| nipsy3 |
I recently traded a BMW 325xi for an '02 MDX and I'm wondering how it handles on snowy roads. The BMW was okay because it was AWD, but it wasn't great. My only concern with this is that it's heavier and more prone to slide on a corner. My wife will be making about a 30 mile daily commute each way in this. What have your experiences been so far? How does it compare to other SUVs or AWD vehicles in snow conditions? I'm sure a lot depends on the tires.
Thanks in advance for any feedback. |
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| NOXtheMDX |
Nipsy:
I recently traded an old 95 Subaru Legacy 4wd sedan in for the 2003 MDX, and have only had about three days of good snow driving since the trade.
That said, I miss the feeling of being low to the ground in the Subaru; it would NOT come loose until you made it clear it was supposed to. Yeah, I took it out for donuts, swerves, but AWD from Subaru really doesn't allow for much slip.
The MDX, I've found, doesn't let you over-drive the car unless you turn off the VSA (so, yeah, I tried the donuts that way, and it just won't happen with VSA).
For normal driving, acceleration, turns, and hurry-up-and-turn -into-the-lot- before-this-semi- tries-to-drive-into-my-back-seat style driving, the MDX is solid, confident, and will definitely apply the power and grip needed to get it done. The anti-lock brakes work better than the Subaru's, lateral slip on snow is minimal -- but the rear end can get out of control if you're not careful.
So, basically: overconfidence is a bad thing, but knowing for sure what your X will do for you will give you great peace of mind -- it's probably the first truck/van platform I've ever driven that feels like it's really going to corner well when slippery conditions occur.
Side Note: The MDX is also to be recommended for simply getting through things. I took mine out on the peninsula in Erie, PA, on a slushy weekend over Thanksgiving, and rolled over some sand and maneuvered a bit, slid a bit, and had a great time. The guys at the oil shop / car wash said they were surprised I hadn't gotten stuck out there, and I preached to them the beauty of AWD. They gaped and said they'd seen Jeeps with mud-bogger tires getting stuck in the sand. I grinned, shrugged, and told 'em how much I love my truck.
So you don't have to worry. The MDX should prove far superior to the BMW you left behind. |
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| HwyRogue |
Indeed - make sure you put on GOOD winter tires and the MDX will make it through just about anything :-)
I just put Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow on mine and it now has bite in the snow - I absolutely LOVE my MDX... I had a Pilot for a few years and it was ok, but the MDX is just a joy to drive :) |
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