The best daily drivers are the ones often ignored and forgotten.
I've been driving this '08 RDX for 3 years now, and it's been an absolute blast so far. After daily driving various 96/97 Accords for 15 years, it was nice to jump into something a bit more modern. And for the money, I think the 1G RDX is the best turbo AWD daily you can get for cheap (under $5k these days).
Stock, it's decently fun. A perfect car for someone driving a Civic Si that needed more space for kids. The stock tune/power delivery lacks a bit, but once you throw some mods at it, it is vastly improved (Flashpro alone is huge).
Here is the current rundown on the car:
Hondata Flashpro
Custom front mount intercooler & intake
Ported intake manifold
Turbosmart dual port BOV
J37 throttle body w/ Hybrid Racing adapter
DW 1000cc injectors
DW300c fuel pump
RV6 catless downpipe w/ race cat added
ATLP catback exhaust
Fresh valcecover w/ Hybrid Racing goodies
BC Racing coilovers
SPC camber arms
Progess rear sway bar
SSR GTX01 19x9.5 +35
275/40/19 tires
Doors, hatch, and trunk covered in sound deadening material
JBL door speakers & tweeters
Pioneer pillar speakers
Phantom Audio p-n-p amp (on order).
I also just sourced a fresh set of front seat skins to get them re-upholstered. Will be doing the headliner as well, too.
I also currently have a spare OEM turbo sitting around. Will be sending it out for rebuild in the future. Will have it modified with larger intake and exhaust wheels and ported housings. Looking to get the most power/flow out of the factory unit as possible to keep it reliable and 100% bolt on. Once I get the turbo back, it will get dyno tuned on both 93 and e85. Anything over 300whp and I'll be happy.
I've also taken it to the local 1/8 mile track, and it can surprise a lot of quicker cars in the short track, where a consistent launch and low end power/traction make a big difference. Once my power goals are hit, I should be able to run high 12s in the 1/4. Not bad for a few thousand in performance mods and a dirt cheap base car.
Not chasing crazy numbers like a lot of K series cars you see, but looking to maximize the potential of the stock setup while keeping the car comfortable and a reliable daily driver. Windows up it's a great highway car, very little noise, and a killer system. MPG will always suck though 🤣
Stay tuned, I'll update as I make progress.