Honda Pilot 2003 through 2005

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Comments

  • jnafisherjnafisher Member Posts: 1
    I am the very satisfied owner of a 2000 Ody EX with my only reservation being that I occassionally would like to have the 4WD/AWD option up here in the snow belt. I contacted the dealership where I bought my ODY and placed a $100 (fully refundable)deposit on a Pilot EX just to have the option of buying one when the arrive. My wife is uncertain about the doors as she appreciates the fact that the kids can operate the power doors without any issues.
  • mark189mark189 Member Posts: 107
    "Until it hits the streets, and we've sat in, or driven one; we're pretty much in the same position as you. We just don't know yet..."

    Since the Pilot is the mechanical twin to the MDX, we know quite a bit about it. The MDX has been out 1 1/2 years and you can read numerous reviews of has proven to be a great suv.

    It's possible that the suspension or engine might be tuned a little differently, but otherwise; same drivetrain, platform, 4 wheel drive system, and assembly line.

    An MDX at what could be a $10,000 discount is a great bargain and a great buy.
  • indierockmomindierockmom Member Posts: 6
    put down a 100% refundable deposit and was guaranteed MSRP. had the dealer fax something over so i have the whole deal in writing. he didn't however provide any more useful information, except for bad mouthing the Explorer :). love those sales guys.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    but the body is different. I know the interior is different. We haven't seen specs yet. I don't know that it's on the same wheelbase. Many seem to think it is, but nobody knows for sure.

    Until you sit in it, examine it, and drive it, it's still pretty much a guessing game.

    Bob
  • mark189mark189 Member Posts: 107
    You're right that there are differences. I think I read a couple of inches taller. However, overall, pretty close. Which is good, because you probably won't be able to get in one for a long time.

    Every Pilot delivered will be pre-sold and picked up right away. I've been through this with the Odyssey and MDX. Very few dealers keep an extra on the lot for test drives.

    The bottom line is: If you're serious about buying this Suv, you have to put a deposit down in advance. You can wait for reviews, but add 3 months to whenever you decide, and expect only a test drive when you make a final decision. This situation probably won't change for a couple of years.
  • jdlynch2jdlynch2 Member Posts: 20
    I have already put down a refundable deposit for a 2003 Pilot. Also, I still have my deposit on an MDX just in case, after more info. on the Pilot is released, the MDX remains the better value(however I am betting the Pilot will be the value winner).

    The MDX requires premium fuel. Does anyone know with any certainty whether the Pilot will require premium or regular no-lead?

    Thanks
  • robertsmxrobertsmx Member Posts: 5,525
    If Honda uses the Odyssey version of the 3.5/V6, it is optimized for regular (86+ octane) unleaded. MDX version of the engine is optimized for premium. Both have 240 HP, but MDX does it 250 rpm earlier (5250 rpm in MDX compared to 5500 rpm in Odyssey), due to slightly stronger torque curve.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    SUV designed for the family adventure.

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  • will4271will4271 Member Posts: 187
    Does anyone know when are they shipping the 2003 models?
  • jdlynch2jdlynch2 Member Posts: 20
    My dealer told me........that his Honda Rep. told him.......that they should have their first alotment of Pilots by Memorial Day weekend. June is the official time for them to hit the showrooms, as stated in a Honda press release.
  • mhenderson1mhenderson1 Member Posts: 164
    Has anyone seen the new SUV from Kia called the Soorento. USAtoday.com showed pictures in which it will be shown at the Chicago Auto show. They stated that it will sale around $20,000. It looks like a copy of the Lexus SUV. I hope the quality is as high as Lexus too. This may be a contender to look at.
  • nofeernofeer Member Posts: 381
    My salesman and internet sources say June to get the first ones. If that is the case, they must be ramping up the site for production, Granted the one shown at the detroit show is "pre-production" But people somewhere know details, like dimensions, some of the "details" maybe not, noway honda does things like they always do lx ex ex-l so we know the features pretty much like the ody. I can't understand why we can't find some source for dimensions, size, front and rear headroom etc., ok i'd have to wait for final colors--so what would they change from detroit to production, anyone remember changes from "show" of ody, mdx and final production version? We need to find someone that works at the plant, or is the advertizing agency, or whoever does their brochures, they would know. We have over 500 entries to the forum and 3-4 months to production and no info? What are they thinking, people want to be surprised and don't plan? I wonder when honda service dept get info. Someone knows we just have to find those that do.
  • guyfguyf Member Posts: 456
    Kia is now owned by Hyundai and their new designs show much influence from Hyundai. If the Soorento is as good as the Santa Fe it will be a strong contender. Have a look at the Santa Fe 2002 customer ratings on CarPoint; they are the highest of all SUV's.
  • ticktock4321ticktock4321 Member Posts: 41
    I guess those with the seizing engines haven't reported it to CarPoint yet. Sorry, couldn't resist.
  • guyfguyf Member Posts: 456
    Those were early 2001 models...
  • ticktock4321ticktock4321 Member Posts: 41
    Well I read about it three weeks or so ago so it is news to me. I hope many people go for their new SUV (and the Santa Fe for that matter), less people I have to fight with for a Honda :-).
  • guyfguyf Member Posts: 456
    ...and you may get a better price too!
  • mhenderson1mhenderson1 Member Posts: 164
    One thing about the Sorrento is the horsepower. Although it is a V6, I believe it only gets 192 horsepower.
  • mhenderson1mhenderson1 Member Posts: 164
    I just saw Sorrento pictures on autoweek.com
  • guyfguyf Member Posts: 456
    Thanks for the info. The text on Autoweek confirms only 192 HP. This is not much from 3.5L.
  • dmetzgerdmetzger Member Posts: 160
    It may be a sleeper. Weight may be a lot less, thus the bugger just might run great and fool us all. Never know till it is tested.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Wait, this is an suv from Kia via Hyundai?

    Horsepower isn't as important with suv's as torque. I'd be interested in that figure also.
  • dmetzgerdmetzger Member Posts: 160
    Sorrento torque is listed as 218.
  • dmetzgerdmetzger Member Posts: 160
    A new Toyota 4-Runner is supposed to show up at dealers either the end of April or next fall. Been some discussion on when in the 4-Runner site. Wonder how it will compare to Pilot.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Are they 31"?
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    http://www.kia2000.nl/sorr.htm


    2 pics of the Sorrento. Looks nice.

    But a 3.5L V-6 with only 196hp and 218 lb-ft torque? A 3.5L V-6 from the Nissan Pathfinder is much more powerful. I hope Kia is only keeping the ratings so low because of its intended price.

  • SpyponderSpyponder Member Posts: 128
    Um, before we get all misty-eyed about this new Kia, let's not lose sight of the fact that it is still a Kia...
  • g8torg8tor Member Posts: 26
    According to Motor Trend March 2002 "First Look," the Pilot will use "regular" gasoline.
    Other info (sorry if this is repetitive): 2 inches shorter than the MDX, but taller and wider; brushed chrome accents; lots of cargo nets; handling "less sporty, with greater emphasis on ride comfort."
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    I still don't know why it's 2 inches shorter than the MDX while also being wider. And it doesn't even look to be any taller.
  • shellymeister2shellymeister2 Member Posts: 115
    Short paragraph & photo in the current C & D has the base price of the Pilot starting at about $28,000. Don't know if that is a guess or actual fact.
  • ax135ax135 Member Posts: 4
    I wouldn't worry about the 2" shorter than MDX remark. This is probably due to a different front/rear bumper designs.

    I can't see Honda making chassis changes between the MDX and Pilot. Like the Camry/ES300 and Maxima/I30, the exterior dimensions vary just a bit, but on the inside they are all the same.
  • sailing216sailing216 Member Posts: 98
    Some of you have put down deposits, how long is the line in front and behind you? I want to pick one up in Oct and thinking June for a deposit should equal out the wait of 3 months, but hope it's not 6 months come June.
  • g8torg8tor Member Posts: 26
    there is only one other person on the wait list at our dealer, & they didn't even make us put down a deposit (although i almost would've rather done so).
  • h1vch1vc Member Posts: 295
    Just saw motorweek. They said it has available automatic 4wd. Does anyone on here live close to the factory? How about going to the factory for a tour in april or may to see if you can get any info or pics before july?
  • canadianclcanadiancl Member Posts: 1,078
    looks sweet in the site posted by diploid. Miles ahead of the Santa Fe (in terms of styling). Hints of ML class in the profile and MDX in the rear. Too bad it doesn't have a Honda badge on it :)
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    If Lexus sued Kia for making the Sorrento look so much like an RX300.


    http://www.car--club.com/scoop/bl.html


    If it weren't for the lack of a chrome waterfall grille in the front, a Lexus badge could easily replace the Kia badge. And look how nice that badge is - it's not even a regular Kia badge.

  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    a CHROME WATERFALL????
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    What did you think it was? Chrome PRISON BARS?

    I've often heard the term "chrome waterfall" referred to that massive grille on the Lincoln Navigator, so I thought it could be applied to the Lexus, too.
  • guyfguyf Member Posts: 456
    The Sorento is truck based. It is more in the league of the Jeep Liberty than the Pilot, MDX and the other crossovers. Good for those people looking for a truck based SUV; they now have a lower priced alternative.
  • will4271will4271 Member Posts: 187
    I heard that production is picking up at the Honda plant for the Pilot/MDX. Not sure if someone can confirm it??
  • stangeljstangelj Member Posts: 74
    As I recall, no SUV tested by the NHTSA has ever achieved a rollover rating better than 3, until now. They finally rated the MDX and it received a rating of 4. I would expect, and hope. the Pilot will match this. The new Jeep Liberty did not do so well...


    http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2002&filename=pr06-02.html

  • dielectric7bbdielectric7bb Member Posts: 324
    The MDX ought do better than the Liberty. Considering there's a huge difference between the two and each makes a trade-off. Off-road ability, like an SUV should have, or on-road stability, like a mini van should have...
  • wmquanwmquan Member Posts: 1,817
    More important than the rollover resistance rating (which is quite controversial since it is only a static measurement and doesn't reflect vehicle dynamics like suspension softness and crash prevention measures like stability control) are the NHTSA side-impact crash test scores. 5 Stars for both the front and the rear. Not as hard to get on a higher-riding SUV but certainly not an automatic.

    Unless Honda makes significant structural changes, which I would doubt, the Pilot should do at least as well.
  • shellymeister2shellymeister2 Member Posts: 115
    If little Kia motors can style an SUV so well- why can't the huge Honda corporation do as well?
  • mhenderson1mhenderson1 Member Posts: 164
    First you make plain homemade brownies for the kids and later make the brownie batch with all the extras and bring in the whole neighborhood. If there is a great demand, maybe increase the price.
  • ranaldranald Member Posts: 147
    Even a stopped clock has the right time twice a day. :) Depends on the carmaker's priorities, really.

    I find most Kia vehicles distinctly unattractive, but they do at least try for visual appeal. I can imagine that, if you try, you're going to get it right once in a while.

    Honda usually doesn't try for "visual appeal" because they know it's such a hit-or-miss thing. Trendy, "stylish" looks also tend to be pretty perishable- what's all the rage one day looks hopelessly dated the next.

    Honda tries more for "looks OK", "bland but I sorta like it" or "I didn't think much of it at first but it grows on you". Conservative, sensible looks.
  • mhenderson1mhenderson1 Member Posts: 164
    If Honda tried for more than "looks OK, conservative look" they directly would be competing with the sister company "Acura". And as a result, you see how Acura is treating their customers. We'll find out if Honda will take on the same "arrogance" . If they do, they will definetely lose me and many others. I completely refuse to pay an inflated price for a "bland SUV".
  • mark189mark189 Member Posts: 107
    Chicago auto show opened last Friday.
    I'd like to hear from anybody in attendance.
  • ranaldranald Member Posts: 147
    I'm not sure I follow you. More accurately, Honda doesn't want to try to look "upscale". That's what Acura is for. But what I was talking about was stylishness, trendiness, which is not necessarily the same as looking upscale. See the new Celica as an example.

    Then you start out of the blue suggesting something about the way Acura treats its customers. How do you think Acura treats its customers?

    You refuse to pay an inflated price for a "bland" SUV? That's great. The basic SUV look is pretty bland. (Pickup truck styling hasn't really changed in 30 years or more.) Today SUV's are generally pretty bland, all but the ones that look really stupid, that is. (Vehicross? Aztek? Axiom? )
  • mhenderson1mhenderson1 Member Posts: 164
    I feel that if Honda developed something "stylish" with the new Pilot, it would work against their thought process. When you look at say the Toyota Camry and the Lexus ES300 or even the Nissan Pathfinder and the Infiniti Qx4, you see that in reality they are both the same vehicles. Usually, Toyota and Nissan would release there own "baseline" vehicles before their sister subsidiaries (Lexus and Infiniti) release a "stylish, trendy" version. However, this time, Acura released their SUV before Honda. Do you expect Honda to outdo Acura? Of course not. If the Honda pilot looked anymore "stylish", it probably would look similar to the MDX.

    As far as the arrogant attitude, Acura feels that they are providing the "niche" vehicle for today's consumer. Along with that attitude, they are charging $2-3,000 up to $10,000 over MSRP and nothing less. Review the comments under the "Acura MDX" chat room. I just hope that Honda recognizes their consumer and the product that they are releasing, and they should let their Dealers know this. I feel that they will lose many customers if they (mainly dealers) charge well above the MSRP to purchase a "bland baseline" SUV.

    Some Acura followers are already abandoning the company in anticpation of the Pilot.
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