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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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Accepting slimy, underhanded, and downright insulting behavior on the part of these "people" should not be taken lying down. The only way it gets corrected is to give it attention (bad publicity is great motivator). If what happened to Spomba, had happened to me, you can bet your @$$ that I'd have every avenue at my disposal open on them and good. It's time we stopped accepting "status quo" and held the "sales & service" business to the standard for which we pay (dearly) for, not only with Acura, but all "services" (restaurants, grocery stores, dry cleaners, etc.).
Ah, that feels better. Sorry for the vent, but all this nonsense surrrounding the MDX is really irritating.
I think the the MDX is a fine vehicle choice for what it does, but like many others here my personal experiences with Acura dealerships has been less than stellar. There are many good Acura dealers out there, but until the majority of them raise the level of customer experience to a consistent basis, Acura will be known as nothing more than a high priced Honda dealership.
Enjoy the miles.
Honda dealers also slapped huge markups on the Odyssey and S2000.
There is also an enlightening article on Edmunds about being in the shoes of a car salesman (one of their writers got an undercover job for a while). If you read between the lines, you'll find out that the sleazy dealerships he spoke of are Honda dealers...
Confessions of a Car Salesman
Confessions of a Car Salesman Chat, Dec 5, 2000 Transcript
Steve
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Any chance you could ask him if you can contact him? :-)
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
To compare this experience with Lexus, we recently bought a 2001 Lexus ES300 for $1,500 below invoice since the model is being redesigned for 2002. Our experience was fabulous. We were treated professionally, like luxury car buyers should. They had a comfortable show room with a customer waiting area. The Acura dealership had no waiting area. In fact, we were sharing an office with other customers. Acura has a long way to go before they will measure up with Lexus.
On another note, we were concerned about the third seat of the MDX in a crash. When the seat is reclined, it is extremely close to the back window of the car. We wouldn't want our young children riding back there.
Thanks again.
Many thanks to those who are willing to share their buying/service experiences in an effort to help future buyers. Be sure to continue to list the GOOD dealers as well as ones where you had unpleasant experiences. I not only need to know which dealers ought to be bypassed but am even more eager to know which ones you praise.
The MDX is selling at market value, not MSRP. Those dealers selling at sticker have long waiting lists.
I don't disagree with the posters here who are upset at MDX pricing, but remember you are now competing with others who are willing to pay extra and accept more options in return for getting the car today.
My only real objection to the pricing is the attitude some salespeople and managers have toward the consumers who are unprepared for the popularity of this vehicle and its subsequent costs.
There is never any excuse for poor manners, especially a luxury brand such as this one. I wonder if the same customer was asking for an RL how they would be treated.
What else did you consider? Chiefly to be used for carpooling 5 kids (and me) - thus the need for at least 6. Especially interested in limiting the "scramble" factor - i.e. someone (or more) needing to scramble into a rear seat, climbing over others. Unavoidable or no?
Welcome your thoughts
So. Florida Acura - (three miles from my home) short test drive, but friendly salesman. Informed me that delivery is eight weeks @ MSRP, no add ons, but will be hard to find a Mahogany w/ Navi, only. It will require a $1,000 refundable deposit. Only the Biege demo on the lot.
Rick Case Acura - (twenty five miles) Dealer claims largest volume Acura in USA. Near closing on Sunday. Had to wait 15 mins for a salesguy, but business manager answered my two main questions regarding deposit and delivery waits ($500 and six weeks). Salesman wants to talk while I drive ..... I kindly decline and inquire about availability of Mahogany w/ Navi, only. He states "could probably cut time in half by adding the Touring package." Navi-Only's are few and far between and Case Acura doesn't add any unwanted extra's or premium to the MSRP."
Five MDX's on the lot as I looked around, Black, GG, Mahogany. Dark Emerald and Beige
That was impressive and only a 5 bills deposit. I'll be visiting other So FLA dealers over the next week. Will post after each visit
Get your LX for $27,000 add sunroof and leather (EX) for just under 30K.
Will be available late November in limited quantities.
The Honda version will be very similiar to the MDX (same V6 engine) minus the creature comforts. Have heard rumors of a possibility of a few inches in added length, similiar to what Toyota did w/ the Highlander/RX300 setup, but that is highly doubtful unless the MDX gets it too. I suspect the pricing will be slightly more than the current Passport to create room for the CRV and the new Model X SUV coming out as a 2003.5 model.
Although, I can get the 23mpg hwy if I drive 60 mph so I don't think I was really lied to.
Steve
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There was information in the detailing forum.
The MDX averaged 20MPG for the whole trip. At one point we were descending down to Baker, CA on I15, the average MPG reading was 23 so it was getting higher than 23 at the moment. When traveling faster than 70MPH, the mileage dropped to about 21.
It's no secrect that CA has the highest gasoline prices ($2.09 to $2.29, 92 octane) but the Denver metro area was not far behind ($1.79 to $1.99, 91 octane). New Mexico has the lowest prices ($1.56 to $1.69, but only 90 octane).
Upon returning, MDX was in for the 7500 mile service. The local Acura dealer changed the VTM-4 fluid, the engine oil (2nd time), rotated the tires (5 tire rotation with a full size spare). They also fixed the rattle sound in the sunroof, replaced the passenger side headlight with water seal leak and the steero face plate with non-functional buttons 4 and 5 under the warranty.
- Didn't like the vinyl seats in a $40k car.
- Didn't like the fake wood in a $40k car.
- No lift-up glass hatch in back.
- Didn't like the touch-screen climate controls.
- Stuck-up dealers.
- Too many dealer installed options.
- Long waiting lists.
- Limited color options.
Granted, the Chevy isn't an Acura, and the MDX did drive better than the TB, but they are pretty close in features and cost. The TB doesn't have the rear seat but that was just a bonus of the MDX anyway. The GMC Envoy and Olds Bravada are the other twins of the TB and are better equipped than the TB but the Envoy has the fake wood and Olds is going bye bye.
Got a lot of good info from this forum though.
-- thx
I've only come back to recommend that you wait for Honda's incarnation of the MDX. It will more likely represent what the vehicle best characterizes: a versatile people and cargo mover at 26K-29K. At that price you can dump your weekend Home Depot projects in the back and not worry about catching the synthetic-looking leather.
I wonder if Acura will produce an MDX Type-S?
Those waiting lists are there for a reason. The market is speaking.
My wife and I have owned 6 American cars and 6 from Japanese makers. Guess which 6 were the stinkers. It takes me a while to learn, I guess.
My experiences with the Acura dealer (1999 TL and the MDX) have been good.
Prestige Acura (Santa Rosa)
Steve Hopkins (South Bay)
MSRP no forced options last I heard.
Pleasanton forces options, as does Serramonte, but at least you get something. I wouldn't recommend Mike Harvey, Marin, Oakland or Concord for a variety of reasons.
You might also consider an out-of-Bay Area or out-of-state purchase.
Check out the Dealer Ratings, "Your Experience", and SF Bay Area forums at www.acuramdx.org for reviews and info.
Good luck
I don't even know if it's possible, but since I live in Michigan, it may be worth a weekend drive to save a few thousand dollars and a few months wait. You might even score some points with the exchange rate...
Anyone have any ideas how I might begin investigating this option?
The Canadian warranty indeed cannot be used in the US. Canadian MDXs and Odysseys sold in the US have a 3rd party warranty. If you're willing to cross the border to get your servicing done in Canada, you can save quite a bundle, especially considering the exchange rate.
Good luck,
Drew
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WHo has gotten one at MSRP? and less than two month? MAybe the 2002's will be out, and will give more of them to offer?
Keep following the boards here, there's plenty of advice but also you'll know when-and if-availability loosens up.
Forget about the thing until new factory is underway next year. Then these things will be relatively available. Current owners, enjoy.
Try some of the alternatives. I saw a touring with 10k for sale by owner at $34,900. Tempting but that is still a lot for a used car.
INKY
Wifey will be primary driver. alternatives I threw at her? Her response was they did not offer a better value. either they are too cramped inside, too manly looking, or they drove too sluggish. She says that the acura is the one because it has all of what she wants, and the fact that it offers a lot for what it costs.
The x5 was her first pick. It is the worst in terms of carrying anything.
I have called the dealers and they say that they have the ones that are loaded. Navigation system is useless to us. Of course, any luxury dealer in metro area marks up. So we will go out..far out to find them.
Since we only have one child (for now), and plan on two at most, we bought an RX300. We test drove the MDX, but it was too much like the '99 TL we traded in - too loud, too plasticy inside.
Our other car? A '96 Honda Accord (4 cyl).
-Craig
Rx300 was the dead last choice for us. We hated the look of it from the get go. Yes, the acura looks similar, but somehow it has a more muscular appearance to it. All of the Japanese autos are too plasticy inside to me.
Have you thought about a minivan instead? With 3 kids, it's the more practical thing to do since 3 kids usually have other stuff that comes with them (gear and friends)...
We hated the ML on a purely looks basis. I wanted to love the MDX (even had a deposit on one for 4 months), but then drove it, and to me and my wife, the interior felt cheap. The X5 can't even hold a watermellon. I didn't consider the RX300 till my wife told me she wanted to drive it. She loved it, and to us, the interior (with the Nav) is much more luxurious than an MDX, ML, or X5. The non-Nav RX has a dopey looking screen.
My personal choice was the Sequoia. After driving it, I wanted to buy it. But it was too big for my wife to drive.
I didn't even consider anything American.
-Craig
Wife wants a small hauler. She is taking a step down from getting out of her bimmer in favor of a better value, to buy, not lease, again. AS I said, the X5 was her choice, but it serves absolutely NO purpose other than to say "Jones'es, look at me now!"
The ML is like a ford explored in los angeles.
If I was getting another SUV, the sequoia would be the pick, hands down.
Buyers pay full price, wait months for delivery
Steve
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To be honest, the Sequoia fit into our garage (we tested it), but the MDX couldn't. Reason? While the Sequoia is marginally wider than an MDX, the mirrors on the Sequoia Limited we were looking at had power folding side mirrors. This reduced the width to about 4 inches NARROWER than an MDX. That was the difference between fitting and not fitting.
Our '01 RX300 fits without a problem.
To each his/her own I suppose..
-Craig