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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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That said, I typed "fair" in quotes because it's not like KBB values are fair to the consumer. Those values are already stacked for the dealer, so if they offer below, it's like getting pinched twice.
After almost six months of ownership, I've noticed two things:
1) Part of the problem is simple air resistance, from trying to push down a very large door against a volume of air in a vehicle that's pretty airtight. If a door is open, it's a lot easier. Best way to approach it is to not try to shove the door down all the way down from the top; that just wastes energy pushing against the struts that hold the door open, and the air resistance. No need to really push it much until the door gets lower.
2) The struts do get a bit less stiff after a couple of months or so, so they don't fight the closing motion as much.
The handle on the interior bottom of the door is the best way to close without getting your hands dirty. After a while you learn how to use the handle to basically "throw it down" (starting when the door bottom drops below your eye level, you just flick it down, releasing the handle).
I have been reading the messages posted and this Sunday I took the first step to purchasing the MDX.
I never bought a NEW car (my current car; a Honda was a gift from Mommy) so I was not sure what I could do when I got to the dealership.
I went to Curry Acura and instantly felt weird.. did not care for the salesman I got stuck with but I wanted to see the car (I also wanted to test drive it - because my dream SUV up to last year was the 4Runner).
The salesman showed me a MDX someone ordered and then backed out on (how can someone do that?)
the tires has plastic on the wheels so I assumed there was no test driving that.
the 2nd and 3rd row seats were down and covered in plastic so I could only sit in the driver seat, and the salesman made the comment I could take this car off the lot right now (with the market like it has been - I wanted to wait a month just see how much more my stocks could gain or lose).
Does anyone know of any other Acura Dealerships in Lower Westchester (ie New Rochelle, Yonkers, Mt Vernon, White Plains?) I would feel better if I could at least go to another dealer and see how I feel after the treatment I get there.
After all I am dropping 30k as a down payment I don't want to make one bad call....
1 Confused NYDiva
My insurance company(AAA) was very nice(maybe because the trucker was assigned complete fault by Cal Highway Patrol) and they gave us an amount close to MSRP(less $500). I have to thank the greedy Oakland Acura since they gave a price quote of $2000 over MSRP, when the insurance company was shopping for quotes.
Since we had driven 7400 miles already, we were happy to take the settlement offer.
Luckily the Bay area dealer from whom we bought our original MDX(mahogany) had a silver touring+nav MDX available at MSRP for us and we picked it up last week.
ravi7 - That's good news. Interesting to see that Oakland is still greedy. I walked outta there after my first visit. Once upon a time they were actually a respectable dealer. Congrats on the new car.
Any one know about that???
Rail
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'01 Mahogany TP w/Nav, 18" wheels..... (pics)
I started surfing the net a few minutes ago and saw the Larchmont Acura Dealership-- I will go there Saturday.
Unfortunately, as a 1st time new car purchaser and a female... I may be seen as an even more "easy" mark.
The salesman at Curry wanted to sell me a car that someone had ordered and did not pick up, and he never offered a test drive, or anything!
I left feeling a little stupid, especially since I did not know what options I should have factory installed as opposed to what I could buy later and have installed.
Aaaaaugh this process is not as simple as one would believe!
I will let you know how it goes Saturday. Is there anything in particular you think I should look out for or ask the salesman?
-nydiva
Rail
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'01 Mahogany TP w/Nav, 18" wheels..... (pics)
At our dealer, they have what is purportedly their MDX waiting list written on a whiteboard in the showroom, with names getting checked off as they get their cars. Lots and lots of names still un-checked. I would think this would be pretty nervy if they were making it up, but who knows.
1. Wind noise is higher than I expected and I don't know what Honda/Acura can do about it?
2. Navigation System - I live in North Carolina and is very frustrated that the DVD does not have the small town maps. It has a lot of maps in California though but I may drive my car to California once in my life time?? It seems to me that Acura should have the DVD map grouped by regions with more digitized map in that region instead of try to cover the entire US.
3. Roof Rack - there is no horizontal bars on the side and how can I tie my luggage bag tightly (most of them needs to tie to front and side). By the way, does Acura offers any accessary on this?
I didn't want the high payment to purchase it because this will be my first SUV and I THINK I'm going to like it...but you never know.
I am currently leasing my 1998 Honda Accord coupe and like the thought of getting a new car every few years without paying the taxes, taking a hit on depreciation and trying to sell it for a profit when I want to get something different. I am definitely NOT a "buy-a-new-car-and-drive-it-until-it-dies" kind of person.
I also think that the Honda engines have an edge on the US companies but everything else is slipping...My 1987 Honda Prelude was the best car I every owned as far as build & reliability..since the 80's the Japense companys are slipping in quality....I know some of you will disagree but that is my experience.
Just my thoughts..
Thanks for your input.
Thanks
Purely personal choice. I don't think a financial planner would find them "worth it," but if there are items in it you'd miss by not having them, by all means go for it.
The 6-CD changer you can add to the base is a cargo-compartment-mounted CD changer, and not the nice in-dash unit you get with the Touring Package (it's really "in-dash", in the center console, unlike some other SUV's that call "in-dash" in the glove compartment!).
The Touring adds Michelin Cross Terrains instead of Goodyear Integrity's, seat/mirror memory, tilt-down-in-reverse passenger mirror, some audio changes (like the CD changer), roof rack, and a slightly different wheel design.
BTW, is anyone interested in the compact spare I don't need?
I thoght that was a some pretty good justification for the cheap small spare from Acura.
On a seperate note I see the side airbag light come on then off every once in a while. I figure it could be some loose wiring. Might need to have that check.
You probably already ruled this out, but just in case ... do you have anything in the passenger seat when the side airbag light comes on? Do you drive with your body leaning over, head out the window?
it has two hooks on each side mounting on the roof (does not have side bars either). I think it is a smart feature. I wonder if Acura does that?
Since my wife & I both drive the car, the memory seats have proven to be a great feature. I also find the tilt-down mirror, which I thought was superfluous at first, to be a pleasant and highly-usable surprise.
While the BOSE is nothing extraordinary, it's adequate and the 6-disc in-dash is great (tho yes, you could do the under-seat version on the base).
I'd buy the Touring model again -- but as you've no doubt figured out it's all a personal choice. We didn't really look at it financially -- it was more of a "do we want these features or not?". Of course, if it were $10k more it woulda been a different story...but the $2600 seemed in the realm of value for us.
I ordered a Touring MDX 2002 model! Which I should get in July or August (I don't really mind - just more time to get a bigger sizable down payment).... the 2001's are done... and I am getting it at MSRP (which I was told should be no more if at all $200 more than the 2001 model).
I am glad to be a part of this message board and just having read the thread on purchasing accesories via Hondaworld and not buying the MDX with all the "stuff" included.
I want to thank you for all your help and when the salesguy asked if I was referred by someone I told him "yes" but that I did not know your name :-)
Also--isn't there somewhere in Acura headquarters or web site that you can make a complaint on a dealership? I mean I know they are individually owned but wouldn't Acura want to know how they are being represented by dealerships??
As for the air bag light its off now but does come on now and then. The dealer told me that the MDX computer does random checks of the system and when it does the lights sometimes flash. I have never heard this so keeping my eye on it. Have you heard of such thing???? BS from the Dealer, perhaps???
I made a $1000 refundable (or so they tell me) deposit and should expect to see my vehicle in September. I agreed to pay MSRP because that is the best that buyers of the MDX have been doing lately. I also understand that the price of the 2002 model may increase. My question is, should I have arrived at a final price before making my deposit, and should I have it in writing? My dealer was unwilling to do this. He promised that I wouldn't be charged above sticker nor would they be willing to negotiate on a price below sticker. I'm concerned that a substantial increase in the price of the 2002 model would place this thing closer to the realm of the expensive German car that I passed over. Also, is it wise to place deposits at more than one dealer and see who comes through faster and cheaper? I chose this particular dealer because they rated very high on the www.acuramdx.org site. I just hope my blind faith is rewarded at the end of this long and frustrating wait!
I am curious, since you will be getting a 2002, did they say anything about any changes? Or will they roll straight into ones labeled 02's without any modifications? We are expecting ours in June but if there is anything to be gained by waiting a month or so, would certainly do so.
Actually, though, I would think the opposite would be more likely. I don't think that demand for MDXs is going to get any stronger than it now is in the next few months, both because of the chilling of the economy and the likelihood that most people who were eager to get one are already on waiting lists. So I doubt they will be in much of a position to pressure you on price when you take delivery. Who knows, of course.
Good luck! Did you hear anything about '02s being any different from '01s?
My dealer told me that he doesn't expect any changes other than two new color options; white and a something-pepper red (sorry, I forgot what he said exactly).
Drew
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the only differences between the 2001 AND 2002 MDX as I was told by the sales person may be that OnStar will be an option... I too was curious as to what other great perks I would get -- I put a $250.00 deposit down (which I was told was refundable-- no reason I can see me wanting a refund) and I got a contract paper which says delivery date of July/Aug and in the "price" field the sales person put MSRP.
He also informed me that he really had no idea what the price on the 2002 would be but that it should not be more than $200.00 more than that of the 2001.
Any input appreciated. Thanks !
If you click to get a detail on an accessory from the list, you'll notice a link for Installation Instructions, which is in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format (you'll need the Acrobat reader to read them, and a link is provided to download them).
Hopefully this will help folks who are interested in buying the accessories and installing it themselves, but want to see what's involved.
www.hondacuraworld.com
Firepepper Red will add some pizazz to the rather bland present color selections. I only hope it doesn't look like a "fire engine"! I think the "electric blue" that you see in the TL would be a great addition also. What about the 2002 timetable? Do you have any insight as to the release date for the 2002 model? It seems some people are being told late summer (rather than October).
Thanks,
METMDX
Also sorry for looking so naive but are they serious when they say that the lighter and ashtray are items that I would need to purchase (I don't smoke - but hey?!?!)
Also after I buy the accesories is it really logical or illogical to take to dealer to have them install the accesories?
I am soooo CLUELESS!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh...
-NYDiva -- >trying to be an educated new car purchaser
but the color choices on the MDX are just not "there"
and so I chose to be different and take Granite Green over my obvious choice (and that of almost every MDX owner I have seen in TriState NY area) and my 2nd choice of Silver....
Can anyone tell me how green is this GRANITE GREEN?? and How soon before I need to call the Dealer and say: "HEY I WANT TO CHANGE FROM GRANITE GREEN TO SILVER!!"
....
Rail
INKY
My dealer told me to be careful installing the accessories myself as they wouldn't be included in the warranty if I were to go that route. Conversely, has anyone noticed that there is an "installation charge" of $19.00 for the floor mats and cargo tray?!
Some items take a bit more work. The front air deflector isn't too bad. The tailgate deflector requires drilling and, preferrably, a torque wrench for tightening the bolts.
The running boards / sidesteps require about 72 bolts so it depends on whether or not you want to go through that.
The wood steering wheel should be left to the dealer since it fiddles with the front airbag.
I'd rather have the service department install the coolers that come with the tow hitch. Installing the tow hitch itself is pretty complicated and might best be left to the dealer, though a regular service shop may be able to handle it.
Personally, what I'd leave to the dealer, given my time constraints and my fear of certain installation tasks would be the tow hitch, the wood steering wheel, and running boards/side steps.
Drew
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