Any of you bums owned a RX 300 or MDX?

"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural)
05/25/2017 at 23:42 • Filed to: None

Pretty straightforward question here.

I’m located in Queens and have an RX-8 which I adore aside from cargo carrying. I also have a Focus SVT that I have struggled to sell and now that most of the nagging issues are fixed I’ve considered hanging on to it. So of course my brother totals his car this week & badly needs a loaner.

Anyways. Whether he gets the Focus or not I’ve been considering an SUV because insurance is cheaper than the rentals. So thumbed through the SUV yearbook with the girlfriend tonight and we’ve found a few we like. She likes the RX300, I like the MDX because of the third row. Murano is a distant third, which I’m iffy about over the CVT.

Anyone have experience with either the Lex or the Acura? How are the transmissions in these? Any electrical issues? Other weird shit I should be aware of for vehicles in the 150k+ miles territory?

DISCUSSION (20)

E92M3 > notsomethingstructural
05/25/2017 at 23:57

I’ve had a 2006, and now own 2009 MDX. Both are great. The early 1st gens had transmission problems, but if 2005 and above you don’t have to worry about those.

A little known fact, the 2nd gens suspension was tuned on “The Ring”. So it’s handling dynamics are much better than the 1st gen, and if you look at skidpads tests it’s right there with the same generation X5. While it is based on the Pilot, the handling is completely different. Firmer, less roll, and you get SH-AWD.

I’ve driven a 2012 RX350. It’s setup for comfort over sportiness. More body roll, and horrible steering feel compared to the MDX.

Here’s a horrible picture of mine with ZDX wheels. If you get a 2007-2009 updating the wheels to newer OEM wheels really helps it look newer than it is.

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > notsomethingstructural
05/25/2017 at 23:59

Rx300 has valve guide problems. MDX has timing belt intervals. I’d buy the MDX... Almost did

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch
05/26/2017 at 00:07

That’s what I’m leaning toward but I’m gonna want to see the size difference in person. Street parking out here. Any idea what they get for a belt service?

HammerheadFistpunch > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 00:09

Miles or money? I was looking at between 1200 to 1700. Of course it can be done cheaper if you shop around

notsomethingstructural > E92M3
05/26/2017 at 00:18

Define “transmission problems.” Just digging around on prices I think it will be tight in an 05, 06 doesn’t seem likely. I’m probably looking at high-mileage by-owner examples in the $4k and under range, and I’ll reevaluate if they’re all junk. You never know what you’ll find by-owner here. When I got my RX-8 I looked at 3 within a few hundred dollars of each other. One needed a motor, one needed a trans, one had 10 years of receipts and was hand-detailed every 2 weeks. Guess which I got.

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch
05/26/2017 at 00:19

I meant money (par for the course there) but if you know the mileage interval I wouldn’t mind knowing

HammerheadFistpunch > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 00:21

90k

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch
05/26/2017 at 00:23

Not bad for a belt. There’s chains that need it more frequently. Thanks

E92M3 > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 00:27

They failed just like the same vintage TL’s. The good news is, with your budget most of those will be on their second one already (which should be the updated trans). I wouldn’t buy an early one that was still on it’s original trans. If you can find one that’s had a recent timing belt too, you’ll be golden.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 01:02

My parents owned a 2001 MDX for 14 years that I’ve driven countless times. They now own a 2012 MDX.

Good cars. Yes, the transmission grenaded on the 01 but my dad’s dealer towed it and put in a new transmission for free.

notsomethingstructural > E92M3
05/26/2017 at 08:03

Apparently the service interval is 90k on the timing belt so even if I’m looking in the 150-160k mike range I should be good on that front too. I don’t think I’m gonna want the headaches that come with a 200k miler so I’m gonna try to avoid that.

E92M3 > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 08:41

It’s every 90k OR 6 years. So if it’s a 2004 with a 140k miles, technically it should of already had a 2nd T-belt change. I can tell you though several people on the forums went 9-10 years before they hit 90k, and changed it then. I haven’t heard of anyone that has had one snap prior to the mileage intervals, even though they went past 6 years. I’m not recommending that, but age of the belt doesn’t seem that critical. There has even been people that didn’t have the money or didn’t realize the risk, and went as far as 140k on the first change and were fine too.

The 2nd gen interval is every 105k or 7 years. I’m at 90k and 8 years on mine. I plan to wait till 105k miles to change it, because I see no evidence the age is that important. The consensus is the interval is very conservative on both age and the mileage.

Meatcoma > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 08:50

My mom owns 2 rx300's a 1999 that she has had for 14 years that has given her 0 major issues(brake booster and some wear items only and the brake booster was probably my fault) and a 2008 which she has had for about 3 months. She bought the 2008 because she liked her 99 so much.

I’m a big guy(tall and wide) and I couldn’t daily drive either one of them because my knee hits the center console in a weird spot and I think a long drive would make it sore, but on short drives it’s fine. FYI both the 99 and the 08 have this issue.

Really the 99 has been a great car for her, it has never left her stranded. We are both hoping that the 08 is too.

notsomethingstructural > Meatcoma
05/26/2017 at 09:06

I am also tall (bout 6'5" 240) and I manage in my RX8, still a good consideration though. The 8 will probably get most of the miles (weekend jaunts), the SUV will probably get the most abuse. How many miles went on the first one? Original trans?

notsomethingstructural > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/26/2017 at 09:18

How many miles when it blew up?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 09:32

Oh, I think 80k. Second transmission went almost another 200k before they traded it in.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 09:47

My wife has a ‘12 MDX that has been a great car for us so far (have owned about a year). We got the 6-speed; there have been complaints about the new 9-speed that’s also in the latest Pilot.

notsomethingstructural > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2017 at 10:18

Don’t worry I can’t afford anything newer than an 06

Meatcoma > notsomethingstructural
05/26/2017 at 13:29

she’s put over 130k on it in 15 years mind you, original eng/trans. It’s got probably 165k.

The main problem is when you hit a rough bump your knee smacks that center console and if you do it often enough it starts to hurt. On a particularly long drive once, I drove with my hand between my knee and that console if that’s any indication.

Meatcoma > Meatcoma
05/26/2017 at 13:31

I need to also state that she is horrible with maintenance unless it’s something glaringly obvious. I try to help when/where I can and I’ve told her time after time that it will last longer than expected with good maintenance.