Acura MDX anyone?

The wife has proclaimed that she wants something of her OWN......not what I've drug home and said here's the keys. Initially she was looking at 2010-12 Chevy Equinoxssssss. Meh....but I did an about face for me (being the big GM honk) and took a look at the Acura MDX (2010-2012). Likin' what I'm seeing for unbelievably the sameish price!!!! What say ye Hive? 

We test-drove one from that year range back in 2014 or so. I thought it drove really well and handled "smaller" than it was. The front seat interior was a nice place to be. We ended up not getting it because we wanted 3 rows, and the MDX 3rd row is a complete joke for any adult (or taller child seat) to fit in, and with almost zero cargo space behind it. If you don't need 3rd row, I'd put it up on your list. 

May also want to look into a Mazda CX-9 (1st generation, though it's mostly a Ford drivetrain so maybe your GM-ness can't do that). That's what we have now (a 2014) and it's really a great driver in almost every respect. It drives like a much smaller vehicle, but has a lot of cargo and interior space.

Perfectly capable and reliable, but boring. The Pathfinder of that generation is a real truck, maybe try that instead? 

Does she want a real truck?  Most people don't.  

Can't tell you anything about MDXs, but as a GM tech, avoid the Equinoxes, especially of the years you listed.  The 2.4L engine had serious troubles. Oil consumption (like a couple quarts in 1000 miles bad), timing chains prematurely stretching to where they jump timing, timing chain guide failure resulting in the chains sawing into the head and block. It's also severely underpowered. The AWD versions also have power transfer units that randomly explode (literally parts through the case) without any warning or reason for failure, and are non-serviceable.

Yes, run from the Equinox, I've only heard bad things.

Dave M said:

Perfectly capable and reliable, but boring. The Pathfinder of that generation is a real truck, maybe try that instead? 

I have a V8 version, because I wanted a real truck to haul my kids to soccer....and pull the racecar.

If my wife wanted an MDX I would be all in.

My brother in law had one. Basically an SUV version of the Odyssey. It never gave his family any trouble.

akylekoz NickD thanks y'all for the heads up on the Enox.....psteav, what she wants is something that DOESN'T ride like a truck.

DaveM....boring is way good as long as the seats are supportive/comfy.1(her spine and neck are/were jackedup)......feed back y'all.....thanks!!!!

My wife has a 2011.  It's great- fast for an SUV and drives a bit like a giant hot-hatch.  It's a Honda so should be good long-term, ours has 95k on it and drives like new.  Only bummer is it is supposed to drink premium gas- we been running mid grade at colorado altitude and have not seen any issue.  20mpg on the highway going 85- super comfy on long drives.

FYI she came from an older Equinox- she wanted something a little bigger with AWD and I wanted something that could tow my parent's pop-up camper trailer and maybe someday a car trailer with a small track car on it.  Seems to meet all our needs.  

If it's anything like my wife's old Honda pilot... boring as a knot on a log. 

scottdownsouth said:

If it's anything like my wife's old Honda pilot... boring as a knot on a log. 

But is it comfy in the luxobarge realm????

The Rear subframe mounts stamped in to the body rust out letting the whole rear end come loose. Make sure you look really closely at these as they basically total the vehicle. 

Did they fix the trans issue the Odysseys are plagued with ? 

dean1484 said:

The Rear subframe mounts stamped in to the body rust out getting the whole rear end come loose. Make sure you look really closely at these as they basically total the vehicle. 

As a rule or strictly in the rust belt?

NickD said:

Can't tell you anything about MDXs, but as a GM tech, avoid the Equinoxes, especially of the years you listed.  The 2.4L engine had serious troubles. Oil consumption (like a couple quarts in 1000 miles bad), timing chains prematurely stretching to where they jump timing, timing chain guide failure resulting in the chains sawing into the head and block. It's also severely underpowered. The AWD versions also have power transfer units that randomly explode (literally parts through the case) without any warning or reason for failure, and are non-serviceable.

As someone shopping the same year range for my wife in SUV's  thanks for this. She swore the only reason I didn't want an equinox was my anti gm leanings. I can't believe how many of these we see under 100k miles with timing chain noise.

dropstep said:

NickD said:

Can't tell you anything about MDXs, but as a GM tech, avoid the Equinoxes, especially of the years you listed.  The 2.4L engine had serious troubles. Oil consumption (like a couple quarts in 1000 miles bad), timing chains prematurely stretching to where they jump timing, timing chain guide failure resulting in the chains sawing into the head and block. It's also severely underpowered. The AWD versions also have power transfer units that randomly explode (literally parts through the case) without any warning or reason for failure, and are non-serviceable.

As someone shopping the same year range for my wife in SUV's  thanks for this. She swore the only reason I didn't want an equinox was my anti gm leanings. I can't believe how many of these we see under 100k miles with timing chain noise.

'nuff said no Equinoxes in my driveway!!!!!

dropstep said:

NickD said:

Can't tell you anything about MDXs, but as a GM tech, avoid the Equinoxes, especially of the years you listed.  The 2.4L engine had serious troubles. Oil consumption (like a couple quarts in 1000 miles bad), timing chains prematurely stretching to where they jump timing, timing chain guide failure resulting in the chains sawing into the head and block. It's also severely underpowered. The AWD versions also have power transfer units that randomly explode (literally parts through the case) without any warning or reason for failure, and are non-serviceable.

As someone shopping the same year range for my wife in SUV's  thanks for this. She swore the only reason I didn't want an equinox was my anti gm leanings. I can't believe how many of these we see under 100k miles with timing chain noise.

Nah, they're pretty wretched. I've seen them come into the shop with 50-60k miles sounding like a diesel engine. The big problem is that they're direct-injected, and GM's 7-8k mile oil change interval. The higher combustion temps from GDI cooks the oil into the rings and sticks them, so then it starts burning oil due to poor ring seal. It uses oil to pressurize the chain tensioners, so then when it starts getting run low on oil, the timing chains start flapping around and beat up the guides, typically breaking them and sawing into the head and block, eventually jumping time and smashing the pistons into the valves. Also, the oil burning may wipe out the catalytic converter at this point as well.

OK this just in ...2011 w141k on the odo for $12995......is eleven five a good counter offer (cash)???

I always forget which one is the larger of the two, MDX or RDX. Daughter has the larger one. Bought it certified pre-owned last year and she likes it. And she really likes the service the Acura dealer provides, loaners every time she has regular services done. She has 2 boys, ages 6 & 2 and it hauls them around comfortably.

wlkelley3 said:

I always forget which one is the larger of the two, MDX or RDX. Daughter has the larger one. Bought it certified pre-owned last year and she likes it. And she really likes the service the Acura dealer provides, loaners every time she has regular services done. She has 2 boys, ages 6 & 2 and it hauls them around comfortably.

MDX - larger.

RDX- Medium.

CDX - coming - smaller. 

mr2s2000elise said:

wlkelley3 said:

I always forget which one is the larger of the two, MDX or RDX. Daughter has the larger one. Bought it certified pre-owned last year and she likes it. And she really likes the service the Acura dealer provides, loaners every time she has regular services done. She has 2 boys, ages 6 & 2 and it hauls them around comfortably.

MDX - larger.

RDX- Medium.

 

CDX - coming - smaller. 

I'm holding out for the ADX  

Well this has taken a hard left..... what say ye about a Lincoln MKT AWDwith ecoboost???