Hey Guys! I posted this in the RDX forum as well but didn't get much response, hopefully i'm not violating a rule posting it in two different area's, I apologize if so! I also for warn its a long posting as I try to get factors stated to get better opinions from people!
Here's my question and want of your opinions. I'm a single guy don't have kids or anything, and I was originally considering an MDX, but I saw the 2013 and newer RDX's get amazingly better gas mileage than a 2010 (or possibly 11) MDX. I realize the 2014 MDX gets the same gas mileage as these newer RDX's but my loan max approval is 35k at this point and base 14' MDX is like 42k (and WA sales tax is INSANE like 10-11%). My trade in is gonna be a 02 accord with a tranny that's starting to lag between 1-2 and 2-3 gear when shifting (yay thanks Honda for @#$@# transmissions!). I just got my new job after a long hiatus and I'm tired of having the Honda its been 8 years and i'd rather get rid of it before the tranny completely falls out. Anyways I just cant swing the NEW mdx because after taxes (and if I wanted Tech which I think I do) i'd be up near 49k, which is toooo much..
So my question becomes this. A 2013 RDX has the gas milage I'd like and they have one with 22k miles down south for 37.5k (but says price is negotiable) (link http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/4227430866.html and http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/4230264806.html) Not sure if that's CPO or not though its a Honda/acura dealer in one. if I could get him down to 34k or less I might consider that one.. But otherwise if he doesn't come down much, seems like its worth it to just get a brand new 14' RDX with tech for 39k if I really wanted to push my limit (and could swing it) at least over a used one that's only 2-3k cheaper. There's another used one closer that has only 2.2k miles but its pearl white and they want 38.5k (with tech and AWD) just seems silly to me when a new one is only 1.4k more.
BUT for around 31-33k I can snag a 2010 MDX with probably 30-45k miles on it. Why did I choose 2010? I just wanted to get new enough to get the 6 speed transmission which seemed like a pretty good upgrade right after the 09's and might give me a better chance of avoiding the bad torq converters... So that's 31-33k vs probably something like 35k(if i'm lucky and get the dealer down on that 13' RDX) to 39.5k for a 14 RDX TECH AWD). To me that's about 4-8k savings on the loan if I just go with a 2010 MDX. (and cant get the 37.5 down below 35k)
After doing the math of having to use premium fuel and the MDX's gas milage vs the RDX, I estimate at about 12.5k miles a year (which is about what I do roughly) It would cost me 448 dollars MORE a year to drive the mdx the same distance as it would the RDX with better MPG. at that rate i'd have to own the MDX for around 13 years to make up a 6k difference in price. Now that's with current gas prices I know if the price goes up , which it will, it will shorten that by a few years, but that still seems pretty long to me..
I realize there are other factors to consider like a 3 year newer car and such. I just thought i'd ask opinions here.. The upside of not having to get the loan maxed out at 35k means I can probably pay it off sooner and not feel quite so under water (i.e. my monthly payment would be 100 bucks cheaper roughly!).. But the RDX started to seem to suit my needs a bit more, Do I REALLY need the 3rd row seating since I have 0 kids, and don't plan on having any? The extra space may be nice, as I will skiboard (think micro sized ski's don't need a roof rack for, just fit in trunk easily) in the mountains, and probably take 2-3 friends, I still think I could probably fit everything snugly in the RDX.. And i'm not wild about the turbo 4 cylc models of 12 and older...
So Please people chime in on your thoughts. I know I post a lot of information, but i'm really indecisive.. Oh yes I've test driven the '14 rdx (the dealer had no 13's up here i'd have to drive 1.5 hours south to test drive that 13 with 22k miles on it) and the difference I felt was just that the RDX felt like it had a bit more ZING to it, where as the 10' MDX I test drove kind of felt like driving my friends 4 runner where you hear the engine roar just to get the thing moving (ok not quite that bad, but it felt a tad more laggy than the RDX did) and I probably slightly (only slightly) prefer the zippy feeling of the RDX, but then again, saving 6 grand and paying it off sooner is a nice feeling.. also I consider that old adage, a brand new car loses 2k value as soon as you drive it off the lot.. that's the nice thing about buying used 'usually' is that you already got that big drop in depreciation gone.
also is REALLY only worth it to stick to acura certified CPO? I know you get that extra 1 year/12k miles or whatever on the power train right? does that cover engine AND all tranny issues?
I plan to keep the car for probably a while, at least 5+ years I tend not to get new cars until things start to go terribly wrong with current ones (hence the tranny getting laggy on my accord and it will cost more to fix than the car is worth!) and Most usage will be day to day drive to work (around 7 miles each way) and some free way driving twice a week 50 miles round trip), then trips to the mountains every 2-3 weeks for 4-5 (70 miles one way) months.
Lastly I want to add, I've been considering just forgetting the tech package (at least on the MDX, maybe on rdx too) As from what I've been reading it may not be that much of a worthy upgrade, lots of complaints on the nav, and the ONLY real reasl I was so for it, was I wanted the best possible audio system I could get since it seems like if I take out the stereo I loose the ability to see the tempature settings in the car since it uses the stereos display for that? Hence I wouldn't relaly wana replace the head unit, and i'm used to the head unit being so crappy in cars (Honda accords) that when I replace them its NIGHT and DAY ... but if these sound systems are already way better maybe I don't need to worry about that and don't need tech?
So please chime in! Sorry for the long winded post! I always felt more information was better than not enough for peoples opinions!
Here's my question and want of your opinions. I'm a single guy don't have kids or anything, and I was originally considering an MDX, but I saw the 2013 and newer RDX's get amazingly better gas mileage than a 2010 (or possibly 11) MDX. I realize the 2014 MDX gets the same gas mileage as these newer RDX's but my loan max approval is 35k at this point and base 14' MDX is like 42k (and WA sales tax is INSANE like 10-11%). My trade in is gonna be a 02 accord with a tranny that's starting to lag between 1-2 and 2-3 gear when shifting (yay thanks Honda for @#$@# transmissions!). I just got my new job after a long hiatus and I'm tired of having the Honda its been 8 years and i'd rather get rid of it before the tranny completely falls out. Anyways I just cant swing the NEW mdx because after taxes (and if I wanted Tech which I think I do) i'd be up near 49k, which is toooo much..
So my question becomes this. A 2013 RDX has the gas milage I'd like and they have one with 22k miles down south for 37.5k (but says price is negotiable) (link http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/4227430866.html and http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/4230264806.html) Not sure if that's CPO or not though its a Honda/acura dealer in one. if I could get him down to 34k or less I might consider that one.. But otherwise if he doesn't come down much, seems like its worth it to just get a brand new 14' RDX with tech for 39k if I really wanted to push my limit (and could swing it) at least over a used one that's only 2-3k cheaper. There's another used one closer that has only 2.2k miles but its pearl white and they want 38.5k (with tech and AWD) just seems silly to me when a new one is only 1.4k more.
BUT for around 31-33k I can snag a 2010 MDX with probably 30-45k miles on it. Why did I choose 2010? I just wanted to get new enough to get the 6 speed transmission which seemed like a pretty good upgrade right after the 09's and might give me a better chance of avoiding the bad torq converters... So that's 31-33k vs probably something like 35k(if i'm lucky and get the dealer down on that 13' RDX) to 39.5k for a 14 RDX TECH AWD). To me that's about 4-8k savings on the loan if I just go with a 2010 MDX. (and cant get the 37.5 down below 35k)
After doing the math of having to use premium fuel and the MDX's gas milage vs the RDX, I estimate at about 12.5k miles a year (which is about what I do roughly) It would cost me 448 dollars MORE a year to drive the mdx the same distance as it would the RDX with better MPG. at that rate i'd have to own the MDX for around 13 years to make up a 6k difference in price. Now that's with current gas prices I know if the price goes up , which it will, it will shorten that by a few years, but that still seems pretty long to me..
I realize there are other factors to consider like a 3 year newer car and such. I just thought i'd ask opinions here.. The upside of not having to get the loan maxed out at 35k means I can probably pay it off sooner and not feel quite so under water (i.e. my monthly payment would be 100 bucks cheaper roughly!).. But the RDX started to seem to suit my needs a bit more, Do I REALLY need the 3rd row seating since I have 0 kids, and don't plan on having any? The extra space may be nice, as I will skiboard (think micro sized ski's don't need a roof rack for, just fit in trunk easily) in the mountains, and probably take 2-3 friends, I still think I could probably fit everything snugly in the RDX.. And i'm not wild about the turbo 4 cylc models of 12 and older...
So Please people chime in on your thoughts. I know I post a lot of information, but i'm really indecisive.. Oh yes I've test driven the '14 rdx (the dealer had no 13's up here i'd have to drive 1.5 hours south to test drive that 13 with 22k miles on it) and the difference I felt was just that the RDX felt like it had a bit more ZING to it, where as the 10' MDX I test drove kind of felt like driving my friends 4 runner where you hear the engine roar just to get the thing moving (ok not quite that bad, but it felt a tad more laggy than the RDX did) and I probably slightly (only slightly) prefer the zippy feeling of the RDX, but then again, saving 6 grand and paying it off sooner is a nice feeling.. also I consider that old adage, a brand new car loses 2k value as soon as you drive it off the lot.. that's the nice thing about buying used 'usually' is that you already got that big drop in depreciation gone.
also is REALLY only worth it to stick to acura certified CPO? I know you get that extra 1 year/12k miles or whatever on the power train right? does that cover engine AND all tranny issues?
I plan to keep the car for probably a while, at least 5+ years I tend not to get new cars until things start to go terribly wrong with current ones (hence the tranny getting laggy on my accord and it will cost more to fix than the car is worth!) and Most usage will be day to day drive to work (around 7 miles each way) and some free way driving twice a week 50 miles round trip), then trips to the mountains every 2-3 weeks for 4-5 (70 miles one way) months.
Lastly I want to add, I've been considering just forgetting the tech package (at least on the MDX, maybe on rdx too) As from what I've been reading it may not be that much of a worthy upgrade, lots of complaints on the nav, and the ONLY real reasl I was so for it, was I wanted the best possible audio system I could get since it seems like if I take out the stereo I loose the ability to see the tempature settings in the car since it uses the stereos display for that? Hence I wouldn't relaly wana replace the head unit, and i'm used to the head unit being so crappy in cars (Honda accords) that when I replace them its NIGHT and DAY ... but if these sound systems are already way better maybe I don't need to worry about that and don't need tech?
So please chime in! Sorry for the long winded post! I always felt more information was better than not enough for peoples opinions!