I was asked why I'm trading my X ...

[Bill_de]

Originally Posted by Dominik-X

My Honda lawn mower drives better than a Jeep.

I'll bet it gets better mileage too!

[SweetMDX]

Originally Posted by Bill_de

I'll bet it gets better mileage too!

Bought a new honda push mower and 2 gallons of gas lasted me an entire season/year. Gas mileage wise, maybe 10 mpg? No highway, lots of stop and bag, and no load. Tires is a lot cheaper than the X


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[JL_SS]

Originally Posted by Dominik-X

My Honda lawn mower drives better than a Jeep.

My John Deere lawn tractor drove/handled better than the last Jeep Grand Cherokee we test drove.......

[boston]

Originally Posted by Bill_de

My '07 Jeep was never in the shop for anything other than oil changes. I traded it on my '11 MDX which has been back 6 times for warranty work. Go figure.

Every manufacturer can make a bad one.

[JL_SS]

Originally Posted by Bill_de

I'm not trading the X because it's unreliable, it just is not what I thought it would be.

As far as the China thing, the CEO had responded to the press with exactly what he had said ... It had nothing to do with domestic production. When the China market supports it, they will build them there. Most car companies today build where they sell. Otherwise Acura wouldn't be building here.

btw - I posted the picture just because I thought it was funny.

What did you think it would be? It is an entry level luxury vehicle with better reliability (and lower cost) than it's true luxury vehicle competition. And most of the luxury vehicle competition has a lousy relibility reputation for the cost.

I agree they will likely produce for the US in the US. Tariffs on the individual components make the final cost of a US produced multi component product lower if produced in the US. However, there are ways around those tariff laws (ship to Mexico, truck to USA, etc).

[Bill_de]

I would expect fit and finish to be at least comparable to other vehicles in its price range. Also, I expected a cabin at least as quiet as cheaper cars. The MDX offered neither. The poor leather quality doesn't come close to others in its class, and the excuse some use that it's because it's more luxurious doesn't hold water. These are my opinions.

I realize that as an Acura fan boy you won't recognize it's short falls, nor the things that other brands do better. That's ok, as long as you enjoy what you have.

BTW- Chrysler will be building the German ZF 8sp tranny, under license, in Michigan.

[skinny2]

Chrysler has some nice products coming out and in the pipeline. I have a '12 SRT8 Challenger that replaced a Z06 Corvette and very pleased with the overall product. Well built car that actually rides better and is quieter than the MDX. So point taken on that front. I actually considered the Durango for a minute when we were shopping...nicely built unit with good power and the one I looked at had better fit/finish than the MDX.

That being said...the problem I see is price. A well equipped unit was as much or more than an MDX. I've got to see some value in a vehicle purchase and the kind of depreciation hit the Dodge will take is just too much to stomach when we're driving 25k a year. Wife didn't like the Durango regardless so none of that mattered.

One of my previous daily-drivers was a '99 Grand Cherokee that went 180k miles without much drama. Original engine and transmission when I sold it to a relative who kept it for several more years without many issues. I think the reliability thing is totally overrated...I think in general cars are all fairly well built these days. My daily now is a Pathfinder which doesn't get the best reviews...but it's been a tremendous performing vehicle that I off-road (mining roads) on a daily basis and haven't touched a thing in 90k miles.

[OilFinder]

Originally Posted by skinny2

Chrysler has some nice products coming out and in the pipeline. I have a '12 SRT8 Challenger that replaced a Z06 Corvette and very pleased with the overall product. Well built car that actually rides better and is quieter than the MDX. So point taken on that front. I actually considered the Durango for a minute when we were shopping...nicely built unit with good power and the one I looked at had better fit/finish than the MDX.

That being said...the problem I see is price. A well equipped unit was as much or more than an MDX.

X2 on these points. The Chally SRT 8 is/was a really well built car and I really loved mine. Traded mine for the MDX after getting lousy dealer support for really minor problems that plagued me throughout the warranty period. These items are the kind of things I'd expect from the MFR in a first year production run, so no major fault there. Although It was becoming apparent that the timing chain is probably undersized for the HP in the car (many failures prior to 50k mi). Either way I made several trips to dealer with no permanent fixes and no loaner car and extended repair times.

Traded the car cuz I needed an SUV. The MDX was a no brainer after pricing a comparably equipped Grand Cherokee.....Yikes. Only thing I really miss is my integrated remote start.

[tolson37]

Bill- when are you getting your overland?


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[r-americagroup]

I got the chance to tour the Honda Museum at Motegi a couple of years ago and there was a whole row of their power products on display. In the back of my head I was thinking "this is what jokes are made of." Of course, on the next floor were the racing and F1 cars. I then remembered, Honda is foremost, an engine company.

To the OP, enjoy your new Jeep, irrespective of the verbal fecal matter you get.

[Bill_de]

Originally Posted by tolson37

Bill- when are you getting your overland?


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The order banks for the 2014 open January 8, so I'm hoping for sometime late February or early March. As of now it looks like they might not have the red I wanted, which means I'll have to decide on another color. Also, some other changes may have me going for a Summit. I should know for sure in less than 2 weeks.

[wrestrepo]

Originally Posted by Bill_de

The order banks for the 2014 open January 8, so I'm hoping for sometime late February or early March. As of now it looks like they might not have the red I wanted, which means I'll have to decide on another color. Also, some other changes may have me going for a Summit. I should know for sure in less than 2 weeks.

Had I not needed/wanted a third row, I'd probably would have made a self convincing effort and gone for a GC. When I drove that ad I loved it. The explorer was another car I loved, until I drove it


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[skinny2]

Originally Posted by OilFinder

X2 on these points. The Chally SRT 8 is/was a really well built car and I really loved mine. Traded mine for the MDX after getting lousy dealer support for really minor problems that plagued me throughout the warranty period. These items are the kind of things I'd expect from the MFR in a first year production run, so no major fault there. Although It was becoming apparent that the timing chain is probably undersized for the HP in the car (many failures prior to 50k mi). Either way I made several trips to dealer with no permanent fixes and no loaner car and extended repair times.

I've heard the chain may have been beefed up in the later models...along with a lot of nice updates starting in '11. But I haven't spent much time researching it. I have a few "fun" vehicles sitting about and don't put a lot of miles on them. The SRT8 is parked for the winter with under 1,000 on the odo....so I don't expect to get much value out of the warranty. You could certainly daily-drive the thing and be quite comfy.

[khundkar]

Jeep Grand Cherokee moose test -- the full story - YouTube

Jeep Grand Cherokee moose test -- the full story - YouTube

Don't get me wrong, I like jeeps.. especially the new ones.. but I like 3rd row seating in the MDX, and the reliability. It suits my family.

[Bill_de]

Like everything else, there's more to the story. I remember all the press about Bronco II's rolling over in Consumer Report's testing. The actual wording in the magazine was something like;

One of the drivers felt the vehicle had a tendency to roll over, even though no wheels ever left the ground.

Chrysler claims the Jeep was set up to look bad just to make press. A German magazine did a similar test and said the Jeep performed well.

Obviously, I don't know who is telling the truth, but I would say that anyone who is concerned by what they see in the video should run, not walk, from their local Jeep dealer. If for no other reason than that it will always be in the back of their mind.

Chrysler’s Gualberto Ranieri Calls Grand Cherokee Moose Test “Criminal”, “Set-Up” | The Truth About Cars

This article was interesting, although not definitive.