Hey guys what do you think abou the 2003 acura mdx witt the touring package. I'm away at college and i called home and my parents decided to tell me that they are buying the car this next week so anything you've heard about the car or experienced with the car would be great. Thanks!

 

Tell them to look look at a Highlander Limited with the Lexus 6 cylinder engine loaded for about 34,000 that you can buy for about 30,000 or 31,000. They can save almost 10,000 from the MDX touring package which will not be discounted.. The only thing you lose is the 3rd row seats. The highlander is made in Japan at the Lexus plant and is even more sophisticated and larger than the Lexus which is based on the OLD Camry while the Highlander is bbased on the current Camry. I have one and it's rock solid in all areas.

 

OK, my Dad just went through this same situation. He looked at the Highlander Limited and the MDX w/ Touring and went with the MDX. He could have gotten a heck of deal on the Toyota with discounts he can still take advantage of through his former employeer that he retired from.

He liked the Highlander and thought it was a great SUV. But he felt the build quality, the way it drove, comfort, looks, power all were in the MDXs favor. He paid sticker for the MDX, his first time EVER for a car, and said he'd do it again. He has not said one bad thing about it in his first month of ownership. He's even put some running boards on it, bought the floormats, rear cargo tray and other interior goodies.

The difference in price for him was about 9K, but it's worth it according to him. He was looking for something to haul furniture around in (he refinishes furniture in his retired time), and wanted a comfortable machine to go get the groceries, take trips in... While the Highlander would do all that, the Acura does it better.

Drive em' both and see. I went with him to every dealer (BMW, Mercedes, Acura, Lexus, Toyota)to look and drive all of them as well. While they all had thier positives and negatives, the MDX is a heck of deal. And a great SUV too.

 

Also, the April issue of C&D does a nice review of the mid-priced SUVs. The Honda Pilot EX, Nissan Murano SE, Toyota Highlander Limited, Mitsubishi Endeavor Limited and Buick Rendezvous CXL.

C&D preferred the cars as they're listed above in order. If their budget is more in the 30K range, take a look at the Pilot. My neighbor has the Pilot EX and it's pretty nice. C&D really liked the Murano as well.

However, if they have a few more dollars in their wallet, MDX hands down.

 

Yeah, I read that Car and Driver article.

Even though the Pilot had Navi (and none of the others had Navi), it still stickered far less than any other vehicle in the test.

The Pilot seems like a fantastic bargain.

 

Yeah I agree. Isn't the pilot a MDX basically? Like same engine and all??

 

Yeah, basically the same thing. But it's larger, has fold down 3 row seats, has a softer ride.....and it's far less expensive!

 

The Odyssey, MDX and Pilot are all built on the same platform. That's right, the MDX and Pilot are just a "cooler" looking AWD minivan.

 

thanks guys my parents picked it up and its supposedly really really nice. Its got the upgraded gold emblme kit and its in midnight blue pearl color with navi and all the good stuff...

 

You'll love the MDX, and the 2003 has 260 H.P. and VSA for the same price as last years without.

 

Cool! Sounded like they didn't even have to wait for one. We waited months for ours because of the backlog. Great SUV! We love it.