60% impressed.
It's only a Base FWD, so that's one thing, but get ready for the list. :tomato:
Understanding how good of a deal any Acura is aside from maybe the ILX and TSX, the MDX offers plenty for it's price. However, you can tell noticeably where Acura has cheapened.
First of all, I love how smooth and quite the ride is. Extremely silent compared to our '04 TSX with worn Raptor ZR's.
Secondly, the engine. Of course the J is a champ, but for it to make a little less power then it can and should, it's one of the best in it's class as is any Honda engine. But the fact that it's pulling this 4,000lbs 3 row SUV around like it is with FWD is saying something.
Thirdly, over all design. While it's a bit watered down, it's still pretty nice. My only gripe is how huge the grill is.
Now for the bad.
-Sound system. While this is the base, I expected more out of a X watt sound system. I can't seem to find the wattage online, but where ever it is, it lacks. Compared to our 2004 BASE TSX, it's pretty week. (I know the TSX has a smaller cabin, speakers are in a different arrangement ect.) but come on.. I've already tweaked the settings to were Treble and Bass and Sub are all on 6, yet it still sounds as if it's muffled, even on FM and XM. It;s slightly clearer with USB's and CD's but not by much. The radio in our TSX is noticeably clearer.
-Materials. In our TSX, the armrests, the padding, the head liner, everything is soft touch and extremely plush. In the MDX, everything is thinner and feels easier to rip. I under stand cost cutting allows us to have more for less, but it's hard to get over those little things.
-The steering. As far as I know, most cars today have light steering. But oh man, this thing, even when in Sport mode feels like it's built out of feathers. But we did come form a heavy weight hydraulic steering in the TSX so..
-The lack of LED's!! I already knew you have to opt for the higher trim MDX's and RLX's to get the FULL, complete LED treatment inside and out (aside form brake and turn signals) but I didn't know how bad it would be. At this price point, everything needs to LED. If your building them at the same place, in the same factory, why would you buy two different types of parts to go on the same model? Acura, you're paying for two types of light bulbs! Just pay for one, they don't cost but 10 cent to make!
That's about it as far I know. We're keeping it over night so I'm going to play around in it a bit more to see what I do or don't like.
Few pics.
Parked behind a '06-'08 TSX with some tacky red "i-VTEC DOHC" stickers on the rear doors that weren't even aligned right. Oh man my OCD was raging. It was the first thing I noticed when I got out and looked at it. Lets hope Acura takes care of our baby. No extra dings or scratches in the doors or rips in the leather please! :wish:
Oh and check out our tint differences! I thought we had tinted windows, jesus look at his!! Is that even legal here in NC??
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
It's only a Base FWD, so that's one thing, but get ready for the list. :tomato:
Understanding how good of a deal any Acura is aside from maybe the ILX and TSX, the MDX offers plenty for it's price. However, you can tell noticeably where Acura has cheapened.
First of all, I love how smooth and quite the ride is. Extremely silent compared to our '04 TSX with worn Raptor ZR's.
Secondly, the engine. Of course the J is a champ, but for it to make a little less power then it can and should, it's one of the best in it's class as is any Honda engine. But the fact that it's pulling this 4,000lbs 3 row SUV around like it is with FWD is saying something.
Thirdly, over all design. While it's a bit watered down, it's still pretty nice. My only gripe is how huge the grill is.
Now for the bad.
-Sound system. While this is the base, I expected more out of a X watt sound system. I can't seem to find the wattage online, but where ever it is, it lacks. Compared to our 2004 BASE TSX, it's pretty week. (I know the TSX has a smaller cabin, speakers are in a different arrangement ect.) but come on.. I've already tweaked the settings to were Treble and Bass and Sub are all on 6, yet it still sounds as if it's muffled, even on FM and XM. It;s slightly clearer with USB's and CD's but not by much. The radio in our TSX is noticeably clearer.
-Materials. In our TSX, the armrests, the padding, the head liner, everything is soft touch and extremely plush. In the MDX, everything is thinner and feels easier to rip. I under stand cost cutting allows us to have more for less, but it's hard to get over those little things.
-The steering. As far as I know, most cars today have light steering. But oh man, this thing, even when in Sport mode feels like it's built out of feathers. But we did come form a heavy weight hydraulic steering in the TSX so..
-The lack of LED's!! I already knew you have to opt for the higher trim MDX's and RLX's to get the FULL, complete LED treatment inside and out (aside form brake and turn signals) but I didn't know how bad it would be. At this price point, everything needs to LED. If your building them at the same place, in the same factory, why would you buy two different types of parts to go on the same model? Acura, you're paying for two types of light bulbs! Just pay for one, they don't cost but 10 cent to make!
That's about it as far I know. We're keeping it over night so I'm going to play around in it a bit more to see what I do or don't like.
Few pics.
Parked behind a '06-'08 TSX with some tacky red "i-VTEC DOHC" stickers on the rear doors that weren't even aligned right. Oh man my OCD was raging. It was the first thing I noticed when I got out and looked at it. Lets hope Acura takes care of our baby. No extra dings or scratches in the doors or rips in the leather please! :wish:
Oh and check out our tint differences! I thought we had tinted windows, jesus look at his!! Is that even legal here in NC??
