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Auto Talk => The Big Guys => Topic started by: 565 on April 30, 2022, 06:32:56 AM

Title: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on April 30, 2022, 06:32:56 AM
Super long read/rant. Skip to end for results.  Warning car buying for a woman hilarity.

My wife and I are expecting our first kid and one of the things on the list was to upgrade the cars. She was driving a 2007 (I think?) CRV that I think the first user must have abused the shit out of.   

The plan was to get her the face-lifted RDX, however in todays market I guess buying a car isn't straight forward.

She absolutely wanted a compact SUV of similar size to her CRV. That was her absolute requirement.  I was planning to spend about 40 to 50k.

I first called around to dealers to see if they were willing to sell their PMC RDXs.  I figured that the RDX would never be really special but at least the PMC editions would be interesting and rare for barely more money than the equivalent regular RDX.   Well called around and everyone wanted 7K over sticker or so for their PMC RDXs.  So that was a no go.

We planned a day to drive the RDX and the competition.  The Hyundai dealer had an apt prior to the Acura dealer and likely this is where the whole plan went wrong.

The GV70 has gotten rave reviews with many people saying it's best in segment and I guess I was curious.  We drove the GV70 2.5 advance first and my wife fell in love with it.  She loved everything about it.  One hang up?  She wanted heated rear seats.  I have no idea why that was the feature that she absolutely wanted but it was.  The only trim of the GV70 that had heated rear seats was the top of the line 64k model with the 3.5T and the sport diff.  Another problem, the Hyundai dealer wanted 2.5k over sticker for the cars available and 1.5k over sticker for any new orders.  Another problem the Hyundai dealer looked like they were just run by thugs,  everyone acted like talking to us was a huge waste of their time.  One upside of the pandemic is that all test drives are without the sales person and we really got to test out the tech and the car.  The GV70 itself was great, drove great everything was high quality, the tech was great.  However if you want certain feature like the HUD and the digital cluster or heated rear seats you had to step up to the highest model.  Later I would realize this is how Genesis was dealing with the chip shortage, that only the most expensive trim would get all the tech you want.

Okay then we were off to the Acura dealership.  It was a mistake to drive the GV70 first because the RDX just didn't measure up in comparison.  It felt an entire generation older.  The dealership was excellent.  However the RDX did have a HUD, which suddenly became a feature that my wife wanted.

Finally we swung by the Tesla show room to look at the Model Y.   This is the car I was hoping to have her choose.  My buddy loves his model 3. Tesla had none to drive but we sat in a couple on the show room.  I didn't mind the interior but she hated it.

One on the list I wanted to check out was the new NX but no dealer had them yet.  I figured we were going to get the GV70.  And that's when we found out that pretty much the entire production for 22 was sold out and new orders would be for the 2023.  In addition the top trim with the heated seats and HUD came with the sport diff that was basically exploding left and right on owners.  The GV70 forum was basically filled with owners with undrivable cars waiting months for parts.  So unfortunately that was off the list.

The following cars got eliminated for the following ridiculous reasons.

GLC: Her friend got one and didn't like it as much so she didn't want to "copy him"

Q5: Her other friend got a hybrid model and didn't like it a lot so same reason as above

CX5: same as above

So we checked out an X3.  I've never considered a German car because they break down all the time and are expensive to fix, but figured why not.  Well surprisingly she liked the X3 alot, almost as much as the GV70.  It was a 2.0t.  Everything went great until we backed into the space again and realized there was no 360 camera.  The issue was the chip shortage.  Just like for Genesis, BMW reserved the tech features for the expensive models.

At this point we are months into the process and the new NXs have become available at dealers.  We checked them out but due to high demand they weren't doing test drives.  They also wanted 5k over sticker.  None of them at 360 parking cameras either.  They were also not doing any new orders.

So it came down to the GV70 and the X3.  Since only the loaded models have the features she wanted the budget as ballooned to 65k or so.  The BMW dealers were willing to do sticker and incentives, the Genesis dealers would finally do sticker but the car would come in the summer.  After much back and worth we decided on the X3 M40i so we would get the features we want.

Well that's when we learned a new word.  Allocations.  This would become even more of an issue when it came to my new car( another thread).  At the time of dealing with the BMW dealership they has an allocation, however while we were flip flopping, another customer took the allocation.  No other dealers in the area had an allocation.   Allocations come up maybe every month or so.  However while I was calling another dealer I asked of they happened to have an allocation for an X3M. Parallel to her car buying journey I was looking for a car of my own to replace the g37x and the M3 comp X drive was on the short list, to the point I was calling around for allocations.  I ultimate decided against that car but the area of getting the same drivetrain in the wife's car for about 18k more was really tempting.  I really wanted the M3 for the S58 power train because the steering and handling supposedly wasn't anything special anyway.

So that's how I ended up putting an order in for an X3M.  I sold it to my wife as "it's like the car you wanted with the engine of the car I wanted."  I always thought these high performance SUVs were the dumbest things ever and why would anyone not just get the sedan.  Now I understand,  it's basically to trick your wife. 

The car arrived in 6 weeks.  I got 2 grand off in incentives.  I'm sure it will depreciate like a stone and will probably break down a ton.  But I figure life is short and why not tool around in a 500hp compact SUV.

We are still in break in miles but so far we love it.  The tech is amazing, everything is solid, and the power train is great.  I was worried about the ride being super super stiff but the face lifted LCI models have improved that.  We also won the tire lottery and the car was delivered with PS4s tires instead of the more common conti tires.  I'll update once we get more miles on it.








 
(https://i.postimg.cc/HcpwdYH6/32-DD331-F-6355-49-F6-960-F-2-ACA8394-D324.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HcpwdYH6)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9RJGf6QC/AFEDF006-EA19-4-DFF-B66-B-F77-DC7890-D00.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9RJGf6QC)

(https://i.postimg.cc/kDZkX4Y1/BB433-AD6-7712-4780-959-D-71-F53-F0-D4232.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kDZkX4Y1)
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: veeman on April 30, 2022, 08:37:13 AM
That's a looker!  Congratulations to your wife and yourself!  I also love the non black, white, silver, or grey color.  The brake calipers pop nicely.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Soup DeVille on April 30, 2022, 08:44:05 AM
Nice looking car.

I'm somewhat glad I'm not the only one having car buying problems.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Eye of the Tiger on April 30, 2022, 09:12:26 AM
MMMMMMMMMMMM
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Speed_Racer on April 30, 2022, 12:45:48 PM
A+ story, and those wheels look amazing
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: r0tor on April 30, 2022, 01:31:11 PM
Love it.  The power train should be rock solid
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Gotta-Qik-C7 on April 30, 2022, 02:26:34 PM
Love those wheels!!!!
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: CaminoRacer on April 30, 2022, 02:56:41 PM
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C7 on April 30, 2022, 02:26:34 PM
Love those wheels!!!!

Same. Although BMW brake pads are usually dusty so I don't want to be the one who has to clean those wheels...
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: GoCougs on April 30, 2022, 04:16:10 PM
Looks good. Love blue.

I was in this market early last year. At that time, the X3M ride was absolutely abysmal - like embarrassingly bad. Looks like that's been fixed, at least to some extent. I chose the SQ5 - it's the most comfortable ride/handling balance I've ever experienced (got the air suspension option). It's not quite quick enough given its price point, but here we are.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: AutobahnSHO on April 30, 2022, 09:46:44 PM
:) fun times!

I ordered a Ford Maverick in October and I'm still waiting....
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Lebowski on April 30, 2022, 09:55:29 PM
Looks nice.

Why are heated rear seats a priority?  Kids are in car seats until they are 37 years old anyway, nowadays.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: veeman on April 30, 2022, 11:58:20 PM
Quote from: Lebowski on April 30, 2022, 09:55:29 PM
Looks nice.

Why are heated rear seats a priority?  Kids are in car seats until they are 37 years old anyway, nowadays.

Our 2013 Infiniti QX56 (now called QX80) has heated rear car seats.  It's also a criteria of mine when looking at replacement SUVS (usually only come on the top trim packages).  My 11 year old son loves them and complains in the winter when he's in my car which doesn't have them.  Both my kids got out of their car seats and then after that got out of their booster seats fairly early. 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Rich on May 01, 2022, 07:08:52 AM
Lol
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Lebowski on May 01, 2022, 07:50:02 AM
Quote from: veeman on April 30, 2022, 11:58:20 PM
Our 2013 Infiniti QX56 (now called QX80) has heated rear car seats.  It's also a criteria of mine when looking at replacement SUVS (usually only come on the top trim packages).  My 11 year old son loves them and complains in the winter when he's in my car which doesn't have them.  Both my kids got out of their car seats and then after that got out of their booster seats fairly early. 


They are just expecting their first, though. There will be car seats for a long time, longer than most people keep their cars.  I can see wanting them, but to drive the purchase decision seems insane.  But, wamen. 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: veeman on May 01, 2022, 08:50:46 AM
Quote from: Lebowski on May 01, 2022, 07:50:02 AM

They are just expecting their first, though. There will be car seats for a long time, longer than most people keep their cars.  I can see wanting them, but to drive the purchase decision seems insane.  But, wamen.

Haha.  That's true.  It's the little things.  My wife wants a 2018 or newer QX80 which was the year Infiniti started putting separate USB ports in the car and not just have cigarette lighters and an electrical outlet.  It made no difference to her when I said "What difference does it make?  We have half a dozen chargers at home which plug into cigarette lighters which have a USB port on the other end. It's a 2 dollar accessory." 

Her: "I want the new car to have USB outlets or I'm not getting it"

Me:  "OK"

 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Soup DeVille on May 01, 2022, 09:04:13 AM
Quote from: veeman on May 01, 2022, 08:50:46 AM
Haha.  That's true.  It's the little things.  My wife wants a 2018 or newer QX80 which was the year Infiniti started putting separate USB ports in the car and not just have cigarette lighters and an electrical outlet.  It made no difference to her when I said "What difference does it make?  We have half a dozen chargers at home which plug into cigarette lighters which have a USB port on the other end. It's a 2 dollar accessory." 

Her: "I want the new car to have USB outlets or I'm not getting it"

Me:  "OK"

 

Nine times out of ten its because somebody they know has it.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 09:31:15 AM
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 30, 2022, 02:56:41 PM
Same. Although BMW brake pads are usually dusty so I don't want to be the one who has to clean those wheels...

Good opportunity to get what I refer to as a Christmas Tree Brush.

(https://s.yimg.com/aah/pinnaclewax/daytona-speed-master-wheel-brush-22.gif)
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Lebowski on May 01, 2022, 09:53:17 AM
Quote from: veeman on May 01, 2022, 08:50:46 AM

Haha.  That's true.  It's the little things.  My wife wants a 2018 or newer QX80 which was the year Infiniti started putting separate USB ports in the car and not just have cigarette lighters and an electrical outlet.  It made no difference to her when I said "What difference does it make?  We have half a dozen chargers at home which plug into cigarette lighters which have a USB port on the other end. It's a 2 dollar accessory." 

Her: "I want the new car to have USB outlets or I'm not getting it"

Me:  "OK"
 


It's very important to have the old style USB ports just in time for everything to go USB-c.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: veeman on May 01, 2022, 10:07:19 AM
Quote from: Lebowski on May 01, 2022, 09:53:17 AM

It's very important to have the old style USB ports just in time for everything to go USB-c.


Which will require the need to upgrade to the newer version of the same car  :lol:

Once whatever the newest version of IPhone is only compatible with USB-c, that's probably when the newest model cars will start making the switch. 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 10:47:54 AM
Quote from: veeman on May 01, 2022, 10:07:19 AM
Which will require the need to upgrade to the newer version of the same car  :lol:

Once whatever the newest version of IPhone is only compatible with USB-c, that's probably when the newest model cars will start making the switch.

I hope not. Not that I have plans to buy a new-new car any time soon. But a lot of gear that I have still uses micro-USB...rechargeable flashlight, bluetooth speakers, the BT dongle I use to jam in my truck, etc. USB-USBc cables are plenty available and cheap.

Though on a lot of the newer vehicles I've detailed lately, they often have both "normal" USB and USB-c charging ports, so the inevitable transition is certainly happening.

The real question is when they'll get rid of the 12V cigarette lighter plug...despite cars now coming standard with USB ports galore, those 12V outlets remain (thankfully). At the least, it allows you to add 2-3 more USB ports to your vehicle.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: FoMoJo on May 01, 2022, 11:31:21 AM
Cars still have cigarette lighters?
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Soup DeVille on May 01, 2022, 12:00:37 PM
Quote from: Lebowski on May 01, 2022, 09:53:17 AM

It's very important to have the old style USB ports just in time for everything to go USB-c.


I actually prefer using the cigarette lighter plug-in USB rather than the one built in: because if I plug into the built-in USB, the phone connects to the radio from there. So, if I unplug it, it disconnects.

If I plug into the cigarette lighter, it does the exact same connections via bluetooth; which it does automatically when I start the car. If I then plug into the USB, it disconnects the bluetooth and connects via the USB, which does nothing but annoy me.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 12:17:11 PM
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 01, 2022, 11:31:21 AM
Cars still have cigarette lighters?

Yep. I've yet to see one that doesn't.

Edit: They no longer come with the actual cigarette lighter part. But the 12V power port remains ubiquitous.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: CaminoRacer on May 01, 2022, 12:17:58 PM
Quote from: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 12:17:11 PM
Yep. I've yet to see one that doesn't.

Couldn't find the one in my Miata for 6 months. They put it down by the passenger's left foot :wtf:
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: GoCougs on May 01, 2022, 12:21:08 PM
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 01, 2022, 11:31:21 AM
Cars still have cigarette lighters?

Sorta, they look exactly like cigarette lighter but have a USB-x port under the plug.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 12:21:51 PM
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 01, 2022, 12:17:58 PM
Couldn't find the one in my Miata for 6 months. They put it down by the passenger's left foot :wtf:

Yeah, that's always seemed an odd place to stick a 12V port. Can't say specifically what vehicles I've seen that placement in, but it's not unheard of in smaller cars.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: GoCougs on May 01, 2022, 12:22:23 PM
Also ITT: in which the fairer gender does not like USB adapters.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 12:41:49 PM
Quote from: GoCougs on May 01, 2022, 12:22:23 PM
Also ITT: in which the fairer gender does not like USB adapters.

USB adapters are fine and exist, but it just creates another potential point of failure.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: GoCougs on May 01, 2022, 07:15:24 PM
Quote from: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 12:41:49 PM
USB adapters are fine and exist, but it just creates another potential point of failure.

All true, but do you really think that is what is going on in the decision making process?
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 07:22:56 PM
Quote from: GoCougs on May 01, 2022, 07:15:24 PM
All true, but do you really think that is what is going on in the decision making process?

Of course not. :lol: We all use adapters somewhere in some way all the time. Shit, even my phone (Pixel 3a, circa 2019) came with a USB-C to USB adapter because it knew my old phone used a normal USB cable so that I could transfer stuff over. 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: AutobahnSHO on May 03, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
Quote from: giant_mtb on May 01, 2022, 12:41:49 PM
USB adapters are fine and exist, but it just creates another potential point of failure.

And are very very easily replaced.


My wife "had to have" a backup camera. But that actually makes sense.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: cawimmer430 on May 03, 2022, 01:32:49 PM
You planet-killing SUV-driving maniac! HOW DARE YOU!!!!

*Greta Mode Off*



Congrats!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Soup DeVille on May 03, 2022, 01:37:36 PM
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on May 03, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
And are very very easily replaced.


My wife "had to have" a backup camera. But that actually makes sense.

All vehicles made after 2018 are required to have them.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: NomisR on May 03, 2022, 02:21:59 PM
Congratulations, not a bad choice. 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on May 03, 2022, 03:57:25 PM
Quote from: Lebowski on April 30, 2022, 09:55:29 PM
Looks nice.

Why are heated rear seats a priority?  Kids are in car seats until they are 37 years old anyway, nowadays.

No clue.  She decided that was one of the features she wanted to have.  If I were to guess it's because her brothers MDX has them and thus she thinks a luxury SUV should have it.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Soup DeVille on May 03, 2022, 04:12:10 PM
Quote from: 565 on May 03, 2022, 03:57:25 PM
No clue.  She decided that was one of the features she wanted to have.  If I were to guess it's because her brothers MDX has them and thus she thinks a luxury SUV should have it.

Yep. No winning that argument.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: NomisR on May 03, 2022, 06:30:42 PM
Quote from: 565 on May 03, 2022, 03:57:25 PM
No clue.  She decided that was one of the features she wanted to have.  If I were to guess it's because her brothers MDX has them and thus she thinks a luxury SUV should have it.

It doesn't have to make sense to us I guess.  When my wife got her car, her original criteria was a roomy 3rd row, which I suggested a Minivan, but she doesn't want a minivan, so I was suggesting a bunch of competitors to the Honda Pilot which she concluded that there would've been no reason for us to replace the Pilot with those car because there was no improvement or change, it would've been replacing the car for the sake of replacing which I agreed 100%.  Then she narrowed it down to Lexus only because she wanted a luxury brand but she didn't want an Acura because she drove a Honda vehicle all her life (Civic, Element, RDX and Pilot), and she didn't want a German due to the cost of repair, and Lexus are suppose to be reliable.  She started at the RX450h which had the 3rd row but the 3rd row was tiny so we crossed it off, she finally decided on the GX and started looking at youtube videos on offroading and overlanding.  I figured, it's not a loss for me since I gain an offroad vehicle to drive.  But then she decided that she only want the mid range model with a Mark Levinson audio, so it took me forever to hunt one down with a good price so here we are today with her wanting me to find a way to add surround camera, crawl control and MTS to the damn thing.. :facepalm:
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Soup DeVille on May 03, 2022, 07:13:50 PM
Quote from: NomisR on May 03, 2022, 06:30:42 PM
It doesn't have to make sense to us I guess.  When my wife got her car, her original criteria was a roomy 3rd row, which I suggested a Minivan, but she doesn't want a minivan, so I was suggesting a bunch of competitors to the Honda Pilot which she concluded that there would've been no reason for us to replace the Pilot with those car because there was no improvement or change, it would've been replacing the car for the sake of replacing which I agreed 100%.  Then she narrowed it down to Lexus only because she wanted a luxury brand but she didn't want an Acura because she drove a Honda vehicle all her life (Civic, Element, RDX and Pilot), and she didn't want a German due to the cost of repair, and Lexus are suppose to be reliable.  She started at the RX450h which had the 3rd row but the 3rd row was tiny so we crossed it off, she finally decided on the GX and started looking at youtube videos on offroading and overlanding.  I figured, it's not a loss for me since I gain an offroad vehicle to drive.  But then she decided that she only want the mid range model with a Mark Levinson audio, so it took me forever to hunt one down with a good price so here we are today with her wanting me to find a way to add surround camera, crawl control and MTS to the damn thing.. :facepalm:

Crawl control is for hacks. There's nothing it does that works any better than what even a semi-experienced off road driver can do. MTS can be handy, but again its more of a crutch for bad driving.

The 4Runner has both. It can't do anything the Land Cruiser couldn't do, which had neither.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: giant_mtb on May 03, 2022, 07:19:48 PM
Quote from: Soup DeVille on May 03, 2022, 07:13:50 PM
Crawl control is for hacks.

+1
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: NomisR on May 04, 2022, 12:14:27 AM
Quote from: Soup DeVille on May 03, 2022, 07:13:50 PM
Crawl control is for hacks. There's nothing it does that works any better than what even a semi-experienced off road driver can do. MTS can be handy, but again its more of a crutch for bad driving.

The 4Runner has both. It can't do anything the Land Cruiser couldn't do, which had neither.

Yeah, that's what I told her, I haven't gotten stuck yet without it including the sand, but then again, I never got stuck in the sand with the Pilot either.  What I do need to do is a front bumper mod because the clearance is really sketchy with the GX.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on June 17, 2022, 04:35:32 PM
Well break in is complete. Well sorta.  I did the break in service at 1200 miles for oil change and diff change.  Now the manual says only to do up to 155mph for short periods such as passing until 3100 miles.
I've definitely kept by the book.

This X3M has absolutely blown me away.  I figured I'd love the drive train and tolerate the rest of the vehicle, but I've actually been floored by how much I love it.

Driving it around with everything in normal, it just feels like a normal SUV with a stiffer ride.  My wife has been commuting daily with it without issues.  Press the preset M1 and M2 buttons and this thing is just a beast everywhere.  It's a beast on the highway, it's a beast on the backroads.  I can see myself getting into tons of trouble with this thing.  It's just goes from so civil to Savage with the press of a button.

I've had time to consider the ride.  I will say it's definitely firm.  The springs I'd say are stiffer than the blackwing, but the damper is softer on the comfort setting than the softest setting on the blackwing.  The vehicle will get a bit bouncy on comfort.

I think magazines tend to feed off each other's impressions on things like ride and steering feel.  My wife needed a C section just recently to deliver our daughter.  The take home vehicle was the X3M (too much stuff for Blackwing).  The next day we had to make another trip and we took the blackwing because I told her the softer ride will be better on her belly.  She told me flat out there is absolutely no difference in ride comfort between the two.   It's something I've felt secretly for some time but figured all the magazines cannot be wrong.  She's never read a car magazine, just spent time in both vehicles and told it like it is.

Anyway the blackwing will clear break in soon so it will be a better comparison but currently I can't help but wonder of a G80 M3 comp xdrive would have been a better choice for my car.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: veeman on June 18, 2022, 09:08:25 AM
The Cadillac sport sedans are a rare bird sighting though... They make peoples' head turns, in a good way. 
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: AutobahnSHO on June 19, 2022, 03:40:15 AM
Congrats on the daughter!!!!!
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on June 20, 2022, 05:28:50 PM
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on June 19, 2022, 03:40:15 AM
Congrats on the daughter!!!!!

Thanks so much!  Man this baby thing is alot of work!
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: AutobahnSHO on June 24, 2022, 04:59:53 AM
Quote from: 565 on June 20, 2022, 05:28:50 PM
Thanks so much!  Man this baby thing is alot of work!

:lol: the most work and most rewarding!!
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on September 04, 2022, 08:20:46 AM
Well this weekend we did some highway driving and it's the first time we had a longer highway trip where we didn't have to stop because the baby was crying or something else.

The trip computer has been very accurate for gas mileage calculations.  Over the life of the vehicle now at about 4500 miles she's done 18.9 MPG, which includes alot of my wife's all local 1 mile commute, a ton of idling to warm it up in the winter and a lot of idling while we change or feed the baby on road trips to the grand parents.

Today I just used the level 2 autonomous system for the whole 70 mile drive.  I set it to 80 and speeds probably ranged from 60 to 80 depending on the cars are in front.   It's probably not the most efficient system for driving.  The radar guided cruise is a total nazi about maintaining the selected gap and will put on the brakes in situations I'd probably just coast.  When a slower car moves out or the lane in front, the system will punch it hard enough to drop 3 gears, hit 4500rpm and be well into boost .
When we first got the car it would wake up the wife and have her thinking I was racing someone, but she's used to it now. We joke that even the radar guided cruise drives like a BMW M driver (or any BMW driver).  I wonder if it was set so aggressively on purpose or if the system was calibrated for a x3 30i and they just didn't bother to change it for any of the other powertrains.  We had a full tank of gas and it was my wife, baby and I and all of the stuff baby needed for a weekend.

Anyway despite all that the car returned 26.5mpg.  I was very surprised.  The far exceeded the EPA estimate of I think 20 highway.  Car and Driver got 26mpg on their 75mph highway driving loop and I can attest that this is accurate.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: MrH on September 04, 2022, 09:56:39 AM
Wow, pretty impressive.

I wouldn't be surprised if you can change the aggressiveness of the radar cruise in the settings.  Most cars feature that.  Even my Outback does.

It's sad you're getting 26.5 mpg.  The Outback gets 25-26 mpg on the highway too, but it only makes 260 hp vs 473 hp :cry:
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: AutobahnSHO on September 04, 2022, 11:40:25 AM
Odyssey gets 25-28mpg if it's flat and able to use cruise..
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: Eye of the Tiger on September 04, 2022, 11:48:31 AM
Savage gets a bit over 50 MPG highway.  :praise:
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on September 04, 2022, 07:32:47 PM
Quote from: MrH on September 04, 2022, 09:56:39 AM
It's sad you're getting 26.5 mpg.  The Outback gets 25-26 mpg on the highway too, but it only makes 260 hp vs 473 hp :cry:

Actually the comp is 503  :rockon:, but in typical BMW fashion it's underrated.  Dyno puts it around 560 or so.  It feels like a rocket ship, when the boost hits it feels faster than the 668hp Blackwing.
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: 565 on December 31, 2022, 08:56:30 PM
X3M year in review.  I did a similar post for the Blackwing where I compared how they drive.

Predictably the Blackwing wins on driver involvement.  However I still remain very much in love with the X3M.  The X3M is at 8000 miles now.  I mentioned that the Blackwing never stops reminding you of what it is capable of.  The X3M is M3 Comp Xdrive on stilts when you want it to be, but normal X3 when you need it to be.  This is the first time I've owned an SUV myself.  I grew up with a 1998 Pathfinder, but it's different when you are the adult packing stuff in compared to being the kid just going along for the ride.  I thought I would be most impressed with the M comp part, but the X3 part is just as impressive.  The X3M impressed me by hauling the baby stroller, baby stuff, and all 4 of its winter tires and wheels one weekend.  My wife insisted on a compact SUV over a sedan.  I always thought the format wasn't going to be much better than an sedan for space.  I now see why the compact SUV has bascially taken over the market that family sedans once dominated.  It is just a much more practical layout.  It results in more flexible cargo space, more back seat space due to the more upright seating position, and a smaller overall length.

The cabin of the X3 is beautifully built and there are thoughtful practical touches everywhere.  Idrive 7 is great.  Now with winter 20 inch rims and winter tires, the ride is downright cushy (and it honestly was very livable before).  Once the errands are done and the baby is dropped off, the X3M turns back into an absolute beast with a quick press of the M1 or M2 buttons.  The S58 engine is just a ridiculous powerplant and the ZF 8 speed is its perfect match.  Where the Blackwing is balanced and confident in its stable personality,  the X3M is unhinged and insane in its split personality. The Blackwing is charming and talented at 8/10ths or 2/10th (let's be real I can't drive the Blackwing at 10/10ths). The X3M competition is a demure domestic servant while the baby is on board, axe murderer when no one else is there to witness. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/g0dzwhTP/IMG-4925.jpg)
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: AutobahnSHO on December 31, 2022, 09:30:03 PM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Started by trying to buy an RDX for the wife and ended up with a stupid vehicle.
Post by: CALL_911 on January 01, 2023, 01:56:34 PM
Can't comment on the M aspect, but the X3 may be the perfect DD size and form factor. My mom has a vanilla variant 2.0T X3 and I adore it. My car (340i) is certainly more fun when it's nice out, but the X3 is easier to live with and more comfortable. I didn't buy the virtues of the CUV form factor but it has changed my mind.