A-Spec owners - wish you had Advance instead ?

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Old 01-01-2019, 08:23 AM
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A-Spec owners - wish you had Advance instead ?

Any A-Spec owners wish they had Advanced instead? I really want the Apex Blue color but want teh Advanced features. I also do not like the red/silver sport gauge / speedometer.

Old 01-01-2019, 08:32 AM
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Nope, I love my Performance Red Pearl A-Spec. Looks way better and has a little more character and attitude! I test drove an advance 3 times and preferred the A-Spec.
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Old 01-01-2019, 08:48 AM
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The only thing I wish my Pearl White A-Spec came with that the Advance has is Active Dampers and HUD. Other than that I am very happy. My A-Spec is SOLID and was a great choice for the narrow mountain roads where we live. I tool around with Sport+ continually in the on position. Gas Mileage, who cares.

Last edited by tecwerks; 01-01-2019 at 08:52 AM. Reason: addition
Old 01-01-2019, 09:23 AM
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I don't. When I first saw the red gauges I thought they would glare but the lighting is adjustable. I'm a happy camper! Love this suv.
Old 01-01-2019, 09:35 AM
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I'm not an owner but I'm car-shopping right now. I love the way the exterior of the car looks on the A-spec but I hate the interior (red seats, red dashboard, etc). I also would want some of the features from the Advance level.
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Old 01-01-2019, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Sounds
I'm not an owner but I'm car-shopping right now. I love the way the exterior of the car looks on the A-spec but I hate the interior (red seats, red dashboard, etc). I also would want some of the features from the Advance level.
agree 100%. I also like the interior wood trim in the Advance (felt dash seems crazy in A-spec), but problem is Iove the Apex Blue color and exterior of the A-spec. Would of bought Advanced last month if they offered in Apex Blue.
Old 01-01-2019, 10:06 AM
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Not an owner but honestly Acura has to bring the Adavnced features to A-Spec!

In Canada, we can get TLX Adavnced with A-Spec. I am sure we will get the same with RDX In the future.
Old 01-01-2019, 10:41 AM
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I have A Spec. Much prefer exterior looks over the Advance. I chose black leather seats. Red gage don’t bother me. Having heated rear seats would have been cool but not much else in the Advance I pine for.
Old 01-01-2019, 11:09 AM
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Yep - I got the Pearl White Aspec and love it but would have purchased a black if it wasn't for those red seats. The were just a bit too loud for my personal taste.

About the advanced - The dealer told me the 360 camera wasnt that good, i dont have kids so didnt need the rear seat heaters and the single HUD indicator was nice but that 1 feature i wanted couldn't compare to the much bolder look of the ASPEC.

just my 2 cents..
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Old 01-01-2019, 11:31 AM
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For next year’s model they need to have a spec that combines the look of the a spec with the features of the advance. For me the chrome on the advance screams Honda Civic meet 60 year old. But the A spec missing the active dampers heated rear seats and HUD is a significant gap.
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Old 01-01-2019, 11:41 AM
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Still liking my black A-Spec. I too would like a HUD and oddly the hands-free tailgate feature as our hands are full a lot in a family of 5
Old 01-01-2019, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Rmsanger
For next year’s model they need to have a spec that combines the look of the a spec with the features of the advance. For me the chrome on the advance screams Honda Civic meet 60 year old. But the A spec missing the active dampers heated rear seats and HUD is a significant gap.
The heated rear seats and HUD are in the $8k cheaper CX-5 so should definitely be in the ASpec. I know that’s another thread active here at the moment but just sayin’. All that chrome puts me off too.
Old 01-01-2019, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by DR1
The dealer told me the 360 camera wasnt that good...
Really ?
Old 01-01-2019, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Rmsanger
For next year’s model they need to have a spec that combines the look of the a spec with the features of the advance. For me the chrome on the advance screams Honda Civic meet 60 year old. But the A spec missing the active dampers heated rear seats and HUD is a significant gap.
YEP!

Camera - The dealer camera comment was on of the 1st things he said and even unprompted so i was like "noted"
Active Dampners - This was the one item i really missed on the ASPEC and kept me looking at the advance. Since purchasing i have read posts that others cant feel it unless they are in real poor road conditions.

For me the final deciding factor was sitting in several ASPECS and getting into the sporty exterior / interior and then trading that for less appealing wheels, chrome and wood grained interior.
It just wasnt me..
Old 01-01-2019, 01:05 PM
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No. Love my Black A-Spec after 6 months of ownership now...
Old 01-01-2019, 01:20 PM
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The parking sensors make up for the lack of around view cameras on my A-Spec. I had the around view on my 2017.5 Murano but rarely used them and they were only viewable at 10mph or under. I do plan on adding the Heated Steering, Running Boards, and Illuminated Door Kick Plates.
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Old 01-01-2019, 01:51 PM
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No, just love the Apex Blue color with the dark wheels.
Old 01-01-2019, 02:12 PM
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Love the A-spec. Particularly, the polarizing red seats, sport pedals, red gauges look awesome at night, black headliner, shark colored 20" rims on our modern steel, blacked out exterior. Only dislike is no digital MPH & no spare. But spare issue solved with installed spare hoist.

The real question should be, does any Advance owner wish they had gotten the sportier looking A-spec?
Old 01-01-2019, 02:14 PM
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Who would want the Advance over the aspec? Average age of that person has to be 65?
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Old 01-01-2019, 02:17 PM
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The real question is, why don't they allow you to get an A-spec with the features of the Advance?
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Old 01-01-2019, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by mikejohnson724
Who would want the Advance over the aspec?...
Anyone who thinks the a-spec is ugly - has nothing to do with age.

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Old 01-01-2019, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Sounds
The real question is, why don't they allow you to get an A-spec with the features of the Advance?
The correct question actually. A-Spec is nothing but a soft aesthetic modification so why would they make it an individual trim and not an add on package like EVERY OTHER AUTOMAKER DOES with their sport appearance packages.
Old 01-01-2019, 08:04 PM
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I do not care for the A-Spec, nothing more than an appearance package. Love my Advance!
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Old 01-01-2019, 09:10 PM
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I’m in that minority that thinks the Advance in the lighter colors is more attractive than the A-spec. A visit this weekend to my local dealer that now has almost all colors and trims reinforced my belief.

What pisses me off the more I think about it was Acura’s decision to put those god forsaken ugly wheels on the Advance while making wheel upgrades a full price proposition. Other manufacturers in a sense give you credit for the standard wheels by keeping the price of upgrades for larger wheels and tires in the $1,000 to $1,500 territory. As we know Acura wants $3,300 for the 20” rims/tires and $2,000 for just the 19” accessory wheel. To add insult to injury the Advance wheels are a complete stylistic departure from all the other higher trim wheels offered on their models. And then, just to step on us further every review I’ve read or seen of the Advance model has the vehicle wearing the accessory wheels. I’m like if you don’t feel that the Advance wheels are automotive press acceptable why in the world did you choose to put them on the vehicle.

To wrap this up, I have no regrets buying the Advance over the A-spec, but I really despise that I had to spend another $2,500 to put presentable tires and wheels on it. By the way the wood trim had me from first sight.

Last edited by Honda430; 01-01-2019 at 09:14 PM.
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Old 01-01-2019, 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Honda430
I’m in that minority that thinks the Advance in the lighter colors is more attractive than the A-spec. A visit this weekend to my local dealer that now has almost all colors and trims reinforced my belief.

What pisses me off the more I think about it was Acura’s decision to put those god forsaken ugly wheels on the Advance while making wheel upgrades a full price proposition. Other manufacturers in a sense give you credit for the standard wheels by keeping the price of upgrades for larger wheels and tires in the $1,000 to $1,500 territory. As we know Acura wants $3,300 for the 20” rims/tires and $2,000 for just the 19” accessory wheel. To add insult to injury the Advance wheels are a complete stylistic departure from all the other higher trim wheels offered on their models. And then, just to step on us further every review I’ve read or seen of the Advance model has the vehicle wearing the accessory wheels. I’m like if you don’t feel that the Advance wheels are automotive press acceptable why in the world did you choose to put them on the vehicle.

To wrap this up, I have no regrets buying the Advance over the A-spec, but I really despise that I had to spend another $2,500 to put presentable tires and wheels on it. By the way the wood trim had me from first sight.
Those Advance flower wheels are the ugliest wheels I have seen on a modern car. What in the hell was Acura thinking?
Old 01-02-2019, 02:06 AM
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Love my A-Spec and my red interior.
Old 01-02-2019, 03:11 AM
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Originally Posted by jesser916
Love my A-Spec and my red interior.
Thank you! I am obsessed with that red interior. But it really doesn't seem to be getting much love on here. I understand it is a little bold but it's a gorgeous shade of red.
Old 01-02-2019, 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Sounds
The real question is, why don't they allow you to get an A-spec with the features of the Advance?
Totally rhetorical. Maybe with the 2020 model year. Deal with what's available.
If I had gotten the Advance and seen an A-spec on the road, it would have been a regret for sure.
Old 01-02-2019, 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by RDX10
Those Advance flower wheels are the ugliest wheels I have seen on a modern car. What in the hell was Acura thinking?
I think the advance wheels look just fine. I am happy with the look
Old 01-02-2019, 08:44 AM
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I agree the aspec blue with red interior red gauges and grey wheels are a highly attractive combination. However missing a HUD, rear heated seats, active dampers, power tailgate, and a 360 camera is inexcusable.

I could go buy a POS 2016 Nissan has Rogue for $15k with a decent 360 camera while the $50k RDX Aspec is missing it.
Old 01-02-2019, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RDX10
Those Advance flower wheels are the ugliest wheels I have seen on a modern car. What in the hell was Acura thinking?
Are the wheels on the A-spec actually Black, or are they more of a dark (gunmetal?) color?
Old 01-02-2019, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Rmsanger
...missing a HUD, rear heated seats, active dampers, power tailgate, and a 360 camera is inexcusable.

I could go buy a POS 2016 Nissan has Rogue for $15k with a decent 360 camera while the $50k RDX Aspec is missing it.
I was reading about the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe yesterday. Apparently it's chock full of advanced features. I'm not trying to compare the two vehicles overall, just saying that even the Santa Fe has more features than the RDX A-Spec.

Old 01-02-2019, 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Rmsanger
I agree the aspec blue with red interior red gauges and grey wheels are a highly attractive combination. However missing a HUD, rear heated seats, active dampers, power tailgate, and a 360 camera is inexcusable.

I could go buy a POS 2016 Nissan has Rogue for $15k with a decent 360 camera while the $50k RDX Aspec is missing it.
Many vehicles like the Rogue that is ugly, uncomfortable and a basic crossover offer some goodies to get you to overlook the cost of making the car with cloth seats, ugly infotainment systems with 5in screens, half power half manual seat adjusters etc, but oh we have heated rear seats and a camera lol

No thank you
Old 01-02-2019, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by RDX10
Those Advance flower wheels are the ugliest wheels I have seen on a modern car. What in the hell was Acura thinking?
In Canada, the Advance is subdivided into two models, Elite and Platinum Elite. The Elite wheels are nice, like an upscale Tech wheel design. The ugly flower wheels are reserved for the top model. Go figure.
Old 01-02-2019, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Sounds
Are the wheels on the A-spec actually Black, or are they more of a dark (gunmetal?) color?
Dark gray. Definitely not black.
Old 01-02-2019, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Leaf 68
No. Love my Black A-Spec after 6 months of ownership now...
Black could be my first choice too. Just wondered about the black trim on black paint when I saw it. Sort of a Batmobile. Is it the simplicity you like?
Frankly, I think all trims could have lived without the swoosh, black or chrome. I don’t think it makes the car look more upscale in any way.
Old 01-02-2019, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by cheffip


Black could be my first choice too. Just wondered about the black trim on black paint when I saw it. Sort of a Batmobile. Is it the simplicity you like?
Frankly, I think all trims could have lived without the swoosh, black or chrome. I don’t think it makes the car look more upscale in any way.
Simplicity. Black exterior, black interior (no red). And now all the windows are tinted, it just looks plain angry. =)
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Old 01-02-2019, 03:12 PM
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Not me. Love my A-Spec. Black trim, nicer wheels, $2K less, no brainer for me.

IF................there was an A-SPEC version of the Advance, I might have gone for it, make that probably would have gone for it, but from what I'm reading, the Canadian version with the folding mirrors is the one we should have gotten here in the USA!
Old 01-02-2019, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by oblio98
Not me. Love my A-Spec. Black trim, nicer wheels, $2K less, no brainer for me.

IF................there was an A-SPEC version of the Advance, I might have gone for it, make that probably would have gone for it, but from what I'm reading, the Canadian version with the folding mirrors is the one we should have gotten here in the USA!
I am with you, if the A-SPEC came with advanced options, I would get it in a second. I know this is foolish, but I want the hands free option for the tailgate. I do not like the A-SPECS suede seat inserts and dash insert. Like the blacked out chrome and wheels.
Old 01-02-2019, 06:06 PM
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360 camera is great. Add to the fact that the rear camera has it's own washer! Clears it for the winter and dirty road.


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