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Mercedes-Benz M-class vs Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer vs Buick Rendezvous vs Acura MDX

472 messages,  Last post on Sep 17, 2007 at 5:06 PM

You are in the Mercedes Benz M-Class Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Ford Explorer, Buick Rendezvous, Acura MDX, Car Safety, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV

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#423 of 472 adp3: RDV by montreid Mar 26, 2003 (3:46 pm)
Buick, like most Domestic brands, have been making steps to improve delivery tolerances and long-term durability.   eg. Here's the recent ConsumerReports' review of 3year old cars:   http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv3.jsp?WebLogicSession=- PoI52vMldPfRrHc2KKjWqlZXJusIb3zZsjSh5wwrFGO2FU1524cD|-31263218562- 25327810/169937912/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1|3165710093133098- 820/169937909/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_- id=302621&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=113261&bmUID=104872188323- 1   Here's the 2003 RDV results: http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv2.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt- _id=163875&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=97851&bmUID=104872210043- 5   Compared quite well in reliability and safety testings on your lists.   Next year's model will offer an upgraded engine if you're concerned about pure power, though the current version is quite capable of regular people mover duties locally. It falls behind in the 40-60 acceleration though. High speed travel is just fine (70-80 MPH, though MPG suffers greatly after 70MPH).
#424 of 472 montreid by hopeitsfriday Mar 26, 2003 (7:13 pm)
Hey montreid, haven't heard from you for a while. Well you know that every time you make a post, I have to throw in my 2 cents worth, so here goes: The RDV like many American cars and SUVs have been making improvements in the areas of build tolerances and reliability. unfortunately, so has the foreign cars. I am afraid to say that we are still playing catch up. The RDV is one of the better American crossovers on the road, but thats not saying much since there are so few American crossover to choose from.
#425 of 472 JD Power report by steve_ HOST Jul 08, 2003 (3:24 pm)
"While Japan's largest automakers dominated an annual vehicle quality survey released Tuesday, General Motors Corp. scored high and DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes brand stalled."   Car quality: Japanese dominate (CNN/Money)   Check out Buick's place on the brand list.   Steve, Host
#426 of 472 JD Power report by hopeitsfriday Jul 09, 2003 (1:27 pm)
Where is Volvo on this list?
#427 of 472 not too high up there by steve_ HOST Jul 09, 2003 (2:04 pm)
There's an easier to read pdf link floating around on Town Hall, but I misplaced it. Here's a harder to read press release.   Steve, Host
#428 of 472 Sold ML, Bought MDX (What took me so long?) by hermantam Jul 20, 2003 (8:13 pm)
Last week, I traded-in my 2000 ML320 and bought a 2003 Acura MDX Touring with Navi and RES.   In the past year, my ML turned into a complete nightmare - first started with the air mass sensor failure (twice), then the in-line fuel filter, followed by the infamous/common power window switch failure, the moonroof (a trim fell off), the transmission valve stuck, mysterious noise from the AC center vent, the power steering hose clamp recall, and the last one - the glove box cover hinge broke! It was unbelievable.   With warranty expiration in sight (we put 47K miles on it), the local MB dealer in Omaha (which runs their newly acquired MB dealership like a Ford dealership) sent me a letter saying that they will provide "complimentary local transportation" (read "no loaner") for service after the warranty expires. After seeing the JD Power report, well, that's it for me. I opt out.   My wife and I both have high demanding jobs, with a little one year old. We have no time for stopping by the MB service department every now and then (they don't open on Saturday!) Plus they charge $90/labor hour! (A brake job at 25K mile costed me $900.)   With reliabiliy as the #1 requirement and a $40K-$45K budget, we shopped for the Japanese brands only (love X5 but it's just another ML in terms of quality and reliability; do not want to take the risk of trying the "recently improved" GM quality - may be in five years when they have a track record established.) We considered the Lexus GX but the third row seat is a joke. The RX is gimmicky (the power hatch is for physically challenged people IMHO.), pretentious (oh come-on it is a dressed up next gen Highlander) and overpriced like the GX. The dealer experience was so-so (they were not fair on the trade-in value).   Ended up I bought an MDX because that's a safe choice from a reliability standpoint, with a lot of nice features (DVD, Navi, third row seats, etc.), at a very reasonable price (I paid $40K). Also the dealer treated me well. In the past I owned a Honda Accord from 1995 to 2000 before I made the costly mistake of buying the ML. Over the five years I had no problem with the Accord. I trust Acura/Honda reliability.   Looking back, I have to say ML is a well-designed vehicle with great off-road capability. I drove that in severe weather (heavy rain, whte out snow, icy road) and survived. I took that off road too and it rocked! But the build quality and reliability is simply horrible - I worried about another failure coming from god-know-where every day in the last three months I owed the vehicle.   In conclusion, I have completed lost confidence in MB. Too bad the ML is our first and last Mercedes vehicle. We will never buy another Mercedes again.
#429 of 472 WOW by coatingmike Jul 25, 2003 (5:02 am)
I just over the last week have read this whole thread, well sometimes when things got re-stated a bit too much I scimmed it, but all I can say is wow. We do have some strong opinions on this board.
#430 of 472 by feliz Jul 25, 2003 (1:20 pm)
I dropped by the GM dealer the other day and they were discounting the Rendezvous $6,000. Imagine what used ones are worth!!
#431 of 472 Resale value by hopeitsfriday Jul 25, 2003 (1:39 pm)
According to Kelly's blue book, a 2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL with AWD in Fair condition is worth $11,660 in trade in value. The invoice price for a 03 Buick Rendezvous CXL with AWD is $29,502. Assuming one paid $500 over invoice price, that comes out to $30,002. A depreciation of $18342 or 62% of its original value in one year. The saving on the RDV's purchasing price is very attractive, but when one trades in the RDV, thats when he or she really pays for it.
#432 of 472 by feliz Jul 25, 2003 (2:01 pm)
Thanks hopeitsfriday. I notice in our local papers that low mileage two year old RXs and MDXs are almost selling for what new ones are going for. I guess cheapest isn't always the best deal. Is there a low demand or is it oversupply for the Rendezvous?

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