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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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Comments
INKY
INKY
My first car, a 1990 Eclipse, one could order tan or gray interior with one of about seven paint colors. Its not that tough, guys.
Now about that sunroof...
then waiting for a 2002 becomes even more intelligent. These would be made in same factory so why would the MDX need premium to make 240 hp if Honda has tweeked the engine to get 240 on regular. I smell something here. Acura will wait till last moment to say 2002 increase only 1 % and by the way, regular gas will now work! I wonder if besides the colors NVH issues are being worked.
Just in case I have a 2002 on order (DEC delivery) with another dealer (since I bought there before no deposit required for MSRP).
My double deposit is result of Acura marketing and inability to meet demand thus calling for MSRP which makes 2002 smarter now if no concessions on 2001 prices. I know I am not the first to double order because dealers call people every day with magic availability. Any thoughts?
INKY
I have heard no hint of the change you mentioned here or on acuramdx.org.
AFAIK, only new colors will be in the MY2002 model. The Odyssey was
redesigned for MY2002. I'd guess the MDX will get some of the changes
in MY2003...
Jamie S.
Ever gotten an explantion as to the inability to choose either interior color regardless of exterior paint? I can't think of any poor matches.
Don't suppose they've reworked the power seat for additional headroom?
Question: I know the MDX requires premium gas. Most gas stations offer three octane levels. The regular is 87 octane. Generally they will offer an 89 octane level and a 91 octane level. Each level is about a 10 cent per gallon jump in price. Does the MDX require the highest level or will the middle level suffice?
Redrock Pearl
Havasu Blue (a light silvery, blue)
and Taffeta (white)
My local dealership insists they never add 3 new colors at once and that blue will not be offered - despite what corporate is telling me!
If you would to see these colors, they are all on the 2002 Odyssey color palate which are at the dealers now. I have not been able to find an Acura dealership with the revised color palate as yet.
Drew
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Another big step towards Japan taking over the world. If only Toyota/Lexus could manage some kind of 3rd row jump seats it would really be all over for the competition.
The Honda will be new, the Acura will get the standard third-year refresh but with no really significant changes, just more vehicles. If you can wait another year then you might consider doing so.
So, who would drop $40k for a Volkswagen SUV...?
The Red intorduced will indeed be the same as the one on the Honda O., not the Firepepper Red Metallic. For those out there wanting the new "Silver-Blue," unfortunately, it will not be available until Mid-Year in the 2002 run. The Red & White are immediatealy available for allocation.
I don't know of any other changes for 2002, but I should have the complete info. shortly.
The real reason for the lack of mix & matching exterior / interior is quite simple. By keeping variables like colors down, production time is decreased and thus costs are kept down.
Let me know if I can be of help. If I remember correctly you're in Atlanta, right?
Jamie S.
Girlfriend just moved away for graduate school, so what urgency there was is now gone for the next couple years, so I'll not go for much less than perfect at this point (i.e. MDX with more headroom & no tacky dashboard screen, X5 V8 for the price of the I6, VW SUV W12 for $35k, Rendezvous with at least 19th-century engine technology, etc. Which will happen first? Could be long, long wait...)
Trying to extract lessons from my long-past MBA ops class, I cannot understand how a choice of interior colors for all paint colors, especially when its managable for black, is an obstacle to efficiency. Sounds like a spin line from Acura! If nothing else the current interior colors could simply become defaults, with the other color available by customer order or dealer preference. I suspect dealers in the south would prefer more light-colored interiors vs. black? Perhaps the volume increases for MY2003 will cause Acura to adopt a more flexible & customer-friendly attitude. Gotta move the metal.
BTW the latest round of car rags specifically criticizes TL's lack of headroom due to sunroof, another article complained about lack of room in the RL. But I noticed the RSX has a decent amount of headroom... still not enough for me, but certainly an improvement vs. CL. Maybe they're learning after all...
http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories0827/fpasia827.htm
Acura MDX: Acura's sport wagon arrived last fall and has been a hot seller since day one. A more powerful 3.8-liter V-6 will replace the 3.5-liter V-6 for the 2003 model year.
Honda Passport/sport wagon: A sport wagon based off the Acura MDX will bow for the 2003 model year as a replacement for the Isuzu-sourced Passport. But the unnamed vehicle will not be an MDX clone; it will have a longer wheelbase and its own styling.
I purchased a Mahogany Touring model with the NAV system. I drove about 300 miles over the weekend and here are my impressions (BTW, I purchased a 2001 Toyota Sequoia in November, 2000 and some of my comments compare the MDX with the Sequoia):
I was very impressed with the driving comfort and the handling. The MDX is nimble and is fun to drive. It takes corners much better than the larger SUVs.
I was disappointed that the window controls only have "auto" on the driver’s window and it is only "auto" when opening the window, not when closing it. The Sequoia has “auto” on the passenger side as well and one flick up on the button is all you need for the window to close completely.
I was prepared to be disappointed by the stereo based on comments I’ve read on this board, but instead I was positively impressed by the sound and ease of operation.
I love the ability to change the seating to fit whatever I am doing at the moment. The seats are very easily maneuvered. I have four young kids and use my vehicle for both toting lots of people and/or stuff, but I also commute to work with it. It serves both functions well (except you can not carry both lots of people and lots of stuff at the same time, but that's what my Sequoia is for).
The gas mileage is fairly impressive (I got over 20 miles to the gallon compared to 16 in my Sequoia), but the 91-octane requirement eats up any savings.
I liked the way the NAV system works, but I am not impressed with the database of information. On two occasions when trying to find a restaurant it directed me to the wrong place. I'm hoping that subsequent DVD's provided updates to correct this information and map out additional locations. Does anyone know anything about this? The NAV operation manual seemed to indicate that updates are expected in the fall of each year.
One other thing I like better about my Sequoia than my MDX is the solid "thud" sound you hear and feel when shutting the doors. The MDX doors make a tinnier sound when you close them.
That's it for now, but I'm sure I'll have more comments later.
Enjoy the miles,
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories0813/changeovers813.htm
New 2002 Mdx colours
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2774&perpage=15&pagenumber=4
Bruce H
Looks like my MDX will be one of the last 2001's built. I may have reservations is the price does not go up much. What would be the point? I know the dealer would never make a price concession-but he now has another unsold 2001 as people are saying wait till 2002. I sense a slight (very slight) softening in the economy. Will not change sales prices but they now may be calling 2-3 folks on the list to make a sale as folks pass.
INKY
INKY
I hope your contact is right! I will buy a MDX if the modification works. Thank you.
INKY
2002's available with three new colors: redrock pearl, a white, and a silvery blue. The blue isn't available until the Spring.
Now we were in deep trouble. To that point, we have been exploring the back roads of Cape Cod, and we had no paper map and no idea where we were! After about fifteen minutes of driving, many random turns and few more attempts to bootup the Nav, we came upon a small town and a Gas station. I went in and got a map and directions to get back to the main road, came back to the car and turned the key on and the Nav was up again! No problems with it after that. Anybody had similar experiences?
Detroit is smacking the PANTS off of Japan, with the Ford Explorer selling zillions of units to fleets, and still selling decently to customers.
Keep in mind, I'm not a fan of the Explorer - but it makes Ford BALES of cash - 40% profit margin, to be exact. That's the reason Ford doesn't build an Explorer to really compete with the rest. They figure they'd rather make a high profit margin on the fleets, and keep the dwindling number of individuals, rather than cut into their profits.
I wonder what the profit margin is on the small number of MDX's that Acura pumps out.
As an interesting side, have a look at the IIHS crash test of the Ford F150 and a Tundra. Scary that Ford still continues to build "killer" vehicles.
http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2001/pr060401.htm
Now, Toyota has the Tundra & Sequoia which are selling at 100,000/yr & 60,000/yr. That's 160,000 units that the Big Three (or should I say Big Two) won't be getting. The redesigned Honda Odyssey & new MDX are selling at sticker with a three month wait list. Honda will have an additional capacity of 120,000 units when the new factory in Alabama comes on line. Nissan is going to introduce a new full size truck and SUV in the near future.
The Japanese are just now entering the full size market and they are appealing to those who would have previously been forced to buy a US vehicle. The Big Three with their whopping 63% US market share are not going anywhere soon. The Japanese brands who were virtually non-existant twenty five years ago now have a strong 24% share. The Japanese, European and Korean brands are storming the US market and stealing market share from the US brands.
You mentioned the one problem I have been having on my new MDX (1400 miles now). The gas door doesn't spring open. Sometimes it moves just enough so I can get it with the tips of my fingers. Other time I shut it and re-open it until I can grab it. It is annoying. Will have the dealer look at it next week.
Any comments?
INKY
INKY
> the Totyota Highlander higher then the MDX or
> the LEXUS RX300. I was surprised by this.
> Any comments?
The Highlander is a good vehicle, period (well, as long as you get the VSC option, IMHO). CR says it "slightly" outpointed its Lexus cousin, which is probably a bigger concern than the MDX since the MDX is differentiated somewhat by its small third row.
The Highlander outscored the MDX in its transmission, access, controls, and predicted reliability. The tranny is that smooth Toyota transmission that has worked well in a number of their vehicles. Predicted reliability is typically Toyota. The access score is primarily because the Highlander comes without a center console, which is good or bad depending on your needs.
The ratings don't include the MDX's strengths in acceleration, and of course its third row. Highlander's payload capacity (passengers plus cargo) was noted as being relatively skimpy at just 925 pounds.
Likewise, CR doesn't raise the rating of the RX for it having a clearly more luxurious interior than the Highlander. Up to you to balance what it means, though make no mistake, the Highlander did very well.
What surprised me was the "below average" score the Highlander got in the emergency handling test. The MDX (without stability control, a significant omission) had a similar score. However, the Highlander they tested was the V6 with VSC, and that makes me wonder how a non-VSC Highlander would have performed. The older RX without VSC and a slightly softer suspension scored "below average", and firming up the suspension slightly and adding VSC brought it up to the current "average." The Toyota Land Cruiser had scored "well below average" without VSC, "below average" with VSC.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the non-VSC equipped Highlander would score a "well below average," but I think 1) Consumer Reports should now test the 4-cylinder Highlander; and 2) Highlander buyers should make sure to get the VSC version.
The acceleration of all the other vehicles tested in CR's July and October issues is considerably less than that of the MDX (8 seconds to 60 MPH for the MDX vs. 9.2 seconds for the Highlander, etc.)--certainly this should be considered an important component in any emergency situation. Also, front seat comfort in the MDX is rated higher than that of the Highlander.
One feature that really does separate the luxury SUVs from the pretenders is whether they have a DVD navigation system (standard or optional). The MDX does, the Highlander does not. I use my nav system practically every day and wouldn't be without it!
Transpower
14000 miles, no problems, but still waiting for the Quaife
The Highlander beat the MDX in controls, access, transmission, and predicted reliability. Access primarily because the Highlander has that minivan-like lack of a center console (a cheap one can be added for $200). I agree that the control layout is slightly better (the usual complaints about things like the Odyssey-inherited climate controls, argh). The transmission is Toyota's first class unit you find in other vehicles. I agree with the predicted reliability.
Stability control helped the Land Cruiser's and RX300's emergency handling (each of those went up a notch in the score when stability control was added). So I don't think it made the Highlander do worse. It could be that the Highlander design is even worse without it (which is why I don't think one should buy it without VSC).
I do not believe that the CR rating factors in the fact that the MDX has a small third row seat, or the differences in the various acceleration times (0-60, 45-65, etc.).
Buick RDV: 3998
M-B M-Class: 3497
Acura MDX: 3206
INKY
This time next year should be really, really scary for Detroit. Why can't the home team compete?
For GM, it's because of the bean counters. They had a chance to hit a grand slam with the RDV but they condemned it to use much of the same guts as AzzWreck/Montana mini-van, including the anemic and old pushrod 3.4L V6 at only 185hp. That ain't gonna cut it with all the competition out there. They were too cheap to invest in any serious R & D for this puppy. That's the thing with the domestics, short term results, no long term vision.
Plus GM won't allow the other divisions to use the best technology for the markets they are trying to hit. Why no automatic climate control? Instead they give the RDV that jury rigged dual climate thing.
We now return you to your regulary scheduled MDX discussion.