2016 Acura MDX
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,056
Likes: 103
From: Southeastern PA
thanks debbie downer. 
that $1000 increase (or $1100 i think it said in the article) is on the base model, which most likely has more standard equipment. on the top of the line it says the difference is only $100 more.
fuel economy changes 1 or 0 mpg depending on city/hwy and trim, hardly a big deal.
and you'd prefer a 6 speed auto over a 9 speed dual clutch transmission? u crazy.
that $1000 increase (or $1100 i think it said in the article) is on the base model, which most likely has more standard equipment. on the top of the line it says the difference is only $100 more.fuel economy changes 1 or 0 mpg depending on city/hwy and trim, hardly a big deal.
and you'd prefer a 6 speed auto over a 9 speed dual clutch transmission? u crazy.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,483
Likes: 254
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Even though it has one more gear ratio, the (more or less conventional) 9-speed unit is not as sophisticated as the 8-speed dual-clutch/torque-converter gearbox. That's the one that has been getting the high ratings.
yeah if you want no features (no leather, no heated seats, no new safety features, and lots of blank button inserts all over). i looked at one and couldn't do it. drives nice though.
better get one soon, they're going the way of the dodo.
probably just additional standard equipment adding weight.
better get one soon, they're going the way of the dodo.
probably just additional standard equipment adding weight.
Last edited by bitkahuna; Feb 4, 2015 at 09:46 PM.
The pursuit of F
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,296
Likes: 303
From: Toronto, Canada
So on paper the 9-speed is appealing, but in practice, not as usable and responsive. This aside, the MDX is an excellent value proposition but since the styling and how it makes me feel is ho-hum, it's a pass.
feel bad for those who bought '14 and '15. this is a huge change especially within the same model generation. but i'd wait for one more year until Acura iron out the issue with the ZF 9 speed auto, by then this will be the best luxury 3 row SUV on the market.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
Do you do or plan to do a lot of rock climbing or tow big heavy boats with a luxury SUV?
The MDX is very capable off road(plenty of videos of it). The few extreme off road capabilities that a truck based SUV have over a MDX I just can't imagine actual owners actually taking advantage of with their expensive luxury SUV's they drive everyday and do every day errands with.
The very few owners that take expensive luxury SUV's on punishing rock climbs/trails must not have issues ruining their paint jobs or quickly wearing out and damaging expensive suspension pieces. For 99% of buyers the MDX's better car handling, better fuel economy, better ride, are going to far outweigh some extreme off road capabilities a truck based big SUV is going to give over a MDX.
There are rumors the GX may go on the RX platform, "real SUV's" are disappearing pretty fast, no way they can come close to complying with future CAFE regulations.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
Raising a base price $1100 on an aging model, whether you add more equipment or not, is risky. The first thing a potential customer will do on a dealer lot is look at the sticker. That just means there will likely be more incentives and subventing to offset the climb and keep people around. A car gets less appealing and sells less as it ages and fresher things come along. Making it more expensive does not help that situation.
In today's highly competitive and frantic race to achieve better fuel economy, any lowering of numbers is totally unacceptable and shocking. Virtually no manufacturer has brought out recent models with worse fuel economy. This is especially crazy and unexpected, considering the extra cogs of the more efficient transmission. If it weren't for the idle-stop feature, the numbers would be even worse. Shame on Acura.
In today's highly competitive and frantic race to achieve better fuel economy, any lowering of numbers is totally unacceptable and shocking. Virtually no manufacturer has brought out recent models with worse fuel economy. This is especially crazy and unexpected, considering the extra cogs of the more efficient transmission. If it weren't for the idle-stop feature, the numbers would be even worse. Shame on Acura.