| cap |
Is there really a difference? And if it feels different what's the use of it?
I just wanted to know what folks think. I never comparatively test drove them and I toy with the idea of getting the sport package.
I just commute and deal with upstate NY weather.
Any thoughts? Thanks |
|
|
| dj-mdx2 |
| Yes, the ADS serves to put a smile on the owner's face as he/she takes the twisties at speed. :D Seriously, there have been multiple threads discussing the pros and cons of the Sport suspension system. I got one and am happy with the choice. Most members that have the Tech don't seem to miss the difference, though there have been some regrets. |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
SPORT RULES !
NUFF SAID...... |
|
|
| craniotes |
One thing to keep in mind with respect the Sport suspension system is that it's always active, regardless of whether or not you have it set to "Sport" or "Comfort", which, for the casual driver means that you can pretty much have your cake and eat it too. By this I mean that you can reap the benefits of a smooth ride, but the suspension will still tense up when you hit a corner too hot, and it all but eliminates squat and dive when accelerating and braking (something I came to appreciate last night when I had to slam on the brakes to avoid getting crunched by an 18-wheeler that cut into my lane without signaling).
For the most part I leave mine in "Comfort" mode since I'm usually cruising (relatively) sedately with my family in the car, but when I know a curve is coming up, I'll switch it to "Sport" until the ruckus dies down. And then, of course, there are those rare occasions that I get to take a solo blast along the "Reservoir Route" near my countryhouse - a sparsely traveled, twisty two-lane that begs to be hit hard... Whenever I find myself on this road, I open the sunroof, turn up the ELS, slap the shifter into manual-mode, and set the suspension to SPORT!
If you enjoy driving at all, I highly recommend this option. If, however, you view driving as a chore and cars as mere appliances, then save your money and get some accessories instead.
Regards,
Adam |
|
|
| bbmd |
One of the main reasons I bought the X was its handling, as I'm not a big fan of truck-like rides, and the Sport suspension plays a big part here.
I usually drive on Sport when I'm all alone and want to gun it a bit; Comfort when I have family riding along.
However, with all the potholes that sprung up around here lately, I favor Comfort more and more as it's not so harsh on my back. I'm not saying the Sport setting is harsh but you can definitely feel the difference, especially on bad roads. Nice to have the option though. |
|
|
| eujinc |
| Having the ability to change the ride characteristics with a press of a button is fantastic to say the least. Even in Comfort mode, the active dampers make handling bumpy twisties very seamless and smooth. In Sport mode, well now you are getting into sports sedan territory. |
|
|
| cap |
Why then, is every dealer telling me that the ADS makes ZERO difference. My approach has been the same:
Hi I'm looking for an Acura. Can you first tell me the difference between the Sport suspension and the regular please?
I've now met with three different guys...
#1: "when people want the sport, they really don't even know why they want it or what they're getting."
#2: It makes no difference. I can't say I could even tell. It really has no use."
#3: there is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER. I've driven them both. It feels a little more rigid but it doesn't improve performance. It's like a status thing. People get it to show off that they paid extra. It's not worth the extra $3000"
And then I read the comments you guys make. they all have to do with a more unquantifiable feeling. The one guy who had to avoid an 18-wheeler. Are you sure it was your ADS that kicked in and saved your life there or is that a bit of an exaggeration?
I'm not trying to poo poo the SPORT owners. I understand you love it. It's just that I STILL do not understand WHAT AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE UPGRADE IT PROVIDES. You can't tell me it's anything more than a "feel" thing. Like a "vivid" button on your TV that makes the colors more intense when you press it, but really does nothing to enhance picture quality.
I'm beginning to think while it does firm up the cars feel or cushion it a bit the slalom times and accident avoidance for the sport and the tech-only packages are still the same.
The MDX just handles great bells and whistles or not.
Am I in the ballpark here? |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
First off the saleslime bags will SELL you anything to SELL you current inventory which will be little or no Sports available. That should be a CLUE......As my brother always told me, buy the Honda they can't keep in stock....DUH........The sport sells quickly, its more expensive and it's "top of the line".......
Now get a sports model and drive it over a speed bump at the crawling speeds appropriate in comfort mode, then repeat in sport mode. You'll notice a difference. Take it out on a twisty road and "push it to its limit (referred as "spirited driving"), then repeat in the sport model in sport mode. You be the judge......Resale is also better with the "top of line" model.....
Nuff said.....
P.S. Ebony interior is a MUST....... |
|
|
| wahoo5 |
It should be pretty simple. Drive both on twisty roads. If you can't tell the difference, then save your money.
Salespeople will always sell you what is in stock. It is hard to find a Sport in stock. I did and I am very pleased with it.
YMMV. |
|
|
| cap |
| Yes. The only way is to test drive.... |
|
|
| craniotes |
quote:
Originally posted by cap
Why then, is every dealer telling me that the ADS makes ZERO difference. My approach has been the same:
Hi I'm looking for an Acura. Can you first tell me the difference between the Sport suspension and the regular please?
I've now met with three different guys...
#1: "when people want the sport, they really don't even know why they want it or what they're getting."
#2: It makes no difference. I can't say I could even tell. It really has no use."
#3: there is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER. I've driven them both. It feels a little more rigid but it doesn't improve performance. It's like a status thing. People get it to show off that they paid extra. It's not worth the extra $3000"
And then I read the comments you guys make. they all have to do with a more unquantifiable feeling. The one guy who had to avoid an 18-wheeler. Are you sure it was your ADS that kicked in and saved your life there or is that a bit of an exaggeration?
I'm not trying to poo poo the SPORT owners. I understand you love it. It's just that I STILL do not understand WHAT AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE UPGRADE IT PROVIDES. You can't tell me it's anything more than a "feel" thing. Like a "vivid" button on your TV that makes the colors more intense when you press it, but really does nothing to enhance picture quality.
I'm beginning to think while it does firm up the cars feel or cushion it a bit the slalom times and accident avoidance for the sport and the tech-only packages are still the same.
The MDX just handles great bells and whistles or not.
Am I in the ballpark here?
Well, I most certainly didn't credit the ADS saving my bacon in my close encounter with the semi, but there's no denying that the zero brake-dive helped in controlling the car. And while I can't quantify this through testing, I have little doubt that the ADS does help reduce braking distances, since it evens the load front and rear in panic stops (brake-dive unloads the rear tires, which means less control and longer braking distances). As for quantifiable results, the ADS handles better. Period. Anytime a 4500lb CUV can corner as well as a Lexus IS350 (.86g), and brake in the same distance (60mph-0 in 120ft), something very right is going on. The only test results I ever saw for a base suspension listed the skidpad at .80g and 70mph-0 in 181ft (the Sport has been tested at 70mph-0 in 170ft). Mind you, these results have to be taken with a grain of salt since they weren't conducted at the same time by the same magazine using a Sport and a base, so outside variables may account for differences in performance.
The above notwithstanding, whether or not the difference between the ADS and base suspension makes enough of a difference to you is a personal question, and therefore one that only you can answer. If this is your primary vehicle, then why wouldn't you want to handle as well as possible? On the other hand, no matter how many acronyms Acura throws at the MDX, it's still an SUV, and won't be confused for a Lotus Elise anytime soon (and who knows, maybe you've already got one sitting in your garage, in which case the whole "driving satisfaction" thing is covered). My advice would be to drive both (and when I say "drive", I mean really put them through their paces). If you're satisfied with the base suspension, well, there you go. Like I said in my earlier post, save some cash and blow it on accessories instead. Of course if you're sold on the ADS, then you don't have to worry about having a "coulda/shoulda" moment later on.
As for the other bells and whistles that come with the Sport package, well those you can take or leave. Personally, I love the titanium-finish wheels and perforated leather. The upgraded interior trim is barely noticeable, however, as are the self-leveling HIDs (though doubtless they're useful when towing).
Regards,
Adam
PS - Like Fab and wahoo said, the sales people are going to push what's in stock. If they had a couple of Sports lying around collecting dust, trust me, they wouldn't be able to say enough good things about the package. Fact is, they're scarcer than hen's teeth and in many cases have to be special-ordered from the factory.
PPS - And I do agree that the MDX in any incarnation is a terrific handling CUV. I test drove a Tech/Ent, and found that it struck a very nice compromise between the "comfort" and "sport" settings of the ADS. Even so, I was looking more of an edge, and I found that in the Sport package. |
|
|
| cap |
great post.
again, a man needs to test both side by side to tell. |
|
|
| MDX4now |
If I go for a 3-Peat in the future and buy another MDX for the family, it will most likely be the Sport.
But I noticed someone was just saying in a prior post that one of the Pro's to buying the Sport is the resale.
While no doubt the Sport will be worth more than a Tech in trade (no duh, it costs more and has more eqipment), the actual percentage of MSRP it retains 3-4 years down the line is probably a little less than a similar Tech version. I'm not positive on this, as someone comparing lease rates would probably know the residuals better than me.
Having owned two prior generation MDX's, I know for a fact, for example, that my first Touring/Navigation garnered more trade dollars than an identical Touring model, however I completely realize that my $2,200 navigation system was no investment by any means, as I guarantee you I didn't receive $2,200 more in trade because I bought the navigation package.
So if you want the Sport, get the Sport, but no one should ever look at a car as an investment, as all they are are depreciating assets of ours' that more likely than not depreciate faster the more options we add! :D |
|
|
| brydon |
quote:
Originally posted by cap
Is there really a difference? And if it feels different what's the use of it?
I just wanted to know what folks think. I never comparatively test drove them and I toy with the idea of getting the sport package.
I just commute and deal with upstate NY weather.
Any thoughts? Thanks
You know that the ADS actively changes the way that the shock absorbers react, providing a better handling SUV with less body roll right?
Like everyone else is saying test drive them side-by-side. I compared the '08MDX Sport to an '08 X5 4.8i and an '08 ML550. I found that the MDX in Sport mode handled just as well as the X5, and in Comfort mode, was almost as nice a ride as the ML550. For my very different family hauler and blast to Tahoe for Snowboarding needs, the MDX Sport is the perfect fit for me. |
|
|
| cap |
quote:
Originally posted by brydon
You know that the ADS actively changes the way that the shock absorbers react, providing a better handling SUV with less body roll right?
See. This is what I'm not really buying...
LESS BODY ROLL?
or
FEELS LIKE less body roll?
I would dare suggest that Acura might publicly share that information? Less body roll, if in fact the Sport has it, is actually a SAFETY FEATURE. Did the sport get higher safety ratings??
This is what I'm asking. Does the Sport provide a measurable utility difference or the perception of a different feel? |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
I HAVE WAY better control (spirited driving and so forth) in SPORT mode over Comfy any time.....
When I drove to LA I found myself with better control in Sport mode traveling threw the Grape vine as opposed to Comfy..... |
|
|
| craniotes |
quote:
Originally posted by cap
LESS BODY ROLL?
or
FEELS LIKE less body roll?
It's LESS BODY ROLL. That's what the active dampers do when you hit a corner: based on input from sensors that measure acceleration, speed and g-forces they selectively firm up each individual shock in milliseconds (yup, I said milliseconds) to counteract lean in corners, dive under hard braking and squat during acceleration. The exact same technology is used to similar effect in Corvettes, the Cadillac XLR, and Ferrari's top-of-the-line 599 GTB Fiorano. Seriously, the way the X corners when in "sport" mode borders on unreal.
Is this safer in certain driving situations? Undoubtedly, but for Acura to sell the ADS as a safety feature, it would detract from the perceived safety of models that lack this technology. This would be bad from a marketing point of view since the non-Sports comprise the bulk of MDX sales. As it stands, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the base suspension; it's just that the Sport suspension is better.
Again, don't take my word for it, see for yourself by taking one out for a spin.
Regards,
Adam |
|
|
| brydon |
| there is another thread on this forum "Sport vs Non-Sport". One of the posts on there states that the anti-roll bars on the sport model are a little thicker. This means that even in Comfort mode, the body of the car will lean less and be able to handle a little better than the non-sport model. |
|
|
|
