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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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Comments
Given that it is just "market prices at work" and nobody should be angry...
What happens if Sunnyvale informs you that your vehicle will not be in for 6 more months? They are terribly sorry, but the VIN they gave you was a mistake. (Meanwhile they sell it to someone else for 2k over msrp.)
Why should you be angry? Just market forces at work.
Ebay:
After a quick review I couldn't see any POSITIVE feedback on any MDX sales. There were a few negatives (-1). I believe folks get an email account, set up an ebay name, and yank the chains of some (if not all) sellers.
Seems very iffy to buy a slot which is subject to the dealership's whim... Interesting to see if any bids actually do close for dollars. (William, I agree few folks would admit to actually paying those prices. You would, though, think that a closed deal would result in positive feedback...)
Ard
kinmanc, At Sunnyvale, you're guaranteed MSRP if you bought from them before. I got it at MSRP because I ordered early(July) and made a strong plead to them being dishonest charging markup without telling me.
http://members.aol.com/sccacuda/cars/5SmthTa.html
Ard, totally agree with you; if the transaction actually happened, you'd think there'd be positive feedback in some cases (from my wife's experiences on eBay, it's 50-50 or something close). I was just too lazy to look them up myself ;-)
Wasn't really looking to buy, but test drove one
last night and was really impressed with looks,
build, handling, cargo space, etc.
My Acura dealership (Nashville, TN) is tacking on a mandatory $1297 "added value package" that consists of paint sealant, wheel locks, floor mats
and rear mud guards, so base model is $36,147 plus
tax, title and license. About $38K all told. Is
that an OK price?
$50 wax
$30 wheel locks
$50 rear flaps
$120 rubber floor mats (NOTE: Carpeted mats are free)
So, they are getting about $950 extra. (Unless they are "selling" you the standard mats...)
Here is the trick. Find another dealer, anywhere, who will sell at MSRP. Go back to your local guy, tell them that you'd like to work locally, but for $950 it isn't worth it. They'll need to come in at $xxx to earn your business.
If they agree, great. If they don't agree, you decide how much your time is worth. You can always call back and pay their price...
Worth a try, no?
Ard
PS Remember folks, call the PARTS counter to get pricing on the accessories that DON'T require an installation: Mats, cargo-net,tray,cover, separation net. Why pay the sales-department-price-including-installation for an accessory that you install and take out many times over the life of the car?
I've been reading the posts daily and I plan on posting more myself in the weeks to come to try and relate my experiences with my new car.
As far as the dealer goes, I'll hold off my final opinion on them until I take delivery, but so far they've been just fine.(MSRP no unwanted accessories).
What a pain in the [non-permissible content removed]...
A lot of stretching and it fits very tight in some places and a little wrinkly..
But for the price and the comparative costs of the clear, .. well, i'll leave that to you...
I would proceed as Ard suggested, but if you are not successful in getting your local dealer to lower the price anywhere near $900, then you might also try to see if he might consider throwing in any other accessories into that $1297 package. For example, I purchased our MDX from a dealer who was not willing to lower the price, but she did give me a free cargo cover.
I'm not suggesting that having a couple extra "freebies" is as good of a solution as getting your local dealer to drop his inflated price. I'm just saying that it may be an idea for you to consider if you decide you really want to buy locally, and your local dealer won't budge on the price.
They list a plethora of vehicles and their "ratings" at:
http://www.statefarm.com/media/release/discount.htm
It has two interesting lists; their overall list, and a summary of the top finishers when it comes to combined injury claims and vehicle damage claims. The only SUV's I noticed were some variants of Suburbans and a Yukon. Most of Volvo's line, the MB E-class, lots of vans, etc.
Comments? I thought it interesting, the basis on actual paid medical costs and how that might correlate to safety as actually experienced. However, I also see a lot of holes in that methodology. Plus I trust insurance companies less than I trust election commissions.
Also, the "top vehicles" list isn't a true safety list since it weighs vehicle repair costs equally.
Like most insurance methodologies, vehicles with generally younger demographics usually come out poorer when analyzing costs, on the basic theory that there's more aggressive and higher risk driving than with vehicles with older and/or more conservative demographics.
And I'm in Silcon Valley, so another house is the price of 10 MDXs.... Anyway, it's a nice car, and the wideness puts more metal between the people and the rest of the world - which increases safety. Now I gotta toss out those shelves on the side of my garage - I guess I should call customer care? Anyway, the wife likes it, and it's a nice SUV - amazing how nice it smells - even the exhaust smells good!
You are probably right. So far, I have only seen a black MDX at Orchard Supply, and my wife saw one on Oregon Expressway. But I am sure there's going to be more as people start getting theirs MDXs. At the place I work, there are 4 or 5 X5's, a dozen M class, and maybe a dozen RX300's. I'll probably be the first to get a MDX (I hope).
ardvarkus:
If that happens, I'll be upset, maybe for a couple of days. But I think there's a difference between a dealer that lies, cheats, and reneges on promises to one that says "Look, here's what going to cost you. Take it or leave it".
I have lived in Bay area for more than 10 years, and have come to like it for its mild weather, diverse culture (read: good Chinese food
If I don't get my MDX this year, I am seriously considering getting a MY2002 model instead. Hopefully, Acura would fix most of the bugs (though there have been very few so far) with the 2nd year model, add more colors (both exterior and interior), and add more options (such as HID or stability control).
I was jus wondering if any of you know what goes into the installation of some accessories. I ordered quite a few accessories, but there are 3 that don't seem to add up to me.
Cargo Cover
Cargo Net
Wheel Locks
My dealer is saying that it will take them about 1.3 hours to install these. Do the net hooks come standard on all MDXs? What about the cargo cover installation? What is involved in it? And the wheel locks? Why should they take 15 minutes for the dealer to install? Can I install them myself?
Also, I got the cargo cover, when it's off you really can't store it easily in the MDX - so even if it fits in your garage -you need to allocate space to put things like the cargo cover. Still, I like it better than any other SUV in it's class.
nyckid, the cargo cover is very easy to install yourself. You just take a screwdriver and pop off two little plastic covers in the sides of the cargo area. You then snap the cargo cover housing into the uncovered slots. Easy, huh?
The cargo net is similarly easy; it just snaps onto hooks already in the cargo area, either flat on the floor, or in vertical position.
Both items come with instructions. I don't know about the wheel locks.
Check Hondacuraworld; they have low prices and people here who have ordered from them have found them very responsive and responsible. They sell the cargo cover for $104, and the cargo net for $37.70, wheel locks for $32.50, and shipping is free.
locks: take one lug nut off and put the wheel lock (aka special head lug nut) on and torque to 80-ft lbs. 1 wheel-lock-lug-nut on each wheel.
cargo cover: pop out the plastic cap in the back of the car w/ a standard screwdriver and simply put the cargo cover in the exposed hole (the cover compresses slightly on a spring to allow installation).
cargo net: i dont have this, but i think it just clips with hooks to various locations..
personally, i don't care for the look of the visor on the roofline. but i believe they're functionally valuable.
Thanks
One more question - what type of DVD player is it? Can it be used for anything else other than Nav system? Just curious.
There must be a legal issue forbidding them to do so.
I have the visor installed on my MDX. The one I test drove didn't have one, but I did flip the moon roof up while doing about 50 mph, then slid it to its full open position to check for noise and buffeting. As near as I can recall, the moonroof visor on my MDX helps reduce the wind noise some (not a lot), but it significantly reduces the buffeting of the air that enters the vehicle.
Height: Perhaps my MDX is "vertically challenged," but my measurements show the following: Floor to the top of the front rack: 71 inches. Floor to the top of the rear rack: 72 inches. Floor to the top of the antenna: 74 inches. And yes, I have the recommended 42 psi of pressure in the Michelins.
Width: With the mirrors extended: 86 inches. With the mirrors folded: 77 inches. Interestingly enough, the driver's mirror appears to protrude one inch further than the passenger side mirror. Go figure!
DVD/Nav System: It's illegal in most (if not all) states to have the capability of viewing a movie that can be seen by the driver while the car is in motion.
Much better than the original deal I had at a larger dealer. I was on the wait list for March, at MSRP, plus prices quoted for above options at about MSRP (around 10% premium). Nice experience, friendly, but definitely no haggle factoring there.
There might be something hiding here I don't know, but I think everything is OK. Just something others may want to try.
I had a chance to drive it in a 10" snow storm and it is rock solid and inspires confidence. Don't think you need winters (at least for the Michelins). I stopped purposely on my very steep driveway and it pulls out extremely well. The only thing I noticed is that with the power on it will tend to plow forward until the rear end kicks in and then it acts more like a rear wheel drive vehicle. Takes a little getting use to but its not a problem. If you let the power off it comes right around. I love these vehicles, in fact I just took delivery on my second today.