i can't believe GM. They just made it now so you can't get MRC with AWD only RWD. They are really missing the boat on this one. I told the Caddy rep Ii already have it on my 05 and she said those are the new options. I believe there must be a mistake but GM is so big they are just plain slow to react. I even told them I was going to a different manufacturer if they can't get it one and it made no difference. They really just don't seem to care. Unbelievable........................:bonkers:

i can't believe GM. They just made it now so you can't get MRC with AWD only RWD. They are really missing the boat on this one. I told the Caddy rep Ii already have it on my 05 and she said those are the new options. I believe there must be a mistake but GM is so big they are just plain slow to react. I even told them I was going to a different manufacturer if they can't get it one and it made no difference. They really just don't seem to care. Unbelievable........................:bonkers:
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.................

I am going to guess the Cadillac rep is talking about the 20" wheel option that apparently has limited slip differential that was not available before the '08 on any AWD. The limited slip differential is not available on AWD with 18" wheels. '08 SRX option on 20" wheels is as follows:
SRX Sport Package – includes 20" x 8.5" polished finish aluminum wheels with P255/50R20 W-rated tires, limited-slip differential, Xenon High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with high-pressure washers, front and rear sport fascias, sport grille, dual chrome exhaust tips, door sill cover and chrome roof rack side rails (requires all-wheel drive; not available with Magnetic Ride Control suspension)

Suspension – Magnetic Ride Control – computer-controlled suspension system with adjustable shock absorbers and high-performance brake linings (not available with SRX Sport Package; requires Driver’s Package)

Here is what the Dealer Guide says for MRC. We had the dealer try to place a standard frame no sport with MRC in AWD and MRC was not allowed. In RWD it was. Here is the wording:

FE3 Suspension, Magnetic Ride Control
1 - Requires (PDW) Ultra Luxury Collection and RWD.
-- A1

The A1 was in the V8 column whaich means available and the 1 referred to the above item.

Here is what the Dealer Guide says for MRC. We had the dealer try to place a standard frame no sport with MRC in AWD and MRC was not allowed. In RWD it was. Here is the wording:

FE3 Suspension, Magnetic Ride Control
1 - Requires (PDW) Ultra Luxury Collection and RWD.
-- A1

The A1 was in the V8 column whaich means available and the 1 referred to the above item.jtrumper: If so, it is dumb or it could be they have just enough MRC components left in the pipeline to do the projected RWD with MRC sales for 2009. Or then, who knows what they think?

I just went to the Cadillac website and built an SRX with AWD and MRC. It's still and option there.

The Cadillac web site does NOT reflect the currect configuration options. Another dumb move. Here is one even better. The dealer salespersons tools to build a car allows it as well. However, when the Dealer order tool is used it does not allow it.

I've had MRC on my 05 SRX. I now have an 08 with the 20" sports package (no MRC of course). I drive my car pretty aggressively at times, and believe it or not, I don't really miss MRC with the 20"s 265 all around. The ride is pretty stiff, and I never felt the car lost grip. I was concerned when I ordered the car, but now I have no regrets getting the 20" sports package without MRC. You guys should really test drive before getting too concenred about GM removing the option on that sports package.

I've had MRC on my 05 SRX. I now have an 08 with the 20" sports package (no MRC of course). I drive my car pretty aggressively at times, and believe it or not, I don't really miss MRC with the 20"s 265 all around. The ride is pretty stiff, and I never felt the car lost grip. I was concerned when I ordered the car, but now I have no regrets getting the 20" sports package without MRC. You guys should really test drive before getting too concenred about GM removing the option on that sports package.

I agree. I never had the MRC so I can't compare but I'm so happy with the 20" sport package, I don't really care. I like performance handling. The MRC is not available with the Z51 performance package on the Corvette either. I think the MRC is just not ready for high performance use yet.

I test drove a 20" Sport V8 and thought the ride was too rough (and keep in mind I'm coming from a Trailblazer SS with 20" as well, no dream ride there). I ended up buying a lightly used 2007 Sport V8 with 18" and was shocked how much better it rode than the 20". I later discovered that I had MRC after looking under the hood at the wires going to the shocks and then verified it with the RPO codes in the jack well. I will say that I think the MRC is a great option. It is possible the 20" car I drove was just out of whack though because it did seem to have out of balance tires as well. I do think the 09 options packages are a blessing and a curse, the SRX is overpriced in my opinion, and the packaging lowers the prices without coming out and just lopping off $5K from the car for example. However I wouldn't have purchased the SRX with 20" wheels (in fact I had the chance to buy a GM PEP 08 with 20's for the same price as the 07 and I passed despite the awesome heated steering wheel and remote start!) I think I was just ready for something a little smoother though as the TBSS can be annoying on long highway cruises. Net-Net, I don't agree that there is no difference between 18" MRC and 20" No MRC. But I don't think that you can make a blanket statement unless you drive it yourself.

I test drove a 20" Sport V8 and thought the ride was too rough (and keep in mind I'm coming from a Trailblazer SS with 20" as well, no dream ride there). I ended up buying a lightly used 2007 Sport V8 with 18" and was shocked how much better it rode than the 20". I later discovered that I had MRC after looking under the hood at the wires going to the shocks and then verified it with the RPO codes in the jack well. I will say that I think the MRC is a great option. It is possible the 20" car I drove was just out of whack though because it did seem to have out of balance tires as well. I do think the 09 options packages are a blessing and a curse, the SRX is overpriced in my opinion, and the packaging lowers the prices without coming out and just lopping off $5K from the car for example. However I wouldn't have purchased the SRX with 20" wheels (in fact I had the chance to buy a GM PEP 08 with 20's for the same price as the 07 and I passed despite the awesome heated steering wheel and remote start!) I think I was just ready for something a little smoother though as the TBSS can be annoying on long highway cruises. Net-Net, I don't agree that there is no difference between 18" MRC and 20" No MRC. But I don't think that you can make a blanket statement unless you drive it yourself.

Unbalanced wheels will definitely ruin a ride experience. Another issue is tire inflation. If those 20's are pumped up to 35psi or more, it will destroy the ride. But the suspension and tire combination for me is just what I wanted. I was tired of that floating SUV sensation and feeling like it would roll over on a highway lane change or off ramp.

There is no floaty feels like it will turn over in a turn presense in the MRX equiped vehicle. That is what the MRC ride does. It tightens up when it needs to and softens the ride at appropriate times. I drive alot of performance cars and the SRX will never compete with any of those but I must say that with MRC and for a SUV it is a nice comprimise. It rides awesum on the highway (Smooth) and corners pretty darn well on the back roads with minimal roll if any.

Remember what I said at the start of this thread. This is not about 18 versus 20 discussion. This is about the new configurations where you can only get MRC with a V8 and with rear drive only. And no longer can you get it in amy case with the Sport package.

So for some reason they have tightened the noose on anyone wanting MRC. The funny thing is they even shipped a few 20's, Sport, AWD's early in the 2008 production.

My problem is that I want the 20's and sport look with MRC for the ride quality. I live in snow couuntry, so that means all wheel drive which now removes any option for MRC. That is what has me upset. Even without Sport, AWD means no MRC. Uggggg...........

I bought an '07 V8 AWD Sport with the 20" wheels and I don't find the ride to be harsh at all, and the handling/cornering capability of the vehicle is really amazing for its size. It corners better than most sedans I've driven. I live in Ohio and our roads are pretty rough and bumpy and I'm not complaining. The 20" wheels have a size 50 sidewall measurement which really is still fairly thick. Plenty of vehicles have a sidewall less than 50 nowadays. I don't think any of the SRX loaners I drove had the MRC, but they all had the stock 18" wheels and I didn't find the ride to be much softer than mine, the cornering capability of the loaners were somewhat reduced though.

I suspect there is an engineering problem with AWD 20"s and MRC. Commercially if GM could make that an option and increase revenue they would no doubt do that. I suspect the MRC's software doesn't work well with the 20" configuration and GM won't make an investment to make adjustments to the MRC given that the car is phasing out soon, and they won't recoup that money.
I would be really interested to know how the ride is on those early models that were shipped with MRC. I remember reading that those who upgraded from 18" to 20"s with MRC were not disappointed?
Would be great if someone can shed more light on the issue - sales people do a terrible job trying to explain things they don't understand ....

Here is the deal on the 18" vs 20". And yes this is off topic as the OP said MRC is not available with AWD anymore, which, if true, is a real shame.

MRC uses electrical current to basically change the viscoisty of the fluid in the shocks. Since 20" wheels and tires weight a LOT more than 18" wheels and tires (probably 20lbs a piece more), the viscosity of the fluid would have to be higher (more current) to dampen the wheel movement all things being equal over an 18" wheel. If you read about MRC on the new ZR1, it is a new system that can handle the extreme heat that the system generated in the previous system and therefore wasn't an option on the Z06. The new gen system will be on the CTS-V and the ZR1. My guess is that either the shocks can't handle the 20" wheel/tire weight in moderate-extreme conditions to the satisfaction of warranty claims and therefore isn't offered.

Now, why isn't it offered on SRX with AWD? I have no idea. Just seems like an oversight to me.

No MRC option with AWD might be a deal breaker for me if I was in the market for another SRX. It would be enough to push me to an Enclave perhaps. An SRX V8 AWD with MRC trumps an Enclave. Hope it gets remedied by Cadillac. I have been steering many folks to an AWD MRC SRX. I now may need to tell them to drive the Enclave too and decide if that is powerful enough for them, as the ride is very good - but not as good or as stellar a handler as an SRX with MRC.

I have an 08 AWD pearl white SRX with MRC and sport package/18" wheels. I test drove the sport 20" wheels and the 18" wheels. The 18" wheels ride better in the cold snow country that I live in vs. the 20". This is my third SRX. One of my prior SRXs had MRC while the other did not. The difference really is like night and day. I am looking to sell my 08 SRX if anyone is interested in the MRC/sport pkg/18" wheel combo.

I have said it in many other posts - I will say it again here. My 07 - with the 20" was a disappoint for ride quality. The handling made up for it though. Now, 1 year latter 14000 miles, and thru a rough road Minnesota winter - it is amazing how much better it now rides. I started to notice it about 8000 miles, but now at 14000 I have zero regrets - and if I were to order a 08 today - it would definetly have the sport package/20" with the AWD. My only disappointment is as others have stated - GM can't seem to get the packages to meet what the customers want. NO blue tooth, and no remote start (til '08)are my only gripes. Hopefully I won't have some of the issues on reliability others have had - some of the SRX complaints scare me - so I now tend not to check this board every day - it gets depressing....So far I still love my purchase...