| mmmDX |
I am currently in the market for a 2001 MDX Touring.
There are a lot of problems mentioned on this mssg board but most of them dont seem too bad.
Would you guys still recommend me buying an MDX?? :)
Could you guys PLEASE tell me what problems are the most common to look out for when buying this SUV??
Thanks in advance. |
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| BLACK-BLING-MDX |
| OF COURSE!!! lol... yeah man, you should buy one, some people have waited months to get one, now they couldn't have been wrong could they? Every car has problems, and the MDX has its fair share, but they don't have problems which will inhibit you from driving it or fearing for your life. We are kindy nit-picky around here too. We love our X so much that we scrutinize it all the time to make it the best there is. So, the ball is in your court now, buy it and be happy for life, don't buy it and regret $XX,XXX. |
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| feliz |
I don't think you'll find too many owners on this forum who regret buying their MDX and who won't recomend that you buy one.
I follow a few forums and the MDX seems to have higher owner satisfaction and fewer problems than most other vehicles. Every vehicle has some problems, visit the Lexus, MB, and BMW forums.
Good luck with your decision. |
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| Desant |
| These are all minor things - I am not aware of any major problems. It is a great SUV - probably the best SUV on market IMO. |
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| larzgold |
Think of it this way - For everyone there is a "perfect car" - one that fits the needs of that particular individual/family.
My requirements
Better gas mileage then 12-15
Seats 7 (three rows of seats)
Heated Seats
Sunroof
4Wheel/All-Wheel drive
Wife could see (she is 4'8")
Better that average reliable
4-5 Start Safety Rating
ABS
CD Changer
Latch for Child Seats
Fits in my garage
Dealer must have no BBB complaints
Price range was under 40..
Not really needed for off road
And some others...
Basically it came down to the XC90, the MDX, the Honda Pilot. Well the Pilot did not have sunroof - got x'd. The XC90 turbo 5 has only 208hp, the 6 has 268, but gets poor gas milages. The price also was 3500 more for the equivalent options. So the MDX won. Now if i did not need 3 rows of seat - the FX45 is a nice vehicle.
Do I want you to get an MDX sure, but if it does not fit your needs then don't get it. Reading the message board the MDX has had few problems compared to my Durango, or my Jeep, or my 91 S10 Blazer (last 3 trucks) although everyone is warning me as soon as the honeymoon is over that the Acura TLC is not that great.
good luck with whatever car you choose. So far I love my X -
Larzgold |
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| dvilla |
I have an 01 X and I like it. Except for the cabin noise at 70mph, I am very much satisfied with it than the 2000 4-runner limited that I traded in.
If I were you I'll consider the 2003 MDX instead. There might be some repossesed 03 X out there, 'coz of job layoffs and the present economic condition.
Good luck and keep us posted. |
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| MonsterDX |
| I'd go for a 2003 as well. We almost went for a 2001 way back when but didn't bite the bullet till last December. I have not regret the purchase yet. No car is perfect but, knock on wood, I haven't had any complaints about this one yet. |
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| mmmDX |
Thanks everyone for your inputs.
I just wanted to double check w/all of you to make sure that you still liked your MDX.
I will end up buying an MDX, but probably the 01 touring version instead of 03.
We are in the midst of redoing our kitchen(expensive), so by buying an 01 version we can save some $$$ on it.
Now I just have to find an 01 touring w/low miles on it :)
off to shopping I go................ |
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| jpinto |
I am probably the exception here, but given the opportunity to choose again, I would NOT buy this car.
Read my post about the ANNOYING steering wheel vibration that Acura...
FIRST - ackowledged, then tried to fix
SECOND - couldn't fix it, so they denied it's existence (until I pointed out the fact that I could SEE the wheel vibrating in his hand)
THIRD - Told me this is "characteristic" of an Acura...they "feel the road"
I have heard more bull**** than I ever care to hear again in my life.
...and I am STUCK with a vibrating vehicle! |
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| hockeyplayer |
| Just my .02. If you can get into an 02 go for it. The 02 year brought some minor changes that some have said made a difference. Secondly, If you are going for a Touring model, do yourself a favor and get the Navigation. I promise you will not regret it. I mean that. |
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| larzgold |
jpinto
Which dealer did you buy it from that is giving you that "bull" - Have you tried another dealer? When I picked a dealer I spend time calling AAA and the Better Business Bureau to see what dealers had multiple complaints. And decided my dealer based on that, and comments on this board (which meant a drive to buy the car)
I wonder if you can go to another dealer, drive a different car, test drive an X - and see if you get the same "vibration" ask the sales person - I hear that acuras have a steering vibration, if he says no. Go back a few days later and say my X has a steering issue - can you fix it.
I know my steering wheel does not vibrate. BTW is the X under warranty?
Larzgold |
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| vicpai |
quote:
Originally posted by jpinto
I am probably the exception here, but given the opportunity to choose again, I would NOT buy this car.
Read my post about the ANNOYING steering wheel vibration that Acura...
FIRST - ackowledged, then tried to fix
SECOND - couldn't fix it, so they denied it's existence (until I pointed out the fact that I could SEE the wheel vibrating in his hand)
THIRD - Told me this is "characteristic" of an Acura...they "feel the road"
I have heard more bull**** than I ever care to hear again in my life.
...and I am STUCK with a vibrating vehicle!
.......in that minority that would think REALLY HARD if I had to do this all over again. Not because the MDX is an incompetent vehicle, but because ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS BIG TIME!! Believe me, they are the worst! So if you end up having an issue with your vehicle, you'll be biting nails to try and get it resolved :28: The bullsh*t that jpinto and myself are getting is probably more "characteristic" of an Acura than anything else :rolleyes:
I bought a 2000TL/Navi a couple years back and had the worst possible buying experience, after which, I contacted Acura to complain (not vehicle related problems, but other stuff such as financing/dealership issues) and was treated even worse than at the dealership (Downey Acura) :3: The only saving grace in the deal, being that, that car was bulletproof as far as quality/reliability issues went. The MDX has not fared quite as well, and Acura customer service is still just as horrendous as ever!!
I had a moonroof leak - see my posts in this section - The service advisor even saw the leak himself the first time. When I brought the car in they gave me the standard BS "can't duplicate the problem" After 4 attempts and "threats" they finally got me to talk directly with a mechanic, who happened to be a smart/creative guy for a change :rolleyes: . After extensive testing, it turned out to be a design flaw. He improvised by putting weatherstipping around the front of the sunroof, which has fixed the problem.
The second issue I have is, like jpinto's problem, steering-related (see link below)...........
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...?threadid=11026
..........Again I'm getting the same "Everything is normal, you're probably just imagining things" BS replies, but I'm determined not to let them off the hook so easily, even if I have to hire an attorney to get them to pull the entire power-steering unit apart. I don't have a problem with vibration, as jpinto, but the power steering assist seems to come and go randomly making steering feel very vague and imprecise. It's so bad, that even if I have a momentary lapse of concentration, the vehicle could drift into another lane with no sensation in the steering wheel at all, causing an accident!!
Now, while I understand that no car is perfect and that any vehicle could have something come up, the attitude and willingness of a company to resolve the issues is what matters the most. So far I have nothing but disgust for this company!! |
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| edepa |
quote:
Originally posted by mmmDX
I am currently in the market for a 2001 MDX Touring.
There are a lot of problems mentioned on this mssg board but most of them dont seem too bad.
Would you guys still recommend me buying an MDX?? :)
Could you guys PLEASE tell me what problems are the most common to look out for when buying this SUV??
Thanks in advance.
You will always hear the squeaking wheel, mmmDX! IMHO, the vast majority of mdx owners have had a fantastic ownership experience, although I do think the dealerships could try a more customer oriented/friendly approach, and probably acura too. Notwithstanding that, my X is now approaching it's first birthday, and has been a terrific vehicle, second best i ever owned, best being a lexus ls400, so in a different vehicle class. Would i recommend you buying an MDX? nope.......try stealing one first.....but if you can't...yeah, feel no qualms about buying and enjoying one. You may want to get an '02 or '03, as the '01 apparently was noisier at speed! Good luck with the decision!:1: |
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| jpinto |
larzgold:
I went to Acura of Ocean (NJ) first, then to Ryan's Open Road. They are actually working with me, trying to resolve the problem. I have an appt. to bring the car in Monday, they are keeping it a whole week. I *really* hope they can resolve this, because I love everything else about this vehicle, but I just can't stand this vibration anymore! |
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| BaldEagle |
quote:
Originally posted by rambox
You only want to buy MDX if you want trouble and total suffer...
So it is your decision on what you really want.
Just sell yours and take your negative black cloud attitude to another forum.
Let me guess, you first came on the board as "mdx2003sux" and were banned. Then you posted as Shaq and had a thread closed.
Now you are back again.
You should be a rain maker with that black cloud following you everywhere you go. |
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| ACURAMDXR |
| Given the problems I have encountered with my 02' Mdx, and the quality of work I have received from my Acura dealer, I wish I did not buy my MDX. There are more bad things than good things about this vehicle. When I bought it, it had only 14 miles on it, It was great for the first 4k miles but its been down hill from there. Not impressive for a 40K luxury vehicle. |
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| larzgold |
jpinto - I heard bad things about the Ocean Acura, and Ryans - I actually drove 30 miles out of my way to get mine in princeton. (although it is on my way to work) I do hope Ryans treats you better (it used to be East Brunswick Acura and that is where i heard it was bad) It is not part of the "Open Road" family, which I hear better things about it. But Since I heard much better things about Precision I went there.
Actually I don't mind hearing from disgruntled owners. Sometimes they are legitimate, sometimes they could be like my grandpa who used to complain about everything. He was so stubborn he once went to a car dealership for 3 months straight every day until they replaced a part which I could even tell you was not broken. But what I find interesting is not the problems, or the people, but the reputation that Acura has of having better cusomter service seems to be wrong. Funny the only people I knew happy with their cars were Acura, Mercedes and Saturn.
Larzgold |
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| jpinto |
My claim is definitely legitimate. My husband even agrees with me, and nothing bothers him! I could visually see the wheel vibrating in the mechanic's hand when he tried to say he didn't feel anything. He knew I was onto him, so he finally admitted "there's something going on."
Hopefully they will figure it out because I really LOVE this vehicle otherwise. It is definitely the best deal out there for your money. Yes, I hear the wind noise, and yes, I have the seat belt scratches on my door panel, etc, etc...I can deal with that. Solution to wind noise: turn up stereo very loud; seat belt scratches are wear & tear and minor, at that...but this vibration is tremendously affecting the way my car drives and my enjoyment driving it. Just imagine driving on the highway, the road is smooth, so your ride should be smooth...BUT instead you feel like you're holding onto a tuning fork that has just been hit very hard. At it's worst, the steering wheel actually bobbles back & forth. I just feel like they don't know what's causing it so they are blowing me off.
Anyway, thanks for the tip on Princeton. Even though it is probably an hour/ hour & a half drive, I will try it if Ryan's is unsuccessful (which I am counting on). |
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