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Comments
As far as the Sequoia thing, my aunt bought hers after a 9-year run with a 4Runner. She loves the thing. I just have a tough time choking down that much gas. She makes the money so it really doesn't bother her. She also doesn't drive that much. As far as comparing the Pilot to the Sequoia, I think you're solving the size problem and if you're used to the Yukons mpg the Toyota isn't going to give you culture shock. I think it also gets you into the SUV instead of the minivan;)
Impressions: Her - Pilot was more comfortable, especially the drivers right armrest. I was puzzled at first but when we went back to Pilot, I saw it has the large leather padded console while the Ody has a very thin and not too padded right side armrest for the driver. (Same for the passenger on the left side of course.)
She was impressed with the back part of the Ody more. More room, more comfort. Overall she said the backseat people are better off in the Ody but for the front seat people, she felt the Pilot was better.
My thoughts - I had not told her about the Ody seat problems as I wanted an unbiased opinion. She didn't notice anything in the time we sat in the Ody. I went back and checked the seat again knowing what to look for. Seat was ok until I moved the lumbar support forward and then back. Very uncomfortable when moved forward. When I moved it back, it didn't seem to go all the way back and the seat was not as comfortable. My imagination?
The Pilot was more comfortable for the driver.
Ody gets better mileage - a plus.
Ody has lots of room - a plus.
Ody is very comfortable for passengers - A plus for them.
Ody is having "teething problems with wind noise, rattles, and seats - a Minus.
Pilot is more comfortable where my wife and I will sit - A plus.
Pilot is harder to get in and out of the third row seat - Not sure how much it will be needed or used. - Neutral.
Pilot has AWD - Neutral. Don't need it really and it runs the cost up unnecessarily but I don't mind it. Since it is only AWD at slow speeds - Neutral.
Pilot looks better, don't like the nose of the Ody. A Plus.
Pilot can tow more. We move a lot. - A Plus.
Situation: Daughter is in college. Son is junior in HS. Not hauling kids anymore. Primarily me and the wife but occasionally the two kids and my two beagles. Light duty hauling like a mattress for new bed, new Christmas tree that barely fit Impala and hung out the back a lot, etc.
Don't want a truck based vehicle. Just got rid of Chevy Astro, tired of the "tank". Don't want American - Chevy, Dodge, Ford - ready for quality. Highlander too small. Sienna too soft a ride. Sequoia to big a gas guzzler and a truck.
What do I want? A Pilot with FWD instead of AWD, (AKA Highlander) and the rear part of the Ody welded on and the mileage of the Ody. (yeah, I know, dream on.)
Leaning toward Pilot (again) but with gas going up (again!) do I want a Pilot? Wife did like both but she is undecided also. Comments?
The Pilot's AWD system is able to engage at all speeds if front wheel slippage is detected. And unlike many other car based SUVs it provides has a very advanced* electronic locking rear differential. This can mean the difference between getting out of a nasty patch of mud or snow and not.
However, you can also force the rear to lock up at very low speeds should you find your self in very deep mud, sand, or snow. Most drivers will NEVER need to use this option but it is there.
-D
*If you want to see the full expression of electronic locking diffs review the tech. specs of the new Jeep GC /w the top end 4WD system. It can move nearly 100% of power to any one wheel as needed. I think they copied the Pilot's rear diff design
Neither are great, personally I would prefer the Bridgestone over the Goodyear, if I had a choice.
Has anyone added this aftermarket (through kit or new head unit?) in their Pilot. What's been your experience? Any issues with using it with the Nav?
FYI normkol. Don't know if I would downplay the VTM-Low feature as we've used it a couple of times in deep sand.
Thanks,
Steve (road2cycle)
Liked the Pilot. Wife said she liked it but she said she could tell there was something I didn't like. Wasn't sure myself. Had driven both vehicles down twisty side streets and then back on divided four land at 70 mph. No noticeable defects or excess wind noise but Pilot did seem to have some wind noise.
What was the problem? Drove it again and realized that it sat high like my old Astro (but rode infinitely better!) and when I went into turns, I had to noticeably slow down and THEN turn. In contrast, in my Impala, which is lower and wider with wider tire, I can go deep into turns and accelerate out in a more spirited fashion. With the Pilot I had to drive differently. I will have to drive differently slowing down before I get into the turn and then turning. My wife commented its a good thing it has the VSA stuff.
Bottom line? For an SUV/Truck etc, it is a terrific riding vehicle. It is very comfortable and car like, but it is different than what I am used to.
Loved the vehicle but not sure it is what I want. What I want is a Pilot with the rear room and more comfort of an Ody and the handling of my Impala. (Everybody can laugh now). What will I do? Not sure. I like the Highlander but its too small in every direction. I like the Mazda6 Sports wagon but its too small also. The Volvo V70 is too low (and too expensive). Pilot seems like my best choice, I guess I wasn't prepared for a vehicle that sat so high and handled so differently than what I am used to. Will go back for another test drive this week end.
BTW Salesperson in Raleigh area was nice but was real new. Name wasn't on card. Sales person at test drive site forgot to get my phone number, may call him and give it too him, he was nice.
Like the Pilot, much nicer that Ody IMHO but I wasn't prepared for the difference. And with gas at 1.999 and climbing for the summer, do I want 17 mpg leaving an Impala getting 24/29 (but with 78,500 miles and strange onimous sounds from front end)? Need to get something and still like the Pilot very much. Need some time to think and have a second test drive.
Try SEMA's consumer pages for cargo barriers and netting.
Steve, Host
The problem with bikes on the roof of an SUV or mini-van for that matter is they are up so high that your wind resistance increases and they are very challenging to get up there and down from there at all.
The trailer mounted bike racks can be locked up securely and there are models that swing away from the back of the vehicle to allow you to get in the back compartment.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
We compared the Pilot with a Mecury Mountaineer and found the Pilot to be better and more refined in every aspect. After test driving both vehicles back to back, my wife and myself commented on how anyone would want a Mountaineer when the quoted bottom line prices were within a few hundred dollars of each other.
I have not checked gas milage yet, but plan to do so shortly.
Dealers that I checked with seemed to have an ample supply here in Northeast and are willing to deal!
Ok, back to the Pilot.
Steve, Host
They have their own tradeoffs (price, reliability, space inside), but they may be what you're looking for.
- Mark
That said, my speculation is that the '06 model will have side curtain airbags and VCM.
I haven't driven either vehicle enough miles to draw any firm conclusion about this but it is a bit irritating.
With mindset of driving a Pilot and not my old Impala, - WOW its great. Handled great; no rattles, not negatives. Didn't realize the sunroof slid back into the roof and didn't stick up in the air when glass may be damaged. (Salesperson pointed that out when I asked why sunroof comes down when closing and then goes back up at the last second. That's when the glass aligns with the roof.
Seats were great. Handled on twisty road great. Everything is great.
Thanks for the recommendations for BMW and Subaru but BMW is out of my price range and I think I will pass on a first year vehicle. besides, I want Honda quality.
Still looking at money (for what dealer offered see post in prices.) Have pretty much made up mind to go with Pilot EX-L in Steel Metallic Blue with Tow package added. Hope to purchase soon (wish honda made a dark green exterior (No I don't think Sage Brush Pearl is green).
Thanks!
I believe 2006's will arrive in mid to late September. I guess this by looking back on these discussions, and seeing when people were able to order and take delivery on past years models. MDX was a little later, like October last year.
Then again, the MDX has a floor-mounted shifter, go figure.
What indications are there that the shifter might move to the floor in the 2006 model?
There's probably better than a 50-50 chance that the 2006 Pilot will have side curtain airbags, so it'll be worth waiting for the 2006's if one can do it.
I keep going back and forth on the whole side curtain air bag thing.... contradictory reports abound. Seems like some sources claim they are better for adults but worse for kids. I saw one report on the auto channel where kids sustained neck injuries due to the side impact of the air bags.
T-bone accidents are bad. I think luck is just as much of a factor for surviving than any safety feature.
I didn't see that report. Was it on side curtain airbags to cushion the head, or on conventional thoraxic (around the chest) side air bags? Some German vehicles have rear thoraxic side air bags either as standard (most MB's) or optional (BMW and Audi).
I haven't seen any reputable source prove that side curtains are dangerous to children, but perhaps I've missed a report.
I do think that some side curtains in some vehicles may be ineffective for children. That's because the actual cushioning of many units tends to be where an adult's head will be. Thus it'll vary with the vehicle, the side curtains, the height of the child's carseat/booster, and the seated height of the child.
Personally, I'd rarher have them than not have them, and I've got a 4 year old and an almost 2-year-old. OTOH they sit in childseats with some degree of shielding around the head. Britax, specifically, has car seats with "wings" to help protect the head on some infant, cnvertible, booster, and youth seats. Having that extra protection between the child's head and a side curtain should be a plus.
T-bone accidents are bad. I think luck is just as much of a factor for surviving than any safety feature.
My philosophy is that while luck always plays a factor, you can't control luck. But you can control whether the vehicle you're purchasing has important safety features.
For side-impacts, there's a lot you can do than rely on more than luck. The key is a strong vehicle side structure and head-protection air bags. IIHS's new side-impact test uses an SUV-shaped barrier and the results against vehicles tested are sobering (albeit not mid-sized SUV's). What people don't realize is that if they think the tests aren't real world, the real world is actually worse than the test. IIHS pulled its punch with their side-impact test, using an SUV-sized barrier but without true SUV weight.
Since Pilot sits high above the ground, SCAB is not very necessary(although is useful) comparing to compact cars!
It is true that the value of side curtain airbags isn't as high in a higher-riding vehicle like an SUV. But that doesn't mean there isn't value. Also, Pilot occupants are not quite as high off the ground as they are in more conventional SUV's, so side curtains would help them more.
The Honda Pilot is one of the last vehicles in its class without side curtains. Honda is dragging its feet. They've already said that all of their vehicles will have side curtains already.