TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

base model or not....it's an indication of what the car is. same awkward rear entry, most likely same cheap plastic interior, and crappy handling. i'm looking at basics here not creature comforts. any car can have a lot of those comforts added. you can't change the meat and potatoes of a car too much (ergonomics, materials).

the jeep cherokee rental we had was nicer. push button start, nicely laid out interior...i just didn't like how it drove (personal preference).

Scrib

Loaded Pilot for $37.6K. Option.

08FLrdxSH-AWD

CPO Infiniti Qx56

vas25tl

This

Friend just got a 2012 white Touring with all the option, it's very nice and spacious. I love the 9" DVD player in the back and the GPS is very easy to use. Also drives VERY smooth. After driving his, I want to upgrade our 06 Pilot now

Scrib

Just a standard key fob, right... No push button option, I assume.

charliemike

Does the Pilot come with a big paper bag to put over it?

Damn that thing is ugly.

Scrib

Not that bad...

vas25tl

No, there's no option for that in a Honda. Does have the power tail gate though.

I think at the 37K price point, there isn't much out there that will give you this size, this fuel economy and these options.

One thing I thought was cool with the RES, it comes with 2 wireless headphones and has 3 additional jacks in the back so you could have 5 people watching a movie.

jayhawk815

I've been looking at 3 row crossovers myself for the last few months. Test driven all top offerings, including the Durango, Enclave, Traverse, Pilot, CX-9, MDX, Explorer. My thoughts:

Durango

Pros: My wife and I both like the exterior, it's more masculine than most others, while still looking refined. We both like the interior, nice materials and uncluttered, if not simple, design. It has a very smooth ride, and solid feel. Relatively fun to drive. 2012's can be optioned with either a middle row bench or captains chairs. It has decent space behind the 3rd row. Towing capacity(which I'd use) is excellent. Good value.

Cons: It's heavy. V6's performance is adequate, but nothing more. Hemi V8 is better, but thirsty. That's it for us(we really like this one).

Enclave

Pros: Nice design inside and out, a little more feminine. Ride is nice, solid feel. Can either have the middle row bench or captains chairs. Along with the Traverse/Acadia, very roomy.

Cons: A little too feminine for my taste. Can get pricey quick. Wife didn't like all the fake wood on the interior. Performance was decent, but not a fun to drive vehicle.

Traverse

Pros: Can be had for pretty cheap. Lots of room, can be optioned with captain chairs or bench. Solid, comfortable ride.

Cons: Interior is plain and materials feel cheap. No on screen navigation, small back up camera screen. Exterior design was sub-par in our opinion.

Pilot

Pros: Reasonably cheap. Decent interior design and materials. Wide range of options and of course prices. Nice storage options.

Cons: Neither of us liked the exterior design, getting dated. Not as roomy as some others.

CX-9

Pros: Looks good from certain angles. Pretty cheap, even with options. Relatively fun to drive, with good performance.

Cons: Would look much better if it wiped that damn smile off its face. Neither my wife nor I could get past that. Interior was just average.

MDX

Pros: Fun to drive, good performance. We both liked the interior, both design and quality of materials. Exterior design is interesting.

Cons: Not cheap, in fact, its price pushed it out of consideration. Wife wasn't crazy about the exterior, especially the front.

Explorer

Pros: Flexible options. Ride and performance was decent. We both liked the interior design and materials. I liked the exterior design.

Cons: Not as spacious as it looked. Wife didn't care for it's exterior design.

Summation: While I haven't pulled the trigger yet, I had a few close calls. We've settled on a Durango. It just offered less compromise for us. We are waiting to see if some more aggressive sales or incentives come out or a mint used one becomes available in the area with the right options.

Scrib

Well shit... Acura dealer just threw out a number of $42.8K for a 2012 MDX with Tech and Ent. and then there's $1000 loyalty cash off that.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

hmmm...my dealer is offering aggressive pricing on a 2012 MDX with tech for $38990 and 0% financing (for qualified buyers of course). no i do not get anything for this plug...but i thought the price was great!

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

3rd row equipped SUVs tend to have little rear cargo room (unless you obviously fold down the 3rd row). I'm not going to mention the "other" option but ours has been comfortably stowing 3 kids + a ton of gear (including packing for weeks at the beach house).

jayhawk815

That's pretty tempting.

That's VERY tempting.

Do tell!

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

MissAlyyTL

Are you talking about the "M" word? Cringeeee LOL. I have 3 kids, who are luckily young enough to not need much legroom, however the fact that my 7yr old son is catching up to me in height (my whopping 5 foot even lol) is starting to make me dread the day I have to break down & get one lol. Maybe a diesel excursion is in order LOL.

pttl

jayhawk815

So, when did you get the tenament on wheels?

Scrib

Shitter's full.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

I'm an analyst by trade so going by your wife's requirements you need more cargo space.

2013 Explorer cargo room behind 3rd row: 21cu ft

2013 Toyota Sienna cargo room behind 3rd row: 39.1 cu ft

2012 Acura MDX cargo room behind 3rd row: 15 cu ft

Scrib

Sienna = minivan, no! Explorer is an option, but I vowed never to own a Ford. :snob:

jayhawk815

But for them, would the 3rd row be folded down? Either way, though, your point still stands. If only my wife was open to driving a minivan. The only one she kinda likes is the Sienna SE.

pttl

The most efficient way to move people and cargo = MINI VAN

vas25tl

This is a VERY good price!

MaxMike93

Not considering a Highlander? My friend's mom has a loaded 2011 Limited V6 AWD and its a pretty damn nice car. Not sure what they paid for it, but my friend household is 6 people so I assume it's big enough to carry at least 4 or 5 of them

jayhawk815

With the third row up, there's very minimal cargo space. I also didn't like the way it drives as well. It's pretty fast, but the handling is numb, even by crossover standards. My mother-in-law has one, and they are nice though.

Sarlacc

Personally, I didn't like the highlander...interior was fisher price to me (huge knobs) and the 2nd row with the sliver of a center seat seemed like a joke to me. I don't know...the car just turned me off after sitting in it.

The only advantage IMO the explorer has over the durango in rear space behind the 3rd row is that the 3rd row in the explorer is magic seat style (odyssey) so you have that try of extra space. But I did just fine with 5 adults and 2 infant seats with a stroller in the back with the Durango.

The traverse/enclave/etc...too many little quirky things that I didn't like about the cars after driving one (traverse mainly) Not bad vehicles at all, just not for me.

MDX...used to like the styling...its worn out with me, 3rd row is useless as is cargo space when the row is up. I just have no desire to own one.

Pilot...nice but old and dated at this point.

There will be an all new pathfinder which will basically be a more affordable JX model with great feature such as the easy access 2nd row seats (which car seats in them)

No one bothers to mention the Flex...has lots of room in the back even with the 3rd row up. Its low to the ground like a minivan for ease of access and cargo. Styling is subjective...but to me its the best minivan alternative out there...I know people who gave up lexus and bimmers for this car and they all LOVE it.

Hapa DC5

^ hey hey hey, didn't I say the Flex on the first page

Sarlacc

I mean its been mentioned...but dismissed by most.

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

ask the wife if spending thousands on a larger vehicle is really worth all the stuff she's lugging around.

Scrib

You don't know my wife.

charliemike

^^^ It is genetic.

I see a lot of Flexes in Colorado when I am out there visiting. I really dig them with the Ecoboost V6.

F23A4

Don't say I didn't warn you. ...and honestly, we've only used our third row three times since November 2009. Hence, it's pretty much folded in to maximize cargo space which it does fairly effectively.

Probably because it out-uglies the Pilot....a fete unto itself.

That said, with pttl: Nothing really beats a minivan overall when it comes people moving along with hauling "cargo" while maintaining a car-like ride.

Crazy Bimmer

Congrats on the MDX!!

Sorry for the dealer giving you so little for the RDX though. That sucks.

vas25tl

Did that happen?

vwong

Scrib

Haven't pulled the trigger. Yet...

Mueller is bringing a dealership to Indiana, opening in three weeks. Was talking to the owner, said if I wanted to wait, he'd give me a better deal during the grand opening.

They're offering $28K for the RDX, which isn't horrible. I can probably get into an MDX if I work hard for under $15K out of pocket, all in. We'll see.

Crazy Bimmer

^ I would think you can get better deals around chicago since theres so many dealers up here.

Find a great price that people are paying for the MDX on the forums and then email all the chicagoland dealers. Tell him this is the price you want to pay and the first dealer to agree will get the sale. Let them compete with each other for your sale.

Just getting the appraisal on the RDX might be the tricky part. Then again at least you have the 28k now as a baseline..

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

carmax quote for the RDX?? just for comparisons. you can always fly out here for a deal on an MDX. which one are you looking at? tech? advance? RES?

NBP04TL4ME

Carmax quote it free other than a little of your time. If you are going to wait, you could try and sell the RDX on your own or even in the BM. Only downside I can think of to selling on your own is having to pay sales tax on the full amount of the MDX vs. the difference. At least this is the way it would work in MA.

Scrib

I agree that you'll probably do better in Chicago, but this is a Chicago dealer, so...

I'll likely just give them a number, if they take it great. If not, have a great car and we'll move on.

If Shoofin is around he could tell me what my whip is worth. I'm thinking 28K is probably in the ballpark.