I'm having a lot of trouble finding the right used MDX and it's getting a bit discouraging. Tech package is a must, and ideally I'd like to spend right around $30,000 before TTL for a 2008 or newer with 40,000 miles or less. DO you think this is realistic?

Right now between all 3 Acura dealers in the area, there are only 4 that come close to this, and only 1 of those doesn't have numerous chips and moderate leather wear. I can't find a single private seller, and there are a few from non-Acura dealers.

Here are the latest two that I've looked at. I'm interested in your thoughts between the two. Thanks!

1)

• 2008 MDX Tech - Black/Parchment
• Non-Acura dealer, not CPO
• 38,000 miles
• $31,600 (No haggle dealer, price is firm)
• Body has about 12 touched up paint chips, otherwise looks pretty clean
• Leather is a bit worn, has a small blue ink stain in the second row, and discoloration on one second row seat
• The plastic on the rear pillars is really scratched especially around the cargo cover area
• Brand new tires, wheels are excellent
• Auction purchase from NJ

2)

• 2008 MDX Tech - White/Taupe
• Acura dealer, CPO
• 59,000 miles
• $31,000 (haven't tried to deal, would guess $29,000)
• Body is extremely clean, some very small paint chips around the bottom in the usual places
• Interior is in excellent condition, no leather wear and no scratches
• Tires are close to new, wheels are clean except for one small curb hit
• Vehicle is local and serviced at the dealer

 

PM sent. good luck and happy hunting.

 

Buying used anything is always a compromise.
Seeing your thread... glad I bought new with all the features wanted.
Posting here is a good idea to get inputs and possible new offers like TLtrigirl is doing.
I sold my Jeep Overland on a Jeep Forum to guy in Dallas last year.
But if you buy via Forum suggest you stay local area w good test drive and records. A mechanic check out is also good.
Of the 2 you have listed I would pick #2 but test drive and records are most important.
An auction is often unknown regardless of price or statments.
Good Luck and again ... I would stay new with exact features.
Use Edmunds used car apprasial to determine if good deal http://www.edmunds.com/acura/mdx/200...sed&&zip=78750

 

to add about auction vehicles...there is a reason why they are at auction. my dealer usually keeps the pick of the litter of the lease returns/trade ins and then sends the rest to auction.

if it were me...i'd be weary of a nonCPO auction vehicle with limited history.

of the two you listed...i'd be more comfortable with #2. but the price has to come down possibly to 27-28K. double check the "book" values and go from there as i suggested in my PM among other things.

 

So how important is CPO? Or better question, what does it actually get me? My understanding is that I get 1 year/12,000 miles base warranty from time of used purchase and 7 year/100,000 on the power train. Do I get anything else?

Brand new 2008 is covered under a base warranty 4 years/50,000 miles, power train is 6 years/70,000 miles. I believe the warranty is transferable.

So on a used vehicle 3 years old with 30,000 miles, CPO does nothing for me on the base warranty, it would however give me an extra year and 30,000 miles on the power train. Am I missing anything else?

 

You're absolutely right. Nearly all of the used MDX's in the area are auction purchases from NY and NJ. In fact, I think only 2 have been locally used. I've seen 3 auction vehicles before the dealers had a chance to prep them, and man are they beat up. Scratches, dents, chips, rim rash... I can pretty much tell by the listed price without even going to the dealer what kind of shape they'll be in.

#2 was in better shape with fit and finish, but for $600 more (more after negotiation) you can have 22,000 less miles, and also 30,000 less miles on the power train warranty. So in a race of fit and finish vs. miles, who wins?

 

OP-yes it gets you the warranty extension.

the CPO (assuming the dealer is honest on this one), is a manufacturer's certification that the car has been through its 150 point inspection of all major systems and is mechanically sound. versus the "as-is" label. so if the brakes were shot by the time the car was traded that would be replaced. if the tires are worn beyond 50%, those would be replaced. some of the major fluids would be "flushed" as well (brake, PS, tranny) depending on the car.

with my recent purchase, i saw the invoice for the services they did to get the car certified (pre-inspection). now they do miss things from time to time esp if they aren't looking for them. for instance, the rotors on mine were warped. it took me 90 miles of driving to figure that one out. so i shouldn't have to pay for them to either replace or re-surface. if you bought as -is...well your SOL.

when the car is sold "as-is" the dealer is not necessarily willing to fix any issues you may find with the car (mechanically speaking) unless its a safety issue. so...its really up to you and what you are comfortable with. i've seen a number of 08's listed in major metro areas with 40-45K mi within your price range. i noticed you're in MN. unless you are willing to go a ways...your market area might be a little higher depending on the demand and the supply. with used cars, you just never know how the car was treated. so while new is reassuring no skeletons, you, like myself, probably don't want to spend that much on a new MDX and eat the depreciation. also depends on what you want.

there are CPOs to be had for the price point you are looking for that are comparable to non-CPOs. in some ways you can think if you can find a CPO'd car for the same price as non-CPO, you have a better deal b/c of the extra warranty. its up to you. good luck.

 

Of the 2 I would choose the 2nd one.

1. It's in better condition (which means it was maintained better 99% of the time)

2. There's a reason it went to auction. AKA too much work for the dealer to recondition it to be worthwhile.

3. I will never buy another black car, I hate the paint maintenance required to keep black looking new.

4. I would not worry about 20K miles more. That's nothing, especially if that person cared about the car more, and maintained it.

5. The chances of you actually using a powertrain warranty on the MDX are VERY slim. I would only care about that if I was towing near the tow capacity often.

My advice is to wait for the right one, travel out of state if you have to. Don't settle, or you will regret it for a longggg time. At your price you will likely have to accept 50-60K miles though, but that doesn't mean you can't find a good one.

 

I just bought my MDX in April. It's a 2008 Sport/Ent and it had 29k on it. It was not a CPO and I paid $34,000.

I sell for Honda and got a 2008 Base on the lot. I took it out for a drive and was hooked. I got mine a few weeks later. We let the base go for around $28,000. It had 37k on it.

 

This past Friday I drove to Chicago, as all the dealers there had a much larger used tech inventory. I now have a CPO 2008 Aspen/Parchment Tech with 34,000 miles in my garage. Inside and out, it looks like new, not even any micro scratches on the wood trim.

I had a few issues with the selling dealer that really got under my skin, one of which I still don't have resolved. When I asked about purchasing the extended "wrap" Acura Care warranty, I was told that they don't sell it, they only sell a 3rd party warranty through "The Mechanic" (aka The Warranty Group) which carries a $100 deductible for each service. I was quoted $750 to extend the non-power train warranty to 7/100,000. I declined and was told I could still purchase it through them within 45 days.

I found out after the fact that the Acura Care extended warranty can only be purchased on a CPO vehicle from the selling dealer at the time of sale. I called and talked to the GM who said they would sell it to me at $1,195, but I still don't know if this too carries a $100 deductible. Ultimately, at that price, I would need to have 5 warranty repairs in two years, just to break even on the added cost (assuming the warranties are exactly the same). I still have to dig through the details of the 3rd party option.

Did anyone purchase a 3rd party extended warranty on their CPO vehicle?

Are there any specific reasons to go with Acura Care over something else? ex. only Acura Care can provide this or that, etc..

 

What dealer in Chicago did you go through?

 

careful with 3rd party warranties. these guys will scam the hell out of you. you think something is covered...they'll say its not and its wear and tear. acura care is the way to go if you go extended warranty.

however, you bought CPO right?? powertrain is covered for 7yr/100K and bumper to bumper for 12mos/12K mi. honestly, you have a honda/acura product which are VERY reliable. so unless the car was abused in its previous life...you should be ok.the most important thing is the power train. advice given to me from a dealer friend, get CPO make sure you are covered. the big thing on the MDX that may go bad is the torque converter. other than that...its a solid car. i've had my TL since new and i've had no major issues (just the axles going bad at 42K mi which were coverd by geico MBI since i was out of factory warranty). though its up to you.

 

McGrath - Morton Grove. Don't think I'll go back there again.