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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3 vs Acura RDX
327 messages, Last post on Nov 24, 2009 at 11:53 AM
You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
The X3 is one target for Acura's RDX - maybe you are cross-shopping the RDX with something else? Here's the place to figure out the pros and cons.
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Replying to: steve_ (Aug 13, 2006 7:38 pm) Now, don't get me wrong, we love our X3. But, we looked at an RDX today and couldn't believe the content, warranty and price. It also comes with 240HP and 260 pound feet -- 19" wheels are a sub $2K option, but even with that, the thing would be about $38 grand. Similarly equipped the X3 would be just south of $50K. Don't know how the thing drives, but GULP -- damn -- it seems like a lot of car for $36K as we saw it equipped. Now, I can only assume it can't drive like a BMW -- but if it even comes a little bit close, the money difference should give any but the most anti-Japanese car folk a pause. I think this merits a drive. We're frankly thinking this almost seems too good to be true. Anyone drive BOTH?
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 13, 2006 12:45 pm) It's interesting (and surprising) to note Acura's perspective on the driving dynamics of the RDX. From the current issue of "Expression", Acura's corporate magazine, I quote, "We were talking about BMW as a benchmark and it is here, in ride and handling, that the RDX and the X3 part ways. Absolutely, Acura's 2.3 litre has the guts to run with the 3.0 litre BMW, and SH-AWD is arguably a more complex system than X-Drive. But in terms of ride and handling, the two companies take widely divergent approaches. Ultimately, the BMW X3 is a cushy luxo barge compared to the RDX's sportscar dynamics." Of course, part of that is marketing bravado, but I find it interesting nonetheless. So as you said, I think it merits a drive.
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 13, 2006 12:45 pm) Warranty: Acura & BMW both give you 4 years/50,000 miles of bumper to bumper coverage. As you know mark, BMW also includes scheduled maintenance for same term. With 260 horsepower & 225 lb feet of torque the 2007 X3 will be no slouch. I think X-Drive is a superior AWD system. It starts out with a rear bias. Honda's SH-AWD system is FWD based. Most important: I do not believe ACURA will offer an RDX with a MANUAL TRANSMISSION. Price: While I like how you get a lot of features for your money with Acura, I wouldn't load up the X3 the same way. But I'd like to see how they drive back to back. |
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 13, 2006 12:45 pm)
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Replying to: rickgar (Aug 14, 2006 5:29 am) He said he had saved and slaved all his life to buy a Mercedes E class -- which he did in 2001 or 2002, as I recall. He also said, he was often allowed to visit it at the dealer's service center since it spent more time there than in his own garage. After nearly two years of "nuttin' but trouble" he bought the Acura. He claims that the Mercedes "may have been a better car" in some ways -- but it was so unreliable and the technology (which was said to be the root cause of the poor reliability) was "way behind" the Acura's. He said "nevermore" on the Mercedes -- but didn't think this would mean he would exclude BMW's -- but, he added, the Acura is very car like, goes great in all weather and makes him feel a trip to Indianapolis (some 100 miles from Cincinnati) is not to be feared. The same, he claimed, was not the case when he had the Mercedes. One story does NOT a trend indicate. I do not think his comments were off-putting with respect to the Mercedes. But, they were encouraging as far as the Acura was concerned. I read one of the early test reports of the RDX and while I find it difficult to believe it has cracked the BMW feel, the view through the window was more than sufficient to make me think the RDX deserves being tested against the X3. Now, no 6 speed auto IS a pretty big deal and no stick shift is a very big deal (for my wife and me); but, I doubt anyone else would think the lack of a stick is of concern. The thing is, the RDX in its first year looks (LOOKS) as if it could make you wonder where the extra $10K is in the Bimmer in terms of CONTENT. Don't take this to mean that I am somehow suggesting the RDX is an X3 killer. Also don't take this to mean the X3 will be left cooling its heels on the showroom floor next time. Just know there are lots of folks who may be tempted to remark "where are the emperor's clothes?" Change the 5 speed transmission to a 6, add a couple of miles to the MPG meter and add (via some improved breathing, compression or whatever trick the engineers can come up with) another 10 or 20 HP and lower the torque curve and the RDX will give many customers "pause" when looking at the X3 (this opinion may change once we drive one of these little dudes.) 
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Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 13, 2006 5:30 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 14, 2006 7:25 am) Those may very well appear as part of the mid-cycle freshening. |
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Replying to: shikem (Aug 14, 2006 7:54 am) Uh...aren't those considered scheduled maintenance, and only if BMW deems them to be scheduled maintenance items?  It can't be card blanche to have those items replaced anytime, anyhow. If somehow, your driving style results in your going back for pad and rotor replacement, say, every other month, I wouldn't think they would still cover you free of charge. There must be some "user negligence" or "user abuse" exclusion in the fine print.
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Of course they will not replace them every month. They do cover all maint, both scheduled and unscheduled. They will replace or change all fluids, filters, belts, hoses and pads and rotors free of charge durinfg the 4 yr 50 k warranty.
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