I am not trying to stir the pot or anything, but why an SUV?

Have you thought about a pick-up at all? The Nissan Titan is AMAZING!!! As
much room for passengers as an SUV and much more versatile.

I got an MDX.  Would have had the Pilot, but just couldn't get the seat
comfortable.

Biggest difference (beside the seat) is the sunroof - MDX has it, Pilot
doesn't.  Also, Pilot runs on 87 octane, MDX recommends 91 (never seen
that), and definitely runs better with 93 than 89...

My wife looked at both and bought a 2004 MDX on the basis of sunroof and Acura
loaner car while the car would be at the dealer for service.

We just got back from a 3000 mile trip, Michigan to Rocky Moutain National
Park, and the car was flawless.  Even the Navigation system is cool.

Adam

Looked at both and went with Pilot.  Less
expensive and has the 8 seats vs. 7 for the MDX.

Carl

Hi,

We (sort of) went through the same routine 1.5 years ago, except that we
looked at "all" SUV's. Quickly narrowed it to MDX and RX300. When it comes
to a Nissan product (Nissan or Infinity) there is no question, always go
with the Nissan. They are nearly identical (also Nissan as a company is
always a distant third in that three man race. If you want to see what I
mean, go into a Toyota and Honda dealer and look around (people working
there, environment (ie, cleanliness), etc. Then go into a Nissan dealer.
It's like night and day. However, this is not true with Honda/Acura and
Toyota/Lexus. I have had three Lexus and will be buying another Acura (TL in
addition to the MDX) in the Fall and the arguments I see hear about "same
car but cheaper", etc. just do not apply to those two manufactures.

We went with an MDX and couldn't be happier. One major difference is "the
buying/servicing experience". If you have never bought an Acura or a Lexus,
you are in for a surprise. These companies know how to treat a customer. Are
you paying for that? Absolutely. Is it worth it? In our minds, yes.

Besides tweeks that are mentioned from others in this string, you also have
two big differences in justification for the price difference, big time
luxury (the vehicle itself as well as customer buying/servicing experience)
and 24/7 roadside assistance. If you are a past luxury car owner, don't even
consider the Pilot. (Doesn't it look like two cardboard boxes taped together
on wheels? Like something you made in the back yard when you were a kid!!)

The only complaints I have (and I do truely mean the only ones) are the lack
of a full size spare (comeon, a $40,000 vehicle and no full size spare!!)
and the relative easy way to leave the lights on. If you are using the Auto
on/off feature (which we do to fool the system into thinking it has daytime
running lights...by placing a small square of black electrical tape over the
sensor on the dash) you need to remember to never do two things (at least
that we have found, there may be more!). Always open and close the driver's
side door after the engine is off for the light sytem to auto-off. For
example, let's say you pull the car in the garage and leave the motor
running because you need to run inside the house quickly (insert your reason
why here). Then you go back outside to turn the car off but you do that from
the passenger side door. Your lights will stay on and the battery definitely
will rund down (see Roadside Assistance comment above!). Second, if you
don't shut the driver's side door all the way, the lights will stay on (and
you don't even get a warning beep!!). We have two teenage driver's and both
of these have happened to us.

Hope this helps

PS: When will Acura finally figure out that daytime running lights are a
necessary safetly feature?!?!?!?!?!?!?