Acura MDX (pre-2007)

albert123

I tried it a few weeks ago and it did what you described(turned off the alarm). However, this is already in some other brands(e.g MB, Volvo) for a while.

Another feature I like is if a door is not fully closed and you try to lock it, it won't do it. This is good especially the doors are heavier than many other cars.

wmquan

There have been a lot (too many?) plugs for www.acuramdx.org here. IMHO it's a decent site and it has both pros and cons. Up to you to decide, I think it has good potential.

On the downside, its touted dealer rating system has been down for a while and, as of right now, is still down. It's still hard to wade through the many threads, and they're not managed very well (they go off-topic, there are duplicate ones). Aside from the message boards, there isn't much else ready yet (e.g. FAQ's are under construction). There's also a bit too much "rah rah the MDX is god's SUV" type of cheerleading on it.

On the upside, it's focused on the MDX, without a tremendous amount of distractions into other vehicles (one only has to read Townhall's Sequoia message board to understand; fortunately, the MDX topic here hasn't been too bad). The user base is growing. It isn't having as many glitches as Edmunds Townhall has been having due to the software upgrade, and that has increased its traffic. It has various polls that can be interesting.

jaynedough

Has anyone ever installed the towing package? If so, how difficult/easy was it?

need4spd

The Discovery is better under truly off-road conditions. Like climbing boulders, rocks, fording streams....
But the MDX is better at just about everything else. The Discovery's engine is only one generation removed from the V8 of a 50's era Buick. It has poor fuel economy but less power than an MDX. The MDX handles better, rides better and carries more stuff. So decide how you will use your vehicle then pick.

kenyee

William:
Thought you might get a chuckle out of this. Check out the bottom of this page:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/primetime/2020/Primetime_001228_suvrollover_feature.html

wmquan

I haven't tried it myself, but I believe the complete towing package would be difficult to install unless one is pretty good at automotive work.

I'm not thinking as much about the hitch itself but the coolers. A few months ago I pointed Drew to some installation documents for an Odyssey transmission cooler and he said it didn't look like a DIY job. I'd certainly take his word for it since he just removed the bumper on his ML320 to install a reverse sensing system!

To get the coolers in you'd have to jack the car up, but service techs can just lift it with their rig and work on getting it installed correctly.

canadiancl

QX4 is underpowered. Disco II will make you intimate with your service manager and drives too trucklike. Just My .02

wmquan

Oh brother ... a tired rehash article of existing facts, and then they get their facts wrong! While it'd be nice for the MDX to have VSA, I do think their article falsely implies that having it would prevent all rollovers. It certainly helps but some rollovers are inevitable, and placing emphasis on strong safety cages is the next step.

One thing I worry about is that once stability control becomes more common, some manufacturers might not place as much emphasis into designing a vehicle that is inherently highly stable, and/or durable during an actual rollover. That'd be a real shame.

This article is more interesting, and annoying:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/madtaggers001225.html

kenyee

William:
I agree. It's just another safety cushion. If you push it and roll it, it'd better survive (which is why the MB "staying alive" commercial impresses me since they do all that testing; Lexus tried copying this commercial and then didn't show a rollover...I posted pics on the m-class forum if you want to see why :-)

As for the idiot taggers, tree huggers in Cambridge were slashing SUV tires at one point. There is a growing movement in the Boston area to call them "urban assault vehicles" (play on the "assault weapons" mental images which are also factually wrong as defined by the crap media). They're probably as clueless as Nader who claims no safety improvements have been made on cars for 20yrs.
Defacing property is punishable by a swift kick in the *ss...

drew_

ABC Primetime is starting now...hope you're watching it. I've already seen some great previews (footage of the M-class in the emergency maneuvers) in the opening of the show.

As for the coolers, let's just say that I'm not much of a DIYer when it comes to messing with critical powertrain components of my vehicle. The opportunity cost is a little too high for me. Your mileage may vary, of course :-)


Drew
Host/Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

need4spd

After seeing that segment I think it would be very nice indeed if ESP was made std. on the MDX next year. It seems to me that the MDX being a bit wider in track than others and not any higher off the ground that it ought to be no more prone to rollover than any other SUV and maybe better than most, but ESP would make it that much safer. That is not to say, however, that using one's gray matter should be preempted by the computer. I'm told that a major cause of rollovers (involving any kind of vehicle, not just SUVs) is the jerky reaction that many people have when they suddenly have to avoid an obstacle or get one or more wheels off the edge of the road. Admittedly it's difficult w/o practice, but the thing people say to do is to keep your head, not panic, and keep hold of the wheel firmly and gradually steer it back onto the pavement, rather than try to jerk it back suddenly. If you have to avoid an obstacle suddenly, it's the second, recovery motion that's critical; you must try not to jerk yourself back into position. You may still unavoidably hit another car, but you're much less likely to find yourself hanging upside down by your seatbelts (and surely wear them!). Just my opinion. YMMV

ms_joanne

To the person who told me about Pass Through deals THANK YOU! (Pass Through is where you sell the vehicle yourself but the dealer writes up the transaction as a trade and immediate sale and you get trade-in credit towards your taxes.)

I wound up selling my 4Runner for $6500 more than the dealers offered AND got the tax savings to boot. I'd never heard of that and it worked well.

(Note that my buyer had to pay $1100 more in state and local taxes in the Pass-Through but I sold the vehicle at a REALLY good price to compensate. He understood to some extent but was not too happy when he saw the extra cash he was forking up. We had to go over [and over and over] that he got this vehicle for $2k less than any others being sold in the area...he still paid less than retail AFTER all the taxes were paid. Advise your buyers in advance if this is the case as it created some small but really PITA problems [like he stopped payment of his check to the dealer and we had to have a pow-wow about the whole thing. He went to get a certified check the next day but I was up all night worrying about it.] Had I known what the difference was I could have explained it better up front and saved the headache.)

Got my new vechicle tonight....(swooooooon)

Thanks again!

kenyee

Could you elaborate on the extra taxes the buyer had to pay?

wmquan

Having stability control (VSA is Acura's version, available on the CL) would be a positive for the MDX (IMHO), though obviously it'll add to the cost of the vehicle. The benefits of stability control and 4-wheel traction control systems have been debated extensively here and in other forums in the past (traction control is a component of stability control).

They're not just for improving rollovers; they can provide handling benefits, especially in bad conditions. That's not to say that vehicles not so equipped will do badly in those conditions; it's just some additional benefits.

Some folks dislike the component of traction control that reduces power under extreme conditions, but this feature can be disabled, and I'd imagine varies in its conservatism based on software. Other folks have reservations that are based on distrust of automated systems intervening with their driving.

Note that the MDX's VTM-4 system gives some, but not all, of the benefits of a traction control system. So it addresses some scenarios but not all (e.g. VTM-4 doesn't help when the vehicle is fishtailing and the driver is braking).

Please note that the vehicle's center of gravity and other related factors (roll centers) are major contributors to rollover propensity. The RX300 has a higher center of gravity than the ML320, which seems the opposite of what you'd think looking at the two.

Unfortunately, to date there's no published spec on where the MDX's center of gravity is, and thus its Static Stability Factor. The SSF is a standing-still measure of general, physical rollover propensity, though there are clearly other factors such as tires, driver behavior and skill, drive systems, features like stability control, etc.

One would think that the MDX's rollover propensity should be low given its wide track and lower ground clearance, but I'd like to see numbers that back that up.

You'll eventually see stability control in more and more vehicles, as its price comes down through copying and larger-volume production, and as consumer mindshare grows. I'd bet it'll be in the MDX within a couple of years or so. Ford is planning to make it an option in the next Explorer's second model year.

While I think that stability control would be a positive feature, it's not a panacea. We shouldn't fall in love with our high-tech features and over-rely on them. Under various bad conditions, stability control can't work miracles if the tires it's trying to brake can't grip. That's why you'll still have reports of vehicles like X5's and ML320's fishtailing or sliding. Can't defy the laws of physics.

Driver behavior is the major key to avoiding rollovers, or surviving them. Most rollover deaths are the result of not being buckled in. Taking it easy under bad conditions is critical. I've seen too many overconfident SUV drivers attempt to go over ice, and end up losing.

wmquan

Good lord. Slashing tires? A good reason to keep a tire iron or softball bat in the SUV's commodious rear ;-)

While my personal politics are slightly left of center, I think these folks are idiots and are applying a form of woefully misguided discrimination that they themselves would abhor in other circumstances.

Take my situation, for instance. Only one vehicle in the family at current time, need cargo capacity, want 4WD for the mountain passes, and demand reliability. Since there isn't a 4WD Sienna or Odyssey ... duh. Chrysler 4WD minivans haven't been reliable to date. 4WD wagons are too small (Outback) or expensive and unreliable (Volvo XC).

kenyee

The problem w/ these people is that they want to run/control your lives. Then, not only do they do that, they use terrorist tactics if you don't. You hear similiar things w/ PETA people. A refusal to listen and understand how things work or that their thoughts are just opinions and not rule and they might be wrong. The only thing they seem to understand is a swift kick in the... (too much 70's Show :-)

For my situation, I had to choose one that will most likely meet my needs for the next 10 yrs and help us survive the Northeast weather w/o rusting in 6yrs. We've got a big 12" snowstorm this Saturday. Wonder how the tree-hugging bicyclists will be commuting to work? :-)

jschiller

Any advice on paying for your MDX? I've talked with 2 dealers and both insist on me paying at least sticker price due to the demand. Is this reasonable? Has this been your experience?

miriam8

Hi
I appreciated your comments about how to drive with a SUV. I really would like to learn more about the appropriate way to drive with my MDX. How should I drive downhill, over ice etc... What is the best way to use by ABS? etc....

How can one become more educated about driving safetly in different conditions? there was some info in the MDX manual but not as much as I would like?
Any ideas?
thanks in advance

kenyee

miriam8:
One way is to take a winter driving school. Some of the "performance driving" schools also have winter courses. If they're anything like MB and BMW's events, they're very useful for all cars. You just have to find one that will let you use the MDX. :-)

jdb13

One of the most appealing features of the MDX is the fact that it is a ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle). The MDX qualifies for this distinction in all 50 states. Therefore, not only is the MDX a great all around "Sports" utility vehicle, but we, as owners can feel good knowing that our vehicles do not put out as much pollution as conventional SUVs.
I do not condone the tactics described in the prime time article, but I do share their concerns.
The ULEV rating was a deciding factor in our purchasing a MDX.

wmquan

jschiller:

The MDX is the hot SUV of the moment, and Acura is not making enough to suit demand. Therefore, the lowest price people are paying is MSRP, and in some cases, above MSRP and/or with overpriced/mandatory options. This will vary based on where you live.

I am afraid that, in my opinion, this situation probably won't get better until at least the next model year, and even then discounts won't be substantial.

jdb13:

No doubt that being ULEV is nice (the ML320 is also ULEV for 2001, dunno about other SUV's). ULEV for an SUV, as you probably know, isn't the same as ULEV for passenger sedans. So environmentalists can still pick a bone on MDX emissions, plus the fact that it still consumes more gas (fossil fuels) than, say, an Outback.

wmquan

I'm afraid I am far from being an expert on it. My best advice is to drive cautiously, and go slow when possible. Especially watch for shaded areas or areas that look dark and shiny.

For driving downhill, in normal and snowy conditions, drop to third or second gear and let the engine slow the vehicle down for you. Don't use the brake, and drop to 1st gear if you have to.

If you are climbing up a steep, limited-traction incline slowly (under 15mph), use the VTM-4 lock feature, which will engage all four wheels at low speeds (and progressively disengage up to about 16mph).

You may not want to slam on the brake if you find yourself sliding during a turn. You might want to apply a LITTLE throttle to try to pull the vehicle through the turn, giving it some forward momentum to try to pull a fishtailing end into place. That's not to say we should thrust our way through icy turns, of course.

One great way to (relatively) safely explore your vehicle's limits is if you can find a snow-covered empty parking lot. There you can try some progressively sharper turns and learn how the vehicle feels when it's being pushed. That should give you a good approximation of what its limits are, and your tolerances for it.

Good luck! I'm sure others here will share their winter driving secrets.

drew_

The Toyota Sequoia is also another ULEV SUV for '01, but as you said, this large truck + fairly large V8 does consume a fair amount of fuel compared to an equally lengthy V8 sedan.


Drew
Host of Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

wmquan

Rather disturbing message on the Sequoia topic, message #357. Is something wrong with his vehicle? I can't believe the Toyota version of ASR would kick in for a simple merge.

drew_

Here's the thing though...he was in 2WD mode! That was his first mistake. If he had been in 4WD mode, I bet he wouldn't have had any problems. It sounds as if one of the rear wheels started spinning and the TRACS cut back on the power (FWIW, this is one of the things I also noticed with the all speed traction control equipped '99 Camry XLE V6 that I drove had before the '00 ML) .

If I had a Sequoia, I would've left it in the full-time 4WD mode at all times, especially considering how it could dramatically improve handling on such a large and heavy vehicle; the Sequoia's full-time mode splits power 50/50. Since the Sequoia's system seems to be somewhat similar to Jeep's SelecTrac 4WD system, I bet 4WD mode would've have any (or much) or an impact on fuel economy.

BTW, I thought you may be interested in this post in one of my Vans topics. Care to share your thoughts there? :-)


Drew
Host of Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

mdx1

That could mean bad news for people living in the south and wanting to buy 2WD version of 2001 and newer Toyota SUVs such as Sequoia, Highlander, 4Runner and even RX300 because they all have the ABS based traction control.

wmquan

Ah, I see, I didn't factor him being in 2WD mode. Now I'm trying to understand the part about the rear wheel(s) spinning -- since they don't get power, is it more that they're not rotating at the expected rate (because one of them slipped), and thus the traction control power cut-off kicked in? Whereas with 4WD engaged, they would have probably been spinning at a comparable rate and thus no engagement?

How much slippage has to occur (and how fast was he really trying the turn) for power to cut out like that?

mdx1

I think he was going straight and trying to merge into the traffic. If you've ever been to Dallas, Houston or San Antonio, you will either love or hate those quick and short freeway entrances. You speed up from the feeder road where the speed limit is about 45mph into the freeway flowing at 65-80mph in a very short time. You have to get up to the speed to merge to the next lane left or your lane becomes the exit only lane.

As more and more vehicles start coming out with ABS based traction controls (ex. Acura TL, Camry XLE V6), it may take a while for the system to become bug free and for people to get used to them.

mdx1

Here is a good by a Toyota salesperson on how the Toyota traction control system (TRACS) works.  Click here to view it.

losangshopper

Love our new Black MDX Touring and everything's been going perfectly--almost. Back on Dec 9-10 (post #456) three of you posted about a noise while braking. Well, we've got it. Sounds to me like a loud THUNK or CLUNK as we brake or accelerate. Feels like it's coming from below our front seat and/or feet. Husband says it sounds like something mechanical shaking loose.

Suvnovice, need4speed and hobbes974--you all mentioned having it. What happened? Did you find out what it was? Anyone else solve this?

Enjoying our MDX in L.A. -- losangeleshopper

scubaflex

Sorry that was "Is it the Chad?" ... Charles Angels. Just to chime in ... I too have experienced this thud noise w/all the same symptoms. Mine sounds like a dead thud and seems most noticeable when breaking. The noise occurs intermittently as I slow the car down to speeds of less than 10 mph to 0 mph. As best as I could describe it it resembles the sound that one might hear if they had some kind of storage area under the car and a suitcase might slide and bang up against the inside wall of the storage area. Go figure? Any feedback appreciated.

kenyee

William:
I'm a bit puzzled at it. It sounds like he was on paved road (not gravel where we know the ML's ASR does kick in) so he should have had traction. The only thing I can think of is he slammed the accelerator and spun out his rear tires (I can picture this in a vette, but I can't picture this on a massive Sequioa though :-).
He really should try reproducing it w/ someone watching to see if he is spinning out his tires.

mdxer3

hello gang;
i need all the input that i can get from
you mdx owners. i'm sure you all resear-
ched the suv's as i have. i am now torn
between this brand new mdx,sequoia,and
the popular 4runner. the mdx is the lead-
ing candidate today, but i seem to go back
and forth every other day ,depending upon
what i read or hear ,or see. i'm really
concerned with how the mdx responds in snow
with the new 4 wheel drive system. although
the differences are many between the 3 that's
just one. ride,performance,economy,safety
etc. are all factors. please help.

wmquan

All three are excellent vehicles, but they do tend to be stronger at certain areas than the others.

I suggest creating a short list of your priorities, and rank them. E.g. is performance below safety? Is snow driving above ride comfort?

Then for each of the priorities, and we'd be happy to help, rank each of the models you're considering for that particular priority.

Similarly, I went back and forth every day between an MDX and a 2000 ML320. It isn't easy!

The MDX does lack the stability control system found in the others. However, thus far we haven't seen this to be a major issue for posters here, including some who are driving in very severe weather conditions.

canadiancl

Wouldn't that be the ABS system kicking in? If so, the noise is normal.

need4spd

I haven't figured it out since I've not yet been back for service. My best guess is the torque converter unlocking late. The TC allows slip betwn the engine and trans so that the car does not stall when sitting still in gear. It then locks up at speed to produce best fuel economy. When coming to a stop, it's supposed to unlock again so the engine doesn't stall when coming to a stop. My guess is that under certain circumstances (hard accel. followed immediately by a quick stop?), the computer or other sensing equipment unlocks it late (on the verge of engine stall?) and abruptly (maybe the locking mech sticks a bit?), hence the thud under the car. It's not something that's *normal* but so long as it's only infrequent, probably not harmful, and probably not fixable until they redesign the computer map so as to eliminate this bug.

I also notice a bit of clicking sound from the brakes when transitioning from reverse to forward (and others who have MDXs seem to have the same experience), but this goes away once I've been driving in the same direction (forward) for a while. This is probably caused by play btween the pads and calipers. It may or may not be fixable, and if so, maybe only temporarily until they bend or otherwise get loose again. Still, that is a bit annoying and something I'll ask to have looked at at service time.

transpower

Here in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, we just got our first major snow storm. So, what better time to try out my MDX's VTM-4 system? I shifted back to D2, depressed the VTM-4 dash button, and drove onto the snow-strewn highway. Well, the MDX felt very sure-footed. I got up to 35 mph without the VTM-4 light going out. For most of the ride I stayed at or below 18 mph, just to make sure the rear "differential" was locked. I detected no slippage. Then, for comparison, I depressed the VTM-4 dash button again, to toggle it off, and shifted into D3. The MDX felt just a little less sure-footed, but still stable. I detected just a little bit of fish-tailing on turns I took fast. All-in-all I'm pleased with the MDX's performance in the snow. The only negative is that the gas mileage seems to go down with use of the VTM-4 lock, although how much that is due to being in D2 I'm not sure.

Transpower

transpower

In previous posts I've discussed my Chrysler Concorde (my previous chariot) and my GG/Touring/Nav MDX (my current chariot). Here are the pictures.

First Picture: the gorgeous, very well-handling but somewhat unreliable 1994 Chrysler Concorde

Second Picture: the handsome, sporty, utilitarian and hopefully reliable 2001 Acura MDX

I drove the Concorde for 162000 miles. By this time next year I probably will have driven the MDX 25000 miles!

Transpower

mdx1

I reported that my MDX sounded the alarm when I locked the car with the remote and later opened with the key in post 699. I'm happy to report that my dealer has fixed the problem which was caused by a disonnected pin in the door alarm circuit.

Wrong Alarm System Behavior (before the fix)

If Locked with	Remote	Key	Door Lock Button
Security	Activated	Not Activated	Set
Later Open with	Unlocks	Sounds the Alarm	N/A

Correct MDX Alarm System Behavior (after the fix)

If Locked with	Remote	Key	Door Lock Button
Security	Activated	Activated	Set
Later Open with	Unlocks	Unlocks	N/A

---

Why are the extra lines added before each table by the posting software?

---

mdx1

The subwoofer rattles in my MDX Touring with certain songs. Today the dealer has identified it to be a defective subwoofer. A new one has been ordered and should be in next week.

mdx1

I reported that my MDX had problem start in post 605. My dealer said it was caused by the over rich mix (similar to the flooding) to the engine at this altitude (5200 ft). The service manager told me to hold down the gas pedal 1/4 way down if I have any problems in the future.

mdxer3

thanks for the reply. seems as though I have to go little farther to make a sound decision. I think it will be fun, but frustrating at times.
ill keep my eyes glued here to help me along.

dxrxfx

Got my MDX just before Xmas. Like it. very smooth.

Problems
1) The panel covering the jack in the cargo compartment is warped, and falls out easily. This should be easy to fix by replacement.

2) This vehicle needs some protective molding. I like the prostripe pictures I've seen.

3) I've noticed that the front seat leg support is lacking. It seems too short. Never had this feeling in any car I've driven. I've seen others complain about this. Maybe it's just my lower body. I'm 5'10", with long legs and a short trunk. (so the wife says).

My $0.02 for those looking at new SUVs and considering the MDX. This vehicle is very practical as far as fuel efficiency and cargo area. It is very smooth and quiet, with a good ride. It is much less truck like than Seq, ML, tahoe, Exp, etc., in ride and likely in off road performance. Basically, you are giving up something (truck-like qualities) to gain in the qualities you will likely prefer and "use" more often-nice ride, etc.

First oil change by Acura quoted for $35. Anyone got this done elsewhere? Are the oil filters available to other garages?

mdx1

First oil change is free at my local Acura dealer. The subsequent oil changes are charged at the same price at my dealer as the local jiffylube.

mdxer3

i'm only 5'9,so i do not think your problem(leg)
support should be a problem for me.i do also agree on the lack of moulding protection,this coming from an as of yet mdx owner. i am taking in all the feedback so as to nudge me along with my thinking.off road performance is surely not my interest,but the other qualities you describe certainly is. the jack panel is miniscule at best.
keep me posted?(i hope).i have not seen the prostripe you mentioned.

wmquan

Yes, I'm still somewhat puzzled about the Sequoia thing. I wonder how he so easily spun his rear tires when in 2WD mode, so much so that his traction control cut his power off so that he became, as Mr. Healey would call it, "a road hazard." I also wonder how problematic this is for 2WD owners who have traction control.

Fortunately, as long as he leaves it in 4WD he should be okay. In that mode, I would assume that it'd take a LOT of slippage on all four wheels before his Seq would cut power like that again.

But I guess this discussion belongs in the Sequoia topic, so I'll stop here and leave it to the folks there to dig into this further -- if they so choose.

filippone

Made my first trip to my local dealer to get a ball park figure on an mdx without nav or touring.

he actually had one on the floor but he had bolted on so much useless dealer carp I didn't recognize it. The sticker read 34,850. just like it should but with his neat fender flares ,spiffy running boards ,roof rack etc. etc. it was $40,000. I was so bummed out I wanted to cry.
He basically said he would not sell me a base mdx without all that garbage. Since I wasn't planning on buying till Feb. I just tested him out and asked if I payed a vig over 34,850 and he could skip the dealer add on song and dance,,,he seemed like he would go for it .
The whole process pisses me off ...if I have to pay over sticker I don't think I could stomach the deal Knowing that the hype will calm down in a few month but my bitternes won't.

Thanks for listening to me vent.

wmquan

I'm sure that being in lower gears will cut the mileage down significantly, though I don't doubt that being in VTM-4 mode also cuts into MPG.

During our Christmas trip over the mountain passes, we had about 3.5 mpg less going over than coming back, despite the fact that both trips were equivalent distance and done in about the same amount of time.

The difference was that going over, the weather was more severe -- over one pass, slush over compacted snow and ice. Coming back, it was mostly bare and wet on one pass, and bare and mostly dry on the other. No doubt that for any vehicle, trying to push the tires through muck takes more effort from the engine, and maybe VTM-4 was kicking in during the drive over.

(BTW, another enjoyable aspect of the MDX was the second pass coming back. It was wet near the top, and the heavily-loaded MDX was just cruising up the steep portion just before the summit at about 3,200 feet. We went into the passing lane, and effortlessly did 75-80mph to the top past a lot of vehicles, and the ride was still smooth and the vehicle didn't even seem to be trying hard.)

canadiancl

What short "trunk" was she referring to?

cb19

I am torn between the touring package with the Bose stereo and the base. Does anybody have a feel for how much better the stereo is? How much better the tires are?

Also, has anybody in Texas found a good deal on an MDX or a great delivery?