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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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Southern CA is a bit better. Expected wait time is 3 to 4 months for MSRP priced cars. One dealer I work with said that its allocation of MDXs is growing so this should translate into shorter waiting lists.
Beware of dealers saying that they sell the MDX for MSRP. Some say they do but then require you to buy dealer installed options. I had a dealer tell me this a few days ago - he said that the car would be sold for MSRP so I asked if he requires additional options on the car. It was only at this time that he explained that the dealership requires you buy $2,495 in options (priced at full retail per the Acura website!). This may not a big deal to you if you planned to buy such options anyway.
Good luck.
Jon
( http://www.hondacuraworld.com/frame.html ). Select "Service Bulletins" from the bottom menu on most of the main frames, then select "Acura MDX". This site is also a great source for discounted MDX accessories. They also have the PDFs of the factory installation instructions. I bought 3 items from the (cargo cover, cargo net, and side molding) and was surprised that they didn't charge any shipping. Everything worked like a charm.
- Conrad
The Rendezvous is a fine product with lots of luxury and utility. It suffers some in the performance category in comparison to the MDX, but I would bet that many drivers (like my wife) would even push the MDX enough to really notice the difference. Lets give both products their due.
http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=417
I have two german imports however this time I could not resist the below invoice price on a 2002 Mountaineer. Mercury is offering a $2000 rebate and 3.25% lease financing.
36 month lease fully loaded 8 cylinder with tax
$455 per month. I know it is a better quality product however with a 3 year lease I am coverd with the warranty.
Good luck to all.
I could not see paying $650 a month and waiting
for the MDX.
I don't know about you, but $7,000.00 is nothing to sneeze at.
If you own an MDX, enjoy it, it's a nice ride. But if your still looking, you might want to expand your search and at least consider some alternatives.
On NHTSA, if you actually look at the forces on a 3 star vehicle, you see that some are only a fraction up the injury curve (obviously not the best), but not "dangerous", just less safe.
The offset frontal crash may not be the most common type of crash overall, but IIRC it is one of the ones that commonly causes injury. E.g. rear-end collisions, according to NHTSA, do not cause as many severe injuries as expressed in percentage of crashes. Thus NHTSA does not allocate its limited budget into testing rear-end collisions, and instead tests full-front and side-impact collisions.
There is some controversy over full-frontal vs. offset crash testing. In support of offset crash testing, IIHS states that their test is complementary to the full-frontal test, and is a better test of injuries from issues with the vehicle's structure. Whereas, according to IIHS, the full-frontal test aims at testing the vehicle's restraints and does not do a good job of testing the structure. Furthermore, the European Union and Australia perform only offset front crash tests.
Some supporters of the offset also point out that it is easier to achieve a good score in the NHTSA test than it is the IIHS test, thus the IIHS test is a more discerning one. It is true that there are some cases where the IIHS has a higher score whereas NHTSA has a lower score. Though they seem to be much less frequent.
However, NHTSA maintains that the full-front test is more advanced for testing head/chest injuries than offset testing. They think that the offset test better measures foot and leg injuries, which are usually the result of compartment intrusion. Nevertheless, NHTSA is considering performing limited offset testing to "harmonize" with the European Union.
In the real world, one can't adjust their vehicle's position in time to choose between full-front or offset collision, so I think both tests are quite valid.
Nevertheless, I, personally, wouldn't feel comfortable reading a test result of an airbag deploying late. It's quite possible that the airbag deploys fine with a full-frontal collision but not an offset collision.
The main reason I don't excuse the airbag deploying late lies in the fact that the manufacturer can request a re-test under the IIHS process. The manufacturer can even make a design modification to correct the issue.
Ford did this with the new Explorer/Mountaineer; it allegedly performed only "marginal" on the IIHS test (which was not made publicly). Ford requested a retest with a design modification (structural, not with the airbag) made in the middle of the model year (which is public knowledge). Thus the new results are very good indeed. (Unfortunately that means that owners of 2002 Explorers/Mountaineers produced before October 2001 have a vehicle which performed significantly worse, and not at the level currently publicized. That's the problem with not getting it right the first time!)
Furthermore, the aforementioned Jeep Liberty is a perfect example of how relevant the IIHS crash test is. When IIHS first tested it "deployed late because an airbag sensor wire shorted out early in the crash." "This led DaimlerChrysler to develop a fix for this problem by shielding the wiring, and the manufacturer has initiated a recall." IIHS retested it and it did not deploy late.
Thus, it means that IIHS's offset testing helped find a definite safety issue, and DaimlerChrysler felt it was enough of an issue to make a fix and recall the vehicles.
I agree with Twoof1, there are indeed better alternatives to the MDX. I went with the '02 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with High Output engine and just love it. Smooth ride, plenty of power, very comfortable and a lot of fun to drive.
And, I didn't have to deal with the arrogant and greedy Acura dealers. Out the door for under 35k, fully loaded (MSRP 38k). Blows the MDX minivan away in so many ways I cannot count!!
I can't believe someone would place an order for a vehicle that could take up to "8 months" to get, unbelieveable!! By then the 2003's will be out, and if you gotta have an MDX it would be worth waiting for those models as hopefully they will have solved some of the problems.
I could not deal with excessive WIND NOISE, and in a $40k+ vehicle this is truly an embarassing and inexplicable shortcoming for this Acura "luxury SUV"! That should have been priority #1 to fix for 2002 but for Acura (like Ford) "Profit is job 1"!
The other vehicles that met my requirements were also selling for MSRP and difficult to find on dealer lots. In the past I've usually been able to find a car that met my needs close enough on a lot, and made the dealer an offer that they often took. However, this time our needs were very specific, and we didn't have a deadline (since our other cars were working OK). So, we looked and thought about it for 2 years, and although some new models came out (Envoy, Rendevous, etc.), none of them passed all of our tests. As hoolick says, we kept coming back to the MDX, and I think we will be very happy with it for several years.
- Conrad
If you would like a preview of what you should prepare for with your Jeep in the next 2 to 3 years of ownership, see the link below. It is only one among many other similar links on the Edmunds site on the same topic:
cavman2x "Jeep Grand Cherokee problems" Jan 15, 2002 8:09am
While MDX is by no means a perfect SUV (no car or SUV is perfect), it is significantly better (and a better value) than anything else in its class:
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/2001/July/200007_5best_acuramdx.xml?keywords=Acura%20MDX
But don't be upset because you did not get an MDX. Rather, look to the prospect of making new friends at your dealership's service department, as I am sure your Jeep will be spending lots of time there.
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/99009.htm
It was only three star for the NHTSA front test, 4/5 for the side.
This of course is my own criteria in the purchase of a vehicle, and others will have their own criteria.
All issues with the MDX have been minor so far. This is because manufacturers like Honda/Toyota demand much more from their suppliers.
To all the people who have purchased this vehicle I hope it has lived up to your expectations and that you enjoy the vehicle for years to come.
To the people who are still planning to buy, my best wishes and good luck (Amy - a.k.a. leokadia1 included).
As for me, the main reason I finally decided against the MDX is because of the "value" factor. To me this is what separated Acura MDX from the other luxury SUVs like MB, BMW & Lexus. This was Acura's EDGE. Unfortunately, with the going price of MSRP or more Acura's MDX is now on par with the rest of the luxury SUVs in terms of price. Yes, it may still be a little cheaper than a X5 but at that price range, one should just go for the luxury. The perceived "value" is no longer there, at least for me.
- Acura MDX- refresh
- Lexus RX300- redesign
- Honda Pilot- new vehicle
- Volvo XC90- new vehicle
- Volkswagen SUV- new vehicle
When: Saturday Jan 19
Where: Pine Barrens (Lebanon State Forest, NJ)
Meet: Intersection of Rte 70 and 72 near Whiting, NJ
Time: 10:45-11am
Who: AWD/4wd Vehicles (no 2wd please)
What: Off-road Trail Ride through the barrens, will be fun for all, we encourage Subarus, Rav4s, CRVs, Isuzus, Highlanders, 4-runners, Santa Fe, Explorers, etc.
****Details****
Oh, I'm not upset that I didn't buy an MDX, I am in fact GLAD that I didn't. I didn't want a minivan, especially one so far overpriced. Jeep has come a long way in reliability in the past 2 years and newer models have been problem-free. There are very few posts in this message board (and others) that concern problems with 2000-2002 models. FAR less than the MDX problems you'll find. And no, the MDX's problems are not all "minor". Like I mentioned, I counted well over 40 different problems with the MDX, and only a few with the Jeep. The MDX's are being rush-built and they cut a lot of cotners in the build quality of the vehicle. Cheap plastic, lots of rattles, wind noise, leaking mirrors, uncomfortable seats, all that and you get to bend over and pay a stiff premium.
I hear Acura dealers aren't the greatest, but the MDX's problems do seem minor (weeping mirrors) in general (not drivetrain related).
Anyway, the JGC is a great concept and off-road truck on paper, it is good to hear some of the early problems are clearing up.
Chill
I come from a primarily Honda family and I had an almost obsessive desire to stay in the Honda realm. Now that we have the Avalon (and can only rave about this vehicle), I am now seriously considering the Sequoia and the upcoming RX300 over the MDX. To those of you non-MDX owners, I imagine you made the best choice for your needs, may you have many trouble-free miles. To those MDX owners, what a vehicle! We are lucky to have so many choices and information at our fingertips. Meanwhile, I'm still commuting to work in my old Honda Accord.
Spouse still loves the MDX and uses the Nav all the time in her daily travels around town.
It is an innate human need to rationalize that we made a good decision...otherwise we lose confidence in our action and the resultant "buyer's remorse" sets in.
The MDX is an incredible machine...as are most vehicles in this class. What appeals to many people are all the intangibles that come with the brand...whether that brand is BMW,MB, or Buick.
All other comparisons pale against this...you buy it because it meets your needs (as do most relevant cars) and because it says Acura...which is all the reason you need.
Pychobable aside...we just put down a deposit on a premium 02 MDX at $200 below MSRP. Reading these posts make me feel great, I think the Acura at MSRP is fairly priced compared to $4000 off MSRP on an RX300...you net to $35,000 for both vehicles and after that its all in the brand name you prefer.
All that said - MDX's rule and I'll argue that against all comers! (remember I have to say and believe that)
As far as extended warranties...hardly matters on a lease...
As far as greed...I prefer to call it excellant product in tune with market needs combined with the inoxerable laws of supply and demand...
Tell me, did you pay too much or just opt far another car?
Off-road or glorified mini-van? Let me see...
Well, it all depends what you want to do with your vehicle; going down to the mall on a snowy day? Go for the Acura. Traversing the Rubicon? The Jeep will do better.
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3595
Some folks prefer the look of the FormFit front air deflector over the Acura green front air deflector. www.hondacuraworld.com can have their body shop paint some of the accessories, for a fair price -- Marne got his white rear air deflector from Tim at Hondacuraworld, and I bought a silver one. Some folks prefer the stock off-black color, which does match the roof rack color.
I think someone had inquired if the rear mudguards could be color-matched (though I'd imagine then you'd want to do the front, which come with the vehicle). But Tim says that the rear splash guards are made of the softer plastic that will flex and thus not hold a paint job well.
The white looks good on the MDX. Accessories are purely taste, but I think the side moldings look better on white than some of the other colors (then again, I also think Acura should have them all with side moldings, even though they won't stop all dings).
I have seen MDX's doing some decent off-roading in Nantucket. Some area were probably inaccessible to a MDX, but they went more places than X5's, CRV's and similar lesser off-road vehicles. Not a jeep, and not the rubicon, but places that were inaccessible to cars and some other SUV's. I would say the MDX far exceeds what most people want for offroading. However tow hooks, skid plates, 4 low range more wheel travel, solid axle...but then you wouldn't have the family hauler everyone wants.
I've noticed that some MDX has the steps on both sides for one to step on before you get in the car. Other MDXs don't have it? Is this an additional option on the base model compared to the Touring one. Also, if i want it, how much are they? It's not like the MDX is so high that i need the step, but it would be nice to have it. Thanks.
Please note, however, that quite a few MDX owners have opted for the Manik sidesteps, which some think look better and are cheaper (at least before people start discounting the Acura ones). Here are some photos and discussion on them:
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2014
I have also heard of an MDX owner powdercoating their Acura sidesteps, though that is of course more money.
Should i go ahead and have the dealer add the accessories i want when i buy or is it much cheaper to order the accessories from acura/honda parts and do it myself? If the price differential is great, than i'd rather do it myself. Thanks.
Generally it is cheaper to buy the accessories from a discounter than it is to buy from a dealer. Most dealers won't discount parts. And, unfortunately, quite a few dealerships (Acura, Honda, and other brands) may not only charge MSRP, but pad the cost heavily by raising the price for the part and/or charging more for the labor to install than warranted. On a hot-selling vehicle (like the MDX), some dealers are only selling the vehicle bundled with some overpriced options (I've seen some outrageous examples, shame on them).
Thus, it is usually better to not buy them from the dealer unless 1) the dealer is charging a fair price; and 2) if you don't want to install them yourself. Unfortunately, while there are some good Acura dealerships, there are also a lot of bad ones so quite a few folks do buy them from a discounter like www.hondacuraworld.com.
I'd imagine this will also be the same case with the Pilot.
Good luck!
Also, Honda should have survey's on the dealer sales experience on the web so we can express our disappointment. Lexus has excellent service and Acura treats customer as nothings.
A 3.8L V-6 probably 260hp engineer will replace the 3.5L V-6 (240hp) boosting power to differ from the Pilot in 2003.
Is that MDX really worth it??? It has to ride on the styling.
Another feature that would be great is power folding side mirrors. Considering the many complaints that we have seen on this board, I think it would bring many buyers back to the MDX table.
I heard that silver and Granite Green are hard to come by. I just ordered a Silver.
In the 02 MDX manual (from Acura), it mentions tha they are coming out with a new color in the Spring. Maybe then there production will have enough capacity for built even more colors.
I know about the bigger 3.8L engine for sure only.
http://www.motortrend.com/future/2003.html
You can view further to 2004.
Unfortunately, Honda/Acura is even more tight-lipped than the average manufacturer. When the MDX was first introduced they were very stubborn about releasing information. Pricing wasn't known publicly until less than a month before introduction.
The best one can do is to pull the speculation together and figure out what is most likely given market competition, as well as position relative to the Pilot.
There's a long laundry list of fairly major items, so long that I highly doubt that they can ALL be incorporated into the 2003 version (they still have to keep the price down). High on the wish list are usually: stability control, even more power, xenon HID headlamps, side curtain airbags, an upgraded interior, and various convenience options (e.g. DVD entertainment system).
My own guess (and it's just a guess) is that the power upgrade will be there (which I don't feel is as necessary given that the vehicle is already very competitive in the acceleration department), HID headlamps, and some convenience options (probably borrowing from the Pilot's accessory list). Acura marketing might keep saying that the vehicle's wide track and VTM-4 system make stability control "unnecessary."