2014 Acura MDX
 

Any X5 owners have thoughts on the 2014 Acura MDX.

Last year I replaced the Water Pump, AC Condenser, Brake Rotors/Pads and tires on my wife's X. ~$4k.

Now, I need to change the Valve Cover Gasket, Oil Filter Gasket and probably VANOS Solenoids and possibly one of the air springs in the back and maybe an Evaporator.

2007 X5 3.0 65k miles. Carmax is giving me $16k for the car.

I'm just tired of spending the money on non-maint stuff that shouldn't fail this early. BTW, this will be a first non-BMW is 15yrs... although it brings me back to the my Acura Integra days.

I have, did not like how it looked personally. Currently driving 07 MDX, have not done much to it other than tires and alignment for 40k miles. Understand how you feel regarding that very expensive list to take care of.

Reviews say it is even less sporty than the outgoing model, which is not a good sign, but it depends on your wife's needs.

Also realize it's the first year run of a new design.

My dad also has a 2007 MDX and he has had no problems. 80k miles.

Also in my list to do was/are control arm bushings I test drove the MDX and it seemed decent for a family hauler.

Two thing taking me away from another X5 is the price and the 3rd row room. $15k difference for similarly equipped cars and the f15 3rd row is the same size as the E70. With growing kids....

Not mdx .. But just picked up an 2014 Lexus GX460 for the wife and she me we like it.
Drive it over the weeken with 6inches of snow and that thing is handle very well .

Escalades are cheap, reliable and have real 3rd row seats. Enclave is also very nice, if your open to a domestic.

should have just purchased an extended warranty, they pay for themselves

The only thought I have about an MDX is that it's an MDX. You should
know what you're buying. It's a step or two down in performance and
maybe a step up in reliability. In the final analysis I doubt anyone around
these parts are going to give it glowing reviews. Since you have to pay for
it maybe you should could go for it and get a "NEW" BMW of your choice.

Handling of the outgoing model MDX is better, suspension is smoother, steering is more precise and responsive compare to my loaner 2013 X5 w/o AD and active steering. That's my take, your thoughts.

Just looked at the MDX Saturday at auto show and it looked kind of cool. Black, sort of pimped out w/some upgrades and "tech package" etc. Really spent some time going over it w/the Acura guy. I wanted to love it more as I am frightened for my CPO warranty to run out in October. Also wanted to love the Audi (A6 and Q7), Benz E350, a couple Infinits, etc. Problem was, I got in my 2008 4.8 to drive home after and didn't like anything nearly as much as what I have. Damn you BMW.

2014 Acura MDX
 

All of the stuff you listed for 4k could be DIY'd for a lot less then 4k. Tires don't really count as a negative expense because they're always wearing out.

The stuff it needs now isn't that much to diy either.

Is it cheaper to throw 3k at your car now, versus buying a brand new car?


My advise, keep the x and maintain it if you like it.


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As a long time Honda/Acura owner this is an easy one. Yes, the MDX is a nice ride and will cost less to maintain when compared directly to an X5. However, the visual appeal, driving experience, and overall ownership experience is vastly superior with the X5.

I owned Hondas & Acuras for 15 years, but I traded my 2008 fully loaded MDX for my 2008 X5 4.8i in 2010.
No comparison... The X5 is vastly superior in every way, IMO :thumbup:

The new 2014 MDX looks kinda vanila/plain to me, and I don't like the new X5s at all either.

However, as you have pointed out, the expenses on the E70 X5 keep mounting and it's been tempting to look at something else, and I have.
Nothing compares---> for me there is nothing out there I like better than my X5!

Well, maybe an X6M... But that's an even deeper hole to jump into.

Ultimately it's up to your wife, what does she want?
Good luck, it's a tough one...

agree with many points here. i have only had my CPO X5 diesel for 6 months and am already thinking of trading it in. So many rattles and nuisance issues like my steering wheel deciding when it wants to heat/not heat, blower motor failed, etc. there is no way i will keep this once the warranty is gone. I should have gone with the Lexus RX. When you go to their forums, the list of issues people complain about is very small and at best nitpicking

I had a few issues in the first 6 mos. once they were sorted its been easy sailing. dont panic.

Ya but an RX looks well like and RX...

An X5 looks better on the side of the road than a running RX all day long ;)

In half a year after you switch to RX (or any Lexus) you will be back.
You appreciate something when you lose it. Once you start driving the completely dead and soul-less Lexus, you will regreat every dollar you spent on it.

The RX is a woman's car....j/k. Ok maybe not....

In my narrow view of the world (excluding all domestics)

MDX and X5 are the two best 7 passenger SUV's from a handling and performance perspective.

If you just need 5 seats, X5 or Cayenne.

Disclaimer (I have not driven a new Range Rover Sport)

Agreed, but with little kids, I don't have the time or inclination on my family hauler. It would probably take me two full days to replace a $40 valve cover gasket...

Plus I have an E36 M3 that's constantly being worked on.

Lastly, my major concern is the evaporator, I'm not qualified to put my dash back together....I could prob take it apart.....

Having driven both an X5 and an MDX, my wife and I both decided on the X5.

The Acura was quiet, smooth, had power to spare, comfortable, had a nice navigation display, good seating position in the car, and was (presumably) more reliable in terms of maintenance requirements than the BMW.

The downside was that it wasn't as much of a "driver's car" as the BMW. It was too quiet, it was too smooth. There was a detached, sterile feeling to driving it, like it was designed with the yuppie soccer mom in mind rather than someone who actually likes to hear and feel the road a little while driving. There was very little vehicle feedback into the driver, and that seemed a little too "bland" for my wife and me (especially me, as I like to feel the road pitch around and hear my tires a bit so I understand the road surface a little better).

The BMW was down on power compared to the MDX, had a slightly less comfortable seating surface and seating posture, and has the now-familiar maintenance requirements, but there is a sporty feel that the MDX did not deliver, which ultimately led to us purchasing the BMW over the Acura.

None of this is to say that the Acura isn't a fine vehicle in its own right, but it just wasn't for us.

The 3rd row is a love hate relationship for me, they are close to the back of the car and don't have much in the way of protection if hit in the back. I am buying a GL320 right now for the 3rd row as our X5 did not come with one but my kids are not allowed in the 3rd row of most vehicles anyway. The GL is longer and wider, looks like the kid would live in that 3rd row.

Go look at the MKT, Enclave and Escalade, if you buy used you can get almost another car for spare and not go over budget lol.

Domestics are not to be afraid of, I bought the X5 because it fit the bill, be open minded, that said when shopping I excluded the Japanese brands because the styling and interior is so bad so I guess I'm no better.

Strange, reading a lot of the posts here the X is the wife's car.

You guys do know that most Xs' are built in the U.S.A.

No Kidding. I have a Lexus GS now and people complain about the oddest things. They dislike the "screen color" or the seat control knob. It does say something about how well built Lexus is....

And also Lexus,and Acura,are simple.I have never driven one of those,but the list of the options is short.I can assure that the more complicated the cars get,including Lexus and Acura,the more problems start to arise,and some are even "built-in" from the manufacturers so the owners can visit the dealers more often.BMW,and Mercedes, being pioneers in the car innovations and technology always take the blame for being unreliable.After a few years most problems get solved,but the word for the bad built quality stays out.Japanese luxury manufacturers always play on the safe side,sit aside and wait until the technology has the bugs worked out and just copy it after that.Of course looking on the technology from a wider point of view they see the downsides and improve
But let me not get started on the design ;)

I think all are built in the US aren't they?

I am looking forward to getting my fancy German GL350, oh wait lol

Domestic brand not where they are made is what I meant.

Agree: all current MY Xs are built in Spartanburg, SC.
GL, mD

So true! One of the things I have found is how over engineered the x5 is. Can the climate system be any more confusing? Or the interface with nav. I so want to like this vehicle but I keep finding myself disappointed with the experience

The only reason why I have my X5 50i is because of its phenomenal towing capability .. . 6,000lbs+! Otherwise I'd own a 2010 - 2013 MDX Advance (must be an Advance).