juruki

iTrader: (2)

About to buy a 2015 MDX. Im trying to decide between the Tech/Ent and the Advance/Ent.
I want the better seats, the lumbar support, parking sensors, remote start etc but Im scared the driving aids will be annoying and kind of dangerous. My wife and daughter will be riding with me most of the time. What if im using cruise control following a car and that car accelerates and the MDX accelerates after it when another car cuts me off, kinda of situation.
Does the advance package really make driving safer? I dont want anything moving my steering wheel while im driving. But i want those extra features...
any advice?

Edward'TLS

Can't you turn off those functions that you don't want afterwards, by pressing some buttons ?

mfdutra

I have the advance and you should totally not think of it this way. The advance will give you three driving aids:

Adaptive cruise control: first off, it's optional, as you can revert it to a standard cruise control. Second, it's awesome and I'm confident you'll love it, as you get used to it. IMO, it's the best piece of automotive technology I've seen in many years. It never takes over your authority. If you touch the brakes, it disengages immediately.

Lane keep assist: it's always off by default. You need to turn it on every time you want it. I really like it in highways. It keeps the car dead centers if the lane marks are good. The amount of torque it applies to the steering wheel is VERY low. You can easily circumvent it. Also, if you take your hands off the wheel, the systems turns off in a few seconds, with a warning requiring you to keep your hands on the wheel.

Collision mitigation braking system: this can also be turned off, but it's on by default, and it should. In the unlikely situation you approach another car too quickly and too close, it will engage, tug at your seat belt and start braking the car. Seriously, if you're that distracted and cause it to trigger, you better have it and not hit the car ahead. It only went off once with me, and the car ahead suddenly slammed on the brakes. The system noticed it faster than I ever could.

For me, it was totally worth the extra money. I wouldn't consider buy any other car without adaptive cruise control anymore. I really love this feature.

Tigmd99

I had basically Advance package on my old Prius (level 5)...totally worth it esp if you spend lots of time on the highway. For my MDX, i skipped it because it would have added some $10k to my price.

But, yeah, if you can afford it, then get it...but know that the package would not pay you back if you re-sell it. It is for your entertainment and safety.

osubuckeye98

I thought it was worth it. For me it was the extra driving aids, auto-dim side mirrors, and the wheel design. Honestly I wish they offered the Advance trim w/o the entertainment pkg.

The key thing to remember is that LKAS and CMBS are assistive safety technologies. As much as the press likes to call these autonomous solutions, the fact is that the driver must remain engaged for these features to work properly. They'll never wrangle control of the car from you.

To gain a better understanding of how each of these features works, I recommend checking out the Acura Owners site where they explain each of major features with short PDFs and videos:

ACC
Read It: Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site
See It: Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site

LKAS
Read It: Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site
See It: Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site

CMBS
Read It: Collision Mitigation Braking System? (CMBS?) | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site
See It: Collision Mitigation Braking System? (CMBS?) | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site

Armed with this knowledge, find a knowledgeable sales person and go on an extended test drive to try each of the features.

jimihaha

I have the Tech SH AWD and most of the time I regret not shelling out the extra dough to get the Advance trim. If you can afford it, go with the Advance especially if you have kids.

jvette

I have an Advance I got this week. I also looked at the Tech and decided there were things I wanted that were on the Advance. I also wanted Remote Start, Cooled Seats, The better seats and in just a few days this is the best MDX I have owned. This is my 3rd. I also agree they should give me an option on the Entertainment System because I'll never use it. Spend the extra money it's really worth it and is a joy to drive with the extra toys.
I really like ACC and LKAS!

Tigmd99

The seats are different in ADVANCE? Is it shaped differently?

mfdutra

The seats have perforated leather

ECRD

Yea get the Advance.

Aside from all the great safety features, the better luxury feeling leather cooled seats, also has an Auto mode so when you adjust climate temp the seats heat up or cool down sync automatically!
So remote start will turn on your seat heater if you set inside temp to high of course.

Non advance, remote start, you still gotta go through that 8-step process to turn your heated seat on....lol

integroid

For me between the tech and advance it wasnt worth the price of admission. I guess if you are already looking at the Tech/Ent package, I would just go ahead and spend the extra dough for the Advance package. I think the seats alone are worth it

Tigmd99

The TECH does have FCW and LDW...so, it is not bare bones in itself. It won't slow the car down by itself but FCW does give enough warning time for you to act.

akash4u

iTrader: (3)

Get the advance if u can afford it. Wont hold $$ value while reselling but worth every $ you spend getting it.

mfdutra

Just don't buy the advance thinking that the remote start will be a great addition, because it's actually a joke. You need to be practically in front of the car for it to work. My Ford Escape is excellent in that. I can start the car from 2 blocks away.

jvette

I haven't had a problem with the remote start. It has worked perfect every time I have used it. I can sit in my office at work and start the car which is about 100ft away and through about 4 walls.

mfdutra

From inside my house, it works well, because it's all wood. If the car is between other cars in a parking lot, no way. It never works unless I'm in front of the car. I've complained to the dealer and they say it's crappy indeed, compared to other cars.

Tigmd99

Just read this: Finally got Acura's Attention - Acura MDX Forum : Acura MDX SUV Forums

YMMV.

jvette

So you have a 2015 Advance? If so there must be something wrong with your remote start. My office is behind concrete block walls with drywall and my car is parked in a parking lot with lots of cars. Mine has worked every time without a hitch. I have heard the add on Acura remote has problems but this one has worked great for me.

mfdutra

Mine is a 2014. Maybe they've fixed it for the 2015.