cbrose

So, my son's Volvo (a.k.a. the money pit) is soon to bite the dust and I'm planning to give him my '05 MDX which is still running great with 140k miles. (Yay Acura!!).
I'm looking at either a '16 or '17 MDX (want to save a little $$) but I'm not sure what the differences are on these model years or what some of the current TSBs are out there for these model years. (My brain is firmly rooted in the VTM-4 mentality of the '05 so I've been focused on keeping that car running and not reading much about the new SH-AWD MDX models).

Can you newer model owners post some good links to start with regarding what to look for as I begin the unfortunate visits to dealers? I have read something about the '16 tranny heaters TSB(?).

Also, I've done most of the work on the '05 myself and I'm wondering how much of the same I can do on the new models (all fluid changes, brakes, filters, etc...), e.g. is the '16 less complicated than the '17 (less toys and gadgets to break)?

Any details would really really help. I'm not too picky on the models (my current '05 is loaded with NAVI and RES, but I don't really need the RES in my new one).

Thanks!

cbrose

Update - Found the TSB and Recalls thread (https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-mdx-...letins-947739/). Just wondering about views on 2016 vs. 2017 for reliability, drivability, maintenance, etc... Thanks.

Donn0128

Newer the better. But you loose car play and android auto until 2018. Love my 2018 tech. Nav is OK on any of them. Our most liked feature is the built in hard drive. No more lugging around a stack of CDs. Load once ten minutes later load another one until you get all 5000 songs loaded.

cbrose

Thanks Donn0128. Funny that you said 'newer the better': I was actually thinking about looking backwards - like a '15 with the older, non-ZF tranny. Just as long as my iPhone communicates with the entertainment system, I'm good. I think a '15 would certainly do that.
If I went with a newer model, I'd probably look at a '17 because that fits nicely within my price point. Just need to make sure all the related TSBs have been considered prior to purchase...

Donn0128

And thats one of the reasons we went for a new 2018. Nothing wrong with the ZF9 speed. Smooth, almost seemles shifting. And I like some of the features the Tech offers. If it wernt for the dog I would have gone advanced for things like the surround camera setup. But with a 115 pound dog that goes everywhere with us we had to have the one piece second row seat.

skarface

Almost seems like you should go 2015 or skip straight to a new 2019 with the transmission updates to the 9 speed.
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Acura/MDX/

cbrose

Good point, skarface. My price point would welcome an '18 after the 2020s start rolling out. Hopefully we see a decline in the used market price a little as the new model year debuts.
Thanks for the link toe the car complaints.com site. Hadn't seen that one before. I usually haunt truedelta.com for that sort of data.