Acura MDX (pre-2007)

autohaveit · June 2003

Any tips on where the 3M film can be purchased? Sounds like a great suggestion. Thanks!

stever · June 2003

Just in Time for Spring: A See-Through Paint-Protecting Car Bra

A net search should turn up some more links besides StonGard.

Steve, Host

fndlyfmrflyr · June 2003

As our HOST said, I searched on 3M paint protection film and ended up on 3M's web site where I searched for a dealer nearby. There are three places near me.

My old Toyota Van came with a small clear stone guard like film on each side in front of the rear wheel well. They stayed clear, undamaged, and were nearly invisible for 18 years.

autohaveit · June 2003

Unfortunately, the StonGard film comes precut to fit certain body sections (front). I wonder if this type of film can be purchased in a roll, or some other way that will allow it to be cut to fit over the rear tailgate as fndlyfmrflyr mentioned? I didn't see a "dealer search" feature on 3M's site.

autohaveit · June 2003

Another speaker question to run by you, since you've recently gone through this very exercise. I am also a fan of Pioneer speakers for their sound quality for price. You mentioned using 1661s and 1665s. I couldn't find the 1665s on either Crutchfield or Etronics. Do you know if the 1670s replaced them? Also, I'm curious as to why you did not use 1661s all around (front & rear)? Thanks for sharing your insight.

hopeitsfriday · June 2003

I use 1645 in the back and 1661 in the front. The 1645 have been replaced by the 1647. You can buy a set of each for $96 plus S+H at Etronics, a much better price than Crutchfield.
The reason I did not go with 1661 all around is that the 1661 are 3 way speakers and the 1645 are 2 way. The 1661 are also deeper in dimension and there is less room in the back door for the speakers than the front. I am not sure if the 1661 would fit in the back, but if I remember right, the 1645 was a very tight fit already with the rain shield. My guess is that it will not fit without some modification.

stever · June 2003

There's a link in this message that still works:

baker16 "Car front end protective bras" Apr 30, 2001 2:02pm

And there may be some other ideas in that archived discussion. I thought there were some places to buy film "in bulk."

Steve, Host

fndlyfmrflyr · June 2003

Try this:
http://cms.3m.com/cms/US/en/2-168/czrRFFU/view.jhtml
Then click on the second item down on the list.

While the 3M product is also cut for a custom fit I understand they also have rolls that can be cut as needed when a non precision piece is desired.

foxcroft1 · June 2003

Does anyone have trouble receiving AM stations that are not local, strong signal stations? My 2002 MDX has the base radio and I like to listen to stations that are just a bit distant from the local ones. I know you can't expect good performance from stations that are low power or from a long distance. I am just comparing what I get in the MDX with other cars I drive. The other cars may have a problem here and there, but, the MDX is not even on a par with a small AM/FM radio that I carry when walking. The short "rubber" antenna seems to be the problem. If I hold it the volume will increase and the static leaves. Does anyone have problems with their AM?

fndlyfmrflyr · June 2003

No problems with the big power AM station over 100 miles away. However, lower power local station do not come in as well.

rodica · June 2003

Hi, I am new to the board. I found the board a fantastic
informational tool, going beyond the specialists reviews. Here you read what is happening in real life. Congratulations to all.

We have a Rav 4 and a Nissan Pathfinder and as I retired, we would like to go to one SUV.
We are looking and plan to test the MDX, RX 330 .
4Runner and XC90.
We already checked Acura and lexus and if you could make one car out of the 2 it will be close to the ideal.
On a more serious note, the engine and the transmission on the MDX seemed nicer than the lexus. The MDX had 229 miles on board and the RX330, 81 miles .
The seating and the softeness of the leather seem superior on the RX 330.

Question
I am 6'3" and size 12 for shoes. I had a very hard time in the MDX to locate my left foot and to have my full sole supported.
Anybody encountered the same issue? Any add on to the floor to compensate for the floor angle and uneveness?

Anybody has any idea when 2004 MDX are available and what changes are in the store?
Thanks

feliz · June 2003

Foxcroft. Others, including myself, have complained about poor AM reception with the MDX. I also get better reception with my Sony Walkman. The small antenna is likely the reason as you suggest.

mem22 · June 2003

I've had my MDX for 5 days now. On the 4th day, I had real problems starting it - it would barely turn over in the morning and again around midday. I took it to the nearby dealer that afternoon but he had no one available to check it. He listened and said it sounded like the battery or something draining the battery. I unplugged my cell phone from the console adapter to see if it might be draining the battery. The starting seems to have improved but it's still not instant. It's hard to believe that a cell phone or similar plug-in unit would cause a serious drain. Anyone else with a similar problem?

kph3 · June 2003

I am trying to decide between the MDX and the RX330. Both are nice vehicles, but the RX seems to be more lux. The prior RX300 had been called a chic vehicle. What are your opinions on the new RX330?

andrewtran71 · June 2003

I think the RX330 looks better than the RX300.
But I would wait until the '04 or even '05 MDX comes out since it will be due for a redesign.
I think the current MDX still looks better than the RX.

sbcooke · June 2003

was your MDX on the lot for a while? Sometimes dealers swap batteries if they have a problem with another new delivery, etc. When I bought my trooper it had a dead battery on the lot which needed to be replaced on purchase. Hopefully it is something simple.

feliz · June 2003

I own an MDX but drove both the RX300 and 330 before purchasing and in my opinion it came down to sport vs luxury. The Lexus has better leather, better sound, interior materials etc and the MDX is sportier with a better drive train etc. Just my opinion. You can't go wrong with either of them.

wmquan · June 2003

I am trying to decide between the MDX and the RX330. Both are nice vehicles, but the RX seems to be more lux. The prior RX300 had been called a chic vehicle. What are your opinions on the new RX330?

Buy what fits your priorities. If you want more sportiness and/or passenger and cargo room, get the MDX. If you want more luxury, get the RX330.

Quite a few folks consider the RX a "chick's car." Sometimes it's legitimate (a lot of RX owners are female, though I see a lot of female MDX drives around here too ... in fact, my wife drives the MDX most of the time nowadays). Sometimes it's just another way to justify one vehicle over another. You mentioned it, so perhaps it bothers you. If it does, then don't get the RX.

foxcroft1 · June 2003

I don't use a cellular phone, but, I can tell you that a company I know of has a couple of dozen maintenance trucks that have their radios on 24 hours a day. These are BIG powerful radios compared to a typical cell phone and the batteries do not go dead. It sounds like you have something that pulls a lot more amps then the phone or the alternator is not doing it's job. A dealer should be able to find the problem in a short time unless it is a light, or two, that are concealed like a glove compartment. Good luck.

kph3 · June 2003

Thanks for the feedback.

mem22 · June 2003

Thanks for the feedback. To my knowledge, these vehicles don't stay on the lot long enough for the batteries to go bad. I'm going to take it in to the dealer and get them to check the electrical system. I don't think a cell phone should be draining that much and I've also just started to notice that one of the back windows inches down when the vehicle is started.

mhenderson1 · June 2003

A coworker of mine had a similar problem with her car in which the car would not start in the morning. Her mechanic told her that the motor in the window was not shutting off when she closed it. Therefore, it ran constantly during the night. On the MDX the driver side has an automatic window close mechanism which allows you to close the window automatically with one press of the button. There is a release mechanism which shuts the motor off when it closes. However, as in the case of my co-worker, the mechanism was faulty, so the motor kept on running.

michelangelo · June 2003

I guess I am getting deaf because I have a hard time hearing the warnings when I open the driver's side door with the lights on or the key still in the ignition. Is there any way to increase the volume of these warning chimes, etc.?
Thanks for your suggestions.

sbcooke · June 2003

I don't know what year you have, but the '02 automatically shutoff the headlights 15 seconds after locking up. They go back on as soon as you unlock, so it isn't a good way to get driving lights, but you don't need to worry about a dead battery if you forget and leave them on.

The interior lights do stay on all night if left on. However I have left one of them on overnight with no issues starting up the next day.

I don't know about the bells and whistles, but there is some function that may help you.

sjbrody · June 2003

The headlights do turn off in 15 seconds, BUT ONLY IF YOU REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION! If you keep your car in a locked garage and keep the key in the ignition (not a good idea, I agree) then the lights will not turn off automatically and you will drain the battery. I don't know why Acura does not use the automatic daylight headlight feature like my Subaru does.

wmquan · June 2003

Leaving the key in the ignition is a really bad idea for some newer vehicles. E.g on Saabs the SmartKey keeps some circuits engaged and will drain the battery. I believe MB's are the same. They advise removing the key from the vehicle to ensure that it doesn't come within a foot from the sensors.

It won't be long before Acura vehicles use some similar type of smart key (beyond the current key with the security chip in it).

A friend did get a DRL kit from Pilot Automotive. He had been happy with it. However, in June the unit shorted out or something and started a fire under the hood!

me38017 · July 2003

Just curious, if you get the Nav system and the Acura rear entertainment DVD, where is the DVD slot? Dealer said it would be mounted under front passenger's seat facing back seat but that may have been for an aftermarket DVD.

Thanks

clpurnell · July 2003

Unless I'm mistaken it is in the center console. By going with the factory dvd you loose the in dash cd changer and it goes under the seat.

rerenov8r · July 2003

You still get a regular slot loading CD and they put a cartridege loader CD changer under the driver seat, the DVD player goes in the lower dash...frankly not a bad trade off, but the DVD option is still quite pricey when one considers that even high-end after market units are now getting HEAVILY discounted by all car sound shops...

luvmyacura · July 2003

Hi!

I just bought a 2003 MDX Touring with Navi in Midnight Blue. I got a great deal from the Akron, OH dealer through the internet salesperson. I was completely satisfied with the entire transaction. Park Acura is awesome!

I am a second time Acura owner. I had to trade in my 2001 CL-Type S. I can't tell you how painful that was, but I did take consolation in the fact that I was getting another Acura.

Regarding the posts about service and loaner cars: I was fairly happy with Acura service in the past. I never needed more than an oil change, or mileage service, so I never asked for a loaner car. The Akron dealer told me that even if I just bring the MDX in for an oil change and I can't wait, they will give me a loaner. They do recommend notifying the service desk when the appointment is made, though. The only negative comment that I have is that the Philadelphia dealer always wanted to service my car for harsh driving conditions, which accelerated the mileage service and resulted in a higher bill. My 18,000 mile service was close to $300.00. I almost had a heart attack! $300.00 for preventive maintenance? That's crazy!

Anyway, I've had my MDX for three days and I just love it! I don't know whether they are calling it a crossover or not, but it doesn't drive at all like a truck. That's what I really love about it! I tried an Eddie Bauer Explorer, but it felt like a truck and I was uncomfortable driving it. It just felt sooo big and clunky. The MDX has the same 260 HP that my CL-S had and all the interior gadgets are similar, so I already know where everything is. The ride is comfortable and it handles really well, too.

The Navigation System is awesome! We just moved to the Akron area three months ago from South Jersey, so there are a lot of areas that we're unfamiliar with. We'd like to day trip to Cleveland one day, and it sure will come in handy. I love the verbal commands. It's just really, really cool. If you can spend the extra money, get the Navi, it's worth it! I've heard the most common regret that MDX owners have is not getting the Navi. We don't have kids, so the RES-DVD was never even a consideration. If we did, we would have invested in that, too. I think it's really pathetic, though, how little value these features have at resale.

Well, just wanted to say hello and gush about my new MDX a bit!

Dee in NE Ohio

feliz · July 2003

Congratulations luvmyacura. I'm a fellow MDX owner and really enjoying it. I'm a confirmed Honda/Acura driver having owned nine of their trouble free vehicles previously. Take care.

rerenov8r · July 2003

I picked my MBP MDX 188 last night. AWESOME!

We got were treated very well by out salesperson & the GM who backed him up!

If you're ever in Chicagoland, keep you eyes open - I'm a waver!

luvmyacura · July 2003

Congrats rerenov8r!

I think the Midnight Blue and Saddle is a beautiful combination! Several people at the dealer even said so! They weren't just saying it, either. I liked the Redrock, too, but the Midnight Blue just seemed classier and less like a sport ute. I've noticed that Toyota is now offering the dark blue in their SUV's and seems to be promoting it in their tv ads. I've also seen it on Chevy Trailblazers, and I just love the color! When the sun hits it and all those light blue metallic sparkles shine, it's just gorgeous!

I've never been to Chicago, so maybe you can enjoy being the only Midnight Blue in your neighborhood. I've already seen two others in mine..., otherwise MDX's are pretty rare.

Enjoy your new MDX!

Dee

feliz · July 2003

Congratulations rerenov8r. I've seen your posts on the other forum for awhile. Enjoy your new X.

sajayreddy · July 2003

Hi,
I purchased my 2003 MDX with Touring pkg about 2 months back and now feel that I should have opted for the NAV. Is there anyway NOW to get the NAV system. Any information is really appreciated.

wmquan · July 2003

I'm afraid that there is no cost-effective way to retrofit the MDX navigation system to a non-navigation model.

Your best bets are:

1) Add a third-party nav system, e.g. Garmin StreetPilot.

2) Trade in for an MDX with the nav system.

3) Live without the navi.

newbie2003 · July 2003

am planning to buy an MDX. Is there a particular month of the year when new MDXs are cheaper(like when they come up with the next year's vehicles)
I haven't seen a 2004 mdx on sale yet, though many other manufactures have a 2004 model

thanks in advance

rerenov8r · July 2003

Honda/Acura dealers still pretty much behave as though their vehicles are all made in far away places, with difficult to determine delivery {even though the MDXs are made in Ontario...}

Becuase of this they order the vehicles MONTHS ahead of time. This had led to MUCH frustration when tryin to track down a SPECIFIC color/option level.

If you wait until AFTER the 2004 info is out you have essentially left ONLY the "whatever is coming off the dock" group. It is like shopping for a Christmas Tree on the 26th -- you want THIS?!? OK, we can work a deal...

Granted , there are not a lot of HIDEOUS choices, but if YOU WANT A SPECIFIC combo, fuhgedabodit...

The 2003 info hit dealers after the end of the summer of 2002/early fall -- if you want to wait GOOD LUCK!

fndlyfmrflyr · July 2003

Ordered my 2002 mid January and got it mid March, about 60 days. Could have had a different color from preorder for stock within a week, but decided to wait 60 days to get first choice in color. Dealer said I could order any color, any model, and the wait would be about 60 days. Most likely a similar time frame today

wmquan · July 2003

NHTSA has released a new frontal crash test score for the 2003 MDX. It is now four stars for the driver, and four stars for the passenger.

That is down from the 2002's five/five star rating.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/NCAP/Cars/2207.html

Assuming this does not represent a test anomaly, it's not good news.

NHTSA protocol only has them retesting a previously tested vehicle if they determine that there were design changes that may affect crash performance. The 2003 was identified as having such changes and was retested.

stever · July 2003

Rollover, Crash Test Results for Fourth Group Of 2003 Vehicles

Steve, Host

feliz · July 2003

wmquan, thanks for posting the information.

I wasn't aware there were any structural changes for 2003, anyone know what the changes were?

hopeitsfriday · July 2003

The only change that may affect the test results is the increase in weight for the 2003, but the weight only increase by a hundred pounds or so. Another possibility is that the 2003 frame were suppost to be stiffer for better handling, but if thats the case, then it is a good trade off.
I notice that some SUVs like the explorer also went from 5 to 4 stars. As far as I know, the 2003 Explorer is the same as the 2002. I am wondering if the test itself have change or they may have tighten up the parameters a bit to even out the bell curve.

wmquan · July 2003

The NHTSA test parameters are unchanged. I'm not surprised by an Explorer's score changing, though. As it is, the initial Explorers in the current generation did quite poorly in the IIHS crash test. Ford made a mid-first-year design modification that significantly upped the result. They may have slipped back.

There are some definite changes in the 2003 MDX, or else NHTSA would not have went through the expense of re-testing it. Besides the aforementioned weight increase, there was a shift in weight distribution. So there could have been structural changes, as indicated by Acura's vague statements about "suspension and chassis refinements." The 2003's also received the new "compact transmission" (but only 60 mm shorter) which supposedly helped alter the weight distibution as well.

It's possible that the 2002 MDX was "borderline" five stars before, and the small changes were sufficient enough to drop it to four stars. Quite disappointing.

I've emailed NHTSA asking them what design changes they noted (to prompt a re-test). Usually they answer but take a long time, but I'll post back when/if I hear from them.

feliz · July 2003

Thanks for your always informative comments wmquan.

aleksd1 · July 2003

If you look at the numbers for frontal crash for 2002 and 2003 MDX you will see that they did not change that much, so I wonder why they dropped from 5 to 4 stars. Also, on some cars you can notice that for roughly same results different cars get different ratings. Does anyone have any explanation?
Alex

wmquan · July 2003

There's a pretty complicated formula that weighs the various injury criteria measured (head, chest, and legs). They're not weighted the same in the overall score, and each has its own set of ranges. Thus it's hard to compare different vehicles together by looking at the raw numbers.

Unfortunately, I used to have a URL to where the NHTSA has that magic formula but not any more. Anyone have it?

stever · July 2003

Is it on one of the R&D pages, like this one?

Steve, Host

sbcooke · July 2003

I am glad I have a 2002...it obviously is much safer :-) It is very possible that some measurements changed slightly which caused the change in rating. For example in the IIHS test the driver footwell area collapses somewhat more than other vehicles with the same rating. However the MDX still scored well because the impact forces on the foot/ankle were very low. A slightly different position of the test dummy could change the foot forces and change the score slightly.

hopeitsfriday · July 2003

I am still not convince that the 03 IIHS testes are 100% conclusive of how safe a car actually is. If you look at the data of all SUVs tested for 02 and 03, about half dezon of them drop a star or so in the frontal test since last year and none has gain any star from last year. That kind of tell me that something has change with the frontal test that they are not disclosing to the public. I just dont see how the 03 MDX can be less safe in general than the 02 considering it has new safety features such as: Dual stage and smart air bags, vehicle stability system, better weight distribution and balance, stiffer chassis, better torque distribution on the 4WD system and more powerful brakes, but I guess some of these features are there to help you aviod a accident to start with.

Acura MDX (pre-2007)

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