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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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Thanks
I highly recommend Britax seats. More expensive but the quality of construction and safety features is simply higher.
A Roundabout / Advantage is very good, it goes to 40 lbs. However, if your child is already forward-facing, you might be interested in a Britax Marathon or Britax Wizard instead. They go to 65 lbs (even though taller kids will tend to outgrow it in height as opposed to weight, but the same is true for the 40 lb. seats to a lesser degree). After that they can go to a booster.
However, if you want to save some money now, here are some Britax options:
Britax Expressway: this is a forward-facing only seat (the others are convertibles). The price is lower than the Roundabout/Marathon convertibles because it's forward-facing only. Instead of using the (very good) short LATCH belts of the other Britax seats, it uses rigid metal connectors for LATCH and is supposedly very secure. It goes to 40 lbs.
Britax Galaxy: this is a convertible seat that also goes to 40 lbs, and is being discontinued. www.babycenter.com has it for $114.39. They have a free shipping code on the site, but you still have to pay $8 oversize shipping (but still a phonomenal price for a Britax seat).
Britax Husky: I'd only buy this if your child is pretty sizeable. This is a massive, huge seat that will kill off a lot of seat space. Forward-facing only, it's big gimmick is that it keeps kids up to 80 lbs in a 5-point harness. Can't be used on aircraft and is just a monster.
Bottom line: if your kid is tall for his age, those 40 lb seats might be outgrown in height well before a booster is appropriate. Thus I'd recommend a Marathon or Wizard or a Husky (Husky if he/she is especially tall).
I hope it gets in before our Turkey day road trip.
Thanks for the advice.
There is styrofoam inserts on either side of the seat? They are of different sizes, i.e. one fits perfectly while one side seems about 1/8" short? Are these fillers for packing or part of the crash protection? I left them in for now.
I tried the 800# and they were closed. I did learn that it is pronounced "Br-eye-tax" and not "Britax" as I thought.
I don't have any strange noises, but at least I am hearing about it from Acura first rather than in problems posted in forums.
Vehicle's effected: 02-03 TL, 02-03 CL, 02 MDX.
Does the notice give any production date or vin number ranges?
Thank you,
Ed Benyukhis
You could get a factory rack at hondaacuraworld.com or just add a thule/yakima system.
Simply put, the ML is the WORST vehicle ever produced by Mercedes in terms of build quality and reliability. It rated dead last in JD Powers, behind Kia's and the like.
I'm generally concerned with Mercedes recent decline in quality. I'm still hopeful that the new E320 CDI coming this spring will be a contender for a sedan replacement. But the ML doesn't stand a chance in our houshold.
While I was on the phone with Acura today (they called me) I asked again about the notice. This time the factory person was very nice and expressed concern that there was no notification on the Acura web site when I logged in.
I appreciated the call telling me there is a problem with the new navi update DVD, that a fix is in the works, and new DVD should arrive by mail in early January. I've been involved in debugging software and early January may be optimistic.
On my 2003 MDX, I've noticed that my heated seats are taking a long time to heat the seats. Has anyone else had a problem similar to this? Is this normal for the MDX, or should I have this looked at?
Mohan
Word is that that 04 is facing much stiffer competition, both from higher performance SUVs from Infinity, Caddillac & Porsche and from the more value-oriented SUVs (not the least of which is the Honda Pilot).
Rumor is still strong that the 06 will offer at least a partial hybrid to give "V8 power with 4banger MPGs"...
I hope Honda doesn't change the MDX too much. Sure, better performance on the freeways would be nice (stay in 5th on hills - maybe hybrid would do the trick) and so would a few more luxury and other features (memory passenger seat; electric tilt/telescope steering wheel, with memory; better high speed handling; less noise; scuff plate that covers the back edge of the rear bumper;...). However, keep it about the same size, maybe two inches longer at most. Put the two inches into a longer wheelbase so the third row has more knee room. Add A/C to the roomier third row.
Have to hold the line on price too. If I had to buy again today and a mid size SUV fit my needs the MDX, even with the problems I've had with mine, would still be my first choice.
An AWD 4cylinder Highlander is rated 21 city/25 highway (which sounds pretty optimistic to me...). We have friends with CRVs that do routinely get the rated 22/26, but the CRV is more than 400 pounds lighter than a Highlander & has 9 cubic feet less cargo room. (the MDX is another 600+ pounds heavier than the Highlander & has at least another cubic foot of cargo space...)
On open roads we have averaged the rated MDX MPG of 17/23 (or more).
I think a hybrid can add at least 5 MPG for city driving, maybe more. If it is done very well it will also give more "omph" for the hills and such, though honestly I do not find the 260 HP 2003 MDX at all lacking in overall power.
My MDX has even double down shifted to third on occasion. There is plenty of power to maintain speed, even on the steepest hills. Mine reaches its electronically controlled top speed in third gear.
None of the other nine cars (four V8s, three 4s, 2 V6s) I have bought in the last 20 years have needed to down shift to maintain normal freeway speeds on hills.
Side: My current four cylinder car makes it up every hill without down shifting, but on some hills the automatic transmission will down shift a gear when going down hill. Backwards from what one would expect.
My MDX is no mpg chanp either, but it does about as expected. I've see lows in the 12s in gridlock like conditions and as much as 23 on long freeway drives. My four cylinder car doesn't do much better, maybe 10-15%.
Transpower
Any suggestions on how to fix this?
It is more peppy in a lower gear, as any car would be. The engine is turning more rpm and therefore will wear faster, but not enough that you will notice. Economy is usually best when the engine runs at the lowest rpm, so you are probably using a bit more fuel, but MDXs aren't mpg champs anyway, so you may not notice the small increase in fuel use.
The only real advantage to using 4th instead of 5th is faster response to gas pedal movement. Without the delay for a downshift from 5th the car does feel and is a bit quicker.
The first is the disclaimer screen that appears upon power-up. The first time I can understand else there could be lawsuits. But is there a way to program the system to bypass this screen?
I would like to display both the time & outside temperature on the screen. Can this be done? I find it difficult to read the time on the radio display. Is there a way to program the system to default to the info screen rather than the Map screen? This is really my wife’s vehicle and I have not spent any time reading the manual.
Just some misc ramblings;
While the 04 models do improve on interior lighting it could be better. The controls located on the steering wheel should be backlight, same for all of the window controls.
In my opinion the heated seats should be warmer at the high setting. The only difference between low and high is the speed at which the seats heats up.
While the moonroof controls have been relocated to the roof (good thing) it still does not have one-touch operation.
Need CD track and disc selection controls on the steering wheel.
Outside temperature and time information should not be integrated into the screen and/or radio system. There are other locations better suited for this information. You should be able to glance around and quickly see the information.
Should have an option for Xenon headlights.
Regards,
Chris
There are not too many options on what screen/info is displayed. I suspect that Honda looked at customizations and decided that the number of geeky types (like us) who would most enjoy such personalizations is far far smaller than the number of "VCR still flashes 12:00"-types that are the norm. Apparently even among among BMW 7 series drivers the ratio of folks who appreciate the personalization of the iDrive system us dwarfed by those who ring up shop charges trying to get the auto-adjustsments undone...
Acura has steadily made minor tweaks to the interior, so I guess at least there is some hope that they will continue to 'improve' the niggling things that lots of folks seem to find.
Depends on what you're trying to compare. An MDX doesn't have to cost "40 grand."
For some folks, the Pilot is definitely the better deal. Then again, for some folks, an Odyssey is a better buy than a Pilot!
The main two safety features that the Pilot is missing, and that the 2004 MDX has, are side curtain airbags and stability control. These features are now available on most SUV's. Personally, I wouldn't buy another vehicle that lacks these features, so the Pilot would be off my list. The Highlander has those features, though with less cargo and passenger room than the Pilot. The 2005 Pilot may or may not correct this.
There are all sorts of other small things the MDX adds, but it's not worth itemizing them as most will find they don't care about X and want to pay that much more than Y.
Granted I bought before the Pilot was even an option, I might have had second thoughts regarding purchase. Drive them both and see what you like. I went and test drove a Pilot right after they came out and didn't have any regrets on getting my MDX.
When I bought my MDX, the treadwear rating on the MDX's Cross Terrains was lower than what you get when you buy them at Discount Tire or Costco.
Real world pricing difference for me would be between a Pilot EX-L Navigation and MDX Touring w/NAV. I can get the former for $500 over invoice. I haven't found as good of a deal on the latter. Therefore, actual price difference is more like $9,000.
As for 25 more horsepower and better handling? All road tests I've seen put the two neck and neck in acceleration. I've always been skeptical of horsepower ratings that go up simply by "tweaking" the same engine. As far as handling goes, road tests put both in the 0.74g range; this is NOT your Mother's Maxima, it's a reasonably good SUV. Want better handling than the Pilot, get an XC90 or X5, but don't think the MDX is much (if any) better.
The safety features of the MDX are nice, but again, in terms of Acura's stability control system, it is not in the same league as the X5's or Volvo's. According to what I've seen in technical reviews of these systems, the MDX's rates average at best and not one you want to rely upon to compensate for a major driving mistake. The full curtain airbags are a plus.
All of the extra luxury appointments on the Acura are nice. Better stereo, moonroof, memory seats, much better Navigation system. How much they are worth is up to you.
As far as looks go - and don't shoot me for this - I think the MDX exterior looks too much like a minivan for my taste. I would buy the MDX in spite of it's exterior look not because of it - especially the side slabs. The interior of the MDX is an upgrade from the Pilot, but the fake wood is a little too fake. Check out the GX470 if you want to see how luxury should look. Seats are an Acura/Honda weakness (except in my S2000). The XC90 and X5 have the best seats in the SUV segment. The Pilot and MDX are both weak.
I have pretty much narrowed down my choices to the under 6,000 lb Pilot as the prudent, value choice, or the 6,000+ lb Lexus GX470 as the luxury choice. If the MDX gained enough weight to qualify for the accelerated write-off, it would be back in the running, but I can't see paying more for it after tax than the Lexus. At $51k, it works out to the same price as the Pilot after tax.
Next question. The side trim that they claim helps keep the bangs out. Anyone actually seen it on one, and how did it look? Every x I see does not have it on. Any pictures on web that has it. Supposedly 04 have a wider trim piece.
BTW, Aspen white is a good color very similiar to my Legend.
Since the dealer wouldn't come down significantly on the Car price, he did come down on the accessories - I got some $1,300 (list price) of options installed for less than I could have bought them for at hondacuraworld . . . and I would have had to install them.
So, if your dealer won't work with you on price, push him to work with you to discount accessories!