As a matter of the fact, I believe many of these low-mileage cars were returned back or traded back in because some of the older buyers did not like the car being too powerful. At least two RLX SHs were explained as such, but then, I only take what dealer says with the grain of salt lol

 

Yes that is it. Made them a full cash offer but they declined... They don't do internet sales and I would have to be in person to purchase ... Wtf, who limits car deals to local buyers these days.

 

I picked up my 2020 RLX-SH "used" with only 4300 miles in October 2020. Allegedly previous owner didn't like start/stop feature and trades in for TLX or something lower. Sounds like buyer's remorse to me. The RLX-SH start/stop is seamless unlike other Acura models. Can't even feel it kicks in The car has been absolutely perfect. Like brand new smell still. Just because someone traded in with low miles doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it.

 

Didn't like the start/stop feature? That is one of the best and seamless features of the the MDX/RLX Sport Hybrids. I have to sometimes look at the rpms or hear the UFO whirling sound at lower speeds if the windows are down to know which mode I'm in. I'm either use to it or subconsciously figured out how to accelerate from a stop because I don't feel the EV to I.C.E. engagement unless I have a heavy foot.

 

Yeah seriously start/stop on the Hybrids are seamless. I drove some ICE only models with that feature, it rocks the car hard when motor kicks on. I can see how that can get annoying after awhile. Dude return this $64K car and took a huge depreciation hit. I wouldn't buy this car for $64K either, but for what I paid for it, it was a steal.

 

Stop/Start cannot be turned off of the RLX?
As in, I stop a a light, car engine turns off, light turns green then engines starts up again.
Or are you refering to the transition from gas to electric and vice-versa? I thought gas engine always running and the electric was more of an assist.

 

The RLX Stop/Start (EV-with-ICE transition) is disabled once you go into Sport mode (or Sport+ mode for the MDX Sport Hybrid). Depending on the situation, both my MDX and RLX can have the I.C.E. turn off at anytime at city speeds (0-50 mph). At a stop, the I.C.E. can remain off and I'm 100% on 1wd or 2wd rear electric power if I'm light on the gas pedal. Probably around 20-50 feet down the road the I.C.E. engages if I need more power to get up to speed and in/out of EV mode as needed to maintain the posted speed limit. I can usually drive around 500 feet after checking the mail from my corner mailbox to my house on just electric power only (speed around 15-20 mph). I can also be 100% electric in reverse for my RLX; but, my MDX always turns on the 3.0L in reverse.

 

So this car has a trailer hitch installed. Trying to figure out what was modified or missing from the rear to accommodate the hitch. Any have have a pic of under the trunk.

 

Considering all you can get is an aftermarket hitch for this, I'd go to a site (like the link below) to find the hitch and install instructions to see how it was put on. This particular link has a pdf with pictures - should help you understand more. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hit...ll-description

 

They Hybrids are not supposed to tow anything super heavy. Most you can tow is probably a bike rack. I really miss my 4Runner trailer hitch.

 

yea, looks like it a for a bike rack. Only 1" reciever. Dealer removed it, purchased, and should be arriving next week.

 

Congratulations!

 

Congratulations and welcome to the Sport Hybrid family.

 

so this is not full time AWD? On the couple of days/year we get ice on the roads can i switch to AWD ?

 

It is SH-AWD - it determines when AWD engages. The Hybrid is a bit different than the SH-AWD in a non-hybrid, in that when cruising in electric mode the rear wheels are driving the car (vs the front wheels otherwise). But as soon as it detects slippage - or when you hit the gas pedal - it starts behaving just like a normal SH-AWD. If you put it in Sport mode (transmission), it will be more actively in SH-AWD all the time - but the shift points are different and it'll suck more gas.......

 

You might need to upgrade the OEM all season performance tires because they wouldn't be the best for ice. The Sport Hybrid sh-awd system is closer to an awd on demand traction system depending on speed, G-forces, throttle position, braking force, and acceleration needed with adjustments between the 3 electric motors and I.C.E. engine's hp/tq, regen braking, and tq vectoring. You can put the sh-awd graphic up in the HUD and/or navi screen to see how hard the system is working managing the power distribution to/from all four wheels, battery, electric motors, and I.C.E. It looks extremely chaotic to see on the screens; but, it is extremely smooth and seamless in operation when driving. The Sport Hybrid system will give you anything from 1wd to 4wd and every combo in-between depending on what you need when backing up, accelerating, handing, normal-sporty cruising, and braking with or without I.C.E engine power.

 

I'm not liking stop/start either. Will take some time to get used to does rear sunscreen always go down when in reverse? Any option to leave it up? My 2014 doesn't do that.

Of course, after I buy this one from out of state, a silver goes on sale across town. It's one I've seen serviced at my Acura dealership before and fell in love with it. It's not practical to trade in this gray one for the silver.

 

I've just learned how to drive my RLX hybrid and MDX hybrid with the EV-to-ICE transition feels invisible to me. I really don't notice or feel when either vehicle switches between EV or ICE power unless I'm heavy on the gas pedal.

I have very dark tint on the rear and back seat glass of my RLX in the 20% range (purchased it CPO with tint already). It would be way too dark for me to use the sunshade with that dark of tint. No need to use my rear pop-up electric shade even on the brightest southwestern summer day. I've never tried to see if the rear shade goes down in reverse?

 

I think it is a safety issue with the reaar shade staying up when in reverse. I kept my rear shade always up in my 06 RL, but finally was glad to see new RLX corrected that and now when rear shade is up, going into reverse is automatic down, but once you put it back into drive, the rear shade goes back up automatically.
Also, start/stop being seamless - I would agree with you if it was ordinary cars start/stop system, but in this case it is not, so it is a matter of getting used to it. Once you get used to it, it is exactly as mrgold said - invisible...
If you want to overcome this "downside", if you do not like it, you can always press "Sport" mode button and start/stop is overruled ... but your gas use will increase of course...

 

After parking, Anyway to leave the car in accessory mode? I tried switching to N with parking brake but when I hit power button car shuts off and auto switches to P

 

With the car turned off, press the start button WITHOUT having your foot on the brake. This should put the car into accessory mode and allow you to listen to the audio system etc. without the car running. If you push the button again with your foot on the brake, the car will start.

That is my recollection, but I didn't hop in my car to test this.

 

Yea , that way works but if I arrive I want to shut off engine but leave in accessory mode (on Bluetooth phonecall or radio). In my 2014, I was able to shift to N press the ignition button and radio would stay on. With 2020 that same method shuts down car completely and auto shifts to park I then have to press button again without stepping on brake for accessor mode then it takes a couple of seconds for BT to connect and audio to come out.

 

Sorry, I misunderstood what you were trying to accomplish. I can't think of a way to go from full operation to accessory mode without first turning the car off.

 

I usually just put it in Park and let the EV kick on when the I.C.E. isn't needed. I usually have the heat or A/C on along with the stereo if I'm just waiting for the wife to do whatever in the store.