| Corry |
I recently became a proud owner of a 2007 Acura MDX Elite (canada version of sports + entertainment).
I was a little hesitant but after a week I am totally satisfied and happy.
I owned a Mercedes S430 for 3 years and a Toyota 4Runner for 8 years.
Toyota.
Repairs in 8 years
- Timing belt (because it is recommended)
- Brakes at 120,000 miles. They just wouldn't go. Every oil change I asked if the brakes need replacement...no still fine.
- Clutch spring ($200)
Mercedes S430
Repairs
- Rear window broke internally so it wouldn't go up or down
- Fold in mirror stopped working
- Mirror Led signals stopped working ($500 to fix)
- Instrument cluster replaced and worked on 3 times!!. It just smelled like something burned and all needles froze. I went 3 times to have everything working under the instrument cluster. Once they screwed up the ESP light, second the text in the display was aligned to the left instead of center, another time it wasn't displaying my phone, etc.
- Navigation antenna replaced
- Mass air intake sensor
- Audio system would not work in the morning sometimes. Still not fixed.
- Battery died
- Rust surfaced on trunk, and fenders. Replaced under warranty
- Many other things I don't remember off hand but one day I will go thorough the stack I kept as memories.
I loved the BENZ. I still think it is a good car. Unfortunately their quality is not appropriate and they are cutting costs left right and center.
Well, I CAN'T put up with the fact that I need to make an appointment 3 weeks in advance because MB closed 3-4 dealerships in Toronto and vicinity to cut costs.
Whoever said that if you like to spend a lot of time at dealership and enjoy their free coffee or hot chocolate buy BENZ or BMW is CORRECT.
If you want to spend time with family buy Yota or Acura! CORRECT.
I just couldn't take it anymore with so many problems and so much time at dealer and majority of the time no courtesy car (only shuttle).
Well when the S class is over $100,000 at least give me a courtesy car. They gave me 2 times (once a B class and once some wagon...)
My wife has been on my case for quite some time now to get rid of this time and money sucker and get a car that I can enjoy and not keep sending it to the shop.
THAT'S IT ! I had it!
Being a Benz fan I wanted the ML or GL. I drove the ML and it didn't do anything for me. I looked at BMW (3.0), Lexus, Volvo, Audi Q7, and Acura MDX.
Sorry... no american.
The BMW and MB is totally gauging people in Canada. Give me a break.. for an X5 4.8i close to $100,000. Same for GL450 = $100,000
I will never spend 100 grand on a vehicle that could potentially sit more in a shop than on the road.
Then I found the perfect one. Once you drive the MDX and you experience the Super Handling plus being fully equiped at $47,000 USD ($60,000 canadian) there is no looking back.
I actually paid $3400 under MSRP = $58,500 CDN
BEST VALUE WITH MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH MY FAMILY AND NOT THE DEALER.
For godsakes at Benz I knew all Service Advisors and almost all mechanics.
I don't need that. I want to know my family and I don't want to know any mechanics, managers, etc.
And for those that say you can't compare the MDX to Nazi cars do yourself a favour and test drive the MDX first, or open Google and type "Acura MDX 2007 review". You will see that the MDX compares with the BMW 3.0, Porshce Cayenne (v6), Volvo xc90, Lexus, etc.....
I can't believe that I'm happier and excited with Acura then when I bought the Benz.
BMW AND BENZ should learn from their competition.
I used to love the german cars. I still love them but i'm not sure I want to have another one. As a spare car yes, maybe... and definetely not for another $100,000.
I'll just watch them on the road for now... and laugh....
By the way the Audio system rocks! I have 6 dvds with MP3's. I just wonder when will I listen to 50 GB of Mp3's at about 2 hours of driving a day????? |
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| dj-mdx2 |
| welcome aboard! family time is always more preferable to dealer time, no matter how exotic their coffee is. |
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| JeffK |
Your forgot AUDI!
My 2004 Audi 8L was a disaster and the 2001 A6 Avant before it not much better.
JeffK |
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| SullyC5er |
I know how you feel. Our RX330 spent more time in the shop than any car I have ever owned. All the problems are fixed now, but the 1st 6 months were a PITA.
I am enjoying the MDX so much more. Now my wife & I battle over who gets to drive the 'good car' and who gets stuck with the lexus. |
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| rsgacura |
If you like to drive any European car beacuse of fame they got (don't know why! may be who never driven them like it and who drove hate them!!!) JUST LEASE USE AND GET RID OF IT AT THE END!!!
Buy Japaneese for more reliability. Keep for long term for sanity. |
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| sobrien1087 |
Welcome to the family. I'm new to Acura as well, and can't say I ever experienced the Benz. The closest I ever came to a European car was my mom and dad's old VW Rabbits (very old, before they died off and recently resurrected!)
Love Toyota's however, and still swear by them. Also loving the new X, and hoping to put Acura up on the same level. |
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| Fabvsix |
I am American born and raised and have NEVER owned an American POS! Nor have I been suckered into buying German....NO thanks. Give me my Japanese cars ANY day.
Welcome to your NEW family and enjoy driving! :1: |
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| rlm32 |
Aside from my 2001 MDX, I own a 2004 Mercedes E500 and its been bullet proof, and it drives like no other car I owned. I only go to the dealer for oil changes(they're free). I also owned a VW Passat for 5 years,without a single problem. Every car manufacturer has lemons, and granted, in general the Japanese cars may have less repairs on average, but german cars are very good if not excellent.
I am actually more worried about keeping my MDX long term because of the tranny than keeping my Benz long term. I don't think early MDX's have a very reliable record (tranny speaking). |
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| vapors |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
I am American born and raised and have NEVER owned an American POS! Nor have I been suckered into buying German....NO thanks. Give me my Japanese cars ANY day.
Welcome to your NEW family and enjoy driving! :1:
+1
Amen! |
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| JeffK |
Dear rlm32
I suspect your are the exception that proves the rule: Check this month's Consumer reports where they now rate the Nissan Altima number two behind the VW Passat:
However they cannot recommend the Passat because its frequency of repair is much worse than average: Ditto for the majority of Mercedes Benz's, BMW's and Audi's.
These are surveys of actual owners: Remember a person buys a car because he/she likes it: Nobody likes to admit to making a mistake - that is human nature. So the frequency of repairs reported by owners if anything is understated not overstated.
I for one only lease cars and in the case of a German car, certainly never beyond the warranty period!
JeffK |
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| Corry |
Definately I wouldn't keep a Benz after warranty expired. Or buy extended warranty.
Even with the warranty or extended warranty some things are not covered.
Maintenance items are very expensive as well !
My dealer recommended I change the spark plugs on the S430.
I said ok, sure. How much is it? Parts, labour and taxes: roughly over $1000.00.
Hmm...cough, cough... I guess there's nothing wrong with the ones I have for now... I said.
You gotta be kidding me !!! What are they made of gold? |
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| JeffK |
The plugs are probably platinum @$9.95 each.
The problem, more than likely, is the hours of labor, removing parts to get to them!
JeffK |
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| Corry |
Still, it seems too much ... ridiculous.
They also recommended I change the wiper blades.
- Ok. How much?
- $200.00
- You gotta be kidding me! Motor and arms are busted too? They seemed to be working fine last time I checked?
- No. Everything is fine. Just the Blades.
- What blades are we talking about? Rubber blades for the wipers?
- Yes
- And the rubber blades are $200 ?
- Yes plus labour...
- Never mind... I'll change them when they are broken in pieces...
You know, I never used to ask too much and how much things are until I had the Benz. One of my friends told me after I bought it: Make sure you ask what the price is from now on....
I DID !! |
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| rsgacura |
I would like to add on European cars:
They depend on you, not you depend on it. ==> Be stinky rich to drive these and stupid enough to throw away money. Once I had to change Air Flow Mass Sensor, a small tube, paid $700 or so.
Try to get a car that "You can depend on it"
On my 530i, covered for 3 year lease with 4 year standard maintenance coverage!!!
Some people out there know what these european cars can bring to home, so scared of buying used ones. So it is tough to sell one if you buy a new one also. Lease it, leave it, pain gone!!! |
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| II Kings 9:20 |
Welcome aboard, I currently drive an S430 which has been great. I have owned 9MBs in the last 15 years and several other Euro cars. I have been fortunate but your experience is more typical.
ALL European cars are not nearly as reliable as Japanese, American, or Korean. Lease European and bail or buy Japanese and keep. I have no problem with American iron either. The MDX is a very wise choice. |
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| Randall Morton |
My lease on my 03 MDX is running out this month and we replaced it with a loaded GL450. I used to love the MDX, but when I get back in it now it just drives awful compared to the 450. I know its older but the 450 is one of the smoothest best handling SUVs I've been in. Only had it for a couple of months and 2500 miles, but so far zero issues.
I know its not the case everywhere, but I hated dealing with my local Acura dealer and they would gouge me on everything. My Mercedes dealership has been stellar. I also have an 05 E55. I do agree about keeping a Mercedes only under warranty or extended warranty. |
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| Corry |
Randall,
I looked at the GL and I must admit it is a very nice suv !!!
This was my first choice.
I'm not sure how much it costs in US but here in Canada when I looked at a fully loaded GL450 the price was approx. 100,000 + 14% tax = 114,000.
A BMW X5 4.8i is also about $100,000 + taxes.
Crap!! I just looked at the US Benz website and the base price for GL450 is $55,000 US. Well, check this out... In CANADA the base price is $76,500 !!!!!!!!!!
$1 US = $1.18 CDN
Do the math 55,000 * 1.18 = 64,900.
Why then $76,500????
Because they can, I know..........
Besides the base price, all the options, accessories seem to be more expensive in Canada.
WTF? We always get screwed........
I think that all German automakers are gouging consumers in Canada with their prices. It seems prices in US are a lot lower even with the conversion rate!
As much as I liked the GL, to me that's a lot of money for a car!
I decided to get the MDX for half the price of the GL. Heck I could buy another MDX for my wife.
Bottom line was that:
1 GL != (not equal) 2 MDX's
I wish the GL would have been cheaper, I might have .... |
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| Randall Morton |
No doubt, there is a rather large price difference. My GL listed for $73M and I leased it through MB during there winter lease event. I was out of pocket about $4500 and my lease payment is $925/mo.
I was paying $650/mo for the MDX so it wasn't too hard to swallow. The GL is a bit larger, but to me it feels smaller once you get behind the wheel. Like the MDX it also has a very short turn radius which is good for parking and Uturns.
I probably would have looked harder at the MDX if it wasn't for my dealer. |
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| m500 |
| Good to know that I'm not the only one who traded my Benz for Acura. :) |
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| dacbiet |
On the flipside, I kept the Benz and sold the Odyssey to get my MDX.
I've read all the stories about bad luck with BMW's and M-B's; I'm not doubting those at all... But I've honestly had more trouble with my '02 Odyssey than my '00 3-series and '05 E-class combined. I've spent over $3k on out-of-pocket electrical and transmission repairs for the Ody, vs. 0 cents for out-of-pocket repairs on the BMW or M-B.
Of course it helps to have insurance in the form of a 6/100k extended factory warranty on the Benz. But since 01/05 I've only had to bring it in once for a passenger seat airbag sensor weight recalibration.
No car manufacturer is perfect- Even Honda sold dubious transmissions in their products from '00 - '02. Hopefully they all learn from their past mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future. |
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