| Ssingh |
I currently have a 05 on lease which is ending next Jan 2008 and took my 05 to my local dealer for a oil-change ($24.99 with free car wash:2: )
and finally got a chance to play with the replacement 'killer'.
First of all, the front grill stands out nicely and I luv that look alone BUT from the side, it kinda looks a little Nissan Murano'ish which I dont dig. The rear also is kinda plain-looking unlike the Lexus RX330 (wife's car).
Opened up the now powered rear gate (luv that feature) and after a few moments, with the third row seats up, the trunk space appear to be smaller than my 05! The curved roof shape may contribute to this. Interior room feels a little bigger but not by much.
One thing I hate about my MDX is the bad seat design for passengers tryin to access the 3rd row. I thought maybe Acura would fix this in the redesign but they did not. Since I have 2 kids and also often carrying my 70-ish parents around with me in the same truck, I make full use of the 3rd row seats (my kids luv that 'back' spot).
Another improvement that I wanted to see was if if Acura would have a 'on-screen' keypad available for Bluetooth instead of relying on the voice-activated method of communication but thats not the case either. My wife is Puerto-Rican and has an accent and in our current MDX, she often has issues with the voice-activation system for phone.
Other features that are missing on the 07 are roofracks and rain-sensing wipers..something that were standard on touring models on the prev gen and something that Im making full use of, to this day. I asked the salesman about this and he said the roofracks were now an option. [An option for a $50K premium SUV????]. He didn't comment on the rain-sensing wipers.
Anyway, I finally started the engine and took the 07 on the freeway. Another thing hit me was the road noise.....ITS STILL THERE!! Of course, this is a lot better than some of the other SUV's out there but for a $50K vehicle, there has be better insulation....mind u, the road noise is not better or any worse than the prev gen MDX's but when compared to my wife's $37k RX330, its there.
Other than that, the new engine seems to offer more than ample power and the 07 drives more like a sports car.
So my final impression....if I was in the market for a new SUV, I'd definitely consider the 07 MDX but if upgrading from a well-rounded 05/06 MDX, then I dont see the reason to spend the extra dough.
For me, I have about 8 months of research before deciding on my next SUV as for around 50k, Im sure they'll be plenty more to choose from end this year (or maybe I'll pick up a certified 05/06 MDX with Nav/RES instead)
S |
|
|
| TurboFatCrab |
I test drove 7 sedans/SUVs before settling on the MDX. I like the way it looks and handles as well as the noise it makes. Judging from your preferences, perhaps you should try a QX56 of gx470.
To each its own. Goodluck. |
|
|
| bronxblaza117 |
| i personally do not like the roof rails on the 07 mdx. on any other car i would of gotten it but it doesnt look goood to me on the MDX. but to each his/her own |
|
|
| JLee |
The new MDX is what convinced me to sell my old one that was paid off and incur another several years of car payments. I had a 2002 MDX and when the 03s came out with the higher HP and tweaks that wasn't enough to get me to upgrade but I drove this MDX and it was almost (I said almost) like driving my Infiniti FX35. The car was different enough and so much improved it was worth the extra $$.
I do agree the rear cargo area is smaller, I think its the moldings, they are thicker and takes up more interior space.
Otherwise its a great car. The dealers all have alot of inventory so I'm speculating that the "sportiness" of the new MDX doesn't appeal to as many people as the last gen since its not as minivan ish as the last model.
Jeff |
|
|
| dejavudu94 |
Well sounds like the MDX is not the car for you. Very hard to compare the 05 to the 07 as its just a totally different car besides the MDX badge. I find more differences than I do similarity with the two models. I absolutely love driving my 07 MDX. I bought it originally for the wife but I drive it so much, I guess it's mine now. I paid around $44,500 for my sport/ent. My sister in law bought her tech/ent for $42,000. It's not quite $50k and I don't think any other full vehicle at $50K even compares all around to the MDX's power, performance, handling, technology, etc... Comparably, the X5's third row is very cramped and is an expensive add on option. The RX350 does not even have a third row so I guess you won't need to complain about access to that. I'm sure you can buy a X5, Cayenne, RX, Audi, Mercedes fully loaded but that will definitely cost you well over $50K. Compared to those prices, I don't mind putting out a couple hundred for the accessories on my MDX if I wanted them. I actually don't like the roof rails and will never have a use for them. I don't need auto adjusting rear-view mirrors as the rear window is already tinted. And rain sensing wipers are just silly to me. I'll turn the wipers on if I need them. In most cases, I'll know when I'll need them. I will eventually get the sport running boards, garnish, and side moldings though. That will run me right about $1,000 but with a total cost of $45,500, I am getting everything I need. No complaints on the price here for what I get. No complaints on noise neither as the car is fairly quiet. Plus the sound system rocks and the back passengers are too busy enjoying the rear dvd unit to even care. Everyone has been impressed after sitting in my MDX. Sounds to me like your issues are your own which you are entitled to. Good luck finding a better SUV if you could afford it. Let us know if you end up buying the 07 MDX after you check out the competition. Yahoo has really good auto reviews by users/owners and you can compare vehicles, reviews, and ratings. Check out the URL below if you want to.
http://autos.yahoo.com/
:runaway: |
|
|
| bronxblaza117 |
| ^:claphead: |
|
|
| SullyC5er |
quote: Originally posted by Ssingh
[B] The rear also is kinda plain-looking unlike the Lexus RX330 (wife's car).
We have both. IMHO...Sitting side-by-side in the driveway, the MDX makes the RX330 look out-dated. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Of all the SUV's I have owned & driven, the MDX blows them all away.
In the various automotive forums where I participate, I read this type of comment a lot, "For a $50K (pic a number) this vehicle should have 'xyz'. The problem is that if the manufacturers put in all the xyz's that everyone thinks they should have, then the $50K would be $60K. |
|
|
| SullyC5er |
You may want to read this
http://www.caranddriver.com/compari...uxury-suvs.html
Here are the results...
Eighth Place: Land Rover LR3 HSE
Seventh Place: Volkswagen Touareg V-6
Sixth Place: Volvo XC90 Sport
Fifth Place: Lexus GX470
Fourth Place: Mercedes-Benz ML350
Third Place: BMW X5 3.0si
Second Place: Cadillac SRX AWD V-8
First Place: Acura MDX Sport |
|
|
| NewMDX4Marti |
You might want to try the Audi Q7. It had the rain sensing wipers, and was quieter than the MDX. They start at 40K, but be warned, everything is extra.
When I added all the features that were important to me, the Q7 was over 60K, and was not worth the extra $$.
I'm very happy with the MDX and find it to be very quiet, but I moved up from an Odyssey minivan.
Also you say it looks smaller, it is not. That's the styling, do a side by side comparison with the '06 at Acura.com, you will find it actually is larger in passenger and cargo capacity. |
|
|
| emcman |
The Audi is one long heavy SUV though. I test drove several SUV's over the weekend and was most impressed by the BMW X5 4.8 V8.
Since the Acura dealer was throwing a $55,000 sticker at me with a few options like the front and rear garnish and 19" wheels the BMW looks best to me with just a tech pacgage needed and $58,000 sticker.
I thought the Acura was sluggish and overpriced. IMO. |
|
|
| dj-mdx2 |
quote: Originally posted by emcman
The Audi is one long heavy SUV though. I test drove several SUV's over the weekend and was most impressed by the BMW X5 4.8 V8.
Since the Acura dealer was throwing a $55,000 sticker at me with a few options like the front and rear garnish and 19" wheels the BMW looks best to me with just a tech pacgage needed and $58,000 sticker.
I thought the Acura was sluggish and overpriced. IMO.
Your Acura dealer must be high on something. Even a Sport + Ent MDX, well-equipped with all the add-ons like roof rails, tow hitch, interior accessories, wood grain steering wheel, running boards, etc. it will NOT sticker at 55K. |
|
|
| NewMDX4Marti |
If you're looking for a 7 seater, the BMW X5 4.8 V8 is NOT one. The only 7 seater BMW is a V6, and to make room for a 3rd row, they took out the spare, and put in run-flat tires. Check my previous post about the Magazine of the BMW Car Club of America - Roundel, saying that the Acura MDX Sport Ent beats out the BMW X5 in several categories.
As the previous poster stated, there is no 55K sticker price, even with every option added, it would be hard to get it that high. Recent buyers are purchasing at around $1000 over invoice or so.
I'm not sure what you're trying to find by posting on a site made up of mostly '07 MDX owners, but you're not going to find a lot of agreement that it's a crummy car. Sure, next to a V8 BMW, it might feel sluggish, but that's a ridiculous comparison. |
|
|
| SilveradoMDX |
quote: Originally posted by emcman
The Audi is one long heavy SUV though. I test drove several SUV's over the weekend and was most impressed by the BMW X5 4.8 V8.
Since the Acura dealer was throwing a $55,000 sticker at me with a few options like the front and rear garnish and 19" wheels the BMW looks best to me with just a tech pacgage needed and $58,000 sticker.
I thought the Acura was sluggish and overpriced. IMO.
Your local dealer must be high on drugs to give you that $55k price tag. Do some more research... |
|
|
| triple a |
Thanks dejavudu94 for putting it all in perspective or at least reducing the dissonance I was feeling this weekend after purchasing an '07 Tech. I felt great for a while and then had pangs in my stomach wondering if I did the right thing. I will be trading in my '05 Touring and have also owned and '01 and '03 so I have grown quite accustomed to the first gen product. You can't compare the handling of the '07 to the first gen in terms of road handling and responsiveness. Understand that I never had a problem with performance on my previous MDX's but these are two quite different machines. As for the various features eliminated (auto adjust day/night mirror, rain sensor wipers, etc) they have been far outdone by the added features ( no need to elaborate) and comfort/performance. I just hope my wife let's me drive it a bit more than the others!
quote: Originally posted by dejavudu94
Well sounds like the MDX is not the car for you. Very hard to compare the 05 to the 07 as its just a totally different car besides the MDX badge. I find more differences than I do similarity with the two models. I absolutely love driving my 07 MDX. I bought it originally for the wife but I drive it so much, I guess it's mine now. I paid around $44,500 for my sport/ent. My sister in law bought her tech/ent for $42,000. It's not quite $50k and I don't think any other full vehicle at $50K even compares all around to the MDX's power, performance, handling, technology, etc... Comparably, the X5's third row is very cramped and is an expensive add on option. The RX350 does not even have a third row so I guess you won't need to complain about access to that. I'm sure you can buy a X5, Cayenne, RX, Audi, Mercedes fully loaded but that will definitely cost you well over $50K. Compared to those prices, I don't mind putting out a couple hundred for the accessories on my MDX if I wanted them. I actually don't like the roof rails and will never have a use for them. I don't need auto adjusting rear-view mirrors as the rear window is already tinted. And rain sensing wipers are just silly to me. I'll turn the wipers on if I need them. In most cases, I'll know when I'll need them. I will eventually get the sport running boards, garnish, and side moldings though. That will run me right about $1,000 but with a total cost of $45,500, I am getting everything I need. No complaints on the price here for what I get. No complaints on noise neither as the car is fairly quiet. Plus the sound system rocks and the back passengers are too busy enjoying the rear dvd unit to even care. Everyone has been impressed after sitting in my MDX. Sounds to me like your issues are your own which you are entitled to. Good luck finding a better SUV if you could afford it. Let us know if you end up buying the 07 MDX after you check out the competition. Yahoo has really good auto reviews by users/owners and you can compare vehicles, reviews, and ratings. Check out the URL below if you want to.
http://autos.yahoo.com/
:runaway:
:18: :18: |
|
|
| ultiluder |
quote: Originally posted by emcman
The Audi is one long heavy SUV though. I test drove several SUV's over the weekend and was most impressed by the BMW X5 4.8 V8.
Since the Acura dealer was throwing a $55,000 sticker at me with a few options like the front and rear garnish and 19" wheels the BMW looks best to me with just a tech pacgage needed and $58,000 sticker.
I thought the Acura was sluggish and overpriced. IMO.
$55K sticker price for the MDX? Wow. That is outrageous, even with the few options you mentioned. But is that really a fair comparison? I've been getting quotes on MDX here in the Northeast, they hover around $500 over invoice. Getting the top Sports+Ent model is really around $44K. Which is very reasonable with all the features and toys stuffed into the MDX, in my opinion.
Good luck with your X5! |
|
|
| shootist |
quote: Originally posted by emcman
the Acura dealer was throwing a $55,000 sticker at me with a few options like the front and rear garnish and 19" wheels.
I don't believe you. IMHO. YMMV. GSAT. |
|
|
| theseans |
How can you tell a Yank from a Canuck on this forum...just get them to start quoting prices.
avg U.S. price $45k
avg CDN price $60K
When it comes to cars and housing costs, I sure wish my parents had had me across the border in Detroit. -) |
|
|
| mkaresh |
| Both people posting high prices appear to be in the U.S. But I also find their prices unrealistically high. This sort of overstatement of prices often happens when someone is looking for a reason not to want to buy something--they round up. Want to buy it? Then round the price down. |
|
|
| Ssingh |
quote: Originally posted by cvista
For someone who has 8 months to do research, it's not surprising he doesn't like MDX. Even if he likes it, he can't because his lease is not up. Commonsense tells me that, for someone in that situation, they have to be in denial otherwise they can't sleep at night.
If MDX navigation doesn't understand Puerto Rican accent, it will never understand his indian accent. So it's not meant for him I guess.
Your high of intelligence shows right thru your post :3:
BTW, Im a US born-indian so u fail bigtime....next time, please keep your judgements to yourself. Thank U!
And your 6 only posts doesn't give you a lot of credibility either.
S |
|
|
| dj-mdx2 |
quote: Originally posted by cvista
For someone who has 8 months to do research, it's not surprising he doesn't like MDX. Even if he likes it, he can't because his lease is not up. Commonsense tells me that, for someone in that situation, they have to be in denial otherwise they can't sleep at night.
If MDX navigation doesn't understand Puerto Rican accent, it will never understand his indian accent. So it's not meant for him I guess.
Whoa, this was uncalled-for! |
|
|
| Ssingh |
After much debate here, I took my wife down to the dealership again today for another test drive.
This time, the demo car (I'm not used to the word SUV's;) ) had no roofracks unlike the one before and had the sports packaging.
The windnoise issue that we had in the demo car prevoiously was very minimal in this one:2: ...I dont really know if the roofracks made the difference or not, or the sports packaging:confused:
But anyway, this time around, felt better about the new MDX......took my kids as well and even though the 3rd row seats are still a pain to access, I think I can live with it.
Since this was my second trip, I felt more comfortable with the interior controls and spent more time with it, especially with NaV and DVD system.
I think I may very well accept my minor grieves and just deal with it as the tech+ride feel more refined than ever.
BTW, the demo car was that maroon color which is my wife's fav.
Also liked the silver one which shows some hints of blue in the sunlight making it look totally cool.
The other positive thing for me personally would be by the time Im ready to make the purchase, my daughter would out of her bulky baby seat and into a smaller booster.
So as luck would have it, we may go with the 07 (or 08) MDX but Im still keeping an eye out for whatver Toyota, Lexus (my fav) would have to offer....
Thanks to everyone for their comments:)
S |
|
|
| FamilyMDX |
While this is our second MDX ( we had 2001 first then upgraded to 2004). I was so disappointed to find out that the quality of Acura was not as good as I expected.
With the 2001, we had a warped rotors at 700 miles. Warranty doesn't cover the "wear & tear" or "overloading brakes" as two different dealers claim. I first thought that it was a lemon, but when we had the same problem with the 2004, I found out that the same rotors (and pads) are used on Accords and TL's that was when I ended up installing high performance drilled Magnum rotors. So far, I feel the difference. Better breaking and no warped rotors. Still not imagining using the MDX for towing any thing….period…
I was sure that it was a design flaw. Contacted Acura customer service and one of the annoying answers was:
“You don’t expect to stop on a dime with a vehicle like that”. That was the stupidest and the lamest excuse I ever heard from customer service.
Another incident that happened in the third year, about 21000 miles. The battery died and after towing the MDX to the dealer, I was told that the battery is only covered for 2 years, then prorated after that. So the Honda batter would cost me $100 Plus $60 for installation. I was puzzled with this reasoning. I told then that I would buy a “Die hard” battery for less than $70 and it will be guaranteed for 5 years.
Just as a comparison, On a 1997 Camry, The head lights burned after 2 years (with 24K miles & out of the full coverage warranty), but still Toyota replace the bulb, and even replaced the plastic cover as it was not sealed well.
We are contemplating selling the MDX2004 and we are looking into the Lexus GX 470.
Any buyers in the San Francisco are? |
|
|
| krafty81 |
Ssingh -
If there are things that bother you about the car now, they will bug you as long as you own it. My advice is to drive and look at as many different cars as you can - the mid-size SUV sector is huge and getting bigger. The new lamda-series from GM are worth a look if you are not hard-over on an import. The Buick Enclave seems to be aimed at the lux SUV market. I sat in the Lincoln MKX and was impressed - designed to be a RX350 rival, I think, and does not have a third row, which killed the deal for me.
I just think if you are buying a new car it should be EXACTLY what you want. I felt good getting the MDX because I had driven everything out there - and my wife refused to ride in another car after the MDX....:) |
|
|
| remo |
quote: Originally posted by emcman
The Audi is one long heavy SUV though. I test drove several SUV's over the weekend and was most impressed by the BMW X5 4.8 V8.
Since the Acura dealer was throwing a $55,000 sticker at me with a few options like the front and rear garnish and 19" wheels the BMW looks best to me with just a tech pacgage needed and $58,000 sticker.
I thought the Acura was sluggish and overpriced. IMO.
That's a very nice and fair comparison. You just a little off with a pricing on BMW: 4.8 with similar options as MDX Sport + RES + 19" comes close to $68,000. That's $10000 to $15000 more. Hey, if you've got the money I agree that bimmer is one fine SUV. |
|
|
|