Honda Pilot

[crz4mm2]

Anyone have one?
Good, Bad, Ugly?
I read the SUV/Mini Van thread. I have had an SUV for 6 years. Had a Chevy blazer(really liked) and now have a Kia Sportage (never again). I was thinking of going to a mini van next (had one years ago and LOVED it). But am sure I would miss the height and the 4 wheel drive (we live in the country and it is essential for me to be able to get out of our drive way!).
We do take vacations every year, some longer than others. THe KIA is worthless on a long haul vacation- not enough room, gutless power. We did drive the Blazer to Florida once and Tenn once and it wasn't a bad ride at all.
I want heated leather seats and would prefer 4 wheel drive or AWD. Also must have midsize (not dinky like the KIA) and would like ABS. I also put lots of miles on each year so a long warranty is nice (that's why I bought the KIA in the first place).

I have been looking at the Pilot, but haven't driven it yet.
Help me decide what to narrow it down to.

Thanks.
Cathy

 

[mommytotwo]

I never drove one, but our neighbor has one and I like the looks of it. How about a Toyota 4-Runner?

 

[crz4mm2]

I think the Honda is a bit cheaper

Cathy

 

[izzy]

Cathy,

I don't know if this will help you or not, but I own a 2001 Acura MDX, which is what Honda based the Pilot on. I love my Acura! One of the ladies in my office was in the market for an SUV a few weeks ago, and I recommended the Pilot to her since I know she wanted something really nice but not quite as expensive as the MDX. She test drove the Pilot and also tried out the Toyota Highlander. She said that she fell in love with the Pilot and bought it that day. She got it with the heated leather seats, too.

My MDX actually gets pretty good gas mileage considering its size. I ususally average 25 mpg on trips that are mostly interstate. The drive is very much like a large sedan. It doesn't feel "truck-like" at all.

I would definitely encourage you to go look at the Pilot if you're interested in it!

Izzy

 

[crz4mm2]

Izzy,
That is exactly what I wanted to hear! I looked on the internet at the acura first- that's what led me to the Pilot! It looks wonderful.
I will go drive one and see. I was really not looking to trade until next year, but I am sick of my little KIA and know I won't be any better off if I wait another year to trade (resale is horrid). So, I think I will bit the bullet and do it this year. I just wish their warranty was better (KIA is 10 yr 100,000 mile).
THanks a bunch for the response!

Cathy

 

[Kallison]

We looked at Pilot and the Odyssey. Ended up with the Odyssey. None of the three kids liked sitting in the back seat, there is very little leg room in the Pilot. They all said it made them car sick. That was basically our deciding factor, I didn't want to hear fights every time they got in the car on who would go back there.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I looked at the Pilot but considered the third seating area only comfortable enough for small children perhaps. My teen and friends just would not fit!

I ended up with the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor. I adore it! It seats 5 but the middle seat is extremely roomy. Great for the big "kids" lol.

Good luck!

 

[izzy]

I do have to agree with Kallison on the back (3rd row) seat of the Pilot/MDX. If you feel like you absolutely have to have that 3rd row in order to seat 7 or 8 passengers at one time, I would probably look for something larger (i.e. longer). My 3rd row looks like it would be OK for small children, but I wouldn't expect an adult to ride back there for a long period of time. In fact, I've never even had the occasion to use the 3rd row seating since the most people I've had in it at one time has been 5 adults. It was more than roomy enough to have 3 adults in the 2nd row seating, though. Plenty of leg room, and it even has a little bit of the "stadium" effect in that the 2nd row sits a few inches higher than the driver's and passenger's seats.

Keeping the 3rd row down also gives me lots of extra room when I make those trips to Lowe's - LOL!!

Happy hunting!

 

[Duchie]

Hi Cathy!

I've been looking closely at the Pilot. It's Consumer Report's top pick for SUV's. It also got the hightest safety rating, which is why it's at the top of our list. Haven't test driven one yet, though. We're waiting until the fall because Honda is supposed to be releasing a totally redesigned Odyssey.

Hope this helps.

 

[arminnie]

I'm thinking about replacing my 7 year old Honda Odyssey (which I have loved) with a Pilot. I really wanted an SUV when I got the Odyssey, but the Honda SUV was made by someone else and wasn't very reliable per Consumer Reports.

The current Odyssey is a little too big for me (it's huge compared to my 97 model) and no longer has 4 carlike doors. They are much more attractive to people who really need a minivan.

I visited a friend in New Orleans this weekend who's had a Pilot for almost a year. He loves it and his wife wants to trade in her Accord for one too. I had an Accord that I kept for 10 years that I loved also.

You really can't beat Honda for reliability. They don't have as many models as Toyota but what they do have is super. I've never been stranded by a Honda in the 17 years that I have owned them - unlike the GM products that I owned previously. I know the GM cars have to have gotten better, but I used to have two of them so one would be out of the shop. I thought AAA was going to cancel me I had to be towed so many times. I honestly thought it was normal for a car to break down every few months until I bought my first Honda. (One of my CM cars broke down every few weeks.)

My 7 year old Odyssey only has about 55,000 miles on it - two years ago at 5 years old it had less than 25,000 miles - so I don't really "need" a new car. I just kind of want one. Let's see how long I last.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I wouldn't buy the Honda Pilot because of the stupid TV commercials. LOL

 

[GIOny]

I agree, I love the pilot but hate the commercials. No really, it is very roomy (unless you need that 3rd seat for older kids) and has alot of good storage space. Test drive it and see for yourself!! Let us know what you get!

 

[my3kids]

I have one and like it very much. The '04 Pilot Pilot with leather has heated seats standard. The second row seats adjust to give more room to the 3rd row. I have kids in the back everyday and, surprisingly, they have never complained. That is for short distances though....driving 2000 miles with 3 kids back there might not be much fun.

I got rid of a van for the Pilot and was worried about space. I have found the Pilot to be much more versitle with three children. In the van, it wasn't possible for all 3 to ride in the second row, so to keep the third row up, we lost a lot of storage capacity. With the Pilot, the second row not only holds all 3, but hold them comfortably with plenty of space. Then the third row can be folded and I have a huge amount of space.

It is very easy to reconfigure on the fly. No problem putting another seat up quickly if someone brings a friend, or lowering the seat if someone brings their drum set or tuba!

My only consistant complaint is the gas mileage. Some owners get what is on the sticker, some do better, and a few get terrible gas mileage. I'm one of the few with poor mileage.

Edmunds.com has a lot of information about the model and their town hall forums have some discussion about the car. Hondapilot.org has a lot of discussion and opinions of the vehicle.

 

[jel0511]

I'm another one with the Acura MDX, and I truly love it. I'd recommend the Pilot any day of the week, since it's Honda's version of the MDX. Here is a bulletin board similiar to the DIS for the Honda Pilot. You will find an answer to every question you have about the car, and probably know more than the salesman when you go buy one!!!

http://www.hondapilot.org/forums/

 

[crz4mm2]

I knew I could count on Dis members.
THanks so much for all the info.
I will drive the Pilot and let you know.

Anyone have ALOT of miles on one? Tell me how it is doing with TONS of miles. I probably put at least 25k a year on a vehicle.
THanks again.

Cathy

 

[my3kids]

I've put 18K on in less than a year. Other than taking it in questioning the poor mileage and strange noises which are aparently normal for the Pilot's drive system, I've not had anything much wrong....a latch on a lid didn't sit properly, which was corrected. I've had the oil changed. This is quite a refreshing change from having a Chrysler mini van, where I had my own room at the dealership!

 

[jx3smom]

I am so glad someone started this thread. We are seriously thinking of buying one. We now drive a Chrysler Town and Country mini van. I love the Acura and DH loves the Pilot so we are still trying to decide.

 

[GIOny]

I test drove both the acura mdx and the pilot. The pilot won out, it has more shoulder and head room-you can compare the stats on edmunds.com and also it was about $10,000.00 cheaper. Has the same exact engine.

 

[Patio]

My sister just bought one and I have been a passenger in hers. The front seats are very comfy and I have ridden in the 3rd row seat with my Mom once and once with my Dad. I'm only 5'4 so I had enough room. My Mom is about 5'7 and Dad is about 5'9. I would say its okay with 2 adults on the shorter side, 3 would be tight I think. She also has the TV/DVD player. She's thinking that her daughters ( 19 mos. and 9 mos. ) will grow up thinking every car has to have one. They love watching Finding Nemo. I'm sure you will love it. Have fun deciding!!

 

[stevenpensacola]

We've got an 03 Odyssey. If I remember correctly, the Pilot and the Odyssey are based off the same floor plan. If you need the room, you will give up quite a bit by going with the Pilot vs the Ody.

Either way, you'll love the 240HP VTEC engine!!!