If I go MDX again, I am going to hold out for the 2017. I just saw the 2016 Honda Pilot and I couldn't believe it. Pretty nice and very MDXish. I expect the next MDX design will have to be a pretty big change to separate it from the Pilot.
That's unfortunate. The new Pilot, which looks like the MDX and Honda CRV had a baby, may begin to cut into MDX sales.
I thought for sure a new MDX would be on the way after seeing how much the Pilot resembles the MDX. In many ways with the Elite coming in at $8,000 less expensive than a similarly equipped MDX, it seems like it may be an even better option, aside from the lack of SH-AWD.
That's unfortunate. The new Pilot, which looks like the MDX and Honda CRV had a baby, may begin to cut into MDX sales.
I thought for sure a new MDX would be on the way after seeing how much the Pilot resembles the MDX. In many ways with the Elite coming in at $8,000 less expensive than a similarly equipped MDX, it seems like it may be an even better option, aside from the lack of SH-AWD.
Funny thing is if you go over to the Pilot forums, lots of people are saying the price tag on the Elite is outrageous
After test driving the MDX and liking it, I Googled some and stumbled on the 2016 Pilot redesign. So now we're waiting (local dealer getting 4 of them soon)
Did you actually test drive one? The only thing Im wondering about is how the interior quality and materials compare to the MDX. Everything else seems to be on par or even better (updated nav, infotainment, etc). Curious about your thoughts on those things vs the MDX if you drove or even just sat in one
I'm definitely curious to see how the new Pilot actually drives compared to the MDX. We were sure the Pilot would be our next vehicle in 2012 but after driving it, we were completely dissatisfied. The interior was also horrible. If they nail the interior and if it drives 80% as good as the MDX, they'll have a winner in that market.
I would bet the vast majority of buyers do not NEED SH-AWD anyway. Hell, even with snow tires on our MDX, my wife avoids driving in the snow at all cost. Mainly because of other knuckleheads on the road so I can't argue with her there.
Funny thing is if you go over to the Pilot forums, lots of people are saying the price tag on the Elite is outrageous
After test driving the MDX and liking it, I Googled some and stumbled on the 2016 Pilot redesign. So now we're waiting (local dealer getting 4 of them soon)
Did you actually test drive one? The only thing Im wondering about is how the interior quality and materials compare to the MDX. Everything else seems to be on par or even better (updated nav, infotainment, etc). Curious about your thoughts on those things vs the MDX if you drove or even just sat in one
No, nothing yet, I just came across it while researching the new MDX and a few others. Our local dealer doesn't have one. I would love to see one in person though, and even though I need to get into something with better gas mileage, I will be rushing to the local Honda dealer as soon as they get one.
I'm definitely curious to see how the new Pilot actually drives compared to the MDX. We were sure the Pilot would be our next vehicle in 2012 but after driving it, we were completely dissatisfied. The interior was also horrible. If they nail the interior and if it drives 80% as good as the MDX, they'll have a winner in that market.
I would bet the vast majority of buyers do not NEED SH-AWD anyway. Hell, even with snow tires on our MDX, my wife avoids driving in the snow at all cost. Mainly because of other knuckleheads on the road so I can't argue with her there.
We were in the same boat. My wife's vehicle is my old 2003 Honda Pilot with only 84,000 miles on it. We thought about getting a new one in 2010, but didn't really like it either. We also ended up going with the MDX instead.
We have a pretty steep driveway, low to mid teens grade and never had issues getting up or down the driveway in either the MDX or Pilot, although the MDX handles it with ease whereas the Pilot may slip on the heavier snow days. But, also agree on the weak interior. If the interior is upgraded, it could be a fantastic buy. Although I just can't believe that Acura will allow the Pilot to cut into sales of their best selling vehicle without making some changes.
So, I just heard that the Tesla X's first deliveries have been planned for August! So, I called Tesla Indy to see if I could get pricing and put a deposit on one. I figured if it was even close to the Model S, it would be worth it. The sales rep said still no pricing announced, but that there are already 25,000 accounted for with deposits so even if I put my deposit on one that day, I would not likely see it until 2018!!
So, my next choice after seeing one (not driving though as it was already spoken for and being delivered) was the BMW 328d xDrive Sport Wagon (31-43 mpg). Called the dealership to see about driving one. Planned to lease for 3 years, then turn in and revisit the Tesla or even the new MDX if it is more efficient. Maybe Model X production can keep up with demand, or demand wanes. So, the rep calls me back and says NO vehicles configured to my specs exist ...anywhere in the US! So, a deposit today gets me one in 3-4 months as production supposedly is halted for some season then starts back up.
So third choice was a BMW 328 XDrive Gran Turismo (22-33 mpg). Rep again calls me back with the news that none of these vehicles exist in US either, and if I put my deposit down today, in 3-4 months I could have one.
I guess the feature set throwing a monkey wrench in everything is one that came stock with my MDX Advance. Blind Spot detection, collision mitigation and adaptive cruise control. I guess German car fans aren't big on those features. Go figure. After experiencing the past 5 years with them, I couldn't imagine having a car with out them. On more than one occasion, it has saved me from a potential bad situation, in one case a very bad one. Just that one incident alone was more than enough to make whatever premium it costs well worth it.
Audi lease rates were horrendous, VW as well. No RR dealers anywhere near me. Lexus hybrid RX was an option, (28-32), but I used to have an RX350 and didn't really like how it drove. Way too floaty. Plus their hybrid $$$ premium is way higher than the difference between BMW's diesel and gas models on the sport wagon. So the search continues.
Subaru Legacy or Outback ... AWD wagon and their active safety tech is generally rated very high. If I didn't need a 7 seater that's probably what I'd have
After seeing all of the people I know with German cars (VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes), Im not sure I would *want* all those safety tech things in one of their vehicles. They still cant get window regulators, damper motors, etc. right even after all these years. Imagine some fairly complicated electronics.
Hell I had a friend at work that had to lemon law his brand new Porsche 911 because there were so many electrical issues even a tech flown in from Germany couldnt figure them out!
That's crazy about the Tesla, but I figured the X would be incredibly popular.
I've read that BMW wagons hold their residual value very well, and your post outlines why. Very small supply and demand initially but they do very well in the used car market.
Agree won't get a car without blind spot warning.
Lexus is going to redesign their RX, new version coming out this Fall with a rather aggressive spindle grille design.
I would avoid the Tesla. Infrastructure isn't there yet for really using it as a daily driver. I think in theory it would work, but in practice you are getting real close to range problems.
The real question is if you Acura so much why not another MDX or the little brother RDX? I just settled on the MDX after long consideration. Reliability won out. I was thinking about the x5d then friends with them say they are great during warranty.
After seeing all of the people I know with German cars (VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes), Im not sure I would *want* all those safety tech things in one of their vehicles. They still cant get window regulators, damper motors, etc. right even after all these years. Imagine some fairly complicated electronics.
Hell I had a friend at work that had to lemon law his brand new Porsche 911 because there were so many electrical issues even a tech flown in from Germany couldnt figure them out!
Very good points. While the Germans definitely seem to struggle with electronics, they do have a good grasp on efficiency and functionality. Audi, VW and BMW all have all wheel drive vehicles that get 35+ mpg, some even closer to 45-50. All packaged in vehicles with tons of space/storage, good fit and finish and attractive style. Now if they could just get the Japanese to handle their electronics, they would have the perfect vehicles.
That's crazy about the Tesla, but I figured the X would be incredibly popular.
I've read that BMW wagons hold their residual value very well, and your post outlines why. Very small supply and demand initially but they do very well in the used car market.
Agree won't get a car without blind spot warning.
Lexus is going to redesign their RX, new version coming out this Fall with a rather aggressive spindle grille design.
Interesting about the RX redesign. I was not aware of that. While my '07 RX wasn't my favorite, I would feel much more comfortable with their reliability. It's only for 3 yrs, so may be worth revisiting.
I would avoid the Tesla. Infrastructure isn't there yet for really using it as a daily driver. I think in theory it would work, but in practice you are getting real close to range problems.
The real question is if you Acura so much why not another MDX or the little brother RDX? I just settled on the MDX after long consideration. Reliability won out. I was thinking about the x5d then friends with them say they are great during warranty.
I do love my MDX. Not so much the RDX. We got one as a loner when I was in for my 60k service and we were not impressed. The engine seemed to struggle as well on the interstate, plus none of the safety features I became accustomed to. Now that was a 2014, so maybe things changed in the 2015-16. If I were going to keep the vehicle after the lease term, I would definitely avoid any of the German offerings. However, you would think Acura could come up with something in the 35-45 mpg range if the Germans can.
This is true, mainly because they're super conservative with their residuals. In most cases, at the end of a typical Audi lease you'll have equity so the high payments weren't wasted.
You might consider the Highlander Hybrid. It drives better than the RX, the '13 redesign really improve the entire package, and a Ltd Platinum is about as well equipped as you can buy a car these days. Better residual with super high miles down the road too.
This is true, mainly because they're super conservative with their residuals. In most cases, at the end of a typical Audi lease you'll have equity so the high payments weren't wasted.
You might consider the Highlander Hybrid. It drives better than the RX, the '13 redesign really improve the entire package, and a Ltd Platinum is about as well equipped as you can buy a car these days. Better residual with super high miles down the road too.
Im not sure if the OP was requiring a 3rd row (sorry, too lazy to read back ) but the Highlander DOES have the 3rd row, while the Lexus RX (based on the Highlander) does NOT.
This is true, mainly because they're super conservative with their residuals. In most cases, at the end of a typical Audi lease you'll have equity so the high payments weren't wasted.
You might consider the Highlander Hybrid. It drives better than the RX, the '13 redesign really improve the entire package, and a Ltd Platinum is about as well equipped as you can buy a car these days. Better residual with super high miles down the road too.
Funny you mention Highlander, I just watched a bunch of You Tube reviews for the 2016 highlander. Pretty sweet vehicle and looks a lot nicer with the redesign, although I test drove one when I got my MDX in 2010 and thought that the fit and finish was well below Acura or BMW. But, I haven't seen one since the recent redesign. Maybe they upped their game.
Also, on residuals, I actually thought Acura was artificially inflating the residual on my 2010 when I leased it, but at lease end we only owed $18,500, and it was still worth about $27k according to the dealer so we just bought it. I added the 120,000 extended warranty through Acura before my warranty expired so we felt it was worth buying.
Im not sure if the OP was requiring a 3rd row (sorry, too lazy to read back ) but the Highlander DOES have the 3rd row, while the Lexus RX (based on the Highlander) does NOT.
No, a 3rd row is not a requirement this time around. We still have the MDX should we need it, so I would only need 2 spacious rows and enough storage space to make deliveries for my business. We estimated min 50 cu ft but the more the better. That being said, I wouldn't avoid a 3rd row vehicle provided I could stay around 32 mpg.
So, I almost ordered a bimmer 3 Series diesel sport wagon and had a last minute change of heart. I have had such good luck with Hondas over the years that I am going to wait until the '16 Pilot is available. The features are exactly what we were looking for and the MPG's, while not what I was hoping for, are better than what I get right now. So, I am pretty much trading MPG's for reliability.
If it is even close to my MDX in terms of the drive I will probably opt for an Elite. If it isn't, I will hold off on doing anything until I see if Acura tries to come up with something to put some space between the MDX and Pilot. I just can't image that Acura is going to allow the MDX to look like the Pilot's less capable, less luxurious little brother. I was REALLY impressed with the video reviews of the new Pilot.
Either way, the Tesla X is not going to be available anytime soon and I have to get into something by June 2016, preferable by the end of this year at the latest. Which may be good timing, because the supercharger map for '16 is looking pretty good with 98% US population coverage within 100 miles.
Reliability has always been the must have for us, and I just don't see any of the other options I was looking at coming close to Honda's combination of reliability, feature set and safety, not to mention attractive residuals to keep the lease payments under budget.
Hit up the piloteer.org forums. Ive been reading them for a while, especially the model specific forum for the new Pilot.
They are out there now, a lot in CA and there are people reporting that theyve seen them, bought them, etc. The prices right now are pretty outrageous (basically window sticker, some charging even MORE than window sticker)
I had mentioned a Subaru Legacy or Outback earlier, did you look into them? If I didn't need a 3rd row of seats that would have been on my shopping list. Safe, reliable, with highly-rated safety tech
Hit up the piloteer.org forums. Ive been reading them for a while, especially the model specific forum for the new Pilot.
They are out there now, a lot in CA and there are people reporting that theyve seen them, bought them, etc. The prices right now are pretty outrageous (basically window sticker, some charging even MORE than window sticker)
After you mentioned that I called the Honda dealer to see what they had in stock, and sure enough they had a new Pilot. It was one of the lower trim levels, but still very nice. I can see a big difference between the fit and finish of my MDX, but I haven't had a chance to see one of the higher end models like the Touring or Elite. I can see why they will get sticker +. Every Pilot and HR-V they had is sold out and sold out quickly. Within days 15 HR-V's were gone. They didn't even have time to put them on the lot.
I had mentioned a Subaru Legacy or Outback earlier, did you look into them? If I didn't need a 3rd row of seats that would have been on my shopping list. Safe, reliable, with highly-rated safety tech
Yes, I have a friend with a '12 and I looked at them. I did like it, but it seemed to be a notch below Acura in terms of Fit and Finish, kind of like the Highlander. At least the one I saw. Personally I would prefer the WR-X, but that's not going to happen. lol But, I am told that 2016 will bring big changes to the Outback, so I may check it out before I do anything. Nice vehicle though.
Funny thing is that I am having a really hard time going "backwards" or the way I perceive it. I went from a Pilot to a Lexus, from Lexus to the MDX and each time it felt like an upgrade. So now, I drive Highlanders, '15 Pilots, Jeeps, etc. and they all seem like I am going backward. I shouldn't care so much, it's just hard to do.
I have to say though that driving the new aluminum 2015 F-150 was an eye opener. Extremely nice interior. Shockingly nice. While it's not on my short list, I couldn't help but test drive one when I drove by the Ford dealer and saw a 2015 Platinum on the lot. What a truck. If I was in the market for a truck, I would be all over that one, and I would have never thought that before. It had every feature that I have heard of being in a vehicle regardless of class, and more. It even had Massaging seats??? Crazy. but, I digress.
So, hopefully the hype dies down a bit so I can see a Pilot Elite, or even a Touring in person. Or maybe Acura steps up to the plate and one ups the Pilot. Either way, I have a little time to decide now so I am going to just keep driving until something really grabs me like my MDX did. Thanks again for the input. Much appreciated.
After you mentioned that I called the Honda dealer to see what they had in stock, and sure enough they had a new Pilot. It was one of the lower trim levels, but still very nice. I can see a big difference between the fit and finish of my MDX, but I haven't had a chance to see one of the higher end models like the Touring or Elite. I can see why they will get sticker +. Every Pilot and HR-V they had is sold out and sold out quickly. Within days 15 HR-V's were gone. They didn't even have time to put them on the lot.
Lucky! I havent seen one in person yet. But I have heard echoes of what you mentioned ("not quite as nice as the MDX")
Alas, after backing our TL into a spot today, I took at look at the front axle and the left front boot is torn into 3 pieces. So, its done. Dont feel like paying the labor-filled bill to get them fixed, so this might be the end of our ownership of the TL.
Looks like we'll be deciding in the next week or so what will replace it. As much as I liked the MDX, I cant see lugging around all that vehicle that we would only use 1 or 2% of the time. On the flipside, the TLX is the strongest contender of the sedans we drove (minus the Tesla Model S that I surely cannot afford)
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