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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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Vifa Tweeter: Part # 279-130: $51.60/pr (1")
Scan Speak : Part # 299-240: $71.60/pr (5 1/4)
Infinity: : $110.00/pr (6 1/2)
Sub woofer (forgot the name): 120.00/pr (10" ??
You have to modify some of the mounting. From his description, it does not seem difficult. From the look of it, I can not really tell whether the car has been modified or not. Good luck.
Thanks for posting that. I'm surprised he didn't have to put custom crossovers in since he converted the fronts to separates.
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Hey petrusky, check out the "30 minute" Edit button next time you post:-)
Steve
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I still have a Mobile Fidelity half-speed master of "Dark Side of the Moon", CSN&Y's "Deja Vu", and Alan Parson's "I Robot". I still have a turntable to play them -- an old Technics direct-drive turntable that my brother gave to me a long time ago. It feels like it weighs about 30 lbs, and it has a mechanical rotary dial for setting how many times you want it to repeat play of the album side. I still use this thing once every 3 months or so.
You'll have a blast when you get to start enjoying that new digital TV and especially DTS/Dolby Digital sound!
If the MDX was my own daily driver, I might check out the speaker mods that Ken and petrusky are describing. However, I generally drive it only when the family is with me, and thus I don't get to do too much music listening in it. I'm also nervous about modifying speaker mounts and changing out crossovers in any vehicle that costs $35K or more!
1. In city driving Mileage 12-14 MPG. Is this normal?
2. When there is no passenger in front passenger seat, sometimes, for no reason, the side air bag light comes on. Any ideas about what that might be?
1) Is that number from your trip computer? Sometimes I notice that it's 1.0 to 1.5 MPG off the actual number (stating the number as too low).
2) It'll take some time for your engine to break in, and the fuel economy should improve slightly.
3) The 17/23 EPA mileage rating is, as most mileage ratings are, optimistic. Hopefully you'll get somewhere in the 17mpg territory for your city driving (after engine break-in and through actual fill-up MPG measurement as opposed to relying on the trip computer), but you may find that you're stuck in the 14-15-16 MPG range for city driving.
As far as the side airbag light coming on, did you have anything on the front passenger seat when it came on? E.g. a briefcase or bag? If so, there's a sensor that doesn't inflate the bag if it thinks a small person or child is in the front seat, and it can think an object in the front passenger seat is that, hence the light coming on.
If there was nothing at all in the front passenger seat at the time the light came on, get your dealer to check it.
Congratulations on your new MDX! You'll also find a lot of owners on www.acuramdx.org if you have more questions.
Very sorry to hear about your power steering breakdown. Thanks for the warning, and I hope everything is taken care of quickly for you.
I noticed the same thing in my car. I was planning on getting my bushings (I think that's what was talked about earlier) lubed and tightened during my first visit to the service department for an oil change. It should be in about a month or so.
I'll let you know how it went.
I haven't heard it lately, however. It was only for the first week or so...... go figure
hands-down coolest/greatest turntable of that era was the *Nakamich* TX-1000 turntable.
Never heard of a Nakamichi turntable? You're not alone. They sold fewer than 100 of the
TX-1000 in the US, not many more worldwide. Why? Because in 1982, when it was
introduced, it cost $8000 without a tonearm or a cartridge (you could get a nice car
for that money at that time). Oh, and a thing called CDs came out about a year later, which
effectively killed the turntable market...At any rate, what made the Nakamichi turntable
so amazing is that it was self-centering. Almost all records are pressed a bit off center.
Some are a lot more than a bit. The Nakamichi puts a special stylus in the run-off groove,
figures out how off center the record is, then adjusts the rotation axis to compensate.
Amazing, especially if (like me), you are very sensitive to pitch waver.
This turntable was also pretty stunning looking.
A bit later they introduced a cheaper turntable, the Nakamichi Dragon turntable, that
also performed self-centering. This one came with a tonearm, and cost about $1700.
It sold better than the TX-1000 (how could it not?) but is still pretty rare.
OK, enough of that. Back to MDX discussion.
Kwad
a good price, and it was delivered extremely promptly (no complaints there).
But I was pretty unhappy with the actual liner. First off, it's black. Only color available.
Would have been nice if it matched the interior. But it doesn't. It also shows dirt
like crazy. It's kind of drag to install. Not hard, but just a lot of little "put this here, put
this there, move this, insert this" kind of stuff. The upside is that it really does a nice
job of covering the cargo area. The downside is that it looks ugly (I especially
don't like the part of the black liner that drapes over the second row seats), can't be adjusted to
use the third seat (gotta remove it to use the seat), and is gonna take you several minutes
to reinstall if you just keep it stashed for those times when you're hauling something you
want to protect against. I guess maybe I should just have purchased a cargo tray, though
I suspect that will also not work with the third seat, and also can't be stored away in the
car for occasional use.
Oh well.
Kwad
EYAron: I only get about 12 to 14 miles in all city driving. This is not from the trip computer. I measure it by the number of miles driven divided by the amount of gas i refill at the pump.However I was expecting this because it's a heavy vehicle.My side air bag lights do flash occasionally and I wonder why but it doesn't stay on long.
Nyckid: when you get that clunk sorted out let me know on this board because we bought our SUV from the same dealer(Rallye Acura)
I will still keep this board as well as acuramdx.org updated, however.
Your side airbag light should flash if you have something on the front seat that is smaller than an average human (i.e. briefcase, workout bag). This is from the sensors on the passenger side chair.
thanks for the install tips on the M94 kit. I did exactly as you did, and it was a breeze. Tho I was really careful about getting 'em on straight, using eyeball, level and measuring tape. I'd post pics, but they're EXACTLY the same as yours. Prep to finish, including wax removal (blue Dawn) and re-wax took a couple of hours.
I'm afraid I don't have an answer. I'm 6ft and slightly overweight at 207 lbs. However, I thought the front seats were very comfortable on our 1000+ mile trip during the Christmas holidays. I never felt any discomfort or fatigue from the driver's seat cushion. But I'm also used to the narrower, firmer seats of the German cars.
My wife likes the Montero as it was easy to turn and park. However, I am not sure whether the V6 will be an issue for that size of the vehicle down the road. We are not planning on towing or any off roads.. I also don't like the limited third row leg room spaces in the Montero. Its too tight for a long trip for an adult and its not recommended for infant or small children.
The Sequoia is big but costs more. It has everything that I like but it is just too big for my wife to drive around town. This is the reason why we decided to look into the MDX.
According to the Acura web site, the MDX has two tether anchors provided for securing one or two tether-style child safety seats in the third row seats. MDX also has similar 3rd row leg room dimensions as the Sequoia.
For those MDX owners with small children, or infant, would you recommend putting the kids in the third row?? We are planning several long trips with 4 adults and 2 small children and just wondering whether its safe to have small children sitting in the 3rd row? If so, how was your experience of getting the kids in and out of the car??
In contrast at 5'9" and 156lbs, I could not fit behind the driver's side 50% section of the MDX's 3rd row seat. I did squeeze in the passenger's side 50% section of the 3rd row seat, but the 2nd row 40% section had to be slid forward by several inches. Even still, my knees were pressing fairly firmly against the back of that seat. By sliding the 2nd row 40% forward, this gave that passenger not a lot of room legroom at all. The 60% section of the MDX's 2nd row seat cannot be moved forward (hence the reason why I couldn't fit back there). That said, small kids should be okay back there in the 3rd row, but you will have to stretch to get in and secure them. As for adults, think of it like sitting the back seat of a Nissan 300ZX 2+2 (albeit with more headroom). Possible, but only for short trips, IMHO.
Another vehicle that you may want to consider is the MB M-class. It is a few inches shorter than the MDX but also has 3rd row seats that can be folded down, to the side, or removed. The big difference is that there is enough legroom back there for average sized adults to be comfortable for 45-50 minutes, depending on their tolerance level. The entire 2nd row can be shifted forward several inches for more legroom, and the 2nd row 40% section tilts and tumbles forward for easy entry and exit for the 3rd row passengers. Securing children back in the ML's 3rd row should be an easier task than the MDX since the tumble/tilt 2nd row seat gives you a lot more room to work with. If you're interested, here is the M-class discussion topic. Someone just asked about the 3rd row seating in there, so look for responses and pictures.
Good luck with your decision and of course, go around to the Toyota, Acura, and MB dealerships to see which better suits your needs.
Drew
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Did you ask? Sure sounds strange, but it is an Acura delaership...
Ard
You are correct that the 3rd row seats in the MDX each have a tether anchor for child seats. As Drew mentioned, legroom is tight for any adult, but there is room for a childseat on each half. Access to the passenger side of the 3rd row seat should not be a problem. The passenger side of the 2nd row seat slides out of the way, and thus placing a toddler into the childseat should not be a problem. Unfortunately, access to the driver's side of the 3rd row seat is more of a stretch, because only the passenger side of the 2nd row seat moves out of the way.
The ML320 may be a good alternative, as Drew suggests, but since you will have 2 adults in the 2nd row, I'm not sure if you will want to slide the 2nd row seat forward to provide room for any passengers in the 3rd row seat. And with the MDX, it sure is nice to have the 3rd row seats fold easily into the cargo floor instead of having them take up cargo space or having to remove them from the vehicle.
If you only need to put one child in the 3rd row seat, then the MDX should work out nicely. You can keep the driver's side of the 3rd row seat folded down, to provide yourself with more cargo space, while maintaining reasonable access to the passenger half of the 3rd row seat.
But don't take our words for it! I'm a fan of the MDX, and Drew is president of the North Amercian Mercedes Benz M-Class fan club! Well, not really..., but close! ;-) Visit both dealers and experiment with the 3rd row seats for yourself.
I do think that the MDX (and the Sequoia, for that matter) is a great vehicle, but in order for me to be a fan, I would have to see things such as stability control, rear side impact airbags, and (at least optional) Xenon HID headlamps. These are the 3 main things that I would like to see. Oh yeah, some sort of traction management system for the front wheels wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Thanks for all the comments.. Got an appointment tonight for a test drive. The dealer told me that I will have to place an order soon in order to get the June or July Delivery. I think I might as well go for the Sequoia. Coming from a conservative background, MLs are nice, but I can't picture my wife and I driving a Mercedes in our late 20's.
Best of luck,
Drew
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Access to the child in the back will still be somewhat tight (and not as convenient as the M-class as Drew has, as is predictable, mentioned). However, the 40% portion of the second row can be slid forward slightly to provide more room for the third row child, if necesssary, and there should still be more than enough legroom for the second row child.
In the meantime, the two adults, depending on their dimensions, should be comfortable on the 60% portion, with absolutely no compromise in legroom (as in the M-class). The MDX is wider than the M-class (which is both good and bad depending on the perspective), so there's more seating abreast in the second row.
You can keep the other 50% portion of the third-row seat folded down, and the resulting cargo space will be more than what you can have with the M-class (there is slightly more room behind the third-row seats with the MDX than in the M-class, and more room behind the second-row seat when the MDX's third-row is folded down, and the M-class's third-row seats are not installed).
Similarly, with the M-class, you may find it more somewhat more comfortable to use both third-row seats for a child (on long trips, the narrower vehicle may make two adults sitting abreast with a potentially bulky child seat less comfortable). If you do so, that would leave you with very little cargo room.
However, if you find you want more room, easier access, and cargo room to boot, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the Sequoia. Your wife may also find that it's "lighter" than it may look when driving, though make no mistake, it's still a big SUV.
Since you mentioned that price was a consideration as well, if the MDX doesn't work out for you, you may do better to buy the Sequoia than buying an M-class, since they'll be about the same price, plus the Seq will give you more room than either the M-class or MDX, and the Seq's initial reliability (and the MDX's, despite epoe's disaster) should be as good if not better than the M-class's current-model-year reliability level.
You should be able to buy an M-class and Seq fairly readily, while the MDX may take a few months to deliver depending on where you live.
Good luck!
Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if he made sure to wear his extra-thickly padded corduroy suit, and eat five Krispy Kreme's (or a box of Tim-Bits, since that's Canadian) before trying it out for size.
I'd like xenons in the MDX as well, though if it were available, I'd prefer them as a simple $500 option like on the RX300, unlike the prohibitive $3,000 prerequisite you have to pay for the M-class's sport package (so you can remove your embarassing ML320 label and try to convince people you bought an ML55AMG), BEFORE paying for the (excellent in the MB) Xenons (this may be fixed for 2002, so that the sport package isn't required for the proper mountings, hopefully). At least the MDX comes with street-legal driving lamps (you have to purchase them with the M-class, or activate the illegal-in-the-U.S. foglights).
On another note, while you know that I would prefer that the MDX had stability control, it's funny that the current owners who have been driving the MDX in severe conditions haven't complained about problems for the lack thereof.
Remembering the extended discussions and proselytizing before the MDX launch (everyone's ESP light comes on several times a day, it must be a great thing!), you'd think everyone would have slid into the ditch by now, or couldn't make a 30mph turn in rain without bumping the curb, or drive in anything but sunny weather ;-)
Welp, gotta go. Gonna run out and pick up dinner, but I have to chain up the MDX because it's got no stability control, and the roads are damp from an earlier shower ...
When our lowly Integra had a problem, our dealership gave us a loaner with no hesitation. I can't believe they're not forthcoming with a loaner. Even if they can't give you an MDX, they should at least offer something.
Did you call up Acura customer service?
MY1998 ML320 owners never complained about the lack of ESP either ;-)
The (street legal, from the ML55) Xenon HID headlamp kit is now available for the M-class for about $1200. No need to purchase the Sport Package any longer.
I thought the MDX comes with foglamps, which are meant to supplement the low beams?
Drew
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Putting it into perspective, driving a 5,000 pound-plus, full-sized Sequoia is probably about as non-20'ish as driving an MB!
Yes, you're right, those are foglamps included with the MDX, not driving lights. I get confused between those and what the dealership put on my Integra when we bought it. They called 'em foglamps, I could swear they were driving lights.
We tried TimBits only one time, on a trip to Toronto/Montreal several years ago. Made the LONG (and boring!) drive back from Montreal to Toronto more pleasant. My great fear is that they are talking about opening up Krispy Kreme outlets here, and there goes the diet, as well as the relatively clean interior of the MDX.
I would have thought with your stodgy ML320 you'd have a corduroy suit to go on your 20-something frame :-)
Couple of minor things. If I had to do the 4 adults + 2 kids config, I'd consider a 4WD minivan. An SUV, even an MDX/Sequia/LC is a compromise compared to a minivan because it's harder to get to the 3rd row of an SUV than a minivan. I have a friend who faced the same decision; they ended up getting an Odyssey (much to the chagrin of his wife who reallllly wanted a Land Cruiser even though she's about 5'1"). A minivan can't be beat as a people mover :-)
If I had to do that in an ML, I'd leave one of the 3rd row seats out if the kids couldn't buckle in by themselves; the other would be in the middle of the 2nd row. If they can, others on the M-Class list have said their kids like crawling in the back because they get their own "play area", but then I'd have to get a rocket box up top for cargo. Regardless though, both configs are a pain. The M-Class is probably safer than most minivans, but that's the only positive tradeoff for all the negatives.
The M-Class fog lights are not illegal in all states; e.g., they're legal in MA and other states.
As for non-ESP spinouts, there is only one unsubstantiated one (i.e., not by an MDX owner in this forum or AcuraMDX.org that posts a lot) I know of and that was observed by a non-MDX owner. However, it sounded valid because the poster was an Audiworld regular. The situation was a bit abnormal though, unless you like playing boy racer against Quattros in your spare time :-)
The reason why MB requires the sport pkg is that they only bundle factory Xenon headlamps with headlamp washers (same with all other MB vehicles in the lineup). Obviously the non-sport package MLs don't have the front bumper integrated washers, hence the reason why they're not available with the xenons. With the facelifted bumpers for MY2002, it is very likely that they will be available for the same $800 (sans Sport pkg) that they are now.
You eat in your car!!? ;-) ;-) Maybe that's was part of the reason why the ML didn't meet the final cut.
That would be er...too stodgy. Remember that I was occasionally driving a previous generation MB 300TE 4-matic wagon a few years back. Talk about being stodgy! ;-) It was actually a pretty good vehicle. Room for 7 (jump seats in the cargo area for smaller adults/kids), smooth inline-6, and just about the most sophisticated full-time - not permanent - AWD systems out there at the time.
Drew
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My point was more towards the owners who have reported from Minnesota to upstate New York, etc. and how there doesn't seem to be an issue. Though again, I'd like to see Acura add VSA (if it's even possible with the current deseign).
Yes, you're right about the M-class foglights not being illegal in all states. Though MB should just put regular lower foglights on them, since a lot of SUV's (and even non-SUV's) now seem to come with foglights.
You're also right about the minivan for that many people. My issue with minivans is that there isn't a 4WD one that, to me, is very palatable. Hopefully the new Chrysler minivans will prove reliable, but you always have to wonder about them (and the previous generations had more problems in their extended, AWD configurations, even though everyone's individual mileage will vary here).
I do like their power rear liftgate, though I did read those comments about how they safety system isn't as good for hands caught toward the upper sides, and especially up top. That's definitely a feature, minivan-ish or not, I'd love to see in future SUV's. The MDX's isn't the easiest to close, what with its design and all the air it's pushing against.
The Odyssey's design and Honda's aspirations to make a version of the MDX means we won't see an AWD Odyssey, and I doubt if Toyota is interested in making an AWD Sienna, especially as it tries to push the Highlander and Sequoia (not to mention the RAV4, 4Runner, and RX300!). Maybe MB's model will be a winner.
Nah, we don't eat in the MDX. I was only speculating that Krispy Kremes might sorely tempt breakage of that rule (not waiting until we got home).
Yes, this is truthfully why we ruled out the ML320. We had been told that 1) it would void the warranty; 2) FSS would schedule a service every five doughnuts; and 3) twelve free-floating particles of powdered sugar is all it takes to cause a major problem in the M-class (however, this still is a major improvement over pre-99.875 models, when it only took three grains to render the vehicle inert). Just kidding ;-)
I didn't dispute your point. I did mention that the only instance I know of where it may have been useful was "abnormal". :-)
I don't get why Honda/Toyota don't come out w/ a 4WD minivan to compete w/ the american ones. BTW, I sat in the Sienna's predecessor (name escapes me)...it was gross...didn't feel like a Toyota at all. From the ratings on the Odyssey, it doesn't sound like reliability is something that goes w/ "minivan"...
The reason Honda/Toyota don't come out with an AWD minivan is the same reason a lot of other manufacturers don't -- they're making too much money selling higher-profit margin (relative to minivans) SUV's, especially luxury SUV's (let's face it ... the "average buyer" is more interested in a "luxury SUV" than a "luxury minivan" ... heck, it even feels funny when I type the last thing in).
So I doubt if we'll see a Lexus or Acura minivan (AWD or not!) anytime soon, though it does sound like we'll see an MB minivan. Doesn't that sound strange, though? I think it'll take a leap for American consumers to accept the concept, though if anyone can pull it off, MB, with its emphasis on safety features and sophisticated engineering, can definitely do it.
The currently-ranked "average" reliability rating of the Odyssey is certainly a disappointment to those who have high expectations of Honda, but I'd still bet even that model may, in the long run, turn out better the Chrysler ones. Though the previous Chrysler generation did garner an "average" in last April's Consumer Reports rating.
But then one can bring up the Sienna, which has above-average reliability, though as you alluded to, not the higher rating one would expect of Toyota. I like the Sienna a lot, as I do the Odyssey. I like the former's Toyota-typical smoother and quieter ride and safety features like VSC, and I like the Odyssey's power, value, and greater utility and cargo room.
(Toyota's last minivan was the Previa ... certainly a "unique" vehicle, eh? Then again, the previous "Honda" Odyssey was also, ahem, "unique.")
When you say that the MDX's tailgate is not easy to close, do you mean that the struts holding the gate up are stiff? I don't seem to recall this. My van's tailgate is definitely more difficult to close than the ML's (which I can do with one hand on the inside handle w/o touching the outside of the tailgate and dirtying my hand) and requires a push on the outside to slam it shut.
I don't think any adult is going to be foolish enough to put a hand in the auto lift/close mechanism. It's high enough that it's very unlikely that a kid can get access to that location. The problem with that mechanism though, is that it requires a fair amount of room in the D pillar. I don't see this being too much of a problem for the ML (since they're supposed to house the power pop-out window motors and the seatbelt retractors/pretensioners) , but the MDX has fairly narrow D-pillars in comparison. It's a nice gadget, but because of the ease of closing the ML's tailgate, I don't think I would opt for it. BTW, the S and CL class already have a power trunk lid as an option (albeit a pricey one). Very nifty!
Drew
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By the way, I'm still laughing about that one comment you made to Ken regarding Chrysler and reliability. That's a good one!
Thanks for your comments and suggestions. We test drove last night and my wife loved it. I guess now we are going with the MDX instead of Sequoia. I liked Wmquan's suggestion on seating allocations when we have 4 adults and 2 childern on a long trip. Most of the time, it will just be 2 adults and 2 kids, so MDX offers plenty of room for us.
Just a quick observation, when we met the sales person at the dealer, he offered $300 off of MSRP because I contacted him via internet. I didn't even mentioned that, so I am just curious whether the sales has slowed a bit for the MDX. Is the MSRP still the norm?? We live in Minnesota and the dealers that I contacted are taking orders for July.. I also contacted dealers in Iowa and Wisconsin and they have GC or SS available in March?? Wonder if the dealers are playing with our minds!! Also, the same dealer also offers accessories at their cost instead of retail.. What would be their cost?? I don't see these items listed in Edmunds. Can anyone help me out??