[RedMdxMemphis]

Utility versus Compact

There will never be one answer for everything. People can enjoy the perfect vehicle that they like. The key enjoyment of life is DRIVING ONE.. not keep on shopping. If you don't need space, the Lexus is a perfect car. If you want style, the X5 is wonderful. If you still need to go to Home Depo for anything real and have all the nice car at a reasonable price, the MDX is king. Today, the X5 will cost about 8K more on similar Touring Navi. Besides, the new Lexus will probably costs 8K or more too, which will put it up there with the trim-down BMW X5. I don't need any bigger or powerful V8 car like LX 470 (cost much much more $$ too). But taking a car with less useful space is not my choice. I have done a few job with the userful trunk space and I must say the inside width can not be any smaller than it is. A car buy needs to make a decision on what's important.

The new Lexus may be a hit.. like it did at one point. Still that is a maybe. Competition creates better products. Personally I won't count on a product that is not yet shown or review on the market for six month.. buying on brochure or even announcement is a bit blind faith. The way it is, I won't want RX300 to be my primary car for that it is very much a house wife vehicle. By that time maybe Mercedez will come out with getting-everything-right-this-time SUV.

 

[RedMdxMemphis]

Re: Like I said.........

...Personally I feel this new GX 470 offers all the utility, space and performance, to reasonably good levels with lavish levels of luxury unmatched in the business, excellent reliability, while at the same time not sacrificing that quintessential element of driving a vehicle:....

Like most of the MDX buyers or waiting-in-liners, you seems to dream a lot. Heck I was in the queue for 3 months. Dreaming is certainly a good thing. Many of us were passing time on this forum while waiting for the MDX dream car. For being the class "470" like its brother, this new bigger Lexus is probably around $60K or more, when it is said and done. If you can offer it, it may really be the dream car. Will I justify that kind of marginal gain with the marginal extra cost? To me, no.

BTW, your description on the new Lexus is so professional.. almost like coming out of their promotional department.

 

[RedMdxMemphis]

Re: Three inches, Vic?

Hi Vic,
...I don't think you'll go wrong with the GX. I'm just surprised that the miniscule difference in width was really your deciding factor. If I had to decide again, the extra "width" of the Lexus' price tag would probably have made me buy the MDX again.

I am not against any fine vehicle myself. If I have all the money in the world I would buy the most expensive one in each of my 10 garages. The Lexus one also look pretty good but the @#$%470 will cost about $60K. The point is the MDX is in a niche luxary SUV market that is priced right yet perform wonderfully. Go buy a $50K and above lux SUV if you can. Your banker will like you. I can't (justify that).

Cars will always improve: I look at MDX as
- accelerate wonderfully like a BMW X5
- (much) More comfortable and less stiffy than BMW X5 and other truck based SUVs
- Has solid crash test result (next to the BMW X5).. close to perfect score.
- Has usable trunk space and seat arrangement..
- Has magic 3rd row seat that is instantly useful
- The dual control air and heating keep my kids happy in the back...
- Fuel efficiency 23 MPG on highway.. try that with your V8 ha!
- and so on..

If I am single and don't care about the extra space.. the Lexus or BMW will be just great. They are also attractive too. If I am old and alone, the MB would be nice. (and if we have teenager on this board, ANY CAR like a civic is great for a 16-year old. )

So if you are driving one that you like (and really really enjoy), that is what counts. The MDX is just beautiful. And it has most of the stuff I want....

Music please...

 

[RedMdxMemphis]

Well, rlm32, I think you and I have beat this thread to death :..
-Nick

Actually the discussion has been fairly healthy (compared to some). Whatever information Lexus you speak for, ust keep in mind the Lexus470 is on a much higher price segment. It ought to be better in some.. but it will be a shame if it isn't. Most buyers in the MDX market segment are looking for a best overall combination luxary SUV at the optimum price. And for two years the MDX still gives good punches while others stuggle to catch up. Let's us know if Lexus catch up on the next round... maybe I will buy one.

 

[RedMdxMemphis]

Nice, but it's quite a bit more expensive than an MDX, and the V-8 is sure to be a big gas guzzler.

Your "quite a bit" to me is "a whole lot". At that price range, I would consider the bigger BMW X5.. but I would be looking at a particular niche I like from the car, not an overall SUV package. The basic economic understanding is to understand if one can justify that additional benefit (or loss) with the additional cost. For some with lots of money, maybe.

My MDX gives me 19 MPG on my local traffic (1/3 highway, 2/3 local drive) on the average. Try that with any V8.