There’s No Good Purpose to Drive a 2003 Acura MDX on a Track, But I Did and Remorse Nothing

I typically get to do foolish issues on this job. Sometimes it’s doing a Costco run in a supercar to see if a pack of bathroom paper matches within the frunk, and different occasions it’s driving a basic SUV on an IndyAutomotive avenue course. That’s what I did final weekend through the Grand Prix of Long Beach as a part of Acura’s celebration of its fortieth anniversary in America. As it seems, a 2003 Acura MDX is as a lot a gem to drive immediately because it was again within the day.

For starters, it’s arduous to swallow {that a} 2003 mannequin is virtually a basic now, however spherical up a bit, and that’s almost 25 years. I’m previous! But simply have a look at it. It’s such a drastic departure from what Acura (or some other model) does immediately when it comes to design—although for what it’s price, I’m an enormous fan of the present MDX, particularly the Type S. This first-gen instance is significantly smaller than trendy SUVs in its section. It’s additionally cleaner, much less complicated, and it rides on 17-inch wheels. Remember when SUVs didn’t attempt to be sports activities vehicles?

Take a have a look at that inside; it’s so easy, and the format is so clear. It’s perform over kind, but the shape remains to be pleasing to the attention. Buttons galore, cupholders, cubbies, and no oddly positioned screens or wi-fi telephone chargers. The HVAC controls are like, six buttons? Nowadays there’d be a dozen or extra, and so they’d all stay on a display. That stated, I discovered the position of those a bit bizarre, sitting atop the infotainment show and between two air vents. And how about that simple-ass analog clock? It simply cracks me up that we as soon as lived in a time when a

Take a have a look at that inside; it’s so easy, and the format is so clear. It’s perform over kind, but the shape remains to be pleasing to the attention. Buttons galore, cupholders, cubbies, and no oddly positioned screens or wi-fi telephone chargers. The HVAC controls are like, six buttons? Nowadays there’d be a dozen or extra, and so they’d all stay on a display. That stated, I discovered the position of those a bit bizarre, sitting atop the infotainment show and between two air vents. And how about that simple-ass analog clock? It simply cracks me up that we as soon as lived in a time when a $0.89 clock discovered its manner onto the sprint of a $42,000 luxurious SUV.

Before I share something about my driving expertise—which, frankly, was simply hilarious—I’ll share how I even acquired behind the wheel of the MDX to start with. It all began when Acura organized a pre-race parade lap across the Long Beach GP avenue circuit to rejoice its milestone. The shindig featured over 40 Acuras of all ages, shapes, and sizes, together with some race vehicles, classic Integra Type Rs, NSXs of all generations, and my favourite: the No. 48 Comptech Integra we wrote about not too long ago.

With all these candy rides up for grabs for the observe lap, most individuals would’ve chosen one thing low and sporty. Not me, although. I went for the Certified Dad Ride and snatched the keys to the MDX. I’m a middle-aged dad, and I worth consolation above all else. What can I say?

Track Time

Reality hit me within the face once I hopped within the MDX, and with the keys in my pocket, I reached over to the aspect of the wheel, on the lookout for a begin button. Doh! Old-school key and ignition right here. After the little snafu, I heard the tried-and-true 3.5-liter V6 come to life with almost the identical finesse it will’ve displayed again in 2003. This specific unit, now owned by Acura, has simply 72,000 miles—and was truly bought from a person somewhat than pulled from the meeting line when new. It speaks much more extremely of its wonderful situation. While 72k miles isn’t rather a lot for a automotive of this age, it’s additionally not nothing.

Seeing the previous thang pull out of the pits and be a part of the queue to go on observe with a bunch of sports activities vehicles and race vehicles was comical, and actually, I noticed greater than a handful of individuals pointing and laughing. Rude! But that’s okay, I used to be assured in my alternative.

When you suppose “parade lap,” you suppose gradual, bumper-to-bumper driving. This parade lap was something however. Because everybody else was in one thing sporty and fast, all of them took off proper out of the gate, and instantly I had a quarter-mile hole to the automotive in entrance. My 260 horsepower wasn’t a lot of a match, however it didn’t matter, as a result of I used to be doing like 75 mph down the principle straight the place GTP and Indy vehicles usually do round 200 mph. I used to be driving on the identical tarmac the place legends like Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, and Alex Palou had fought for victories earlier than.

Then got here the primary nook, a reasonably tight left-hander the place you fastidiously gotta thread the automotive between two concrete obstacles. I let off the throttle manner early and gently started making use of the brakes. I wasn’t about to prepare dinner the pads on a 23-year-old SUV, nor deliver out a pink flag by stuffing the factor into the wall. I can see it in my head: “IndyCar race delayed because some idiot crashed an old SUV on the track minutes before the green flag.”

I gently turned left and let the MDX coast by the nook to gauge how a lot grip the tires had. It wasn’t a lot. On high of that, they had been squealing like loopy. I made my manner by the subsequent few corners, together with the well-known fountain, and I undoubtedly felt fairly cool, although I additionally couldn’t cease laughing. Earlier within the weekend, I’d been given a sizzling lap as a passenger in an Integra Type S, and though I wasn’t going almost as quick now, I didn’t care as a result of I used to be having extra enjoyable. Driving is all the time higher than driving.

By the time I reached turns 5 and 6, I felt extra comfy carrying a bit extra pace and figured I may intention for the apex. I made positive to remain off the gnarly curbing; I didn’t wish to set off an airbag!

The barely downhill run from Turn 6 into Turn 7 was simply superior, and that’s the nook I carried essentially the most pace by. The tires had been wailing, and I had the wheel proper at three o’clock, simply aiming for the nook whereas maintaining a tally of the barrier. The drive down the again straight was a great deal of enjoyable, although I gained’t disclose my pace. I’d prefer to get invited once more, y’know?

Sadly, the way in which the parade route was organized, I needed to pull into the pits proper after Turn 9, so I didn’t get an opportunity to deal with the well-known hairpin.

Regardless, driving a 2003 Acura MDX on a avenue circuit is strictly the type of foolish factor I get to do on this job, all for the sake of sharing it with you. In this case, it was a pleasant reminder that you simply don’t should be in a crazy-powerful sports activities automotive to have enjoyable, even on a observe. Sometimes you will discover driving pleasure in one thing as primary as an previous SUV, so long as you give attention to the nice. Social media tries to inform us that solely vehicles like Porsche GT3 RSs can fill the void, however that’s removed from the reality. Whatever you drive, all that issues is that it makes you smile.

Email the writer at jerry@thedrive.com