2019 Acura RDX Tech SH-AWD review

Here's a brief review of the 2019 Acura RDX with the Technology Package and SH-AWD.  I was mostly drawn to the car for its seat comfort.  The Technology Package is one level above the base model.  I chose it mainly because I wanted parking sensors and leather seats.  Otherwise, the base model would have been adequate.

Features I like:

• Seat comfort.
• Headlight intensity -- illuminates the road very well.
• Quality of materials.
• Interior and exterior design.
• NSX inspired shifter/center console.
• Steering, handling, power.
• Ride comfort.
• Cap-less fuel filler.
• Option to automatically reset trip computer on refuel.

Features that are OK but that could be improved:

• The padding in the seat pan could be better so that it removes pressure from the low back.  Look at Volvo and Tesla, for example.
• Gauges could be made less busy.  No need for km/hr and mph at the same time in a digital speedometer.
• When switching between displays in the center, it would be better if they didn't shrink, then switch back to normal size after a delay.  And re-do the information to be less wordy.
• Better ambient lighting.  Map lights feel underpowered.
• Change to a touchscreen infotainment.  Existing setup is prone to hunting unless you look at the screen and at the touch pad, which means we're not paying attention to the road.
• Better implementation of rear camera.  Currently unusable in rain, leave camera on for a few seconds when switching from R to D, more accurate guidelines (lines don't match up with the where the car's wheels are).  (Advance trim would help with rain since it has a camera washer.)
• Move the BSI (blind spot indication) from the A pillars to the mirrors.
• Road departure warning is overly sensitive, especially on internal roads.
• Lane keep assist doesn't work very well.  It keeps asking for the driver to take control.
• Lane departure warning is too sensitive and keeps buzzing even when within the lane.  I was forced to disable it.
• Quality control issues.  Several rattles and issues with the audio system.
• Interior could be quieter.  I registered 90+ dB on the highway using the Decibel X app on my iPhone.   The quietest cars register somewhere in the mid 60's.  (Advance trim would help since it has acoustic side glass.)
• MPG. Fortunately gas prices are muted and will likely remain that way as more cars switch to hybrid/electric drivetrains.
• No way to turn the headlights off when the car is moving in the evening.
• The chrome pieces on the steering wheel, but especially on the center stack, can sometimes, depending on how the sun is hitting it, reflect blinding light directly into the driver's eyes.  Should be replaced with something non-reflective.
• Rear visibility, especially the sides is very poor.
• The parking sensors don't extend to the sides of the bumpers and only warn about objects directly in front of or behind the car.
• Software updates are over the air, but map updates must be done via USB and the upgrade process is kludgy and prone to failure, causing a lot of frustration.  I discovered that the system doesn't like the USB drive to be larger than 64GB, and that is must not be a Sandisk!
• OEM tires are noisy.

Tip: When you're on a call, the multi-information and navigation displays are covered by a message saying "call in progress".  To be able to view the displays, one has to hit the "back" button on the steering wheel.  Without that, it is not possible to view the trip computer or miles remaining, nor is it possible to view the map or access the navigation.

Problems I have had with the car

• Crackling speakers: Intermittent problem that I noticed since the car was new.  Not fixed.
• Squeaky tailgate: Happened around 5000 miles.  Fixed under warranty.
• Whistling when engine starts or shuts: Happened around 7000 miles.  Fixed under warranty TSB.
• Infotainment will prompt for update even though no update is available.  Fixed in D1.2.1.
• Rubber lining near the tailgate lock has a gap.  Fixed under warranty by adjusting the lining.
• Ticking sound when starting the engine.  Intermittent problem.  Fixed under warranty by adjusting the PCM bracket.
• Numerous rattles all over the interior started to appear after about a year.  Not fixed.
• When starting on a trip from home the infotainment system booted up and threw an error "Unfortunately, AcuraLauncher has stopped".  Did not happen again on the return trip.  Not fixed.
• Received recall notice from Acura to replace the fuel pump motor.
• Clock doesn't automatically adjust for daylight savings even though all clock settings are auto (detect time zone, set time, etc.).  Fixed by changing to manual mode for settings and, after some time, switching back to auto.  (Update: Continuing to occasionally see problems with the clock being off by an hour.)
• Intermittently started to get a warning for "Drive mode change unavailable" at the bottom of the infotainment display.  Not fixed.
• Parking sensors are being triggered in rain without any reason.  See video.  Not yet fixed.
• Transmission got stuck in gear one day.  It wouldn't change gears and I had high revs and unable to gain speed.  Turning off the car reset the problem and when I took it to the dealer they were unable to reproduce it or find any error codes.  Not fixed.
• Had a leaking rear shock that made a creaking sound when going over bumps.  This was at around 45K miles.  It was replaced under the extended warranty that I had purchased.

2023 RDX

In March 2023, I decided to trade the 2019 in and get the exact same car except the 2023.  There were several improvements I noticed which I will write about later.

So far, I have had the following problems with the 2023:

• Squeaky brakes when backing up.  Not fixed.
• A failed transmission when the car had a few thousand miles.  The symptom was whistling noise at highway speeds.  Replaced under warranty.  
• AIS stopped engaging at around 30K miles.  Battery was replaced under warranty.  However, AIS still would not engage.  Not fixed.
• At around 33K miles, time in the infotainment would always reset to 4:00 at startup and start counting from there.  Location in GPS always showed car parked at home.  Infotainment system was replaced.  As a side benefit I got full wide-screen Apple CarPlay immediately following the replacement.

Additional Info

• RDX videos on the Acura YouTube channel
• MotorTrend's long term review of the RDX
• 2019 RDX Maintenance Minder

Being positive vs peaceful to manifest good health

I often hear well-meaning friends and relatives say "be positive", which doesn't resonate with me because I don't believe in faking it.  I recently came across this video where Deepak Chopra says:

@ 6:15

It's not that you have think positively all the time.  You have to get in touch with your emotions, you have to share them with somebody that you love, you have release them, you have to express them, because if you repress emotions that creates its own biology too.

@ 8:30

A peaceful mind is more important than a positive mind.  Because a positive mind can be working really hard at it, can be stressful to be positive all the time.  But when you're at peace, that's a wholly different thing because all the biochemistry of anxiety disappears.

BMW E46 -- The last of the ultimate driving machines

I first was introduced to the BMW brand on a trip to Germany in the summer of 1997 where I had the chance to drive an E36 316i part of the way from Munich to Berlin and back.  It had a puny 1.6 liter 4 cylinder rated at 101 hp.  It had cloth seats and manual rear windows and climate control.  The car felt great around town and handled superbly at high speeds on the autobahn.

By the end of that year, I was looking at replacing my then aging 1988 Nissan Sentra and looked getting a an E36 318ti which was the lowest spec BMW available in the US at the time.  I decided it would be too expensive for me, so I passed on it and I decided to get a 1998 Honda Civic EX instead.  The Civic was a fun car by itself but it was no BMW.

Five years later, at the end of 2002, after the Civic was damaged in an accident and declared a total loss, I decided to get a 2003 E46 325i.  This was the lowest spec BMW available in the US at the time.  I placed an order for the car in October 2002.  I ordered the base car with only a moonroof as an added option--I didn't care about luxury, but I knew it would feel a lot better than the Civic even in its base trim.  The car arrived in December 2002.  I drove that car for almost 11 years putting more than 211000 miles on it.  It was a simple car.  It was the most fun car I have owned.  I loved the design inside and out.  It was ergonomically and aesthetically perfect.  I knew somebody had sweated every little detail that brought this car together.

I don't track cars and I'm not motivated by speed or 0-60 times.  Nor am I a technophile so I don't care about cameras, heads up displays, autonomous driving capabilities, and other such gizmos.  In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I am a technophobe.  I prefer less technology because it means fewer things that can go wrong.   What did I like about the E46?  Let's start with the engine--it was a 2.5 liter inline 6 naturally aspirated engine that was silky smooth.  It made me smile every time I turned the ignition and heard it come to life.  While driving, the car emitted a wonderful exhaust note and the naturally aspirated engine offered linear acceleration.  The steering allowed the driver to feel the pavement as the car was being driven.  The suspension kept the car planted with a feeling like it was on rails while at the same time cushioning bumps.  Between the engine note, steering feel, and suspension tuning, this car felt special even crawling around at 10 mph in a parking lot.  On the highway it offered a planted feel no matter the speed.  It made me feel confident almost begging me to push the car harder.  Likewise when driving on winding roads--I could take curves much faster than I thought I could.  In fact, the sales guy had warned me at the time of taking delivery "Be careful.  If you don't watch the speedometer, you will get tickets.  It is very easy to speed in this car."  He was right.

And there were other aspects of the car like the full size spare in an era where almost all manufacturers were offering a compact spare.

E90 -- Polarizing styling but still drives like the ultimate driver

The E46 was succeeded by the E90.  By then BMWs had been subject to polarizing styling by Chris Bangle.  Both the exterior and the interior were impacted.  The interior lost its ergonomics with the center console no longer tilted towards the driver.  The cupholders were flimsy pop-outs.  The gauge cluster lost its coolant temperature gauge.

But all of these design flaws were forgotten once you got behind the wheel.  The sublime inline six, the steering feel, and the suspension were all intact with this generation.  The only thing that BMW meddled with from a driving dynamics standpoint was the introduction of run-flat tires.  This was premature on BMW's part.  While the goal was noble -- to have tires you could drive on even with zero tire pressure to get to safety in times of a flat -- the technology wasn't ready.  The first and even second generation of run-flats were too harsh and too noisy.  (BMW's best driving cars, like the M3, continued to offer regular, go flat tires.)  This made the uninformed customer incorrectly think that BMW's suspension was too harsh.  Word in BMW forums was "swap out the run flats, and you have a car that drives like a BMW should."

Also in terms of specs, when the E90 was introduced, it was a better car in every way than the E46 that it replaced, with the exception of size and weight.  For example, BMW went from offering a 10-speaker audio system that was standard in the E46 to a 12-speaker system that was standard in the E90.

E90 de-contenting

Starting around 2009, BMW started de-contenting their E90s.  A number of features were silently removed.  Many enthusiasts who thought they were getting a similar car to their older E90 were disappointed to find many missing features.  In some cases were able to get BMW to buy the car back because it fell so far short of their expectation.  A few examples of the de-contenting -- The stereo system went from 12 speakers to 6.  The flashlight in the glove box was gone.  The storage nets behind the front seats was removed.  The pad under the hood was removed.  While BMW had, in the past, provided extremely detailed specs for every aspect of the car, they no longer provided that information.  In fact, it even became hard to get an answer for "how many speakers does the car have" even from the dealer!

This is perhaps the biggest reason I decided to forego the E90 and just kept maintaining my E46 even though it was very expensive to do so as the miles kept climbing beyond 150,000.

F30 -- The ultimate marketing machine

The F30 had a rushed introduction.  Instead of the normal 7 year cycle, the E90 had a shorter, 6 year run, with the F30 being introduced a year early as a MY2012 car in early 2012.  The car was the polar opposite of the E90.  The design was gorgeous inside and out but it had none of the driving attributes of a BMW.  The engine was a turbo 4 with an uninspiring exhaust note.  The engine was responsive, but being a turbo it lost its linear power delivery and offered more of a slingshot feel.  The steering was an electric power steering that was more numb than even a pedestrian Honda.  The suspension was either too floaty (giving the driver a feeling of bouncing at highway speeds) or too hard (sending shocks up the spine at even the mildest of imperfections) and had completely lost its planted, "riding on rails" feeling.  The run-flats carried over from the E90, but they were improved 2nd generation run-flats and rode a little less harsh.  In terms of driving dynamics, the only thing that remained from BMW DNA was the rear wheel drive and near 50:50 balance.  The car could be packed to the gills with technology and BMW would charge an arm and a leg for it.  Their implementation of technology is good, but nothing special compared to that offered by other luxury marques.

BMW had a whole bunch of ads touting it to be the ultimate driving machine.  I think of it as the ultimate marketing machine.  I fell for it.  I owned 2 of them.  First a no line which cause me severe buyers remorse but which BMW bought back because of recurring problems.  Then an M-sport which I hoped would provide an improved driving experience, which it did compared to the no line car, but was still no match for the E46 and E90 in terms of steering and suspension.

I finally realized BMW had changed from building a car that excites to building a car purely for profit while capitalizing on their brand.   I am no longer a BMW owner and probably never will be.  I find their recent styling borders on gaudy, flashy, and gimmicky.  There are many better choices for the enthusiast now, e.g. the Alfa Romeo Giulia or the Jaguar XE.  In a recent comparo by Motortrend magazine, the F30 placed 7th out of 8 cars tested.  This from a car that simply could not be beat year after year no matter how hard the competition tried.

Their most recent car designs border on gaudy.

On cars with autopilot

I'm writing this post in the context of the recent Tesla Model X crash.  But there have been other failures of the autopilot here, here, and here.

Cars with autopilot normally require the driver to be able to take over when the car malfunctions or is unable to function, whether or not the car is able to alert the driver.  This is a system that is designed backwards.

Let me explain what I mean by starting with driver-assist technologies such as lane departure warning and pedestrian detection, where the driver does most of the work, but is assisted by the car.

Machine watching human ==> Great idea

Having a machine watch over a human and assist when needed is great idea.  Why?  A machine never tires of doing the same thing (monitoring conditions and making sure the human driver is doing the right thing).  Examples of these are technologies such as lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, alertness detection.  Should these fail, the human is still responsible, because the human was supposed to be alert and watching for these problems anyway.  The computer may help step in and save the day should the human make an error.

Now let's look at the flip side where we have autopilot.  Here most of the work is done by the car with the human expected to take over when things go wrong.

Human watching machine ==> Bad idea

Have a human waiting to take over when machine makes a mistake is a bad idea.  Why?  Humans have a really short attention span.  Unless we are totally involved in a certain task, our minds tend to wander off into the boonies and often times even audio or visual alerts may take a while to get our attention.  That's because we learn to tune out external stimuli when we are engrossed in something.  This is why autopilot systems should never be sold unless the car is capable of controlling itself in all situations including the event of total system failure without any input from the user.  Whoever designed this system expecting the human to be able to take over in any reasonable amount of time doesn't understand how the human mind works.

Autopilot in airplanes

Let's talk about autopilot in airplanes which has been around for years.  There are many cases where airline pilots fall asleep when the plane is on autopilot.

More than half of pilots have fallen asleep while in charge of a plane, a survey by a pilots' union suggests. 

Of the 56% who admitted sleeping, 29% told Balpa that they had woken up to find the other pilot asleep as well.

Fortunately, there have not been any fatalities due to that.  I should note that, with airline pilots, these folks receive training and are paid to stay alert watching the machine and they are unable to do so.

Back to cars

How many users actually go through a training for using the autopilot systems in cars that gives them experience with the various ways in which the system can fail and the consequences of those failures?

Just because we say "the driver should be fully engaged even when autopilot is in use" doesn't mean the driver will actually be able to do so.  Further, as mentioned in this article, there are situations where the car would fail to alert the driver altogether which means a driver has to be 100% engaged during autopilot use, and yet that is not realistic given how the human mind works.

So with Tesla putting full responsibility on the driver, Tesla is marketing a car with an autopilot feature but in reality they are having the driver pay Tesla to be a beta tester of their autonomous driving technology.

My favorite camera of all time -- the Yashica T4 Super

I'm not a big photography buff, having attended only a couple of classes on photography.  I also do not have the patience to lug around DSLR-style equipment.  I have always owned compact cameras that are lightweight, easily portable, and offer only a little, if any, manual control.  But don't get me wrong--I used to really enjoy taking pictures with my main focus being composing the shot.

At the recommendation of a colleague at work, I bought a Yashica T4 Super, for, IIRC $135 back in 2002.  I gave the camera away a few years ago because the battery door broke and it was going to cost me $75 to get it fixed, and also I thought film was going out of fashion.  Big mistake because of all the junk that I have gotten rid of over the years, I really really miss my T4 Super.

Some of the things I really enjoyed about it were:

• Superb aesthetic design.
• A Carl Zeiss 35 mm f/3.5 lens that took very sharp photos with amazing color accuracy.
• Lightweight at ~7 oz (200 gm) and compact while still very easy to hold.
• Ability to imprint date on photos in a variety of formats.
• An absolutely awesome top-level viewfinder which allowed taking photos from waist level.
• Infinity focus/landscape mode.
• Decent battery life.
• Weatherproof.
• Red eye reduction that worked very reliably.

There was a slight learning curve because the shutter release button was ultra sensitive (i.e. the shutter would release while you were trying to get it to focus), but once I learned how to operate it the results were awesome.

I have never had another camera that I liked so much.  The Yashica T4 embodied all of things that I cared about and nothing more.  It showed that the designers cared about and put a lot of thought into what they were doing.

I have owned several point-and-shoot digital cameras but they have all had one issue or another -- too big, too heavy, pictures not as good, view finder/LCD display not as good, shutter lag, etc.  Not to mention every single one of them was way more expensive than the T4 Super.

At this point, my smartphone is my only camera.  I have lost my passion for taking photos altogether and mostly only take pictures that are required for documentation (e.g. reporting car damage to insurance) rather than taking pictures for fun.

I guess I'm getting old, because I tend to use the phrase "they don't build them like they used to" a little too frequently.  The current state of the economy means companies have lost their passion to build great products and instead focus on financial engineering and other interesting ways of making money such as quality (mis)management.

Cameras I have owned

Listed in order of purchase.

• Canon Owl (36 mm film)
• Canon ELPH (APS film)
• Kodak DC240i (1.3 MP digital)
• Yashica T4 Super (36 mm film)
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1 (5 MP digital)
• Leica DLUX 4 (10 MP digital)

I don't currently own a camera, other than what is available in my smartphone.

A fine quote

Many years ago, I was having difficulty with my life situation and I came across someone that offered to help.  They sent me the following quote:

The warrior code says:
I have no friends; those who need me are my friends
I have no enemies; my lack of awareness is my enemy

This was the same person that gave me the first nudge in the direction of meditation.  

On the American economy

This article by Joseph Stiglitz discusses the problems facing the American economy.  It is well worth a read.  The way the game is setup and is being played, it leads to tremendous amounts of wealth and power concentrated in the hands of a few and the trend is getting worse with time.  While the net worth of the richest folks is reaching new heights, so is the homeless population in many cities.

As has been said, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  A number of the symptoms that we see like astronomically rising prices of medical care and education are due to the abuse of such concentrated power.

A lot of the imbalances in the stocks and real-estate are due to monetary policy.  Instead of focusing on building good products, corporations are focused on making a quick buck and using cheap access to money to get bigger via various financial engineering schemes and drive their competitors out of business using pricing.  I have noticed this to be true in all areas of the economy -- automobiles, appliances, apparel, hospitality -- you name it.  It's the reason why an ex-stalwart like Kodak stops innovating in photography and instead floats a cryptocurrency of all things.

Here are some interesting charts from the WSJ since the financial crisis of 2008.

A few interesting stories:

• Macy's converted into homeless shelter with ex-employee living there
• Competition is dying, and taking capitalism with it