Well, if anyone's followed my previous threads on the forum I've been on the search for a new family ride for a while. We had an MDX tech as a loaner not too long ago, and really enjoyed it. We have a '12 SH-AWD TL, and my GF drives a Camry, so we didn't want a brand new one, so started the search for a well cared for used model.

After several disappointments, a local Chevy dealer took one in trade, and it fit the bill. I haven't had a chance to get some good pics of our family parking lot yet (all gray) but here's some pics before I took delivery. 64K miles, looks brand new inside and out. Runs like a champ, and I even got the dealer to turn the front rotors and install new pads. 26K out the door after taxes and fees (no trade-in really kicks your ass!)






I'm already beginning a list of mods, I think starting with the wheels!!

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks! Got around to taking the family photo this afternoon lol

 

Congrats on the new ride!

Time for a road trip to put some more miles on X. I put the OEM roof rack and OEM trailer hitch when I got my MDX in Jan/14. I already got good use from both over the summer (cargo box and bikes).

Can't go wrong with some tint on the front windows!

 

Matching cars!

 

Thanks! I'm not sure how much longer we'll keep the Camry - seems kind of silly to have 3 cars for 2 people - we drop our daughter off at college on Monday, think if she hasn't called to come home after a few weeks the for sale sign will go up. Been a great car though, its a 2010 with only 60K miles

 

First road trip was a success - 500 miles without any problems. Got about 23mpg with cruise set to 80mph, is that to be expected? No complaints

 

I usually set the cruise on the same speed and 20-23 mpg average is well within the normal range for the MDX IF the ground is fairly level without a lot of downshifting. That is about what I got traveling to Houston. When I travel to Colorado (5,000 to 8,000 feet range), I usually get about 17-19 mpg combined at 80 mph because of the mountains and constant downshifting 1-2 gears of the 6AT. Hilly terrain and a lot of downshifting will kill your hwy mpg average

 

Congrats!

 

Looks pretty clean, congratz

 

You're doing well. Small 165 mile road trip yesterday. 3 passengers and an infant. Fully loaded trunk, 6 foot long roof box attached to roof rails. One or two detours off the highway due to traffic. Cruise speed mostly 60-70 mph with about a 65 average.

20.5 mpg. Wish it was better but I've come to accept this thirsty beast for what it is. We're keeping it for reliability and versatility, not fuel efficiency.

 

^^^

Right you are - our reasons are the same, and it still beats a truck in the mpg department. Its definitely a comfy cruiser. I haven't been in many vehicles that ride as nice. I drove my TL for the first time in a week this past weekend. What a difference. I don't think the MDX is a dog by any means, but man my TL is like a rocket compared to it.

 

Dunno how far you are away from Chitown but when it snows, the MDX does pretty well even on all seasons due to its 4600 lb weight. Sedans like the TL and even my former RL need winter tires to match the MDX once the accumulation builds up.

 

I'm looking forward to it! I'm about 60 miles due west from Chicago. My TL has been a champ the last 3 winters but you are right, if there's more than 3 inches on the ground it shows its weakness with the stock tires

 

Some things I've notice comparing my RDX to the MDX sh-awd are:

- the MDX sh-awd is tuned to use the "sh" more. It sometimes kicks in just taking a right hand turn at a stop sign. I can also get much higher single tire bar readings on the graph on the same curve compared to my RDX. Feels very stable and really rotates in the curves when I push her.

- the MDX in not afraid to toss some TQ to the rear wheels. The MDX is more full time awd compared to the RDX. Depending on terrain, I can really feel and see the tq graph moving power to back; which, feel really nice on inclines. There are times when I had more tq going to rear wheels than front; that would almost never happen with my RDX.

The MDX with snow tires would be a very secure vehicle in the snow.

 

Thinks that's right but the MDX is so heavy that it is the one vehicle we have in our stable where I am not thinking about getting winter tires. Good all seasons have seen me through about 7 or more inches of accumulation. I got some wheel slip when we had a major storm that dumped 8 inches on us but I still managed to scramble out of our unplowed driveway onto the plowed road on OEM Michelin Latitudes. A lighter vehicle probably would have bogged down or needed snow tires. Actually similar situation in the past with the wife's former Toyota RAV4 on Dunlop winter tires and it did not have the ground clearance or weight to push on through.

 

I don't intend on getting winter tires. Never have for the TL, or any car for that matter. I'm very fortunate to have a whopping 2 mile commute to work. Even in the worst storms the plows are out pretty quick. The most snow I ever had to get thru was around 4-5 inches, and the TL handled it like a champ once I was going in a straight line

I've been looking at rims. The stocks just look ugly. I think the 18's from my TL would look great on the MDX. Might try to pick up a set on the cheap, I believe the bolt pattern is the same. The last owner has some type of Goodyear's on the MDX, have to give them a closer look to see what type, and how much life they've got left in them

 

I changed my tires out when I got my X because the OEM tires had a lot of cracks in the side walls. I still kept the best looking tire and used it as a full size spare. I already put almost 15,000 miles on my X since Jan/14 and I don't want to be in another state on a donut spare.

 

Sounds like you're a road warrior! I dropped off my MDX this morning at the dealer to work on the brakes again. They turned the rotors before I took delivery but something's still not right. Not sure if they're warped or what, but its making an annoying sound after the brakes heat up and needs to be fixed. I should get a report on the thread depth and life of the tires so I'll decide if its worth buying a new set. I think new wheels are going to be an early xmas present but if there's a lot of life on these tires I'll stick with them

 

Looks real clean man, congrats on the new purchase

Plans for running boards and/or roof rack in the future?

 

There is a pretty recent thread on replacement tires for our MDXs. Hope this helps.

https://acurazine.com/forums/1-2g-mdx-2001-2013-166/2010-mdx-tire-recommendation-911179/

 

Thanks for the link! I'm a big fan of continental's, I've run them on all of our cars, glad they seem to work well on the MDX too. Looks like the Goodyear's on this one should be good for a few more years, so I'll hold off on replacement a while, but new rims are definitely coming soon. No plans for running boards or roof rack, but hey, that might change later.

I'd like to give a shout out to DeKalb Motors in Sycamore, IL. I bought the MDX from them, and they turned the rotors before we took delivery to fix a pulsing issue I noticed on the test drive. This morning they put brand new rotors and pads on it after still having an issue no charge. There is no warranty or any arrangement for them to cover any repairs. I bought it used as is. Some of the best customer service I've ever experienced at a car dealer.

 

Congrats! wow all matching

 

Thanks! The Camry is actually getting a for sale sign this week. We cleaned her out and did a decent detail job last night. Been a great car, just no need for 3 vehicles with 2 drivers (unless I get my Audi S5 someday)

 

I have to say I hated the "beak" on the 4G TL, but on the MDX ? Perfection. The 2G MDX is one bad ass looking SUV IMO.

 

agreed, the grill compliments the design nicely on the MDX, unfortunately it just doesn't translate to the low riding TL. I love my '12 grill, however after painting to match I think it moved the car up another aesthetic level. I get more compliments on the matching grill than any other aspect. I don't think I'll do the same to the MDX, it seems to match the rest of the vehicle just the way it is

 

Congrats!!

 

Thanks! MDX is getting front windows tinted as I type! Pics later!

 

She looks great, congrats!
-Mojo

 

Here's a quick shot after picking her up - hope to clean her up nice this weekend for some better mom/daughter pics with the TL. The tint should darken a little over the next month, and bring it a little under 30%. The tech said he metered the factory tint at about 23%, so it is a little lighter, but looks pretty good. I'm just thrilled after driving it to not have the sun blazing on my legs! While it sucks the legal limit is 30% in IL, at least its better than a few years ago when it was nothing!

 

Another quick mod is upgrading the interior lights to LED. The problem I ran into was the overhead lights were already LED and the Amazon kits assumed there was no change from the 07-09 models. I used the extra lights for the license plate lights. The kits did not include the sun visor vanity mirror lights.

The rear cargo LED lights were still not bright enough for me and I upgraded them to JDMTOY 18-SMD-5050 LED Strip Light For Car Trunk Cargo Area or Interior Illumination, Xenon White


It comes with adapters to insert into the existing plug and the back of the strip has a sticky back tape for mounting. I had to add a little glue on the end because it started to release a little bit. The two strips ($10 per strip) I installed are super bright and it lights up the rear cargo area and the ground when the hatch is open. I even added one strip for the TSX trunk.