So we finally managed to retire the 2008 CX-9 which we had for a very long time. We wanted to do it sooner but with Covid and the market conditions, we held on to it as much as it allowed us to do so. My wife loved it since it was the perfect size for her and had the 2nd row bench, but it was starting to show its age and probably needed a whole new suspension overhaul. It rode well on smooth roads but once we got to the rough roads it would shake the whole car.

I wanted to go with the Telluride/Palisade combo but she was adamant about the bench seat vs captain’s chairs on the higher trims. This eliminated a lot of contenders. We drove the CX-90 but she didn’t like the driving dynamics, especially with the gas pedal. She felt it was too BMW like. (She hates her dad’s X5 which I drive around a lot- thinks it’s too rough and not comfortable.)

I really didn’t feel like dealing with any of the domestic models either. Grand Cherokee L has too many complaining about the Uconnect and silly minor issues. The current Traverse doesn’t appeal to us either.

This led her/us to the MDX with its partially removable bench seat. I emailed a bunch of dealers in the Tri-state area, got many automated responses but nothing that really appealed to us. We were away at the end of June so we missed out on the 2023s and the conquest rebate that ended on 7/5/23.

Early July, I emailed one of the NJ dealers and they gave me a decent price for a 2024. Around the same time another early contacted dealer emailed me. I responded that their number was not good enough. She asked me what would make a deal, I gave her a figure and they “accepted” it. I had inquired about Liquid Carbon Metallic, but once we went into see it and make our deal, my wife didn’t like the espresso interior. She felt it was too brown. There was a Fathom Blue Pearl in the showroom with graystone interior. It is the same color as our CX-9 so she wanted that.

Overall, we got it at about 8% off MSRP. They tried to push us the interior care package, nitrogen, and window etching. They indicated all their cars come with it. We balked at paying for them so they dropped it. We still ended up paying for the interior package due to the light color. When we picked it up on 7/26, I noticed the car already has the window etching. Not sure if the tires had nitrogen in them though.

So far we are happy. We took it on a 500 mile trip to Rhode Island and everything was rather smooth. There is a learning curve for both of us with all the gadgets, especially the Acura touchpad everyone seems to hate. We both like the Carplay option. We both don’t like the button shifter too much, especially when you need to shift back and forth quickly. She also feels it’s a lot bigger than the CX-9.

CARMAX.

Now for the trade-in process for the CX-9. The dealer told us they would pay us up to $2,000 based on condition. We didn’t have it with us the day we went to make the deal. Vroom and Carvana were at exactly $2,000. Carmax had it at $3,000. All based on online input.

The day before we picked up the MDX, I went to the local Carmax. The car had dents on rear doors on both sides and nasty paint with scratches everywhere. We got the dents a few years back when we got snowed in and were too lazy to break down the frozen ice on the sides. We drove out and scraped the whole side. She did one side one year and I the other side the following winter. We also go some rain water come in through the roof this 4th of July when there was a crazy thunder storm. The drain holes were clogged. Looking back, I cleared the roof drains and the AC drain hose on this car so many times, only for them to get clogged back within six months. I had dried the passenger side for the last three weeks but the smell remained. I also had the horn that popped the fuse every time I used it so I stopped replacing it.

I was worried with all the dents and the smelly cabin from the water, Carmax wouldn’t stick to the online price. I handed over the keys, 10 minutes later a rep went out to my car. He started the car, checked the mileage, popped the hood, tried to manually open the rear hatch (he couldn’t- the handle broke many years ago and there was a certain way to open it by pushing the handle forward and pulling it back), took pictures from every angle and came back in. 10 minutes later, I had my offer ready for….$3,000. No driving, no looking under the car, nothing.

The next day we stopped by to sell it to Carmax before we picked up the MDX. The rep we dealt with told us older cars like ours usually end up in the back lot and are usually grabbed by the Carmax staff for their own use.

This is way more than I usually write but hopefully it helps someone with their car purchase. There are certainly deals out there.

So far, I only noticed one issue with the exterior. It’s very minor and not sure how they screwed it up. See if you can notice it on the picture from the rear.

 

Congrats! We really liked our MDX, we had the prior gen with the technology and advance packages and it was great, the active suspension in particular worked really well and the ELS audio was excellent. When it came time to replace it we ended up getting another RX but I would have preferred we get another MDX.

 

Good write up and getting a new car under MSRP sounds like a big victory these days. Cool color, congrats! One of my coworkers has a new(er) MDX - I think it's a 2022 or 2023 and is very happy with it.

Is the rear blemish the "M" in "MDX"? Or maybe that's just camera and sun interference.

 

Is there chrome trim missing on the right side by the reflector?

I spent a week in my in-law's 2022 MDX and I walked away impressed. Outside of lacking 3rd row vents, I thought it was one of Acura's most successfully executed vehicles to date. The interior materials were mostly nice, I found the infotainment easy enough to master, and the NA V6 and 10 speed transmission played well together. I loved the flexibility of the second row too and appreciated that you could slide the seats fore and aft. It may not be the last word in the crossover market but it's definitely a choice that would please most people shopping in this segment.

 

The right side exhaust. They welded the tip a bit crooked. It's barely noticeable but I now know it's there..lol.

 

Just the reflection.

 

Congratulations! I like the MDX a lot, I just wish it was a little bigger.

 

Congratulations. Enjoy it. I can remember when the MDX was one of the best selling mid-sized upmarket crossovers in its class, and a serious competitor to the Lexus RX. I did reviews on a couple of its generations.

 

Thanks. We'll find out soon how it will handle the dogs in the 3rd row. On our road trip the two kids in the back were comfy. They reclined the seats back and relaxed.
For the trips with more luggage I usually bring out the Thule. Reminds me now I gotta go find crossbars.

 

Thanks Mike.

 

congrats. yuuuuge upgrade.

 

Congrats on the MDX!
I tested out a lot of SUVs and it was one of the best in the midsize class especially if you need a 3rd row seat.

Acura also did a great job on the exterior styling.

 

Very nice car and huge upgrade, oh yeah.

I try to imagine the Expresso interior, I think it would look good but not sure how long I would enjoy it so I can see why the switch.

Anyway, smooth looking ride bro!

 

Thank you everyone! So far we are impressed.

 

Congratulations! We also ended up with a '23 MDX (tech + awd) last August after test driving a TON of 3-row suv's. We were fortunate to get it for MSRP back then. We love it!

Here's a quick shot of ours the day we got it