| BentZero |
Hey guys. I'm thinking about getting a '06 Pilot EX - L nav. I've currently got a G35 coupe, but I need something bigger for the anticipated baby and I also want to get a small boat. I've got a few questions though.
1) Does the gas mileage diff between the 2wd and 4wd make it worthwhile to get the 2wd given the decreased towing capacity (3500 vs. 4500)?
2) Why did you pick the Pilot over the MDX? I may wait to see the new MDX, minus the nav though. Guess this is a subjective question.
3) I noticed a lot of people buying an aftermarket iPod interface. Is this b/c the optional interface from Honda is not as good?
4) Is the nav in the Pilot good and worth the money? My wife is a realtor, but I'd rather buy something like a Garmen if the factory nav sucks.
Thanks in advance for any help and sorry for the long post.
Mike |
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| Luwin1026 |
1) I don't have a 2WD personally so I can't comment on that model. I get around 15-17mpg on my 4WD with a mix of city/freeway driving, and the car currently has 3500 miles. I do tend to have a heavier right foot, though, and the temps here in Southern California have been pretty brutal so the A/C is almost always on.
2) I picked the Pilot over the MDX mainly because of price, and the basic similarities the two models share. I felt that the Pilot already came pretty damn well-equipped, and can live without certain creature comforts. And the dealer experience wasn't really a factor, as I typically do the maintenance on my cars myself.
3) From what I've been reading on the forum regarding this matter, it seems the factory accessory-offering of the iPod interface does not work on the EX (XM?) models, and an aftermarket offering is the way to go.
4) The Nav is a great option, IMHO. It is extremely easy to use, and besides a few minor gripes (mainly entering a place and having it show locations a gazillion miles away), it has proven quite useful in the 3 months we've had the car. A plus for going with the factor Nav is the clean integration of it (nothing sticking up on the dash, ability to use steering wheel controls, etc., etc.) On a side note, I've found the rearview camera very useful. Although I recognize that it is not meant to be a substitution for the good-'ol turn-your-head-around-to-look-when-backing-up method, it has helped significantly parallel-parking situations, etc., etc. Granted, I believe you can install the rearview camera separately, but it all goes back to the big plus for me regarding easy/clean integration.
Best of luck with your choice! I was a smaller car (S2000) owner until the arrival of our little one, and the Pilot was and is an excellent choice for families!! |
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| scharnhorst |
i can't speak on the other questions
2. the new mdx is great. going to have 280hp and the new awd. i've seen the pictures of the interior and exterior and i like it alot and if u have the extra money to spend on the mdx i'd go for it. |
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| Sportymonk |
1. The tow capacity on the 4WD (and all 03 - 05s) is 3500 unless towing a boat where is then 4500 lbs. Didn't know that changed for the 06 2WD. Given the mileage is only about 1-2 mpg and the 4wd may (repeat may) be considered the more valuable configuration, I would get the 4wd.
2. The MDX is a little more luxury and a little less work oriented. It has a little less room inside I think. Purely a matter of personal taste in the end.
3. Most of what you see here is probably related to 03-05 Pilots that did not have an iPod interface. Seems that the iPod interface will not function properly in the EX (thought it was the L models) Why, I have no idea.
4. Nav? I don't have it but since my wife has a car, I would probably like something I could move from one car to the other but I can't recall any real complaints against the factory unit. |
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| BubbleSparkxx |
1. I live in SF and I don't tow anything - so 4wd was a $1200 option that really would be overkill for my daily use. And considering how horrendous the gas mileage is driving around this hilly metreopolis, and I welcome anything that saves gas.
2. I actually don't like the looks of the MDX.
3. The 06 EX-L Nav comes with built in XM - the OEM ipod adapter has slight issues b/c it shares the XM port - not a huge deal, just minor inconvienence. But the fact that you can't display the song info from the ipod on to the nav screen or use the steering wheel controls to skip songs is a thumbs down for me.
4. The Nav is excellent - well worth its weight in gold (esp considering we just relocated to SF for less than 6 months). No regrets for getting the Nav. And Voice command is pretty cool too. |
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| Rapid Rob |
Things I DON'T like about my Pilot...
#1 Stupid transmission, always shifting up & down. Overly complex.
#2 Brakes are adequate but could be more powerful.
#3 Suspension is too soft for me.
What I DO like...
Resale will always be good, due to overall quality. This is a big one for me. |
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| BentZero |
| Thanks for the responses guys! My wife and I really like the way the MDX looks, but that's more of a want car than it is a need car. We'll see how it plays out. I think I've decided on the 4wd. I just don't want to get into a situation where I get a larger boat and the Pilot can't handle the new load. On the way to and from Savannah today we had a chance to see some Pilots and MDXs side by side. MDX won that challenge. ;) A black '06 Pilot looks pretty sweet though. |
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| JungleJim |
quote:
Originally posted by BentZero
Thanks for the responses guys! My wife and I really like the way the MDX looks, but that's more of a want car than it is a need car. We'll see how it plays out. I think I've decided on the 4wd. I just don't want to get into a situation where I get a larger boat and the Pilot can't handle the new load. On the way to and from Savannah today we had a chance to see some Pilots and MDXs side by side. MDX won that challenge. ;) A black '06 Pilot looks pretty sweet though.
The 4WD won't make the Pilot handle a heavier tow load better. If you're concerned about towing heavier loads in the future, you might want to consider a full-frame SUV the is based on rear-wheel drive.
The Pilot is an awesome people hauler, but not the best at towing heavy loads.
(Every vehicle is a compromise...) |
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| BentZero |
According to the brochure I got from the dealer the 4wd's capacity is 4500 and the 2wd is 3500. Here's a link to the fact sheet. It's under "Exterior Measurements". I really am starting out with a small 3 man boat. By bigger I mean a 6 man boat.
http://automobiles.honda.com/images...t_factsheet.pdf |
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| GreenMachine |
quote:
Originally posted by BentZero
Thanks for the responses guys! My wife and I really like the way the MDX looks, but that's more of a want car than it is a need car. We'll see how it plays out. I think I've decided on the 4wd. I just don't want to get into a situation where I get a larger boat and the Pilot can't handle the new load. On the way to and from Savannah today we had a chance to see some Pilots and MDXs side by side. MDX won that challenge. ;) A black '06 Pilot looks pretty sweet though.
Some things to consider especially when comparing looks..
The Pilot was refreshed for 2006, and it looks nice. So just make sure you are comparing the newest of each. ;)
Some 2WD owner have unfortunately been experiencing some noises possibly related to VCM, ANC, or the active engine mounts, see HERE . :( :(
Pilot or MDX, either way you won't be disappointed. Since an all new MDX is about to come out, you could get a great deal at the model year end, if you decide to go that way.
Let us know what you decide. |
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| tracy |
quote:
Originally posted by BentZero
2) Why did you pick the Pilot over the MDX? I may wait to see the new MDX, minus the nav though. Guess this is a subjective question.
The MDX was out of my price range. If this hadn't been an issue, I still probably would have gone for the Pilot. I prefer the Pilot's appearance, it has one more seating position than the MDX, and it doesn't call for premium fuel.
quote:
Is the nav in the Pilot good and worth the money? My wife is a realtor, but I'd rather buy something like a Garmen if the factory nav sucks.
I think it's extremely handy. If your wife works in a growing area, with lots of new roads, she may prefer something that is updated more frequently. |
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| ecsw |
quote:
2) Why did you pick the Pilot over the MDX? I may wait to see the new MDX, minus the nav though. Guess this is a subjective question.
3) I noticed a lot of people buying an aftermarket iPod interface. Is this b/c the optional interface from Honda is not as good?
4) Is the nav in the Pilot good and worth the money? My wife is a realtor, but I'd rather buy something like a Garmen if the factory nav sucks.
Thanks in advance for any help and sorry for the long post.
Mike
Because 1. MDX is quite a lot more than Pilot. 2. MDX is coming with a new design. Pilot has just receive a facelift. 3. Pilot's 2nd row is moveable, MDX is not. That makes 3rd row seats more leg room.
Well, aftermarket interface is more flexible and cheaper I guess.
Honda's Navi worth every penny. Especially if she is a realtor, she is going to use it a lot. Plus there is a backup camera comes with Navi. |
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