Finally got to drive one. Took my wifes ILX in for oil change and they happened to have a white Tech with Seacoast interior on the lot. So of course I had to test drive it.
Initial impressions: Not bad.
1. The HUD is superb. They did an excellent job on implementation, design, readibility, and functionality. Bravo Acura.
2. Suspension, dare I say, it felt slightly different, but didnt seem anymore settled or more responsive when hitting bumps, potholes, etc. Here in Georgia its not hard to find them "gators". Otherwise, the car did feel more planted to the ground and less light footed and ready to bounce as my PAWS does. I'm only assuming this is due to the added weight of the Hybrid system thats been mentioned before.
3. Acceleration was sweet. While my PAWS can go, this thing can go and then some. While not a huge major jump up from my PAWS, its noticeble in the immediate power it gives you, and then keeps giving you at lower RPMs. The PAWS can give it to, but has to rev a bit higher to get the same torque and thrust.
Take all that from someone who has 33k+ miles behind the PAWS and is very familiar with the RLX as whole. So Im not going to rave about it like most of you hybrid owners being that the Hybrid is your first RLX, unlike George and myself who I believe are really the only ones on the list who have had significant stick time behind the PAWS and then experienced the Hybrid to be able to make a comparison. Most of what you Hybrid owners are experiencing is the same joy I did in my first 3-6 months with my RLX. Just go back and look at all my posts from July-December of 2013. You're just getting the added bonus of the extra toys the Hybrid comes with.
So when some of you say "you have to test drive one to really get it" you're absolutely right, IF its your first time ever experiencing the RLX. But for an existing PAWS owner with significant time behind one, its not all that big a deal.
All in all, not bad. Doesnt change my direction on likely moving to MB here within the next 15 months. But I will say it does show a sign of where the RLX can go if Acura can just get their act together with the RLX as a whole, from product design, to execution to marketing. Maybe they'll get it right come 2016/2017.
Initial impressions: Not bad.
1. The HUD is superb. They did an excellent job on implementation, design, readibility, and functionality. Bravo Acura.
2. Suspension, dare I say, it felt slightly different, but didnt seem anymore settled or more responsive when hitting bumps, potholes, etc. Here in Georgia its not hard to find them "gators". Otherwise, the car did feel more planted to the ground and less light footed and ready to bounce as my PAWS does. I'm only assuming this is due to the added weight of the Hybrid system thats been mentioned before.
3. Acceleration was sweet. While my PAWS can go, this thing can go and then some. While not a huge major jump up from my PAWS, its noticeble in the immediate power it gives you, and then keeps giving you at lower RPMs. The PAWS can give it to, but has to rev a bit higher to get the same torque and thrust.
Take all that from someone who has 33k+ miles behind the PAWS and is very familiar with the RLX as whole. So Im not going to rave about it like most of you hybrid owners being that the Hybrid is your first RLX, unlike George and myself who I believe are really the only ones on the list who have had significant stick time behind the PAWS and then experienced the Hybrid to be able to make a comparison. Most of what you Hybrid owners are experiencing is the same joy I did in my first 3-6 months with my RLX. Just go back and look at all my posts from July-December of 2013. You're just getting the added bonus of the extra toys the Hybrid comes with.
So when some of you say "you have to test drive one to really get it" you're absolutely right, IF its your first time ever experiencing the RLX. But for an existing PAWS owner with significant time behind one, its not all that big a deal.
All in all, not bad. Doesnt change my direction on likely moving to MB here within the next 15 months. But I will say it does show a sign of where the RLX can go if Acura can just get their act together with the RLX as a whole, from product design, to execution to marketing. Maybe they'll get it right come 2016/2017.