2009 Honda Pilot

justaveragejoe

Do you mean a vibration or a harsh/hard ride? Yes, check the tire pressure, and if it is a vibration, then have the wheels balanced. Make sure that the tires are not out-of-round while the are spin balancing them. That can happen if the vehicle was not prepared properly for transporting.

raysbugm

Thanks for your response. It is not a vibration; more like a harsh/hide ride. My 2007 Honda Pilot had Goodyear Integrity tires. My 2008 Honda Pilot has the same Goodyear Integrity tires. The 2008 Goodyear tire does not ride as smooth as the 2007 Goodyear Integrity tires. Could Goodyear have made some change in the 2008 tires that would cause a ride that is not as smooth as the 2007 Pilot. Should I have the tires "road-force balanced" Should I have the dealer "free spun" the wheels?

tslbmw

I'm a newbie to the "large" SUV market. My wife and I have owned 3 Elements and just found out this weekend that we are expecting our 3rd child.....so, so long to our wonderful box. Anyway, I need to understand how these three rows of seats work. When our 3rd is born next spring, our oldest will have just turned 5 and the middle child will be 3....I tell you this b/c we will have three installed carseats at the same time. So, judging by what I have read, the Pilot does not have captains chairs for the 2nd row, so would we need to put two car seats in the rear and the new rear facing seat in the 2nd row and just leave half of the second row flipped up for easy access to the 3rd row? Is there an easier way....what am I missing. We really love our Hondas and would like to stay in the Honda family by making the Pilot work. Can anyone with children and a Pilot help me out here? Thanks!

fx35awd

I am sorry to say by no mean the Pilot is for your family with three kids still in car seats. Trust me, I have both. I have an '04 Pilot EX-L w/ Navi and an '07 Honda Odyssey EX-L w/ Navi and DVD and there is much more room (strollers, diaper bags, etc.) in the Odyssey than the Pilot and not to mention the accessibility (walking from front to back while car in motion, not recommended, but able to) and the practicality (automatic sliding doors and many more) of this van. I would highly recommend you purchasing a minivan (Odyssey). We have two kids and we prefer to take the van when we go places as a family. We are also planning on having another one soon. That is just my opinion so good luck. You can still stay in the Honda family by deciding on the Odyssey.

carseatgirl

I'm going to second the Ody suggestion. I am a minivan convert, myself (I have a Sienna, but I'm probably going to be switching to a Pilot once two of four of my kids aren't traveling with us quite so often, and I only have two left in seats.)

Anyways--on the carseat issue, it might actually be easiest to put the three seats across in the centre row of the Pilot. There's enough room for just about every configuration (short of putting three Britax Regents across, which you won't be doing since you have at least a couple years+ of your youngest rear-facing, ideally)... If you check the Edmunds Specs for "rear hip-room" (or in this case, centre) you'll get a number...anything around or over 50" so easily doable with three across.

You can let me know which seats you currently have for your two, and which you plan on using for your third and I can help you more with what configurations might work best within the row.. Or, if you still want to have a child in the back row (not as ideal, because the Pilot clearance from the back window isn't as great as in the Odyssey--so a rear-collision puts that rear-row child at a closer point to the impact versus the Ody) then generally you'd flip the single seat, put two carseats on the other portion, and have your oldest climb over.. Then if you put the oldest's seat on the driver's side, you can reach over the centre row from the doors and do up their harness (hopefully not a belt yet) from the doorway. Ideally they'd be in the rear-centre, but sometimes when getting in and out of the car with this many kids you compromise a bit to keep them from wandering around parking lots while you're strapping everyone else in...and for your sanity.

The Ody PlusOne seat is so small that the three across situation in the Pilot is actually easier than three across in the Ody. This is really the primary reason I bought the Sienna over the Ody and I'm considering the Pilot for my future needs...

jay_24

50" across is a minimum that may work with certain car seats. Our Subaru Outback is around 52" and just barely worked in some cases.

Most child seats are 18 to 20 inches wide. Many booster seats are 16 to 17 inches wide, but you need to get you hand in-between them to buckle up!

The Pilot will work, but I'd consider it the minimum if you want to get all three kids on one row of seats.

tslbmw

Thank you to all three of you for your input.

carseatgirl,
We have two Britax Marathon carseats that are huge but excellent/safe seats that will allow our kids to stay in 5 point harnesses until they reach 60 lbs. I guess my worry with putting three across the 2nd row (front facing/rear facing/front facing order) would be the 3 year olds tendency to "bother" the newborn....I can just see it now with the older ones poking at the newborn right after he/she falls asleep.....

Its very sobering to think that a minivan is our best choice *gulp* I never thought the day would come. But I'm thinking that a used Ody might be our best choice. I believe a test drive will be happening in the very near future.

Again, I appreciate all of the help and will put it to good use.

Thanks again!

kelliwbrown

No need to gulp. You do not have to give into the minivan. Yes, you can do the pilot and really enjoy it. I have 4 kids 6 and under. I have 4 carseats and we do great. I keep the girls in the middle row right next to each other (keeping the smallest seat, right behind the passenger seat, down at all times). I then put the 2 boys in the back, separated. They climb back there just great. Honda is brilliant and has a 60/40 seat that allows you to have many different configurations for passengers and cargo. I love mine and will trade it in next summer for a new one.
Good luck on your decision!

mercara

Two Kids = Pilot
Three or More Kids = Odyssey.

You have to get over the minivan image thing if you have more than two kids. When my next one comes along, I will probably get a sienna cause I want the all wheel drive option

tslbmw

Wow, four kids and you make it sound so easy....I bow down to the master.

That sounds like a good setup and that answers my question as to whether or not you just keep one of the seats on the second row flipped up at all times. One last question for you, how is your cargo capacity when all the kids are loaded? I guess we could pack at their feet as well as behind the 3rd row....is that what you do? I would really LOVE to not have to buy a minivan......

Thanks!

fx35awd

Amen!

fx35awd

Wow! I guess you really trust your kids buckling themselves up since I don't. I always have to check their seat belts (five point harness) on their car seat. Also, I have bad back so wouldn't do too well climbing in the third row to assist them. Besides, it is too much trouble for me, that is why we always take the Odyssey when we go out as a family. Also, the Odyssey has so much more room behind the third row seat to store stuff.

Yes, you need to get over the minivan thing. I am the one who is driving the van and my wife drives the Pilot and I don't mind because it minimize the time I have to put the kids in securely and take them out once we get to our destination.

fx35awd

Here is my honest advice to you, bring the kids and their car seats and take your time to test drive both vehicles and decide then which one is more convinience and practical for you. If you want to keep your "image" thing and not drive a minivan then you might have to give up the conviniency and practicality. I am fortunate since I have both vehicles so I know which one I prefer, but is just me. You need to try out both for yourself. Just ask around people that owns minivan and they will tell you it is the best investment they have for their family.

berniedg

geeez, haven't logged in to this forum for a long time, wanted to find out when the re-design was coming. Posters here still struggling with self-esteem issues, I see.

ramle

This looks ugly!

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/

brutus22

Your kidding right...you are honestly going to judge a cars look with that much camouflage?...I mean come on.

What seems clear is the the Pilot will continue to be more like a truck rather then a massaged version of an SUV. It also seems that it will stay around the same size maybe a bit longer. Not sure you can pull much out.

Brutus

ramle

Of course I will not be making my final decision based on this photo. I would like to see it in person first. But at this point I like the older model better.

mercara

From the box it is towing, I hope it will have better towing capacity that the current pilot, cause that is one of the things that I had to compromise on when I bought my pilot.

rv65

Expect it to come eariler than expected. Some say the new pilot could come as early as the spring of next year. The 08 came out earlier than expected.

jeepvan

Indeed it looks ugly. It is more or less like MDX, (bulky, short and with a fat back ). imho, the current pilot looks a lot better. i know, i hated the current pilot, but after looking at the new design, i am seriously thinking about 2008 pilot.

brutus22

What new design...show it to me, are you one of the Honda engineers....because if you have seen more then I have please let us in :P ...otherwise I hope you are not commenting on the last spy-photo, as it is so covered there is no way you can honestly make a styling comment on it, IE the back has an extended covering... Did you not like the footprints on the side of the camo of the vehicle :shades:

I can't wait until they show the new V6 desiel.

mtairyordge

speaking of which - whenare we going to see the 2009 Desiel

tidester

That would be a good topic for Future Vehicles. Check with one of the hosts over there.

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

floridagal2

We just drove the 07 and 08 and there are no changes in design.

Even though it appears to be a very sturdy mid size SUV and we could get a great price for an 07, the front seats are not comfortable for me (small lean person) even with the driver's lumbar seat adjustment. Anyone else have this problem?

manufan1

You'd better not expect Japanese cars look good. Well you can expect them save more gas.

coupedncal

there is no change in 2008 Pilot.

brutus22

Yes, been trying to say that for a bit now...2009 Honda Pilot.
So anyone hear anything new on this any Honda Moles?...send me a pm message with the actual picture of the 2009 and I will give you a gift...I am serious.

B.

stever

Someone yell next September and we'll change it to the 2010 Pilot.

kipk

I agree about the better towing need! They also "NEED" a 7 pin connector, so small travel trailers can be towed.

I'm wanting to get one of the light weight "EGG" campers (2000 lbs), but they require a 7 pin connector to operate the brakes and so forth. Pilot does not offer that in any form.

I'm having to look toward a 4-Runner or Pathfinder to fill my needs. It is a shame because I really like the Pilot otherwise.

Kip

brutus22

I am surprised there is no after-market options out there, have you checked?

Not really a big towing guy, but I would imagine in this upcoming re-design they show in about 6 months will address some of these concerns...that is the Honda way.

B.

helmut122

Do you think there will be a redesign in early 2008?I may lease a pilot,but I really cannot stand the look of the vehicle.My wife doesn't like the look of the pilot either,but she is willing to deal with it for the for the price and practicality of the third row seating.This would be the first car that I bought without loving the design.

mercara

Late 2008 as a 2009 model.

brutus22

All indications are a spring/early summer '08 release for 2009 model so not late...but rather early 2008. The 2003 model was originally out there being reviewed in March/April.

Later,
B.

mtairyordge

Any intel on what the new pilot will look like? When is it supposed to be launched?

brutus22

I am eager to hear something, I read somewhere that said it would be on dealer lost in April. This is high on my list of my next vehicle.

B.

texases

Same here, went to the car show at the state fair, my wife was much more impressed with the new Highlander than the current Pilot, wish I could show here the new one in the next few months, pictures at least.

brutus22

Not suprising considering the Highlander is an all new design and the Pilot is in its final months before the complete new redesign.

My bet is that they show us something for the Detroit Auto Show.

B.

05rubisahara

If they can't at least offer Bluetooth technology and offer both NAV and Rear DVD all in the same vehicle, I am heading over to Toyota. Come on Honda....get your head out of the sand.

brutus22

How do you know what they will and will not offer for the new version? I would assume it will be offered as such since they offer it on the Ody.

B.

rv65

Yes they should offer navi, bluetooth and rear dvd in the next one. They probably are going to do that. Just like the odyssey and MDX.

solo

For me to buy the 'redesigned' 2009 Pilot 3 things are a must;
1
Keep the 49inch width of the tail gate and floor bed.
2 Get rid of the excessive wind and road noise.
3 Re-engineer the drive shaft to eliminate the high speed vibration.
4 Widen the seatbacks.
With all that, the Pilot is still a great car.
By the way, I switched to premium fuel for the last 6 tankfulls and am averaging 21mpg!

texases

By the way, I switched to premium fuel for the last 6 tankfulls and am averaging 21mpg!

What were you getting before in similar driving?

justaveragejoe

Yes, get rid of the road noise and...

include a rock-solid six speed transmission

go to electric drive accessories

and give it some low-end towing grunt.

Joe

coupedncal

The new pilot will likely be based on MDX and we can expect same features like 5 speed transmission etc. I am guessing and hoping they also use the same MDX 3.7 liter engine.

blufz1

Elimination of the roof rack will reduce wind noise and increase MPG. I would never buy a car with a driveshaft,differential,less MPG, etc. I understand 4WD is a must in some parts of the country.

blufz1

Elimination of the roof rack will reduce wind noise and increase MPG. I would never buy a car with a driveshaft,differential,less MPG, etc. Honda eliminated the roof rack as standard equipment on the CRV and I expectect they will do the same on the new Pilot. I understand 4WD is a must in some parts of the country.

justaveragejoe

I think that Honda will have to out-do the 2008 Toyota Highlander with their new 2009 Pilot. It will have to get 25 mpg highway and have at least 260 Hp.

Although the Acura has 300 Hp, it is priced over $40k and is rated for only 20 mpg on the highway.

That is not what a Honda buyer will be expecting.

Joe

blufz1

The new Pilot has a 3.7 version of the 3.5 so powerwise it will be roughly equal to the Highlander. This is a 4300 lb. vehicle,so I would think mpg would be about the same as currently.

anaconda2

Is anyone sure if the 2009 Pilot will be a new body style? I am interested in either this car or the newly restyled CR-V and was looking for information on what might be coming.

brutus22

Yes complete redesign, comes out from all indications spring 2008, probably see something Detroit Auto show. They showed the original 2003 model at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show, so one would assume that come mid January we will see this model. I am extremely eager to see what they come up with, as long as it does not look like the new Highlander :sick: everything else is great IMO the looks are weak, and more like the Saturn Outlook or GMC Acadia.

B.