just bought an MDX

[JBM]

This has been a very interesting thread. I have been in the MDX vs X5 dilemma for a little bit of time now. Although the X5 is a nice vehicle, the price difference does make everyone at least consider the MDX.

I do agree the the MDX does have a multitude of buttons in the center stack. A problem that most car magazines have also been reiterating. I think that came from the fact that they had to mount the LCD screen so far away from the driver. I had a 05 TL and that nav was great. The touchscreen really allowed a great interface for the car. However, with the LCD so far away from the driver in the MDX, they had to resort to so many buttons.

After test driving both cars, I have to agree, on some level, that the X5 has better handling characteristics compared to the MDX. When I had originally tested both, it was a bit snowy out. I took both to a empty parking lot and tried a few slaloms around light poles (I know, don't tell the dealers I did that), as well as tried to put both in to a spin (doin' donuts in the parking lot, just like high school). Now, it being a bit slushy snow and about 2 inches of it, they both were a little loose in the turns. However, the X5 recovered better in the slalom and gave more feedback in the steering wheel with each turn. The MDX did give much more in the slalom and sliding was very apparent. With both vehicles stability controls on, I could not put either into a spin.

As for the iDrive verus Acura's nav . . . it has taken me a while to get used to the iDrive coming from the Acura system. I like the iDrive, however, it could use a great deal of improvement. Some of the benefits of the Acura system, which is not possible on the iDrive are:
1. Ability to look up locations by phone number.
2. Ability to look up locations by name alone (the iDrive system requires you to put in a location first before looking up the POI. The problem is that let's say you live in Chicago and hear about a restaurant. You assume it's in Chicago, but it's actually located in a suburb very nearby. You put it into your iDrive using Chicago as the location, but it doesn't show up. You have to know which suburb it's in before the iDrive can find it).

As for the interiors of the two cars, I think I'm just getting used to the German style of interiors. I will say that I wish BMW would use a contrasting color to the orange. For example, the MDX uses blue for interior lighting and contrasts that with white. It would be nice to look at the BMW gauges in orange and have either the numbers or the needles be white to provide a bit more contrast. But I think that's just my taste.

The one complaint my wife had about the interior was the placement of the rear DVD package in the X5. One swift kick by a kid and there goes the screen. I like the MDX's placement with wireless controls, but unfortunately this placement prevents the placement of a panoramic sunroof. I think a better solution for both vehicles would have been a in the headrest DVD system.

Just thought I'd participate . . . .