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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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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.
Are you sure? Can you name the half dozen or so that dropped a star?
The Ford Explorer did not have a scoring change. The 4-door was 4/5 stars (frontal test, driver/passenger) for 2002, and 4/5 stars for 2003.
The Escalade went up one star on the driver's side, I believe that Cadillac made a design change to address the test circumstance from 2002. The Tahoe and Yukon (obviously related) had a similar gain. The Sequoia gained one star on the driver's side.
The Suburban dropped one star on the passenger side and so did the Yukon Denali XL. But unless I missed four, it's certainly not a half dozen.
Meanwhile, the 2003 MDX was the only vehicle to drop one star for both the driver and passenger.
You may have inadvertantly identified the culprit: the 2003's new, "safer," dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags. NHTSA's test, after all, stresses the restraint system of the vehicle over the structure (it's the opposite for the offset tests).
It could simply be that Acura hasn't gotten the tuning of the MDX's new airbags down and that could have caused the test result to drop. Especially in combination with other factors like the weight increase and shorter transmission.
A feel note so far:
(1) The navi system is absolutely awesome! I am glad I did not make the mistake of getting the Street Pilot III.
(2) My wife and my kid are very happy with the RES. The trip driving my new MDX from KC to Omaha was a breeze! I am certain that its real value will show when we make the 8 hour trip up to the Rockies!
(3) The OEM sound system is great - playing the same CD, I heard details and things I had never heard before in my old ML320.
(4) The ride is a lot better - smooth and quiet.
(5) Just received a Form Fit Air Deflector. Will install it tomorrow to see if it works. Ordered a Colgan nose mask.
(6) Seriously thinking about getting the side step bar and Thule ski rack.
Just wanted to see if anyone had additional info regarding the 2004's. So far, I only know of:
20 speaker stereo (?!)
Side curtain air bags
maybe XM radio
A new blue somewhere between midnight and havasau
Any others?
-ge
thanks for your tips in advance!
1) Gas mileage is 14 mpg in suburban and 17.5 to 18 for highway driving.
2) The brake calipers make a very annoying clicking sound when changing from reverse to forward and vice-versa.
3) The tail pipe or muffler has been vibrating against the frame from day one.
After two service appointments with two different Acura dealers none of the above have been resolved.
I understand that the caliper clicking is a Honda trait but if it is I have never encountered it with my Acura 3.2TL.
Bottom line is that in our area the Lexus dealer is much easier to deal with for service than the Acura dealer and IMHO a 41K SUV should not exhibit the annoying sounds that we have experienced. We will miss the extra room in the MDX and the $7,000 that we lost in trade but we had a Lexus RX300 previously with much satisfaction. My TL is also due for replacement by the end of September and I will probably purchase the Infiniti G35.
Although sandstone isn't as dramatic as some of our friends with MBP and black, etc, it's great for summer. When we went through quasi - desert, it was amazing how sand-like it actually looked, and how cool it stayed (a very nice way to keep engine temperature slightly lower)! We continue to do our summer travel in great comfort and driving ease. Hope you enjoy yours and this forum too.
Dealer service has been poor and Acura gave up trying to fix the harmonic problem too.
However, I still need the third row from time to time and I have no complaints about comfort and reliability. Based on my experience, Acuras are Hondas with a little more standard equipment, not luxury vehicles. I knew this going in and I still like my MDX, even with its problems.
Today I showed the MDX to one of my co-workers who is shopping for an RX. He was so impressed with my MDX that he was speechless and green with envy!
BTW, after owning two vehicles in black for eight years (1995 Honda Accord EX, 2000 MB ML320) I am done with dark color! The are notoriously different to keep clean! I love the Sandstone color! With a Form Fit Air Deflector installed, it has a somewhat different look. I guess I will bring my MDX to the Great Sand Dune National Monument to find out the color effect!
I love my MDX!
Transpower
My questions are:
1. Should I be satisfied with a remanufactured transmission?
2. Should I have been informed that it was remanufactured?
3. Is this the typical way Acura handles these problems?
4. Have others had transmission problems? We had to make several trips to the dealer before the original problem was taken seriously.
Thank you
Echo what aggie76 asks.
The Acura MDX, made by the luxury unit of Honda Motor Co., is commanding an average premium of $1,700."
sunspot.net
Steve, Host
Thanks
--chalam
The A/C in my MDX is very good. Though I have not experienced the extreme heat and humidity that Chicago sometimes does, our a/c has cooled the MDX very quickly.
One trick that I've used is to set the temp to the lowest setting, this forcs the a/c into recirc and sets the fan at max.
You will also want to be sure that if you set the rea a/c to manual it is set to the cold range.
Once it gets cold enough for you you can bump up the temp and then select a mode you like. Personally I like to set the setting to driect air from the dash vents & floor vent. I do this from the a/c screen on the Navi, but think it is the same in non-navi MDXs.
When first starting the car the system will automatically select recirc and sets the fan at max even with the temp selection in the 70's.
The rear A/C works better than the front unit in mine. People in back usually want it warmer.
My front A/C never "catches up" in stop and go driving, even on 75 degree days, so the fan speed is enough to be noisy, but I can't say the inside temperature is uncomfortable. On the open road the fan is quiet and the A/C sometimes gets too cold, even on 100 degree plus days.
Compared to my Avalon, the MDX A/C is lousy in stop and go driving and when first starting out.
From the looks of the preview pictures of the 04'TL I may end up with one of those rather than an Infiniti G35. I presently have a 2001TL and have been very impressed with it. For the life of me I cannot imagine that Honda can't fix the brake caliper noises in the MDX which are totally non-existent in the TL. Anyway, we're happy to get out of the MDX even if we miss the extra room.
My other car is an Avalon and I always set it up at 76/78 and it was fine for the last 3 yrs....Honda should do better with their A/C design for MDX...
My 02 MDX can produce 40 degree air, even in stop and go driving, if I override the auto system and call for 60 degrees in the cabin. As soon as I ask for anything warmer the outlet temperature jumps to at least 47 degrees in town. However, at freeway engine rpm the outlet temperature is 40 degrees even with a 72 degree temperature setting.
I have a fast acting A/C outlet temperature thermometer and checked the system shortly after we got the MDX because I felt it didn't cool well in town. It is operating as designed and well within specification with respect to A/C performance.
On very hot days I just leave it at 60 degrees, the rest of the time I leave it at 72 and let it work automatically.
My Avalon has been set to 75 for almost 8 years and it cools "right now" when starting out and stays cool in stop and go driving.
If you like your outlet air really cold, in the MDX you have to set it all the waqy down, other vehicles (like his Avalon and an Electra I used to have) would somehow manage to keep the thermoset setting in one place and cool "right now" when it needed to.
I suspect that this is an area where the computerized sensors and such aren't really needed if the folks designing the system are trying to achieve a different goal (regulation of outlet temp) compared to the user (maintaining a comfortable-to-them cabin temp)...
I do believe that the front "clip" will be overhauled -- I predicted that a RL front end that showed up months ago would work its way across the whole Acura line up...
Wheel are a no brainer...
I paid less than $40K for a Touring with RES and Navi. Dollar for dollar and feature to feature, I just could not justify buying any of the Toyota/Lexus vehicles. And I too disagree with many of the fellows in this forum - I think the MDX is just as luxurious as the RX.
About the RX: I test-drove the RX five times, tried both the Premium Package and Performance Package, logged about 70 miles, in both Omaha and KC. I felt the RX was a bit less responive. What I hate the most is the auto power hatch - it's such a gimmick - being a Gen-Xer I feel Lexus designed the feature catering to the aging boomer.
About The GX: Simply put, it is a poorly dressed "dressed-up" 4Runner with two ridiculous, over-priced third row seats. Tried it and did not like it. The ash leather interior looks like a Buick...The tan leather doesn't look much more better than the MDX.
All in all, I don't think the RX is much more luxurious than the MDX. And given the same price I get a whole lot more toys (Navi and DVD). I too hear the caliper noise, but it doesn't bother me.
I guess you are fortunate to have a good Lexus dealer in your area. My experience with both the Omaha dealer and the KC dealer has been less than satisfactory.
Just my personal point of view...
Quang
I want to leave everything else in auto except the rear a/c.
Thanks
This information has not yet been confirmed by Acura.
Only 15K on mine now and there has been no change since I first noticed it shortly after we bought the MDX. The impression I have is that the engine is lugging (rpm too low for the load on the engine).
I agree with the rear A/C manual thing, it is annoying.
Also at 35-45 MPH if I give it a medium amount of gas you can hear a little hunting, however never a loss of acceleration or any performance issues. If I give it a lot or a little gas I don't notice it.
The brake clicking doesn't faze me. I find it interesting that was a leading cause for getting rid of an MDX? I only notice it when I am backing out of my driveway (i.e. low speeds without any other external noises). And only the first time I brake in a specific direction. If the radio is on or windows are up I cannot even hear it. Oh well to each his own I wouldn't mind a Rx330, I just cannot afford to jump cars like that...well actually I can with today's financing options...I just don't like to waste money.
I again repeat my oft-stated preference: three Quaife or Torsen differentials--front, center, and back. These would provide optimum distribution of power and stability. C'mon Acura, I know you can do it.
Transpower
The CR test pretty much demands an "intrusive" amount of VSA, and the Acura system is NOT tuned for that either.
Frankly, I am more than happy with the features & handling of my MDX and judging by the numbers of MDXs Acura is selling I doubt they will change anything...
From the Center for Auto Safety (website http://autosafety.org), the Washington State Lemon Law only protects me if:
1. I am a Washington State resident.
2. I buy the new Acura from an authorized Washington State Acura dealer.
3. The new Acura is registered in Washington State.
4. The new Acura is always serviced by Acura dealers in any state.
The two closest Acura dealers are both in Portland about 20 miles away. The nearest Washington State Acura dealers are located at the following approximate distances from me:
- 135 miles -- Tacoma (Fife), WA
- 165 miles -- Bellevue, WA
- 210 miles -- Seattle, WA
- 210 miles -- Lynnwood, WA
Washington State has a Lemon Law Administration office in the Attorney General's office.
The Center for Auto Safety states that the Oregon State Lemon Law is rated 42nd of 51 and has one of the weakest lemon laws in the country. Nationwide each year about 100,000 lemon vehicles are bought back by manufacturers of about 15-million new vehicles sold. This is about 1 in 160 vehicles.
So for better Lemon Law protection, I should buy the Acura in Washington State, but that requires buying from dealers 135 to 210 miles away, which is much less convenient that Portland.
Is Acura quality so high, dealer service adequate, and factory support sufficiently dependable that it is very unlikely my Acura will be a lemon? Is Acura lemon experience less than 1 in 160?
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Am I creating a big issue out of relatively minor issue?
I'd appreciate and value your comments and advice.
For nearly 18 years I heard lemon law cases (not in Washington) and items 2 and 4 were non issues. The lemon law is normally manufacturer vs. consumer and it should not matter where the car was purchased, as long as it was in the United States. It never came up where the vehicle was purchased. I heard many cases in which the consumer won, but did not have routine service done by a dealer. In every case, however, there was good documentation that the routine service had been done in a timely manner.
BTW, Honda prevailed in every case before me. They were the only manufacturer to do so.
I would buy the car where I get the best deal. Then get it serviced where it is convenient. If it will give you piece of mind, have a dealer do all of the routine servicing.
I do nearly all of the routine maintenance on my vehicles and have done so for over 30 years. It has never been brought up by a dealer or a manufacturer that routine service is not done by a dealer. The warranties have always been honored. Two cars, a 1984 and a 2000, were lemons. One was repurchased at full purchase price and the other replaced, at no cost to me, with the following year's model.
Fortunately, for most, it is a minor issue, but there can be times when you could need the backing of a lemon law to force a manufacturer to do the right thing.
Acuras have an outstanding reputation for reliability and good assembly. My experience is not good however. My 2002 MDX was delivered with more than a dozen items that needed attention. Dealer service was lousy too (I've bought three cars from them, but I knew their service stunk before I bought the MDX). Once I fixed most of the problems with my MDX (the dealer did fix a few), the car has proven reliable and there has been no need to return to the dealer for service. My MDX has a couple of rattles (dash and driver's door lock) and resonates at high freeway speeds. The car also hesitates from time to time at low speed (around 45). Certainly not a perfect car, but we like it, worts and all. Our MDX provides comfort, utility, reasonable reliability, good resale, and more.
CU's September, 2003, issue, just out, tested 5 luxury SUVs. The MDX tested quite well. It is not sporty, but feels good in normal driving. It is a fine trip car and while it can't hold objects as big as my PT Cruiser can, there is a lot of interior space for store purchases, significantly more than the others.
You're making various bald assertions without any factual substantiation.
1) How do you know Acura isn't going to offer Quaife or Torsen differentials in the future? These differentials are useful for normal, all-weather driving, not just for off-roading. Honda has produced a robot name Asimo--did you think they would do that?
2) Why wouldn't a Quaife or Torsen make a difference in handling? Tests on race tracks have shown that two versions of the same brand of vehicle, with the sole exception of one having true four-wheel drive and the other not, prove that four-wheel drive provides a significant increase in speed and handling capability.
3) Why couldn't Acura tune the system differently? After all, they've re-tuned the VTM4, haven't they?
4) I've heard that there may be major changes for 2004. In order to keep selling MDX's, Acura will have to try to stay ahead of the competition.
5) One additional change I would like to see is a shift from the current type of transmission to a CVT--this would be much smoother and much more economical. C'mon, Acura I know you can do it.
Transpower
1) The car is actually driven by my wife. I recall last summer when we were agonizing over whether to buy another Lexus or opt for an MDX with its additional power, room, third row seats, great reviews - we were on vacation at the Jersey shore and noticed 5 or 6 MDX's. I stopped two or three of the drivers and chatted about the virtues of the MDX - all had good things to say, but one in particular asked who was going to be the primary driver of the SUV. When I answered that it would be my wife, he advised me to buy the Lexus.
The MDX definitely has many virtues and it is astonishing to me that with all the good things that people have to say that Honda would allow such minor annoyances as brake caliper clicking sounds and harmonic noises from the tailpipe or whatever to go unresolved. If I had bought a pickup truck I (or should I say my Wife) would have put up with these noises - but no way for a supposedly luxury crossover vehicle. That being said I just extended the lease on my 01'TL for two additional months so that I can be sure to check out the 04'TL before making a decision on my next car. This decision in spite of the fact that I had to get a new transmission (under warranty) in my TL at 58,000 miles - Acura was very responsive in taking care of the problem.
2) One other minor problem with the MDX. The cross rails on the roof rack are not adjustable and a bit wider than other SUV's - thus it is difficult to get a roof cargo carriers which will fit.