| PEZ |
| Hi Everyone, this is my first post. I've wanted the '07 MDX from the beginning after all my research, but my wife was stuck on the XC90 after looking at all the competitors. I've finally got her leaning towards the MDX, but she has a real problem with the black wood grain trim and the plastic silver cheap looking door handles. I agree with her and think the Volvo interior is nicer, but I like everything else about the MDX over the XC90. Are there aftermarket places that can change this stuff out, and make it still look factory OEM? If it were me, I would just deal with it, but she's ready to not buy the vehicle all together because of these items!! Please help, thanks!! |
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| pendrago77 |
| forgive me, but what does OEM stand for? |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by pendrago77
forgive me, but what does OEM stand for?
Original Equipment Manufacturer |
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| pendrago77 |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
Original Equipment Manufacturer
thank you, thank you very much :29: |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by PEZ
Hi Everyone, this is my first post. I've wanted the '07 MDX from the beginning after all my research, but my wife was stuck on the XC90 after looking at all the competitors. I've finally got her leaning towards the MDX, but she has a real problem with the black wood grain trim and the plastic silver cheap looking door handles. I agree with her and think the Volvo interior is nicer, but I like everything else about the MDX over the XC90. Are there aftermarket places that can change this stuff out, and make it still look factory OEM? If it were me, I would just deal with it, but she's ready to not buy the vehicle all together because of these items!! Please help, thanks!!
There is a very easy way out of the Volvo. Show her the Consumer Reports reliability ratings and tell her it will be her responsibility to bring it in for the warranty work it will need every two weeks...... |
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| PEZ |
Thanks for that post on the Consumer Reports Reliability. That was shocking that the XC90 was so low!
Back to my question though, does anyone know if I could have the black wood grain and the cheap looking door handles replaced with nicer material? My wife called a custom interior place, and was told that they make stuff that will fit right over the factory stuff, but obviously we don't want it to look like something was done. Anyone know about this or have any experience with this? Thanks! |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by PEZ
Thanks for that post on the Consumer Reports Reliability. That was shocking that the XC90 was so low!
Back to my question though, does anyone know if I could have the black wood grain and the cheap looking door handles replaced with nicer material? My wife called a custom interior place, and was told that they make stuff that will fit right over the factory stuff, but obviously we don't want it to look like something was done. Anyone know about this or have any experience with this? Thanks!
I know for the 01-06 model years there were very few, if any, options for this. You could always have it custom done but you are talking some big $ I would imagine. There are plenty of places that will have additional plood that you can purchase to add to the look but not too much out there for actually replacing what you have. Good luck with the decision.
You never know, next year they may offer different wood options. In this price range, I would think that needs to be something Acura looks into. |
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| mkaresh |
The absolute difference is hardly as large as this chart makes it seem. The problem rates reported to CR are so low that a problem rate over 0.5 "serious problems" per year (i.e. one for every two cars) will "earn" the XC90's rating.
My results will make the size of this difference much clearer. The Acura should be more reliable, it's just not yet possible to say how much more.
My main critique of CR:
http://www.truedelta.com/pieces/shortcomings.php
There may eventually be aftermarket trim, but given the size and shape of the trim pieces I wouldn't be too hopeful. Odds of aftermarket door handles are even lower. |
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| cvyluv |
| Even a very expensive custom job done by a custom upholsterer is very risky in my opinion. I would say that there is just no way it would look completely OEM when they are done, no matter how good they are, there are just to many variables to make it look perfect. You probably either just have to live with it or buy something else. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by mkaresh
The absolute difference is hardly as large as this chart makes it seem. The problem rates reported to CR are so low that a problem rate over 0.5 "serious problems" per year (i.e. one for every two cars) will "earn" the XC90's rating.
My results will make the size of this difference much clearer. The Acura should be more reliable, it's just not yet possible to say how much more.
My main critique of CR:
http://www.truedelta.com/pieces/shortcomings.php
There may eventually be aftermarket trim, but given the size and shape of the trim pieces I wouldn't be too hopeful. Odds of aftermarket door handles are even lower.
Wow, all those problems with CR data and they still manage to reflect the real world experiences I have seen. The predicted reliability ratings are based on averaged data but the individual problem category ratings are given absolute value ranges. The red dots mean less than 1% of people reported problems, the half red dot is less than 2%, etc. The problem with that is that they stop at three percent so that you cannot tell how bad a problem really is if it rates a black dot. It is left to the survey recipient to decide whether it is a serious problem, BUT, I want as few problems as possible, serious or not. CR gets a huge number of surveys so their sample rate is large and reliable. It does take a while for the data to show up, and it can also take several years for serious problems to show up - so that means it is always best to wait for a model to have at least a few solid reliability years before buying.
As a real world check, I know 3 people with XC90's that will never buy another one again. All three have experienced problems from small to serious but numerous enough to prevent the purchase of another one. |
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| mesalum |
| Remember that Volvo is now a Ford product. Enough said. |
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| Luke |
My neighbor has a XC90 and my wife thinks the Volvo interior looks cheap... (I definitely think the volvo is too bland).
Did you look at the different MDX interior colors? Maybe that makes a difference. Probably too early for aftermarket wood accessories.
I think one big difference also is that the XC90 is interior smaller and it doesn't have all the extra features you get with the MDX. |
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| krafty81 |
I drove the XC90 and liked it over all. Deal killers for us which favored the MDX were -
NAV system not friendly
Buttons on steering wheel confusing
Middle row will not recline (thumbs down from kids)
Expensive if same options as MDX included
Kind of a boring car overall - more like a big station wagon
My wife, on the other hand, really like the XC90 - I eventually helped her "see the light":D |
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| Luke |
How is the XC90 handling? I would think it leans more in corners and steering is less precise. The design is pretty old now and not sure when there's a redesign.
My wife does think as well that the wood looks cheap in the MDX (but overall interior design is nicer).
So certainly interesting if you could upgrade the wood in an aftermarket option... |
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| emcman |
quote:
Originally posted by Luke
How is the XC90 handling? I would think it leans more in corners and steering is less precise. The design is pretty old now and not sure when there's a redesign.
My wife does think as well that the wood looks cheap in the MDX (but overall interior design is nicer).
So certainly interesting if you could upgrade the wood in an aftermarket option...
The XC90 will have a redesign with the 2010 model. I do not think it will be a radical difference as that is not Volvo's style. . There is also a sport model with a suspension tuned for more responsive handling.
The MDX with the plastic black bamboo woodtone is different than the other SUVs in a similar price range offering wood and sometime a selection of wood interior. I have looked for wood inlays as an aftermarket and have not found them for the 2007 yet but expect in six months or so they will be available. A formed kit is the way to go. |
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| Luke |
quote:
Originally posted by emcman
The XC90 will have a redesign with the 2010 model. I do not think it will be a radical difference as that is not Volvo's style. . There is also a sport model with a suspension tuned for more responsive handling.
The MDX with the plastic black bamboo woodtone is different than the other SUVs in a similar price range offering wood and sometime a selection of wood interior. I have looked for wood inlays as an aftermarket and have not found them for the 2007 yet but expect in six months or so they will be available. A formed kit is the way to go.
Well you could argue you're saving some trees with fake wood!
The XC60, Q5 and other new mid-size models will come out by then. The 2008 highlander is now shown on toyota's site and that made us buy the MDX... Toyota designs are becoming increasingly conservative and boring (imho)... |
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| Simi_MDX |
We considered an XC90 V8, but after driving our friends (which was 6 months old), we passed. Yes, the car looks great and the interior is much better (european leather seems to be nicer for some reason), but that car was at the dealership way too many times. Just the weekend I had it, the rear view mirrors stopped folding and the gas cap indicator kept going off.
Unless you are leasing or plan to keep it short term, the MDX is much better. |
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| stoke2 |
Wow, I'm really surprised at people's reactions to the "faux wood" and "cheap door handles". I don't find either to be the case. I literally drove every single mid sized SUV in the market and I found the MDX to have one of the most interesting interiors of them all. I personally thought the XC90 looked really cheap. The only interior I liked better was the Cayenne.
As they've said in other forums, "different strokes...." All personal taste and opinion. |
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| justG0 |
| How about Audi Q7? I really liked its interior, especially it's panoramic moon-roof. I like my MDX's interior too, but the one thing I think Audi does best is their interior fit and finish. |
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| stoke2 |
| I did like the Audi interior, but I just couldn't hang with that HUGE grill. Too much! |
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| dj-mdx2 |
I wonder what happened to the guy that did this install ?
Sure would look good in carbon fiber trim to match the Sport package. |
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