| Jeff NY |
Hi All:
First post on this board and am very impressed with the wealth of information and comments.
My wife's Pathfinder goes back to Chase in approx 90 days and being a car guy I am already on the prowl. Narrowed the list down to the following:
Infiniti FX35
Nissan Murano
Acura MDX
VW Touareg
The MDX I would buy would be loaded Touring with Nav and Rear DVD plus the following accex: lower trim, body side molding and maybe complete wood kit and I would kill for Acura phone integration kit that has been mentioned here.
Here are the issues:
We have a one year old and plan to add one more to the family in the near future. This new vehicle will be the main family car and will get lots of miles (I plan to buy). Although the third row is far from necessary in the next few years, it can't hurt to have it. Plus, with the third row flat, the cargo space is enormous. I suspect in four to five years the third row will be used more, although I would probably be ready to sell by then.
The FX blows me away with all the gadgets and the radical look. I got a dealer to quote me $42,200 when msrp is $46,145 and that would include the nav, rear dvd, rear camera, etc. That is a nice chunk off msrp, wild car and Nissan/Infiniti reliability. However, small cargo, first year production and a part of me thinks it can't be the main family car.
The Murano has a bit more room than the FX, again Nissan reliability, cool looks and loaded would be around $36k. Can't hurt to save some dollars. However, once again first year of production, smallish and I sort of wanted to move up from Nissan. Also, I am 35 and I feel that car may be a little young for me.
The VW is a long shot. It will be hard to get and the guys at the NY Auto Show told me a loaded V6 will be $44k + and most likely nothing off sticker. Also, first year production again and my Audi has had some electronic hiccups along the way.
So to you all I am asking your opinions. Do you love your MDX (I suspect I know the answer)? What do you think of the other vehicles I am considering?
I went to Curry Acura in Westchester and it appears based on my timeframe I would need to order in June/July, get a 2004 and pay MSRP. Do you agree with that assessment? Should I be able to order what I want AND get it at below MSRP?
What about the options I am considering? The complete wood kit would be expensive. I like the lower trim to protect the bumbers. Am I missing something critical???
Now to performance. I will be test driving on Saturday but would love to hear your opinions. The car will get lots of highway driving, so what about mileage? Is the 260hp adequate? What about reliability and servicing? How does it drive at 30mph versus 75mph? Does it hold the rode? Does this car have xenons or hid lights?
Anyone hear about 2004 changes??? Is there online access to the Acura Accessory catalog?
Anyway, enough for now. I am sorry for the lengthy post, but this car stuff is consuming me and I am hoping to pick up lots of insight. |
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| shootist |
First, read the "Dealer Rating" comments on the dealer you initially choose. This is important.
Most of us shopped extensively among SUV's and then dealers, and arrived here.
Many accessories are available at a great price from a sponsor of this site: tim at hondacuraworld.com. Many of them are easy to install, like body side moldings. Dealers sometimes mark these way up.
The highlights of the MDX (in my opinion) are the ride, handling, and effortless power for such a big mid-size SUV. I compare the ride and handling favorably to a Lexus LS 400 sedan.
Interior fit-out is not a strong point. Some luxury cars have nicer looking and longer lasting interiors.
Exterior finish is superb, in my opinion, and warrants the extra attention some lavish.
And, of course it looks cool without being "too young" like the Murano. (I hated the Murano's dash pods).
Forbes or WSJ recently said the average owner was a male, in his forties, income of $99k, so it has an upscale customer base.
The '03 had many little improvements over '02. We will all be jealous of the '04's.
Now, what color are you going to get? |
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| diceboy |
I agree with all of shootist's comments plus have a few more of my own:
- I'd avoid the VW like the plague. Not only because of your point that it's a first year model. I think it's also VW's first real foray into the upscale SUV-crossover market. That's a recipe for tons of initial quality problems.
- I've never liked the Nissan/Infinity offerings for this reason: they look too much alike! The reason I avoided the Infinity QX45 is that other than the Infinity badging, the vehicle looked exactly the same as the Nissan Pathfinder. What's the point of paying that much money for an Infinity and getting no (external) differentiation? Yeah, the interiors of the Infinity are loads better, but outside it looks like the same car. Why would Nissan/Infinity do that? :confused:
You didn't mention the Lexus RX330. That might be worth a look, though again its a first year model. If you are waiting for the 2004's to come out, then maybe this isn't as much of an issue, though in Acura's case, it took them 2 years to fix the tranny - 1 year turnaround to fix the initial model year problems may be asking to much... |
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| Jeff NY |
Thanks for the replies. I am sort of struggling with the color as my Audi is black and it is tough to maintain, but the black MDX is very sharp. I also like the charcoal interior, so that seems limited. Possibly silver or navy. I would really like a darker gray.
As for the Lexus RX330, that too me is also a bit small and I always considered it a "girl's" truck (no offense intended). I like the new GX, but it is $52k they way I like it and that is not happening. Also, I can't stand the rear lights and how they "bleed" into the rear glass.
Are you recommending that I don't buy the car with the accex I want and get them after? How involved would installation be for some of these items?
I will check the dealers as my friend has an MDX and he hates Curry Acura with a passion. I just want the best deal I can get. |
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| marge11 |
| I had a terrible time with Curry Acura and ended up buying at Acura of Westchester. However, I know that Acura of Manhattan will offer at least $500 off MSRP for AAA members. |
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| Jeff NY |
Thanks Marge11:
I happen to be a AAA member, so that is cool. As far as Curry is concerned, I just started focusing on the MDX and after the feedback I saw, I almost certainly would not buy from them.
Kind of funny, now I get a better sense of why they did not offer me a test drive last night. I can't stand buying a car- such an unpleasnt experience. |
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff NY
I would really like a darker gray.
Lexus RX330...it a "girl's" truck
Are you recommending that I don't buy the car with the accex I want and get them after? How involved would installation be for some of these items?
Sage Brush Pearl is a dark gray with a bit of kind of green depending on the light and that day's colorblindness index.
Interesting comment on the RX330- it's been made here before, but you came in fresh and untainted.
Unless you can get a very good deal on installed accessories as part of a package deal, yes- buy them from Tim and install them yourself. The tow package is hard work for 3-4 hours, the rear deflector requires 4 holes to be drilled into the body, wheel locks mean you have to pull off four lug nuts, but most of the other stuff is a no-brainer.
You get a template with the side moldings, so it takes about a half an hour and a little more than a C note.
Cargo tray and net are drop ins, moonroof deflector uses some fussy clips.
Front Lower trim looks very good (best) when its painted the body color by Tim, but the install requires drilling into the bumper. I can't recommend it to protect the bumpers, though- it's soft plastic, it requires drilled holes, and costs enough to not be sacrificial. Many of us are searching for a "grille guard" we can live with.
There are three pieces to the "wood kit"- burlwood shift knob (about $90), dash gauge trim (about $100) and steering wheel (about $350-400) . THe knob and dash trim are no brainers. The steering wheel requires pulling the old wheel, with its airbag. Unless you're comfortable handling low explosive airbags, (or you don't care) you want someone else to do the steering wheel.
There is an aftermarket option wood trim kit for about $160. It includes the dash guage and much more "plastic wood" or plood than you really wnat to look at. But for $50 more than the OEM Dash trim, you do get nice little airvent trim rings and things.
hondacuraworld.com has prices, and installation instructions so you can judge for yourself. |
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| mdx4me2 |
Jeff,
The cars you are interested are fine vehicles. In a competitive SUV market today, it is hard to go wrong with your choice. Each car offers different combination of performance, interior, handling, and coolness. It all comes down to personal preference. But, I am like you. I usually avoid first year model. There are just so many things could go wrong.
Regarding the pricing, I am very sure you can do much better than MSRP. A guy at Edmund townhall claimed he got $3000 off MSRP on the MDX model you are interested. Myself got $2600 off MSRP on a base MDX in Michigan. I did not talk to dealer on the phone. Instead, I used email to request quotes and bargained from there. Once a satisfying quote was obtained, I called the dealer to arrange delivery. I am not sure if you can get that much discount like I did in your area. But, I am very sure you can at least knock off a few hundreds. Go to the poll and check out the one titled" How much do you pay for your MDX."
I have one advice though. When you pick up your MDX, Check all the hardware integrity and fluid levels. Make sure test drive it and feel if 4 wheels are aligned. It could save you a couple trips to dealer later.
Welcome aboard and good luck on your MDX purchase. |
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| Jeff NY |
To mdx4me2 & shootist:
Thanks for all the valuable assistance and pointers. I really like the idea about negotiating via e-mail as things are on paper and it is hard for a dealer to back out once it is in "writing." In my past car purchases, I have negotiated pretty hard and usually "pit" several dealers against each other. I am not a fan of their business practices in general and often find it necessary to play hardball. I do live thirty five minutes outside NYC, so maybe everyone is just nastier here. :D
As for the options, I will probably order and install the easy stuff myself and leave the more involved items (ie: wood steering wheel) to the dealer.
I am really starting to get excited about this car. A few weeks ago I was dead set on the Infiniti FX, but as much as I love the looks, specs, etc.- I still need to be practical (especially at $40k +) and there are a few parts of that car that do not work great for my family. Once child number two arrives, space will become more essential even though I tell myself I can still get two strollers, two sets of golf clubs, various weekend duffels and plenty of baby stuff in the FX without a problem. Yeah, sure... :p
I find the front end of the Acura to be very sharp and the rest of the vehicle to be very clean and crisp. I would probably get sick of the FX or Murano after a year due to the radical look of the vehicles. We have had our Pathfinder for three years and we still love it and love how it looks- nothing flashy, just clean design and solid looks. I think the Acura falls into that category. I am going to test drive this weekend and will report back.
I am going to post in the accessories forum regarding this potential "phone Kit" people are talking about. I spend a lot of time in the car and that is important to me. I love the way BMW and MB integrate the phone system into the nav screen, etc. I can't stand the aftermarket phone kits. I called Acura Customer Care and the rep had no clue what I was talking about for either 2003 or 04. He said the Pilot and Accord had something available for cars with nav, but I can't find anything on their sites regarding a phone kit. Any ideas???
Anyway, great forum and I appreciate the help. |
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| ImOnlyTen |
OK:
The Touareg is good. Excellent perfromance, good looks, comfortable interior and quite cheap. We own a Passat and no problems yet. My dad was considering gettting it but now he's for an E55 wagon (when it comes out) or RS6 Avant because of fuel economy and emssion reasons:rolleyes:. But as you said its in its first year in production.
The FX is cool. Good looks, excellent handling and nice interior. The Murano has nothing over the MDX. IMO it's ugly and the interior is low-quality. Both in first year production.
The RX is ugly but nice features. OK handling. First year in production.
MDX does every thing well and has good looks and reliability. Excellent car!!! |
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| mdxxxx |
Jeff NY,
Your deliberation and research remind me of myself approx. 18 months ago... (only the RX300 was strongly considered)... Keep up posted on your decision. Trust your instincts, your the best person to assess your needs. There is a wealth of info here.... Good luck.. |
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| BLACK-BLING-MDX |
| If you are going to raise a family Jeff, you cannot go wrong with the MDX. Sure, the FX looks sporty and has more horsies, but what are you going to do with those horsies? Wow, a whole 2 second difference from 0-60. WOW! Asthetically speaking, the MDX, like you said is sharp and a REAL SUV, unlike the FX45, i bet that thing can't even drive on gravel! With the MDX, you get reliability, safety, superb handling, a great drive, did i mention safety?, good looks, and the best damn forum in the nation! If you did not have any kids and were not planning to, the FX45 would be a good choice, but since you're a family guy, you cannot go wrong with the MDX. It provides everything you need, and then something you don't! Ultimately it will be your decision, but with hundreds and thousands of buyers buying the MDX, and with the wait being so long in some places, buddy, you can't go wrong! Good luck on your future endeavors in car buying. Hope you decide to buy the X, and also, welcome to our forum. The best damn forum in the nation that is. |
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| frostyra |
| FYI, once the kid(s) get big enough for forward-facing car seats, I bet they'll LOVE the third-row seats; my grandkids sure do! |
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| Mel |
| Hi! I have two kids, one is 8 and the other is 5. I love having the X because it allows me to haul all sorts of things. The seats fold down in many ways. Remember, you'll need to take along their bikes, safety gear, toys and when you want to buy something for yourself like a big ticket item, you'll definitely have the room. Make sure you pick up the cargo tray so there'll be protection at the back area. Anyway, it drives like a car and is not huge like some SUV's out there. It's classy looking too. Good luck with whatever you decide. |
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| Blueflame |
| Yes, there are a lot of good info here and I agree with the comments that has been posted. I picked the MDX because of the third row seat and the RES. Do your own research and your needs. Good Luck with your choice. |
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| fzie |
| For my two cents, I just picked mine up last week after exactly a 2 month wait and it is even better than I expected. Every single person who has seen it, and especially those who have had the privilege to take a ride in it, are overwhelmed by its performance and creature comforts. I know you will see a lot of posts complaining about the interior looking "cheap" but unless you need real wood amd luxurious looking dashboard to feel happy with your purchase, you will find the MDX more than satisfying. |
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| Twinmom |
Well I have been a MDX owner for only 1 week. I would have to say that I love it! I completely agree with your take on the 3rd row not being used much at first, my twins are only 2, but I was looking long term which in my case is 48 month lease. By that time they will have been in Kindergarten and 1st grade which means needing room for their friends.
My hubby and I look at a few thing when we shopped for my next vehicle ( I was driving the RX300 ). We tested the Volvo which I liked and really only considered anything with 3 rows.
Because the kids we tend to look at safety ratings, which happened to post 2 days before we made our decision. Yes Volvo got the number 1 spot, then the X5 (Which has no 3rd row and no plans in the next 12 months of adding one) then the MDX. My hubby drove both and like the MDX a lot, no problem fitting in (he is a big guy) and room for the kids.
You already know what we decided.
Attached it the url for the insurance crash test site. There is another site that list roll over ratings but I didn't have it handy but check Yahoo and it will come up.
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ra...mary_midsuv.htm
Also, the kids will love the DVD, my twins get in and immediate say.. Movie. |
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| Rick414 |
Jeff,
Why did you rule out the FX45? Under our current circumstances, my selection would boil down to the loaded MDX or the FX45. The Murano is interesting, but only has four seats. The VW and Volvo can't be had in their first year of production. The Honda Pilot is just plain ugly There are no American-made SUVs available with the content you're looking for at the same price. Perhaps the RX330? Or even better, the RX330 hybrid coming out later this year.
The MDX is the vehicle of choice untill the others come down in price.
R |
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| Jeff NY |
Hi All:
Once again, I have to thank you all for the valuable feedback. :D
I will touch on a few of your points...
As for the safety of the MDX, no question, it is VERY important to my wife and I. My brother has had the Volvo SUV for a few weeks and he loves it. You simply FEEL safe in it or any recent Volvo. I drove it and had one MAJOR complaint- the steering. The wheel is so light it is a joke. It feels like one of those Chrysler sedans from 15 years ago where you could turn the steering wheel with your pinkie. The Volvo is like power assisted... by a nuclear reactor!!! :o For a European vehicle, to me, it is inexcusable. I have read this in other reviews, my brother grudgingly agrees (he paid A LOT and waited months) and it is my hope that they would correct it in the next production cycle. I am totally in love with BMW's and for a while wanted the X5 3.0, but it is smallish (especially cargo) and the way I wanted it the price was $52k- in my opinion typical BMW excessive.
Just because Acura is now third in SUV safety does not give me any less confidence in the vehicle- rather I say it is in some fine company.
Like the Mom with twins said, the third row may not be used much now, but I will need it later. I am turning my sons car seat to forward facing this weekend, so I know he would be excited to have a RES. That is mandatory for us.
As for the FX45, I never considered the V8 simply because it is too much engine and real poor mileage. Don't get me wrong, the V6 FX35 is still neck and neck with the MDX for my money, but I just don't need the V8 and the loaded $52k price tag.
The more I think about the MDX, the more I say go for it. While my ego says FX, my mind says MDX. I know I will love it new and in twelve months when it is like, ho-hum, I know it will still be a sharp, clean car with nice lines and super practicality. I can't necessarily say that for the FX35. The Murano is quickly falling by the wayside as I too agree that the dash and materials are super cheap looking. My Pathfinder dash is sharp and it would feel funny to go backwards in craftsmanship on another Nissan.
I will keep you posted as to my driving impressions and play it by ear. I plan to put a deposit down in 30-45 days, so time is still on my side. As a matter of fact, I will probably get lucky and end up in an 04.
Any more interesting tidbits, please advise... |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by marge11
I had a terrible time with Curry Acura and ended up buying at Acura of Westchester. However, I know that Acura of Manhattan will offer at least $500 off MSRP for AAA members.
I bought at Acura of Weschester too. Paid MSRP, was treated fairly and honestly. Ask for Gary Mihaley. Service department seems to be ok to, but I haven't had any problems except for a water pump recall. |
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| diceboy |
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff NY
As for the options, I will probably order and install the easy stuff myself and leave the more involved items (ie: wood steering wheel) to the dealer.
You definitely want to let the dealer install the steering wheel unless you have a steering wheel puller and are comfortable handling multiple electrical connections to the NAV (if you get the NAV) and especially the airbag deployment.
It was too scary for me so I let the dealer install it. As long as they were doing so, I also let them install the wood meter trim and the burlwood shift nob. Yeah, those are easy, but I only paid about $60 for them to install all 3.
Also, use Tim's prices (hondacuraworld.com) to negotiate these options with your dealer or buy them from Tim yourself. All I had to say to my dealer was "are you aware of hondacuraworld.com". They were and instantly matched Tim's prices. DO NOT pay what the dealer will normally charge you (for example, my dealer wanted nearly $700 just for the steering wheel). You can always order from Tim if they won't budge... |
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