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Traded in a 1989 Honda Accord LX-I. Original owner...I believe in buying new and holding forever (seemed like forever). Got $1700.00 for the 1989 at the dealer. Very good price. Car had some rust from northeast winters around the wheel wells. Sunroof leaked a little. So that was bad. Mechanical and interior were perfect, but overall, due to rust and sun roof leakage, car would have struggled to be in the category of, "good condition". More likely in the category of, "fair condition".
You can see the price I paid for the Pilot on my other postings along with other info passed along.
Thanks Edmunds. Your website was invaluable in defining many issues for me on this whole car buying episode. Particularly the article, "Confessions of a Car Salesman". I think all car salesman have read the same article!
We love our Pilot!
Edmunds.com is doing a great job in increasing the consumer awareness. Thanks and good luck to all fellow Pilot owners. Enjoy...
Tom from Rochester,NY--purchased in Aug '03.Really love the vehicle so far-I did leave a question under the "problems" sight-hope someone can give me some insight.
this board doesn't see much action, but the other Pilot boards (Accessories, Problems, and Prices Paid) usually get a few posts a week.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
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
Our local dealer has no competition, so we looked at Los Angeles angeles, and finally settled on a desert dealer east of Los Angeles. We love our Pilot so far... Still original owner of a 92 Accord DX that drives/looks like BRAND NEW!! What a great site for info. I look forward to reading more posts.
I suppose the moral to this post is if you want to save some money and get a decent warranty on a nearly new Honda, their Certified Used program may be worth a look for you too...
thanks,
Abi
If you are getting your oil changed every 3k miles, than perhaps you are getting it changed to frequently. Depending on a users driving conditions, Honda has a recommended range for oil changes - 3,750 under severe conditions to 7,500 for normal. According to Honda, most people fall under the normal category.
I'd be curious to know what type of oil your Honda dealer uses for changes (if that's where you get your oil changed). My dealer uses the recommended oil from Honda for the Pilot, which is a synthetic blend and get it changed every 5k miles.
As for the original question about sythetic oil, I use have used it from day one in my '98 Subaru and have done so with my '04 Subaru. I put about 28k miles a year on that vehicle and the added protection synthetics provide at higher and lower temperatures is something I feel is worth the extra $75 or so per year it costs.
For more info on the topic, here's an interesting article on synthetics. http://www.patgosscarworld.com/syntheticdifference.htm
I got my '05 EXL this past Tuesday. It's really my wife's. They expect 3-5 inches of snow today, so it's her first experience driving a AWD in the snow.
Norm Koller, Staten Island, NY
I need to know how to get the maintainence required light off on my 2004 Honda Pilot. It has 25k miles and runs great. Thanks.
This procedure is also in the owner's manual, by the way ...
while the car is off, press and hold the odometer trip reset button, then turn the key to position 2 and continue holding the button until the maintenance light goes out. That's it.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The instruction is in the owner's manual instrument panel section for 2005.
The steps are:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Press and hold the select/reset button on the instrument panel, then turn the ignition swith to ON(II) position.
3. Hold the button for about 10 second until the indicator goes off.
Good Luck.
Leo
I am looking for some seat cover and steering wheel covers. If anyone knows any good stores (web or b&m) and can share ... that would be great ...
Thanks
Rahul and Runa
Rancho Cordova, CA
There are no custom made Pilot seat covers. Your options are:
1) Buy covers from any automotive store and see how well they fit on the Pilot. Trial and error.
2) Get them custom made from India. Take pictures and dimensions of your seat (height, width and seat depth).
Out of curiosity, which other vehicle was on your short list before you decided on the Pilot. What do you like about the Pilot?
Thanks
Fred
Did any body experience out of this fabulous 2005 EX-L .
Whenever I am driving w/40 mph and up w/right side window pane pullled down and left side up I am getting a grumbling noise .The noise increases as I increase the speed .The same is NOT true when I repeat with left window.
I was wondering if this is severe .You know what I mean like suspension,struts,ball bearing etc. etc.
I would appreciate if any body has any suggestion or advice .
Thanks :confuse:
I enjoy the car in its present state, but I've had to endure several recalls, a malfunctioning side airbag system, window seal noise, and recently I've discovered the roof rack and bike carrier accessories are poorly designed, rendering them useless for me (see my post in the accessory forum).
Everything has been addressed, but the issues have left a bad impression.
I'm glad others are having better experiences!
As far as I know, there were 2 recalls for our '03 Pilot. One was simply a reprogramming of the airbag system. Although it worked, they weren't completely satisfied with its timing. The other was for the transmission.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Also, my side airbag light would not go out. The dealer had to replace the Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) unit - luckily it was under warranty. My colleague had a similar problem with a CR-V and she wasn't so fortunate.
All in all, I wouldn't say 4 problems should be considered a big disappointment, especially if you have never been left stranded by the vehicle, but, obviously, that's your right to feel that way. good luck in the future.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Don't get me wrong, I like the Pilot, but I won't buy again during the first year of a new design, and I won't be so quick to recommend Hondas.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Poor research on the roof rack? How many new car buyers look at the installation and load ratings for roof racks and accessories before purchasing the car -- did you? Others have expressed frustration with this.
There has been lots of discussion on this site and others about the window seal noise -- it's been an "issue" for many. I had to take the car in twice to have this addressed, the second time was the charm, window seals for all four doors were replaced.
our pilot had a little rattle/creaking noise that came from the dash above the stereo, however i never once complained to the dealer about it, nor did i ever complain about it to other owners or potential owners. To me, its just not worth the breath it takes to complain. Same with the infamous gas tank slosh. Some owners acted like you just shot their dog when they heard it for the first time. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you shouldn't get it fixed if its that annoying, but does it really deserve to be listed as a disappointment or even affect your appreciation for the vehicle?
actually, i did look at the roof rack first. BUT, no, i don't expect all owners to look at it. But those who don't, in my opinion, shouldn't call it an "issue." If its important enough to complain about, its important enough to look at prior to purchasing. That's kind of like buying it to tow a 10,000 pound trailer only to find out afterwards that it won't.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
You may have looked at the weight rating for the roof rack, but I doubt you read the installation instructions for the crossbars and accessories. These reveal the deficiencies in the design. Please read my posting in the accessories forum before commenting. Regardless, just because I didn't research this before purchase doesn't make it right or less of an issue.
I didn't say the Pilot was a big disappointment, just a disappointment compared to my high expectations driven by prior owner experience.
I still believe the Pilot is a fine vehicle, it just had some growing pains. I'd love to have the 2006.
you assume wrong.
let's just say we differ on the severity of the word "issue," and leave it at that.
by the way, a TSB only means there were enough inquiries from service departments on the complaint that Honda issued a standard response for all dealers to refer to when presented with the complaint. Its basically a "ok. stop bugging us. here is our form letter response."
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
If I may ask, where did you get the installation instructions and which ones did you look at, before buying your Pilot? They certainly don't come in the brochure.
You're incorrect on the TSBs -- if I'm not mistaken the TSB issued for the window seals compelled Honda to redesign the part and/or acknowledge a defect, much more than a form letter. You're right that some TSBs simply say "By design," e.g. the crazy rear open window noise, but not all.
for that item in particular, i wanted to see how difficult it was to install to determine what price I'd let the dealer sell it to us for at the initial purchase. At the time, folks were talking about how you could possibly break some part on them (this was almost 3 years ago, so i don't remember the details). So when the dealer came back with a price of about $25 more than they would cost to buy myself over the internet, we went ahead and let them add the bars pre-delivery.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Thanks for your input.
From the beginning my Pilot often produced a loud "thumping" sound when braking; they first refused to acknowledge the problem, then told me that it was a "characteristic" of the vehicle, not a problem. :confuse:
Then at about 20,000 miles the vehicle started sporadically losing power; it felt like a miss and it would lose velocity on a level highway, requiring me to kick it into passing gear to get back up to speed. Gas mileage went from 19mpg to 16mpg. I have taken it to the dealer several times, and they even had the Honda district service rep to look at it. But because it doesn't show a code on their diagnostic equipment they insist that there is no problem and they refuse to do anything more about it. So I called Honda's "customer service" hotline, and got a smug person who essentially told me that they're not going to do anything to help me because there's nothing wrong with my car. When I tried to escalate, I was told that there was no one to escalate to; I had reached the end of the line. :mad:
Since there are others who have had good experiences with their Pilots, I have to conclude that Honda's quality control on this vehicle is poor. If you're buying a Pilot you might get a good one or a lemon. :lemon: And if you have to deal with Honda due to problems with your vehicle, you are going to get BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
I called up American Honda to document my ongoing problem w/ my Pilot while still under warranty.
Its a sluggish acceleration issue which is intermittent.
I was given a case number and a case manager was assigned to me.
The problem is, I cannot replicate the symptoms or the problem itself w/ the dealership. The case manager called me up and informed me that American Honda will no longer be responsible for any charges should any Honda dealership charge a diagnostic fee should you bring in your Honda vehicle for diagnosis even if the problem is not replicated.
So, I asked her....what am I paying for if they cannot determine the problem?
Their time!
If you're experiencing problems with your Honda Pilot and you want to show it to the dealer, ask them first if it will cost you anything.
Thanks.