That is exactly what I thought when I test drove it, it’s a people and cargo mover. I am not sure why Acura design a performance suspension and AWD system around a 7 seater. It’s way too big to be maneuverable, especially in traffic. I can see the RDX having all that tech because its suppose to be a fun SUV, but the MDX simply do not inspire spirited driving.
The original MDX when it came out in 01 or 02 certainly drew more attention. The original MDX had a waiting list and sold at MSRP for almost 3 years. The last time I check, the 08 MD is selling at about half the rate as the original. It still amazing me how Acura can take a perfectly good selling vehicle like the TL, MDX or the RL and redesign them for failure.

 

Not everyone has the kind of budget you do, Russ. 70K is a long way from the typical 40K or so an MDA runs.

 

American made first gen TLs had horrible paint quality and quality in general. They must have driven the car 4 miles.

 

Although I dislike the front of the new generation MDX,the truck is a lot nicer than the older style.

 

That's true Mike... probably why my search on the play car continues... and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

 

Joe, you forgot to add but............ at the end of your post You are a die hard Japanese car guy. If you were looking for a new SUV with 1 baby in the house, would you buy a MDX for almost $50000?

 

CR magazine rates the MDX pretty high, in the Road Tests as well as the Used Car Reliability ratings. BTW, it rates real high in the Paint & Trim area.

 

I am a die hard Japanese car guy but probably not but I don't need a third seat and if I did,I'd probably go loaded Highlander.My Toyota dealer has loaner cars and probably even if they didn't have loaners.
Different strokes for different folks.

 

thanks for the input man. I looked and looked last night to prove to these show that Acura makes a quality and competitive product . I am planning to take pics of the wife's car to show the paint finish is better than a late model benz. NO ORANGE PEEL.

 

Any paint finish will look good when new, its how durable it is over time that determines a good paint job from a bad one, very few MB have ornage peels. Besides, MB is a much better vehicle than Acura in many other way besides the paint job. Like I said before, sometimes its what you cannot see in a vehicle that counts. Why do you think Acura can affort to sell a SUV with so much feature for so little. Its certainly not because of their low labor rate like the case with the Koreans. The savings have to come from somewhere. If you are perfectly happy with hidden low quality material, then by all means, ignore me. If you havent done so already

 

You're painting things with a very broad brush when you say MB is a much better vehicle than Acura. Have you ever had the pleasure, or rather the misery of driving an Alabama built Mercedes ML class? Especially the previous gen model? I can hardly think of any car that could be worse.

 

I am close to closing this b/c this is how the thread started and now its "trying to prove" to us? Why? No one here has bashed or beat up the MDX outside of styling. Many here have recommended it. Hell I did.

So lets review;
So you asked us what we think. Do not get upset or try to prove something when you asked for peoples 2 cents.

Going to Acura paint, look Acura is not known to be on the forefront of anything outside of NAV. Their paint is not known for being class leading or the best. I think the MDX paint and RL paint is fine, haven't read or heard problems. The less models do have paint issues.

 

I agree, the 1st gen ML were horrible. A few of my friend had the displeasure of owning one. One of my friend's wife had a early model and her driver door keep retaining water for some reason. The dealer would drain the water, but the problem keep coming back until the dealer drill another drain hole on the door Another friend at work had release levers come off in his hands when trying to activate them and interior panels falling off.
Those were dark times for MB, the 1st gen C class, ML series, basically quality problems across the board. Quality in recent MB have improve but still not as good as the good old days.

Well, I admit I did say a few negative things about the MDX, but thats just my experience, it might not be his. Opinions, rather its positive or negative should be expected when one ask for it on a internet forum. Imagine how useless and boring it would be if everyone agree with the original post.

 

I really like the MDX. It's not like the TL where it's ugly no matter what angle you look at it. The MDX is very handsome (side and rear). It's only the front that looks distracting. Honestly if Acura had a front end that matched the rest of the car, it would be one of the best looking Acura ever. I dont mind the interior but for that kind of price, I do wish for real wood.

 

Do you have evidence or links to threads about Acura paint not being durable or not lasting as long as the competition? Could you please post them because this is the first I really am reading of this. Yes I know the clearcoats on Acuras are soft and swirl more easily but many other brands use soft clearcoats like Lexus.

I would not say Mercedes makes much better vehicles then Acura. Mercedes can't hold a candle to Acuras or pretty much any Japanese brands reliability wise. I have found most Acuras to use better materials, have better build quality, and interiors better designed then most Mercedes models. Mercedes offers higher end cars and some unique features and technology over Acura but that comes at a very high price and poor reliability.

The Mercedes high price for their SUVs has nothing to do with them putting more money its SUVs quality wise or Acura putting less money into the MDX quality wise. All Mercedes vehicles are expensive and overpriced, you are paying for the name. German auto labor is the highest in the world by far which greatly factors into price. You think Mercedes does not have hidden low quality material? Mercedes does not make the tanks it used to in the 80's to mid 90's and most of their modern cars are pretty cheaply made and use some pretty cheap materials, Mercedes has even admitted quality and reliability has been a problem.

The reason Acura can offer the MDX at the price it does is mainly because it shares a basic platform with many other Honda and Acura models, it shares a basic engine and transmission and drivetrain design with many other models too which does not effect quality or durability. Acura does not nickel and dime you for most options and features either, most of the stuff is standard aside from NAV unlike German brands. Honda/Acura labor rates are nowhere near as high as German labor rates nor does Honda only rely on luxury sales in the US to make money where Mercedes must price their cars very high because they only rely on luxury sales in the US to make money. Acura MDX buyers don't want to pay 60-75K for the MDX and Acura knows by pricing it that high sales would be much lower. Mercedes buyers are more likely to pay 60-75K for a MDX like vehicle despite it not being any better and unreliable because they will pay extra for the badge and Mercedes knows it.

Your not getting a vastly superior vehicle from Mercedes over an Acura or Lexus when you compare similar vehicles just because prices are really high. I have never felt Mercedes vehicles are superior really anywhere aside from horsepower on a few models or worth paying much extra for the actual vehicles compared to most Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti vehicles. I certainly don't see any interior or quality superiority in modern Mercedes vehicles, maybe back in the 80's and early 90's but not on the models over the past 15years.