hues10

So I have had the car for three years now and have the Flashpro, ETS TMIC, Hondata gasket, Progress Swaybar, and KYB lowering springs. The problem is, while I enjoy driving the car (when I drive it), but I am too much of a woosy to use the Sport mode when I drive. I guess I don't understand when I would or should use it. I probably have stepped on the gas once or twice for like three seconds and maybe got it up to 5K rpm's. Other than that, I drive it just around like any other normal car. Love the tech stereo and the handling but feel like I am missing out on the VTEC part. Should I put it in Sport mode, and drive it in 2nd gear to like 6500 RPM's? I don't even know how fast that will be. I have heard 3rd gear at 6500 is over 90, so that is kind of breaking the law from where I am from. Would it hurt the car to stay in 2nd up to 6500 RPM's? How long would I want to drive it in that gear, if at all? Thanks for any advice. I realize I won't break it, just curious as to what to expect.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

I don't understand, why would you even bother?

hues10

Basically, why is there a sport mode in the car, and when would you use it. What should I expect if I leave it in 2nd gear and get up to 6500 rpm's or so. Basically engaging VTEC. Or is this sport mode only a gimmick if for some reason you took it to a private track and wanted to do some laps. That's it really.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

for passing.

downshift into lower gear...with RPM's at 5000 or above and give it the beans..you make peak power at like 6500 RPM...

and what should you expect at 2nd gear? acceleration acceleration....that's what you should expect.


and why would you spend thousands of dollars to mod the car for peak power, if you never use peak power?

thoiboi

Just because it's there, doesn't mean you have to use it. Just look at BMW drivers, all their cars have turn signals, but you never see them utilized.

mrgold35

I can drive my 06 TSX in sport mode because I can hear and feel the i-vtec switchover at 6000 rpm. I find it a little harder in the RDX because the i-vtec switchover is somewhere in the mid/upper 4000rpm range at the same time the turbo engine is delivering max tq. I don't hear/feel the i-vtec change over before redline in the RDX and bumped against the fuel cutoff a few times.

I just use the paddles to downshift to a lower gear for engine braking or help spool the turbo faster (and be in the right gear) when I need to exit a curve under sh-awd power. I switch to SS mode when driving in hilly terrain or mountain switchbacks to stop jumping in/out of higher gears up inclines or use engine braking to stay off the brakes going down.

Tomtwtwtw

I find sport mode handy when driving through hills. I don't want the transmission constantly shifting up and down to try and maintain speed. Also, hold the rpm as high as you want, as long as you want. It's all just a matter of wear and tear, vs fun factor. The fuel cut-off will stop you from over-revving and shattering your valvetrain. The transmission won't let you pull off a money shift.

AlanW

It's OK to take a good, sound engine up to redline RPMS.
My RDX will only get to redline in 1st gear if it is in SS and you have manually locked it in 1st.
When you get up in 2nd gear and the I-vtec switches over with the turbo boosting, it feels like a sports car

hues10

Thanks everyone for your replies and comments. I live in Florida, so no hills here, but I understand the going up/down hill holding the gear concept. Just can't really practice that. As the Foreigner song goes, I will Rev it on the Red line (or close) and report back my impressions. Just haven't "felt" the VTEC ever really kick in for any length of time. As to why I modified the car for $'s, I guess because I was bored and I wanted to see if I could. I forget how it drove stock now.

hues10

So on Sunday morning when driving home from grocery shopping, I ended up accelerating in 2nd gear to about 6000 rpm. There did seem to be a "kick" of acceleration right past the 4500 mark. I got up to about 55 so I backed off and drove the speed limit of 45 as it was not a highway. Interesting as usually in drive mode the car would have shifted to third at least. So that is VTEC. Don't think I would ever really use it unless I just floor it at stop lights. Is that what you all do? But, with the mods I have put on the suspension and TMIC, it is really fun to drive when compared to my other car - the lovely 2004 Saturn Vue V6. Will have to take it up to the Blue Ridge Mountains one day to see how she performs. Six years now and counting. 49K miles so still a baby!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

it's just acceleration.
there are several uses for acceleration....I use it mainly for passing...kick down to a lower gear to get RPMS high, so im in sweet spot.
others use it for mountains and hills.

it's where peak power lives...in high RPMs. just a characteristic of honda engines..

intersting to note; the V6 vue uses the Honda J-series engine

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

So true. At least here in Utah. Especially with BMW female drivers.

hues10

Correct Justnspace - not to digress, the Saturn has the Honda 5-speed AT and V6. I dare say, if I wanted to race them, I believe the V6 would actually beat the RDX in 0-60. The shifting points are night and day between the two. It is probably similar to driving the RDX and MDX with the 5-speed AT from yesteryear. However, hands down I enjoy the Acura immensely more. After three years of owning it, after I drive the Saturn for a week, then switch to the RDX, it is like driving a new car to me. It sits lower, feels like it drives on rails, and can accelerate quicker without punching it to the floor if need be.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

one is a "sport-lux CUV thing" and the other is just a family hauler

AlanW

But how much does the Saturn weigh compared to the very heavy RDX & especially the MDX (RDX = about 4000lbs, MDX = about 4600 or more lbs)

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^up to 4000lbs. it's simply because the RDX is a sport-luxo CUV type thing. it has stiffer shocks and beefier sway bars to stabilize the car better.
the saturn is a basic family hauler.

the saturn also has a re-tuned J-series v6...it doesnt come with the high flowing heads of the Hondas.

AlanW

I can say for sure that my '07 RDX 2.3 Turbo is about 1 to 1.5 seconds faster 0-60mph than my '08 MDX with a J37A, both with SH-AWD 5ATs.
The RDX is pretty damn quick for a AWD CUV, & gets the same times wet or dry

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

hues10

Sorry to turn this into a Turbo 4 vs. Honda V6 discussion. Just giving you my impressions of driving the two. Was really trying to lead into wondering what the new RDX would feel like with the V-6. From what I read, it is as quick or even quicker off the line than the 1G. But this has probably been discussed to death when it first came out in 2013. Have a great weekend! I will be driving RDX again.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

no worries, this one was a fun convo! especially since the Vue has the Honda v6!
another fun note; I used the MDX 3.7l heads on my 3.2l V6 TL to gain mid-range torque

RDX10

The 2013 RDX is faster for 2 main reasons, the first reason being that it weighs 150 pounds less (3850 vs 4000ish), the second reason bring the 6 speed auto vs the 5 speed auto. The 2G (2007-2013 MDX) went from a 5 speed to a 6 speed in 2010. The 0-60 time dropped from 7.2-8.3 down to the 6.3-7.0 range and the only other thing to change was the 3.7l engine got variable valve timing on both the exhaust and intake side vs the previous 3.7l with variable valve timing only on the intake (iirc).

So, if the 1G RDX had a 6 speed vs the 5 speed (I wish they had put one in during the 2010 refresh) I am willing to put money on it being a sub 6 second 0-60. The other thing is that the 2G might be a few tenths of a second faster, it eats shit in anything midly resembling a curve. The absence of SH-AWD and the super soft suspension mean it ends up nearly rolling over if driven sporty. I tried driving it like my 1G when I
had a loaner for a day and wow was I disappointed, nearly rolled over going 30 km/h vs my 1G that could take that turn at 50-60km/h.

Midnight Mystery

I really wish they put the RDX engine in the TSX!!! Now that thing would move!!!

I love all the midrange torque of the RDX... My J32 TL has a brief advantage from a complete stop, then the RDX would destroy it!!! The TL may catch up at like 90 mph or higher... The RDX is very weak after 97-98, takes forever to go from 97-103 mph, it's scary... But it hauls up to there...

I just fond the 2.3 turbo in the RDX has more tq.

mrgold35

I've heard the 3rd Gen RDX might go back to 2.0L Turbo. Not sure about AT choice of the current 9 speed or newer 10 speed transmission or even if they will bring back sh-awd (in regular or sport hybrid mode). I live/travel 5000-8000 feet in the southwest and having the extra TQ from the turbo (along with Hondata+ETS intercooler) makes the RDX sooooo much fun to drive at those altitudes. My TSX and MDX really get sluggish as I climb in elevation.

I might have to add a new vehicle to my stable if the 3rd Gen RDX has 2.0L turbo+sh-awd+7/8/9/10AT. Gives me hope for aftermarket support starting again since Honda is able to get 306hp/295tq from the 2.0T Honda Civic Type-R

TheWrench116

iTrader: (1)

if you look at a bolted and tuned K23 vs even the J37 the V-6 loses every time in tq and hp the tq curve is just not even close. hp gets closer on the top end cause the stock turbo cant move enough air, but I've got an upgrade and it adds about 30 whp to the top end.

AlanW

I wonder what the turbo RDXs would do with a 6 speed manual

TheWrench116

iTrader: (1)

It would shear the gears off the shaft. If it could tolerate 400+ tq then it would really hurt feelings.

My RDX made 380 if you do some conservative math and figure 10% drivetrain loss that's 418 that's when the civic transmission starts having issues with gear sets giving up.

And I am of the opinion that there's more tq left on the table.

007RDX

So what's next, you going to get some upgraded gearbox once you blow out your current?

hues10

Wrench you kill me!. You no longer have a RDX, it is more of FrankenRDX. Have you taken "Franken" to the track to see 0-60 and qtr mile? From what I remember, no one gets much below 6.4 to 60 mph, like the Audi Q5 can do with the 2.0 L. I think the Audi S5 is estimated to obtain 5.4 seconds. Not to get into a discussion on which is better, just trying to compare what Wrench can do now with his upgrades versus stock numbers. Anyone try to put a supercharger on the RDX? And in full disclosure, I don't know what a Supercharger is

mrgold35

The 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times suck for the RDX because it is too heavy at +4000lbs, too much drive-train power loss with 5AT+sh-awd, low compression 2.3L turbo needing time to spool, and being as aerodynamic as brick (sexy brick at that). You might get a few tenths quicker times with the fwd +10 RDX; but, you would lose the handling advantages of sh-awd once the 0-60 sprint becomes a Nurburgring road course. The RDX is very slow at 0-25 mph and makes up for it violently from 25-60 mph. Very ideal set-up for a road course when you are running the RDX with the turbo spooled up. You can carry more speed into a curve and have plenty of power+sh-awd to power out.

RDX10

I wish Acura would have taken the 1G RDX on the Nurburgring and posted an official time. The 1G RDX might not be the quickest thing 0-60, but when it's already in motion the mid-range passing power is VERY nice, along with SH-AWD (that works sometimes when needed) it should
post good numbers.

Midnight Mystery

I love my RDX's amount of torque... It's so much stronger than the V6 in my 2008 TL...

RDX10

Oh yeah! The torque was awesome! I wish they would have had the weight around 3700 pounds max, then put the 6 speed auto in. Would be amazing.

Midnight Mystery

New struts are nice, however, electrical problems persist for me... But I love the engine!!!

RDX10

Lmao are you sure yours wasn't flooded or something? I mean honestly I have NEVER EVER read of electric gremlins like the ones you are having on the RDX. Actually I'd say by far the RDX is the most bullet proof vehicle I have ever owner.

TheWrench116

iTrader: (1)

google for the supercharger...

my opinion for what its worth step one is to get a better ECU that will make the full use of the very good drive train we were blessed with. flashpro is all we've got and its better then nothing.

i really have no idea what people are talking about when the say this thing is "laggy" even stock it will make full boost by 2000 rpm the big issue has always been the top end falling off due to the stock compressor wheel not being able to move enough air. the other major obstacle is the maf sensor and the need to go to a bigger housing so you don't peg the meter and go into limp mode.

i think i need to find someone with an audi and give them some hurt feelings it runs 13.5 in the 1/4 @ 104

RDX10

This was my impression too. I never felt a lag with mine at all and it was bone stock. I mean yes if I slammed the gas pedal at a red light there was a slight delay, not a lag but like you could feel it building boost as it accelerated and then like you say around 2000 rpm you start feeling the push.

A lot of publications and people on here make it sound like there is this giant on-off power curve and like driving the RDX is uncomfortable because it's super laggy. Like mentioned above, in normal driving there is ZERO lag, in super sporty driving there is a mild delay not unlike a naturally aspirated engined.

TheWrench116

iTrader: (1)

get the socket set out and start cleaning all your grounds very well. if that doesn't help then im lost.

Midnight Mystery

I find it does best if you go a little under 1/2

Midnight Mystery

I find it does best if you go 1/2 throttle then feather it from there... If I floor mine from a stop, it will barely move for about 5 seconds, then take off... And I mean 5 seconds literally... However, 1/2 throttle, and this things a rocket... I do however like that it doesn't peel out, in my TL, I feel a forward lurch almost everytime I go, which can get annoying...

But it I love the torque...

Win Tran

To me it didn't feel laggy off the line but in down shifts, and lane change took forever! Unless you hit the paddles.