Pilot vs. competitors?

Hi all,

I'm looking for owner reviews of the Honda Pilot, as I'm considering
buying one of the new 2004's. I'm comparing to Highlanders, Tauregs,
and 4Runners...

Any help/suggestions?

 

Honda's fuel economy specs are right on for the Pilot, assuming that you
operate it as an SUV...not too much over speed limits. It handles rough
dirt/gravel/rocky desert and mountainous roads well, on one occasion: high
desert road to north rim Grand Canyon (Toroweap), survived entering an
extremely deep and hardened rut at some 60 MPH (shouldn't have done that),
tossing front end skyward and violently to the right, horrendous
crunch/thumps and all, from which it recovered with what I assumed had to be
a severely damaged wheel and front end. Alignment shop later determined
that no damage was suffered although they had to pry out some rocks wedged
into control arms...no alignment needed. This is not to say that the other
models you mentioned couldn't have fared as well.
Maneuverability is superb, turning radius surprisingly tight. The only
gripe I have to report after some 10K miles is driver's window which
intermittently fails to up/down auto. I continue to enjoy all that I've
paid for, all that Honda claims, and remain completely satisfied.

Richard

 

Sounds like my feelings on the Honda are right on, then...

Thanks!

-Jeff

 

not a very fair comparison.......4 Runner that's built on a truck
platform......Tauregs,........... cost allot more $$$....Highlander would be
close.

Tom

 

I would say in general, that you will find positive reviews on each of
those vehicles. With those four in particular, I think you just need
to spend a lot of time looking at and driving each one and determine
which one you like the best.

You are looking at very different products though however. The
Highlander and to some extent the Pilot, which are very much "cars"
versus the 4Runner, which is definitely a truck.

 

My wife has a 2003 Pilot that she's had a little over a year with no
problems. One recall for a recalibrated SRS control unit. It just turned
15,000, I follow the 'traditional' Honda maintenance format in all our
Hondas. The service manual recommendations may get the CoO (cost of
ownership) down for the Consumer Reports types but it looks negligent to me.

Oil & Filter with tire rotation each 3,750
Lube locks, hinges, window rubbers each 7,500
Trans fluid change every 15,000
Diff (VTM-4) fluid change every 30,000 (after the initial 7,500 mile
break-in change)
Air Filter and Brake Fluid change every 30,000.
Plugs at 60,000 for platinum NGK's. 105K is just too long IMHO.
T-belt at 90,000.

 

Toureg's are a different animal altogether and compete more with the
Acura MDX (a warmed over Pilot) both in price and execution. It also
just won Motor Trends SUV of the year. The 4-Runner is basically a
truck and similar to Honda carries about a 15% price just for the
badge alone. It jumped upmarket this year in price and in size so
it's not really in that group.

The three that fit the target you seem to be aiming at is the Toyota
Highlander, the Honda Pilot, and the Mitsubishi Endeavor. All of them
are based on car platforms, have similar amenities, etc. Motor Trend
and another magazine (automobile?) did a shootout not that long ago
with a few SUV's where the Endeavor came in 2nd behind the Murano
(Nissan), ahead of the BMW X-5 and WAY ahead of the Highlander. The
Pilot? Honda evidently withdrew from both tests when they learned who
they were competing against... Hmmmmm.... The Murano won based on the
new tech though the editors all listed that if you needed the space
(the Murry was the smallest by far) that it would have been 4th.

If you are serious about the market you'd do well to visit the three
dealerships and take all three out for an extended drive (preferably
overnight) and see how each fits what you are looking for.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

Do your homework. For me, the cost per mile is the determining factor.
Based on the premise that the Pilot and the Highlander should be trouble
free compared to the American made SUV's, and also get slightly better gas
mileage, I am almost convinced that the higher price and the arrogance of
the import car dealers is worth it for a 'calculated' cost per mile based on
'averages'. Almost. The money you don't spend on the more expensive
vehicle could be put in a bank account to use for the expected repair on the
cheaper vehicle. Never buy an extended warrantee, they always find some
small print that negates your qualification for a claim.
I am only considering slightly used vehicles. If the imports are so good
then a few miles and a couple of years of age shouldn't be a determining
factor should it. I will not buy a new vehicle.
My wife has a 2000 Bravada now and it has been relatively trouble free. It
has 55K now. They have the worst reviews by Consumers Digest. Not that I
believe everything they say, but they are a good guideline starting point.
Had some minor stuff covered under warranty and a $300 repair that I could
have done cheaply ($100) if I would have been at home to catch it. I was
away at work at the time and not due home for a couple of weeks so she had
to get it done at the dealers. It was a leaking transmission cooling line.
There are ton of 1 - 2 year old Bravada's and the equivalent other
GM's/Fords on the market with less than 30K for $20K - $25K. (I don't
even acknowledge the existence of Jeep/Chrysler). I can't find a similar
Pilot or Highlander for at least $5k more. The Nissan Pathfinder and
Murano are slightly cheaper, but still more than the US made stuff . I
wish I could convince my wife to look at a Subaru Forester, that is my
overall 1st choice, but she likes to be up high like in a bloody pickup
truck. I should mention that I don't often drive her Bravada, I prefer to
use my Del Sols, even in the snow. The Subaru's are compact and more car
like, yet are still AWD and very reliable and drive nice too. And Cheaper.
Good Luck in your decision. Oh, forget the VW, overpriced garbage.

 

That's allot of oil change maintenance.

Tom.

 

At 30,000+ I feel it's cheap insurance. We generally keep our vehicles
10+ years.

 

See Consumer Reports in any library.

Pilot rated on top! And I love mine!

 

All great points, indeed. But about the MT mag's comparison test,
perhaps Honda felt they didn't need to submit for another comparo when
it was already done, coming out ahead of the Murano in this test,
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=4345

The Pilot came out ahead of the Murano in this test as well,
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/comparison/articles/100318/article.html
and well ahead of the Highlander. Curiously enough though, the Pilot
wasn't the first in this test. But seriously, a Mitsubishi over a
Honda? I'll take the Pilot over Endeavour anyday.

Also, check out NHSTA and IIHS' satey and crash ratings on various
SUV's, here,
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_midsuv.htm and
here, http://www.nhtsa.org/NCAP/Cars/2003SUVs.html.

Granted, these are all '03 models, but I feel pretty good about
driving the Pilot.

Also, make sure to check out www.honda-pilot.org. It's a great
resource for Pilot owners and potential owners.

 

I wasn't necessarily going for a fair comparison... The ones I wrote down
are the ones I am considering, and wanted to know if anyone had any specific
input based on the pilot that might be helpful...

 

Besides the fact that it is American-made, how does the Ford Explorer
compare to the Pilot?

 

My 2000 Explorer was not reliable- lots of electrical failures. I traded it
in on the Pilot, which I love!

 

Try the new explorers they are totally different from the old this series
started in 2002

 

I drove an explorer - eddie bauer 2004... it wasn't all that impressive.. in
fact, the interior felt and looked cheaply made... I just put a deposit
down on a Pilot... couldn't find anything I liked better!

 

Taureg is way too expensive and aren't even considered to be in the
same market as a Pilot or a Highlander. The 4Runner is a very
different beast from the Pilot or the Highlander because the Pilot and
the Highlander's chassis isn't based on a truck's whereas the 4Runner
is.

Go check out www.hondapilot.org and read some of the comparison
reports to other SUV's. Also, there, you'll find any links to various
magazines reviews and comparison reports. Good luck!