| mlkeller |
| OK, with the official news coming out on the '04 MDX, let's start the always fun discussion - how did Honda do? Did they address some/any/none of the concerns on the forum? Whatya think :) |
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| Captain MDX |
| Do they even read this board???? |
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| renov8r |
...real HIDs
...more torque under 3K with no loss in MPG
... high quality "baseball glove" leather everywhere
... a REAL High Fidelity Audio system
...factory 'headrestmonitor' RES
...bigger moonroof
...bigger wheel/tires
... a finish free of "orange peel"
... rear hatch glass that opens seperately
As it is, I would like to see how much better the second row seat works/how much easier it is to get into the 3rd row...
But I am NOTat all disappointed to have our 03... |
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| DEZRVIT |
| I like it nothing to drastic, shouldn't make any of the late '03 buyers feel regret for not waiting. |
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| Guitarmdx |
| They do not even read this board. |
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| hammermdx |
| I think they could have done better....still no HID's! |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by DEZRVIT
I like it nothing to drastic, shouldn't make any of the late '03 buyers feel regret for not waiting.
Gee, sounds like what us 01/02 owner's said when the 03s came out. :) |
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| BaldEagle |
Still looks basically the same. I would not buy another vehicle that looks the same as my old one. Just a personal thing. If I get a new one I want it to look a little different.
Another shortcoming that will prevent me from buying a new one in 2005 or 2006 even if the appearance changes is the lack of telescoping steering wheel.
I have to reach too far when the seat is back far enough for my legs. Find myself driving in the 6 o'clock position to compensate and I have been a 10 to 2 driver all my life. Old habits are hard to change but IMHO it is safer to drive that way. |
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| wmquan |
quote:
Originally posted by DEZRVIT
I like it nothing to drastic, shouldn't make any of the late '03 buyers feel regret for not waiting.
Quite possible, but there's a chance that some of them may regret it. The '04 supposedly has "softer, more flexible leather" along with other, smaller interior improvements. Even "woven pillars" that may or may not end the ugly seat pillar door nicks (need more clarification on this).
If the interior quality is significantly better, that addresses one of the MDX's biggest weaknesses -- especially as one has the vehicle for a while.
There is also a chance that it will be easier to upgrade the projector halogens to projector xenons, but only time will tell.
Of course, knowing Honda/Acura, the leather is only a "slight" improvement as opposed to a large one, so it's no big deal! |
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| sbpmdx2003 |
Do they even read this board ??
Well, for the changes - some of them look downright cheap, for example the exhaust tips - they look as if someone hacked it in his/her garage. The tail lights look so after market (meaning "not integrated" look.
Where are HIDs, Interior trim like new TL/TSX, enhanced & standard towing etc (instead of that GENEROUS 5 HP - ooohh, what i am gonna do with all that HP) ?
In all, THEY DONT LISTEN. |
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| m2pc |
| I think if I were to buy one right now, I would get the '03 model year. Unless the leather is that much improved. |
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| robrecht |
| Finally adding side curtain airbags was long overdue and very important IMHO. I wonder if they fixed whatever caused their frontal impact ratings from NHTSA to be downgraded in '03? I wonder if they improved their VSA? These would be signs of a true commitment to engineering excellence. |
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| Blackura |
| I wonder if the new "upgraded" MDX sound system is the DVD based system that's going into the new TL. The TL also has XM standard. If it is, that's good. If it's not, its a major disappointment. |
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| wmquan |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackura
I wonder if the new "upgraded" MDX sound system is the DVD based system that's going into the new TL. The TL also has XM standard. If it is, that's good. If it's not, its a major disappointment.
Apparently it is not the system that's in the TL. Acura's press material would have most certainly mentioned DVD-Audio and XM if they were now available.
The upgrade seems to be power (225 watts from 200), and a few speakers are higher power and allegedly have new neodymium magnets.
Maybe the TL sound system comes next year ... typical Honda/Acura, they never seem to mind some glaring gaps between different models. |
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| jeych |
The changes were not even enough to catch up with competition i.e. the real luxury vehicles out there.
No HIDs.
No Telescoping Steering wheel.
Hard plastic interior (a $20K ford minivan has better looking-better feeling plastics).
5 HP wooohoooo governor still limits speed to 130MPH and maximum speed is the only thing HP's are good for. Torque in the other hand makes for fun driving and towing capacity.
All in all I think a TRUE luxury vehicle should integrate the newest technologies, after all you are paying all that extra money to get things not yet available on the non luxury vehicles. IMO the MDX is falling way behind. When the Toyota Highlander Hybrid hits the market the MDX will look like a thing of the past... far past that is. |
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| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by jeych
The changes were not even enough to catch up with competition i.e. the real luxury vehicles out there.
No HIDs.
No Telescoping Steering wheel.
Hard plastic interior (a $20K ford minivan has better looking-better feeling plastics).
5 HP wooohoooo governor still limits speed to 130MPH and maximum speed is the only thing HP's are good for. Torque in the other hand makes for fun driving and towing capacity.
All in all I think a TRUE luxury vehicle should integrate the newest technologies, after all you are paying all that extra money to get things not yet available on the non luxury vehicles. IMO the MDX is falling way behind. When the Toyota Highlander Hybrid hits the market the MDX will look like a thing of the past... far past that is.
Go buy the 5-seat Highlander for $40K when it comes out. I do not intend on driving 130, but most Highlander owners I know routinely cruise at 140 so I say go for it:rolleyes: |
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| MDteX |
quote:
Originally posted by Captain MDX
Do they even read this board????
Yes AHMC has people that read this board but they do not reply. They collect concerns and look for information that shouldn't be here.
It would be nice if they had someone dedicated that could answer some questions. But then it would be a fulltime job and that person would get bombarded with questions and complaints so I see why they just surf as a guest. And hopefully report back issues that may be common like a brake thud, sloshing gastank or 2k drone. |
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| jeych |
quote:
Originally posted by msu79gt82
Go buy the 5-seat Highlander for $40K when it comes out. I do not intend on driving 130, but most Highlander owners I know routinely cruise at 140 so I say go for it:rolleyes:
I hate to school you on this topic but your ignorance seems to grant it. Starting Year model 2004 the highlander is a 7 passenger vehicle. The point I was trying to make is that the highlander will be a true state of the art vehicle without claims of luxury. So I don't have to school you a second time I will break it to you know, when you see the highlander hybrid leave you on the dust at the traffic stop don't scratch your head thinking why a vehicle with only 5 extra HP (270) that consumes half the gas your MDX does took off so fast. It's the TORQUE DUMMY. The highlander owner bought into what matters on everyday driving (Torque) and you bought into hype (horsepower which is only useful at the racetrack). =P |
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| MDteX |
quote:
Originally posted by jeych
The changes were not even enough to catch up with competition i.e. the real luxury vehicles out there.
No HIDs.
No Telescoping Steering wheel.
Hard plastic interior (a $20K ford minivan has better looking-better feeling plastics).
5 HP wooohoooo governor still limits speed to 130MPH and maximum speed is the only thing HP's are good for. Torque in the other hand makes for fun driving and towing capacity.
All in all I think a TRUE luxury vehicle should integrate the newest technologies, after all you are paying all that extra money to get things not yet available on the non luxury vehicles. IMO the MDX is falling way behind. When the Toyota Highlander Hybrid hits the market the MDX will look like a thing of the past... far past that is.
Until Toyota comes up with something that is even remotely close the quality of luxury of the MDX I don't think it is worth discussing. The Highlander in its current state is not comparable to the MDX. I doubt it will be when it gets redesigned and made into a hybrid. As for the speed and acceleration, the MDX has plenty to make me, and apparently many others, happy and stays within safe driving guidelines. God help you if you are driving a Highlander at 130. You will just be another statistic. |
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| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by jeych
I hate to school you on this topic but your ignorance ...
Dude, I was being sarcastic, just as I thought you were:rolleyes: If you really think the MDX is that far below a Highlander technologically then don't lecture me about school. To each his own:1: |
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| jeych |
Sigh! Nothing to do with 130. As proffessional racers say "horsepower sells cars and torque wins races".
It's stupid to fall for the Horsepower trap, the only thing 20 or extra 25 horses will do is increase the maximum speed which anyway is limited by the governor. On the other hand the only y useful number is the torque which makes for a fun, safer drive. As far as finish neither the highlander or the MDX hold a candle to the true luxury vehicles like lexus, BMW or Mercedes. But unlike the MDX the Highlander doesn't pretend to be a luxury vehicle because it's cousin the RX330 is positioned for that market. |
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