Kenyee, you said Clairparts sells Acura options at "wholesale". But when I went to Clairparts.com, I don't see any Acura options listed. They say they carry options for Honda, MB, etc., but no Acura (and Acura parts don't show up on the Honda list)...
ClairParts.com is owned by the same company that owns the dealership I purchased my MDX from, incidentally...
Hi, Did you have to pay luxury car tax for your MDX? I asked this because I bumped into a site (http://www.keysolutions.com/M-Class.nsf ) which claims that MDX is NOT considered a truck because of its GVWR is 5690lbs. Is that true?
quadguy1: You're right. I should have looked. My apoligies. I was thinking of their Honda side. I'm not sure why they don't also sell Acura parts. Audi and MB owners like them a lot.
kevintran: Keep in mind that lux tax only applies to the part that's over whatever the limit is (37K?). From previous posts, I think the most that someone has paid is $35. GVWR is more important if you have a business and you want to write the truck off (if >= 6000lbs, you can write the entire thing off vs. a percentage for cars) if you buy it outright...
Its funny that you mentioned the "other" dealership in Sacto. (was it Lasher?) selling for MSRP but requiring you to purchase additional add-ons at ridiculously inflated prices. When I was driving to Niello to pick up my MDX I got a call that very morning from Lasher saying a base GG MDX just became available. The price was, as you mentioned, about $4k above the base price.
Having just spent a month trying to buy a Sequoia and now having purchased a MDX( and being very glad I did!)let me offer these thoughts.
The Sequoia had a base 2wd price of about 31.5K. When I got all the "options" like side airbags moonroof etc that are in the base MDX I was at 42.5K. Simply put a base toyota is a very base vehicle.
Secondly, never discount the higher level of bull crap you have to put up with in dealing with low line dealers especially Toyota. After talking to over 30 Toyota dealers, I found only a handful that were professional. After talking to 12 Acura dealers, most were professional. I have found the same to be true of Infiniti and Lexus.
I agree with an earlier poster that the highlander will compete with a honda version of the MDX while the MDX competes with the RX and QX4.
My MDX: Black w/ Ebony - Tour. & Navi, ordered 10/31/00, bought 12/14/00. Paid exactly what the Acura web site quoted including the Burlwood shift knob, tow, and tailgate defector. MSRP exactly. Awesome SUV, except for the bug(I)...
Drove home the first night, noticed a slight knuckling/creaking sound coming from the right front suspension (noticed when slowing going over speed bumps on the right side only), thought it would go away, it didn't after two trips to LA from San Diego. Brought it to the dealer, Acura Engineering headquarters told them to replace the entire front strut and tower, sound/problem gone.
New problem, just noticed 2 days ago! Left front suspension/brake area making a loud popping/knocking sound (noticed when accelerating hard and making a right turn from a complete stop), that is reproducible. Will have dealer examine again!
When Car and Driver mentioned that the Acura felt "fragile", even though it won the competition against other $40k SUV, they weren't kidding.
I am starting to get very upset, but then again, I knew these types of problems might occur in a first year model, especially when it is completely new. But this is ridiculous, particularly from Acura.
Has anyone encountered problems. I am either a bit unlucky or the only owner keen enough to notice these problems, and I only have 1600 miles on it.
Sorry to hear of your problems with your new MDX. I picked mine up on 12-15-00, have 1400 miles on it, and have no problems, only pure pleasure. It is everything that I had hoped for. Had purchased a 2000 Durango, loaded 4x4. I liked it very much, but my wife has two fusions in her neck from a previous car accident, and she could not take the rough, hopping ride. Now we are both happy with the MDX, and the ride is perfect. Have a silver touring with running boards, wood knob, and wood meter panel from A & H. Love it!!!!!!!
The drivers all season mat is at least, I have found, 5 inches too short to catch all that dirty snow and water. I have taken the matt out of its floor pins and moved it forward in order to catch the muddy snow slush.
Also a little note about the "Homelink" system. Today I got the P4000 Kit and set it up with a wall switch form RadioShack. With the Home Control Unit, in the house, one can also turn on the garage flood lights and dim them. Besides using the controls in the MDX, this was an unexpected additional plus. The garage is about 30 feet from the house.
I just test drove the MDX last night. Very nice! I also drove a BMW 325 which was also very nice! These are two that I have narrowed my choice to. I know, they are TOTALLY different and I understand that. I like the MDX for the extra room (even through I don't need it very often), tons of standard features, 4wheel drive (I live in MA), and good overall feel and ride. As for the BMW, I loved that as well. Nothing looks as good and handles like a BMW! The only thing that concerns me is it is a tad bit small (currently have a VW Passat)and its performance in the snow. I have read plenty that says they are as good as any front wheel drive car in the snow but I am still a slight bit skeptical. I do have several months before my current lease is up but the limited availability of the MDX made me start my decision making process early. I am going to take a test dive again in the MDX this weekend and hope to do the same in the BMW very soon. I hope a second round of test drives sheds a little more light on which way I will most likely be headed.
FYI for MA people- Spoke to a Sean at Peabody Acura. Great, easy going, nice guy. Worth speaking to. They are offering MDX at the MSRP no pressure to add any extras.
Loose wire up in instrument cluster shorted out, causing fuse to blow. Fixed by dealer in 1hr, great service. Ironically the same day my wife took the vehicle in for service (50 miles to Honda dealer), Acura Canada customer service called and offered to send a tech to our house to fix the problem. Now thats service! Am hoping for many problem free miles from here on in, enjoy MDX very much.
That's a weird set of choices but you already know that ;-O You should consider the 330ix 4WD here in MA unless you want to switch to winter tires and put sandbags in the back :-)
Has anyone installed a video system, or had it professionally installed? Best Buy has a ceiling mounted one for the Ody, but not sure if it's been done on the MDX yet. Thoughts? Anyone bought the LCD screen and do the install yourself?
Where did you get your car? I put an order in at the dealership in middle to end of September, for a Black on Black, *ignore*/touring and Navi, they said I should get it the 2nd week of November at the latest. I let a lease run out on my Lexus because I thought I'd have the MDX by then, they've been pushing it back saying oh, next week, or in 2 weeks, it's now January and they've telling me it's supposed to be built on January 27th, I should get it a couple weeks after that. I gave them my credit card info, but they never charged a deposit. I've called Acura and they don't really care, they say the dealers area all independent. The person I've been working with at the dealership is the Sales Manager. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to deal with this? I've put an order in at a Florida dealership also, anywhere I can get a car, I'll go. This has been a real nightmare.
Please refer to my post #783 within this forum for a video system idea that worked great for us. It's not a custom install, but it works quite well in the MDX. The LCD monitor is easily removed, and the bracket arm is easily folded back out of the way. As opposed to $1000-$1500 for the custom systems from Best Buy, this Casio video system cost me only $450 from J and R Music World.
I know it's not exactly the type of info you requested, but I wanted to spread the word that there are other systems available for those of us on a tighter budget. As I said, this Casio system seems to work very well in the MDX -- better than some other portable systems that hang from the the front seat cushions, or those that mount on the center console. Our 2-year old loved it, and when I showed it to our next-door neighbors, their 13-year old daughter immediately wanted one as well!
I'm sorry to hear that news. Sounds like that dealer is jerking you around. I would recommend that maybe you could supply another post here on your location, and where you would be willing to go to buy your MDX. (You said you would go "anywhere", but maybe you might want to narrow that down?) Sometimes readers of this forum will know of a dealer nearby who has a short waiting list, or possibly no waiting period at all. I once checked for somebody here in Arizona around the end of October, and the dealer in Tucson had a black MDX coming in less than a week that was not reserved by anyone yet. However, that person later said he didn't want to go to Tucson!
Until you get something really solid from another dealer, don't give up on your local dealer yet, especially now that they have a build date for you. If they are the first to get an MDX for you, then you might still want to slam them on the follow-up survey from Acura!
I have both a new MDX (with 5600 miles on it) and a '99 BMW 328i. So maybe I can offer some helpful feedback for you?
I guess I have to first state the obvious that nothing beats driving a new 3-series BMW, especially with the sports package and the stick shift. I purchase it from a private seller in 11/99, and the only problem I've had in 14 months ov ownership is the moonroof shade breaking a clip and needing repair. The car still feels very tight and solid, and I get over 26mpg around town in it. Living in a climate where it never snows and rarely rains, it is a perfect commuting vehicle for me!
On the other hand, there was never an SUV that I could both afford and also truly appreciate in almost every respect until the MDX came along. Having owned or leased several BMW's, a couple different Audi's, and a Lexus ES300, I may have spoiled myself into having some high expectations for automobiles. The MDX didn't let me down. It's possibly a little louder at highway speeds than I'm accustomed to, but certainly not loud enough to complain about. I'm tempted to say it is more responsive than the ES300 we had owned. I have also received great customer service during my service visits.
Your decision should depend on what kind of a driver you are. The MDX handles very well for a mid-sized SUV, but with it's weight, higher COG, high profile tires, etc., it is a far cry from a sports car! Is the extra cargo space or passenger space of the MDX important to you? How concerned are you about snow and ice? On the other hand, are you a person who really wants a car that is fun to drive, as well as a car that can EASILY get around and in front of other traffic? If you really want a BMW, but want more traction, you can also consider the BMW 330xi all wheel drive, as Ken suggested. You might also consider the Audi A4 Quattro. If you don't care for the current versions of the A4, they are about to introduce a redsigned A4 late this summer for the 2002 model year. It will be offered with a 3.0L engine and over 220 hp. It received a very favorable review from a recent issue of Automobile magazine.
Yep, they are a odd couple of choices because they are a totally different. The 330xi is just a tad higher than I was looking to spend. The 325xi has been and is a consideration. However, they are in very short supply in MA but I don't have time constraints. A 325xi against the base MDX is almost the same cost so that doesn't sway me (330 cost vs MDX cost= MDX). Snow is my biggest concern. If it wasn't for that I would probably go w/ the BMW. I am test driving them both again this weekend so hopefully it will shed some more light. Will post again soon.
Yes, grasshopper, you'll not see it on the Thule site.
Seems acura has no burning desire to have them offer it...
If you look at the factory rack, there is a channel across the top. Pop out the side plastic trim, and the rubber channel strip will slide out.
What goes back in is a square headed bolt with a 3 inch 1/4"-20 thread. The square head bolt is 3/4 inch square and 1/8 inch thick. I got some from Thule corporate, but wound up machining my own out of stainless steel.
Slide them in the channel. Pop the trim back on, put on the square thule spacers (sold with the 724,725 and 726 racks), tighten the supplied wing nuts, and go ski.
Much nicer than any clampons. BTW, nobody at Thule US has a clue on this.
Should work for any Thule accessory (599XT bike rack, baskets, etc)
60 miles from my house to lake tahoe (actually Sierra@tahoe resort). Climb was from 1100 ft to 6000 foot.
From the weather reports, you may know that they were getting hammered. 16 inches of fresh powder to ski, quite a bit still on the roads, and snowing like crazy on the drive.
Drove through slush, packed snow, ice and loose power. Nothing too challenging, 8" max.
Never a moment of "funny-ness". Sure, with my driving I had hydroplaning (or is that slush-dro-planning?) But the driving and control felt sure and precise. Didn't notice any shifting or other mechanics (ie VTM4 engaging).
Drove past a few folks in snow banks, as well as one in the trees down an embankment. (4WD does nothing to help you stop, eh?)
Got stopped at the chain control- guy couldn't figure out what it was. (He asked "4 wheel drive", "yep", "huh, what is it?"...) (He didn't ask to see my tire cables that California now requires.)
And folks, the skiing was AWESOME. Man, we had a blast. Nobody there, and dry deep powder. (smiles, smiles, smiles)
Ard: You must live about a mile from me. Where did you get your car and what were the details? Timeframe? I put my name on the list at Lasher and Niello on Oct 7th for a GG/tour/navi. Lasher called my twice but I would not give them the $4k extra they wanted. Niello claims they have never seen my combo before. Not much I can do at this point.
If you'd go back far enough in the archives, the details were posted (but, alas, a near impossible task with this state-of-the-art software)
If Lasher sales is like their service, no wonder.
Actually, I had a discussion with Scott Lasher regarding this "add on BS". A salesman told me in late september they'd be doing this. I called Scott lasher to tell him I'd not be doing business with him. He claimed the salesman had misspoken, and why not give them a shot...evidently not.
I purchased from Solano Acura. Gave them a deposit first week of Sept. They only had two names on the list and were expecting 4 cars. Wound up with a deal around $700 under MSRP (free accessories thrown in). Never see that kind of deal anymore. Picked it up October 6. Clearly, Solano didn't understand how popular this would get - now they do.
My only advice is to get to as many dealers as possible, and try to get to "out of the way" locations. Big city dealers will bend you over. Primarily because all their clients are used to it and put up with it. Bakersfield, Santa Rosa, Stockton, etc.
Geeze, only two option (tour or navi) and, what, 6 colors. And niello claims it is a rare combo.
Hey guys. Just picked up my DMP base from Rallye Acura yesterday afternoon. You were right. All of the waiting becomes a distant, distant memory once I got in the car and drove it home.
What a vehicle. I was driving around my parents parking lot (going very fast for short periods) and braking (not too hard, though). I didn't notice how icy it was until I stepped out of the MDX and almost fell on the ice..... black ice everywhere.
So far so good. I plan on taking her out on the open road this weekend. Where to, you ask? I have no clue. Just trying to find a reason to take her out!!
I had a strange one last night. I drove to the store, went in for a couple minutes, came back out and started my MDX but the shifter wouldn't come out of park. It felt like it does if you try to put it in drive without engaging the brake. I tried all sorts of things without avail, then stuck the ignition key in that little key-hole looking thing next to the shifter and it allowed the shifter to move then. I held it out of park, started the engine and drove home. I have not been able to make it repeat the snafu. Anyone have any experience with something like this? Everything else on the rig is peachy.
I'm getting the same thing. It's because of the long URL above which is skewing the screen width. Hopetully that person will remove their message. I can't do it since this is not my assigned message board.
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I live off of South Shingle. Niello stated that they did not order. They got "allocations" and what they saw they got. Since I only wanted GG/Tour/navi, so little flexibility. I sort of painted myself into a corner. I can wait, or then as taxes get closer I may pass until next fall and pick up a 2002.
How did your car fair on US 50 with all the road gunk? I will be waiting to see how easy it is to clean and and how much damage the parking lot takes. I have a 4x4 pickup for that sort of stuff and my wife says no need for an mdx if it's not going skiing. Also have not turned on my midweek S@T season passes yet and may not afterall this year.
rdllarena (or HOST), would you (or a host) please edit your message #931 and add some spaces in that URL so it won't stretch this page out for everyone. Thanks.
muab (#934), It's probably the relay in the shifter that's intermittently not engaging even though you have the key in the ignition and the brake pedal pressed. If it keeps doing it (even intermittently) you'll want to take it to the dealer and get it fixed.
On this and the other MDX pages, I've read several posts regarding the luxury tax. I just got off the phone with my dealer and they say that efective in 2001 the luxury tax base was raised to $40$. So none of the MDXs would qaulify for luxury tax even at MSRP. Just make sure you pay for extras such as wheel locks, cargo covers, etc separately.
Responding to Nyckid posting 931. did you lease or finance? If finance what rate did you get? Did you pay Msrp or above that? How long did you have to wait after receiving Vin #.
When I put the vehicle in reverse the passenger side rear view mirror doesn't go down. Has anyone had the same problem? Any easy solutions or do I have to take it in. Thanks
check the mirror adjustment settings ( don't know what to call it. Not a knob. it is more like a slider - you push it to "L" or "R" ) on the driver side. It should be in the middle. Not left or right. Then the right mirror goes down when u reverse.
I ordered a mdx last week and now my wife is having second thoughts. We now have a 97rl and have been very happy with it. She is worried about the extra 6 inches in width. Has this been problem getting into parking spaces or do you get used to it.
I drove up to keno from Fremont on Monday of this week and returned late yesterday (Thurs.) morning during the tail end of the storm that blanketed the Sierra with snow and caused some flooding in the flatlands. (The MDX handled "beautifully" in all conditions, especially during some extremely gusty rain squalls through the Sac to area!)
Last weekend, prior to leaving for keno, I tried to pick up a pair of P235/65R/17 cable chains in the event I ran into chain control conditions and was asked by gal Tarns to show them I had chains aboard. The problem is, I couldn't find cable chains that would fit the Michelins anywhere. I tried a half-dozen auto supply stores, Sears and Wards automotive departments, Big Five Sporting Goods and three different Acura dealers. No one had P235/65R/17 cable chains listed as even being available. So I dug out an old pair of linked chains I used 20 years ago that wouldn't even come close to fitting and tossed them in the back so I would at least have something to show if needed. As it turned out, the gal Tarns chain control inspector waved me straight through as if I had been driving an Explorer, Cherokee or a Subaru.
From reading one of your earlier posts I came away with the impression that you have a pair of cable chains that will fit the MDX. If that's the case, I'd certainly appreciate it if you would let me know where you found them.
BMW, I've got the "Fully loaded GG Touring/Nav" pictured in the Gallery section at the www.acuramdx.org web site. What "was" my shiny new MDX picked up so much crud from my run to Reno and back that by the time I got home it looked like something that had been sitting in a junkyard for several years. My suspicion that it would require two trips through a full-service car wash was right on. Even then, I had to spend over an hour this morning with rags, a toothbrush and Q-Tips to get it really clean because of all the nooks and crannies.
Bottom line: My loaded GG Touring/Nav is the finest vehicle I have ever owned in terms of comfort, performance, styling, versatility and (hopefully) reliability. At the same time, it's the worst vehicle I have ever had to clean once it gets gunked from a drive over the Sierra during a winter storm!
I'm still waiting for the phone call from the dealer telling me my MDX has come in. In the meantime, thought I'd take this new software out for a spin.
While I've been waiting, I got to wondering about the MDX's reliability/quality control so far, specifically as compared to the problems that plagued the ML when it came out. Seems to me, based on owners' comments in the first 3 months, that the MDX has had a quirky but tolerable assortment of minor problems, hopefully just more annoying than anything else (save for someone's massive oil leak waaaaay back when). I never actually looked into what types of problems the ML had. I just knew that they were bad enough for Consumer Reports to give the ML the highest score in its comparison test, but they were unable to recommend it because of reliability problems. Looks like MB has improved their production quality more recently, but I'm still curious about those earlier years. I'm guessing the "glitches" were more serious by several orders-of-magnitude.
Did anyone experience the wind noise level with/without moonroof visor at highway speed? The wind noise level of my Touring is louder than I expected. I'm planning to get one but not sure if it would help. Thanks!
It would seem Acura, Honda, Toyota, Lexus seem to have pretty tight quality controls over their european competition. These companies seem to have better introduction record of new cars which is good. They do their homework at the front end, and do not rush the car into production at the same time their completing quality and reliability tests. Also do not let overzelous purchasing people take it upon themselves to buy whatever parts because they're just availible. Toyota no less introduced 3 new SUVs in the market place this year. Reading some of the posts. Complaints have been minimal thus far.
MDX does have bugs but do not beleive are long term issues. No recalls. Like you say "minor annoyances" Arguably the VTM-4 might be one. As having a lock coverter engaged till 18mph then switching off probably helps save the rear differential from wear and tear if left on at higher speeds.
Euro models are much more asthetically nicer though than their Japanese counterparts. I.E., MDX vs X5. But looks isn't everything. Having a reliable workhorse as your main car is more important than looking pretty on the road in my book. As second or third car looks may take a higher priority.
chiller2: The ML reliability problems in the earlier years can be attributed to 3 things that took almost 2-3 years to get right: fuel level sensors that got corroded by fuel additives, the alarm system's motion sensor that was faulty, and door lock mechanisms that kept breaking (a.k.a. machine gun locks). There were also lots of rattles in the first year or two that had owners keep going back. They also built it at a brand new plant.
The X5 has had it's share of oddities for a new car if you monitor bimmer.org. Door locks freezing in cold weather, weatherstripping ripping off w/ the ice, tranny problems, etc.
Japanese makers seem to have better design techniques (using more reliable parts, etc.) and tighter tolerances on panel gaps. The MDX seems to have had fewer problems for a 1st year car than the X5 or ML, but it is built at the Honda Odyssey plant and slightly based on Odyssey parts as well.
In general, it's safer to avoid 1st year models...
I'm seriously considering buying the MDX. Does anyone know if you can get the roof rack without going for the touring package. So. Florida doesn't need heated seats etc. If not has anyone installed a roof rack from Hondacuraworld?
Bilmat: Remember my very post on taking a GG/Tour/Navi skiing and having it get trashed a few months back? You chimed in my defense after everyone else gave me heck based on the fact it was a GG. Now you feel my pain (although yours is real and mine is still virtual).
This new software's spellchecker sure made me look like an [non-permissible content removed] in my post to ardvarkus re: Sierra snow (#945). I obviously made the mistake of clicking the "Check Spelling" button after typing my messsage, took notice of the highlighted words, ignored them after I was satisfied I hadn't made any errors, then pushed the "Post My Message" button and turned in for the night. After checking to see how the post read this morning I saw that the spellchecker had turned "Reno" into "keno"; "Sacto" (short for Sacramento) to "Sac"; "Cal Trans" to "gal Tams"; and "BTW" (by the way) to "BMW."
To anyone who may have read post #945, I swear on my now clean MDX that I'm not that much of a spelling/typing clutz! In a moment I'm going to push the "Post My Message" button. I dare not push the "Check Spelling" button out of fear of what the spellchecker will do with the word "clutz!"
Woe is me!!!
(P.S. to ccouper: Had I chosen black, I probably would have torched the MDX after the Reno trip. Stay with GG!)
I agree that Japanese makes in general tend to be very good quality-wise. The North American built Japanese products are an interesting mix though. The Camry and Accord seem to do very well, as does the Subaru Legacy/Outback. However, the Sienna and the Odyssey have been not quite as good.
As you know, the latter has only had an average reliability rating (for the 2000 model) by Consumer Reports. Evidently, the 1999 Odysseys were given a below average rating; I wonder if this means C.R. is going to place it on their "used vehicles to avoid" list? Since I monitor the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna problems topics several times daily, it's surprising and somewhat alarming to see the number of problems some people are going through. For example, many Odysseys seem to have a persistant pull to the right that the dealers can't always address, sliding door problems, fit and finish problems (ex. both sliding door handles breaking off completely), as well as serious transmission problems. Starting your 1 month old '01 Odyssey and seeing the transmission indicator blinking that there is a major problem (and that it is stuck in 2nd gear limp home mode) is not pleasant. Owners have also complained about Honda America preventing Alldata.com from listing the TSBs for the Honda/Acura vehicles. Apparently no other manufacturer does this.
WRT the Siennas they seem to be a lot better than the Odysseys in general. Early '98 models had suspension defects that made proper alignment just about impossible. Up till about March 2000, quite a number of vans had leaks with the rear washer. More recently, a number of brand '00 models (built in June/July 2000) have had their torque converters go ka-put, requiring major surgery. This was due to a bad batch from a supplier. A couple of owners have also had steering angle sensors (for the Vehicle Stability Control system) go bad, hence illuminating the idiot lights and temporarily disabling the VSC. Apparently there was a small batch of bad sensors. Other than that, most seem to be quite trouble free.
Many people still love their vans, stating that the domestic makes are no better, or in many cases much worse. However, there are many (especially 1st time Japanese brand buyers) who have started to lose faith in the Honda & Toyota brands. Long time Honda/Toyota owners seem to be more forgiving, but have also stated disappointment with the lack of support from both manufacturers.
The Nissan Quests/Mercury Villagers seem to be better as far as reliability goes, although there is one owner who has strangely had a huge assortment of problems with her '00 Quest. Problems ranging from a constantly vibrating passenger's seat (vibration so severe that the seat looks fuzzy) to CV boots leaking grease. The '00 Mazda MPV only has minor problems. More importantly, the problems have had effective solutions.
Comments
to Clairparts.com, I don't see any Acura options listed. They say they carry options
for Honda, MB, etc., but no Acura (and Acura parts don't show up on the Honda list)...
ClairParts.com is owned by the same company that owns the dealership I purchased
my MDX from, incidentally...
Kwad
Did you have to pay luxury car tax for your MDX? I asked this because I bumped into a site (http://www.keysolutions.com/M-Class.nsf
) which claims that MDX is NOT considered a truck because of its GVWR is 5690lbs. Is that true?
Thanks in advance,
Kim-Thu Tran
You're right. I should have looked. My apoligies. I was thinking of their Honda side. I'm not sure why they don't also sell Acura parts. Audi and MB owners like them a lot.
kevintran:
Keep in mind that lux tax only applies to the part that's over whatever the limit is (37K?). From previous posts, I think the most that someone has paid is $35. GVWR is more important if you have a business and you want to write the truck off (if >= 6000lbs, you can write the entire thing off vs. a percentage for cars) if you buy it outright...
My impression is that the Highlander would top out in the low-30's, but we'll see.
Climbed in an MDX over the holidays, still brush my hair. And there still is plenty of airspace under the seat...
direct mount to the factory roof rack.
which foot pack # did you use?
Thanks,
Sounds like you made a smart deal. Thanks for all the info and good luck w/ changing the climate control.
The Sequoia had a base 2wd price of about 31.5K. When I got all the "options" like side airbags moonroof etc that are in the base MDX I was at 42.5K. Simply put a base toyota is a very base vehicle.
Secondly, never discount the higher level of bull crap you have to put up with in dealing with low line dealers especially Toyota. After talking to over 30 Toyota dealers, I found only a handful that were professional. After talking to 12 Acura dealers, most were professional. I have found the same to be true of Infiniti and Lexus.
I agree with an earlier poster that the highlander will compete with a honda version of the MDX while the MDX competes with the RX and QX4.
My MDX: Black w/ Ebony - Tour. & Navi, ordered 10/31/00, bought 12/14/00. Paid exactly what the Acura web site quoted including the Burlwood shift knob, tow, and tailgate defector. MSRP exactly.
Awesome SUV, except for the bug(I)...
Drove home the first night, noticed a slight knuckling/creaking sound coming from the right front suspension (noticed when slowing going over speed bumps on the right side only), thought it would go away, it didn't after two trips to LA from San Diego. Brought it to the dealer, Acura Engineering headquarters told them to replace the entire front strut and tower, sound/problem gone.
New problem, just noticed 2 days ago! Left front suspension/brake area making a loud popping/knocking sound (noticed when accelerating hard and making a right turn from a complete stop), that is reproducible. Will have dealer examine again!
When Car and Driver mentioned that the Acura felt "fragile", even though it won the competition against other $40k SUV, they weren't kidding.
I am starting to get very upset, but then again, I knew these types of problems might occur in a first year model, especially when it is completely new. But this is ridiculous, particularly from Acura.
Has anyone encountered problems. I am either a bit unlucky or the only owner keen enough to notice these problems, and I only have 1600 miles on it.
Acura are you listening!?
Hoping to be a HAPPY MDX owner.
RC
amount of luxury tax = ( MSRP + Accessories - 38000 ) * 5%
If you get a positive number, that's your luxury tax.
Also a little note about the "Homelink" system. Today I got the P4000 Kit and set it up with a wall switch form RadioShack. With the Home Control Unit, in the house, one can also turn on the garage flood lights and dim them. Besides using the controls in the MDX, this was an unexpected additional plus. The garage is about 30 feet from the house.
Good luck with your MDX.
I do have several months before my current lease is up but the limited availability of the MDX made me start my decision making process early.
I am going to take a test dive again in the MDX this weekend and hope to do the same in the BMW very soon. I hope a second round of test drives sheds a little more light on which way I will most likely be headed.
FYI for MA people- Spoke to a Sean at Peabody Acura. Great, easy going, nice guy. Worth speaking to. They are offering MDX at the MSRP no pressure to add any extras.
in 1hr, great service. Ironically the same day my wife took the vehicle in for service (50 miles
to Honda dealer), Acura Canada customer service called and offered to send a tech to our house to fix the problem. Now thats service!
Am hoping for many problem free miles from here on in, enjoy MDX very much.
You should consider the 330ix 4WD here in MA unless you want to switch to winter tires and put sandbags in the back :-)
This has been a real nightmare.
DBastian
dbastian@yahoo.com
I know it's not exactly the type of info you requested, but I wanted to spread the word that there are other systems available for those of us on a tighter budget. As I said, this Casio system seems to work very well in the MDX -- better than some other portable systems that hang from the the front seat cushions, or those that mount on the center console. Our 2-year old loved it, and when I showed it to our next-door neighbors, their 13-year old daughter immediately wanted one as well!
Until you get something really solid from another dealer, don't give up on your local dealer yet, especially now that they have a build date for you. If they are the first to get an MDX for you, then you might still want to slam them on the follow-up survey from Acura!
I guess I have to first state the obvious that nothing beats driving a new 3-series BMW, especially with the sports package and the stick shift. I purchase it from a private seller in 11/99, and the only problem I've had in 14 months ov ownership is the moonroof shade breaking a clip and needing repair. The car still feels very tight and solid, and I get over 26mpg around town in it. Living in a climate where it never snows and rarely rains, it is a perfect commuting vehicle for me!
On the other hand, there was never an SUV that I could both afford and also truly appreciate in almost every respect until the MDX came along. Having owned or leased several BMW's, a couple different Audi's, and a Lexus ES300, I may have spoiled myself into having some high expectations for automobiles. The MDX didn't let me down. It's possibly a little louder at highway speeds than I'm accustomed to, but certainly not loud enough to complain about. I'm tempted to say it is more responsive than the ES300 we had owned. I have also received great customer service during my service visits.
Your decision should depend on what kind of a driver you are. The MDX handles very well for a mid-sized SUV, but with it's weight, higher COG, high profile tires, etc., it is a far cry from a sports car! Is the extra cargo space or passenger space of the MDX important to you? How concerned are you about snow and ice? On the other hand, are you a person who really wants a car that is fun to drive, as well as a car that can EASILY get around and in front of other traffic? If you really want a BMW, but want more traction, you can also consider the BMW 330xi all wheel drive, as Ken suggested. You might also consider the Audi A4 Quattro. If you don't care for the current versions of the A4, they are about to introduce a redsigned A4 late this summer for the 2002 model year. It will be offered with a 3.0L engine and over 220 hp. It received a very favorable review from a recent issue of Automobile magazine.
I am test driving them both again this weekend so hopefully it will shed some more light.
Will post again soon.
Thanks
Seems acura has no burning desire to have them offer it...
If you look at the factory rack, there is a channel across the top. Pop out the side plastic trim, and the rubber channel strip will slide out.
What goes back in is a square headed bolt with a 3 inch 1/4"-20 thread. The square head bolt is 3/4 inch square and 1/8 inch thick. I got some from Thule corporate, but wound up machining my own out of stainless steel.
Slide them in the channel. Pop the trim back on, put on the square thule spacers (sold with the 724,725 and 726 racks), tighten the supplied wing nuts, and go ski.
Much nicer than any clampons. BTW, nobody at Thule US has a clue on this.
Should work for any Thule accessory (599XT bike rack, baskets, etc)
Ard
60 miles from my house to lake tahoe (actually Sierra@tahoe resort). Climb was from 1100 ft to 6000 foot.
From the weather reports, you may know that they were getting hammered. 16 inches of fresh powder to ski, quite a bit still on the roads, and snowing like crazy on the drive.
Drove through slush, packed snow, ice and loose power. Nothing too challenging, 8" max.
Never a moment of "funny-ness". Sure, with my driving I had hydroplaning (or is that slush-dro-planning?) But the driving and control felt sure and precise. Didn't notice any shifting or other mechanics (ie VTM4 engaging).
Drove past a few folks in snow banks, as well as one in the trees down an embankment. (4WD does nothing to help you stop, eh?)
Got stopped at the chain control- guy couldn't figure out what it was. (He asked "4 wheel drive", "yep", "huh, what is it?"...) (He didn't ask to see my tire cables that California now requires.)
And folks, the skiing was AWESOME. Man, we had a blast. Nobody there, and dry deep powder. (smiles, smiles, smiles)
Ard
If you'd go back far enough in the archives, the details were posted (but, alas, a near impossible task with this state-of-the-art software)
If Lasher sales is like their service, no wonder.
Actually, I had a discussion with Scott Lasher regarding this "add on BS". A salesman told me in late september they'd be doing this. I called Scott lasher to tell him I'd not be doing business with him. He claimed the salesman had misspoken, and why not give them a shot...evidently not.
I purchased from Solano Acura. Gave them a deposit first week of Sept. They only had two names on the list and were expecting 4 cars. Wound up with a deal around $700 under MSRP (free accessories thrown in). Never see that kind of deal anymore. Picked it up October 6. Clearly, Solano didn't understand how popular this would get - now they do.
My only advice is to get to as many dealers as possible, and try to get to "out of the way" locations. Big city dealers will bend you over. Primarily because all their clients are used to it and put up with it. Bakersfield, Santa Rosa, Stockton, etc.
Geeze, only two option (tour or navi) and, what, 6 colors. And niello claims it is a rare combo.
Tell them to order the dang thing!
Good luck
Ard
What a vehicle. I was driving around my parents parking lot (going very fast for short periods) and braking (not too hard, though). I didn't notice how icy it was until I stepped out of the MDX and almost fell on the ice..... black ice everywhere.
So far so good. I plan on taking her out on the open road this weekend. Where to, you ask? I have no clue. Just trying to find a reason to take her out!!
After posting this message, the discussion goes back to normal.
If I delete this post, the discussion goes back to wide again.
It seems to flip flop.
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How did your car fair on US 50 with all the road gunk? I will be waiting to see how easy it is to clean and and how much damage the parking lot takes. I have a 4x4 pickup for that sort of stuff and my wife says no need for an mdx if it's not going skiing. Also have not turned on my midweek S@T season passes yet and may not afterall this year.
would you (or a host) please edit your message #931 and add some spaces in that URL so it won't stretch this page out for everyone. Thanks.
It's probably the relay in the shifter that's intermittently not engaging even though you have the key in the ignition and the brake pedal pressed. If it keeps doing it (even intermittently) you'll want to take it to the dealer and get it fixed.
I'm in sunridge meadow. (Small world) Are you in the F.D.? If so, we've met! (adams@adiana.com)
ard
Thanks
Last weekend, prior to leaving for keno, I tried to pick up a pair of P235/65R/17 cable chains in the event I ran into chain control conditions and was asked by gal Tarns to show them I had chains aboard. The problem is, I couldn't find cable chains that would fit the Michelins anywhere. I tried a half-dozen auto supply stores, Sears and Wards automotive departments, Big Five Sporting Goods and three different Acura dealers. No one had P235/65R/17 cable chains listed as even being available. So I dug out an old pair of linked chains I used 20 years ago that wouldn't even come close to fitting and tossed them in the back so I would at least have something to show if needed. As it turned out, the gal Tarns chain control inspector waved me straight through as if I had been driving an Explorer, Cherokee or a Subaru.
From reading one of your earlier posts I came away with the impression that you have a pair of cable chains that will fit the MDX. If that's the case, I'd certainly appreciate it if you would let me know where you found them.
BMW, I've got the "Fully loaded GG Touring/Nav" pictured in the Gallery section at the www.acuramdx.org web site. What "was" my shiny new MDX picked up so much crud from my run to Reno and back that by the time I got home it looked like something that had been sitting in a junkyard for several years. My suspicion that it would require two trips through a full-service car wash was right on. Even then, I had to spend over an hour this morning with rags, a toothbrush and Q-Tips to get it really clean because of all the nooks and crannies.
Bottom line: My loaded GG Touring/Nav is the finest vehicle I have ever owned in terms of comfort, performance, styling, versatility and (hopefully) reliability. At the same time, it's the worst vehicle I have ever had to clean once it gets gunked from a drive over the Sierra during a winter storm!
While I've been waiting, I got to wondering about the MDX's reliability/quality control so far, specifically as compared to the problems that plagued the ML when it came out. Seems to me, based on owners' comments in the first 3 months, that the MDX has had a quirky but tolerable assortment of minor problems, hopefully just more annoying than anything else (save for someone's massive oil leak waaaaay back when). I never actually looked into what types of problems the ML had. I just knew that they were bad enough for Consumer Reports to give the ML the highest score in its comparison test, but they were unable to recommend it because of reliability problems. Looks like MB has improved their production quality more recently, but I'm still curious about those earlier years. I'm guessing the "glitches" were more serious by several orders-of-magnitude.
MDX does have bugs but do not beleive are long term issues. No recalls. Like you say "minor annoyances" Arguably the VTM-4 might be one. As having a lock coverter engaged till 18mph then switching off probably helps save the rear differential from wear and tear if left on at higher speeds.
Euro models are much more asthetically nicer though than their Japanese counterparts. I.E., MDX vs X5. But looks isn't everything. Having a reliable workhorse as your main car is more important than looking pretty on the road in my book. As second or third car looks may take a higher priority.
The ML reliability problems in the earlier years can be attributed to 3 things that took almost 2-3 years to get right: fuel level sensors that got corroded by fuel additives, the alarm system's motion sensor that was faulty, and door lock mechanisms that kept breaking (a.k.a. machine gun locks). There were also lots of rattles in the first year or two that had owners keep going back. They also built it at a brand new plant.
The X5 has had it's share of oddities for a new car if you monitor bimmer.org. Door locks freezing in cold weather, weatherstripping ripping off w/ the ice, tranny problems, etc.
Japanese makers seem to have better design techniques (using more reliable parts, etc.) and tighter tolerances on panel gaps. The MDX seems to have had fewer problems for a 1st year car than the X5 or ML, but it is built at the Honda Odyssey plant and slightly based on Odyssey parts as well.
In general, it's safer to avoid 1st year models...
Thanks.
To anyone who may have read post #945, I swear on my now clean MDX that I'm not that much of a spelling/typing clutz! In a moment I'm going to push the "Post My Message" button. I dare not push the "Check Spelling" button out of fear of what the spellchecker will do with the word "clutz!"
Woe is me!!!
(P.S. to ccouper: Had I chosen black, I probably would have torched the MDX after the Reno trip. Stay with GG!)
As you know, the latter has only had an average reliability rating (for the 2000 model) by Consumer Reports. Evidently, the 1999 Odysseys were given a below average rating; I wonder if this means C.R. is going to place it on their "used vehicles to avoid" list? Since I monitor the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna problems topics several times daily, it's surprising and somewhat alarming to see the number of problems some people are going through. For example, many Odysseys seem to have a persistant pull to the right that the dealers can't always address, sliding door problems, fit and finish problems (ex. both sliding door handles breaking off completely), as well as serious transmission problems. Starting your 1 month old '01 Odyssey and seeing the transmission indicator blinking that there is a major problem (and that it is stuck in 2nd gear limp home mode) is not pleasant. Owners have also complained about Honda America preventing Alldata.com from listing the TSBs for the Honda/Acura vehicles. Apparently no other manufacturer does this.
WRT the Siennas they seem to be a lot better than the Odysseys in general. Early '98 models had suspension defects that made proper alignment just about impossible. Up till about March 2000, quite a number of vans had leaks with the rear washer. More recently, a number of brand '00 models (built in June/July 2000) have had their torque converters go ka-put, requiring major surgery. This was due to a bad batch from a supplier. A couple of owners have also had steering angle sensors (for the Vehicle Stability Control system) go bad, hence illuminating the idiot lights and temporarily disabling the VSC. Apparently there was a small batch of bad sensors. Other than that, most seem to be quite trouble free.
Many people still love their vans, stating that the domestic makes are no better, or in many cases much worse. However, there are many (especially 1st time Japanese brand buyers) who have started to lose faith in the Honda & Toyota brands. Long time Honda/Toyota owners seem to be more forgiving, but have also stated disappointment with the lack of support from both manufacturers.
The Nissan Quests/Mercury Villagers seem to be better as far as reliability goes, although there is one owner who has strangely had a huge assortment of problems with her '00 Quest. Problems ranging from a constantly vibrating passenger's seat (vibration so severe that the seat looks fuzzy) to CV boots leaking grease. The '00 Mazda MPV only has minor problems. More importantly, the problems have had effective solutions.