seriously cross shopping Q5 2.0T with Acura MDX Tech, need opinions
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seriously cross shopping Q5 2.0T with Acura MDX Tech, need opinions
i would go with the Q5 but the reliability issue everyone brought up with Audi is really bothering me. i've owned an Audi A3 2.0t five years ago, I never had any problem with that car. but are there any known problem with the 2.0t in Q5? the best deal i got so far is 600 over invoice, can i do better? i'm in SoCal by the way. Thanks.
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From: Wisconsin
$600 over seems like a solid deal to me based on what others have posted and what I found when I was negotiating on new.
Regarding the MDX vs Q5. Prior to getting my wife's tahoe we test drove the MDX. I really liked it, but the Q5 and MDX are completely different animals (we were actually comparing the Tahoe, Q7, and MDX). To me, the Q5 is much more of a 'driver's car', even with the SH-AWD of the MDX. Personally, If I would have to have the 3rd row, the MDX would be in the running. If that is not a requirement (and it's between the MDX and Q5), then it's not much of a contest IMO (the tahoe won out for my wife due to the 2nd row buckets/walk through to 3rd row requirement for the kids).
Hope that helps, good luck with your decision,
tgt
Regarding the MDX vs Q5. Prior to getting my wife's tahoe we test drove the MDX. I really liked it, but the Q5 and MDX are completely different animals (we were actually comparing the Tahoe, Q7, and MDX). To me, the Q5 is much more of a 'driver's car', even with the SH-AWD of the MDX. Personally, If I would have to have the 3rd row, the MDX would be in the running. If that is not a requirement (and it's between the MDX and Q5), then it's not much of a contest IMO (the tahoe won out for my wife due to the 2nd row buckets/walk through to 3rd row requirement for the kids).
Hope that helps, good luck with your decision,
tgt
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Most reliability issues are brought up in forums... very rarely does anyone post about how their car is issue free! Well, maybe toyota fans but they also are begging for performance slightly better than a lawn mower and a car with a personality that is just slightly higher than a Saturn. Dream on, Toyota fans!
If you had a great experience with your Audi, hold that experience above a group of people posting their troubles. Outside of a few small issues that were easily resolved by a competent dealer, my Q is going strong after 23k miles in 18 months. There are tons of 2.0T Audi's where I live and I don't see lines for service at the dealer! (I live in Germany!)
If you had a great experience with your Audi, hold that experience above a group of people posting their troubles. Outside of a few small issues that were easily resolved by a competent dealer, my Q is going strong after 23k miles in 18 months. There are tons of 2.0T Audi's where I live and I don't see lines for service at the dealer! (I live in Germany!)
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: RI
i would go with the Q5 but the reliability issue everyone brought up with Audi is really bothering me. i've owned an Audi A3 2.0t five years ago, I never had any problem with that car. but are there any known problem with the 2.0t in Q5? the best deal i got so far is 600 over invoice, can i do better? i'm in SoCal by the way. Thanks.
From my perspective - a family guy with a 7 & 10 year old - I think that for relatively the same money and sportiness, the MDX trumps the Q5 based on more room/hauling capacity and a smoother engine - while the 2.0T in my A4 was fine, it certainly does not compare to the smoothness and quietness of a Honda V6 (not to mention the 3.0T in my A6). That's my $.02...good luck with your decision and I think the $600 over invoice is a good deal for the Q.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Boston, MA
Same here, I had a 02 MDX, tons of problems, lose seat rails, doors misaligned and rattles everywhere. We also have or had 4 Audi total, two of them are very reliable and the other two spend a lot of time in the shop. I also have owned about 4 Honda or Acura in my lifetime, and the MDX was the only unreliable one.
In the end, you have to ask yourself, do you like the driving dynamics and the built quality of the Audi that much more that you are willing to take a chance on its reliability.
In the end, you have to ask yourself, do you like the driving dynamics and the built quality of the Audi that much more that you are willing to take a chance on its reliability.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Connecticut
My brother has an 04 MDX that he purchased new. He is on his 3rd transmission, A/C compressor replaced, front end rebuilt, shifter broke, all of this before 100K. I've had great luck with my Audis. The Q5 is our third one. My 99 A4 was at 120K miles. i purchased it new. My 06 A4 is at 66K miles, purchased new, no issues with either of them (had coil packs replaced under warranty on the 06 but there was no problem with them). So far we have 6K on the Q5 and it is perfect.
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From: Nassau County, NY
I would agree that the Q5 and MDX are different cars... yet I also cross shop them both. I didn't get as far as test driving the MDX, but did go to the show room and all.
The latest generation of the MDX is hugely popular in my neck of the woods (NYC suburbs). It makes sense, since for about the same money as a Q5, GLK, and the rest of the compact SUV lux options (minus the RDX), the MDX give you a sporty, fully loaded family friendly hauler with the lux comforts. It's also, not huge (about 190 inches long), and easier to get around then the other 3 row lux SUVs on the market.
If I had a few kids (2 or more), I would seriously think about getting the MDX. It would be the cheapest 3-row options for less then $50k compared to the Q7. If I wanted to spend a little more, I would look into the Lexus GX, Infiniti QX, or Mercedes Benz GL. Unfortunately, the Volvo XC90 hasn't seen a remodel for ages, so the had been family hauler leader isn't really an option anymore.
We picked the Q5 because we loved the way it looked inside and out, the way it drove, and we were expecting our first child, so we weren't ready for the minivan yet.
The latest generation of the MDX is hugely popular in my neck of the woods (NYC suburbs). It makes sense, since for about the same money as a Q5, GLK, and the rest of the compact SUV lux options (minus the RDX), the MDX give you a sporty, fully loaded family friendly hauler with the lux comforts. It's also, not huge (about 190 inches long), and easier to get around then the other 3 row lux SUVs on the market.
If I had a few kids (2 or more), I would seriously think about getting the MDX. It would be the cheapest 3-row options for less then $50k compared to the Q7. If I wanted to spend a little more, I would look into the Lexus GX, Infiniti QX, or Mercedes Benz GL. Unfortunately, the Volvo XC90 hasn't seen a remodel for ages, so the had been family hauler leader isn't really an option anymore.
We picked the Q5 because we loved the way it looked inside and out, the way it drove, and we were expecting our first child, so we weren't ready for the minivan yet.
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From: Ohio
There will always be cases where someone with a particular brand will have no issues and someone else will have tons.
For reliability, you need a larger sample size than a few of us posting here. I've posted to truedelta.com, and it's a useful site to compare makes and models. The 2010 and earlier Q5's have unfortunately not done very well on there, but I believe most of those issues (water pump, DRL) have been resolved with the 2011's.
For reliability, you need a larger sample size than a few of us posting here. I've posted to truedelta.com, and it's a useful site to compare makes and models. The 2010 and earlier Q5's have unfortunately not done very well on there, but I believe most of those issues (water pump, DRL) have been resolved with the 2011's.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Boston, MA
In most cases, a car's width have a lot more to do with how big a car drive than the length, especially in the city. The Q5 is already a pretty wide car, the MDX is actually 4.5 inches wider than the Q5. I dont know if you ever drove the MDX on a daily basis before, but it is a hard car to drive in the city due to its width and because of that, there is nothing sporty about the way a MDX drives.