2010 Acura MDX -- has ~175,000 miles on it.

I'm hoping to get it to 250k with a big service

do you think that's a realistic expectation?

it's the old cost to maintain older vehicle / get something newer conundrum as its due a major service : timing belt service, water pump, pulleys, leaking power steering pump, valve service, the alternators bad... etc

I am not sufficiently mechanically inclined to do these on my own unfortunately.

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quote:

do you think that's a realistic expectation?

Sure. You've gotten it this far, I don't see why, with the timing belt service, you couldn't get 250 easily. All these repairs are maybe three payments - if that - on a new equivalent model.

Sig209,

I think 250K is easily doable. Like egrore said, it will probably cost $1K - $2K for the repairs but compare that to a new car payment every month for 5 - 6 years.

I've driven Honda's exclusively since 1998, and Pilots specifically, since 2010. I've had a 2004, 2006, 2012 and now a 2016 Pilot(the only reason I buy newer Pilots is I like the newer technology and get bored driving the same vehicle for too long.) My ex just sold the 2004 2 weeks ago and it had 230K on it. It needed a power steering pump, brakes and some other items but started right up and drove fine (save for the brakes grinding while I pulled it out of the driveway for it to be towed.)

Being in Florida you don't have to worry about rust like up here in Ohio, so a well maintained Honda/Acura should easily get 250K or even 300K.

Financially, maintaining and repairing a used car almost always makes more sense than buying another car. Each repair directly adds to the usable life of the vehicle. I will never feel bad about putting quality parts or labor into maintaining a vehicle I intend to keep.

Acura/Honda engines are well known for going high mileage. The most important thing is oil/filter changes. Keep up correct matainence and you should be able to reach 250K.

Unless there's a rod knocking or some other major issue, you should get well past your 250K service life. I've got a 2006 Camry with 337K and not showing too many signs of letting up (think the auto transmission will be it's downfall). Maintain your car with a halfway decent interval and it'll keep on ticking like a Swiss timepiece.

Yes...250K is realistic for your Acura.

No brainer.
If you can find a local mechanic who works on hondas but not a dealer... you might save some money.

Didn't those have some transmission issues that the Pilots did not have? Or was that prior to that model year?

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
Didn't those have some transmission issues that the Pilots did not have? Or was that prior to that model year?

Predominantly 98-03 V6 automatic Honda/Acura.

OP, FWIW my 2000 TL had around 265k when I traded it in. The J32 isn't overly different to the J35 that I believe is in your MDX.

We have have/had many Acuras in the family.
250k+ miles is very realistic.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
Didn't those have some transmission issues that the Pilots did not have? Or was that prior to that model year?

Predominantly 98-03 V6 automatic Honda/Acura.

OP, FWIW my 2000 TL had around 265k when I traded it in. The J32 isn't overly different to the J35 that I believe is in your MDX.

We bailed on our 2003 Odyssey with that engine after 135-140k miles and 3 transmission replacements (2 under warranty). We recently said goodbye to our 2007 Accord with 285k miles when three things went out at once. Keep it serviced and it should give you a long life but don’t let it turn into a money pit when problems eventually start cascading.

I'm assuming it has the same driveline as my 07 Pilot. The Pilot now has 200k of trouble free service. We followed the maintenance schedule to the letter and I can say without doubt it has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.IF the tin worm has not gotten it, fix it!

thanks gentlemen -- we are getting the service done

despite this expense the vehicle runs well. it has been paid off for seven-ish years so we have gotten good service from it so far

appreciate the feedback


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quote:

Originally posted by Sig209:
thanks gentlemen -- we are getting the service done

despite this expense the vehicle runs well. it has been paid off for seven-ish years so we have gotten good service from it so far

appreciate the feedback


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Good choice and good for you to keep it and save money instead of buying something new.

In my last little retirement job I worked for service at my local Acura dealership, delivering loaner cars, bringing the customers car in for service, and then returning them.

We had many with 250k come in for service. Even had a couple with around 400k as well.

No reason to worry.

Bob

A co-worker of mine has a 2004 with way over 200k miles and it's still going.

Curious, what was the big service?

quote:

Originally posted by Sig209:
thanks gentlemen -- we are getting the service done

despite this expense the vehicle runs well. it has been paid off for seven-ish years so we have gotten good service from it so far

appreciate the feedback


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quote:

Originally posted by sig 226:
Curious, what was the big service?

From the OP:

quote:

due a major service : timing belt service, water pump, pulleys, leaking power steering pump, valve service, the alternators bad

TB Service on the J Series engines is a task. IIRC, it pays something like 4 hours to the tech & takes nearly that long to perform. Small working space.

In 2013, when I traded my 2000 TL w/ 175,000 miles on it, the engine ran as smoothly as a high-end sewing machine. Far more smoothly than the brand new truck I was buying. The dealership owner was thrilled to get the Acura, along with my detailed 3-year service history, and said it would move in no time for $5,000. Yes, that year had a clutch pack issue but I had been performing the transmission drain/fill every 30k.