<p>I am looking at going back to an SUV from an Audi A4…hate the Audi because it is too low to the ground and too small… I miss being able to “haul” stuff…lol…anyway, I had a Toyota Highlander in the past which Iloved and I also have had many Hondas…I am looking to upgrade from those into an Acura or Lexus SUV…do any of you currently have either of these cars and do you like them? Why or why not? I figure the pareent cafe is the perfect place to ask this question…thanks!</p>
<p>I have a Lexus GX460, the bigger SUV, but whenever I need to leave the car at the dealer for a longer maintenance appointment (routine), they always give me a RX350 as a loaner. I love it! It drives amazing with a great turning radius, you still sit up a bit higher than standard car, the trunk is so conveniently large and you can’t beat the service centers (free food and cappacino, wifi, newspapers and tv…so comfy). I am just staying with the bigger Lexus for now because I frequently need the third row of seating but when I no longer do, I will buy the RX. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about Acura except that my 23 year old loves her TL.</p>
<p>^^thanks! My neighbor has the original Lexus RX300 and I have driven it a few times. I really have liked it. Since my only child D is off at college, I really dont need anything any larger. One thing I have really missed is the cargo room…you really dont realize how much you need it until you dont have it…lol…especially when trying to move kids in and out of college!! I really like the features that the RDX has for less money, however, I havent drven it yet. I have an appointment on Monday to drive both :)</p>
<p>One thing I REALLY hate about the Audi is the constant maintenance…can anyone tell me about maintenance on either of these cars? I have already had to replace all 4 tires will less than 30,000 miles on the Audi because they are “high performance”.</p>
<p>I have the Lexus RX 330. Love it! Its 6 yrs old and never given me a bit of trouble until I let the dealership do the 60K service. Wont make that mistake again! :)</p>
<p>My mom has an older 350 - one thing that’s nice about it is that since they’re basically “fancy Toyotas” she can get 99% of the service done at our local Toyota dealership that’s less than a mile from home. We live about an hour from the Lexus dealership so that’s much more convenient. </p>
<p>She also LOVES how it drives. It has a soft, cushy ride which would be a little different from your Audi. Ironically, my dad has an A3 and I prefer to drive it because it feels a little more responsive to me and more in touch with the road, if that makes sense.</p>
<p>I got an MDX six years ago with the concept of needing a larger car to haul kids stuff back and forth to college. I absolutely love my car. Not one problem in 93,000 miles. However, when I am ready to get a new one, I will likely go with the RDX as we no longer need the cargo space of the MDX, but I don’t think I could ever go back to driving a lower-seating car again. And yes, I LOVE the customer amenities at the dealership. They’ll also give me a loaner, even if the service they’re doing will only take an hour or so.</p>
<p>A couple of months ago I was looking at the same cars. Drove both, but ended up with the Acura MDX. My husband and I decided we would miss having a larger SUV as I had been driving a Lincoln Navigator for 12 years. </p>
<p>The Lexus was a nice ride, very car like, very smooth. The only thing I didn’t like about the RDX was it did not have a power tailgate; all the other cars I looked at did or at least was available in a package. I keep my cars forever and figured in 10 years while I am in my mid 60’s, I might want help getting the tailgate closed! ;)</p>
<p>I have had my MDX for 4 weeks now and love it! You can not go wrong with either of the cars you are looking at. I took each car out for a test drive, but kept them for a entire day and night. I wanted to be able to run my errands to see how the car felt. Pulling in and out of parking spaces and the garage, driving my normal route, getting in and out of the car with groceries, etc… allowed me to see how the car would work for me. Having a car the entire day allowed me to eliminate a couple of cars. One car actually hurt my right leg due to the drivers seat, so off the list it went.</p>
<p>test drove the RDX a few years ago and decided to save the extra $$ and got the CRV instead (Honda)…</p>
<p>Honestly, I think the Lexus is in a different league in terms of drivability; test drive them both; I don’t think you will find them at all similar…especially road noise…</p>
<p>I actually think the comparison is Lexus RX to Acura MDX in terms of similarity…just depends if you need the size of the MDX</p>
<p>FWIW, the old MDX style (which teriwitt has) was the BEST car I ever had; we leased it though and the residual was too high to purchase…I LOVED that car…</p>
<p>Am on my third Lexus SUV and I like it. I have to admit that I loved my first two, but love this one a little less. Between the last one and this one, I had a Range Rover Sport and, as far as comfort and luxury, nothing is going to beat that, including a Lexus. The RR had other issues, though, so I’d never get another one but for those who claim that the turning radius on the Lexus is great, well, they should try a RR! Seriously, that was the largest SUV I’ve ever had and it turned on a dime. </p>
<p>The Lexus I have now is comfy. I love the automatic tailgate, which I’d never be without again. It carries a lot of stuff as well as my four dogs. There are a few piddly little things that I don’t like. The location of the outlet for your cellphone charger, or to hook up your IPOD is ridiculous. It’s in a console unit underneath about two interior units and you have to discombobulate the entire part of that unit to reach way down inside to hook it up. Crazy. Another thing is that the intelligent key, although in itself is great, when you open the door all you need to do is to touch the door handle when you have the key in your pocket or purse, but it only opens the driver’s door, which is incredibly annoying. The automatic settings for the driver’s seat, which can be set for each driver and is reflected in the key fob, too often do not ‘keep’, and when you come out the next time, you once again have to adjust the seat and mirrors. </p>
<p>So, not big things but annoying things, nonetheless. </p>
<p>SWTCat, isn’t the RDX smaller than the Lexus? The MDX used to be the one that was a similar size. I had one of those, too, before they improved it and made it more luxurious. We loved that car and my H always said that it was the best value in an SUV at that time.</p>
<p>I have an Acura MDX and it is by far the best car I have ever owned. It is old, 2002 but it is virtually maintenance free. The ride is very smooth even after all these years. I keep mine in immaculate condition so much so that when it is in for tune ups and oil changes the tech’s all comment on the condition of the car. We have a great Acura dealership here in CT and they are always honest and easy to deal with. I always get a loaner when I leave the car for service and have driven the new MDX and RDX. I have to be honest and say I like the interior design of the older MDX as the new models seem a bit tighter in the driver and passenger seats with the curved dash. I have told my husband my next car will be a RDX because I really don’t need the size of the MDX anymore. One drawback, it is costing nearly $60 to fill the tank! I have a Honda CRV also but it is not nearly as comfortable and smooth riding as the Acura. But the Honda is a great car and it is what my teens use to drive around. I have also had a Jeep Grand Cherokee granted it was years ago but it was also a wonderful car although we had good luck with maintenance, I know they can be hit or miss. I looked at the Lexus SUV when I was getting the bigger car but I loved the Acura and the Lexus was more expensive and the dealership not as convenient. Also we pay personal property tax on autos here in CT and I didn’t feel like dealing with the ridiculous tax bill that comes with a Lexus.</p>
<p>I ran the “true cost to own” calculation on edmunds for the 2 cars (base model). Accordingly, they estimate that the Acura cost about $2k more to own over 5 years. Thats not a big deal, IMO. Check out what it will cost to insure the 2 vehicles with our insurance company. That is often a hidden cost that people forget to calculate.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/acura/mdx/2011/tco.html?style=101355910[/url]”>http://www.edmunds.com/acura/mdx/2011/tco.html?style=101355910</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-350/2011/tco.html?style=101353967[/url]”>http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-350/2011/tco.html?style=101353967</a></p>
<p>The OP was actually looking at the Acura RDX, not the MDX which you calculated above. </p>
<p>The MDX has a third row seat, although it really isn’t big enough for adults. I could sit there in a pinch for a short distances, but I am only 5’2". I keep my third row folded down and don’t think I will use it for seating more than maybe once a year; but I do like having the option to seat more.</p>
<p>LOL-- was reading about everyones MDX. Here’s the RDX true cost to own [2011</a> Acura RDX 2.3L 4-cyl. Turbo 5-speed Automatic True Cost to Own](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/acura/rdx/2011/tco.html?style=101361450]2011”>http://www.edmunds.com/acura/rdx/2011/tco.html?style=101361450) It depreciates faster initially, but the overall cost goes down over the years</p>
<p>Before my RX330 I used to drive a Sienna minivan. I am glad I am out of the “minivan” phase of life, but every now and then I do wish I had a 3rd row and a bit more room in the back. As snowball said, it only happens about once or twice a year, but when it happens its a reminder. Tonight is one of those nights. There will be 6 of us going out for a monster sized (literally- its 30" and feeds 6-8 people and weighs over 6 lbs! Its been featured on "man vs food <a href=“http://bigpieinthesky.com/index.php[/url]”>Big Pie in the Sky Pizzeria) pizza after DH, DS’s and 2 friends run the very muddy/messy warrior dash. Come to think of it, I am glad they will not be in my car!!</p>
<p>H drives a 2005 RX330 and cannot be happier with it (after he traded MY 1999 RX300 for it, but I’m OK - my current set of wheels has rows and rows of reclining seats ;)). We really do not miss the third row that we had in our minivan, and the creature comforts in the RX are amazing. </p>
<p>Honda maked nice cars, too. It just happens that we are Toyota people (own/owned 6). We looked at Hondas and liked their cars, but did not want to pay more for what we could get in a comparable Toyota for less. Test drive both cars (including parallel parking, backing around a corner, etc.) and see which one you like the best.</p>
<p>(BTW, the Lexus “copier commercial” is not an exaggeration: the RX300 was the grandfather of the modern car/SUV crossover, and many car critics dismissed the design it as an ugly fad at that time, but the ugly ducklings kept flying off of the dealers’ lots. I guess the Toyota engineers got the last laugh.)</p>
<p>Thanks soo much for all of your input…I knew I could come to CC and get some great responses!! 
The reason I am looking at the RDX instead of the MDX is the size and gas mileage… The RDX and the Lexus 350 get about the same gas mileage, however the Lexus has a littel more cargo room. I can actually get the RDX “loaded” for a little less than the base model Lexus 350. I just have to decide if I can be happy with the trade off. Of course the base model of the Lexus is well appointed. We dont normally buy “loaded” cars. DH is leaning more toward the Lexus as we LOVED our Toyota Highlander years ago. I also had the original CRV many years ago and the seats really made my back sore. Since my D is off at college, I do not drive (taxi) around as much. I cant wait to drive them both tomorrow. I will let you know what I think!</p>
<p>Thanks for the link Jym…I am surprised that the Lexus is less to insure since it is a more expensive car…</p>
<p>SWRCAT, my SIL has the middle sized Lexus SUV and loves it and my MIL drives a Lexus sedan. We have a 10 year old Land Cruiser, Toyota makes a great car, H recenty test drove just about every luxury SUV on the planet (it was painful) and liked the Acura and Audi least. Too car like for him, he wanted a sportier ride. I have a large SUV which drives beautifully and is very comfortable for long trips. Did you test drive the Mercedes GLK?</p>
<p>SWTCAT
Check with your insurance carrier to get exact quotes. We always do that when deciding on a car after we’ve narrowed down the choices. The rates are usually based on safety ratings, number of airbags, etc. If, for instance, one has knee bags and the other doesn’t, that could affect the ratings.</p>
<p>^^^that explains it… I think the Lexus has a little bit better safety rating…</p>
<p>Thanks ACM for your input…did crazydad ever get his new car?</p>