john56

OKAY, Thinking about buying a 2014 mdx. owner isnot sure if it is awd or fwd. is there an easy way to tell? it does have advanced, tech, and entertainment packages

Reorge

1. Insert VIN here: https://acurazine.com/forums/vindecoder.php
2. Or - Should have SH-AWD emblem on rear hatch.
3. Or - Look under vehicle and look for propeller shaft, rear differential, and rear drive shafts.

jim_c

Lol!

Ron A

Welcome to the forums.

This thread has been moved from the Fourth Generation TL (2009-2014) Forum to the car specific forum applicable to your vehicle.

Anicra

1) The VIN should have XXXYD4XXXXXXXXXXX - I am pretty sure the 4 5 6 slot of the VIN should have YD4 if AWD or YD3 for FWD - pretty sure
2) Cycle thru the info display - should have SHAWD picture of the car over head with little power bars by each wheel
3) Look under the car for transfer case, propeller shaft or rear differential
Picture of transfer case it is right by where the Exhaust splits - the thing that is circled is the fill and drain holes
These are all my best guesses since I dont own one.
http://www.mdxers.org/forums/attachm...e-p1010202.jpg

Regeorge idea is probably the best

RDX10

How someone can own a car and not know if it is AWD is beyond me. The easiest way to know is if on the tailgate on the right side there should be a badge that says SH-AWD. The most reliable way to know is to take it to the dealer and ask them.

Bluepill

Normal MDX Demographic = "Show off" grocery getter for women who can't afford a Benz or Audi.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

but his username is John.... lol

RDX10

Hey the MDX gets upto 75k in Canada, that is certainly BMW and Benz money (hell even range rover money)....low end mercedes and BMW money but still money haha.

But on a related note, yeah I agree the demographic is middle aged woman.

mrgold35

Depends on if you are looking at pictures, can only ask phone/email questions, or have a chance to see in person? You might get a good deal if the seller thinks they have a fwd tech and it is a sh-awd Adv.

AWD -vs- FWD = look for sh-awd badge on right rear hatch. sh-awd will also have a spare tire+jack
Base -vs- tech = look for Navi screen, I don't think the base version has the forward facing camera near rear view mirror for Lane Departure or Forward Collision systems? The base came with standard 18" tires, tech/adv has 19" tires.
tech -vs- Adv = look for parking sensors on front and rear bumpers, only the Adv models have front parking sensors (rear sensors could have been added at any time to lower models)
Ent -vs- no Ent = look for DVD drop down screen or audio/video inputs behind the center console for passengers. Tech has 9" DVD screen and Adv has an Ultra wide DVD screen with HDMI inputs

The price difference when new for a 2014 base fwd MDX ($42,300) compared to a sh-awd Adv+Ent ($56,500) was around $14,000. Not that big of a difference in prices in the used market after +3 years; but, I would want to know for sure which version. Other added value options that could save you a lot of money are:
- OEM hitch + transmission cooler (trans cooler for sh-awd version only to reach 5000lbs of towing)
- roof rack with cross bars
- LED fog lights
- OEM side steps
- all weather mats and tray
- cargo cover
- complete service records

neo1738

Also all advance have roof rails and different rims.

G3RS

Am coming to this conclusion too....
On MDX forum I posted topic on the (in my opinion) rediculously (s)low limited top speed of my from the US to The Netherlands where I live privatly imported 2014 MDX FWD which turns out to be limited to 112MPH.
On my question if this is normal for the G3, there are NO answers, it seems nobody has ever tried out the topspeed

mrgold35

The roads in the US are usually too crowded, not suited for high speed travel much more above 20 mph the posted speed because of poor conditions, risk of wildlife from horses/cattle/elk/deer on the road, in need for road repair, or you run into construction every 10-30 miles. There are longer stretches of hwy in the west/southwest where you can maintain a higher speed of 85-100 mph if you desire. There really isn't a need to go +100 mph in a top heavy SUV with all season tires unless you need to pass a vehicle in a hurry.

G3RS

I live not too far from Germany, where there are still some stretches of autobahn that are unrestricted.
A cruising speed of 90-100mph is not uncommon there and it is nice to be able to speed up a bit to overtake or just for the fun of it.
As there, many other cars are driving in the same manner, it isn't unusual or dangerous to do so.

Here in Europe, even though many countries also have speedlimits in the region of 70-85Mph, just about all petrol or diesel SUV-s are capable of top speeds of more than 112Mph, most of the bigger SUV-s have 135-155 top speed capability, only the smaller hybrid SUV's are sometimes max 112-118Mph
Even the smaller Honda CRV that compared to the MDX has about half the HP, has an official topspeed rating of 118Mph....

E92Vancouver

Here is the rule to live by. If the seller is not sure if his car is an FWD or AWD, it is a FWD. This rule works every time.

E92Vancouver

Look under the rear of the MDX and see if you see a differential and a drive shaft.

moose66

No offense, but if they are having to ask the question in the first place, chances are they won't know what a differential is either! Hopefully the drive shaft is distinguishable!

neoshi

Orrr just scroll the info button on the steering wheel and if SH-AWD torque bias info screen doesn't come up, it's not SH-AWD. Another simple method: ask the owner if he ever de-badged the car. If not and there is no SH-AWD badge on the trunk, then it's FWD.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

so a 20% discount?