Continuing on our theme of “yes, other places have cars for sale besides the Pacific Northwest,” today’s choices come from the northeastern corner of the country. We’ll head that way in a minute, after we crown a winner in our desert truck battle:
Well, not much margin of error there. I agree that the Nissan is the better choice, but I wouldn’t dismiss that Blazer out of hand either. That 4.3 is an excellent engine, and I’m still a fan of the first-generation S-10 Blazer’s styling.
But that’s all behind us now, and the only way to go is forward. Today, that means a visit to New York City (where good salsa is not made) and Boston (where the college janitors are math wizards). To be honest, I don’t associate either of these cities with great car culture, but folks still have to get around, so the cheap used car market is worth a look. And to my surprise, I found a couple of nice comfy rides in our price range that both seem capable of making the terrible traffic more bearable. And here they are.
2006 Acura MDX – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 3.5 liter SOHC V6, 5 speed automatic, AWD
Location: Queens, NY
Odometer reading: 141,000 miles
Runs/drives? Yep
Around twenty years ago, the lines between SUVs and passenger cars began to blur. Truck-based SUVs had been everyday drivers for years, of course, but their DNA was still primarily shared with pickup trucks. But a new breed of car-based SUVs, primarily unibody in construction and often with transverse engines, appeared, more comfortable and civilized than trucks, but taller and more rugged-looking than passenger cars. The crossover was born.
The Acura MDX was one of the early crop of luxury crossovers. Like modern crossovers, it has all wheel drive, a third row of seats, and even a screen in the dashboard. Of course, it looks a little like a GameBoy compared to today’s screens, and it’s controlled by those square plastic things around the perimeter. They’re called “buttons,” and you can use them by feel once you learn where they are. They have this great clicky feel under your fingers so you know you actually did something. Not everything new is an improvement.
Under the hood is a 3.5 liter V6 with Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing setup, sending 265 horsepower to all four wheels through a five-speed automatic. The seller says it runs just fine, but doesn’t give much more information than that. A good once-over, either by yourself or by a trusted mechanic, is never a bad idea.
I noticed, while looking at postings in New York, that nearly every car has some damage to the bumpers. There was actually a Toyota Camry listed that I almost featured with a “Camry Dent” on three of the four corners. This Acura has its battle scars, but no worse than anything else I saw. Just part of life for cars in the big city, it seems.
2000 Volvo S80 – $1,999
Engine/drivetrain: 2.9 liter DOHC inline 6, 4 speed automatic, FWD
Location: Lynn, MA
Odometer reading: 132,000 miles
Runs/drives? Sure does
The Volvo S80, introduced just before Ford took over the Swedish company, has a curious engine layout: it has an inline six, in a transverse orientation. It’s not unheard-of, but I can’t think of many other cars with that arrangement. Daewoo had a small straight six that lived sideways in its Magnus sedan, sold in the US market as the Suzuki Verona. And British Motor Corporation sold a version of the ADO17 “Land Crab” sedan with a transverse inline six as the Austin/Morris 2200 and Wolesley Six.
This era of Volvo styling was a bit of a surprise, after decades of severe boxy designs, and I think it has aged well. The S80 is a sharp-looking car, even twenty years later. And this one’s dark green color makes it even sharper. It’s not perfect, and it’s pretty dirty in the photos, but I would bet this car would clean up nicely.
Inside it’s a little rougher, with some splits in the driver’s seat and wear and tear on the center armrest. But the seller says everything works, and I’ve seen cars this age that look a whole lot worse. The low mileage helps, I’m sure. It also runs just fine, and has a current inspection sticker, which is a good indicator of its condition as well.
This is just a handsome car, inside and out. I never really paid much attention to these before, but I dig it. I’d drive this.
So there they are, a pair of warriors in the concrete jungles of the East Coast. Choose wisely. Tomorrow, we’re throwing out the price cap again and looking at something less threadbare. See you then!
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Volvo. I always thought it was a good looking model. The Acura is just so bland and it isn’t helped by the No Imagination Black color.
NO NO NO NO NO not ever that acura… the 5 speed autos are terrible, they eat gears for lunch, my moms 5th gear went out and she had to keep it in 4th gear. These are horrible junk not up to Honda standards…
worse yet, the Volvo 4-spd is a GM product known to regularly grenade pre-90k miles as others here have mentioned. The Acura is probably a safer bet, but it all depends on how they shift in person.
Coin flip time. Both need work, mostly cosmetic. The Volvo has a tendency to run forever, coin flip went Volvo.
That S80 is sharp, and I do prefer cars in general, but I love my Hondas. MDX it is, today.
Lordy, that S80 seat is straight out of a scammy skin-care infomercial
Voted Volvo. Both are acceptable vehicles, but in my experience the seats in that vintage Volvo are outstanding.
My wife has a 2005 Acura MDX with around 140k miles. It’s been… fine. The big exception is the horribly, utterly, abysmal fuel mileage (15 mpg) which is as bad as or worse than my Suburban. We are quickly getting to the point, though, where it’s the little irritating failures starting to bug us. Window regulator, car locks itself within a minute without prompting, some sort of valve adjustment. The interior hasn’t really aged well, and it’s in that period of time when cars didn’t have cassette decks or aux adapters so connection of technology is difficult.
With that said, $2,000 is a pretty good deal if rust hasn’t claimed half of it and there’s no massive lurking problems.
I don’t know enough about the Volvo to speak knowledgeably so would probably go with the Acura as a known quantity.
Practically, the Acura is likely the smart choice. But for me, I’d go with the Volvo. I grew up in a 2001 V70 and have a soft spot for that generation of Volvos. It had the most comfortable seats I’ve ever encountered in a car, to this day. It was long and low and felt solid, with good steering weight, unlike so many cars where the wheel feels lifeless and numb. And the T5 was a fun engine too. My folks kept it around as a spare car after I started driving, and looking back I wish I could have talked my folks into keeping it instead of selling it to my cousin. Although, it eventually ended up in the hands of a Euro shop owner who wanted it as his personal vehicle, so I guess it got a decent retirement.
I have personal experience with the Volvo, I owned a 1999 S80 T6 for five years. For those who don’t know, the T6 version had a twin turbo 2.8 straight six. Mine was fully loaded, even had the first version of Volvo’s navigation system.
The car drove and handled beautifully. It would shrug off corners. Downright fun to drive. If it wasn’t for the electrics, I’d still have it. Extremely comfortable, ergonomics were great. The stereo was the best I’ve ever had in a car.
The car pictured is a 2.9 version. Those to my knowledge did NOT have the transmission issues that the T6 had. The T6 unit was a warmed over GM 4T65-E. It could not handle the torque that the turbocharged six put out.
There’s mentions of the cracks in the leather. Actually, I’m not surprised. Volvo’s leather did not age well from this era. I conditioned mine regularly and it still had above average wear.
All being said, I’d still have the Volvo.
Eh, it wasn’t the torque capacity of the trans. The same trans was used with transverse V8s by GM and handled 100 more torques fine. It was the shitty programming Volvo used to try to make the trans feel luxurious. It would allow multiple clutch packs to be engaged at the same time which wore them out quick. I bought at T6 XC90 of that vintage before i knew about the trans problems. Needed a new trans every 60,000 miles. There are trans experts out there that know how to beef up that trans and defeat the crappy programming if you really want to make one live.
I’m more confused why Volvo used a GM transmission while under Ford ownership/why they didn’t just ask Aisin for a beefed up version of what they were already using in the S60/V70.
@amoore
I believe the S80 was the last car Volvo developed independently. When Ford bought them in 1999, it was already on sale. The S60 came around in 2001 (I believe)
Aisin didn’t have a have a trans that would fit the bay with the 6 cylinder. It’s a long engine. It was a stopgap until Aisin got their shit together.
“The same trans was used with transverse V8s by GM and handled 100 more torques fine.”
Uh, no it didn’t. Those W bodies with the V8s are notorious for shredding a 4T65-E every 40-80k.
Can’t tell if the Acura’s 11.1 mpg is because NYC, or because it’s just that thirsty. I’ll take the Swede.
Keeping the Volvo on the road sounds like a maintenance nightmare to me, so even though I like the Volvo better, I’ll place my bet on the Acura.
I’ve had a few Honda products which treated me well. My hometime “work truck” is a 2016 Honda Fit with a Thule rack and Tyger cargo basket. It’s effective.
Of course, as a work-car it does not compare to the plumber who used to sling 20′ lengths of copper pipe beneath his Fleetwood Brougham, but that was a special talent. If I recall he had just enough pipe extension on both ends to tie off to his f/r bumpers. He was pretty good with knots.
Anyway, I’m voting Acura.
Wagon usually beats sedan in my book, but I’m a sucker for a Volvo, I like the green, and have found this vintage Honda/Acura interior to be either frustrating or boring to live with.
I’m pretty sure that Volvo requires premium, it’s FWD, and the interior looks like a wolverine high on PCP had its mother insulted before it was let loose inside. That’s a no-go.
Acura, for sure. It’s got AWD, the Honda 3.5 is pretty good (if the T-belt is up to date), and even if the transmission craps out, you’re not out that much.
Sorry to say the Acura drinks premium as well…
Honda transmission problems > Volvo transmission problems. I’ll take the Swede and find a good seat in a boneyard.
I’m guessing those bags on the Volvo’s back seat contain the remains of whoever got stabbed to death in the driver’s seat. Take the fancy Honda and cross your fingers that a previous owner already took care of the infamous timing chain.
Since they both have transmission problems, you might as well go with the Honda.
The Volvo has a cooler interior color and those cute lil headlight wipers, but too bad it’s not the wagon version. That might have made me vote for the Volvo.
Lynn, Lynn, city of sin, you’ll never come out the way you went in.
Still taking the S80
I hate crossovers but voted Acura. I don’t want to inherit a driver’s seat from someone who’s farts can shred leather.
That’s the curse of the Volvo seat. Easily the most comfortable seat I’ve ever sat it, also easily the worst longevity of any seat I’ve ever sat in. They’re amazing, but once they start to go, they go quick
The trick is getting Volvo leather seats in dark colors. They wear like iron. Been that way since the 740 days. Light brown, tan or white will end up looking like this in no time. Black, charcoal and dark brown will look like new for decades with minimal care.
The reflection in the Volvo’s front bumper looks like Swedish flag. Just for that, I voted for the S80, because why not?
Found where the driver of the Volvo shops…
https://www.etsy.com/listing/845277175/handmade-women-silver-studded-leather?gpla=1&gao=1&
These classic MDX’s are great cars with good power and reliability but I agree with Ruizing that drivers seat condition alone makes me very suspicious of the mileage.
NO they are not, the 5 speed autos are notorious for failing over 89k miles. My moms was pure junk ended up donating it to the fire dept.
I’m a Volvo nut (my DD is a V70) but this generation of the S80 is known for having transmission issues, it has a very weak GM box. Later models were fitted with the slightly better AW50-55 5sp found in many later Volvos but this one has a GM sourced 4sp that simply can’t handle the torque, all of them fail at some point. The biturbos were the most affected but eventually all of those fail. A good alternative would be an S60 of similar vintage.
Eh. These Acuras also have transmission issues, so you’re gambling either way on that one.
Believe that 2006 was when they changed the auto transmission to something more robust (the beefier unit from the Acura RL I believe)….?
Can’t 100% remember off the top of my head but leaning towards this being the first good year…or it maybe was the last year of the “bad transmission”! It was right around this year
Yep. My MDX is 2004 and I just spent way more than the vehicle was worth having a new transmission put in at 130,000 miles. But I really like the car (other than the notorious glass tranny), it was easier than shopping for/registering another car in this insane market, and if I can get another three years of daily out of it, I’ll consider it good.
Oh, and my seat is shiny like that also. The material is this strange vinyl with tiny vent holes that look like the outer side of a Band-Aid and it rips easy. I’m finding clear Shoe Goo does a good job of stopping splits before they get too far.
There are an absolute crap-ton of 15-20 year old MDXs on the roads still, I gotta believe if the tranny was that bad you’d not see so many.
I’m suspicious of the mileage on the MDX. A friend of mine, who is a big guy (6’7″, > 300lbs) commuted in one of these for 15 years and over 300k miles, and his seat looked like that. My Accord had better seats when I sold it at 280k. On the other hand, the bumpers aren’t bad for NYC….
There is another possible answer: tall car, short driver. My wife (5’2″) has an Infiniti QX4, and its seat is cracked along the side of the bolster like that too, from scooching in and out across it, mashing it down a little each time.
See also: Truck seat bolster syndrome.
I have an ’06 MDX that I bought at 184K a couple years ago. The seats just don’t hold up well–even the passenger’s in mine is much worse than the driver’s in this one. If you look at other early MDXs with similar miles, you’ll see the same.
I bought a brand new Acura TSX in 2013. The leather in that was soft, but it was garbage in terms of durability. My wife and I drove that for a few thousand miles and the bolsters already had noticeable creasing and crazing. And one of the first things I did when I got it home was to put on a quality Lexol leather conditioner. Honda’s non-Acura leather seems to hold up far, far better. Anyway, that was a very disappointing aspect of an otherwise great car. The dealer wouldn’t do anything about it, so after a while I dumped it at a slight loss.
It’s a New York car, quite possibly they spent a lot of time in the seats while not going very far, distance wise.
My ’06 TSX has 137K on it and the seats are in the same exact condition. I actually just replaced the driver’s side seat bottom with a used unit I scored on ebay as it was tore up pretty bad. Scanning the Acura forums, I have heard that Acura leather of this vintage is just not very sturdy in general, but that is not authoritative by any stretch.
Simply for the color I’ll take the Volvo
more for the straight six novelty, but I imagine parts are near unobtanium at this point.