Deal Check: 2026 Acura RDX A-Spec AWD - NJ (North)

Ask the Hackrs
,
1

Hi,

I’m looking for some outside perspective on a lease deal I was shown and ultimately walked away from because it didn’t seem right to me; photo of the worksheet is below:

https://postimg.cc/kBJMw2Z1

I don’t know if I entered in the details correctly in the LH calculator but here’s the link below:

LH Calculator Link - 2026 Acura RDX A-Spec AWD

Vehicle: 2026 Acura RDX A-Spec AWD
Term: 36 months / 10k miles

They quoted me roughly:

  • $700+/month with $0 down

  • Final Deal Offered: $529/month with $3,500 listed as “cap cost reduction”

I told them I only wanted to pay DMV, taxes, and first month upfront, and that’s what the $3.5K was supposed to represent. Instead of putting it under “cash due at signing,” they listed the entire amount under “cap cost reduction.” I pushed back and asked them to move it out of cap cost reduction since my understanding is that cap cost reduction is effectively a down payment. Am I right in wanting it structured that way?

There’s also a line for $1,866 labeled “PAYMENTS,” which matches exactly the remaining 3 lease payments on my current car. It looks like they simply rolled those payments into the new lease rather than absorbing them.

They also added several accessories and told me they were “required.” Are any of these actually required?

  • Courier Service: $28

  • Etch: $499

  • Wheel Locks: $177

  • Perma Plate: $995

Between the add-ons, rolled-in payments, and cap cost structure, the deal felt heavily padded, so I walked away.

Based on what I’ve been reading, going forward is it better to just say $0 down (no cap cost reduction or cash due at signing) and accept the higher monthly payment? Is that a smarter lease deal structure?

I’m also thinking it probably makes more sense to just finish paying off my current lease so there’s nothing to roll into a new deal. They didn’t want my leased car as a trade-in, which makes me think there’s no positive equity anyway.

Ty.

1 Like
2

Very confusing deal sheet so probably smart to walk away. I am not sure where the $5750 in Cap Cost Reduction is coming from in the deal sheet. There appears to be no equity in your trade unless that is the source of the mystery CCR, but they should have been able to explain that. There is no sense leaving your existing lease early if they are just going to roll in your 3 remaining payments but I don’t see that in the deal sheet either.

Is $700 a month a reasonable cost for this vehicle based on deals shown in Marketplace or recently Signed?

1 Like
3

I reworked your calculator using the basic numbers you provided. Here is how the deal looks without all the other BS fees and addons

if it truly is $529 a month with only TTL, fees and first month payment DAS, maybe it is not such a bad deal. You really need to understand if there is equity in your trade as that might be skewing the numbers though.

1 Like
4

I mean this constructively.

You were assessed as a low information shopper.

Thankfully you went with your instinct and came here to ask.

There’s a lot to dissect here, but for starters, with the rare exception of a manufacturer pull-ahead offer (think Volvo’s) or some unusual conquest incentive (“Welcome to Porsche”) no one other than you will absorb remaining payments or other early termination costs. Certainly not a dealer.

I think you understand that though. :slight_smile:

1 Like
5

Yeah, after looking over this worksheet in more detail; that $5,750 seems to be made up of the $2,250 rebate they’re giving me + my $3,500 deposit.

Ok, Ty; I’ll try checking Marketplace and Signed to see what it shows.

Yeah, I agree; might as well wait until my last lease payment before I really start looking for a new leased car since it doesn’t seem like my current lease has any positive equity in it.

Ty.

6

Yeah, this looks a lot better excluding all those wacky fees and last 3 payments of my current lease that makes up that $3,565 number. Yeah, with TTL, required fees, and first month payment DAS; $529/mth doesn’t look bad.

  • Courier Service: $28
  • Etch: $499
  • Wheel Locks: $177
  • Perma Plate: $995
  • Last 3 Lease Payments on Current Car: $1,866
    Total: $3,565

So it’s always better to have TTL, required fees in the DAS line instead of the “cap cost reduction” line? Originally that’s what my $3,500 was supposed to represent but they ended up sticking it under “cap cost reduction” instead of on the DAS line.

Ty.

7

Yeah, I think I started looking for a new lease a bit too early but at least I have an idea of what they are offering for the RDX. I’ll just wait until my last 3 payments are done, and hopefully be able to find a better deal at that time. Ty.

8

Adding to everything else already said, this is a lot of coin for a car that’s been in production, almost unchanged, for 6-7 model years. If you’re dead set on the car, it’s probably a better buy. If you’re shopping for a deal in this class of car, I can’t imagine numbers for the new X3 and GLC are far off for a significantly newer (better?) platform.

1 Like
9

Smartest thing you can do is learn how to put your own target payment/DAS together using spreadsheets or learn to use the tool here:

1 Like
10

Agree with all the above, the only feedback I have is post a screenshot next time. What the hell was that hosting website lolll.

2 Likes
11

Lmao im glad i opened it at home :sweat_smile::joy:

12

Can recall the last time a gas Acura had a great lease deal so you’re probably looking at the wrong brand

1 Like
13

Yeah, true…I also like the Genesis GV70 so I may take a look at this car too; I think they may have better lease programs.

14

1st off, great job assessing that something wasn’t right and walking away from the deal. 2nd, what is your current vehicle and why the want or need to try and get out of it with only 3 remaining payments? 3rd, Is there a particular reason you zeroed in on an RDX? 4th, and this should probably be 1st, have you reached out to @aronchi who is a Acura broker in NJ that doesn’t charge a broker fee for Acura deals?

1 Like
15

Ty for the reply, I’ll try to @aronchi regarding any Acura deals.

I like the RDX but now the Genesis GV70 has caught my eye, so will probably go to the dealership to see it in person; hopefully they have better deals than Acura.

No, no reason to get out of the lease early but you know when you’re at the dealership they do everything in their power to make sure you don’t leave without getting a new car. Lol. If they were going to absorb the 3 payments then I would have thought about it, but not getting into a new car if they’re just rolling the 3 payments into my new lease.

16

You should know what the deal is before ever walking into a dealer and relying on them to tell you. Learn how to use the calc here yourself to come up with target payment and DAS.

2 Likes