Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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I've successfully put in an infant seat next to a Britax Roundabout in the 60% folding portion, leaving the 40% portion open for an adult, or even a third seat (which would have no problem going in the 40% portion).
We want to put the baby in the middle and have the older child buckle himself.
Some infant seats are pretty bulky, with parts that project outwards. They could interfere with a resting arm of an adjacently seated person. Only way to find out is to try some different seating configurations.
I understand the logic of putting the baby in the middle. The challenges there will be how easy it will be to lift the seat over the other restraints and get it to lock into its base (probably on the side with the booster since that may be less bulky than your 2.5 year old's seat). My back aches a bit thinking about it (as you try to keep the baby level, lifting the seat by its handles, and reaching out over the outboard seat while leaning into the vehicle!). Also, having the infant seat in the outboard position may help with any lip/handle protrusions, though you may have to move the front seat upwards a bit.
You'll probably be okay with at least one or two configurations. Good luck, and congratulations!
I ask for 2 reasons. The baby seat behind the passenger means that you have to keep the seat very far forward. I have also noticed that the angle on the center belt is very steep. Difficult to get positioned right across the neck/shoulder even on an adult.
It would be nice if the latch system could be used for the center position so that any adult in the rear doesn't need to sit in the middle. I find it hard to get as good of a child seat fit with the center belt as with the latch's.
Actually, it depends on the seat. On our MDX, the front passenger seat is only about a couple of inches forward. This using a Graco Snugride. It's installed at the proper angle (judging by the level indicator it provides).
This was not the case with our previous Century Advanta infant seat, which was much bulkier.
I have also noticed that the angle on the center belt is very steep. Difficult to get positioned right across the neck/shoulder even on an adult.
If a booster seat is used, I'd recommend a belt-positioning booster that has a guide to properly position the belt. Or, instead of a booster, one can use the Britax Marathon (up to 65 lbs though many children outgrow it in height first) or the Britax Husky (up to 80 lbs). Both keep a child in a five-point harness without having to go to a conventional booster. However, the Husky is a massive seat and is probably best put on the 40% portion (behind the driver) if the second row is pretty full.
As far as the center belt goes, besides having installed an infant seat there successfully, we had a convertible seat (Britax Roundabout) installed both rear and forward facing, and it was absolutely rock-solid. It does take some care.
One can use the inboard side of the outer LATCH anchors to install a car seat IF the vehicle manufacturer says it's okay and IF the seat manufacturer says it's okay. Of course, doing that usually eliminates the ability to use LATCH on the outer seats. Too bad the MDX doesn't have a center LATCH position like some Chryslers with similar vehicle width do.
Interestingly enough, Consumer Reports recently did a test where a number of seats performed better in their crash test when installed with a belt, and not with LATCH! NHTSA says that both are safe, though CPS advocates will point out that it really comes down to which produces a better fit between the seat and your vehicle. Some LATCH seats have more trouble getting snug in some vehicles than others.
We use the Fisher Price grow with me. It is a great seat/booster with a guide. It is too bad they don't make them anymore, at the time it was one of the "safest" on the market.
Do you know what Acura's position is on the center seat/latch? On the base for our rear facing seat, the latch is an absolute perfect fit and a dream to install, under a minute.
Regarding whether the handle should be down, it comes down to what the manufacturer recommends. If they recommend that the handle should be down, one definitely should put it down, as that's how the manufacturer tested/certified it to FMVSS standards. The Graco Snugride instructions do not say anything requiring the handle to in a specific position. Most ideas on where to put the handles are based on people's theories without any actual testing, and not on manufacturer recommendations.
As far as using the center LATCH position goes, there was a quote supplied here some time ago, from Honda's engineering chief on the Pilot, stating that the inner LATCH anchors could be used. You can call up Acura customer service to ask, as well as your seat manufacturer. It hasn't been a question for me since our 2001 MDX doesn't have LATCH.
E.g. on one Britax seat, Britax recommends that you can use the inner anchors from the outboard pairs for center installation, if the centers of the anchors be no further than (I think) 21 inches apart (this varies for each Britax seat!!!!). This has to do with the LATCH belts on the Britax seats.
Each childseat's LATCH attachments can be different. Britax uses pretty good ones, whereas the one that came with the Graco Snugride is pretty cheap in design.
http://www.carseatdata.org/database.html
It's a database of user-contributed information on how their car seat fit their specific vehicle, and what they had to do to get a good fit. I've contributed a few entries to it, and some other MDX owners have as well. The site is run by a certified Child Passenger Safety tech who seems very knowledgeable and helpful.
Ultimately the best car seat is a good seat that fits well with the vehicle, not necessarily the car seat that finishes on top in a publication like Consumer Reports.
Steve, Host
Impossible to compare the two.
That said, the Volvo CLEARLY has an extremely strong roof structure, no doubt far stronger than any other SUV.
I do not believe the Volvo "vehicle as bowling ball" demonstration relates to any sort of real world collision situation, but if you want the strongest roof, the XC90 would appear to have it.
If you wish to see the 1 photo that has been touted around in these forums...please do a search there have been many postings prior to your question that should satisfy your request.
In this forum are two of the pictures, I believe. The granite green one that's been posted here a number of times, and one other whose color I forget. The third one is a copyrighted image taken off of a television broadcast and can't be put here.
I believe that the XC90 has a stronger roof, and so does the Mercedes-Benz M-Class.
I was looking for a an SUV that could get great gas mileage and pull a small 2,000 pound boat.
I've owned several SUV's in the past and getting more than 15 MPG is always a plus. Imagine my shock when I saw that the MDX gets over 20!
The ride is majestic...smooth, adequate power, great handling and quiet. The A/C is tremendous.
The touring package comes with the best options of all SUV out there. I got the voice activated nav system which is incredable. If your're lonely talk to it and it talks back!
Compared to the Lexus GX470, its a few thousand lower in price and the Lexus doesn't come with a tow package. Acura comes with one that is double cooled so the trans doesn't over heat. The Infiniti FX 35 doesn't come with one either.
The Toyota 4 runner, although comes with a tow package doesn't have the third row sating nor the mem seating.
IF you are in the market for an SUV with style and grace and you need to tow, this car has got it all! Plus really good MPG.
Seriously...Look back through posts on this board. Honda is very tight lipped about changes. I believe the 2003 changes were official in Sept with orders taken probably by early October...for December delivery.
The principal problem for me is the inability to have the back in a position that is not tilted so far to the back. My wife's biggest problem is the gap between the rear edge of the bottom cushion and the gap at the bottom of the seats back.
For a car at this level of price, it is a serious over site in the design.
On the other hand, I did get better gas mileage than I expected, about 24 miles to the gallon.
Unfortunately, the seat problem is enough of a problem for me that I will skip the MDX in the future. Good luck. At least you may not fall asleep while you are driving, too much pain.
Rather taking a bath, I strongly suggest you sell.
BTW, Seat comfort is highly subjective. While some have reported they like the MDX's seats others feel as you do. Did you take an extended test drive? Given the widely divergent opinion on seat comfort, this seems mandatory...
I agree with rerenov8r. If it not comfortable, get rid of it now while resale value is still high.
I don't see how possible changes in the 2004 models will lower resale of earlier models! The possitive changes made in 2003 sure didn't hurt earlier model values.
The current MDX has had an EXCELLENT "retained value" for a very long 3+ years.
As the new features tempt some owners to trade their 01-03 models in for "newer looks & new features" it is inevitable that the market for used used MDXs will soften.
The demand far exceeded supply throughout the entire 2001 run. For the 2002s the demand didn't really fall off until the 03s came out (unless you count the uptick in demand for the 02 Navi units when word came down that for 03 touring was mandatory for Navi..).
Although Acura/Honda is trying to manage supply (with the Japanese and other overseas models helping to keep US supplies in check...) the demand for 03s is softening NOW, as evidenced by NUMEROUS experience that buyers have recently related to THOUSANDS off. By the time the 04s are out you can bet that the 02 used market will be MUCH softer than it is now.
There simply are not alot of tire choices that will fit the stock wheels and not cause issues with clearance and/or speedo calibration. You may end up purchasing wheels and tires, and that is not an inexpensive upgrade. To partially offset the costs, there is good demand for the stock wheels & tires, as many owners like to replace the "donut" with a regular wheel/tire.
Good Luck!
Actually I find the MDX to be a super raod trip car. The amenities are great, the gas mileage is superb 24/25 MPG on the highway, power through the mountains is great and it can swallow up all the gear we take without any problem.
I can see how the seats can be too narrow for some, but am not sure about the vertical position? Is that on the power or manual seats?
Changing the speakers on the MDX base is the best investment anyone can make for under $150. I actually think after the speaker change, the base system sounds better than the Bose system in the touring.
The seats for the MDX are definitely design for people with narrow hips. I find them to be comfortable. As far as the back of the seat, I think the recline position is fine. In fact, I leave the seat a few inches back of the most up right position.
It isn't a major deal and as long as it isn't a safety problem I can learn to live with it.
My MDX does it, my son's Civic does it, my wife's friend's MDX does it, etc. etc.
It may be annoying, but it's definitley not a safety hazard.
Our friends think both my wife and I are crazy for reclining as much as we do when we drive, but a) her arms are very long and b) I think the outstretched arm position is far superior for steering. Look at any Formula 1 or Indy Car driver and that's how they do it.
Also, in our Audi A4 with leather sport seats, I've found that pressing my buttocks as far BACK into the seat as they will go greatly increases comfort.
Just a few suggestions from a potential MDX owner (looking to buy used in 3-6 months).
I went with 4 Pioneers and they sound very nice, Took me about 90 minutes. Try to replace the factory sub woofers too, it actually made it worst, so I put the factory one back.
Good Luck
With the Pioneers, you will have to drill new mounting holes into the plastic up front, remember to drill the holes 2 to 3 drill bit size smaller than the screw. With the back speakers, you will have to cut off the white taps on the rain shield to make the new speakers fit.
I think as soon as you remove the first speaker, you will see how cheap they are and how worth while this project is.
have fun
Re: running boards - for me, purely an aesthetic thing, as I feel they give the profile a less minivan look. As my "children" both have 4 legs and will be entering/exiting from the rear, I'm not concerned with the reduction in rear door foot space.
My 4 leg member of the family scratched the painted top rear and rear edge of the bumper the first week we had our MDX.
The 3M paint protection film is nearly invisible and will protect the exposed painted rear edge of the bumper from scrapes.
The short rear bumper scuff strip on the MDX can be thought of as a design defect or oversight. While the Pilot scuff strip is the same shape and should fit, it doesn't because the attachment parts do not line up with the holes in the top of the MDX bumper.