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Comments
Part # 70545
Class III Trailer Hitches - Round Tube Style
I would think that the ability to lock the rear clutch pack would allow you to pull up the boat ramp rather easily in first gear, the MDX/Pilot motor does have a good low torque curve and 2500 pounds w/trailer isn't horribly close to the towing limits of the Pilot/MDX.
You might post this in the MDX forum as well to see if people are towing boats with their MDX's and see if they have problems. There is some discussion on 'weak' transmission, or at least easily overheating a transmission. Of course, this being a concern for towing long distances or on long, steep grades.
Doing a quick search of other boards found these two posts, can't comment on the validity of them:
alt.autos.acura
"MDX couldn't send enough torque to the rear wheels for towing my 3500 lb boat up a wet boat ramp. It's primarily a front-drive SUV which is not good for towing."
misc.legal.moderated
"I purchased a 2001 Acura MDX in Mid November of 2000. At that time, the owners manual - the one that came with my vehicle - indicated that the vehicle did not require any additional fluid coolers to haul a trailer of 2,500 pounds or less. I haul a 1,500 pound trailer. About a month after I took delivery of the vehicle, Acura apparently changed their mind and issued a bulletin to dealers that ANY trailer towing would not require the optional coolers. They now claim that failure to install the coolers on any vehicle with a trailer hitch, regardless of the weight being towed, may invalidate the transmission warranty.
Obviously I could simply install the coolers, but Acura wants nearly $500 for this and I do not feel that I should have to shoulder the expense under the circumstances. Acura Customer Service has been less than helpful or accommodating on this matter."
Also, is the grey interior light or dark? My wife's Odyssey has grey that is close to charcoal. The superspy photographs make the interior look almost ivory (way too light...shows dirt too easily).
there is a official Honda news site,
http://www.hondanews.com
Under "What's Hot", then "Production-Ready Pilot Steers Course For Honda Lineup"
it'll bring you to 100's Pilot's pitures, which are used for press download.
You know, you've got a point there. I had assumed that the EX would have a CD changer, based on the collegehillshonda.com site, and its early listing of Pilot accessories.
But when you go to pilot.honda.com, it says:
"EX models are equipped with a 7-speaker, 5-channel 155-watt AM/FM/Cassette/CD audio system including a subwoofer. LX models feature a 4-speaker, 120-watt AM/FM/CD audio system."
But no mention of a CD changer. It's usually quite prominently mentioned in marketing literature. The accompanying photo (of an EX system because it has the cassette) doesn't seem to come with a CD changer:
http://pilot.honda.com/images/popups/gallery_Interior_1.jpg
I thought "DISC-" and "DISC+" might be for changing the disks but I think it's just for the tracks. There is a button that says "CD/CHG" but I wonder if it means "switch to the CD or the Changer if you have it installed"?
But the collegehillshonda.com site says that the EX has a built-in changer?
Based on this limited information, I would guess that the CD changer may only be available as a dealer-installed (or self-installed) accessory. Perhaps it's a decision Honda made late in the game.
I think that's a huge problem for Honda - how to turn an MDX into a Pilot without decontenting it too much. It would've been easier to upgrade a Pilot to an MDX. Like any other maker, all they would've had to do was add more stuff.
I'm in the adirondacks, you up that far?
-mike
thanx
Thanks
-mike
But this is a boat and according to Honda boat pounds are not equal to trailer pounds so you get another 1000lbs capacity. I haven't figured that one out yet. Why else is the Pilot rated for 3500lbs or 4500lbs if its a boat? Most 19 and 20ft boats have a very high profile, so I doubt wind resistance is a big factor.
Your s-10 (4.3 v6?) had a tow rating I believe of over 5000lbs.
I'm still looking for a good tow vehical for a family of 5 with a camper. I was hoping the Pilot would do, but I doubt it in the long run.
--jay
Jay: Why not look into a 2002 Trooper: inexpensive (about 25.5K) tows up to 5K lbs w/o any upgrades, seats 5 very comfy (no 3rd row, but the 2nd row is big) very reliable, AWD. Flip over to the Trooper forum if you want more details.
-mike
-mike
-mike
LX 27,210
EX 29,710
EXL 31,210
EXL-RES 32,710
EXL-NAVI 33,210
I wonder how accurate that info is or if they are even close.
Regarding the Pilot, I've seen absolutely nothing from Honda that leads me to believe that the leather option includes seat heaters. That said, a good pair can be had for about $300.
-mike
http://www.manhonda.com/sales/newauto.cfm?Action=List&ModelID=34
Their price is estimated.
OK, we are down to about 3 weeks till they sell the things and we still don't know all the details or prices. Tactics like these make me mad.
For 3.5K more I can get an MDX with all they have plus a track record.
If this is true, I can't see getting a Pilot assuming my Acura dealer is being honest.
Very disappointing.
For 3.5K more I can get an MDX with all they have plus a track record.
If this is true, I can't see getting a Pilot assuming my Acura dealer is being honest.
Very disappointing.
update: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_002_001_019_005&product_id=12-1999
-mike
For 3.5K more I can get an MDX with all they have plus a track record.
If this is true, I can't see getting a Pilot assuming my Acura dealer is being honest.
Very disappointing.
For 3.5K more I can get an MDX with all they have plus a track record.
If this is true, I can't see getting a Pilot assuming my Acura dealer is being honest.
Very disappointing.
What's up with the dup postings?
You can buy a wireless FM modulator that broadcasts a signal that your radio will pickup and play through the car. Again radio shack would have one. If you are getting a 3rd party RES, you can have the FM Modulator wired in, and get wireless headphones for peace and quite--yeh
BTW, I checked out the Explorer just to get ballpark prices. It confirmed why I like dealing with Honda. Nicely equipped base models with a fair price upfront. Ford: a lot full of vehicles loaded with pricey options. The lowest I could find was $31,000. Maybe after hours of endless haggling I could get it for less. GM is the same way. I'll take a Pilot at MSRP any day.
I bet Honda offers very few of the initial Pilots in the base configuration - much like the MDX. I have checked with three dealers and I have not found an LX that will be delivered as a part of the initial allotment yet. In addition, I was informed by one dealer that the Pilots would go to those customers who were willing to ante up a "market adjustment" premium or those that would accept a bunch of dealer-installed options. This parallels the MDX, where you couldn't find a base model if your life depended on it.
If you find a good dealership - one who is actually willing to order the vehicle you are looking for - then I tend to agree. However, I think those are few and far between...
-mike
I hope you do, but based on Honda dealers' notoriety for price gauging, it'll be very difficult. When I first heard about the Pilot (before it even had a name), the rumors said 23K. Then when more info came out, it bumped up to 25-27K. And now they're saying even up to 32K (!) for the top of the line Pilot. And those are numbers BEFORE taxes, title, registration, and of course, dealer markups.
The Accord is a great car and a popular seller. However, due to market pressure, Honda has to sell the Accord at or near invoice. And since they sell what, almost 300,000 of them a year, they can certainly build in quantity.
Honda has set what they feel is an appropriate price - they call it 'sticker' pricing. It is going to be real interesting to see what actually happens to Pilot AND the MDX pricing when the Pilot comes out. Any dealer gouging and charging OVER sticker as a 'market adjustment' will never-ever get my business, period - and they shouldn't get yours.
I would expect to get it delivered no later than the first week of June.
Diploid - The MDX has also run to 60mph in the low eight range. Consider that the 8.1 second run comes from Motor Trend. At MT, they run the vehicle to 60 mph several times, then take the fastest time. Other mags take an average of three runs, so they tend to be higher (slower). In fact, check the back of that MT mag and you'll see the MDX's time is also 8.1 seconds with the 1/4 mile at 16.3/84.3. The Pilot in that issue runs 8.1 and 16.4/85.13. Pretty close.
Just saw a pair of new Dodge commercials. One for the Ram and another for the Durango. At the end of the Ram ad, they mention the 7 year warranty and how it's longer than either GM or Toyota. At the end of the Durango ad, then state that the warranty is longer than GM, Chrysler, or Honda. Who's already worried about the competition?
The best MDX time ever recorded was by Motor Week, at 7.6 seconds.
Curiously, the Mountain Democrat of El Dorado county had the MDX clocked at 8.14, but after six months and 15k it was clocked at 8.0, supposedly under the same test conditions.
I live near a park in NJ in which engraved upon a cement wall if a quote from Gen George C Marshall that says:
"If We Are Not Careful We Shall Leave Our Children Nothing But A Legacy Of Billion Dollar Roads, Leading No Where But To Other Congested Places, Like The Ones They Left Behind"
When I see the proliferation of SUVs and other utility vehicles I see an adddem to that visionary, Marhsall's quote
"If We Are Not Careful We Shall Leave Our Children Nothing But A CRUMBLING Legacy Of Billion Dollar Roads, Leading No Where But To Other Congested Places, Like The Ones They Left Behind"
Yes crumbling. We as the USA seem to have a penchant for laying out roads ONCE, maybe even well, according to anachronistic designs for traffic patterns decades out of date. Our roads die horrible deaths well before their time and everyone who lives with cold winters dreads the inevitable re mapping of the local roads avoiding the old hazards with the new hazards of poorly patched,never drainging, eroded, potholed roads. You can't tell me in any of your coupe and sedan experience you haven't bottomed out on 'regular' paved road, or damaged a wheel on a 3"+ tire eating pothole. It's not some sick 'Big is better' fantasy to want a sturdy enviroment eating SUV to navigate even our 'regular' roads. It's Self Defense against the constantly degraded definition as to what On-Road driving conditions are. Tell me the pucker factor isn't topped out when going over 50mpg through the cross bronx expressway dodging parts of less fortunate cars , gully-sized ruts, manhole sized potholes that you swear the brimstone and smoke of hell can be seen. Then turn around and tell me I'm a bad guy for not wanting a frame that can take a beating and ground clearence to triumph over a topography of asphalt, macadam, and patching rocks that changes yearly and mostly for the worse.
I see the Outbacks, and Pilots, and other nigh-offroad vehicles as the defense against a road that more and more often bites back.
tidester
Host
SUVs
I remember the speculation about MDX times back at this stage of its introduction two years ago. Honda (Acura) was absolutely inscrutable about MDX performance. It appeared initially that Honda would not allow timed runs of its new vehicle; everything reead "less than 9 sec". Now we generally see "8.1 sec, 0-60" reported. You know, that's the same number reported by Consumer's Reports, and they measure from a standstill, no engine braking, and engine at idle! Think C&D can do better ?-)
What is overlooked is that Honda does not want to sell its MDX based on acceleration numbers, and to hot-rodders. Bad for MDX insurance rates, and statistics. I continue to believe that they actively suppress HP, and acceleration numbers on some vehicles. The mags and other manufacturers are glad to go along with this. BMW's x5 3.0 in particular benefits from this. As I recall, early reviews clocked and promoted the BumW at 8.1, while they generally agree on 8.5 now (see Edmunds review). The mags are able to promote their premium marks (read ad revenues, and great rides) and keep Honda happy.
I think you have to look at independent testers for unbiased acceleration runs.
wmquan: you planning a trip to the raceway park anytime soon?