Most of you have seen previous posts from me about navigation issues with my '17 SH-AWD Tech. After a long series of attempted fixes, and a less-than-satisfying experience with Acura corporate customer relations, I worked with my dealer to find a way to get out of my lease with 15 months remaining. These guys (Sunnyside Acura) have gone above and beyond both during the repair efforts for my '17, and in working a deal the best they could on getting me into something without he issue. In the end, we worked a more-than-fair deal to move me into a 2019 SH-AWD Advance (pics below). They didn't have many MDXs left, and the incentives on the '19s were what made the numbers work, such that I was able to get into an Advance for not much more than a Tech would have been. I was able to find one that still had only 16 miles on the odometer with all the interior wrapped. I've put a whopping 50 miles on it so far, but overall I really like it. The first impressions are a dramatic improvement in the transmission feel/shifting as compared to my '17, and that you can feel a significant difference with the wider profile Advance 20 inch Michelin tires vs the slightly narrower Tech 20 inch Conti tires. I'll report back more after I put a few more miles on it.

Again, huge shout-out to Sunnyside Acura in Nashua NH for helping me through all of this, as I'm in a much better place now by not having the annoying '17 with the navigation problems that were never able to be fully addressed...

Andy


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Congrats! Wonder how long it will take the dealer to put your old car on the lot for sale? Unfortunately unless they read your stories here, someone in Southern NH will be the proud owner of your well documented problems.

 

Good to hear Acura was able to make you happy in the long run. The Performance Red Pearl was my first choice for my 19 MDX; but, I couldn't get the interior in any other color other than parchment. Still happy with my Fathom Blue Pearl and Graystone. Did you test drive sport hybrid MDX in tech or adv trims also or just the 3.5L MDXs?

 

Congrats!

 

To be clear - it was the DEALER that stepped to the plate, not Acura. If I wanted to push this with corporate, based on my 2-month experience with trying to do so, it would have been a long, drawn-out, and painful process. Once I got something with numbers that'd work, I took it and moved on.... This is one of those cases where leasing gave me more options...

It's funny - I moved from a Fathom Blue / Graystone to the Red 2019. :-) The only colors they had were red, silver and black - and for me, I don't like black interiors, so this was the choice. They didn't have any Hybrids left on the lot, so it wasn't really a choice. I do have lots of experience with the wife's RLX Sport Hybrid, and like it a lot - but not sure how it'd behave in the MDX with the 3.0L motor (her RLX is a beast with the 3.5L). Other than the transmission I was always happy with the 3.5L in my '17, and with the tranny improvements, it was a great change for me.

andy

 

I wish Acura offered the MDX sh-sh-awd with the 3.5L V-6 instead of the 3.0L. The real advantage with MDX sport hybrid is if you do a lot of city driving or like to push the performance in the curves and you need zero towing. The 3.5L MDX will most likely get around the same mpgs on hwy driving as the sport hybrid. Love that Red color!

 

So the transmission is noticeably better? Smoother shifts or any other changes? How's it in slow stop and go city driving?

 

The biggest thing you notice is that it doesn't feel like it's starting in as low of a gear as the 17 did. My wife, sitting in the passenger seat, noticed the shifting difference almost immediately. She said that there was a "hesitation" she always felt in my '17 that was gone, and the infamous "jerk" you get between 1 and 2 is now gone as well. So the "from a stop" behavior is much improved. The rest of the shifting feels similar - although it's hard to tell how much is just the "not broken in" feel that you get in a new car. But overall it feels much better. I never really had an issue with the way the 17 drove, but if you put the two vehicles together, the 19 is better.

andy

 

Nice colour. I am guessing based on the number of Acura's you have bought, along with likely a rare RLX sale, they wanted to help you. I have purchased a lot of Acura's, at the same dealer, and they bend over backwards to help me.