[G8mike]

Returned the ILX after my nerve wracking trip on Tuesday and picked up this MUCH better effort from the 'Star Trek logo' brand:





The RDX makes use of the outstanding 3.5 litre V6 and is mated to a 6 speed transmission which absolutely puts Acura's 5 speed to shame. The 5 speed should be retired. Promptly.

The RDX then spent the next two days venturing up to the cottage (2 1/2 hour drive each way) and transporting us and all our luggage back home in supremely comfortable fashion:





From the drivers perspective, the interior is almost identical to the ILX, which meant I didn't need to 're learn' how to do anything. The interiors of both are dark, but attractive with high quality materials throughout. The seats and mirrors also have two memory settings, which is a godsend when you have folks of significantly different stature driving it:





The RDX weighs in at a relatively lithe 3,852 lbs in AWD form, and with the 6 speed working with a 4.25 final drive ratio, it sits at around 2000 rpm on the highway and is a silent, serene cruiser.

Gear ratios are brilliant. It's just a bit weak of the line, then starts pulling like a madman as the revs build. As with the ILX, there are paddle shifters on the wheel which work exactly like the SHO - throw it into sport, pull the left one to downshift/set it to manual mode, then let it rip. Ratios are:

1st
3.36
2nd
2.09
3rd
1.48
4th
1.07
5th
0.75
6th
0.56

It has a 'displacement on demand' type of system which yeilded a highway run of 8.4 litres/100km on our trip home, or about 26 - 27 MPG.

The RDX should be capable of running 0 - 60 in about 6.2 seconds on the way to a 15 second or high 14 quarter. It's a blast to drive hard and handles admirably for a sport/ute/crossover or whatever category you want to slot it into. If somebody thinks they're going to get the jump on you, they're going to be surprised at the hustle this thing has.

The ride is fantastic on all but the harshest surfaces where it gives way to some crashing and banging. The brakes are ferocious, a bit grabby, but feel like they could put you through the windshield if you really jumped on them.

So far, a fantastic effort which proves what the marque is capable of doing. Now they just need to do it across their entire product range.

I have the car until Monday, so a shorter stay than I would like, but I'll add further thoughts/updates as I go along.

[REVolution]

This car should have had the 6-speed auto to begin with. They finally got it right, IMO.

[Dequindre]

It looks very happy.

[G8mike]

Maybe it's the gear ratios, but I'd swear this engine is way underrated for h/p. The official stats are 273 h/p @ 6,200 rpm and 250 lbs/ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm. It runs up to 6,800 rpm and sounds great all the way up. It's only lacking in off the line punch. Once it gets rolling it'll push you back into the seat very nicely.

[G8mike]

For dummys such as myself, push button start has always left me a bit befuddled. However, I get it now. If you just want accessory, push the start button without pushing the brake pedal. To start the engine, it's the button plus the pedal.

Me, I'd rather twist a key - there's just something more satisfying about that, even though with modern electronics, your key twist is the equivalent of pushing a button anyway.

[REVolution]

Yea, anything with a push button is like that nowadays. I agree, I also would rather turn a key. I fear that on my mom's Lexus, its going to fail one day and there really is no other way to start it.

[G8mike]

Killer stereo in this thing too. It'll make your ears bleed.

[REVolution]

They do have amazing sound quality, very crisp and clear.

[Brown_Pride]

G8mike;224440 Wrote:For dummys such as myself, push button start has always left me a bit befuddled. However, I get it now. If you just want accessory, push the start button without pushing the brake pedal. To start the engine, it's the button plus the pedal.

At least you get it. Car & Driver journalists still haven't figured it out. It hasn't hit their mind that to shut off the car they just have to hold the button an extra 1/2 second rather than pushing it once.

I got used to the whole "push button" system after 2-3 drives. It's much cleaner, intuitive, and you don't have annoying keys and grocery cards dangling and hitting your knees.

[The 'Burg]

Brown_Pride;224494 Wrote:

G8mike;224440 Wrote:For dummys such as myself, push button start has always left me a bit befuddled. However, I get it now. If you just want accessory, push the start button without pushing the brake pedal. To start the engine, it's the button plus the pedal.

At least you get it. Car & Driver journalists still haven't figured it out. It hasn't hit their mind that to shut off the car they just have to hold the button an extra 1/2 second rather than pushing it once.

I got used to the whole "push button" system after 2-3 drives. It's much cleaner, intuitive, and you don't have annoying keys and grocery cards dangling and hitting your knees.

Yeah it's really not that tough to figure out. My Altima has push-button start and I love it.

BP - get the "Key Ring" app for your phone and ditch all those annoying grocery cards.

[zguy]

We can all be glad the insert key and then push button to start is gone, all the bad of both systems no good

[G8mike]

Used the navigation system to find our way to Medieval times last night (forsooth fair varlot, caught crimson fisted!) and it worked like a charm. The only difficulty we had was that it's somewhat clunky in how to get it set up. I started with voice commands, but then it seemed to want me to spell the name of the venue - well, I can't do that while driving so my wife started putting in the name using the controls on the centre console, when half way through it says you can do it by voice command...

Anyway, once programmed in, the directions were spot on. It was interesting watching the nav display of this portion of the highway. I could only find a partial overhead view of it, but here's the 404/401/Don Valley Parkway interchange:

[G8mike]

Something I've noticed about every 6 speed auto I've tested and driven so far is that they don't seem to use the same shift logic as the old 4 speeds. On deceleration, the 4 speeds always seemed to hold 3rd until you were almost stopped, then would drop down to 1st. 6 speeds always seem to go 3 - 2 - 1 and you can feel each downshift, which leads to a 'lumpy' deceleration. I don't know why this is - some sort of mechanical constraint possibly(?), but I have yet to drive any 6 speed that's as smooth as GM's good 'ol 4 speeds.

[REVolution]

Hmm, that is odd. Lexus keeps the gears high when decelerating. The RX/GS/ES/IS will keep the transmission in 3rd or 4th and until it comes to a complete stop and it will even start off in 3rd or 4th oddly enough until it needs to shift to to meet demands. Most automatics do this so I can see why it would seem weird to you.

Btw, is that the view that the car gives you via satellite? That is awesome!

[G8mike]

RotaryKing aka Rev;224728 Wrote:Hmm, that is odd. Lexus keeps the gears high when decelerating. The RX/GS/ES/IS will keep the transmission in 3rd or 4th and until it comes to a complete stop and it will even start off in 3rd or 4th oddly enough until it needs to shift to to meet demands. Most automatics do this so I can see why it would seem weird to you.

Btw, is that the view that the car gives you via satellite? That is awesome!

No, I just found that on the web. Here's a somewhat better screen shot from Google Satellite, but if you just keep zooming in on the city of Toronto, you'll be able to find it:



The nav on the Acuras give you an 'overhead' view, whereas the Fords gave a 'horizon' view. I prefer the horizon view as I find the overhead more disorienting, after all you're not flying, you're driving!