Acura MDX (pre-2007)

kenyee · September 2001

It always puzzles me why company cars are inevitably GM/Ford products...even rental fleets. Only thing I can think of is that the carmaker cut a deal to get them to use their products whereas foreign makers don't need to...

drew_ · September 2001

Yes, that's called a fleet deal. It's also how manufacturers try to boost their end of year numbers to "beat" another competitor in sales so that they can use it in advertising (i.e. America's most popular ).

Drew
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wmquan · September 2001

We interrupt your normally scheduled ML vs. MDX posturing to bring you some actual MDX news ;-)

Minor press release on the 2002 MDX. Basically just says that the 2002 will have some (expected) noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) measures in it.

Press release on www.hondanews.com (couldn't put the link up here because of an apparent issue with the WebX software).

johnnnyc · September 2001

when you call a press conference for NVH improvements

No Xenons or VSA I take it - I'm perplexed at that. Why are they not throwing in the Xenons, other than to give people an incentive to buy the 2003 or 2004 models? Not exactly a huge feat of engineering to integrate the same headlamps they use in their other vehicles.

johnnnyc · September 2001

I beg to differ - I don't think they're done to make companies look slick in light of the # of vehicles sold.

Simple economics - they build as many vehicles as possible, as cheaply as possible, and the cost per vehicle drops for every other one produced. Then, they can afford to sell them off to fleet buyers at discount prices.

Actually - very good business. Ford makes almost 40% on an Explorer - one HELL of a profit margin. If only they just came right out and said they'd stop selling it to the end users, and stuck solely to fleets/rental units. They'd probably do a lot better in the long run, as that's who they're catering to anyway.

wmquan · September 2001

"Whew! Those engineers at Acura must be hard at work ... when you call a press conference for NVH improvements

"

Huh? What are you talking about? What press conference?

kenyee · September 2001

Well...at least you don't have to pine for an upgrade if you bought a MY2001 with all the minor changes ;-)

wmquan · September 2001

The changes are minor and subtle, but I think they'll address some of the more common annoyances that some 2001 owners have complained about. Reduction of windnoise and cabin noise addresses a fairly broad complaint (though it probably accounts for a 26-29 lb weight increase).

Supposedly there is a better (real) dead pedal, another complaint I've heard from many. Also the rear wiper is intermittent, which some people have also wanted.

The side mirrors have been redesigned. That will supposedly resolve the weeping mirrors problem that is probably one of the two most common complaints (along with the infamous thud, which supposedly was fixed during the 2001 model year and a TSB released).

There's also a few new colors for those who have pined for them, including white (blech; not attractive on a big SUV, especially when it gets dirty, IMHO).

So, all-in-all, minor changes, though they do address some small annoyances. Over time some other minor changes will also be reported.

tleung · September 2001

I'm approaching 11,000 miles on my Touring MDX w/Nav that we bought in March. Has anyone looked into or purchased the 10yr/100,000 mile no deductible extended warranty for $2000.00? After 12,000 miles, each 1000 miles over 12,000 miles costs a $100.00 extra.

kenyee · September 2001

Like curtain bags?
I forget, does the MDX have rear side bags?

wmquan · September 2001

Nope, the only "new" safety feature is the great IIHS crash test score ;-)

wmquan · September 2001

Acuracare extended warranties are negotiable. E.g. if you call other dealerships (even ones out of state) you may get different quotes. I've seen widely varying discounts. I think I've seen the above one go for about $1,200 to $1,400.

johnnnyc · September 2001

'press conference' should've read 'press release'.

Too many windows open at once doesn't only affect the computer's memory performance

wmquan · September 2001

Thanks, I figured it was press release. Nah, the press release wasn't for NVH stuff. It was just one of a series of press releases Acura, like many other manufacturers, introduce for the start of a new model year. One overall press release for the year, then one for each model, with "model xyz continues to ..." and then a few blurbs about what might be different in the vehicle. Normal marketing stuff, ho-hum.

robertsmx · September 2001

Then, they can afford to sell them off to fleet buyers at discount prices.
Actually - very good business.

Believe me, Ford execs will disagree with you on that, otherwise they would not 'hope' to reduce fleet sales on Taurus. It was in one of their press releases that they wanted to cut down fleet sales on some Ford vehicles. It hurts profitability = bad economics.

johnnnyc · September 2001

yes, they did want to cut down fleet sales.

But more to cut back on production, so they could close a few of their more costly (read: domestic) plants.

Fleet sales are the only thing keeping the Big 3 alive these days - you think if you subtracted fleet sales from the equation, the Ford Explorer would be as popular as it is? They dump them new to the fleets, then move them used in 3 years or so off to individual owners.

The incredible volume of their mass production lowers the cost of the vehicle to the point where their invoice prices are pretty ludicrous (don't know if this still applies, but as of 1998, Ford made 40% profit on every Explorer it sold - making me think the invoice price isn't even close to what it should be).

I don't think that Ford is backassed - their constant part cost-cutting isn't an attempt to win individual owners over, either. It's not like they're passing the savings on to the consumer. They are outright courting the fleet owners alone.

jetsetleung · September 2001

Thanks for your help. I saved myself $350.00 by calling another dealer.

spfotey · September 2001

Does that warranty cover most items -- except for the obvious wear items such as brakes, tires, etc???

It sounds like a pretty good insurance policy, tho i suppose one could argue that most honda/acura vehicles don't require much maintenance in the first 100k.

wmquan · September 2001

I had an Acuracare extended warranty for our previous Integra and even got to use it (had a problem with the HVAC system at about 65k; quite an expensive repair had it not been for the warranty; it basically paid for itself with that single problem). It covers pretty much everything except for the wear-and-tear items you noted.

I'll probably get one for peace of mind. As it is, the 2001 MDX isn't and won't be as bulletproof as smaller, less complex Accords. The 2002 MDX should show significant improvement, though. But it still is a pretty complex and new vehicle.

radbcc · September 2001

Ballpark numbers -- what are the lease numbers for an MDX touring w/ nav?? ballpark numbers thanks in advance.

rxy178 · September 2001

Both the intermittent rear wiper addition and improved noise vibration harshness are needed improvements. For those of us who purchased an MDX already, any thoughts if we'd be able to get those changes installed on the 2001 model?

wmquan · September 2001

I'm afraid it's not likely that most of the improvements can be retrofitted to the 2001 model. The NVH improvements involve putting in a thicker windshield and more sound insulation in the vehicle. Apparently the A-pillar has been redesigned to hold the new windshield so it won't mount to a 2001 MDX. Adding sound insulation under the headliner and inside the body of the vehicle can't be done very easily.

I don't know enough about the diffuser mirrors and their housings to know if they can simply replace the existing mirrors. That may be a possibility.

There has been some hopeful discussion on acuramdx.org about whether the intermittent rear wiper can be retrofitted. According to one poster, the stalk may not need to change and perhaps it's just a motor assembly replacement.

As time goes on we'll get a better idea.

grasso · October 2001

My wife and I joined the MDX waiting list back in March. Just got word to expect our MDX with Touring package within the Month (October). Anyone interested in taking our spot for this MDX, please post a message. We live in the New England area.

raybear · October 2001

If you don't want the car just tell your dealer. I'm sure they'll find someone who will take it.

dianebaker · October 2001

We've had our MDX for about 2 months, and we love it. (Dark Emerald with Touring Pkg and Navi).

No problems so far except for the weeping mirrors and this annoying issue that we just noticed: the driver's side seat belt appears to be hitting the driver's side door pillar when the driver removes the belt to get out of the car. This would be OK, except that it's causing obvious marks and nicks in the plastic of the door pillar that are not improved by using ArmorAll or similar products. It looks bad for such a new car.

We tried adjusting the height of the seat belt, but it's still making dings in the door pillar.

Does anyone else have this problem? Did Acura just use cheap plastic on the door pillar or do we have a unique quality issue on our car?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

wmquan · October 2001

Unfortunately the "nickable door pillars" is another #$!*(@ "feature" of the MDX. Not sure if the 2002's address this.

It's a common problem, and most folks just make sure they just don't let the seat buckle whip back to the retracted position, letting it go back gently instead.

Supposedly a fix for the weeping mirrors is on the way, but there is no current ETA.

Glad that you're otherwise enjoying your MDX!

tso2001 · October 2001

the new 2002 Odyssey van is getting the 3.5l engine with 240hp running on REGULAR unleaded gas, but 2002 MDX still uses super unleaded. Same engine size, same HP, different gas. whatsup with that? Can someone shed some lights on this?

kenyee · October 2001

Does the Odyssey weigh less or more?

drew_ · October 2001

The Odyssey has a slightly different engine management computer hardware or software which allows it to run on regular fuel. Not sure why Honda didn't carry this over to the MDX which still requires 91 octane fuel.

Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

mrdeeeno · October 2001

the mdx makes more torque at a lower rpm (245 lbft @ 3000-5000 rpm) than the odysee (peak 242lbft @ 4500rpm).

that's probalby where it makes the octane requirement different. they probably thought the sacrifice of low-end torque over lower octane requirement would appeal more to minivan buyers, and vice-versa for an suv buyer.

lwixted · October 2001

After being on a list since April '01 and still no MDX, I was thrilled that a wholesaler was able to find an MDX with only 22 miles on it at an auction in NV. I jumped at the deal. Well, now the bad news, it is what Acura calls a grey market car. It was bought from a Canadian dealer by an american dealer, then sold to my wholesaler. What this means unfortunately, is that their policy is that the warranty is only good in Canada and not in the US.

Fearful of course of major problems,I'm looking for real experience - is the MDX as reliable as one would expect from a Honda product? How long have you had your MDX and what kinds of real issues? Second, is there anyone that has some names, connections, vehicles for communicating with someone high enough in the Acura organization that could/would make a decision to honor the warranty in the US?

Any help/advice/contacts here would be greatly appreciated.

Excited, but scared in CO--

jamiestockman · October 2001

From experience, I'd have to say that the best way for you to move forward would be to purchase an extended warranty that actually closely mirrors the factory warranty to give you some piece of mind. Owners have done this greatly in the past with so called "gray market" Oddesseys. Many dealers have been shipping these Honda models in from Canada where they are more easily found, titling them as used and selling them here.

Jamie S.

lwixted · October 2001

Do you know of any reputable extended warranty companies that would offer a comparable warranty to the original? Or any that I should stay away from?

thanks.

tso2001 · October 2001

For those who were wondering about the crash test, here's from AutoWeek "...according to results of 40-mph frontal offset crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, MDX outperformed seven similar vehicles to earn the insurance industry lobbying group's "best pick" designation."

02mdx · October 2001

The new and longer Honda SUV/MDX was shown to dealers at a recent Honda dealer conference. Unfortunately, there were no pictures posted, but it appears the Honda version will be 8 inches longer and will hold up to eight passengers. The extra 8" will probably result in a longer wheelbase, considering the Odyssey's wheelbase is 10" longer than the MDX, thus allowing more leg room and possibly the extra person for the "magic seat". The extra length will increase the storage room behind the third row seat and add protection for the third row occupants in the event of a rear end accident.

There was also speculation of a new 3.8L engine for the '03 MDX, but this is highly unlikely. An upgraded higher HP version of the current 3.5L engine may be a possibility.

gerry14 · October 2001

I thought I read a couple of months back that the Honda was going to be built on the same platform, but would look more like a station wagon--so it would not be in direct competition with the MDX. Was that just "sales talk" to discourage buyers from waiting?

GP

houtexan · October 2001

I my wife drives a MDX. My sister has a RX300 and my wifes sister drives a ML430. They are all nice. I paid less for my base MDX than the RX300. And while the ML430 with the V8 is strong, it's also steap.

Bought my MDX in Jan and have only 7500 miles on it. It's been relatively free of problems. I had some noise in the moonroof but it was fixed.

And thanks for the links to the crash tests. I was hoping I got a safe vehicle for my wife.

The power delivery is very good. And if you step on it hard, it will really move. It handles better than the Camry LEV6 I drive to work. But then the Camry is no sports car.

The third roll seats are actually useful and I do use it, sometimes. My nephew is about 5'9" and 150lbs and he fits in the third roll just fine. In fact, he really like it back there (by himself). So you can actually think of the MDX as a 6 full size passenger vehicle in 2 3 1 arrangement.

Mileage is decent about 23mpg on the highway but only 16 in the city.

Bottomline, no compliants, not even for the MSRP less some free gifts (mug guards, wheel locks, cargo net, MDX model) and $200 for "future oil changes" I got from the dealer. So in a way, I paid less then MSRP so I'm happy.

02mdx · October 2001

All indicators point to an MDX-like vehicle with less content. Similar to the Civic/RSX & Accord/TL setup. My guess is that the price will start around 25K and go into the low-30's for an EX version, staying close in price to it's predecessor the (Isuzu) Passport.

The station wagon SUV that you heard of might be the Model-X SUV which will debut in 2003.5. The Model-X is a CRV sized SUV that is very boxy/retro. It's popular in Japan among the younger generations, but I'm not sure it will be so successful in the States.

mb0526 · October 2001

Hello,

I have an opportunity to purchase a new 2001 MDX now. The biggest question I have is whether I should wait for the 2002 version that is suppose to fix a number of issues people have had with the 2001's. My dealer is telling me I would have to wait until next year to get a 2002 also. What would you do in my position? Are the 2001 issues that significant? My current truck is a '97 Toyota 4Runner. Thanks for any input you can give me.

Michael

d2000one1 · October 2001

http://www.auto.com/industry/iwirh10_20011010.htm

mb0526 · October 2001

Hello,

I have an opportunity to purchase a new 2001 MDX now. The biggest question I have is whether I should wait for the 2002 version that is suppose to fix a number of issues people have had with the 2001's. My dealer is telling me I would have to wait until next year to get a 2002 also. What would you do in my position? Are the 2001 issues that significant? My current truck is a '97 Toyota 4Runner. Thanks for any input you can give me.

Michael

bud789 · October 2001

The 2002 will have numerious improvements so that it is quieter inside. The present model sounds like an economy Honda rather than the luxury SUV that Acura claims it to be. Now if they could just do something about the interior looks.

jester3303 · October 2001

Any thoughts on when this Honda version will be out? I've heard that it will be a 2003 model coming out sometime in 2002, any idea when in 2002 (if that is still the target date.)? Is the Alabama plant up and running yet? Thanks

mdx4fun · October 2001

Will look at MDX tonite. Dealer had 10 in stock and all are touring model with Navigation. Is the touring model worth the extra money?

jmul · October 2001

After having my MDX for about 6 weeks, I started to notice a stumbling or slight jerkiness when starting out after it had sat long enough to be cold. It is not severe, but very annoying. The dealer is puzzled and says it may be normal. They think it has something to do with the torque converter when it is cold. Has anybody had a similar experience and found a solution?
Jmul

a2esq · October 2001

The 2001/2002 dilemma has been discussed quite a bit on www.acuramdx.org. Opinion seems to be that if you can wait a few more months and have no immediate need/strong desire for the car, then do so. Improvements will not be overwhelming but might be worth it if you plan to keep the car for many years. I had the choice of taking my 2001 after a 4 mo. wait or waiting another 2 months and getting a 2002. I chose the 2001 and have not regretted it at all. Primary reasons for waiting would be quieter interior, more colors or resale value. I wasn't so concerned about resale, still wanted the same color and not too concerned about the 2001 noise level. Good luck.

rtr1 · October 2001

I have had problems with my tires planing in rain--is this normal. I do not recall having these problems with my RX300. Is anyone else having such problems? Are there any other tires than the Michelin Cross Terrain which you could recommend? Would wider tread tires help?

eman5 · October 2001

Do the MDXs have skid plates? Will the 2002s have xenon HID headlights?

cheeks · October 2001

Can anyone give me some idea what I should expect to pay without the navigation? Additionally, what is the length of time I should expect to wait for an 02?

tgif888 · October 2001

Sales said it will be 2-3% over from the 2001 model. Everyone is paying MSRP right now. You are lucky to find dealer that doesn't froce you to buy any accessories. In S. Cal, dealer usually add some accessories. Lo-jack, running board, paint and fabric protection package, etc, etc.

Good Luck.

Acura MDX (pre-2007)

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