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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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2 (first digit) represents the country where the vehicle is assembled (in this case, Canada. 1 represents USA and J would represent Japan).
H (second 'digit') indicates company. In this case, Honda.
Last five-six digits look like serial number for a given model year.
Well, Consumer Reports has it WRONG. Ground clearance is 8 inches. And there is no "adjustment". It just sits there with 8 inches of ground clearance.
If you want an X5, buy one, but don't use bad information to justify it.
Regards, Greyskr
Headline: Alliston plant too busy to fulfill Honda's needs for full production of new Pilot SUV
".........demand for the Odyssey is so strong that, at least through early 2003, Honda plans to supplement Alabama's 150,000-vehicle annual capacity with the Alliston, Ont., factory. The Pilot goes into production in Alliston in spring 2002, and will compete................
Ultimately, Honda might devote the Alliston plant to MDX and Pilot production, allowing higher output of both models."
If the Pilot proves to be another good seller, then it gets even worse for the MDX supply as you have 3 hot vehicles coming out of one plant until maybe 2003. At that time you'll still have the same MDX situation because any Odyssey production gets shifted to the Pilot. Moral: Acura dealers continue in their arrogant ways and continue to get MSRP+. I say to h_ _ _ with them. This news is enough to get me off the fence into another vehicle. There are other good vehicles out there, and there will continue to be more coming out in this segment.
Oh well, another lost customer for Acura (and their arrogant local dealers) since they can't get their act together. "Maybe" see them in 6-8 years after I am done driving the Infiniti QX4...
And with the upcoming SUVs from VW and Volvo, the competition is sure to heat up. Of course, these SUVs will have their first year bugs like most vehicles but, it still makes more options for the consumer.
I have also been to a dealer that has apologized for not having any in stock, mentioned the wait and said that they are asking for MSRP w/o markup. After seeing a $10k markup (yep, you read that right) on a Mercury Mountaineer, I am not sure asking for MSRP makes a dealer a jerk. Rather, it is what the market bares now.
The best way to evaluate this is look at the "competitors" in the $35k range. IMO, here they are:
Envoy:cheap-interior, little cargo room behind the 3rd seat;
Eddie Bauer or Limited Explorer and Mountaineer(yes, they are in the 35k range once they are equipped with base MDX features)-look at Ford threads to see the headaches $30-40k will buy you. Further, you get crappy gas mileage even on the 6 cyl.
X5--no matter what ty39 thinks $45k will get you more MDX than X5 and I think if you are in the position to opt for the MDX/nav, price may be less of an object.
M-class-reliability??!!!
Infinity-no 3rd seat.
Tahoe-Oddly enough, I have been impressed with the Tahoe (decent mileage for an 8cyl and decent fit and finish). 3rd seat, though, does not lay flat and dealers are not discounting them enough to make me forgo buying the MDX.
The base MDX at MSRP is the top of my price range and I can't find a comparable vehicle. So looking at "market" variables, $35k is not such a huge problem IMO. I just plan to sit tight, see what's up with the volvo ($35k) and other competitors in the next year. Whether the $35k represents the full MSRP or $5k below MSRP makes no difference to me as long as I felt I would get my money's worth.
The local Acura rep was very nice to us. We test-drove the MDX twice. We liked it both times. And that was it. We test-drove the X5 more times than I can remember. We loved it more each time.
The Acura sales rep was very nice to us. She made it clear early that the sale price would be MSRP.
The BMW sales rep was extremely nice. Always willing to negotiate the price. We did not pay MSRP. :-)
The X5 is not perfect. Nor is what we need. But our hearts race with it.
In the end what makes you happy is what matters. Everything else is just irrelevant.
Good luck everyone.
PS: We ordered a black sapphire metallic with tan (sand) leather X5 3.0. It looks awesome.
In the end what makes you happy is what matters. Everything else is just irrelevant."
This is the most relevant statement made on this or any other board.....In other words "whatever floats your boat"....
Good luck with the BMW.
My point about the 'markup' is that when I bought a
Ford Explorer, I've never worried about the dealer having to make a 'living' and bought the vehicle for $500 or $1000 over invoice and they have been in busines for over 30 years! After reading the comments in this MDX 'forum'...everyone seems to be delighted to pay the full NSRP, PLUS... and then wait two months to receive it...with all this in mind, I gave up and placed my order for a new MDX and join the rest of you! Gosh, aren't we lucky!!
Acura's Holdback is 3% (started in October)
2HNYD18282H502153
2-Canada
HN-Honda Motor Cars North America
YD18282- MDX Base Model , color also (silver I believe)
H- 2002 Model Year
Digits 12-17: Serial / Tracking #
(I'm going from memory, but I believe that's about it.)
Those who have experienced dealer problems...
Show your concerns with you wallets. In the market we live in you can purchase anywhere in the Country if you want to. Purchase you Acura's from people that you truly look forward to doing business with. Something to ask about might be whether or not your dealer is a Precision Team Winner. If you're wondering about your salesperson, ask whether they are a COSE (Council of Sales Excellence) member. If so they'll have special business cards from Acura. These are very difficult levels of volume and client satisfaction to achieve and less than 10% of dealers and salespersons will earn them.
Once you've purchased you Acura, remember you can always speak through your Manufacturers survey. They are more important to your dealers than you might imagine.
Jamie S.
This may have to do with some kind of excellence program by AHMC.
Maybe the dealer's could hold a lottery to take $2,180.00 of MSRP. Plus they get their 3% holdback and a couple grand profit!!!!
Most accessories can be self-installed. "Installing" items like the cargo cover is a piece of cake. The mudguards are fairly easy, though you may need an L-screwdriver or remove the rear tires. The running boards or sidesteps are also installable, just lots of bolts, and it goes faster if you have a power tool and/or raise the vehicle.
The price difference may be big. The wood trim meter kit is $99, the running boards $433 and the splash guards $48, just as an example. My dealership wanted about twice as much for the running boards, installed.
I'd leave the tow package and the wood steering wheel to the dealer, though. However, if they're gouging on the part, buy the part elsewhere and then just ask the service department to charge straight labor.
I'm telling my girlfriend to look at the Sequoia. She's like you, doesn't want to pay the sticker price and hates waiting to buy a car.
As you can imagine, heavily discounted MDX's probably won't happen anytime soon. Production of the 2002 should run through August or September and most dealers have deposits on orders running through May at this point. It's a safe assumption that Acura will sell out the model year once again.
In reading the recent posts on here it seems many people have serious issues with their local dealers. Not only does hurt the image of what truly is a great product, but it causes potential owners to settle for their second choice. It is interesting that the complaints people write about vary slightly by region of the Country. Large urban areas usually see over MSRP pricing concerns. Smaller population areas usually produce complaints about wait times, option pricing, and an inability to find a dealer that is pleasant to work with because there simply isn't any competition.
The complaint I hear most by clients who "shop around" is that they place an order with a dealer and then the order time gets stretched. With most stores being sold out, the way some try to remain competitive is to lure clients with "shorter" wait times. Of course as your production month nears, there is the inevitable phone call telling you that "factory vacation closing" or "low allocation" or "slow shipping due to the winter months." You'd be amazed. Potential owners should be cautious of this. Most decent volume dealers (50-60 sales per month)only receive 10-12 MDX's per month to sell to their clients with orders. With 5-6 salespeople at your average store, there really aren't many to go around. You can see how the truth about order times might get stretched to win a client. Don't let it happen to you.
Jamie S.
From 12/1 to 12/15 6,800 ODyssey were made (500 in new Alabama plant) this will increase quickly.
Will MDX go higher in Canada as this happens???
Odyssey Year 01: 146k
MDX Year 01: 43K
Alambama Plant and Honda plans will play here. If Canadian MDX plant goes higher when Alabama goes higher with Odyssey then when does New Honda Pilot go on line: April to June is what I hear.
I predict following for 2002
180,000 Odyssey produced
60,000 Pilots produced
50,000 MDX produced
INKY
Designed and built by Honda, the Pilot SUV aims to redefine the segment by
offering a highly versatile interior with up to eight-passenger seating capacity in
combination with class-leading performance, functionality and features - including
the largest passenger and cargo hauling capacity in its class. In keeping with
Honda's commitment to safety and the environment, the Pilot will boast a full
compliment of leading safety and low emissions vehicle (LEV) performance
OK, I concede. The MDX will remain low volume.
Pilot will be shown in January autoshows. 8 pass and slightly deturned 3.5 l engine but rumors abound on being longer than MDX.
see http://www.vtec.net/news/ for drawings and details.
INKY
Not only that, but the competition is heating up. If Lexus drops its 7-passenger, nextgen RX300 anytime soon, the Volvo SUV (probably pricey, though), the upcoming VW SUV (when? when? it's taking forever it seems). Couple that with an economy in recession.
That all said, the window for discounts on the MDX is shrinking. I had thought that it'd last about 18 months but if the remainder of the 2002 model year sells out it won't happen. Then you have the rumors that the 2003 MDX will be "significantly" upgraded and that'll cause another spike.
Yep, bad Acura dealerships are besmirching the reputations of good Acura dealerships. Unfortunately, Acura corporate has been unable/unwilling to do anything about it. Right now Seattle-area dealerships are all getting above MSRP. Had that been the case when I purchased (at MSRP), I'd be in an ML320 right now.
But it's more than just the MSRP pricing. It's the cheesey sales tactics that we've read about all too often, here and on other MDX systems. Selling out ordered MDX's from under customers on wait list because someone offered to pay more. Lying about delivery dates and delays. The all-too-frequently-heard rude reluctance to let a customer test drive the vehicle before placing a deposit.
My dealership isn't perfect but they're decent enough. Then you have honest consultants like Roger Womack and Jamie. But this has been going on for FAR too long now and it'll hurt Acura for quite some time. It seems like they really don't care about being a true luxury brand, that they're almost ceding an almost-luxury perception.
One would hope that the new Honda Pilot might be an MDX-without-the-bad-Acura-dealership-attitude. But Honda/Acura are all the same entity, and there are plenty of Odyssey owners who can attest to paying above MSRP, waiting months and months. So if one is really interested in a Honda Pilot at a good discount and a short or no wait, it probably won't happen in the first model year.
I was reading the past few posts, and it is what has been keeping me from a decision...cars are always getting better, as soon as I get my MDX, there will be a better, safer, cheaper one. Oh well.
Jamie S.
BTW it's not about price, but quality...my 99 Trooper rocks, and I love it. But I want to upgrade on safety with the family Hauler, so I got rid of my nissan altima and am adding the MDX to the lineup.
It can't be for the complete model year 2001 but I would guess it's based on the first 6-9 months of the MDX. The numbers can of course shift as more results pour in.
The overall MDX score is "above average" (CR uses well below average, below average, average, above average, and well above average scores -- in his case, the half-filled red dot). It scored well above average in most individual categories, but only above average in areas such as body integrity and hardware (my hunch is that this is where The Thud and the weeping mirrors come in).
The difference was apparent for the large city I live in. It has been a fast growing city and many road/buildings/etc. weren't on the old version but are on the new one.
We have only I child not driving now and wanted to to go smaller in size. I have NEVER before paid MSRP, but that is old news now. I have a few complaints;
1... The headlights have no auto-sensor for daylight to dark turn on/off.
2... The door locks do not lock when moving forward or when moving the shifter into drive.
3... There seems to be a little more ambient noise filtering into the cab than I expected.
I a reply to one of the above questions about low beams being a little low when decending down a hill (YES) I have noticed that also. BUT, I have noticed how horizontal and stright the beams are when driving on flat surface(VERY NICE FEATURE)..
Before I bought the MDX I read and compared vehicles for about 2 months. I really COMPARED I lot of vehicles/features and price! My Wife drives this beast just as she had the Navigator and Jeeps before that.
I had some options put on, Running boards, front lower trim, Gold package, trailer package, rear splash guards and opted for a longer 6 year bumper/bumper warranty. Total cost $41,181.00
The reason for having the Acura dealer do the options are, I WILL BE BACK IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS!
The salepersons were okay, we happened to get a younger and hungry representive.
The service department SUCKS! Just plain and simple. I asked the service manager why the MDX had to have a power steering cooler added for a towing package. He stated because of the extra weight (GEE WHIZ) I didn't think of that! The reason Acura states, increase in engine compartment heat. I told Acura engineers maybe that should be on all MDX's if the specs. are that close. Sorry, for the long post.
Welcome to the boards! We're glad you decided to join in the discussion.
tidester
Host
SUVs
Tony
Is it he MDX base? The sticker for the MDX base is $35,180.00 including Destination fee. If you paid $35,000.00 you got $180.00 off list. The dealer made $3438.00 off the sticker + $1055.00 on his 3% holdback for a total of $4493.00 on your sale alone!!!!!!!
I spoke with 2 other people who purchased and they got the same car at $35,180 - $200 more than I paid.
Every post on here talks about the going price for MDX's - and all regret the current market conditions -as do I - but that is the market.
What a world...
i think the closest way to control it is to set the temperature automatically, then go to the fan settings and change that. the a/c really has nothing to do with it 'cuz it's just pulling the humidity out of the air.
what does it feel like when the thermostats set at 68? that's usually my comfort level.
I am new to this chat room, so I hope I don't offend anyone. I am having a hard time deciding on a SUV for me and my family. I am 6' 6" and have a 38" inseam, which means my legs are very long. I have sat in a number of SUV in the past few months. Many were way too small for comfort (pathfinder, landcruiser, monterros, forerunners, X-5, explorers, etc..) The only three that felt comfortable were the ML320, trailblazers, and the MDX). After looking at the trailblazer chat room, I felt that there were too many complaints on the truck, so I ruled them out. I then looked at the ML320s (used ones 98'-00'), in which I spoke to a respected mechanic in the WASH., DC area who has worked on many ML320s. To make it short, he told me that if I decide to purchase a ML320 for say $30,000, make sure you have an extra $10,000 for repair of the vehicle. He continued to tell me that ML320s do not have the quality like the everyday japanese trucks on the market now (Toyota, nissan, acura, etc.) and they are very expensive to repair, even for the littlest of things. As a result, I ruled that truck out. Now I am turning my interest to the MDX. The other day, I went to an Acura dealer in Maryland to take a test drive ( my first). But, this is like the 5th time I have gone to an Acura dealer in which the dealer has a nonchalant behavior about my interest in the truck. I guess with the backlog, they feel like Dicaprio yelling "I'M KING OF THE WORLD". The dealer states nothing about the truck during the test drive, but states that there is NO DEALS for this truck. He continues to brag that since they have a 3-4 month backlog, if I didn't want it, someone else will purchase it before the day is over. One particular question I asked him was, when honda brings out there truck in 02', how will this affect Acura? His answer was that production for the MDX will remain low so that demand will stay high. He also stated that although Honda is debuting there truck in 02', it is reported that Acura will make significant changes to the MDX in 03'.
All of this "pompador" attitude is making me weary of purchasing the truck now. I hope when Honda and the other auto companies that are bringing out SUV's (Volvo, Toyota, Kia, etc.) that they don't retain this same attitude. I have a feeling that Honda will take this same approach since they will be getting the customers turned off by Acura. I envision large dealer mark-ups for their truck as well. Does anyone else see this as well?