Honda Pilot 2006

tangoe

i am looking to buy an ex pilot 4wd with entertainment package, chrome side steps, rear mudflaps, and cross bars. best price i got was 30,999. is yours similar and where did you buy it?

thank you

stever

Take a look in the Honda Pilot: Prices Paid & Buying Experience discussion too.

Steve, Host

njdevilsrn

I have a Pilot that's about 4 weeks old. Decided to buy this vehicle after reading years of great reviews of this product. Unfortunately, I can't say I've been totally
"wowed" by this product.

As my first foreign brand purchase, this truck had missing stoppers under the armrest, a warped seat back, and continues to make a rubbing noise from the driver's door. The funny thing is that I've had it to the service dept. twice for the door. Once they lubed up the weather stripping, no sale. Had it back yesterday, and they claim it is on spec. and that's how the '06 Pilots all are. I can't say I believe them - anybody else have a problem with a rubbing noise coming from the driver's door?

markjenn

It would help to have a little more info that "rubbing noise from driver's door". When stopped, in motion, when opening door, over bumps, high speed, low speed, change with windows up/down?, whistling noise, clicking noise,etc.?

I have no idea what "missing stoppers under the armrest" means either.

- Mark

marcyriley

I am in a similar situation, 2 kids over 12 and we take their friends and our dogs to the mountains a few times a year. I am really not sure what to do at this point, I have a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan which is great for space but I was really disappointed with how it held up.I really want a 4X4 for winter.I work at home and really don't have to drive all that much other than errands. I like the CRV but it seems too small, the Odyessy does not have AWD so the Pilot may be the choice. I am thinking I may not need the third row seat too often, and if we have a car full- I can put luggage on top. Any thoughts from anyone else???

01mdx

One thing to keep in mind - the 2nd row on the Pilot slides forward several inches (shortening 2nd row legroom but increasing 3rd row room). If you are like us and have only kids in the 2nd and 3rd row this seems doable. Of course it will never have as much room as a minivan.

allison5

Do your kids or their friends do alright sitting in the 3rd row to the mountains? My almost 12 year old (he is the oldest) is average height for his age but obviously he is only going to get taller. I worry he will complain too much on long drives or my 10 and 6 year old will be complaining. My 12 year old is now wanting to start to bring friends with him on some trips, like mountains etc. I too was thinking that I would jsut get a Tule or whatever they are called for the top for luggage etc. Our dog is a 80 lb lab that comes with us to beach/skiing etc. For some reason the Pilot is more comfy than the Odyessy but quite a bit for my back but is it worth giving up the space??????!!!!!

pup975

I have had some problem with a rattling/squeeking type noise that is coming from the door's weather stripping. I only hear it at higher speeds (greater than 70mph). I haven't gone to get it fixed since it hasn't hit it's first scheduled maintenance. I figure it's a simple fix with some lube. I've had 5 Hondas now, and all of my Hondas at some point have had rattles and noise that I had to get fixed during the warranty period. Still love the cars.

andocpa

Hearing the same noise on my 2006 Pilot. Picked it up 2 weeks ago. To me, it sounds like it is coming from the side head frame, between the weather stripping and the side head airbag. Almost like material rubbing together. Annoying to say the least as it is right by my ear. Made an appointment to bring it in for service on July 10th. We will see what happens. I will keep you posted.

qbrozen

sounds to me like you folks are experiencing the same problem that cropped up on a number of the original '03 Pilot. If I recall correctly, lube was used as the stop-gap measure, but some had the door weather stripping replaced completely.

marcyriley

My concern is the odyessy does not offer AWD- I think I just need to win the lottery so I don't have to do so much research! I am guessing the minivan may be the best bet. Thanks for all your input!

nylaj

Hi everyone! I'm close to buying the Pilot and noticed that folks are getting 4WD for close to the prices I am being quoted for 2WD vehicle. Any thoughts on the performance of the 2WD vs the 4WD? I've been checking some of the deals on the pricing forum and there doesn't appear to be a big difference in pricing. This may just vary given the deal, additional car specs, location, etc. but it doesn't seem to be a huge difference. Thoughts anyone? Thanks!

master1

People are complaining that the Variable Cylinder Managment on the 2 wheel drive models are making noises.

Which one is better for you? You have to think if you can afford the 4 wheel drive's gas mileage first. The 4 wheel drive model handles much better in snow, rain, and is about 3% less likely to roll over than the 2 wheel drive model (NHTSA)

The 4 wheel drive model probably is quieter than the 2 wheel drive. They always put more insulation in 4 wheel drive models because they make a bit more noise when power is going to 4 wheels. That's why the 2 wheel drive has Active Noise Cancellation - it's probably cheaper to add that than more insulation.

I recommend the 4 wheel drive model so it can tackle snow, and rain.

Oh..also, check out the steering wheel vibrations at 70mph that too many owners are occasionally complaining about. Others will say it's the cars tires, but I don't believe that.

bosi77

Is the 2007 Honda Pilot going to be changed signifigantly for the 2007 Model year ( like the MDX)?

01mdx

Very unlikely. Honda just did a substantial refresh in 2006 so I would expect changes to be very minimal. Some have said the Pilot might be redesigned in 2008 but personally I am expecting 2006 (consistent with a 3 year cycle).

nylaj

Thanks for the feedback Master1! I'm a little uneasy about the additional hit in gas mileage but now that I have decided on a vehicle of this size, I really can't complain too much about that. I am assuming that it is not substantially less with the 4WD but something tells me that I may be wrong. . .

The 4WD is quieter? I didn't realize that. I noticed many members complaining about the noise(s) but I finally decided that I'd live with it as I like the car.

What about the steering wheel vibrations? Is this just for the 2WD version or for both? I thought they got this particular defect out of the vehicle for 2006?? Is this still a problem?

I'd like to hear more about the VCM on the 2WD. That particular feature is what had swayed me over to this model. Now I am not so sure.

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

oakley134

The 2wd gets 18-24 MPG. This is only marginally better than the 4WD, but it does add up. I have an '06 EXL w/ RES and I have not heard any odd noises from any part of the vehicle. I also have not noticed any steering wheel vibrations. When the VCM activates you can sometimes feel the engine idling "more rough". I would guess this is due to the imbalance caused when the front row of cylinders shut down. The VCM feature is a fairly new feature, and if it were any other auto maker I would have steered clear. Since it is a Honda and has a 5 yr./60k mile warranty, you shouldn't be too concerned with the reliability aspect. Overall, I am very pleased with our new car and would highly recommend!

master1

People are still complaining about those stupid steering wheel vibrations on both models. I noticed that most people who get it have it when they get 2,000 miles or more. This means that they are getting it when the body loosens up. Many members will argue over this issue saying it is something else, but I don't believe that.

Do you drive at 70mph? If you only drive to the supermarket it will be fine for you but when going on vacation, some have that problem.

I didn't purchase the Pilot because of this steering wheel vibration thing. I'm not going to spend 29,000 and have the steering wheel vibrating! I just can't take that risk. Instead I purchased a Highlander.

Just think about it. My suggestion would be to wait for the new Pilot that will come out sometime around winter - that's what I'm guessing.

01mdx

Just a note - my message about the next "refresh" should have said 2006 (not 2006 obviously).

nylaj

I haven't seen the complaints about the steering wheel vibrations. I do a fair bit of highway driving and as it is, I'm giving up gas mileage to have the extra space when I need it. But steering wheel vibration is a whole other thing. I certainly don't care to spend $29K and have steering wheel vibrations 2000 miles later! As an aside, I really DISLIKED the Highlander though. I tried multiple times but I preferred the Pilot, no contest. . .Where do I find the information concerning steering wheel vibrations? Anyone out there have personal experience with this problem?

fujis

The first Pilot I test-drove has this problem, it came from the seat-belt anchors of both driver's and passeger's sides. I didn't find the problem until I drove it home for a day (the dealer let me dirve home for test!).

The second one I test-drove (drove home too for a day from another dealer) doesn't have any problem, like rub-noise, wheel-vibrate. So I suggest everyone do a drive-home-test for a day, if the dealer agree to.

The only concern is the gas milage: I got 17miles (mixed city/hiway) for the first 100 miles test drive.

Over all I'm happy with this baby. I made the deal on a EX 2wd for extra $1000 over a LX.

Any thought about the actual gas milage of Pilot? :surprise:

fujis

you can always turn the lights on, since it will turn off automatically when you turn-off the engine ( little delay of course.) I just grought a EX 2wd.

Hope this helps.

markjenn

"The 4 wheel drive model probably is quieter than the 2 wheel drive. They always put more insulation in 4 wheel drive models because they make a bit more noise when power is going to 4 wheels. That's why the 2 wheel drive has Active Noise Cancellation - it's probably cheaper to add that than more insulation."

I've been monitoring Pilot discussions for years and I've never heard this and frankly it doesn't make any sense. The 2-wheel drive mode has ANC for the same reason it has cylinder deactivation - Honda feels that this model appeals more to people who want a smooth, over-the-road car-like vehicle that gets better gas mileage. They may also be rolling out features like this on some models to test the waters before trying it across the model line.

- Mark

viper318

I am buying a 2006 2wd pilot at the end of the summer and was wondering if any one can tell me how it tows.
I have a 2001 Dodge ram pick-up which gets lousy gas milage and I only actually used to haul something maybe 20-25 times in 5 yrs and nothing very heavy. The most was 1,000 lbs of concrete. Most of the time it was some lumber or some tree's and shrubs,
So my question is should I keep my truck also incase I have to haul something, or should I trade my truck and get a towing package with my pilot and maybe pick-up a used trailer some place. By the way my pickup has 180,000 miles on it,

markjenn

My personal opinion is that the Pilot is one of the poorer choices for towing in its class. It just has too many strikes against it: the unibody, a engine that suffers from lack of low-end torque, a weak tranny that too aggressively upshifts, lack of a D4 gear selector, very soft springs in the rear, expensive "kits" required to allow any towing, etc. I routinely tow relatively light loads of 1500-2000 lbs with my 4WD 06 Pilot (equipped with the Honda hitch and cooler kits) and it works very hard at it, constantly upshifting and downshifting on even the most modest grades and headwinds, and wallowing about on the soft springs. I've towed simlar loads with a ML320 and a V8 4Runner and honestly it's light night and day - both these vehicles tow much more comfortably. So if you want to tow for any significant distance and since you haven't made a purchase yet, I'd strongly recommend you look at the 4Runner or perhaps a Pathfinder.

OTOH, if all the towing you're going to do is an occasional run between Home Depot and your house with a light load of building supplies and plants, it really doesn't matter what you go with - the Pilot will do it fine, but not nearly as well as the two SUVs I mention above.

- Mark

master1

I recommend getting a Ridgeline. It is comfortable for a family, and it can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Ridgelines are selling at invoice now. It also handles very well.

mbt1

I bought a 2006 Pilot in February of this year and have driven only about 1200 miles since then. The maintenance minder indicates that my engine oil life is still at 80%. Forgive my ignorance, but I have a few questions about how to best maintain this vehicle:

1. Did Honda use a special conditioner in the initial oil that helps break in the engine so that I don't have to change out the oil sooner than indicated by the maintenance minder?

2. The owner's manual does not indicate the time limit by which I need to change the oil regardless of the miles driven. How many months should I go before changing the oil if I don't drive enough within a year to exceed the mileage limit set by the minder?

3. I noticed that the oil level dropped slightly (a few millimeters on the dipstick) since I took delivery about 4 months ago. Is this drop normal when the engine is new or old?

Thank you all in advance for your answers and advice.

koho955

After leasing a Toyota Limited for 3 years I would have to say it's definitely the Best SUV I have ever had for this price range. I am looking into the Honda Pilot because of the larger and more comfortable seats and more storage between the front seats. If you could put the interior of the Pilot into the Highlander it would be the best of both worlds.

markjenn

Answers to your questions:

1. A subject of lively debate on the internet. Most think Honda's "special break in oil" is a myth and that they use off-the-shelf oils. A couple folks who have tested the original oil in new Hondas have found a slightly elevated level of moly, but it's quite possible this is just the assembly lube they use on a new engine mixing with the oil on first startup. Otherwise, the oil looks in tests to be the same stuff you buy at Walmart.

My opinion is that Honds's admonishment about changing the oil prematurely is just their attempt to control warranty costs by keeping owners out of the service bay during the first few months of ownership when people are likely to nitpick and find problems with their new cars.

So while I don't think you probably need to do an early oil change, go ahead if you want.

2. I thought Honda said a year or so. This would be my target time to change oil in a lightly-driven car, although the manner in which a car is lightly-driven would affect things. A car that takes a few long trips and sits otherwise is going to have a lot cleaner oil than one that is driven a few blocks every day.

3. Sounds completely normal. Mine used perhaps 1/2 a qt in the first couple thousand and seems to not be using much now. Honda will tell you that rates as high as 1 qt every thousand or so are acceptable, so you're a long ways from rates where Honda would do anything about it. Engines vary somewhat in oil consumption - it is the luck of the draw. And they do use more during break in so you want to wait a couple K before evaluating if you might have an engine that is going to be a guzzler.

You didn't ask, but now that I'm out of break in, I'm planning on halving the oil change interval, doing an extra change when it gets around 50%.

- Mark

gawieshnot

So I had my mind/heart set on the 2006 Highlander 3.3 V6 with the 3rd row and 4x4. I was going to buy it and my friend told me to take a look at the Pilot. I went today and test-drove it and got a great quote from the dealer.

Now I am confused!

The Pilot is around $2,000 less than the Highlander and seems just as comfortable with all the same amenities (leather, sunroof, 3rd row, side curtain airbags, etc.)

So the question is... Which one do I buy?

:confuse: :confuse: :confuse: :confuse:

HELP ME PLEASE! Any advice?

player4

I think that when it comes down to that, i would look at realiability results, all the stuff that CR has, and maybe also look at styling which one is more luxurious, classy, sporty? Its up to you...

matthattan1587

If you are worried about headroom and overall interior room I would suggest the Pilot over the Highlander. Also take a look at the new Ford Explorer's. I just recently purchased a new 2006 Eddie Bauer Explorer and I cannot be any happier. I test drove bothe the Highlander and the Pilot and felt the Explorer was best for me. The Highlander recently had some recalls, but I think it was for 2005 models. The Pilot would be my choice as it is a best buy in connsumer reports and many other car magazines, but also take a look at the Explorer as it won best midsize Suv under 35,000 on edmunds!

stever

Check out the Nissan Murano vs Toyota Highlander vs Subaru B9 Tribeca vs Honda Pilot discussion too.

Steve, Host

azjim

Remember that with 2wd you get VCM. You do not with 4wd.

keithrl

About to buy my EXL, but thought EXL would have wood trim included. Apparently this is a dealer add on. Anyone get this option, and are you happy you did?

also, I see a posting about break in oil.

What about break in driving, what is the recommedation for that?

master1

There isn't any problem with the wood accesory. Be easy on the engine and don't go over 60/65 mph until 700 miles or 1,000 miles. Check the owners manual for more information or call the dealer.

gawieshnot

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I am definitely going to go with the Pilot EXL. The dealer is offering to me at $1,500 below invoice (through Costco.) It works out to about $1,800 less than a similarly featured Highlander.

I am picking it up next Friday, I will let you all know how it goes.

I read another post that said you shouldn't drive above 60MPH for the first 700 miles. Where can I find all this type of information? How often I need oil changes? Do I service it at the dealer?

master1

The dealer will tell you about break in. Or you can also call American Honda and ask them, and you can check your manual.

Don't get so worried about oil changes - it isn't scary! The oil cannot be changed later than every 5,000 miles. That's all there is to oil changes. If you can change your oil, you can do it. The mechanic on the street is faster and cheaper than the dealer. If you want the dealer to do it, your oil will be changed.

It will all be discussed in your owners manual.

Oh also, some mechanics use different oils for american cars, and japanese cars. Ask the mechanic if he uses the same oil for all cars. If he doesn't, tell him to give you the better one I guess.

Mine uses a cheaper one on the American cars and the better oil for the Japanese.

matthattan1587

Hello I have a 2006 Ford Explorer and I am experiencing a clunking noise and vibartion my steering wheel column. I brought the car in and they said it was the steering column shaft and it needed to be replaced. The manager said that they are getting numerous messages regarding this problem. Maybe this is the same problem on your pilot? :confuse:

aleck828

I have a 2006 EX-L and wanted to have the driver side and front passenger side windows tinted. I live in West Houston, can anyone tell me usually how much it would cost and recommend a good shop for this job? Thanks.

master1

I don't know how much it cost's but the spray tint doesn't last long. When you open and close the window, over time, the paint will come off of it and there will be patches of white.

The film also wares out - only lasts about one to one year in a half.

tsy

If you go to a reputable place they will guarantee the film for as long as you own the car. The higher quality tints are scratch resistant and do quite well over time. They are not scratch proof though.

My guess is 2 front windows shouldn't be much more than $120.

tom

kennynmd

Anyone have any new info on the 07 Pilot? Whe does Honda usually reelease such info? THX

fujis

I read a lot of messages from this forum and I'd like to share my experience with you.

I bought my Pilot EX 2wd last month.

First tank: 19.7mpg, 60/40 highway/city, A/C always on, in Houston hot weather.

Sceond tank: 20.7mpg, same condition as above.

dbros

That information is supposed to be posted over at Honda Pilot-MPG Real World Numbers forum.

Here's the link: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef7f8ce

subarufan1

does the good value price below invoice/msrp off set the dated design? do you think the pilot represents the best value currently for the mid size suv crop? I do not want to purchase one and than find out a new pilot will be out in a year . thanks

jimmy5150

I was told a new Pilot would be out in 2009.

My sales guy hinted at an alternative fuel as well....ethanol, hybrid, diesel, I have no idea.

subarufan1

thank you

jimmy5150

I took the new Pilot out tonight for about a 150 mile trip roundtrip....nice.

Even on the rough PA roads, the "heavy feeling" almost tank like feel of the Pilot delivered a nice ride.

Legs were sticking to the seats a bit....leather's new for me.

Can't say I have any issues, seems to handle more like a car than some of the American SUV's I've ridden in over the years.

I do have a small paint flaw on the rear and a fender that's about a 16th out.....the dealer's going to look at both issues next week.

odie6l

I just added a bunch of pictures of 'The Beast' to my Carspace.

Odie
Odie's Carspace