New family car v50: Honda Pilot: anyone?

onewhippedpuppy · 06-24-2007, 08:18 PM

I'm thinking it's probably a no-brainer, as it is a Honda. But, anything I should keep an eye out for? Anyone have one? Likes? Dislikes?

I'm still looking for an SRX, but it's proving to be a royal PITA to find one in our region. Pilot is a good 2nd option, and they're pretty easy to find.

M.D. Holloway · 06-24-2007, 09:17 PM

My wife drives a Honda Pilot and I have a Volvo V70T - We love both cars. They are solid, reliable and very affordible in terms of cost of ownership. You will not regret it.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

I'm in a 2006 Pilot 4wd daily - the GF has a 4wd EX with all options except tow.

drive 'em both. the Pilot feels a bit disconected and a bit mushy in the steering, and the Goodyear tires it rides on sound like you're crushing rocks as you drive along asphalt.

I can't get into the numerous switches controling the various items in the truck - it's counter- intuitive. The auto A/C never seems to get the temperature right and you're stuck with the temperature settings as the only method of adjustment - there are no independently adjustable vents for hot or cold air, and it's not independent for left and right. You can adjust the vents, output and A/C (which defaults to ON) but the actual air mixture can't be fine tuned. Heated seats take awhile to kick in, and the base stereo (EX with 6 disc changer) sucks ass- no frequency response. The Nav system is excellent however, with numerous markings of points of interest and very clear display.

Headlight output - drive the thing at night, and take it along some roads with dim lighting. One of the biggest complaints I have driving the Pilot is that it seems that the headlights are aimed low - I think so, and GF's mother also commented on it entirely on her own one night. We took it to the dealer where they swore it was fine. IMHO it's a safety issue, and I haven't looked into it yet but I soon will.

Lastly, the 12V lighter outputs shut off when the car is off. Annoying if you have to charge your phone.

rjp

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

PS You will realize BMW has the market cornered for ergonomics once you drive the Honda.

rjp

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

My sister has the Acura version of that and is utterly satisfied with it. Honda tends to put sorta crappy tires on as OEM, cheap

cantdrv55 · 06-24-2007, 11:47 PM

We just bought a used Pilot; 2005 EX-L 4WD no nav. It's my wife's DD and she loves it. I agree with everyone re the Goodyear tires which is why I replaced them with Michelins. Great tires but dropped the mpg to 17 in combined driving.

The interior is typical Honda great quality. Love the cup holders. No complaints about the headlights yet but we've only had the car three weeks. The Pilot rides like a car. Her previous DD was an Xterra.

onewhippedpuppy · 06-25-2007, 05:08 AM

I know it's not the most exciting option, but I still prefer it over an Explorer. Keeping my fingers crossed for an SRX to come up for sale.

onewhippedpuppy · 06-25-2007, 05:35 AM

I think we'll also make an effort to drive an '03-'04 MDX. From what I read, they're essentially a sportier Pilot, with nicer equipment.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

better motor in the acura too

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

We were looking at the Pilot, but got a Volvo XC90. Just a couple of dollars more, much better amenities, fit, finish - less Truck and more Car. Nice enough to take into the city for dinner, powerful enough to haul the family up to Tahoe in the snow.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

We also looked at the Pilot and ended up with an XC90.

Bill

edgemar · 06-25-2007, 01:04 PM

Pilot=Boring...

I can't believe I'm saying this but the new Saturn trucks look good. Maybe you could get a good lease on one.

kaisen · 06-25-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by edgemar
Pilot=Boring...

I can't believe I'm saying this but the new Saturn trucks look good. Maybe you could get a good lease on one.

I had already suggested that but he wants to pay cash and stay around $22K.

If it were me, I would lease a Buick Enclave and be done with it.

But I understand. Good luck. Still searching for the right SRX. Lots of them in Michigan, but none close to KC

E

onewhippedpuppy · 06-25-2007, 01:32 PM

Can't sell the wife on the XC90, otherwise I would probably prefer it. Aren't they smaller than the Pilot or SRX?

Kaisen is right, I just want to pay cash. A house payment is one payment too many. As for cars in KS, forget it. There's nothing within 300 miles of here. You guys on the coasts don't know how good you have it.

Current target is a 2003 Pilot EX-L. Redrock pearl over gray. The metallic red is pretty much the only color that doesn't make it look boring, in my opinion. 51k, asking $18,900. Seems like a pretty good deal.

cantdrv55 · 06-25-2007, 01:40 PM

That's a good deal. I got our '05 EX-L 4WD w/35k miles for around $22k. It is also redrock pearl but with saddle interior. Nice.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Yeah, thats right, I forgot you were going to pay cash, and only $22K, the SC90 is a little bit more expensive than that.

If you are looking at the Pilot, the driving dynamics aren't really that different that the Tahoe / Yukon line. Have you considered those?

Bill

berettafan · 06-25-2007, 02:01 PM

wow i just looked at X5's on cars.com. Why are they so cheap (relatively) now?

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

She got the 2006 Pilot, 4WD, EX with Nav, Leather all weather floormats, and everything for $32.6K - she purchased without a trade.

Sticker was well over that, can't remember. Being a salesperson myself, I took the sales guy aside and took advantage of a few buyer stereotypes - The sales guy looks at her as she parked the pearl white explorer and notices a blonde girl in sunglasses, dressed business casual, - cell phone in ear talking to her friends loudly about negotiation tips and tricks, and generally fitting the description of quite frankly, an over-educated consumer.

I said:

"TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT HER! YOU SEE THAT? THAT, IS A SHOPPER. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 3 MONTHS NOW- EVERYTHING REQUIRES 3 DAYS OF THOUGHT AND CONSULTATION WITH 10 OF HER FRIENDS. SHE BUYS A CAR EVERY 10 YEARS! TAKE WHATEVER YOU CAN AND GET ME OUT OF HERE! I'M SICK OF SHOPPING!!!"

They took the 1st offer she spouted out.

rjp

sammyg2 · 06-25-2007, 02:56 PM

My wife has a pilot.
It was over-priced and over-rated.
Problems:
They said they would throw in the trailer hitch, then later said it would void the warranty unless I paid for the tranny cooler and power steering cooler. They wanted $1500, I paid $720 online and installed the stuff myself. Pissed me off.
The rear differential died after 12,000 miles, had to fight with the dealer to replace it. They said it was full of water, I said I used it to launch waverunners and that honda doesn't know how to vent or seal a differential. Now we have a 4 wheel drive vehicle that can't get wet. Sweet.

The tranny had a recall, had that fixed.
the driver's door window switch died, it cost $350 to fix a stupid switch.
the asshats told my wife that her rear brake bads were within .010mm of failing and that it wasn't safe to drive home. I told her to drive home. That weekend I checked the pads, plenty of material left.

some of the cheap plastic bits in the center console broke, we just ignore that.

This was my first honda and will prolly be my last.
Toyotas from now on.

sammyg2 · 06-25-2007, 03:19 PM

Couple of other pilot things:
you can't use regular power steering fluid, you have to use special ($$) honda power steering fluid.

According to the owner's manual you have to replace the rear differential fluid as often as you replace the engine oil filter, and it takes a special honda synthetic differential fluid that is only available at the dealer for $26 a gallon.
The brake pads were not available anywhere I could find except the dealer. The tiny front pads were $80 a set, the even smaller rear pads were $75 a set.