Acura MDX (pre-2007)

fndlyfmrflyr · July 2004

Honda's reliability reputation was built on 80s and 90s four cylinder vehicles. My first Honda, a 1976 Accord, was assembled so poorly it was unsafe to drive. The engine needed an overhaul by 20,000 miles and the body rusted through in many places. To Honda's credit they fixed everything at no cost to me. I waited 26 years before buying another Honda product, my 2002 MDX.

It has been recalled for transmission and engine. It took over two years for Honda to come up with a fix for the rear brakes. It still rattles in several places.

Honda seems to be having continuing transmission problems (since the 1999 model year and continuing into the current 2004 model year) with vehicles with V6 engines. The redesigned MDX transmission doesn't yet have the cumulative miles to say if it is better with respect to reliability, long term, than the previous design.

Honda may have been slow to step up to the plate in taking care of transmission problems, but they have been taking care of the problem, usually at no cost to the car owner.

Based on my limited Honda experience, my Chevrolets were more reliable with respect to major components. My last Chevy, a Corvette, was assembled better than my MDX too.

Overall, I like my MDX and find its reliability no worse than most other manufacturers' vehicles. But, it isn't much better either, though I expected it to be. Honda's four cylinder vehicles apparently still have outstanding reliability.

govan · July 2004

We have had our 2004 with Nav/Entertainment for 5 month now with no problems. I have been listening for the reported rattling noise at 40-50mph but so far nothing. The navigation and entertainment systems now have become so indispensable we can't how we lived without them. It is not the most exciting car to drive and the gas mileage isn't great but it has been everything we expected and we would buy it again without hesitation. Image wise we like the fact that it is respectable without the flash. We can't wait for ski season so we can justify getting an all wheel drive vehicle.

Sylvia · July 2004

A newspaper reporter is hoping to interview a recent buyer who looked at a Honda but then opted for another make. Please send your brief comments about your decision along with your daytime contact info to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Friday, July 16, 2004.

Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director
Edmunds.com

bilmat · July 2004

If the subject of satellite radio interfering with the MDX Navigation System has been addressed here in the Town Hall, I couldn't find it. Having said that, here's my story:

I have an '01 Touring MDX with the Navi that I bought in Oct. of 2000 (it was the second MDX my local dealer received after the vehicle was first introduced).

Because I have been exceptionally satisfied with the XM satellite radio I have in another vehicle, I decided to have a second unit installed in the MDX about 7 weeks ago in preparation for a road trip I was about to take from the San Francisco Bay Area to Denver.

A week after the XM radio was installed in the MDX, the updated DVD for the Navi I had ordered earlier arrived. After installing the update, I drove a few miles to ensure the Navi was working properly. It seemed to be fine. With the XM radio working perfectly, I was ready to head off through the Nevada and Utah deserts to Denver.

Just as I was about to get on the road, I entered the Denver address that would be my destination. But about 45 minutes later and 50 miles from home, the red cursor on the Navi display screen wandered off the interstate I was driving on, which resulted in a prompt on the screen that read: "Not on digitized road." My immediate thought was that there was probably a software glitch with the new, updated DVD. I didn't have the original DVD with me, so it wasn't possible to eject the new DVD and try to reload the original. (I found out later that it wouldn't have worked even if I had the original disc with me and had loaded it into the DVD player under the passengers seat.)

During the ensuing 2600 round-trip miles to and from Denver the red cursor on the Navi screen would sometimes find the highway I was on. But when it did, it would always wander off again within a few minutes or up to a half-hour.

When I returned home a week later I took the MDX to my dealer to see if they had a fix and was able to speak directly to a technician. When I told him I suspected it was a software glitch caused by the updated DVD, we tried to reinstall the original disc, but the system wouldn't accept it. The technician finally ran a small jumper cable to two terminals at the back of the DVD player in order to reset it so it would again accept the original DVD. When he did, it seemed to work; the screen showed us at the location of the Acura dealer.

The game plan at this point was for me to use the Navi on a trip I had already planned to take to Southern California to see if the system would work with the original disc. If it did, I would request a new, updated DVD to replace the one I had been sent earlier. If it didn't, I would bring the MDX back to the dealer and a new DVD player would be installed.

I experienced the same identical problem to and from Southern California that I had with the Navi during the Denver trip.

I took the MDX back to the dealer upon my return and the dealer ordered and installed a new DVD player. A new one arrived within a day or two and was installed, but it wouldn't work either. Thinking that the replacement player was defective, a second player was ordered and installed. Same problem.

Finally, the tech pulled off the plastic panel that surrounds the Navi screen to check the GPS antenna. When he did, he saw the XM radio and immediately suspected that it was the culprit.

The XM radio installer had inadvertently positioned the satellite radio into a small cavity directly below the GPS antenna, which is located above and in front of the right air conditioning vent at the top of the Navi screen. It seems likely that the close proximity of the XM radio to the GPS antenna is creating a weak GPS signal, which would account for the red cursor showing the vehicle's location to wander off course.

I'm taking the MDX back to the XM radio installer next week to have him relocate the radio to a position behind or under the glove box. If by doing so the Navi works correctly, life will be good once again. If the same problem persists, I'll have the installer yank the XM radio out completely and buy an '04 Touring Navi with a factory-installed XM radio, which are now available. I've been so happy with my '01 MDX that I've been thinking about moving up to an '04 anyway for the added features and a new four-year/50,000 mile warranty.

The bottom line of what seems to have turned into a short novel (sorry 'bout that) is this: If you have an MDX with the Navigation System and are thinking about having a satellite radio installed, post a reply to this message and I'll provide an update as to whether repositioning the satellite radio away from the GPS antenna fixes the problem with the Navigation System.

bluenoser1 · July 2004

I need some advice quickly. I brought my 2003 MDX into the dealer to fix a broken gas gauge and while replacing the gauge they reset the vehicle odometer! Not just the trip odometer, the vehicle odometer. It now reads 30 miles! I know this will definitely affect the resale value of my vehicle. Has this happened to anyone? Do you have any advice? Ive spoken to the dealer on phone; a face-to-face discussion is scheduled for later today. They suggested they would provide me with a letter certifying the vehicle odometer has been reset, and the actual miles are XXXXX. I said this was not acceptable. This was where I left it until we meet with the dealer this afternoon. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Im not mentioning the name of the dealership at this point, as I would like to give them an opportunity to make this right. Oh, one other thing, when I picked up the vehicle last night I found that while it was in their shop, someone hit it! They did however say they would fix it. Thanks for you help.

aggie76 · July 2004

My experience is that the dealer should have put a permanent label on the vehicle, driver's door jam for mine, showing the prior mileage when replaced.

jiamin · July 2004

If dealer can get factory involved, then I think it should be easy to set the digital circuit back to the original raeding of XXXXX. But probably nobody wants to go through that route.

sbcooke · July 2004

I have seen digital gauges that have a special light that indicates odometer changes. I think a notarized dealer letter would be your best route...however for resale you will probably have to go private party, since a dealership will nickel and dime you over it...even the one who did it to you. I think private party shouldn't matter as long as you are up front and show them the letter.

punjabi_sahib · August 2004

hi guys, i recently checked out the mdx and saw a list of options that were unbelievable, so i thought i would go for it, but reading through the recent posts i decided to wait until the '05 model came out is that a good idea? need advise, thanx.

sbcooke · August 2004

I was looking at the NHTSA website... www.safercar.gov and they already have crash test ratings for the 2005 MDX? I guess they have information regarding body changes or lack of that the rest of us don't?

otis123 · August 2004

Crash test results carry over year to year if there are no changes to the car's design/structure.

wmquan · August 2004

NHTSA will be re-testing the 2005 MDX with its full-frontal crash test. They won't be carrying over the results from 2004. That means that Acura has told NHTSA there are some changes.

The 2002 MDX was 5/5 stars (driver/front passenger) in the full-frontal crash test. The 2003 was 4/4. The 2004 was 5/4.

Acura may be trying to get the vehicle back to 5/5 with the 2005.

The side-impact rating (5/5) will be carried over. The 2005 MDX will also receive the new rollover test.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?ye- - ar=2004&filename=pr37-04.html

gregory28 · September 2004

When does the 2005 model hit the dealers?

twhadinger · September 2004

I have an order in for a 2005 and my local (AZ) dealer says the pricing is still not out but that he was told 3% over 2004... the "when" question seems to be a big secret. He advised that the only changes from 2004 were addition of XM and an onstar type system. I'm interested if anyone else knows the status... or ANYTHING about the '06 redesign.

go_mdx1 · September 2004

Hi Folks,

For those wanting a "long term report card" on the MDX, I've had my MDX for nearly four years now (took delivery on the first day of availability in October 2000). My car's serial number is in the low hundred's so it was one of the first one's built. The car now has 60,000 miles.

Facts
- Per the transmission recall, the car's transmission was inspected at 50,000 miles and had the preventive repair completed. No known transmission problem's thus far!!
- On my second set of tires. First set lasted about 45,000 miles.
- Still on my original set of brake pads.
- Still running with the original battery.
- Overall gas mileage has slipped a bit thru the years. It now gets around 19mpg where it originally would get around 20.5mpg
- Leather interior has held up very well.

Overall Assessment
- Great Car. I've literally had nothing go wrong with this car. I would buy another MDX in a heartbeat.

P.S. Too bad I can't say the same wonderful things about my 2004 TL!

habitat1 · September 2004

So what's wrong with your 2004 TL?? Post over in the TL forum if you prefer. Thanks.

hopeitsfriday · September 2004

Rumor has it that the 05 will most likely start to roll out of the factory at early Oct.
Changes for the 05 MDX according to the lastest Acura news:

MDX

Standard XM Satellite Radio
Acura HandsFreeLink Bluetooth wireless phone interface on all touring models
OnStar on all models equipped with navigation system
Larger fuel tank
6 Disc In-Dash CD player on models equipped with Rear Entertainment System
Enhanced Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system
Enhanced navigation system
Quicker response time
Additional voice recognition commands
More points of interest
Zagat Guide
LEV-2 ULEV emissions system
3 new exterior colors including Desert Rock Metallic, Billet Silver Metallic and Steel Blue Metallic

All very minor changes in my option. The three new colors sounds interesting. The larger gas tank will coming in handy, I hope this gas tank don't slosh.

habitat1 · September 2004

I agree, minor changes, since, with the exception of Bluetooth and OnStar, I believe the Pilot gets all of these AND upgrades that make it more comparable to the MDX in content (sunroof, curtain airbags, VSA, etc.).

My wife prefers the MDX, but I'm going to have a tough time justifying the price difference, if this really is the situation for the 2005's. May jump up to the 2005 GX470 (with it's new more powerful, higher efficiency V8), just to avoid the feeling that I paid $7,000 more than the Pilot for a bit more leather and wood and a slightly quieter ride.

otis123 · September 2004

habitat1,

That's why the better deal right now is the 2004 MDX base model (vs. a leather Pilot). 2004 MDX has new styling vs. 2003 MDX, side curtain air bags, 17" wheels, lower roof height, sunroof, quieter ride, better interior, newer transmission design, higher Consumer Reports reliability rating (tops), slightly better Insurance Institute floor intrusion crash statitics, vehicle stability control, longer warranty, better buying experience - I'm sure I forgot something.... Plus the reaction people have when you say you bought an Acura vs. a Honda = higher resale value. That all adds up to easily justify the $6K spread....the side air bags do that themselves!

Believe me, I just went through the process and bought the MDX (sage) on Labor Day. Paid $33,336. (invoice) with free wide color-coded side molding installed ($299.) - and cargo tray, net and cover for cost.

This will be my wife's ride. I get the LLBean Outback - which is fine and handles better. Just wish Subaru would get their mid-sized SUV to market!!!!!!!

hopeitsfriday · September 2004

habitat1;

If you can't justify the price difference between a pilot and the MDX, then how can you jusify the extra $10,000 for a GX470? Unless you are planning to do some serious off roading or heavy towing, that extra little bit of luxury just do not add up to $10,000. Dollar for dollar, the MDX is a much better buy than the GX470.

habitat1 · September 2004

Don't want to turn this into a GX vs. MDX debate, but a couple of points:

I can get a nicely equiped GX470 (Navigation, ML stereo, 3rd row) for about $46.5k. That's roughly $8k more than an MDX Touring with Navigation. Which itself is roughly $7-8k more than the Pilot w/ Navigation. Now, although I am a big Honda/Acura fan, IMO I would say that the increase in "luxury" going from a MDX to GX470 is at least equal to the jump from the Pilot to the MDX. I know that's subjective, but we have two sets of friends who have "traded down" to the GX470 from a $65k LX470 and $70k Range Rover 4.6 HSE respectively and neither of them feel they gave up anything in terms of luxury feel, ride or interior quality.

The added advantage of the GX470 - and Volvo XC90 - is that they qualify for the 6,000+ lb GVW write-off. If you qualify, the after tax cost of the $46.5k GX470 drops to about the price of the Pilot.

I would say that the Volvo XC90 with it's new Yamaha V8 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission option has gone to the top of my "luxury list" over either the MDX or GX470. It will come close to matching the Cayenne S in performance and carry 7 passengers. I would like Volvo to steal Acura's navigation system, but Acura needs to steal Volvo's seating design and steering/handling precision.

otis123 · September 2004

and Volvo needs to steal Acura's reliability... they are polar opposites...

hopeitsfriday · September 2004

If you can qualify for the 6,000+ lb GVW write-off, then the GX470 is a better buy. As I understand it, the MDX miss that weight by only a few hundred pounds. Maybe Acura should add some dead weight to the MDX lol. Thank god for the republican for drafting a bill for the gas gushler owners.

habitat1 · September 2004

I'm not sure Ford, let alone Volvo, would want to steal Acura's reliability with respect to automatic transmissions.

hopeitsfriday · September 2004

The 03 and 04 transmission seems more relieble, but only time will tell. One of the biggest problem I have with Volvo is that, besides the reliebility issues, is the part availbility, they seem to stock even less parts than Acura and the Volvo parts are definitly harder to get.

fndlyfmrflyr · September 2004

I've found Acura dealers in my area do not stock much besides routine service parts. The wait has been long every time a part has been needed for my MDX. So far all has been covered by warranty so I cannot compare parts costs with Volvo.

Note: Once assembly problems were fixed, my Volvo was reliable for about 70K miles. After that reliability was terrible. Parts were expensive, but more quickly available than the parts for my MDX.

punjabi_sahib · September 2004

hi guys, u guys have already heard the rumors of the new acura mdx and the upgrades, but i recently read in an article that mdx has changed the position of the gas tanks and will not make the sloshing noise reported by customers, we'll see i guess when it comes.

punjabi_sahib · September 2004

hi guys i've been hearin bout the gx vs mdx but wht do u thing of the toureg vs the mdx?

habitat1 · September 2004

If i could fit the family and luggage in a Touareg, I would go for a 2005 Cayenne V6 6-speed. Unfortunately I can't (fit, that is).

jenntec · September 2004

I owned an '03 MDX and loved it. Last December I traded it in for an '04 Land Cruiser because of the tax deduction (over 6000 GVW). Financially this made a lot of sense. However, i really wish I had my MDX back. I HATE the Nav system on the Toyota Land Cruiser, it's very high and truck like (my wife hates this), gas mileage stinks (around 13 MPG), and Toyota warranty and lack of road assistance stink. Also, even though the LC is huge, the actual, usable cargo space is bigger in the MDX. I really wish Acura would add a couple hundred pounds to the MDX... I'd switch back in a heartbeat!

cigetni · September 2004

My 1st month w/MDX has been positive. It's a loaded model w/Nav and DVD. I have 2 minor cocerns, and 1 more significant and would appreciate feedback.

1. No coin/loose change holder?? Once you've had one it's certainly a nuisance to go without!!

2. I find my kids and I are frequently "reclosing doors" they don't close tightly under their own weight so they need more than a little flip of wrist to close securely; are other folks experiencing that?

3. This is my first SUV and I'm shocked that when I take my foot off the gas pedal, instead of cruising, I immediately begin to slow down, as if I hit the brakes. It's very noticable and I wondered if it's "standard" w/an SUV engine or vehichle. I've had v6 sedans for the last decade.

I'd appreciate any comments please. Cig

transpower · September 2004

Cig:

Just go to Pep Boys and purchase a coin holder for a few bucks. It fits nicely in the top compartment of the center console.

sbcooke · September 2004

1. The ash try location is the loose change holder. Works great for me.

2. No suggestions

3. It does have a "feature" that controls speed when traveling on downgrades. If you are going faster without giving it gas or while using the brake it senses you are going downhill and applies transmission braking, probably by just turning off O/D or downshifting.

Are you it "D5" or "D4" when this occurs? Maybe your O/D isn't working properly.

This isn't standard, all SUVs are different, just like cars. My MDX doesn't have this problem, but I have an '02.

otis123 · September 2004

I'm in my 4th day!

1. Agree. I guess the cramped ashtray will have to do (is that a dime or a penny I feel??)

2. Agree. The back latch, too! (It must float longer than your average SUV!!)

3. Disagree. Our MDX seems to keep going OK. We realize after this weekend that you drive an SUV differently (it's our first one, too) if you want to get good mileage. No gunning it anymore :-(

You have to respect the weight and use it to your advantage. We are almost at 1/2 tank and are at 16.9 mpg on the computer. not bad for the first tank. Hope we can get close to 20mpg with mainly a highway commute.

It rides very smooth. We are glad we got it over the FX35. Just could not get over the rough ride on the FX. Great looks, though.

proger · September 2004

Cig, 1. I use my ash tray for loose coins. 2. I have no problem w/ doors 'cuz we are all big adults. 3.It's also my 1st SUV and yes, as soon as I take off my foot from the gas pedal it slows down. But on a hwy, I usually use the cruise control if traffic permits and use the hand controls to cancel, resume cruise or speed a little bit.
I had my MDX for 7 months now and loving it.

msu79gt82 · September 2004

The MDX takes alot of energy to get it moving; however it is very efficient once you get it moving. Thus stop-n-go city driving will get 15-17 mpg max; however we routinely average 20-22 on purely highway trips.

hopeitsfriday · September 2004

cigenti,

I only use my coin tray for quarters, so there is no fumbling for dimes and nickels.

Have to remember, the MDX has a big door. Like any truck, it is heavy and may take a bit of a push to close, unlike a sedan. Try sparying some teflon lubricates on the door hinges and latches.

The MDX is actually a nice cruiser for a truck, again it is not a sedan and will slow down when you let go of the gas. To make it a better cruiser, you may want to pump up the tire pressure to 34 or 35 psi. This will give you less tire friction and the car will not slow down as much when you let go of the gas. Of course you will be losing some traction.

Good Luck

icec97 · September 2004

cig

I drove my MDX today & tested taking my foot off the gas pedal...I didnt notice any immediate slowing down, it just cruise smoothly and no slowing down until reaching a certain distance. I was just wondering if you had your foot brakes on.

sbcooke · October 2004

I have a service appointment to get a few things resolved and thought others with '02s might be having similar problems.

I got the transmission recall applied, since then the truck seems to shift erratically when cold, not terrible, but much more rolling resistance. I wonder if they just didn't put enough fluid back in...maybe since there is a new loop in the trans that maybe they need to amend the fill amount by 1/2 pint?

I got the brake noise fix applied. I was never bothered by the noise in the first place, but thought since it was available I would get it done. Well now I have a pulsing in my brakes and the braking behavior has changed. When lightly braking the truck seems to exponentially decelerate...so much that my wife always says whoa take it easy. I brake lightly then the brakes seem to catch more and more, not that they don't work, but it is difficult to gradually apply the brakes since they go from little grip to hard stopping very quickly.

Not sure if either of these issues are related to the fixes or just coincidence? We only have 17K on it an most of the miles are highway, so it is possible that the brake rotors are warped and need to be turned due to mostly high heat braking?

fndlyfmrflyr · October 2004

Had both done months ago. Noticed no change in transmission behavior. Mine has always had some shift issues, usually delay in shift in the 35 mph speed range as well as slow shift from reverse to drive when not warmed up.

I noticed minor high speed pulsing (warped front rotor like vibration) about 10K miles ago. Still does it at times (27K on my 02). Does not happen all the time during high speed slow downs and has never happened at in town speeds. There was no change in brake feel or performance after the brake clunk fix - just no more clunk.

My MDX has never been a great stopper, but I suspect that may be due more to the hard Michelin Cross Terrains than the brakes.

sbcooke · October 2004

Dealer just called. Couldn't find anything with the transmission, at least it is documented. The rotors were warped and replaced under warranty.

With a coupon for a free oil change, I am very happy not having any $$ out of pocket.

punjabi_sahib · October 2004

any one have any experience with the '05 mdx, and what about the sloshing noise, i heard that they repositioned the fuel tanks and added size for the sloshing to stop. i personally will go for the mdx for sure around jan or feb and if my patiants allows i will go for the 06 in redesign in 4th Q of the next year , and has any1 heard or seen it and can u tel me, if anyone knows where there might be pictures of the redesign thanx in advance

sbcooke · October 2004

I have an '02. I maybe noticed sloshing once and I was trying really hard to...but it may not have been it. I don't notice the noise at all. I wouldn't consider it a deal breaker. However I think you are right they tried to fix it for '05.

otis123 · October 2004

2004 MDX with 932 miles...no sloshing...no brake noises... no nothing... :-)

punjabi_sahib · October 2004

Hay every1, hav u guys noticed that they haven't shown the invoice price on yahoo, edmunds or any other place i've checked lately for the '06 mdx...i really wanted to know so i can decide what i should pay for the car(1-2 percent over invoice), and for those of you that are waiting for the '06, did you know that hummer is coming out with the H3 which is about $30,000 base price, something to thnk about, atleast i would consider it dont know bout u guys.

daedalus · October 2004

I'm also hitting close to my first month with my '04 MDX. Got it for just over invoice, although the dealer in Boulder likes to include a lot of options as standard. I'm loving it so far... it's so nice to drive a vehicle that's reputed to be very reliable... my other vehicle is a '99 Volvo S-80 T-6 (yep, THE problem child!).

I've noticed that the trip computer is always pessimistic when it comes to avg mpg calculations. I think this is due to the fact that when you're at a standstill in traffic or at a stoplight, it continues to factor in the 0 mpg for the duration of the stop. So far, I'm pleased to be getting just over 20mpg with half my driving in town and half on the interstate.

I would agree with the guys who say that the '04 MDX base model is a better value than the '05 Pilot leather. Especially since dealers are willing to go close to invoice on '04 MDXs.

I do with that I could take the seats out of my Volvo and put them in the MDX however. It's hard to match the comfort of Volvo's seats.

If anyone is looking to get XM radio for their '04 MDX, I just had an "XM commander" put into mine. I had a local stereo installer fabricate a simple plastic cradle which fits very neatly into the storage shelf in front of the gearshift, with about 1/3rd of the room left over. Very slick, it almost looks as if it were built in... no wires showing, no fuss no mess.

-Cheers

otis123 · October 2004

We have been getting similar mpg ~19-22. Trip computer made it to 20 mpg briefly once after a long interstate run, but it tends to fall on the conservative side. We paid 33400 with wide bodyside molding...so slightly under invoice - molding was quoted as $299. and can be purchased online for $170. And you are right, the base model is definitely worth the extra $ over the Pilot (and I'm a cheap [non-permissible content removed]!). I posted the long list of extras somewhere on this site (although all you need to list is curtain side air bags!).

Still driving it easy...haven't pushed the pedal or the body, yet. This is out first SUV so getting used to the mass. Actually, we just took it on a long trip and then we've garaged it until the Accord is sold. Finally selling it tonight!

What did the XM unit cost installed??

daedalus · October 2004

I agree that the side-curtain airbags are key... after driving a volvo (which has more airbags than you can shake a stick at), it's hard to see why they aren't standard in more vehicles... especially SUV's.

I also had my first experience which made me very, very, very glad that my dealer put a clear nose mask on all the MDX's! There's a lot of construction in progress on the section of the Interstate I frequently use to commute to work... nuff said!

As for the XM unit... the XM Commander cost $150, and it comes with everything you need to mount it to a vehicle...(receiver, tuner, RF modulator, antenna) and about another $39 for installation including the fabrication of the base which mounts it to the storage shelf. All told, just over $200 including tax. It's not too bad, considering that a XM Delphi SkyFi unit's car kit is $70 alone, add to that the installation cost and the fact that the Delphi SkyFi on the cradle is HUGE! The little extra cost I think is worth it for the gucci factor and being located in a very convenient place.

Word of warning however, make sure that you get it installed at a place that has experience with MDX's. The space around the center consol's face plate(which needs to be removed to install the tuner) is unusually tight... so you definitely don't want an inexperienced monkey wrenching at it and scratching the trim.

-Cheers

djdj · October 2004

I spent the last three weeks trying to decide what to buy, got it down to the Pilot (a common sense thing to do) or the MDX (a can't live with anything less once I test drove it vehicle).

So, in the pouring rain I stopped at the new Acura dealer in Cleveland that had emailed me their Internet pricing, asked for a red one, talked my way out of Nav ($2K for a map?) and DVD, the saleswoman showed me a Touring, I pretended this was my first test drive (which was as good as the real first drive), and got home at 10:30 with it.

What a great vehicle to drive. Lightyears past my ML320. I love everything about it. If anyone else is considering Pilot, don't drive the MDX if you don't want to be tempted because you will spend the extra money. In the long run, the comfort, smoothness of the car is worth it. On paper they may seem close, but behind the wheel the MDX is something quite different.

The Touring package was well worth it, especially at only $400 more than the price for an MDX Base at the 'other' Acura dealer in town. Acura of Cleveland started at invoice price in their internet quote. The first trade-in offer was $900 under what both the other Acura dealer and the Honda dealer finally offered. We 'talked' and I got the net price dropped another $1,500 (don't know if the next $600 was off the MDX or onto the trade-in, don't care). This dealer says they are now the biggest in the tri-state area (OH, ? and ?) and based on their pricing I'd say so. Easy people to deal with.

No other toys added, might get a cargo cover or net; might get a sunroof deflector (does anyone think they really help in this car?) but that can wait until a) it warms up, and b) my wife lets me drive it.

yrneh1 · October 2004

I am happy for you. I can't imagine why anyone would be unhappy with MDX unless the tranny fails. We got ours 2 weeks ago after almost a year of switching back and forth from vehicle to vehicle. My wife and I've been wanting to get a new car since last year when our 1999 Explorer was paid off. That TRUCK was a reliable and functional car but we needed something nicer. I always got lower back pain after 1 hour of driving in it and my wife hated it whenever I drove it because she had to readjust the seats. We also wanted something that offered better safety features. Naturally, my wife wanted Volvo XC90. After initial test drive, she liked it overall, especially nice interior and all the safety features. I felt that the ride wasn't as nice as it could be and the engine seemed a little underpowered. I tried to convince my wife to at least test drive few others, namely Aviator, Pilot, and MDX. She liked the interior and the power of Aviator, but thought that the suspension was too trucky. Pilot was decent but the interior seemed too cheap. Then she drove MDX. She couldn't believe that it was based on the same platform as Pilot. She said it was smooth and easy to drive. We both decided that MDX was the car for us. My only complaint was that it didn't come with dual (driver/passenger) climate control, but everything else was just perfect. It probably has the best Navigation of all the SUV's out there. I enjoy the memory seats, wide seats (lots of room), and the quiet and comfy ride. I don't get to drive it much b/c my wife loves it so much. I really think it's THE premier SUV in its class. Some may be bigger, more luxurious, or more powerful. But there's not one that does everything well as this car for its price.

Acura MDX (pre-2007)

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