15,000-Mile Update - 2014 Acura MDX AWD Long-Term Road Test
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15,000-Mile Update - 2014 Acura MDX AWD Long-Term Road Test
Since our long-term 2014 Acura MDX joined our fleet in late September we've driven this crossover 15,000 miles.
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This is how I expect all new modern cars to be - reliable and trouble free.
The German brands are frequently criticized for needing more and more expensive maintenance...but for the most part, they all include free maintenance for varying periods...so by the time this vehicle has 30,000 miles on it, the owner would have spent probably almost a thousand bucks on scheduled maintenance, while a BMW or a VW would have cost very little or nothing at all.
Money is money, right? And if you enter the post-warranty period already that much in the hole, you're behind, right?
"Free" maintenance simply means the cost is built into the price of the car. For a reliable car, it's not worth it. But for a car that is primarily leased, it behooves the manufacturer to make sure the car is maintained well.
BTW, for my 2008 Acura RDX, in 30k miles, I did about 4 oil changes & tire rotations at a cost of about $300 (dealer prices). No other service was indicated by the on-board monitor.
Acuras usually only require oil /filter changes, one transmission fluid change (no filter change is ever needed) and air filters for the first 100,000 miles. SH-AWD also requires diff fluid changes every 15,000 miles. BMW changed their maintenance schedule when they introduced "free maintenance". Loyal BMW owners will tell you that all of a sudden the same coolant that had to changed at 30,000 mile was some how now able to go to 60,000 miles. And 5,000 mile oil changes went to 15,000 miles. Either BMW is saving themselves money at the expense of durability (seriously doubt this is the case) or they've been ripping off customers for unneeded maintenance for years. VW's free maintenance ends at 30,000 miles. 10,000 miles short of the 300.00 DCT fluid change that requires special tools and the transmission has to be calibrated after the fluid change. My Acura's transmission fluid change was 99.00. Simply drain (no flushing or filter change) and refill using only a socket wrench and a funnel. Other than oil changes every 10,000 miles and air filters once a year I've changed the transmission fluid twice, coolant once, and spark plugs once and I'm at 125,000 miles.
Some good points for an against 'included maintenance'. I have had 5 Hondas/Acuras since 2001, and did all my own basic service, so that kept costs low. We've had 3 VWs/1 Audi since 2006 and all except one had included Carefree Maintenance. I will say it is a nice benefit (especially on the A4 with the 3.2L - had a 8 quart oil capacity - expensive when talking 5W40 full synthetic) All in all - there has been very little difference in the problems per vehicle with either the Honda vehicles or the VAG Group - not nearly the delta of reliablility people perceive. The worst of the bunch - by far - was my 2002 Acura TL-S...I think almost all modern vehicles are decent and any car is like years ahead of even 20-25 years ago in real world problems. It stills comes down to the net/net price to own the vehicle and the 'extra value' you personal get out of your ride.
So no fix for whirring noise? MDX forums are full of owners being told by Acura that whistling and whirring noises are normal despite not being there when purchased. Edmunds reported whirring on two occasions just in this long term test. I'm curious why this has not been addressed?