Honda Pilot

levain · 03-25-2013, 04:13 PM

Pros? Cons?

Badge320 · 03-25-2013, 05:17 PM

We bought one last month. My wife wanted it and she likes Honda's product. The only real negative I can think of (I drove it from Houston to Dallas and back) are the brakes are a little weak...you'll be pushing the pedal down more than I was used to....

I thought it drove very well, the seats were comfortable and it had good power. It carries 7 people, the third seat folds down for luggage, and it came with a pretty slick back up camera. We gave 25k for it and received a good trade in price on our Civic.

crampfan · 03-25-2013, 05:32 PM

My wife loves hers, 04, just turned 160k, no problems at all. Ours will hold 8 and a GSD.

California · 03-25-2013, 05:54 PM

We have had three of them now, the most current is a 2006 and has about 70,000 miles on it. We have never had a single repair, either under warranty or not, on any of them.

The tires on this one lasted until 60,000 miles!

The fuel economy is 18 - 20 around town, and I mean town. never exceeding 45 mph. Out on the highway we've gotten about 22 - 24. The only down side I've ever even considered is that they are not as quiet as I would like.

NICO · 03-25-2013, 06:02 PM

Some of the most fun I've ever had in the dirt.

CA Stu · 03-25-2013, 06:17 PM

We have one that's almost a year old.
My missus has ran it into two things in parking lots. It's just too damn big.

Ours gets about 16-17mpg, has a shit ton of room but its ride quality is just "OK", not plush, and it does have a bit of road noise, and as a big, heavy machine it doesn't turn or brake as well as a car.

On the plus side, it's a Honda and will run forever with little maintenance and zero drama.

My only real beef with it is that my missus keeps running into shit with it.

Edit: I would really like to downsize it, we very rarely need to haul over 5 people, and if we do we can take separate vehicles, the one time every 6 months we need to.

showkey · 03-25-2013, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA Stu

Edit: I would really like to downsize it, we very rarely need to haul over 5 people, and if we do we can take separate vehicles, the one time every 6 months we need to.

Down size a Pilot = CRV

I currently own one of each

CRV will get 30 MPG

Pilot will seat 7 and tow.

levain · 03-25-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showkey

Down size a Pilot = CRV

I currently own one of each

CRV will get 30 MPG

Pilot will seat 7 and tow.

How many will a CRV comfortably seat? We also just adopted this guy, so I'll need the space

Gander · 03-25-2013, 08:45 PM

I bought a Pilot Touring last Fall and with 8500 on it now have no regrets. I agree that the brakes seem a little weak but you adapt to their feel. The Eco mode can also be a noticeable as it goes it goes in and out of mode. After while, you quit noticing it. I've taken it on two long road trips and that's where it shines! Roomy, comfortable and enough power to get up and go when needed. I think it manages road noise well, I know they improved sound insulation in 2012. Also, there are a ton of dealer accessories like bike and kayak racks for it. We originally went into the dealership looking at CRV's but felt the Pilot was much more vehicle for the money. I kept my last Honda for 12 years, this ones a keeper too!

Edit: You may notice the AWD Pilot has a much higher tow rating than the 2WD. From what I read, this is because the 2WD Pilot doesn't have the transmission cooler that comes with the AWD Pilot. Have one installed and the 2WD version can tow more.

subvet · 03-26-2013, 05:15 AM

we looked at them in 2010. I liked em'. I was especially impressed with the turning radius...not sure why that stood out with me but it did.
The wife didn't care for the styling. "too boxy" she said. We ended up with a Toyota Highlander Ltd. She had her mind made up already but went along with my "process of elimination" process so I wouldn't bitch about the cost for a new loaded Highlander. We're much happier now.

Yooper_Bob · 03-26-2013, 05:45 AM

Best vehicle we have ever owned.

It's a 2007 Honda pilot with over 85,000 miles of neglect and abuse (the wife drives it

). It has NEVER been in the shop for anything other than brakes and scheduled maintenance. Everything still works, and it drives just like the day it came off the lot.

I have owned probably a dozen brand new GMC/Ford vehicles over the years, and they all were in the shop multiple times the first year, and every subsequent year I owned them. Absolute junk compared to the Honda.

I would buy another one without hesitation.

Ko · 03-26-2013, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levain

So non-shedding didn't make the list in the end...

A TDI and a horse trailer is what you need...

Ko

Motomantra · 03-26-2013, 08:33 AM

We've had our ' 03 since ' 05, second owner. The suspension is too soft, the brakes could use a bit more power (bigger). I've learned to live with it for the over all quality. I get 17-18 in town, 22 on a trip, using regular. 17 pulling a boat trailer.
It has a lot of room inside, for it's over all size. We had a 4th gear sensor (external) go out that was covered. That's about it. I do all the maintenance myself. The 105k. service was a big one.

levain · 03-26-2013, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ko

So non-shedding didn't make the list in the end...

A TDI and a horse trailer is what you need...

Ko

Definitely not! Funny how the process works isn't it

Ko · 03-26-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levain

Definitely not! Funny how the process works isn't it

yep...

probably you know, but just in case- many folks are tempted to buy a big vehicle just cause they have a big dog. Big dogs don't like standing up in a traveling vehicle- had Great Danes for decades, I have some experience in that department.
I know we're talking US, where bigger is better, but you'd save quite a bit of gas money by going with a CRV/something else.
Something else to look for is cargo dividers. Don't know if Pilots have a longitudinal divider in the rear- so you can split the cargo space for dog and luggage. I'd bet that soon the dog will be seating next to the kiddo in the back, plenty of trunk space with a smaller vehicle

, plus a happier kiddo

Ko

03-25-2013, 04:13 PM	#1
levain ^OP STILL Jim Williams Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Providence, RI Oddometer: 5,953	Honda Pilot Pros? Cons? __________________ Click Here! 2012 Triumph Tiger 800 XC 1971 Lambretta DL

03-25-2013, 05:54 PM	#4
California Motorcyclist Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Flower Mound, TX after 56 years in Carmel, Ca Oddometer: 2,723	We have had three of them now, the most current is a 2006 and has about 70,000 miles on it. We have never had a single repair, either under warranty or not, on any of them. The tires on this one lasted until 60,000 miles! The fuel economy is 18 - 20 around town, and I mean town. never exceeding 45 mph. Out on the highway we've gotten about 22 - 24. The only down side I've ever even considered is that they are not as quiet as I would like. __________________ California, aka Leslie V Leslie. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference

03-25-2013, 06:02 PM	#5
NICO NWGS's pwner!1!!1! Joined: May 2006 Oddometer: 18,677	Some of the most fun I've ever had in the dirt. __________________

03-25-2013, 06:17 PM	#6
CA Stu Thanks Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Riverside, CA Oddometer: 42,638	We have one that's almost a year old. My missus has ran it into two things in parking lots. It's just too damn big. Ours gets about 16-17mpg, has a shit ton of room but its ride quality is just "OK", not plush, and it does have a bit of road noise, and as a big, heavy machine it doesn't turn or brake as well as a car. On the plus side, it's a Honda and will run forever with little maintenance and zero drama. My only real beef with it is that my missus keeps running into shit with it. Edit: I would really like to downsize it, we very rarely need to haul over 5 people, and if we do we can take separate vehicles, the one time every 6 months we need to. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k

03-26-2013, 05:45 AM	#11
Yooper_Bob Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Da UP, eh! (Michigan) Oddometer: 1,951	Best vehicle we have ever owned. It's a 2007 Honda pilot with over 85,000 miles of neglect and abuse (the wife drives it ). It has NEVER been in the shop for anything other than brakes and scheduled maintenance. Everything still works, and it drives just like the day it came off the lot. I have owned probably a dozen brand new GMC/Ford vehicles over the years, and they all were in the shop multiple times the first year, and every subsequent year I owned them. Absolute junk compared to the Honda. I would buy another one without hesitation. Yooper_Bob screwed with this post 03-26-2013 at 06:13 AM

03-25-2013, 05:17 PM	#2
Badge320 Wild Hog No. 3 Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Beaumont, Texas Oddometer: 2,592	We bought one last month. My wife wanted it and she likes Honda's product. The only real negative I can think of (I drove it from Houston to Dallas and back) are the brakes are a little weak...you'll be pushing the pedal down more than I was used to.... I thought it drove very well, the seats were comfortable and it had good power. It carries 7 people, the third seat folds down for luggage, and it came with a pretty slick back up camera. We gave 25k for it and received a good trade in price on our Civic.

03-25-2013, 05:32 PM	#3
crampfan not really a nOOb Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Ozone, arkansas Oddometer: 1,581	My wife loves hers, 04, just turned 160k, no problems at all. Ours will hold 8 and a GSD.

03-25-2013, 08:45 PM	#9
Gander Newly minted n00b Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Baja Oklahoma Oddometer: 775	I bought a Pilot Touring last Fall and with 8500 on it now have no regrets. I agree that the brakes seem a little weak but you adapt to their feel. The Eco mode can also be a noticeable as it goes it goes in and out of mode. After while, you quit noticing it. I've taken it on two long road trips and that's where it shines! Roomy, comfortable and enough power to get up and go when needed. I think it manages road noise well, I know they improved sound insulation in 2012. Also, there are a ton of dealer accessories like bike and kayak racks for it. We originally went into the dealership looking at CRV's but felt the Pilot was much more vehicle for the money. I kept my last Honda for 12 years, this ones a keeper too! Edit: You may notice the AWD Pilot has a much higher tow rating than the 2WD. From what I read, this is because the 2WD Pilot doesn't have the transmission cooler that comes with the AWD Pilot. Have one installed and the 2WD version can tow more.

03-26-2013, 05:15 AM	#10
subvet Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2005 Location: middle TN. Oddometer: 6,031	we looked at them in 2010. I liked em'. I was especially impressed with the turning radius...not sure why that stood out with me but it did. The wife didn't care for the styling. "too boxy" she said. We ended up with a Toyota Highlander Ltd. She had her mind made up already but went along with my "process of elimination" process so I wouldn't bitch about the cost for a new loaded Highlander. We're much happier now.

03-26-2013, 08:33 AM	#13
Motomantra Registered Lurker Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Beaverton, OR Oddometer: 662	We've had our ' 03 since ' 05, second owner. The suspension is too soft, the brakes could use a bit more power (bigger). I've learned to live with it for the over all quality. I get 17-18 in town, 22 on a trip, using regular. 17 pulling a boat trailer. It has a lot of room inside, for it's over all size. We had a 4th gear sensor (external) go out that was covered. That's about it. I do all the maintenance myself. The 105k. service was a big one. __________________ For those that fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

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