Acura MDX (pre-2007)

otis123 · February 2005

Always fill up before you leave NJ, as any NYer will tell you! :-)

kennynmd · February 2005

This subject hasn't been brought up in some time but has anyone heard anything new for 06 MDX's?

stever · February 2005

Nope, but you have a response to your question of a couple of years ago:

wilkinte, "Mitsubishi Montero Sport" #727, 21 Feb 2005 9:41 pm

All good things come to those who wait, I guess.

Steve, Host

transpower · February 2005

Nobody really knows. It seems like Acura is focusing on the RDX, a compact SUV. According to the latest issue of Automotive Engineering, the RDX will have the so-called Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system of the Acura RL. What I would like in the '06 MDX is a V-8, a 6-speed (or CVT) transmission, and a real 4x4 system. But if Acura didn't put a V-8 in the new RL, why would they put one in the MDX? The only other thing I've read is that something like the Accord Hybrid system might be available for the MDX.

03lxv6 · February 2005

There is a post in "Acura MDX - 2005/2006" by xenon240 saying 06 MDX will have 3.7L V6 and 300HP.

tidester · February 2005

I think this is the item you're referring to:

xenon240, "Acura MDX - 2005/2006" #136, 27 Sep 2004 8:33 pm

tidester, host

dsp888 · February 2005

Is there a way to eleminate the accept screeen that comes on every time you start the vehicle? Pretty annoying.
Thanks

carbuyer11 · February 2005

I am a prospective '05 MDX purchaser. I test drove a model with Touring and Navigation and was disappointed to learn that the XM information is limited to the narrow radio readout and is not available on the nav screen. Also, the external temperature reading is buried in the nav's option screens and is not visible at all times. While the temp reading is not a deal breaker, I am concerned about the limited readout available for XM (My '04 Accord with nav has a great readout on the nav screen that lists the channel, artist and song title simultaneously). I have been unable to obtain information from Acura's brochure concerning the screen that takes the place of navigation in non-nav vehicles (I guess they figure everybody is buying the navigation). Can a non-nav '05 owner out there confirm what information is available on the screen of non-nav MDX's? Thanks for your help.

henrywu · February 2005

We just got a 05 MDX with nav. XM channel information CAN be displayed on the nav screen by press and hold the channel dial for couple of seconds. It will show the channel info as well as the current song's name. Don't know about this in non-nav MDX but I think should be the same. Regarding the external temp reading, I think you can stay in the AC/info screen and see external temp all the time.

carbuyer11 · March 2005

Thanks, Henrywu. It's too bad sales personnel selling $40K vehicles don't always know how they work! I love it when sales people open up the front doors and proclaim: "it's got leather seats". Ok- now tell me something I don't know.

mmh · March 2005

Has any one recently purchased a factory extended warranty for the MDX before the standard warranty expired? If so what was the price? I am considering purchasing one because of the electronics in my 2004 MDX Navi&Res but would like to know what dicounts are available.

johnrich27 · March 2005

Have you found a way to do this yet? You're right it is very annoying.

If you have found a way please let me know at john.richard@ps.ge.com

tidester · March 2005

If you have found a way please let me know at ***@***.***

Please keep the discussion here so everyone can benefit. To do otherwise defeats the purpose of a message board which is to share information, experiences and views.

tidester, host

cigetni · March 2005

Hi: I wanted to give an update here.... We purchased 2 MDX '04's last year, (we had a good year). We have replaced the clocks in both vehicles because they were losing about 1 minute/week in time... Unfortunatley, the new clocks are losing time at the same rate

After previously owning between the 2 of us 6 vehicles with digital clocks, we NEVER had to reset the time unless the battery died; yet now we do it every other week.... is anyone else experiencing this? The dealer says "it's within the acceptable tolerance range..." obviously, a dissatisfactoy answer in my opinion. Cig

michele04mdx · March 2005

I have the same problem with my 2003 MDX. I add a minute or 2 every month or so. I've seen this problem in an earlier posting on this board. I think we just have to live with it!

habitat1 · March 2005

It's the 100 year anniversary of Einstein's theory of relativity.

Maybe you guys losing time are driving too fast.

tidester · March 2005

That would be on June 30^th and anyone interested can read it in its full glory right here!

But if you're driving too fast you'll run out of time quicker with or without relativity!

tidester, host

superrational · March 2005

Has anyone got HID in 2005 MDX.
It does not even come as an option.
Do dealers install it? Has anyone got it done?

transpower · March 2005

Actually at high speed, time slows down. Don't you guys remember the Lorentz transformations you were taught in college?

tidester · March 2005

Don't you guys remember the Lorentz transformations you were taught in college?

And you have the advantage that those red lights will be blue shifted but I don't think the judge will find that a compelling defense for running them! ;-)

tidester, host

luvmdx · March 2005

Can't seem to find difinite answer regarding the
use of regular unleaded gas in my 2003 acura mdx.

I tried it once and did not detect any knocks or
reduction in performance.

However, I am concerned about long term use.

sbcooke · March 2005

Try the search feature on this board. There is no definitive answer other than the potential reduced gas mileage probably evens out the extra $100-200 a year you would save buying cheaper gas.

anythngbutgm · March 2005

Using regualar unleaded won't hurt the motor, but the loss of power is noticable. We tried it for ourselves when we first bought the car. But sbcooke is right that the $$$ saved might not be worth the decrese in milage.

cwarr77 · March 2005

Does anyone know what the changes will be for the new 2006 mdx? Will it have a new body style? I am wanting to purchase a mdx and don't want to buy an '05 if there will be significant changes to the next year's model.

wen · March 2005

My Wife and I own a 2003 MDX Touring/NAVI and when we purchased it (Ferman Acura - Tampa, Florida) the Dealership was great in every way, but they did say it was "okay to use a mid-grade (89) gasoline every other tank". At the time we thought it might be a good idea, hey what the heck, mid was about 10 cents per gallon cheaper. So we tried it but not without methodically comparing the results over a one month period while driving the same route, same weather conditions, etc. We used the "on-board" computer as well as good old fashioned pen & paper. The results were plain and simple.... when anything OTHER than the recommended 91 (or higher) octane was used the computer must change the timing, etc. to compensate for lower octane and the results were about 2 - 3 miles per gallon LESS as well as a very, very slight decrease in power up hills, etc. When we used just palin old "regular" (87) we lost over 3 miles per gallon fuel economy. When we actually figured it out, we were really LOSING money using anything LESS than 91 octane "premium" fuel !!

fndlyfmrflyr · March 2005

Posted several times on this subject. My tests showed an 8% reduction in mpg using regular instead of premium. Around here that is about the cost difference. No dollar savings using regular vs. premium and may cost extra as gasoline prices increase.

My tests were: Used premium for many thousands of miles. Switched to regular for about 1500 miles. I do not use the on board trip computer, but used actual odometer miles and actual gallons added at the pump (since day one). Used the same pump at the start and end. Weather was virtually the same throughout the tests. Driving conditions were similar too - same roads, similar traffic, similar loads, similar speeds (cruise control used on freeways), A/C on all the time. About the same miles local and freeway. At the end of the test I did three acceleration runs from 0-60 on regular. The tank was virtually empty. The tank was filled and the acceleration runs repeated on the same stretch of road within 30 minutes, but now the tank was full with premium.

The results: Acceleration was faster by 3 to 4 tenths of a second from 0-60 using premium. This is significant. Mpg was 8% less using regular. This was confirmed over the next 1500 miles using premium as the mpg immediately improved to where it had been before using regular.

My MDX is an 02, but I have seen similar results on my other cars, so the chances are they will apply to many cars designed to perform best on premium, but that can run on regular.

I found that I quickly got used to the lower performance and did not notice.

As long as the engine electronics keep the engine from knocking there is little chance of doing damage to the engine by using regular.

vetpathologist · March 2005

I consistently get between 17.5 to 18.5 MPG in the city (avg speed of 40 MPH with no highway or cruise) and between 22 to 24 (best) on the highway with cruise control (avg speed 70 MPH) with premium on my 04 model. I did not find any difference between the trip computer and the old fashioned method of calculating (unless you are concerned about the number of decimal places!). Taking an avg of 20 MPG and 12K miles per year, you would need 600 gallons. With a 20 cent difference between regular and premium, you would save $120 per year using regular.

habitat1 · March 2005

You would only save approximately $120 per year using regular if the gas mileage didn't suffer. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it does, and according to some, by enough to wipe out all of the potential savings.

I do believe Acura engine technology is advanced enough to tell the difference between regular and premium gas. Over this past weekend, our 2005 MDX got 21.8 mpg on a 850 mile highway roundtrip through the hills of western Maryland/Pennsylvania. Our 1996 Isuzu Trooper 5-speed averaged about 17-18 mpg for the same trip. And the MDX has 265 hp compared to the Trooper's 190. The Acura also weighs more. Granted, the Trooper used regular, but given its inability to climb some of the hills without downshifts and loss of cruising speed, I'm happy to fill up the MDX with premium.

seekr · March 2005

My daughter wants an MDX. For $25k she has been shown a 2001 Touring with 17,000 miles by one dealer, and a 2002 non-Touring model with 43,000 miles.

Is one a better purchase than the other? They're both Acura Certified.
She can't quite swing getting a 2003, which from what I've read may have solved some of the problems that existed with the 2001-2 (noise, transmission).

Thanks for your help.

fndlyfmrflyr · March 2005

Only 17K miles on a 2001? The 02 may be a touch quieter, but the 01 has significantly fewer miles, memory driver's seat, full power passenger seat, and a better sound system. Have not checked used MDX prices lately, but $25 K seems a might steep for an 01 or an 02.

seekr · March 2005

Thanks - she put a deposit on the '01.
My mistake - the '01 was $26.5. As a matter of interest, Edmund prices in the NY/Westchester county area are $26.2/29.4 for private purchase/dealer purchase. I guess they hold value well.
She's still nervous, about such a big purchase for her, and will have another dealer mechanic check it out. But the Acura Certification is reassuring.

habitat1 · March 2005

We just bought a 2005 MDX Touring with the works (Nav, DVD) for $40.5k. However, I would have a tough time recommending a 4 1/2 year old MDX for $26.5k, even with the low mileage and Acura certification. That's not much less than a brand new Honda Pilot. And 4-5 years from now, the Pilot will be worth considerably more than an 8-9 year old MDX, not to mention less expensive to maintain.

I admit being a bit biased against used cars. However, I do think $26.5k is overpriced for a nearly 5 year old vehicle (i.e. 65%+ of the new vehicle price).

gmanzx3 · March 2005

I just purchased an 01 MDX Touring with 30k miles for $24k. I thought I got a pretty fair deal. It was NOT a certified used, however. That usually adds $1000-$1500 to the price. So for the lower miles on your daughter's MDX, I'd say it was a fair deal also. As far as whether to spend that much on a used car...Remember, It was close to $40k when new. If she plans on driving it for a while, I think it was a good move. The Pilot vs. MDX is being beaten to death on another forum, so I won't go in to that. But, IMHO, the used MDX was more appealing...and $6k cheaper.

habitat1 · March 2005

I can't argue that the MDX isn't more appealing than the Pilot, since we paid approximately $9k more for the top of the line MDX than the top of the line Pilot would have cost.

However, I think a 4+ year old 2001 MDX for $24k-26.5k will prove to be the MORE expensive choice than a new 2005 Pilot EX-L for $30k - $31.5k (w/nav) in the long run. The additional maintenance costs and potential out of warranty repairs will be higher on the MDX over the next 4-5 years. Not to mention the possibility of a $2,000 out of warranty transmission replacement on a 2001 MDX. Based upon my past research, I believe the future (3-5 years from now) resale value of a 2005 Pilot will be at least $6,000 more than than a 2001 MDX, making up more than 100% of the initial price difference.

Again, my point is not that the MDX isn't worth a premium over the Pilot for the "appeal" factor of the additional amenities. That's a subjective opinion that I happen to agree with, given my financial situation. But for a dad who is trying to help out his daughter who is on a limited budget, the 4-5 year old MDX for $26.5k is NOT a the most economic choice in my opinion. If the appeal value outweighs the economics, so be it. But I'd be careful not to confuse the two.

otis123 · March 2005

Well put!

I feel I got both by buying a base MDX back in Sept. for $33K - some $330. under invoice... :-)

gmanzx3 · March 2005

The problem I had...and possibly so does his daughter...I that I had $24k to spend. I couldn't afford $31k. So a new pilot wasn't even an option for me. Of course If I had it, I would have probably bought a new pilot. Hell, I'd like a new Range Rover too, but it isn't in the budget. My option was a new XL-7, a used 2003-2004 Explorer, or a used Envoy. (I wanted 7 pax). I think on a limited budget, a used MDX is an excellent choice. Also, the Pilot is out of warranty after 3 yrs. After that, maintenance costs are all yours. Her certified MDX has about the same time on warranty. So, maintenance costs are a wash. As far as resale, I don't know, a 5yr old Pilot will be worth more than a 9 yr old MDX. But by MORE than the $5k now? If equal, it's a wash...If less, advantage MDX.

gosox18 · April 2005

My dealer told me that they routinely fill all of their Acuras with regular or mid-grade gas with no problems. He suggested using a good premium gas once per month or so to cleanout fuel injectors, etc. I think the mileage could be affected by the use of regular gas, however. It may balance out in the end to cost the same.

gosox18 · April 2005

This car is fantastic. Super handling, comfortable and has personality.
Let me ask, why does everyone complain about the gas mileage? What other SUV has 265 hp, weighs 4000 lbs. and gets more than 23 mpg on the highway (don't tell me Lexus, because that car is smaller and also more $$)? Also, when you buy a car, you research the gas mileage, so there should be no surprises there. People sound surprised to me, like, "oh my gosh..... the gas mileage stinks; they need to make it better"....Did you all research this first before buying an MDX? One way to make the mileage better is to remove two cylinders! There are plenty of good 4 cyl. SUVs that get great mileage. Honda CRV, for instance. Not much luxury or power, but reliable and trustworthy just the same.
If you have the $$ to buy an MDX, you can afford the gas. Enjoy the darn car, it's awesome!

alexasha · April 2005

Hi, I know that this topic is bitten down, but....
Can not decide between Pilot and MDX. I like the looks and space of Pilot, but headrest and lumbar support are horrible. Any thoughts on that. Also, are any of the cars have lumbar support for front passangers. If not, what car does, except VW passat. Thanks

gosox18 · April 2005

yeah, lumbar support is something most car manufacturers don't seem to care about. At work, we buy lumbar pads that hang over our chairs, I'm sure they sell them for cars! My MDX only has it for the driver. Not sure if the toruing has it for passenger, but then you are talking 40K+. The pilot is essentially the same as the MDX, only a little more "boring". You cannot go wrong either way.

habitat1 · April 2005

If seat comfort is a high priority, the Volvo XC90 should be on your list. Volvo has a reputation for about the best seats in the business. The XC90 2.5 T should be able to be purchased for about the same price as an MDX. I drove the XC90 V8 and, had my wife not had a stong preference for the MDX (size and amenities won out), I think I might have gone for the Volvo. The seats were about the best I have experienced, other than a BMW M5 and my former Honda S2000 (which had virtually no adjustments, but fit me like a glove).

FWIW, I do think the MDX seats are a bit more comfortable than the Pilots.

mistermdx · April 2005

The last thing I could give a crap about is my freakin mpg....drive and enjoy, put in more gas, then drive and enjoy some more! If it bugs you then buy a Pilot because 10 grand buys a lot of gas! I am just in love with my car and I love that you rarely see two that are alike. I wish the was a meet for MDX owners, like when I owned my chrysler t&c, and went to chrysler day at six flags, what a gathering of the same yet differently tricked out cars especially loads of PT cruisers, pardon the pun. I got mine with all the bells, whistles, and accessories you could get at delivery, got my red sox plates in chrome frames and just put on my chrome dipped factory rims, I like to see other schemes, like the black on black versions with running boards and spoilers, or the silver with the satin steps and satin mirror covers. How is yours set-up?

sbcooke · April 2005

I am not so concerned about gas mileage as I am in time between fillups. So the increased mileage on the highway means we are able to keep trips going much longer while the kids are napping during the overnight, etc. Small tanks in combination with poor mileage is an annoyance. The MDX does OK around town and great on the highway with respect to this.

fndlyfmrflyr · April 2005

I agree with you. Give me range. The slightly bigger tank on the current MDX is a nice upgrade over our 2002s. 400 miles is about all my 2002 MDX will go on the road. This seems great compared to my Cruiser (about 300 on a good day) and not so hot compared to over 500 miles for my Avalon. What I really would like is the range of my old VW Rabbit turbo diesel - over 1000 miles of mixed driving (44 mpg and a 25 gallon tank system) - and the comfort and room of my MDX.

oman9 · April 2005

What is the gas tank capacity of the current MDX and the range?

I read many boards religiously...have to say that compared with the Lexus GX470, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and even the Honda Odyssey, seems that MDX owners are most pleased with their vehicles/have the least problems. I attribute the low message volume on this board to that...people generally write out here more with problems/questions vs. just praise....

habitat1 · April 2005

Not sure about the ultimate range of the MDX, but on some recent highway trips where we have averaged 22 mpg, the fuel light comes on at 375 +/- miles. The trip computer still claims a remaining range of 70+/- miles, so the fuel light appears to be conservative. That would suggest a highway range of about 440-450 miles.

On a side note, my 2004 TL 6-speed can barely take me 200 miles of mixed driving (16-17 mpg) before needing a fill-up and even though the highway mileage is 28-29 mpg, the low fuel light comes on at about 350 miles. Compared to my 1995 Maxima 5-speed, where I could get 325+/- miles in mixed driving (22 mpg) and 450+ of highway (30 mpg). Even my former Honda S2000 managed 220+ miles in mixed driving (21 mpg) and 325+ highway (30 mpg). And that was with a 9,000 rpm redline. So I'm pleased with the range of our 2005 MDX, not with our 2004 TL.

P.S. The runner up to my decision to get a 2004 TL was the E320CDI. My marketing director has one and she gets 500 miles out of a tank in mixed driving, 750 miles on the highway. Standard tank.

nini1 · April 2005

Hi i got a 2002, 20,600 miles with navi touring for 30,000???
i think igot a good deal..
so i would go for least amount of miles....
does anyone know how to get the acura extenede warranty???

nini1 · April 2005

hi have u had any problems with your 2202? do u get a sound from placing in reverse and then drive to park and when pushing brakes??
whattype of service is needed at 20, 000? when maintenace light goes on??
thanks

daddyira · April 2005

Does anybody have any thoughts in regard to the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with side air bags and the MDX.
Thanks.

gosox18 · April 2005

I did not go for the nav pkg - frankly, this is the first "luxury" car I have splurged on, so to keep the cost down, I decided my kids watch enough TV, so opted for the premium model only. however, I love it! Next time, I may go the whole nine yards. I did like the rear camera on the nav model.
A couple of extras I did get - the Autobahn (sp.?) front end protection (my CRV took a beating on the highway), Simoniz and lojack! I am getting used to the XM radio and feel like they have totally reeled me in by giving 90 days free! Enjoy your MDX.... :shades:

P.S. Why are the Sox off to such a rough start?

Acura MDX (pre-2007)

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