| Fulcrumdriver |
Hi, I am new to post-2000 Acuras and Hondas. That said, I am mechanically very able and DIY almost all my auto repairs and maintenance.
Was shopping Audi Allroads for months until a coworker showed me and my wife his newly acquired '05 MDX. What really sold us was the 3rd row seat and just the way the MDX drove. The added reliability that comes with a Honda product is just an added bonus.
So, is there a pre-purchase inspection checklist one can use for shopping 01-06 MDX's? If none is readily available, what are the problem areas that I should look for when shopping for one?
I observed many comments about transmission failures on 01's and 02's. Should I avoid these or is there some preventative measure one can take to proactively prevent an 01-02 MDX trans from dying?
Lastly, how good is Acura with protection against corrossion? One reason I have remained partial to Audis is that their galvanized bodies stand up very well against rust - electrically, it's another story.
Thank you in advance for your responses. |
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| midnightMDX |
| Right now alot of 05's are off lease at the dealers. Alot of good deals. You definitely want to get a CPO one, but since you are mechanically inclined you can always inspect it yourself. For 01-02 models its likely it had the trans replaced or will need to be replaced. But there have been people who have had few issues. Overall, MDX's are pretty solid. Maybe one of members with high miles can tell how there MDX's body is holding up. You just got to figure out with features you want. The 3rd row isnt really adult sized. Happy hunting! :4: |
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| RN7676 |
Here's a couple of tips I have for used car shopping.
The fenders, hood, doors, and rear hatch originally had a little white rectangle sticker about 2 inches long that has the VIN number stamped on it. You can check to see if they all match. New OEM parts will not have that sticker and parts from other cars will have them removed or the VIN wont match. It's a quick and easy indicator to see if body panels have been replaced. If they have been replaced then you can decide if the repair and repaint was done well enough for you. Every modern car tags the VIN on the body panels in one way or another. You can look for those VIN #s on any vehicle.
Check the paint quality and shine on the roof of any SUV. Many prior owners and sellers will not climb up there to wax or polish the roof. It may give you an indication of whether it was garaged or left out. |
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| Fulcrumdriver |
| Thanks guys - am shopping Pacific Northwest - Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and Victoria. Have decided to focus on 2004 to 2006 model years only. |
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| midnightMDX |
| The 05+ will add XM and bluetooth. |
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