| timchen |
Would you buy your Pilot if it's not AWD?
Say you got yourself $1700 off at MSRP since no AWD
Pilot become FWD plus a traction control for wet and light snow.
And you get better gas mileage like 1 mpg better
No hassle to rotate tires every 7500miles and you can mix new and old tires. Not mention problem free with VTM-4
You keep the same look and same feature but the AWD from Honda. Would you buy it? |
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| FamilyGuy |
Definitely sounds like an idea to me.
If you really want to laugh, I hadn't really researched the Pilot when I was first at the Honda dealer (I went in to buy aN Odyssey) and said to the salesman I imagine I can get this without the AWD, right? He responded by informing me that yes I could. I said it would cost less and then get better fuel economy and he responded that yes, it would. I asked if it could be had with a sunroof and I was told no, because Honda did not want to cut into their Acura' division sales..... anyways I left that day without getting really serious about the Pilot, because I was still thinking Odyssey. I came to find out later that the Pilot is not available without AWD. Apparently the salesman has worked there for 4 yrs. An older guy. I wonder if he was stroking me about it or really didn't think about the question before answering or he was being a smartass... who knows, I never asked him about it.... lol
The above listed statement is a 100% true story.... really
We use our Pilot as basically a glorified Minivan.... FWD Pilot would be perfect.
I am sure than many others here need the 4WD or if if they don't need it, would like to have it.
FWD w/VSA is more than secure for any type of driving we would do in our Pilot. |
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| timchen |
Tracy
How much will trigger you?
I think $1700 is good price for AWD less, plus traction control |
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| robrecht |
quote:
Originally posted by timchen
Tracy
How much will trigger you?
I think $1700 is good price for AWD less, plus traction control
Careful how you answer that, Tracy. Didn't you commit at one time to buying a Pilot before you hit 1,000 posts? Oops, maybe you shouldn't answer that either! ;) Too bad about the side curtain airbags. Your avatar's very interesting, BTW. |
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| john802 |
| I need the awd/4wd on the Pilot! |
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| charles0176 |
| I think a FWD Pilot would be like buying an Odyssey with a different skin, it seems possible but I wouldnt buy it. |
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| PNW-Pilot |
| I think having FWd as an option would be a nice touch it would keep the price point lower for those in areas that don't need AWD. |
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| jay |
| Compare the prices of Highlanders to get an idea of the price differential - MSRP and trade-in. My guess is that a FWD vehicle would really take a depreciation hit. Plus, on the Highlander boards, owners complain of torque steer, which I never experienced in my AWD Highlander or RX 330, and only minimally in the Pilot. |
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| Gromulus |
| It would defeat the purpose IMO. Not a Pilot owner yet, although it is being considered. The main reason I am even considering a Pilot is for AWD for winter weather as well as towing and camping adventures off-road. (Not even sure if the Pilot AWD system is up to my needs). If no AWD then I would buy an Odyssey or Sienna minivan and have more cargo and passenger room. If I didn't need the room then I would buy a sports sedan (e.g. BMW 330i, Acura TL, Infiniti GX). If I didn''t need the room or AWD I would much rather drive something more fun. |
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| a2Pilot |
No Thanks!
AWD-----Gotta have it!!!:4: |
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| Sunday Rider |
No way, AWD all the way. Would have bought a van instead.
Good question. |
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| pilot_chip |
No. 4wd is something I'd rather have and not need
than need and not have. |
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| krygny |
| The results of the poll and the posts above show exactly why Honda doesn't offer a 2WD Pilot - no market. Also, if they were to offer another major vehicle configuration, the cost of all models would rise slightly. Adding a low-end model to the line makes no economic sense. |
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| tracy |
quote:
Originally posted by robrecht
Careful how you answer that, Tracy. Didn't you commit at one time to buying a Pilot before you hit 1,000 posts?
It was a goal, not a committment, and that was when we expected the '05 Pilot to have SCA. I'm re-evaluating that goal now.
To answer the original question, I don't really know how much the AWD is worth to me. But I know it's more than $1700. :D |
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| stl2sea |
Traded up from a 2WD Suburban. I was specifically looking for better gas mileage and AWD. If I didn't need the AWD I would have pushed the wife harder to consider the Odyssey or other minivan as they typically have more room inside.
AWD was not a price-point consideration for us it was a mandatory requirement. |
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| waynerd |
I suppose most SoCal and FL Piloteers probably would have a rare occasion to use the AWD, but here in snowy Roch-cha-cha we use it quite a bit from late November through March.
My mother-in-law in FL has a 2WD Explorer, but didn't even know it until I looked at the window sticker and told her. She likes it for the height (she's under 5' ) and grandkid carrying capacity. She felt the Freestar was like driving a cave and harder to get in and out of (no running boards). My father-in-law has a 4WD Explorer, and uses it and abuses it for hunting trips to the panhandle, Georgia, and Carolinas.
I suppose there is a limited market for FWD, but not from me. |
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| timchen |
you know, I haven't see snow for three years.:o
Last time was during a ski trip. But 99.9% of time we stay on pavement. The deepest snow I went into that time was few inches. :cool:
My new Pilot havn't see snow yet, maybe I should plan a trip this year.
In my case, FWD + traction control would be as good as AWD if not better. And it will save me gas money and time/effort on tires.
Making our Piulot a FWD isn't so difficult. remove the drive shaft and two half-shaft to rear wheels...... Whola!
Maybe some modify to the computer program.....which maybe hard for us but definiately easy for Honda. Their effort will be on how to market it.
Or maybe they are considering if their dealer is smart enough to handle one more type of Pilot.:2: |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by timchen
. . .
Making our Piulot a FWD isn't so difficult. remove the drive shaft and two half-shaft to rear wheels...... Whola!
Maybe some modify to the computer program.....which maybe hard for us but definiately easy for Honda. Their effort will be on how to market it.
Or maybe they are considering if their dealer is smart enough to handle one more type of Pilot.:2:
It still adds costs to every unit sold.
Honda is VERY good at limiting the number of model variants.
I would guess it is part of their overall strategy.
I would NOT like to see them do what the other (Money losing) campanies do. |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by timchen
In my case, FWD + traction control would be as good as AWD if not better.
Consider the 2005 EX-L.
AWD plus VSA and traction control would be better than FWD and traction control. ;) |
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| tlaudio |
Nope, would not bought the Pilot if it did not have AWD.
I like the safety of it. AWD is not only for snow, but for rain also. And great for pulling out boats & minor off road usage.
AWD is a MUST option for me. I think AWD will be on a lot more models in the future.
AWD is automatic, nothing to think about.....unlike 4WD, which has to be turned on BEFORE a hazzard presents itself. Who has that much time to push a button/shift a lever to engage 4WD before hand??
TL |
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| sungchang |
| NOPE! Without AWD...why get Pilot when I can get more on Oddyssey for less? |
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| sungchang |
quote:
Originally posted by waynerd
I suppose most SoCal and FL Piloteers probably would have a rare occasion to use the AWD,
But on those rare occassion, I wouldn't do without it. While I lived in SoCal, I use to head down to Baja for fishing and AWD was mandatory :) |
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