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Acura MDX (pre-2007)
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We like the tires, the 6 CD changer, the right auto-tilt rear view mirror and the memory linked seats in the touring package.
Unfortunately it's difficult to integrate your own third-party stereo into either model, but I hear that those who have tried have had more success upgrading the equipment in the Base. Check www.acuramdx.org for more info. You would lose the nice in-center-of-the-dash CD changer, though.
We bought the Touring because we really wanted the 8-way power adjustable passenger seat (Base is only 4-way manual, so SOME might have problems getting it comfortable enough for them), the memory-linked seats-and-mirrors, and the in-dash CD Changer. We also like the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV tires that come with the Touring Package, though you can add them to a Base for a lot less than $2,600.
Incidentally, the Touring Package will probably add little (relative to the initial cost) to the resale value of the vehicle. Leasing residuals confirm this.
Good luck!
Is the MDX always going to be in short supply?
Is Acura increaing production?
Just hate to pay above MSRP. Just purchased a Boxster and got 5% off MSRP
Thanks
I installed ProStripe molding on my GG Touring/Nav and posted some photos in the Gallery section of the www.acuramdx.org web site. To get to the Gallery, however, it's necessary to first go to the Forums, then click on the Gallery. (Unless the link has been fixed since my last visit, clicking on the Gallery from the site's home page won't get you there.)
Eleven months may not be good timing because it'll be very early in a new model year, and any discounting won't happen until the new model year hysteria dies down.
Problem is that Acura is making the MDX's at the same plant as the Odyssey, and the Odyssey still commands MSRP with wait lists in most parts of the country (third highest selling minivan in the U.S. after the well-established Caravan and Windstar). Honda/Acura is building more plants, so hopefully this will change down the line.
It's more than just limited supply, it's high demand. The Odyssey is highly competitive, and is currently the third-highest selling minivan in the U.S.
Competition is great. It'll force manufacturers to put better quality, better safety, and more features in their vehicles while keeping an eye on price. The Odyssey (and Sienna) have forced Chrysler to keep their minivan lines competitive. I think the RX300 encouraged MB to improve the quality of the interior materials on the initially bare-bones ML320 while simultaneously keeping its cost in line. Now increased competition in the form of the MDX and others, and overproduction have Lexus dealers dropping RX300 prices to unheard-of levels.
Hopefully Acura will be forced to similarly upgrade the interior materials, and add more active and passive safety features like stability control.
If you're willing to look out of state, you might find an honorable dealer. In NH, one dealer was willing to sell S2000's at MSRP while the ones in MA were selling them at $2-5K over.
It's just supply and demand. MLs sold at MSRP and had 1yr wait lists for almost two years (but at least MB dealers weren't allowed to sell over MSRP, unlike Honda ones)-: The X5 sold at MSRP for about 9 months and 4 month wait lists. The MDX will come down eventually...
BTW, now that I pried the MDX from my wife's cold clenched hands, I've had time to drive it some. I adjusted the seat and it is perfect. I was all the time trying to get the front of the seat to go up, and it was maxed out. I didn't realize that I could make the back part, where my butt is, go down. In my Grand Cherokee, there is only one control to do this. Does that make any sense?
Need help.
The back hatch is very difficult to close. my brother, who has an accord station wagon, says that the latch is easily adjusted. any input?
Much of the reasoning for our decision is that $35K was the peak of our "comfort" zone for the cost of our next vehicle. This price target was set by us back in August/Sept, before the pricing on the MDX was announced. This didn't necessarily mean we would rule out a purchase of over $37K, but such a purchase would definitely require some justification and value returned for the upgrade.
The stereo in the Base model is quite good -- better than most base stereos in many upscale European models. It's certainly not one of the best stereos we've ever heard, but it definitely doesn't sound weak or flat. I would say it sounds better than the base (non-HK upgrade) stereo in a BMW 3-series, the Bose stereo in the ML320, or the Bose stereo in the Acura TL. It does not sound as good to me as the base stereo in a Lexus ES300 or an Audi A6. The stereo with the Touring package, from what I've read in this forum, may only be a small improvement in sound quality. I've actually seen a few posts where people had some functional problems/glitches with the CD changer feature of the Touring package's Bose stereo! At least the Base stereo still comes equipped with an in-dash CD player, and it has volume controls on the steering wheel.
From what I've read on this forum and in other reviews, I've concluded that the roof rack on the Touring model definitely adds some wind noise within the cabin at highway speeds. The roof rack has non-adjustable cross-members that don't seem very useful, from my own personal point of view. I believe I would never make any functional use of it. Hence, I actually prefer NOT to have the roof rack option. (In any case, the roof rack can be purchased as an accessory for those who buy the Base MDX.)
We used to own an Audi A6 with an auto tilt-down side mirror. I found it interesting at first, but eventually it became a feature that we rarely ever used. I'm sure it would have been utilized more if we parallel parked, but it seems that we never parallel park any of our vehicles in this town!
I consider the wheels within the Touring package to be slightly better looking, but not enough to pay extra money on them. To be honest, I'm very pleased with the wheels Acura has equipped on the MDX. Acura provides 17" wheels standard! Even with these 17" wheels, the ride is still reasonably comfortable. I consider both of the two MDX wheel designs to be much more interesting than the wheels provided on the RX300 or the ML320.
Hence, there were only about 3 features within the Touring Package that we found somewhat valuable at the time of our purchase:
1) Memory driver's seat and mirrors
2) Power Passenger Seat
3) Upgraded Michelin tires
We discovered during our first test drive (and confirmed via 3 months of ownership) that we could personally do just fine with the manual 4-way passenger seat. It is still quite comfortable for us, and the manual adjustments are easy to perform. Thus, at this point in time we really only miss the memory seat/mirrors and the better tires. We will always have to do without the memory seat/mirrors feature, but the tires can always be upgraded at any time.
http://www.jdpower.com/auto/hot_sellers/FindHotSellers.jsp
RX300 at #1, with 80,616 year-to-date, 7,297 for November.
M-class at #2, with 47,544 year-to-date, 4,482 for November.
#3 Navigator, 34,853, 2,952.
#4 X5, 22,465, 3,408.
#5 Escalade, 21,619, 1,184.
The MDX was #9, 6,291 sold this year (only started selling in October, with 3,833 units sold in November (third best in November volume, behing the RX and M-class). Unfortunately for would-be buyers, that's probably as many units as they can make a month if the estimate for 40,000 units in the first model year holds out.
Comparative sales are interesting. For the M-class, sales increased a good 18% for the first eleven months of the calendar year. However, even more impress was the 23% increase in RX300 sales over the same period.
I remember seeing something about how windshields themselves become part of the structure of the cage, so I thought maybe the liftgate glass is too.
I'd guess it improves structural integrity during a crash, but have read nothing that explicitly states this. I was just wondering this weekend how to get drop ceiling rails back w/ my ML; I wonder if the hatch acts as a spoiler if you leave it open and strap down the cargo :-)
For the MDX, the wiper will also have to be redesigned since it is currently anchored to the tailgate, unlike the ML's (motor) which is built into the 3rd brake light assembly and protrudes through the glass. The Ford Explorer has the same design as the MDX, but because of its flip-up rear window, there is some kind of a magnetic catch at the bottom that holds the wiper away from the window. The Explorer also has an overide which doesn't allow the rear wiper to turn on if the window is opened.
FWIW, this mechanism has screwed up a couple of times on my friends' Explorer, and once it came close to nailing me in the face when the tailgate window is being opened. I guess it gets confused if the rear wiper switch is activated and you're just opened the window by a couple of inches. FWIW also, I like the Explorer's variable timer rear wiper switch. I believe you can set it to continuous mode, or up to 40 seconds between sweeps.
BTW, the 4Runner also has this unique rear wiper + override because of its powered rolldown rear window. I haven't had any phantom sweeps when loading cargo through the window of another friend's '99 4Runner Limited :-). In fact, the Toyota's mechanism is quite a bit quieter than the Ford's. On a related note, I believe the Sequoia also has the 4Runner like rolldown tailgate window.
Drew
Host of Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
P.S. I want some of that 12" NYC snowfall over on our coast!
Rail
A few days ago, the seat stopped sliding forward when pulling the latch on the side of the seat. That latch now folds the seat down, just like the latch on the top of the seat. No matter what I try to do, it won't slide forward. Also, when the seat is folded down and I go to put it back, it folds back further than the other second row seat, and I have to pull it back up to get it in position (and it doesn't always lock).
Haven't taken it to the dealer yet. Anyone else have this problem? If so, any recommendations?
Thanks in advance.
1. In Illinois there is a flat amount of tax paid if you purchase from a private buyer vs. a percentage if you purchase from a dealer.
2. Because this was written up as a dealer sale, he also had to pay local Chicago taxes which included a Cook County tax.
In all he paid about $1100.00 more in taxes but he still got a hell of a deal because trucks with that kind of equipment in the kind of condition that one was are selling for $3k more. He finally realized that he still got a great deal and told me he wouldn't have complained if he had a better understanding of what was going to happen. I can't fault him for that, either. I just didn't know, myself, so I couldn't have told him more than I did.
Hope that answered your question.
Joanne
The vent on the left side (driver's side) seems to blow out air a few degrees cooler than the right side. It's hard to say just by "feel", but I would guess there is a 10-degree difference between the two sides. I checked this out several times, including after we had arrived back home in Arizona. I checked it with the climate system in "Full Auto" as well as in other modes (recycle, A/C off, etc). Generally, the left side of the dual rear A/C vent blew out cooler air than the right side. Hence, the 2nd-row passenger on the left side may be receiving air that is cooler than desired, and/or the 2nd-row passenger on the right side may be receiving air that is too warm.
Since the MDX does not have split left/right temperature controls, I would expect both sides of these vents to be at the same temperature -- especially since they are located so close to each other.
Has anybody else noticed this occurence? To test this out, I imagine it requires that the interior be warm enough for the climate system to perform some amount of cooling. Otherwise, the airflow to the rear would be located only along the heat ducts near the floor.
I will likely make a service call about this issue within the next few days, although I agree this is nothing to be alarmed about!
I still don't understand why the state has to take taxes on used car sales. Taxes were paid already when it was bought new.
How is your X5? I remember you posted on bimmer.org that you were going on a trip. Encounter any snow? Does it suck dirt onto the rear hatch as well?
For mounting, they just screw on and off. The fit is designed to grab the oval bar.
Opening and closing is a matter of unlocking, with the key, and locking. You cannot leave them open. I have found it most useful to put the key on a shoe string which I ware around my neck.
I have been using x-c country skis. I quickly noticed that one must put the tips of the skis towards the front of the vehicle because if one does the reverse the tips may hit the rear hatch when it is opened. The tail of the skis are shorter.
There is wind noise from the racks, not too bad, beginning around 60 mph.
I have run the MDX, with the racks on, through the car wash without any problems. I'm using the wash that has the felt strips that wiggle back and forth.
Being in Northern Minnesota, I have driven on several types of snow covered roads. I have not experienced any negative results. In fact, the feeling is solid gripping and secure.
Oddly enough, the one item on the touring package we have really come to enjoy is the heated seats. I never expected they would be so nice. Temps. here have been around 0 F.
It would be nice for some of you out east, with the big snow, to mention your driving experiences with the MDX.
http://www.auto.com/reviews/acuramdx3_20010103.htm
What mileage are some of you getting on highway and around town. Review says he got 14 in mixed driving. That is on par with Odyssey.
INKY
Casio makes a VM5000 video player kit that includes a thin 5" active matrix color LCD monitor and a floor-mounted VCP that hooks into any 12V power port. It provides a very simple hook-up between the VCP and the monitor: just one cable. The power cable is quite long, providing flexibility for the VCP location. The kit also includes a multi-adjustable bracket arm that mounts to the headrest posts of either of the two front seats. The monitor slides down and fastens to the other end of this bracket arm. The monitor and bracket arm could probably be easily fastened to one set of the 2nd-row headrest posts to entertain passengers in the 3rd row seats. When not in use, the monitor is quickly removed, and the bracket can easily be folded back against/under the headrest.
Although the monitor has a small speaker in it, the system also has a headphone jack and splitter (for 2 headsets). You can play the audio through headphones, or if you have a cassette adapter, you can play the audio track through the MDX stereo.
The best part about this is it cost me only $450 plus $22 shipping. I first discovered this system in a Penney's catalog for $599, but I ended up buying it over the phone from J&R Music World (www.jandr.com). Other than Netmarket, I haven't seen this unit at any other online stores, yet.
This is the only portable system I found that allows for the monitor to be hooked up as high up as the headrests. A couple other systems (such as Steel Horse) seem to allow only for a monitor that hangs down from the seat cushions, or else mounts on the center console. That's too low in the MDX for children in child seats.
The only thing I can say about this X is OHMYGOD! The most exceptional vehicle I have ever driven or owned. The weather was pretty bad this weekend and it did pretty well. As I wasn't driving most of the weekend I can't be any more specific. And yeah, the back end got pretty ucky. Even after going through the touchless car wash the back end was still cruddy. I can't say it sucked dirt but the touchless didn't clean it off as well as the sides were cleaned.
FWIW, I've had no need to switch to winter blades for the M-class because the full length spoilers (to eliminate wiper blade lift at highway (even Autobahn) speeds) attached to both of the wiper blades seem to do a good job at keeping the rubber on the blades from icing up and accumulating snow; at least for the kind of snow that we get here.
Drew
Host of Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
In my experience this dealership has been totally honest from the beginning. If you are in the area, you can give Mark Puk a call (ext. 227), tell him Li sends you. For those of you still waiting, don't give in to greedy dealers. With the stock market down so much for so long, everyone should be getting his or her MDX soon.
Happy new year.
At the Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, Mn. Acura dealer and from: Mike Pappas, I got MSRP, with the accessories at dealer cost. Also he gave a bottle of touch-up paint for free. His attitude has been very positive and helpful.
Good luck on finding your MDX. The vehicle has been outstanding for us. Got the silver, touring pkg. with ski racks, rear flaps, all season matts, and cargo liner.
Has anyone seen this problem? BMW, the restaurant was nice(we got an outdoor table overseeing the Pacific) and the whether was unbelievable!
ok as is the fuse. Anyone else have this problem? Another 100 mile trip to dealer for warranty service, my second in 2 months. AARRGG
BTW, after having driven to 7 different states recently, my MDX is now quickly approaching 5000 miles. Everything on the car still works as advertised! Highway gas mileage is at 21.9 mpg. City mileage is around 18.1 mpg.
Recently we were getting about 21 mpg on the highway with the cruise control set just above 80 mph. About a month ago we averaged 23 mpg while traveling between 70-75 mph.
During one section in southwestern Texas we had a VERY strong headwind, and at 77-80 mph on I-10 we temporarily averaged only 17 mpg!
Since almost all SUVs have aerodynamics only slightly better than the side of a barn, I guess it should be no surprise how much of a difference wind/air resistance makes to the fuel economy.
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