Considering buying 2012 MDXTech package 75k miles negotiated price 23,488 Recent widow. First time purchasing car alone. Is this a good deal? One owner No dings clean carfax. Local trade in for new Audi Q7. Should high mileage be a concern

 

My mother is roughly the same age and I've encouraged her to lease a car. Any car with 75K miles on the clock "might" need a whole lot of of work. Then again, it might be great. But at that mileage, you need to check the service history. The rear diff fluid changes are important in these. Regular transmission services should also have been completed and documented. Tires, brakes, belts, brake fluid, etc all need to be inspected. At 105K miles it'll need a timing belt at a cost of $800-$1000 or so with all the parts that should be replaced and the labor. Honestly, if you're driving 12,000 miles a year and can live with the idea of a lease, your only out of pocket expense might be tires. Otherwise, hand them the keys back in 24 or 36 months and get a new set, all the expenses belong to the next owner. No fuss. No muss. Just be sure to lease directly through Acura. Make sure they don't tack on any stupid fees or sell you interior or paint protection or God forbid an extended warranty. Just sign and drive with no money down if you can.

That said, the MDX is a great vehicle. It'll last a long time if maintained properly but like anything else, if things weren't kept up, early failures are possible. At 75K, it'll need some work here and there to keep it up and running smoothly but 200,000 plus miles can be expected if you treat it right.