Honda Pilot 2003 through 2005

habitat1 · February 2004

You are very kind in suggesting the Honda is watching out for our safety and that's why they don't light the steering wheel buttons. Unfortunately, I think it's purely cost cutting/savings. Look at most of the high end vehicles and you will find lighted steering wheel controls, including from those manufacturers with a reputation for "safety".

I don't think a glance down at the steering wheel is a safety concern. Although in my very first new car, a 1978 Datsun B210GX 4-speed, the reason given by the salesman for why a tachometer wasn't standard is that it's a visual distraction and that shifting should be done by feel, not rpms. And the reason why a tachometer is included in virtually all of today's automatic transmission cars is..??

Good try, but I suspect that a bean counter is behind the "to light" or "not to light" decision.

elemint · February 2004

Do the rear seats fold down completely flat??? Like the Pilot, especially the interior storage space, but i need a flat cargo area.

qbrozen · February 2004

they are flat... in a sense. Meaning that you can slide something heavy in and it won't get caught on anything, but when you get to that 2nd row area, there is a slight incline to that area of the cargo bed. So while the only SUVs I've seen that are flatter are the type where the seat bottom flips up and then the back goes into the floor, that leaves you with a barrier at the front of the cargo area. I'm not too fond of that setup because, just like I had last night while moving a sofa, I can push the front passenger seat in the Pilot forward and hang my 87" couch past the cargo area into that front seat area. Something that couldn't be done if the 2nd row seat bottom were folded forward and blocking the path.

elemint · February 2004

I just saw a picture of the pilot with a full sheet of plywood in it with the back door shut!!!! Is this for REAL????? Say it is so!!! That is what i NEED!!!!

qbrozen · February 2004

not if its 4x8, no, not a chance.
But, then again, not many SUVs out there that can fit a full 4x8.
4x6, probably.

fishingdan · February 2004

I saw that picture and I remember reading that the pilot could carry a 4x6 sheet of plywood with the door closed. 4x8 if you don't mind driving with an open door.

elemint · February 2004

No, i dont mind the door open as long as it is not one of those dumb side opening doors. Why are not ALL suv doors clam shell style?

dako_tian · February 2004

I think you'll find your manual warning of exhaust gases being drawn into the vehicle if you drive with the rear hatch open. Better get a Suburban/Yukon XL or a full-sized pickup to haul plywood (though the latter will require you to leave the bed door down). They also rent flat bed trucks at Home Depot for exactly this sort of thing; perhaps well worth it when you consider possible damage to the interior of your more social SUV.... ;-)

dski · February 2004

>>bought the Huskys and they seem to do a great job protecting the dead pedal area. If I knew how to post pictures, I would take some of our Pilot<<

The only question we need answered is.... Do the Husky mats "Cover" the area of the Dead Pedal or Foot Rest area?

As you know, the Honda mats do NOT.. they leave the space completely uncovered expecting the Small Vinyl patch to protect the carpeting. Of course.. it doesnt come close to helping.

Thnx
Drew

torpman · February 2004

Yep, full coverage of the dead pedal/foot rest area.
Check your email for some additional info.

wheelz4 · February 2004

I guess Honda must be feeling the heat from the Toyota Highlander's 3 row seating option, as they've just released a special edition in Canada @ $38,800 (regular Pilot's start at $41,000) which puts it closer to the Highlander's $38,000 and change price for the 3 row/AWD version. They deleted a bunch of standard features and tacked on some cosmetics (pedestrian-destroyer bumper guard, pant-leg-dirtying side step bars, ugly alloy wheels etc. etc.)...the operative word being "tacked" as in "tacky". Meanwhile, one of the features they deleted is the almost indispensable keyless entry. About the only thing that's somewhat attractive about this version is the price. To me, it would've made more sense to omit the tacky cosmetics, substitute attractively styled steel wheels (see base Highlanders, for example) for the ugly alloys and include a few of the deleted features (at least, keyless entry).
Maybe even "rubberize" the interior (a la Element)
so the Granite edition could attempt to live up to its tougher-sounding name.

ccgegg · February 2004

Elemint: Regarding the sheet of plywood, the Pilot brochure specifically says "4x6 garden trellis".... ya know, things you haul around on a regular basis. :-)

Torpman: Can you email me the Husky info too? I'd really like to get those.

torpman · February 2004

Hi,
It looks like your email is not set up for messages.

reichowjr · February 2004

I have an 03 Pilot with a dealer installed tow package. I pull a 6x10 single axle cargo trailer approx. 2000 lbs. in combined weight.

The Pilot feels well grounded and very stable at freeway speed. There is plenty of power when pulling up steep grades through the smokey mountains.

My big beef with the Pilot as a tow vehicle is the inability to manually select 4th gear. Your either in drive which is not the best gear to tow based on load, grade, and head wind. The transmission guns the motor to get the vehicle back to speed. Third gear revs too high at speed.

I believe the owners manual suggests adjusting the vehicle speed to reduce the problem as it is hard on the transmission. In real world driving one is most likely not going to drive down the freeway at 50mph when the posted speed limit is 70mph.

I have 20,000 miles on my Pilot and have been very pleased for the most part other than the above. We take it on the beach in North Carolina and does very well in the sand.

The bottom line is if your towing occasionally like I do the Pilot works and it works the transmission. If you plan on doing a lot of towing then you might want to consider a vehicle more suited for towing.

ccgegg · February 2004

Sorry Torpman. Now it's in there.

torpman · February 2004

Looks like it is still private. You can email me if you want.

ccgegg · February 2004

Torpman... your email is showing private. When I click on my name and profile, it shows my email is public. I wonder if something is messed up.

Is the info something you can just post on this board?

torpman · February 2004

Looks like they fixed the problem. Both of our emails show up now. Check your inbox.

biologist · February 2004

I have had my Pilot since June 8 2002 the week it was officially released. I Have only had to bring it in for the 2 major recalls or whatever they call them for the timing belt tensioner problem recently and the reprogramming of the Airbags.

Other than that i have only had some very minor nits. i.e. the driver side windshield washer nozzle sometimes leaks without using them.

I have driven my car in Death Valley and on the dirt roads around Southern California. Works great to me.
One thing though is I take my Pilot to Acura for the major services since Honda dealers around here seem to nickel and dime you for certain things that are supposed to be done. Acura does everything for one price with no extras....

Eric the Desert Rat

dako_tian · February 2004

One copy of your post in one forum is enough. Believe me, all interested parties will see it and, if you multiple post, will see it until they are somewhat less than interested and perhaps a little peeved at having wasted their time perusing (again!) what was supposed to be new info. Glad you are happy and thanks for sharing. Happy (continued) driving.

schulhof · February 2004

15k mile review:

The Pilot has hit 15k miles with no issues along
the way.

Just had it to the Dealer to change the VTM4 ($45),
(and recall fix for SRS), per the 15k mile recommendation.
I do the Oil, Oil Filter and Air filter myself.

To date 3 oil changes, one air filter and the
VTM4 change.

I have driven it in summer and one trip to the
mountains (snow). It performs capably but definately
lacks the confidence in both the wet and snow that
the Isuzu Trooper provided.

It beats the Trooper on utility (3rd row is great), mileage,
quiet ride, comfort, DVD, styling, etc. The Trooper braking always
inspired more confidence and the vehicle generally provided
the feeling that it could and would get you anywhere through
anything. The Pilot just does not impart that same feeling,
but has not failed in any way.

We have many of the common Pilot complaints, it clunks backing
down the driveway in the morning, the inside B pillar is all
nicked from the seatbelt and the leather is loose on the front
seats.

So far though, 15k miles with no problems. I am confident that
for the price and features we made the correct choice. No regrets!

nucar02 · February 2004

Hi. Just got done test driving the '04 Pilot and my wife and I love it! Seems like a very good SUV with lots of extras for a decent price. (EX-L w/RES)

My question is on road noise. We are coming from a 98 CRV which is pretty noisy. Can barely have a conversation with the kids in back seat without yelling.

Is the Pilot seem good in this road noise area? Or do we need to look elsewhere.

Also, we cannot seem to find very many color choices. My wife really wants the White (never had a white car) .. but we cannot seem to find one in our area. My second choice is Silver.

Any owners of these have advice on colors the White vs the Silver or Sandstone. Does one color have better resale value then another. Is the White hard to keep clean etc.

Thanks!

qbrozen · February 2004

I find the Pilot very quiet. Quieter, in fact, than my Volvo. And FAR quieter than our previous subaru forester. But opinions vary.

white and black are always tough to keep clean. but i do like the pilot in black. i'm not too fond of it in white, personally.

fishingdan · February 2004

The Pilot is very quiet. In fact, it is by far the quietest vehicle I have ever owned. The only sounds really are a small amount of tire noise and wind noise, but again these are barely noticeable.

Regarding colors, I ended up with black. My first choice was silver, but that is the most popular by far in my area. Sage seems like the second most popular. Sandstone and Red were the least popular. The black looks good, but it is tough to keep a clean appearence. In the Pilot, the sage and blue are also very dark and I would expect similar in those colors.

torpman · February 2004

I agree that the Pilot is a very quiet vehicle. It is quieter than my I30.

We have Midnight Blue which shows quite a bit of dirt. My I30 is silver and it seem to hide the dirt/dust fairly well.

cds12 · February 2004

All the Pilot colors are either Pearl or Metallic. Whats the differance between a "Pearl" color and a "Metallic" Color?

Just Curious.

gregory28 · February 2004

Does anyone know if this SUV is coming out in a hybrid for '05? When does the '05 come out? Is there only speculation that it'll be a hybrid for '05?

Greg

jlasorsa · February 2004

I have a 97 cr-v and a 03 pilot and comparing road noise if your yelling in the cr-v you'll be whispering in the pilot.

qbrozen · February 2004

i thought i had an answer for this, but i just now looked at the Acura TL brochure I happen to have sitting here and it disproved my theory. I thought it had something to do with the metallic fleck. But the TL brochure has Red Redona Pearl and Desert Mist Metallic right next to each other and (other than the obvious difference of tan vs. red) they look exactly the same in composition (meaning they both have a metallic fleck in the paint of the same size and same frequency). At least, that's how it appears to my naked eye.

nucar02 · February 2004

Hey thanks for the answers on road noise. We drove a Pilot EX yesterday and agree it is much smoother and quieter than our trusty CRV.

** I am ready to buy one and my wife wants WHITE and I now think I want SILVER..... Any last thoughts of practial reasons why one color may be better than the other? ie: which one will look better over time .. resale value .. etc.

I know the color is sooo subjective and I will be happy with either one.

Will be calling dealers tomorrow for quotes and to start purchase !!

cds12 · February 2004

I'm getting ready to do the same thing.

My wife and I test drove the Polit and Oddy yesturday. We decided on the Pilot.

I will begin emailing dealers for prices on an EX cloth with the following color preferances:

1. Sage Brush (wifes favorite)
2. Sandstone (my favorite)
3. Silver

We also prefer the darker interior of grey and fern which the sage brush and silver have.

qbrozen · February 2004

as far as silver vs. white, the silver will not show dirt as easily, typically keeps its shine better over the years, and will, in fact, have better resale. Not so much from a monetary point of view, but due to the fact that silver is a more popular color and, therefore, you open up your customer base to a wider range at resale time.

mtbdad · February 2004

I have had my Pilot for just under a month and am for the most part pleased. The gas slosh is getting to be a minor annoyance and the stretched leather only bothers me when I see it upon getting in. I added the step up, which is useful and the rear backup sensors.
I have turned off the sensors because after 1 week, it broke. I now hear beep, beep,beep...beep, beep, beep...beep, beep, beep...and the sensors don't beep when I am right up on an obstacle. The service writer says something is wrong with the system. DUH!!I wasn't given the owners manual. I had a C-RV and I had no problems. Just keeping my fingers crossed that the sensor thing is a one time fix problem.
On a lighter note, I hear that silver is the safest color. Black, green and brown are the least safe. I have black. :-)
We tested the Aviator, Volvo XC90 and Pacifica. With my past experience with Honda, I chose the Pilot EX-L RES.
Anyone with the sensor problem?

nucar02 · February 2004

Thanks for the input all!

Bottom line on color....

My wife likes Taffeta White. 'Nough said. The "white one" looks A-OK to me .. we'll add rear wheel mud flaps and running boards and it will be great looking ride!!

Searchin' California for one.

If anyone knows where I can get a deal within California (Norcal or Socal ok) let me know.

EX-L/RES - Taffeta White

qbrozen · February 2004

since the sensors are dealer installed, it has nothing to do with HOnda or the quality of the Pilot versus your previous CRV. The number of fixes will depend on how competent your dealer is. I'd give them one more shot and, if not fixed, go elsewhere. We've now switched to an Acura dealer for service on our Pilot and, so far, a much better experience.

dako_tian · February 2004

Congratulations on a great choice and best of luck on the purchase. I would also suggest the chrome trim kit. It puts a bit of chrome on the corners of the bumpers giving the Taffeta White a marvelous sparkle. :-)

raydahs · February 2004

nucar02, I've owned a Civic in Taffeta White, and currently own a White Isuzu Trooper. The one thing I can share with you is "Bird droppings" get this stuff off fast! The little Yellow ones are the worst, they stain the paint. If you let it go too long, you'll have to rub it out with White rubbing compound. I got into the habit of carrying those little packets of finger wipes that you get at KFC:)

By the way I'm not trolling, A fellow Trooperite (schulhof) converted to the Pilot some time ago, and I check in regularly to see how things are going. Eric your 15K update is appreciated, especially the Trooper comparison.

mtbdad · February 2004

Thanks for the response. Here in Hawaii, there are 3 Honda dealers. One, wouldn't put in the Honda sensor. They insisted on Echo Master and said that you can't put it in the Honda one without the Navigation. I argued, but to no avail. They also sell an after market extended warranty verses American Honda. I think that they are supposed to push Honda product, but they make a better profit margin on the aftermarket products.
I hope that my dealer will fix it to my satisfaction. If not, I will be in a pickle as to where I will go to fix it after.

qbrozen · February 2004

I don't know what the one dealer is talking about. Maybe they thought you meant a reverse camera, which needs the Nav to show you the picture. But a sensor obviously needs no Nav (which you know since you have it set up that way, of course).

Any Acura dealers on your island?

Actually, the problem is that (1) the Acura dealer cannot perform warranty work on a Honda and (2) even another Honda dealer may not be able to fix your backup sensor free of charge since it is not included with the original vehicle. I'm really not sure about that second one, though. I mean, if its an OEM Honda part and a dealer installed it, maybe it is covered under warranty at any Honda dealer. Anyone know the answer to that?

mtbdad · February 2004

Nope, they knew I was talking about the sensor and not the camera. Funny thing is that they say you can put the echo master in without the nav, but the Honda OEM only with the Nav. The dealer I bought the Pilot from said that they don't want to put in the OEM because the profit margin is higher in the aftermarket. $695 installed and it cost only $150 for the part. The service dept at the first dealer confirmed that they can put it in without the nav and was kinda amused that his sales manager told me otherwise. The Honda one cost me $650 installed and it comes with 4 sensors instead of 2 with the echo master, and comes with the full Honda warranty.
I had bought my 1997 C-RV from the dealer that wouldn't put in the OEM sensors. I was able to go to another dealer to do extended warranty work. I never got to see if the warranty work on the car during the 3 yr/36000 period could be done at another dealer because the C-RV was so damn reliable. I assume that warranty work can be done at any dealer. All options put in the car can't be installed at the factory so I would guess that they would be fixed at any dealer.ie: if I moved from Hawaii to the mainland.
Anyway, this is all a little to premature. I will see this Saturday what they say and if they fix it. Keep you up to date. Thanks

mtbdad · March 2004

It was just a loose wire on one of the middle sensors. Took 1 1/2 hours to fix which included a car wash. In less than a month someone bumped my rear bumper and I got dinged on my right rear quarter panel. SO depressing!!

qbrozen · March 2004

thanks for the update.

good to know they can track down a lose wire in only 90 minutes. LOL! How long do you wait for an oil change? 3 days?

i try not to look at my cars to closely after a while just so i don't get aggravated about the uncontrollable damage that occurs.

schulhof · March 2004

Has anyone with a Pilot had to do the brakes yet?

Currently I am at 16k, just anticipating how the brakes will wear on the Pilot. I had an Accord that needed brakes about every 20k miles, and a Trooper where the original pads and rotors went 100k.

So, if you have done brakes, can you reply with what mileage you did them at and what it needed, i.e. pads, rotors turned, new rotors, etc.

Thanks!

toca · March 2004

Had the rotors resurfaced at 13K. Now at 20K and starting to feel shaky again. Doesn't bode well.....

cho7819 · March 2004

I wanted to purchase one but the dealer has stated that the Midnight blue color was discontinued as of Mar. 1, 2004. I was wondering if this is true, or if it is a salesman pulling my leg so that he could sell me a car on the lot immediately.

Nick

toca · March 2004

Even if it's true, there should be some Pilot's in inventory that should be available for sale.

FWIW, the Honda web site still lists Midnight Blue as a color of choice.

zoomroo · March 2004

Salesman is right.. Honda had discontinued Midnight Blue from 02/29/04. If you are lucky, you may find it.. There was one available last weekend at classic honda in streesboro, OH with all the upgrades.. very pricy.. around $36K..

isellhondas · March 2004

I surprised they dropped it. Not the most popular color but not saleproof either.

Good luck finding one. Most Pilots are pre sold before they arrive on the lots. At least that's the case in my neck of the woods.

dski · March 2004

If the recent "ding" in the rear Qtr panel bothers you, check into one of those "paintless dent repair" businesses.

I use one that my Detail Shop works with. I've had several significant dents repaired very cheaply and the work was amazing!

My wifes Saab had a couple horrible dents in the hood from something falling on it in the garage. It looked like something a body shop would have to do including a repaint. The body shop qouted over $700 and the insurance company wrote me a check. Before I put it in for work, my detail guy convinced me to try the his Paintless dent repair guy for $100. I couldn't find the dents when he got finished with the work. I've had a couple other dings done which were much cheaper than the $100.

Give it a shot. Good luck
Drew

tcasboy · March 2004

Habitat1: thanks for the info that my humble opinion was wrong.

I'll take a stab at your question about the tach in vehicles with automatic transmissions. They are installed for marketing reasons, so that informed consumers like yourself can tell everybody that their "sport" SUV has a tach. Same reason why some manufacturers install lit steeting wheel controls, so that you can say "wow, my steering wheel sure looks pretty at night with all these little lights on it!" If you can't find the steering wheel controls without lights than you shouldn't be allowed outside without supervision, let alone driving a 5000 pound SUV around.

OF COURSE its also a cost decision, why add cost and complexity in an area that doesn't need it?

I was trying to explain to people who are worried about lights on the steering wheel controls why they don't NEED to be lit in order to be functional, and in fact its probably better that they are not, since they are designed to be used by feel, not sight.

That is still my opinion, you are welcome to yours.

Thanks, though for correcting me.

Honda Pilot 2003 through 2005

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