Lane Departure Prevention 09 M35x

[mattd860]

Hi, I'm looking at getting a 2009 MDX 120k miles with lane departure prevention. How is that feature on these cars? Does it work well? Do people with LDP actually use it?

I ask because I'm also looking at a 2007 M35x that is a cleaner car with less mileage (100k) but it doesn't have this feature. It only has lane departure warning. However, I drive a lot so the lane departure prevention system intriguing.

Thanks

[EdBwoy]

The LDP is a feature that works decently. That is, it will try to keep you in your lane unless the curve is so sharp that the brakes can't correct you, whereby you'll just cross over. It will feel too intrusive if your alignment is off or the road surface pushes you to either lane. It might wear your brakes unevenly.
I don't typically use mine. Maybe if I drove long trips on straight roads while tired I'd reconsider.

LDW, I use it very little; counterintuively on curvy roads. I do this for fun to try and "keep the lane" while hitting the apex like a racecar driver. However, Illinois has a lot of construction and the system gets annoying as it keeps beeping as I cross faded lanes, etc.
*LDP can still function even with LDW off.

I like a fully loaded car, and these features are reliable enough that you shouldn't have to fix them often, if at all.
The only downside I see is that the camera requires a special windshield and if you have to pay out of pocket, it will cost slightly more.

Having both, I don't think you'd miss them. Buy the car you prefer, this feature notwithstanding.
You might still like the auto wipers & music hard drive & ipod integration... plus the bluish interior lighting of the newer model though.

If you can spare 10 mins, the video below is an example of how the features worked for me in the real world:

[mattd860]

OK. Just put a deposit on the 09. I really like all the features but couldn't get the LDP to work. Set cruise at 60mph, made sure it was turned on, but felt nothing. LDW worked though. Dealer is going to check on it. Car is perfect otherwise.

[mattd860]

Does anyone else beep the horn when they push the steering wheel buttons? I must have set off the horn 4 or 5 times when taking it for a test drive yesterday.

[EdBwoy]

Not I. Were you literally punching the buttons?

[mattd860]

lol no. Can the spring holding the horn button be a little weak? Just tapping lightly on the buttons sets off the horn - not all the time but happened twice on a 20 minute test drive today.

[EdBwoy]

I haven't experienced it, but I suppose it's possible. The horn usually requires considerable force applied to the center of the airbag.