| Roofer |
I read parts of the two GX470 threads and started wondering about longevity. I would have added this to one of them, but figured it would get lost in the shuffle. Sorry if this is redundant.
My family has had Toyotas forever. We regularly keep them for 8- 10 years. I'd probably get a Highlander if it had more leg room. The LandCruiser is a bit too expensive (too many swingsets and other toys to buy).
I thought I was set on the MDX. Now, I have to at least consider the GX470. I know they're designed for different purposes. I'd like to focus on long term reliability and function. Which do you feel will age better? The MDX or the GX470?
Thanx for your thoughts. |
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| agoel |
honestly my wife is set on the MDX. I personally feel that Lexus is a safer bet. The downside is the size of the engine and fuel economy.
The additional things for '03 have made me more confused.
We should be getting the '03 MDX Touring, Nav and RES end of the month. Guess you can tell who won. LOL |
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| tigmd99 |
Roofer,
Here are a few things to consider:
1. MDX DOES have a potential transmission problem, especially '01 and '02 models. The '03 tranny is still UNproven.
2. Otherwise, the MDX is proven.
3. GX470 is in it's FIRST year...a totally new platform (shared with '03 4Runner).
4. It has many FIRSTS for Toyota, including Tosen center diff. Transmission is also a brand new 5-speed automatic.
5. Toyota has always had the one of the most reliable transmission on the market (easily rivals GM's tranny).
Conclusion: i would wait at least a year for both the MDX and GX470 so that each can prove it's reliability.
Thanks. |
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| msu79gt82 |
See my signature line:cool:
I honestly believe that ANY well taken care of vehicle can last a very long time. Of course well taken care of no doubt costs more for some cars than others.;)
These are the first Acura's that we have owned so I really have no first hand experience on Acura longevity. However I would be very surprised if my TL-S fails to last as long as a typical Lexus ES300. |
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| MDXLuvr |
if we were talking about sedans, I would say that toy's/hondas are equal.
we are talking about suv's. Toyota has a 50+ yr. history/heritage when it come to developing trucks. The landcruiser has been around for 50+ years. The X is honda's 2nd suv. Toyota definetly have the edge in my book. |
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| srpbep |
I am finding that the new Honda/Acura vehicles do not have the same level of "quality" that they used to. Addtionally, I am finding
** We had a 91 Accord with 150,000+ when we sold it. Eactly 1 warranty claim (defective shock). This car was solid as a rock. Great vehicle.
** We have a 01 Accord (27,000 miles). We have had annoying quality problems with this vehicle. Some of the items include refit left front fender (mfg QC issue), defective roof seam molding, paint problems gas filler area, defective multiplex control unit, rattle inside driver side B-pillar, hood latch problems (finally got it fixed on 3rd attempt) windshield molding, left front door mirror, wind leak LF door (still not fixed after 3x in the shop, going to try 4th next month), defective RF wheel well liner (replaced once, needs to be replaced again), same problem with LF wheel well liner (will be replaced next month).
** The 02 MDX (7,000 miles) has had, and continues to have, its share of problems. Problems include refit front bumper (mfg QC issue, hood was hitting, had to lower bumper), radio problems (replaced radio), leaking spare tire hanger (they don't have a clue), defective rear sway bar link (replaced with ???), problem with driver side memory seat, problems with Navi inverted video, problems with trip computer resetting itself (still an open issue), brake clunk (dealer says they are going to fix on next visit), all dash idiot lights turned on (this was fixed, bad sensor), wiring harness probem (oil pressure sending unit), rear seat rattle (will have addressed next month), defective weld in rear hatch, trans fluid all messed up (3x flush, don't know where this will go), and the vehicle only has 7,000 miles.
I find a couple of things very disturbing:
** Replacing defective parts with defective parts. The Accord wheel well liners are an example. Possibly the X rear sway bar link.
** No known fix. X Navi problems that took so long to resolve, X trip computer resetting itself, X gas tank slosh, X brakes (well, they claim they will fix next visit, only took a year), etc.
** The transmission problems and the "denial" until LA times took it public.
All in all, the ownership experience is just not what I expected. Way too many problems, way too much trouble to get them resolved.
A lot of my neighbors have Lexus products (cars and SUVs). With one exception, they all swear by Lexus (quality of product and quality of service).
I am coming to the conclusion that Toyota/Lexus is doing a better job. Could it be that both of our current Honda/Acura proctucts were built in North America and/or is it the quality of components and/or design problems and/or ???? |
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| wmquan |
I think that once you get into the second year model, the GX470 will have a better longevity than the MDX. I'm not quite as sure about the GX470's first model year (or rather, half-model year, though the 4runner is out). Toyota/Lexus does well with first-year models but there's an inevitable bug (subtle or not) that'll get adjusted for year-2.
I still feel that Toyota/Lexus quality is a half-notch or so above Honda/Acura quality, which is still well above everyone else. Sort of like comparing 1a and 1b. But Toyota/Lexus gets the edge. The aforementioned years of experience Toyota has in building frame-based SUV's and big powertrains also helps a ton here.
Question: is the GX470 manufactured in North America, or in Japan? If the latter, then that's another small edge. |
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| edepa |
quote:
Originally posted by srpbep
I am finding that the new Honda/Acura vehicles do not have the same level of "quality" that they used to. Addtionally, I am finding
** We had a 91 Accord with 150,000+ when we sold it. Eactly 1 warranty claim (defective shock). This car was solid as a rock. Great vehicle.
** We have a 01 Accord (27,000 miles). We have had annoying quality problems with this vehicle. Some of the items include refit left front fender (mfg QC issue), defective roof seam molding, paint problems gas filler area, defective multiplex control unit, rattle inside driver side B-pillar, hood latch problems (finally got it fixed on 3rd attempt) windshield molding, left front door mirror, wind leak LF door (still not fixed after 3x in the shop, going to try 4th next month), defective RF wheel well liner (replaced once, needs to be replaced again), same problem with LF wheel well liner (will be replaced next month).
** The 02 MDX (7,000 miles) has had, and continues to have, its share of problems. Problems include refit front bumper (mfg QC issue, hood was hitting, had to lower bumper), radio problems (replaced radio), leaking spare tire hanger (they don't have a clue), defective rear sway bar link (replaced with ???), problem with driver side memory seat, problems with Navi inverted video, problems with trip computer resetting itself (still an open issue), brake clunk (dealer says they are going to fix on next visit), all dash idiot lights turned on (this was fixed, bad sensor), wiring harness probem (oil pressure sending unit), rear seat rattle (will have addressed next month), defective weld in rear hatch, trans fluid all messed up (3x flush, don't know where this will go), and the vehicle only has 7,000 miles.
I find a couple of things very disturbing:
** Replacing defective parts with defective parts. The Accord wheel well liners are an example. Possibly the X rear sway bar link.
** No known fix. X Navi problems that took so long to resolve, X trip computer resetting itself, X gas tank slosh, X brakes (well, they claim they will fix next visit, only took a year), etc.
** The transmission problems and the "denial" until LA times took it public.
All in all, the ownership experience is just not what I expected. Way too many problems, way too much trouble to get them resolved.
A lot of my neighbors have Lexus products (cars and SUVs). With one exception, they all swear by Lexus (quality of product and quality of service).
I am coming to the conclusion that Toyota/Lexus is doing a better job. Could it be that both of our current Honda/Acura proctucts were built in North America and/or is it the quality of components and/or design problems and/or ????
I hear you but.....my mdx now has 7500 miles and I have not had a thing wrong, including all the common ones posted on this board. My son has a 2002 RSX, and it did have a false idiot light flash and go out never to return, otherwise also a perfect ownership experience. I will tell you though, the best car i ever owned was four years worth of a Lexus LS400, absolutely trouble free for 52500 miles. However, so far, the MDX is my second best car ever, and darn good for a truck! Oh, my daughter's '93 toyota corolla is still pretty faultless all these years...so I can't knock Toyota either! :2: |
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| tigmd99 |
| GX and 4Runner are made in JAPAN. No where else. |
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| xcel |
Hi Edepa:
___50K is not what I would consider long in a discussion of automobile reliability.
___Our 92 Toyota Previa had ~ 120K on it when the water Pump started to fail. We were on our way to NC for a vacation at the time. Fortunately, there was a Toyota dealership in the next town and 3 hours later, we were back on our way. Somewhere around 140K, the A/C needed a recharge. At ~ 163,000, the car failed to start in a parking lot ~ 30 miles away from home. Hitting the starter with a brick a few times fixed it so I could get home. Starter replaced and it’s now at 169,000 miles. It just passed its IL. emission tests (2 parameters tested) beating the limits by 1000% and 2000% respectively. Other than that, std. tire replacements at ~ 65K and oil change every 7.5K. There was a front rotor issue at ~ 30K? that Toyota split the cost with me on.
___The 87 Mercury Sable was a bit more problematic but hit the graveyard at 162K. Front brake problems (3 sets of rotors/pads in first 40K with Highway driving – Recall finally fixed that problem), A/C seals blew out at ~ 120K if I remember correctly, from ~ 90K onwards, there was always a surging in the engine upon start and idle? No one could figure that one out? Other than that, std. 7.5K oil changes and 65K tire replacements. It barely ran when it was given away to charity if that matters.
___The small Landscape truck (97 Nissan 2x4 base) has 95K on it. It has always been problematic starting in the rain. 4 Distributor caps later, it still has that problem. It has stranded me maybe 6X in that amount of time. 1 set of brakes and that’s it. It failed its last emission test (Cat Converter is shot and 4 - O2 sensors need replacing) so I will probably give that one away to “Make a Wish” next month …
___The 85 Merkur XR4Ti - Ford Demo (only $12,500 w/ 18K on the odometer) - was the worst vehicle I have owned. I loved its styling and creature comforts (heated seats and mirrors in a 12K car!), and its relative performance vs. the previously owned Chevette ;) but I had this thing in ~ 30 times in the first and only year of ownership. It was the Sables trade in w/ a final mileage total of ~ 35K? I don’t think there was a lemon law back than? Laborlitigator, I sure could have used your assistance on that one!
___The first car … a brand new 1983 2 Dr. Chevrolet Chevette w/out a single option had exactly 0 problems in its 60K life. I had to replace the front pads at 50K and std. 7.5K oil changes. I sold it to my sister who drove it another 20K before trading it in on a Monte Carlo … I could wash that car in under 5 minutes because it was so small.
___All in all, the least expensive vehicle, the Chevette (noted to be one of the worst cars on the road at the time) was the most reliable car I have ever owned although some would call it a death trap … It was a bit hot in the summer without A/C and its heating in the winter left much to be desired as well ;)
___I should probably add here that all these vehicles were driven with the absolute cheapest 87 Octane unleaded I could find. If the local station was $0.01 less than a Shell/Amoco/Clark whoever, the local station would get and still does receive my cash. I brought this up because of all the prior threads regarding better stations detergent additives … With my luck, the 4 month old 03 Corolla with 16K on it will blow up on me this afternoon given this post ;)
___In any case, with the nagging little problems brought out about the 01’s, 02’s, and now Stumpies 03 in this forum, I don’t think the Acura MDX is going to be a very reliable 150K + automobile but I am hoping for the best.
___Good Luck to you all.
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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