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Hi!! I've decided to give an upholstery shop a chance to convince me that what THEY can do will resolve my complaint about the drivers seat. I've been driving around with foam pads under my legs and on the top two thirds of the seat back. Although not quite perfect [yet] the difference is AMAZING. [my fingers are crossed!!] My concern is 'will altering the seat effect the value of my MDX'? Oh well.. [you're not the ONLY one sick of hearing about the 'seat'] lol
Driving the MDX. Should a person drive the MDX as if it were a TRUE front wheel drive 'vehicle' OR as a 4 wheel drive 'vehicle? In a front wheel drive car you're supposed to accelerate [slightly] whenever going around a bend in the road. [In a rear wheel drive car you're supposed to ease off the gas pedal and coast through the 'bend'] Is the MDX ALWAYS front wheel drive [other then when you first start off] OR does it switch back and forth - even on DRY pavement - WHILE moving??
ALSO - IF the MDX senses that you are slipping and NEED all four wheels 'working' for you - WHY is there a VTM-4 button on the dash? AND - IF you DO push that VTM-4 button BECAUSE you ARE stuck - do you have to STOP once your UNSTUCK and push the button again OR does it turn off automatically?
Thanks!!
Craig!! :) |
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All good questions, Craig. Good luck with your seats. I imagine that it would decrease the value of your car to modify the seats.
Drive it like a front-wheel-drive car. It's always in front wheel drive, and VTM-4 only engages the rear wheels when there the system detects slippage. If you're on dry pavement, you are essentially in a front-wheel-drive car.
The VTM-4 LOCK button should be pressed when the car is stopped - assuming you're in a snow bank or in a muddy or other slippery place and YOU want to make sure you're in 4WD. Set the shifter all the way down to the D1-D2 setting. This will "LOCK" you in 4WD whether you slip or not. It automatically puts you back to "automatic" AWD mode once your speed exceeds 18 MPH.
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| Isaac |
Errr...Craig, honestly, you really only need to worry about cornering technique unless you're racing that beast or pushing it right to the limits. Just drive the friggin' thing.
The MDX is 2WD most of the time, and cuts in 4WD as needed, so if you really wanted to, you can gas it all the way through the corner. As far as I know, it will never drop to RWD mode.
As for cornering techniques, it really depends on how you want to drive it. I know guys who AutoX their RWD cars, and their preferred method is to mash the gas through the corner to help swing the rear end out to get around the corner. Other FWD guys some come in hot, let off the gas, make the turn, then when pointed almost in the right direction, floor it again.
It depends on the road surface, your car balance, tire grip, personal style, etc...
_Please_ don't tell me you're actually racing your new MDX!
As for the seats, I'll be getting mine next week, so I'll see if it's as bad as you make it out to be :) |
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Been reading your seat saga. I usually have troubles with seats as being too small or too short in the legs. And I'm less than 6' tall.
Had a quick thought. Did you have the Acura dealer check the seat to make sure all the switch boxes and sensors were in the right places. These items may be pushing where they aren't suppose to push. Sounds like the seat has everything in it short of ejection seat rocket.
Waiting for an MDX. Hope it arrives before markets throw me into a personal recession. |
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Hi SteveP!! Thanks for the information. I appreciate it!! I have to admit - I drooled with envy when I read your 'cars owned' list!! [and with all due respect - it wasn't the '99 Sierra that 'did it'!!] I'd LOVE to drive an M5. That is the ONLY car that I'd seriously consider trading in my '91 NSX for!! Would love to know what YOU think of it!! If you're willing - please e-mail me and let me know what it's like to drive!! Thanks!! nsxboy@home.com
Hi Issac!! Actually - cornering technic really IS important - EVEN at moderate speeds. By accelerating slighty while going around a bend [or curve] you can keep the front end from dipping. It also helps you to maintain as much tire to road contact as possible.
Hi Richard R!! I didn't have my dealer check the seat - but I DID compare it to the other MDX's they had on the lot. As far as I could tell [and believe me - I spent a LOT of time doing this!!] my seat is exactly the same as the others. One thing that made me feel better was when I took my MDX to the upholstery shop. The owner of the shop sat in the seat and said [without any prodding from me] "is it the bar sticking into your back that's bothering you?" YES!! [well - that's ONE of the 'things' bothering me] I also feel like I'm going to slide under the steering wheel every time I brake or turn. The foam I'm using is giving me a LOT of hope. A simple 1/2" thick piece of rather dense foam can dramatically change how the seat feels. I'm a bit nervous about having the shop change the padding, etc. but they specialize in Bentleys and old Rolls Royces - so it should turn out OK!! :) |
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Hey, I'm a big guy as well and am very interested in the seats. I have a mah/touring on order for delivery in Mid-January. I took the dealers demo for an exrtended test drive (40 miles) and did not notice and dis-comfort. It's my wifes car and she is pretty small so I'll live with it is it's a issue because there is not a better SUV out there. Not the ML320, RX300, Jeep Grand, etc.
2001 MDX w/touring
'92 Explorer
2000 taurus
2000 ZX-12
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| Isaac |
Hi Craig,
Yeah, sure, cornering technique is important, but not _that_ important!
Okay, say you can keep more of the tire in contact with the ground. Presumably that means more grip. Lemme ask you, when was the last time you pushed the car past its grip limits?
For example, who cares if you can now push it to go 120km/hr around the corner, up from 100km/hr when you only ever do 80km/hr?
Well, that's my personal opinion anyways, I'm not saying I'm absolutely right.
I auto-x with my Integra GS-R before, even with the crap stock Michelin XGT-V4's, the point at which you lose grip is well beyond what most people would believe.
Anyway, I will try, ahem...err... racing with my MDX when I get it next week and see if such worries are warranted in an SUV. I'll try not to roll a brand new MDX :)
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| Drew |
quote:
Originally posted by Isaac
Hi Craig,
Yeah, sure, cornering technique is important, but not _that_ important!
Okay, say you can keep more of the tire in contact with the ground. Presumably that means more grip. Lemme ask you, when was the last time you pushed the car past its grip limits?
For example, who cares if you can now push it to go 120km/hr around the corner, up from 100km/hr when you only ever do 80km/hr?
Well, that's my personal opinion anyways, I'm not saying I'm absolutely right.
I auto-x with my Integra GS-R before, even with the crap stock Michelin XGT-V4's, the point at which you lose grip is well beyond what most people would believe.
Anyway, I will try, ahem...err... racing with my MDX when I get it next week and see if such worries are warranted in an SUV. I'll try not to roll a brand new MDX :)
Uh Isaac, I managed to get the MDX's Michelins to howl (and understeer) by taking a corner at only 60 km/hr. Your Integra is far lower to the ground and lighter than the MDX, which is why the limits are much higher.
I don't auto-X on a regular basis, but I do frequently take advanced driving classes (once every 4-5 months) and it is obvious that SUVs reach their limits much quicker than cars do.
Craig, glad that you managed to get your situation sorted out. Since that store you mentioned has dealt with cars that are worth 7 MDXs each(!) they should know what they're doing. Good luck! |
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| 2000 miles so far and no problems whatsoever. Recently got a thumbs up from a guy in an Accord who slowed down to look at my MDX. Also, 2 Jeep GC and 1 Explorer owners have slowed down to look at the car although the have not been as enthusiastic as the Accord guy :) |
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