- #23 of 50
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Re: we have both vehicles [scottm123]
by mecheng1
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Feb 06, 2008 (11:46 am)
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Replying to: scottm123 (Feb 06, 2008 5:46 am)
That makes a lot of sense. The PCM of the MDX will use the input from the vehicle's sensors (knock sensor, etc.) to adjust the timing of the vehicle to compensate for different fuel blends - therefore using regular gas doesn't actually "harm" the engine.
Perhaps using the lower octane does, as Scott has proven, prevent the engine from operating at it most efficient point, even at lower points on the power curve. Hence, owners manual's that recommend premium verses those that require premium. There are some compression ratios that require 93 Octane to prevent engine damage.
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- #24 of 50
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Re: we have both vehicles [mecheng1]
by chrism124
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Feb 06, 2008 (12:45 pm)
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Replying to: mecheng1 (Feb 06, 2008 11:46 am)
mecheng1, you are correct, the PCM/ECU will adjust the timing based on the type of fuel being used. While regular gas will work in most cars where premium is recommended, the offset is a decrease in gas mileage and horsepower (HP).
Personally speaking, if I can afford to buy or lease a new MDX, with an average price of $42k, paying the extra $210 per year for premium fuel shouldn’t be an issue. The extra cost would be less once the better gas mileage, with premium fuel, is factored.
Just my .02.
Regards,
NHman
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- #25 of 50
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Re: we have both vehicles [chrism124]
by love2driveinct
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Feb 06, 2008 (2:25 pm)
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Replying to: chrism124 (Feb 06, 2008 12:45 pm)
Hmmm... doesn't sound like my "testing" was very scientific, lol... 
But I think the point of all this, is that with only a couple hundred dollars a year difference, it needn't be a major deciding factor in which vehicle to get.
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- #26 of 50
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Re: we have both vehicles [chrism124]
by dms9
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Feb 09, 2008 (6:27 am)
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Replying to: chrism124 (Feb 06, 2008 12:45 pm)
If gas prices are going to sway your decision, go out and get a rewards card, like a shell Mastercard, or whatever. I get 5% off on all gas at shell, I don't use the card for anything else, I just use it as a gas card. Do the math. I put Super in 07 MDX at $3.13, take off the 0.156 a gal with the discount and I am paying less than 3 bucks a gal for super, in Rockville MD (where gas is expensive). I would love it if my MDX ran on regular, but it really isn't that much more a year. Please don't spend $40K plus on the MDX and put regular in it. They get 300 hp out of it by boosting the compression. Put regular in it and it will probably knock or give you trouble down the road. Now if you are only leasing . . .
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- #27 of 50
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Decision made
by dfwhonda
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Feb 14, 2008 (8:36 am)
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Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. I ended up purchasing a 2008 Pilot due to the dealer incentives Honda is throwing around. I got a EX-L w/NAV for under $28k + TTL, which was about $2k cheaper than I could get a 2006 MDX w/NAV with 22k miles (that was also located 3 hours away).
The price difference convinced me to live with the following Pilot shortcomings vs the 2006 MDX (some of which have already been mentioned above):
1) No power adjustable passenger front seat; no memory seating for driver's seat (which doesn't matter much to me because both my wife and I keep the seat as far back as it will go)
2) Fan speed for second row of car linked to front zone (MDX has independent fan speed control; Pilot only has independent temp. control)
3) No hands-free cell phone capability (not even offered as a Honda accessory, but as an after-market accessory by the dealer for an excessive price)
I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones that I noticed right away during our test drive.
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- #28 of 50
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Re: we have both vehicles [scottm123]
by chandra0102
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Feb 15, 2008 (5:32 pm)
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Replying to: scottm123 (Feb 06, 2008 5:46 am)
As far as the driving mix and the octane level of the gas used is concerned does it make a difference if an MDX is driven mostly on highways for long trips or used mostly in city driving? In other words is the difference in the vehicles performance more pronounced using 87 vs. 91 octane depending upon the type of driving - city or mostly highway?
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- #29 of 50
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Re: we have both vehicles [love2driveinct]
by rtchambers
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May 08, 2008 (8:12 pm)
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Replying to: love2driveinct (Jan 13, 2008 11:12 am)
i am looking at an 07 Acura MDX, and was dissapointed to find out that it took Premium gas, because i currently have an 03 lexus RX 300 and it is supposed to take premium, and that is the reason i want to get rid of it. I tried 87 in it once but the engine knocked. So i was wondering if you have had any trouble with knocking in yours?
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- #30 of 50
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How to choose?
by benandeleanor
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Jul 06, 2008 (5:53 pm)
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Replying to: rtchambers (May 08, 2008 8:12 pm)
We test drove both the 2009 Pilot and the 2008 MDX this weekend and really can't decide which to purchase. We went into the test drives thinking we would definitely be buying the MDX. The MDX interior does feel/appear a bit plusher (we test drove the Touring version of the Pilot as that is what we would be purchasing and that was nice) but the new 2009 Pilot feels much roomier than the MDX, particularly in the third row.
Any advice on how to choose would be greatly appreciated. I'm particularly curious whether others who have compared the 2009 Touring version of the Pilot to the MDX also have felt like the difference is not as vast as it once was between the Pilot and the MDX.
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- #31 of 50
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Re: How to choose? [benandeleanor]
by nutz4cars
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Jul 06, 2008 (6:19 pm)
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Replying to: benandeleanor (Jul 06, 2008 5:53 pm)
I agree that the gap between the 2009 Pilot and 2008 MDX is pretty small. We test drove a 2009 Pilot EX-L w/RES and 2008 MDX w/Tech back-to-back. All things being equal, we feel that the MDX is still the better vehicle... HOWEVER .. a strong argument could be made that the Pilot is the better choice for a family with 2 or more young children (we have 4-yr old and 2-yr old daughters). We feel that the storage in the Pilot is vastly superior along with easier accesss to the 3rd row. Not being an audiophile, we thought the audio system in the Pilot (512 watt version) sounded as good as the ELS system in the MDX. Being able to run on reg unleaded is also a big plus for the Pilot.
Of course, all that being said, the MDX is still our first choice due to the superior handling characteristics and extra power (we live in Colorado and the high altitude saps engine power like nobody's business). Hope this helps.
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- #32 of 50
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Re: How to choose? [benandeleanor]
by comet123
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Jul 06, 2008 (6:31 pm)
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Replying to: benandeleanor (Jul 06, 2008 5:53 pm)
Hi -. No advice, just observations. I am making the same comparisons and am surprised how similar the 09 Touring, AWD compares to the 08 MDX w. Navigation. Pilot is about $4,000 -$5,000 less money. Length & Width are almost identical. Navigation system looked identical. the Pilot has the power lift gate, rear camera, sensors. Others are saying it is quieter than previous model, I read it has the same Windows (quieter as MDX?). Pilot's 3rd row seat has more room. I don't like the fact you can only access the MDX's 3rd row seat from 1 side. One other thing....in the Pilot, the 2nd row of seats adjusts forward...giving the 3rd row even more room....perhaps not a big deal?
Pilot gets about 10% better MPG, and does not have to use the Premium gas - which here is about 15 cents per gallon...
However, am still disappointed in the looks of 09 Pilot. I was hoping for something more stylish? Less Boxy...sort of the way Honda re-designed the CRV. I did test drive the Pilot and it was great.
I think if the MDX was a bit smaller and got better Mileage than the Pilot...I would still probably go w. it..I love the interior of the MDX, the "cockpit" feel. ...I also am not 100% sure I like the looks of the MDX either.
I don't appreciate driving enough to judge the MDX feel vs. the Pilot. Seems like the experts rave about how great it drives compared to other SUVs.
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