I have a 2010 TSX and I'm in the market for a car around $40K. I was set on the TLX then I started hearing about vibrations from the VCM, which kind of turns me off. I was originally thinking RDX, but now I'm kind of torn. I've always had cars, but I took my moms 2014 RDX for about an hour and I really liked it....and it seems there is less potential issues with the RDX. The deal on the TLX is really....really good, to get into the RDX, it would be $1500 more. I'm not sure, but I do know that my TSX has 95K miles and after 100K it will really depreciate. So I'm looking for some advice I guess....

My wife has a 2013 MDX and we have 2 kids, we never swap cars....but I want an AWD car, so these are my choices from Acura. I test drove the 328ix and was underwhelmed. I test drove the ATS and it was nice, but American car don't hold their value....so any advice is welcomed.

 

Holy crap. OG blast from the past. What's up Nicky?
Don't have any input but I'm sure our resident ladies man Rockyboy would go with the RDX Elite

 

It's been a while....OG! I'm torn between the 2. The RDX is only $1500 more...and I've always had cars, so it might be time for a change.

 

Any real need to get into a new car? The TSX won't depreciate more than $40k once you go over 100k miles...

If you want a new car, I'd look outside of Acura. You'll find a lot more out there.

 

Hows the Stang, still got it?

And I agree...look away from Acura. Nothing wrong with American cars these days.

 

TLX over the RDX, RDX would be a redunant SUV/CUV vs a car with the TLX. You'll have way more fun driving the TLX with AWD vs an RDX.

Plus you get better MPG!

 

Don't get the RDX.

 

Nicky!

 

Holy crap... talk about blast from the pass. What's up Nicky!

As for your question, RDX seems sort of redundant to the MDX. TLX, well, I'm personally not a fan but it's not a bad option. If it were me I would be looking Audi, Lexus, or Infiniti for an AWD option. I would also look as some American makes. I know you said they depreciate quicker, so just buy a one year old CPO and get ahead of the game. Any car is going to depreciate anyway, so you really just need to buy what meets your needs and what you enjoy...

 

I love the new RDX - we've had ours since the last day of June. If you're mpg conscious its not bad at all given its size and power. Its still rocking the 6 spd which is very smooth and consistent, not much negative press compared to the dual cluth and 9 spd in the TLX.

We did a lot of comparing before we purchased and our top picks came down to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, RDX, and Lexus NX. Honestly, power and handling were top priority, and the RDX beat the others easily. The tech in the Grand Cherokee is excellent. The NX looks cool at first, but the more time we spent with it the less it impressed, and appeared more of a teen-agers CUV. For comparison we traded in a 2010 MDX on the RDX. It was a great vehicle, but the mpg was atrocious. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Acura SUV, but if you're looking at sedans, look elsewhere.

 

You bought a RDX over the JGC? I'd be curious to know why... IMO the GC is way better at being an actual SUV (specifically in utility) than the RDX will ever be.

 

^^
Specifically performance - the RDX blows the doors off the Jeep in acceleration and handling. Taking a corner too quick in the Jeep and it felt like we were going to roll over. Also rear leg room is superior in the RDX. I'm never going off-roading, so most of what the Jeep excels at would be wasted on us. Also, and I tried so hard not to let this influence my decision, but it played a part, 2 co-workers have 2015 GC's - both have been in the shop multiple times for transmission issues, suspension issues, and worst of all, oil leaks.

 

Jeep wasn't designed for performance (SRT aside), it was designed for utility. IMO, as a performance car, the RDX is pretty terrible too. For utility, the Jeep will beat the RDX in everything from cargo to towing to off road to whatever you want to do.

Oh well, RDX is a nice car for sure and will give you many years of worry free driving.

 

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not Rockyboy thinking the RDX is God's gift to mankind but it is a fantastic value for what it is. In its price class it is easily the performance winner. I don't tow, and the RDX has plenty of room to move the girl child back and forth from college. Its a comfy ride with enough space for random menard's trips and a great highway cruiser. The Jeep certainly excels in other areas, they just weren't on my priority list

 

I sold the Cobra in 2010....I've been on a Harley kick since then. I've got a 2015 CVO Street Glide now as my toy.

 

I've looked at everything. I test drove the 328ix and I was unimpressed. I test drove the ATS and it felt kind of cheap. The S4 is out of my price range. The IS was too small.

 

Wow, Nicky shows up after all this time!

Of the two, I'd go for the TLX over the RDX. Then again, I'm more a car/wagon guy than a SUV guy, so what do I know? I think the TLX will satisfy in SH-AWD form. SH-AWD gives great handling in the curves, as opposed to the non-SH-AWD system Acura went with in the new RDX....still don't understand why they did that.

If you're worried about vibrations, test the car you would be buying to feel for the vibrations.

It looks like you've been doing a little looking away from Acura, reasonable to do as others are saying.

 

what is your budget? 328ix is probably as worse as it gets when it comes to BMW nowadays. X drives do not have the sport suspension regardless if you get M sport or not.

While you are at it, take a look at the new X1 non-Msport. they are a much better car than 328xi. It can be had for ~40k well equipped.

or you can also get 335i. They are practically "giving them away" right now for the leftover 15'

 

We bought an RDX (2015 Tech AWD) and the only other thing we looked at was a GC Limited (with lux pack? nav, etc). RDX was about $4k cheaper IIRC (paid ~$38.Xk for the RDX) and we trusted the RDX to last a lot longer than the GC based on our prior ownership of about a half-dozen Jeeps. We also felt that the tech in the GC was way too flashy and that made it difficult to use while driving for my wife (all of the screens have a lot going on and are difficult to understand/use at a glance). This might not be as big a difference with the 2-screen tech in the 2016 RDX which is also more complex.

Of note, this vehicle was to be used as a commuter for my wife. So all the areas where the Jeep excels (offroad, etc) are completely wasted on her. If I was buying for me, it would be GC all the way. The big two things we felt we sacrificed on the Acura over the GC were lack of heated steering wheel and A/C seats.

 

Because the vast, vast, vast majority of RDXs are bought by suburban soccer moms who basically only need an AWD badge to convince them of superior bad weather driveability. My wife included. SH-AWD is completely wasted on them.

 

I would get the TLX for the superior AWD system.

 

Can't believe I'm typing this but GS350

 

I still can't decide! I looked at a Slate Silver RDX yesterday and it almost looks blue! Why can't silver be silver! They had a white TLX all done up with tinted windows and the body kit on the showroom floor that caught my eye.....if I didn't have 2 kids, I'd have the ATS Coupe....but it makes no sense for my situation. I don't like the 4 door ATS....I'd only go for the coupe.

 

+1 for TLX

 

 

Sup brah! Congrats on the wife and kids!

How about the Infiniti Q50?

 

Totally different price range. I don't know what his budget is, but here, a GS350 AWD was about $16k more than a TLX SH-AWD similarly equipped, with some extra luxuries in interior materials to make up for it. In my opinion it wasn't worth that massive price differential.

 

According to what I read, the TLX has Honda's latest V6 upgrades shared with the 2016 Pilot only. It is not the same version as in the 2016 Accord V6 (not direct injected yet AFAIK), but it is probably marginally "better" and I wouldn't be surprised that this new version only to accommodate the ZF 9-sp.

But what are the differences in the SH-AWD system?

 

As Sarlacc says, American is pretty good. I checked out my friends 2016 Durango R/T (with the Hemi). Dear god that thing hauls (both stuff and ass). Lots of room and it seemed to have good fit and finish.