| DonP |
Hello.
I’m in the market for a used mid-sized SUV to serve as the family hauler and DD for the wife. It will be used mostly in town. We have a 8mo old baby (we’ll probably make one more) and a 88lb Lab. 4WD will only be needed for 2 or 3 ski trips per year. No towing.
We think we’ve narrowed it down the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. Our requirements are Leather interior, 4x4, and third row seating. We’re looking at 03-05 models.
The wife is leaning towards the Pilot she rides in the back with the baby and likes the space, it rides nicer and has more space. But it’s a bit feminine to me and I like to buy American. The Explorer is more available and we can get something comparable for less money.
I’m sure you’re pretty much biased in favor of the Honda but I want to know what you think of your Pilot. I can read plenty of new car expert reviews online but i wanna hear from real users with 30 or 40K + miles on them? Are there specific problems to be aware of? Is the V6 adequate? Any other input?
Thanks, |
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| PNW-Pilot |
I think the over all package of the Pilot is better then the Explorer. The explorer is a good vehicle, and much better at towing then the Pilot thanks to the body on frame design. But your not interested in towing. I think in the long term the Pilot is a better people mover.
As for the 4x4 system, I know the explorer has AWD and 4WD, the 4WD is better if your going off-roading.
It's more then adequate in power. I think the V6 has more power then some others V8.
I can't help with the feminine, that's a battle with your inner feminine side :)
Only concerns I have, are that it's hard to get into the 3rd row if you put two cars seats in the second row on the other places. There are some transmission issues on the 03' and some '04, that seem to be solved by a oil jet install kit that was part of a recall.
It should be noted that we might all be a bit Pilot biased, but we are fair in comparisions. Each vehicle has it's place for what it was designed. Pilot a family hauler with AWD. The explorer is a SUV that tows, they had to redesign the rear axel to fit a third row. |
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| pointech |
Ultimately you will need to drive some of each and decide for yourself. I prefer the Pilot, but do not recommend buying late model Hondas used. Hondas hold their value so well that to me the difference in price from new/used is not enough to buy used. Used Explorers are plentiful and available at lower prices.
Some trouble areas for people are transmissions and highway vibrations. I am not sure of common Explorer problems.
Good luck, and I hope you are happy whatever you choose! |
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| onu2002 |
The Pilot is a good car. Not excellent -- it has its flaws -- but it's a good car. I understand your desire to buy American, but the quality & reliability of the domestics is so far below the Japanese, and even the Koreans, that I won't even consider a domestic. I used to think I'd buy a domestic truck, but now there's the Toyotas and Nissans.
The engine is plenty powerful.
The Pilot's 3rd row is pretty much not useable for anyone over, say, 5feet tall, and that's probably stretching it. I think we've used our 3rd row for people only once in the year-and-a-half we've had it. It mostly stays folded down, providing ample cargo room.
There's the 70mph vibration deal that has haunted the early models, which you can read about ad nauseum on this forum. Our 03 doesn't have it, but one pair of tires is cupped. Don't know if they were on the front too long, or there's something wrong with the suspension, but it's not a big deal. We'll see if it happens to the next set of tires.
Does the Pilot seem feminine to you b/c it has more style than the others? It's just as large, if not larger, just as fast, with higher quality. So it can't tow as much and doesn't have low range 4wd. So what?
Yes, the Pilot is more $$$ for the same features, but on average, you'll have less headaches in the future. |
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| jcantanixon |
I come from a Ford family, so the Explorer (or the Mountaineer) was our first choice. We drive several models and trims and then we tried the Pilot. Once we drove them both, it was a no brainer. Do the same for yourself and then decide which one you want.
A couple of notes:
The V6 in the Pilot is plenty of power. More HP then the Ford V6 or V8 and only 30lbs less torque then the V8. The Pilot will also get 4 more mpg than the V8 and 2 or 3 more than the V6.
The 3rd row in the Pilot may be difficult to get to if there are two car seats in the 2nd row, but it's impossible to get to the 3rd row in the Explorer with anything in the 2nd row. You have to fold the seat down completely and then flip it forward to access the 3rd row - which, by the way, is way smaller and not nearly as comfortable as the 3rd row in the Pilot.
You may pay more for a comparable Pilot than the Explorer, but that's because it holds the resale value much better...so when you're ready to sell it, it'll still be worth more than the Ford. |
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| jcantanixon |
quote:
Originally posted by onu2002
The Pilot's 3rd row is pretty much not useable for anyone over, say, 5feet tall, and that's probably stretching it. I think we've used our 3rd row for people only once in the year-and-a-half we've had it. It mostly stays folded down, providing ample cargo room.
We've used our 3rd row at least a hundred times, many times for long trips without too many complaints from adults sitting back there. Are you not sliding the 2nd row forward? If the 2nd row is all the way back, then there's not very much legroom in the 3rd row. Since we have kids in car seats in the middle, we slide that seat all the way forward. If there were adults in the 2nd row, then a setting somewhere in the middle would be needed to "share" the legroom. |
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| DonP |
Thanks for all the input. We've test driven, 04 Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7HO, 01 Tahoe, 05 Durango HEMI, 04 Pilot and 05 Explorer. We eliminated the full size size SUV's they're just too big for the wife as a DD.
I like the Jeep brand and thought for sure the GC was next. But the Grand was too small in the rear seat and we've since decided that third row seating was now required. We haul the inlaws around with us quite a bit.
Right now, I'm in favor of the Pilot. But we're shopping used, and will be comparing $20K Explorers to $20K Pilots. I may be inclined to spend a little more for a comparable Pilot. The question is how much more.
And I don't know why the Pilot seems feminine to me. It's probably just the Honda badge. It's really not a factor. It will be the wife's DD. |
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| slimmn |
I was in your situation several months ago, and know how you feel. I strongly considered a used '05 Explorer because it was readily available and cheap. Only considered the '05 because it had the (Volvo's?) anti-roll feature and side curtain airbags. The '06 Exploere was fine too, but a little more expensive since it was newer. While I like the looks and safety features of the Explorer (V6), the engine truly dissapointed me, esp. when passing or accelerating. I ruled out the V8 due to fuel reasons.
My buddy has a '05 Pilot, and was pushing me to get the same car. However, I didn't like the pre-2006 Pilot's look at all (hated it actually), and since the pre-2006 didn't have the side curtain airbags, I ruled it out completely - safety was an important factor for me.
However, when I reluctantly went to the Honda dealership since I promised myself I will consider ALL the SUV's, I was pleasantly surprised by the '06 changes/upgrades. Also considered other 7 seaters - Lexus, Acura, Nissan, Audi, and of course the Explorer, and I kept coming back to the Pilot.
You need to ultimately drive both vehicles back to back on all road conditions and speeds to truly see the differences.
Good luck. |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Thanks for all the input. We've test driven, 04 Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7HO, 01 Tahoe, 05 Durango HEMI, 04 Pilot and 05 Explorer. We eliminated the full size size SUV's they're just too big for the wife as a DD.
I like the Jeep brand and thought for sure the GC was next. But the Grand was too small in the rear seat and we've since decided that third row seating was now required. We haul the inlaws around with us quite a bit.
Right now, I'm in favor of the Pilot. But we're shopping used, and will be comparing $20K Explorers to $20K Pilots. I may be inclined to spend a little more for a comparable Pilot. The question is how much more.
And I don't know why the Pilot seems feminine to me. It's probably just the Honda badge. It's really not a factor. It will be the wife's DD.
As a family hauler and the wifes DD (which our Pilot is), I would want the most reliable vehicle I could find. That would not be a domestic vehicle - it would have a Honda or Toyota Badge on it. Another factor is resale value. Since you are buying used, it is possible you will be buying somebone elses problem that they traded in (more likely in the case of the domestic). If you have to get rid of it, the Pilot retains it's value much better. I never thought the Pilot was feminine looking and my DD is a Chevy Silverado Crew Cab. I've always thought that our MDX looked a lot more feminine than our Pilot. Good Luck with whatever you choose! |
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| onu2002 |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
Are you not sliding the 2nd row forward?
I guess not, so I'll have to keep that in mind. But we've only needed the 3rd row once, so it hasn't really been an issue. |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by slimmn
You need to ultimately drive both vehicles back to back on all road conditions and speeds to truly see the differences.
Good luck. [/B]
I'd like to try them both for a weekend. But the best I can do is to get input from real owners using them on a daily basis. I have the same post going at explorerforum.com. |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by PNW-Pilot
There are some transmission issues on the 03' and some '04, that seem to be solved by a oil jet install kit that was part of a recall.
Should I be looking for models built afer some certain production date in regards to the tranny issue? |
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| jlee2070 |
I would not consider the '03... The main reason... The 2nd row does not adjust on the '03. It locks into a fixed position and there it stays. On the '04 and beyond, the 2nd row seat can be adjusted foward to allow the 3rd row to have a little more room should it be necessary...
Safety wise, the'06 is BEST due to the addition of Side Curtain Air Bags for all 3 rows and Roll Over Sensors.
Starting '05, they included a Sun Roof and I believe VSC (Vehicle Skid/Stability Control) and also the in-dash 6 CD Changer.
My 2 cents... |
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| GreenMachine |
Safety was a top priority with me. The 2006 Pilot was finally available with side curtain air bags. All model years got 5 stars in all government crash tests, and they also got a good rating from the IIHS on the offset crash. The 2002 - 2005 Explorer got only four stars for the driver in the goverment crash tests. There was also a concern in the government side impact crash about the door opening... :creeplook It did get a good rating from the IIHS though. All trims of the 2006 have stability control whereas only the 2005 EX's with leather have it. Nothing pre-2005 has stability control.
As for looks, some side steps, fog lights, fender flares, and white letter tires will definitely give it a more masculine look.
The Pilot will likely have less headaches, but as with all vehicles, there are some lemons. With the Explorer you will also have the additional cost of changing the transfer case and the front differential fluid as well. The Pilot does not have a transfer case, and the front diff is just part of the FWD tranny.
The safety, reliablity, and value for my money were the keys to my decision.
Let us know what you get. :) |
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| Jet-Pilot-64 |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Should I be looking for models built afer some certain production date in regards to the tranny issue?
FYI - The tranny issue was a very rare occurance (only happened to a few Pilots if they drove long distances regularly while towing heavy weight). Honda did the recall just to be safe. On that note, I love my Pilot! I have a two year old and we take weekend trips regularly. There is plenty of room for gear (once took four adults, a two year old, and ski gear on a weekend getaway to and through the snow - it required the VTM to make it no less), and it has ample amounts of power. I like the looks of it, but I bleed Honda blue. The longer I have it, the more I like it.
JMHO |
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| 01MDX |
| FWIW, the third row on my 06 Pilot is used almost all of the time by my 6 yr old without complaint in the 40% side. This leaves me with plenty of cargo space in the 60% side. the Pilot is very solid - I think the worst thing you can say is that it's boring if anything and that's not necessarily bad - I will take boring over problematic any day. the Pilot is very versatile, good for the family and the power and AWD system are very good. |
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| rocky |
My experience with Pilots is limited to my 05 with 15k miles and the many friends in town who also own Pilots. None have had any problems and owners are very happy, including the two whose vehicles were involved in major collisions and came out of it uninjured.
My experience with the Ford Explorer is limited to the last model, having driven my Fire Chiefs vehicle on a few occasions. At 16k its rattly and coming unglued. He happily admits to having 2 more for his personal use and his wifes and that two have required major rear axle work.
Compare safety and Pilot wins hands down. The Pilot may be a Honda/japanese by name, but its built in Alabama, USA and Ontario Canada. Engine and major drivetrain parts are also made in North America.
Fuel Economy: Ford 16-18 Pilot 17-24. Maintenance and repairs fewer and cheaper in the Pilot-Of that I'm sure.
Before I bought I had a Ford on my short list as well, but back to back drives exposed the Ford as just not being up to the same standard.
Last but not least. What would I do if I had to get a new similar vehicle today? I'd do the Pilot again.
In fact I want my wife to get one. |
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| sdihome |
| I've been the auto / truck / SUV repair business almost 20 years. People ask me all of the time, witch is the best brand to buy? I tell them that 70% of my business is repairing "american brands", and of that 70%, Fords are 80% of my business, of that 80%, Exploders are more 50%. I tell them that they can't do much better that a Honda or Toyota. So, with that in mind, when it came time to replace my "84 Chevy. S-10 Blazer, 4x4, I bought a Honda Pilot, EX-L, 4x4, w/NAV. |
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| jlee2070 |
quote:
Originally posted by sdihome
I've been the auto / truck / SUV repair business almost 20 years. People ask me all of the time, witch is the best brand to buy? I tell them that 70% of my business is repairing "american brands", and of that 70%, Fords are 80% of my business, of that 80%, Exploders are more 50%. I tell them that they can't do much better that a Honda or Toyota. So, with that in mind, when it came time to replace my "84 Chevy. S-10 Blazer, 4x4, I bought a Honda Pilot, EX-L, 4x4, w/NAV.
Wow, astounding figures but I guess, expected... |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by sdihome
I've been the auto / truck / SUV repair business almost 20 years. People ask me all of the time, witch is the best brand to buy? I tell them that 70% of my business is repairing "american brands", and of that 70%, Fords are 80% of my business, of that 80%, Exploders are more 50%. I tell them that they can't do much better that a Honda or Toyota. So, with that in mind, when it came time to replace my "84 Chevy. S-10 Blazer, 4x4, I bought a Honda Pilot, EX-L, 4x4, w/NAV.
Wow. I knew they had some issues but if 28% of your business is from Eploders, they're worse than I thought. |
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| dustino8 |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Hello.
We have a 8mo old baby (we’ll probably make one more) and a 88lb Lab.
I am basically in the same situation as you are now. I have a 5 month old and a large lab. What I love about the Pilot is that our dog's large kennel fits behind the second row seats with the kennel door facing towards the rear. May be something you want to check into with a Explorer. We take many weekend trips and all our gear manages to fit behind the second row, including the kennel. |
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| 5Gs |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Wow. I knew they had some issues but if 28% of your business is from Eploders, they're worse than I thought.
so if people stopped buying ford, sounds like your business will suffer. ;) |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by dustino8
I am basically in the same situation as you are now. I have a 5 month old and a large lab. What I love about the Pilot is that our dog's large kennel fits behind the second row seats with the kennel door facing towards the rear. May be something you want to check into with a Explorer. We take many weekend trips and all our gear manages to fit behind the second row, including the kennel.
Congrats on the rugrat. We don't use a crate. But I like that the Pilot's third row seat is split. It can accomodate a person and the dog. The Explorer's third seat is one piece, all or nothing. |
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| jlee2070 |
And you have this great forum to help with almost any situation with the HP!!!
:D |
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| ThePilotster |
Try not to worry about American vs not. I was a die hard gotta buy American or bust! 2 things.
1. 75% of the pilot is US or Canadian. GM /Ford etc.. about 15 to 20%. years ago our union hall would not allow Honda's etc.. to park in there parking lot. Just last week they told a guy in his new Chevy to park down the street:D ....go figure
2. I bought domestic most every year....yes I trade a lot. anyway resale alone will kill ya on Ford/GM vs Honda.
I had an 04 Tahoe, lost 20K in one year from resale.
Had an 06 Ridgeline (lost due to new wife:( ) and after 10 months, got 2K less than I paid. Heck, don't lease a Honda its cheaper to buy with the resale alone! |
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| jcantanixon |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Wow. I knew they had some issues but if 28% of your business is from Eploders, they're worse than I thought.
It may just be his area. I worked at a shop for several years, and while we did see a fair amount of Fords come through - it was the Chevys that made up the highest number of repairs. This doesn't mean the Chevy was less reliable, I think it was because our town was a "Chevy" town and you'd see alot more of them on the road then you would Fords.
So if he's in an area where domestics and especially Fords are big sellers, you're going to see more in the shop. Of course, we used the term "Exploders" in the shop as well :4: |
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| jl_ss |
| CR mid-size SUV predicted reliabilty data: |
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| jdeanski |
First let me make clear that no vehicle is without it's faults. Automobiles, today have become so complex that none are perfect in every way.
Second, The Pilot is the most perfect vehicle regardless of price for my needs. For size, safety, dependibility, value, and economy the Pilot can't be beat. |
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| waynerd |
Having owned an Exploder and Pilot, I'll weigh in here, too.
My Explorer was a fine vehicle, until it was about 5 years old, then things started going wrong. At around 110K, after deciding to keep it another year, and putting about $1000 in tires, brakes, shocks on it, I put another $1000 in replacing the front bearings, and then another $1000 while on vacation to replace the transfer case bearings. Not to mention the $2-300 I was dropping every oil change for this and that that had broken/gone bad. My mother-in-law has had them since 1992, and trades them every 5 years because that's when they start falling apart, if not sooner.
I love(d) my Pilot. When I bought it, I was in your same situation (sans dog). The Pilot is a GREAT vehicle for trips and for daily driving, big enough, but not too big. The V6 is more than adaquate (it's better'n the Ford's V8), and AWD for incliment weather.
THAT SAID, 2 years and another kid later, I'm trading my beloved Pilot for an Odyssey. Jr's kicking the crap out of me from his car seat behind me, and even with running boards, it's a big stretch for him to climb in. With 2 car seats in, there's no access to the 3rd row (except through the tailgate), wifey can't ride back there with them, and with 2 kids comes more STUFF. Like I've said elsewhere, if my kids were a bit older, it' be perfect. But I also believe if the current Ody had been out in '04, I probably would have bought it instead.
Just my $.02.
BTW, they really have an Explorer forum? And you guys think we complain over HERE! Imagine what THEY do! |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by waynerd
Having owned an Exploder and Pilot, I'll weigh in here, too.
My Explorer was a fine vehicle, until it was about 5 years old, then things started going wrong. At around 110K, ,,,,
BTW, they really have an Explorer forum? And you guys think we complain over HERE! Imagine what THEY do!
If I go with the Explorer, I'd most likely buy one with less than <30K miles and sell it before we hit 80K.
Some of what they do over there is talk about offroad mods. Not as much as say jeepforum.com but it goes a diferent direction than here.
But that's not what I'm looking for right now. |
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| humanoid |
| That Exploder looks like he's stuck and needs some help from my Tacoma! :4: |
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| jcantanixon |
quote:
Originally posted by waynerd
THAT SAID, 2 years and another kid later, I'm trading my beloved Pilot for an Odyssey. Jr's kicking the crap out of me from his car seat behind me, and even with running boards, it's a big stretch for him to climb in. With 2 car seats in, there's no access to the 3rd row (except through the tailgate), wifey can't ride back there with them, and with 2 kids comes more STUFF. Like I've said elsewhere, if my kids were a bit older, it' be perfect.
Our kids are 3 and 1 and they sit in car seats behind the driver and in the middle of the 2nd row. That allows the pass side to fold and slide forward for access to the 3rd row. My wife can also sit in that spot if she wants to ride with the kids.
By the way, that graph of problems in vehicles shows the Explorer owning the bottom 3 spots...yikes :eek: |
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| waynerd |
Our kids are in Britax Marathons, probably the widest carseat out there, so they don't fit side by side. Even when #2 was in the Snugrider in the center position, I could just get the seat back down so someone could ride in the 3rd row.
That Exploder looks like the rock crawling stuff my brother does.....'cept he does it in a clapped out Suzuki Samari. |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
By the way, that graph of problems in vehicles shows the Explorer owning the bottom 3 spots...yikes :eek:
Actually I cut the bottom off for size - there are a few below it: |
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| moe-jiller |
DonP Honest Opinion of your Pilot
My opinion is that the dealer support of either product should heavily weight your final choice. My two Explorers each had minor issues that my local dealer went to great lengths to resolve. My local Honda dealer has not resolved a single problem on my MY05 Pilot EX-L. Sure, the Pilot has a better reliability rating (I do use Consumer Reports as a key reference) but I will probably have the squeaks, rattles, and 70 mph shimmy for the live of my ownership of my vehicle.
My secondary opinion is that my Pilot does not know exactly what it is. It is not very good at being a car. Road noise, poor(by car standards) handling, wooden brakes (it's 4,400+ Lbs you know), and unacceptable interior quality control (squeaks & rattles) are traits I would not put up with in a $30,000 plus car. On the other hand my Pilot is not a very good truck either. The functional advantage of the Honda AWD system is marginal in my application. The tow rating is low and even my occasional utility trailer load is a handling challenge. The interior plastic is hard and Very easily nicked or damaged by 'Gear'. As a truck, the ride is comfortable but my truck wanders about in the lane and is Very tiring to drive long distance.
On the Explorers I owned, Bilstein shocks and a set of Michelin's took care of the road manners for hundreds of thousands (collectively) miles. With my Pilot I am over $1,000 out of pocket, in the first year of ownership, and no resolution in sight for the Shimmy 'characteristic'. On the Explorers when a problem showed up the dealer fixed it and warrantied the fix. That has not been my Honda experience.
To me it boils down to the dealership and the corporate attitude about serving the customer. If HondaUS supported me as well as Ford has some of the 'Characteristics' of the highly reliable Honda product would not be so annoying.
ajm :) |
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| PNW-Pilot |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Should I be looking for models built afer some certain production date in regards to the tranny issue?
All '03 and '04 made before February of 04.
Links for the thread about the Recall.
http://www.hondapilot.org/forums/sh...ghlight=oil+jet
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/new...ic0E&refer=asia
Press Release Source: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
American Honda to Recall Certain Light Truck Vehicles to Repair Automatic Transmissions
Wednesday April 14, 11:00 am ET
TORRANCE, Calif., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of certain Honda and Acura light truck models equipped with V6 engines and five-speed automatic transmissions to inspect and repair a potential defect in the transmission.
ADVERTISEMENT
The recall involves approximately 600,000 light trucks manufactured in the U.S. and Canada. Affected models include certain model year 2002, 2003 and early 2004 Honda Odyssey minivans; 2003 and early 2004 Honda Pilots; and 2001 and 2002 Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles.
The situation is created by insufficient lubrication of the transmission's secondary shaft second gear that can occur under certain driving conditions. Prolonged operation under these conditions can lead to heat build-up and under certain circumstances may eventually result in chipped or broken gear teeth or breakage of the gear. In the event of a chipped or broken tooth, the owner will likely experience abnormal noise from the transmission and seek repairs. In rare instances, this condition may lead to gear breakage and possible locking of the vehicle's transmission, creating a potential safety hazard.
This more severe condition is extremely rare and affects only vehicles with high mileage. To date, the company's records indicate only ten confirmed instances in the United States and Canada of this type of transmission failure, with no injuries or accidents as a result.
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted via mail and will be asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to be repaired free of charge. In most cases, the repair involves a simple gear inspection, which is accomplished without removing or disassembling the transmission, and a modification to increase the flow of transmission fluid to the affected gear. If during the inspection the service technician discovers discoloration of the gear indicating heat damage, Honda will replace the transmission assembly at no cost to the customer. Owners will be notified by mail when parts are available for their model, with notifications going first to the oldest affected units. Customer mailings will begin in May and should be completed by September.
Details regarding mailing dates and affected vehicles will be available on the Honda and Acura Web sites before the end of April. Owners will be able to access this information by registering at the "Owner Link" section of www.honda.com or www.acura.com and entering the 17-digit vehicle identification number found on the driver's side dashboard near the bottom edge of the windshield.
Customers concerned about the condition of their vehicle may also contact their local Honda or Acura dealer, or call Honda customer service at (800) 999-1009 or Acura customer service at (800) 382-2238. |
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| jlee2070 |
quote:
Originally posted by moe-jiller
DonP Honest Opinion of your Pilot
My opinion is that the dealer support of either product should heavily weight your final choice. My two Explorers each had minor issues that my local dealer went to great lengths to resolve. My local Honda dealer has not resolved a single problem on my MY05 Pilot EX-L. Sure, the Pilot has a better reliability rating (I do use Consumer Reports as a key reference) but I will probably have the squeaks, rattles, and 70 mph shimmy for the live of my ownership of my vehicle.
My secondary opinion is that my Pilot does not know exactly what it is. It is not very good at being a car. Road noise, poor(by car standards) handling, wooden brakes (it's 4,400+ Lbs you know), and unacceptable interior quality control (squeaks & rattles) are traits I would not put up with in a $30,000 plus car. On the other hand my Pilot is not a very good truck either. The functional advantage of the Honda AWD system is marginal in my application. The tow rating is low and even my occasional utility trailer load is a handling challenge. The interior plastic is hard and Very easily nicked or damaged by 'Gear'. As a truck, the ride is comfortable but my truck wanders about in the lane and is Very tiring to drive long distance.
On the Explorers I owned, Bilstein shocks and a set of Michelin's took care of the road manners for hundreds of thousands (collectively) miles. With my Pilot I am over $1,000 out of pocket, in the first year of ownership, and no resolution in sight for the Shimmy 'characteristic'. On the Explorers when a problem showed up the dealer fixed it and warrantied the fix. That has not been my Honda experience.
To me it boils down to the dealership and the corporate attitude about serving the customer. If HondaUS supported me as well as Ford has some of the 'Characteristics' of the highly reliable Honda product would not be so annoying.
ajm :)
I suggest maybe a different dealer???
I had the vibration problem... Worked with the Dealer here and believe it's resolved. They replaced all 4 rims/tires and all is well now (after trying balance and rotations a couple different times - but all over the same visit over 3 days). I though my dealer's service dept was very accommodating... |
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| Alexandra242628 |
We own a Pilot and an Explorer. I prefer the Pilot over the Explorer for numerous reasons. I think it drivers much better than the Explorer, but I prefer that it drives more like a car than a truck. I think the Pilot is a much more solid vehicle and prefer it over the Explorer in bad weather situations (i.e. rain which is pretty much the extent of the bad weather in Florida). Towing wise though, the Explorer might be a better option. My husband towed a 16 ft. Pace trailer behind his Explorer for yearsj - it is a workhorse.
I agree with you that the Pilot is more "feminine" than the Explorer (sorry guys!) but since your wife is going to be driving it....Besides, my husband is as "manly" as you can get and he doesn't have a problem driving the Pilot. |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by Alexandra242628
We own a Pilot and an Explorer.
What year Explorer? Have you had problems with it? I know they have a bad rap. But I'm not convinced they're as bad as their reputation. I have friends with older models with 100K+ miles no major problems.
That's a pretty graph from CR. However without absolute values it doesn't give enough information. I will be getting a one month subscription to CR online for more details.
The Pilot is what we want. The only real concern is that possible 70 mph vibration issue. The question now is not which is the better vehicle for us but whether we're willing to pay the higher price for the Pilot. (remember I'm shoping used). |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
[B]
That's a pretty graph from CR. However without absolute values it doesn't give enough information. I will be getting a one month subscription to CR online for more details.
/B]
My parents have finally stopped buying Explorers after getting rid of their third lemon.
Here are the individual problem breakdowns. CR doesn't give absolute values. The dot system is defined as follows:
Because problem rates in some trouble spots are very low, we do not assign a black dot or a half black dot unless the model's problem rate exceeds 3 percent. If a problem rate is below 2 or 1 percent it will be assigned a red dot or a half red dot respectively.
A black dot means the problem rate was greater than 3% but there is no way of knowing whether it is 100%, 3%, or something in between.
The predictabilty rate chart posted earlier combines weighted data to come up with a single predicted reliability rating. CR compiles the data from user surveys so it is direct from owners. So far, I haven't found them to be wrong when it comes to reliability ratings.
Here are the CR problem breakdowns for both the Pilot and the Explorer: |
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| nyhunter77 |
I just wanted to say i think build quality may be better now. As far as my experience, i have had no problems as far as vibration or alignment being off when i drive fast.
Also the spongy breaks are characteristics of all the hondas i driven, u get used to it. If I ever have to change them i will upgrade though.
One post said that there was great driving improvement buying new tires and shocks? You can always do that with a Pilot too, especially if it has a lot of miles on it and is bought used. I too will upgrade this when the time comes.
I have one friend with an explorer and one with a highlander (toyota), as far as these 2 go, the friend with the explorer likes the added space in the pilot and always asks me to drive it but I haven't let him yet. I'm the only driver of cars that i own. Well, not counting significant others.
I know we didn't talk about the Highlander but I found the interior space of that to be similar to the explorer (granted one a few years old). The Pilot is so much bigger on the inside if u need that. If you plan on towing though. Prob better to get an explorer if it doesn't need any coolers for the tranny before you tow.
I do trust that my pilot will be problem free a lot longer than an explorer though which I thought was better looking when I was shopping last year. |
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| mrtrik |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
What year Explorer? Have you had problems with it? I know they have a bad rap. But I'm not convinced they're as bad as their reputation. I have friends with older models with 100K+ miles no major problems.
For what it's worth....
I expect my Pilot to get WELL OVER 100k miles before any problems whatsoever.
I have a 2000 Accord with 101k miles, and i haven't done anything but routine maintenance. And it still drives as well as the day i bought it. And the interior has held up perectly. You wouldn't guess it's 7 yrs old if not for the exterior styling (purchased 9/1999). I feel confident I will easily get 150k out of that Accord.
And I expect the pilot to do the same. I would not expect that from an Explorer. My dad's gota 2002 Explorer (2 door) with 80k miles... and he's always got to do work on it. |
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| nyhunter77 |
oh this is what i mean by interior space.
I was amazed. Some ppl may have seen this on another post i made.
The one bad thing i can say about my pilot is i can't tow anything ... YET.
:D |
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| nyhunter77 |
| One more ... the only thing that would not fit is my couch. |
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| jordinho |
| we just recently moved from illinois to florida the pilot was filled with so much luggage and other stuff that i had to leave some of my shoes because it just wont fit anymore all that weight lowered the rear at least 3 inches was a little nervous how the pilot would run, to my surprise it ran just as it ran without the luggages. tried running the pilot @ 100mph for at least a mile no vibration at all! what i dont like is the vcm trying to cut off 3 cylinders @ 85-90 mph you can really hear the engine rumbling loudly then it turns the 3 cylinders on again ang the rumbling goes away after a few minutes it turns it off again and you hear the rumbling sound again its a bit annoying. three cylinders running @85 just wont cut it. the ride from il to fl was quite comfy great gas mileage and no regrets at all buying the pilot over the highlander/murano :) |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Wow. I knew they had some issues but if 28% of your business is from Eploders, they're worse than I thought.
Keep in mind that the Explorer has been the best selling SUV by a fair margin since its inception. Statistically speaking, that means a mechanic is likely to see more of them than a vehicle that's sold half as many units with a similar overall reliability record.
Overall Ford's record is on-par with the other domestic labels. Not that I'd buy one (other than maybe a Mustang).
For me, the Pilot's interior is a bit plasticky (is that a real word?). Other than that, it's been mechanically flawless. I have had a rattle or two, but those have actually gone away over time (or maybe I'm just getting used to it).
Capability-wise, the Pilot handles very well compared to other SUVs, has more than adequate power and does very well in bad weather. It's no off-roader, but many Pilot owners have had good results on beaches and in mild off-road conditions, just don't take it rock-crawling (as with any unibody SUV).
I love my Pilot and intend to keep it for many years. This is my second Honda and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. My biggest complaint is the mileage, but that's to be expected with an SUV. If I wanted economy-car mileage, I would have bought one instead. |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
just don't take it rock-crawling (as with any unibody SUV).
Just don't tell that to anyone who wheels a Cherokee. haha
Yeah I realize that if there are a lot more Exploders on the road, there's surely to be seen more in the shop. I doubt he see's many ferraris in his shop. That doesn't make them trouble free daily driver's. I was just joking about that 28%. I'm not willing to throw up the BS flag, I understand his point. But I really doubt that Exploders alone lilterally make up that large a percentage of his bus unless his shop specializes in Ford. |
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| onu2002 |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Just don't tell that to anyone who wheels a Cherokee. haha
Were Jeeps of that vintage unibody? |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Just don't tell that to anyone who wheels a Cherokee.
That is a body-on frame vehicle with a solid rear axle, closer to a truck than the Pilot is. Make no mistake, the Pilot is based on a MINIVAN chassis (albeit a very good minivan). The Cherokee is based on a ladder-frame truck chassis. This is why the ride and handling is vastly better, but the Pilot compromises in the areas of towing and 4-wheeling (although a lot of that has to do with the way the 4WD system is setup in the Pilot).
Oh - and if you ever want to sell that Mustang, give me a shout :) Do you have any pics? |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
That is a body-on frame vehicle with a solid rear axle, closer to a truck than the Pilot is.
Oh - and if you ever want to sell that Mustang, give me a shout :) Do you have any pics?
Cherokees (XJ) as well as the Grand Cherokees are unibodies with solid front and rear axles. You will not find any body lift kits out for them because of that.
The Stang was my DD for many years but she is currently inoperable. I've pulled the 289 and am doing a 5.0EFI conversion. |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by DonP
Cherokees (XJ) as well as the Grand Cherokees are unibodies with solid front and rear axles. You will not find any body lift kits out for them because of that.
The Stang was my DD for many years but she is currently inoperable. I've pulled the 289 and am doing a 5.0EFI conversion.
Sorry to get OT, but I didn't know that - I think I'm getting unibody confused with the transaxle drivetrain, car-like platform that the Pilot operates on (not sure the correct term, but they're referred to as "crossovers" rather than true SUVs).
Anyway, good luck with both the Mustang and your vehicle purchase (whichever one you choose). |
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| jl_ss |
| But you do still get significant ride differences between the Cherokee/Grand Cherokee and the Pilot because of the off-road capability. I've driven all three and would only consider the Pilot if it was mainly for on-road use. I couldn't believe how bad the handling/braking and steering were on the brand new grand cherokee I drove. But if you are condsidering off-road as others have indicated, the Pilot is the not the vehicle for it. |
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| DonP |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
But you do still get significant ride differences between the Cherokee/Grand Cherokee and the Pilot because of the off-road capability. I've driven all three and would only consider the Pilot if it was mainly for on-road use. I couldn't believe how bad the handling/braking and steering were on the brand new grand cherokee I drove. But if you are condsidering off-road as others have indicated, the Pilot is the not the vehicle for it.
Jeeps are out, though the Commander does appeal to me. It's between the Explorer and Pilot. I just need to decide whether I'm willing to pay more for the Pilot. I'm kind of a cheap bastard when it comes to consumer goods. |
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| mmmmark |
quote:
Originally posted by nyhunter77
If you plan on towing though. Prob better to get an explorer if it doesn't need any coolers for the tranny before you tow.
Keep in mind that if you have an Explorer, U-Haul will NOT allow you to pull their trailer with it.
I've had a '97 Explorer since new. I've been surprised at how well it's done. The ONLY money I put into it besides routine maintenance has been the Evaporator/Condensor that went out at about 50K.
I now have about 110K on it (mostly my work DD for the last 4-5 years) and it desparately needs sold. The rear end is going out and the transmission has developed a nasty whine to go with the rear end growl.
I'm looking at replacing it with a Pilot this month if all goes as planned. |
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| hgbee |
quote:
Originally posted by mmmmark
Keep in mind that if you have an Explorer, U-Haul will NOT allow you to pull their trailer with it.
I just confused, you mean U-haul would let the US most popular SUV to tow a trailer from them. Is this ture?
I was conside to buy Explorer, but too many friend told me there are transmission problem after 50-60k. I find 4runner is alway $4000 to $5000 higher than pilot, if they got loaded same.
So I got my first honda last week. It is pilot. But I read too many concern about off-road and towing.
Maybe just stay on the road and never tow a big thing with it.
thx for all the information you post |
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| bar01 |
Having grown up outside Detroit I was a GM owner for many years, but with major repairs coming in at the 4-5yr mark with everyone and poor resale I switched away from GM.
My first "import" was a Subaru Forester 5 years ago. I felt very guilty (the forester was made in Japan) but after 5 years and 115K miles and no major problems (except Ox sensor) I was convinced. We still have the Forester and it runs like new.
We needed a larger more lux SUV in our family with 4wd. Too bad Subaru blew it on the Tibeca - big time mistake for them. I found the Pilot was a a great choice (my wife owned a 1996 civic with over 160K miles no issues)
As others mentioned - the Pilot is more domestic made than many "domestic" cars - so I feel good about that.
I like the looks of my 2006 Pilot EXL. I think it looks more rugged than many other SUV's (like MDX, Highlander, Murano, tribeca, etc)
The only negative to me has been the Pilot's road noise. My forester is more quiet. But it has so many other great features that I am willing to live with this one flaw.
Ride, handling, interior space, looks, resale value, reliability, all push this to the top for us! |
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| g35 |
quote:
Originally posted by hgbee
I just confused, you mean U-haul would let the US most popular SUV to tow a trailer from them. Is this ture?
First time I heard about it -- but it's true. Here's the quote from the U-Haul site:
http://www.uhaul.com/trucks/faq.aspx
Ford Explorer owners: U-Haul has chosen not to rent behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing combinations. This policy is not related to safety issues.
Ouch! |
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| mmmmark |
What I heard was that one of the fatal accidents with the dreaded Firestone tires was pulling a U-Haul trailer, so they got sued bigtime also.
Speaking of those Firestones, we had them and even had a blow out. It was no big deal, did not lose control, etc. My personal view is that (most of) the accidents boil down to inattention and poor drivers.
I actually know people who have gone and picked up the trailer with a friend's vehicle so they could rent a U-Haul. |
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| waynerd |
quote:
The only negative to me has been the Pilot's road noise. My forester is more quiet. But it has so many other great features that I am willing to live with this one flaw.
Ditch the stock tires!
I put Cross Terrains on mine, and it handled a little better, but the road "whine" pitch was lowered considerably. |
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| bar01 |
quote:
Originally posted by waynerd
Ditch the stock tires!
I put Cross Terrains on mine, and it handled a little better, but the road "whine" pitch was lowered considerably.
Yes, I have heard this by others. Unfortunately, I have only had the car 6 months and between the down payment and the new car payments I cannot afford to do this now - but I look forward to replacing them it an another year - or two. |
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| 95se |
I'm pretty much in your shoes. We bought the pilot when we had our baby because we needed a bigger vehicle and it would become her DD, family hauler, occasional mild towing or beach driving.
I originally had no intention of buying the pilot. I was looking at the Murano, Pathfinder, 4Runner, etc. No American's made the cut because we've had great luck with Nissan's and Honda's (except Honda trannies) beyond 150k miles.
At the wife's request we drove a pilot and liked it. It didn't do much for me, but I bought it anyways based primarily on the size (biggest of the mid-sized), VTM-4, and ride. We looked at used ones, but it didn't make sense because they maintain value so well and I could get a good deal on a new one so the differential made it smarter to buy new.
Now we've had it for a year and I really really like the truck. Given the chance I would buy it again in hearbeat. It doesn't really excell at any one thing (power, luxury, off roading, towing, size, price) but it does VERY well in ALL those areas, which makes it unique IMO. I find it to be the best value in terms of versatility, comfort, and reliability. It's not the perfect truck; you can buy something nicer, something cheaper, something more powerful, something bigger, something badder, etc, but in it's price range it covers a lot more ground than the competition I think. |
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| AZJim |
Hey Don,
I am the proud owner of an 06 Pilot and love it. I also own a 2000 Explorer xlt with 96,000 miles on it. I would recommend you get yourself a Pilot. Overall the Ford has been decent but Pilot is larger inside and considerably wider. The Pilot is quicker than my v6 Ford and does about 4 mpg better. I dont tow anything anymore and I live in Phoenix so no need for awd. The pilot really feels like your driving a car as for the Ford you are definately driving a truck. Personally if you are dead set on a used vehicle then you have to go Pilot. No way would I buy an Explorer that was out of warranty. Just my 2 cents Good Luck |
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| stiles_s |
Thought I'd throw in my $.02... We've had our '05 for 15mos or so, and have ~20k miles on it.
I like to say that I my relationship w/the Pilot is love/hate. Another way to explain it is that it appeals strongly to the logical side of my brain, and repulses the emotional side. These two sides are in constant battle, but that's what therapy's for, right? :)
What we use it for:
- hauling the kid around on the weekend
- weekend trips out to our cabin, packed full of stuff
So, lots of highway miles, with some city driving. Don't drive it daily to work by myself unless my other car's broken.
What we almost bought: v8 4runner, Audi Allroad.
We're driving enthusiasts, having owned lots of high performance cars, and this is our first SUV.
What we like:
- huge interior room. 60%? more interior room than a 4runner with a similar "footprint".
- interior is super easy to configure.
- drives like a [big, floaty] car, not a truck
- excellent engine/transmission combo. Really fun drivetrain for a vehicle of this size.
- gas mileage doesn't totally suck (averages about 18mpg)
- subjective: I think it looks good, in an unassuming kind of way
- handles surprisingly well for a vehicle of this size -- especially w/the "+2" wheel and tire package
- high value -- high spec/content/cubic-ft for the $$
- good predicted reliability
- I like the "simple goodness" of it. It's good, basic, practical transportation without a lot of the gadgets that are so prevalent today.
- Great, very simple, HVAC system.
What we don't like:
- we despise the awd system on the highway in inclement weather (i know, I'm a broken record on this). we've come close to selling the vehicle a couple times based solely on this factor. This has been debated before on this forum -- very few others share this opinion. I'm OK w/that.
- so bloody sensitive to shimmy/vibration/imbalance. I struggle with this constantly. I've never driven a vehicle that was this sensitive to harmonics. this factor has also caused me to come close to selling it.
- interior materials feel cheap, from the leather to the plastic (I guess you get what you pay for)
- road noise -- adds to the feeling of cheapness
- It's an SUV (it's our first, and we used to talk a bunch of cra$ about them :) )
- structure doesn't feel especially solid (lots of shuddering over bumps, etc.)
We're settling into the 2nd year w/the Pilot, and I think it's going to stick with us for a while longer. It just makes so much practical sense, and it does nothing super offensive. Not an object of lust, but a very rational purchase.
Scott. |
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| rocky |
Scott you are so on the money its scary
I much rather drive my Land Rover. Its slower consumes more gas costs more to maintain but it has Character in droves. |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by rocky
Scott you are so on the money its scary
I much rather drive my Land Rover. Its slower consumes more gas costs more to maintain but it has Character in droves.
Agreed - almost entirely - except for the part about adverse weather conditions. My Pilot is extremely surefooted in just about everything. I don't think I'd ever felt out of control at any point from the day I bought it.
I will certainly miss mine in the winter time as I just traded it in on a Mazda6 Grand Sport wagon which I'll pick up this weekend. |
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| stiles_s |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
Agreed - almost entirely - except for the part about adverse weather conditions. My Pilot is extremely surefooted in just about everything. I don't think I'd ever felt out of control at any point from the day I bought it.
I will certainly miss mine in the winter time as I just traded it in on a Mazda6 Grand Sport wagon which I'll pick up this weekend.
^^ nice wagon, congrats!
I've edited my post about the "4wd" system in hopes of prevent this thread from derailing :) |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by stiles_s
^^ nice wagon, congrats!
I've edited my post about the "4wd" system in hopes of prevent this thread from derailing :)
Thanks. I didn't mean to take this OT, but am very excited. Although I did enjoy the Pilot for the 18 months I owned it, I did miss having a more "fun to drive" vehicle. The Mazda6 is just a blast, even as a wagon.
I actually feel like I'm 28 and not 48 when I'm driving it ;)
Anyway, I'll post pics once I take delivery this weekend. |
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| Sportymonk |
My $.02 - As far as the third row seats go, they are great. When I looked at the Fords, the back row was one piece, as stated earlier , all or nothing. I recently took my wife and son and a friend of his with his friends two parents and luggage to the Raleigh airport over an hour away for the two boys to take a week long trip to Canada. We put the two dads up front, one mom and the two boys in the middle with the sets moved forward a little. Folded the third row single seat down with my wife in the 2/3s seat and the luggage in back and along the side. Everybody was comfortable and we had a great ride. Did it again when they came back.
As for towing, I checked and the Pilot can tow the 5x10 U-Haul loaded to its max capacity. (This is including the weight of the trailer) You can tow the 6x12 but you can not go max capacity as that will go beyond the Pilot's rating. It is rated at 4500 for a boat which most assume that if you had to tow a short distance at slower speeds (where aerodynamics aren't a factor) then you could probably tow 4500 lbs.
As to handling, it does not handle like my old Impala which was wider and lower but it does handle great! Better than what I anticipated. (Then again my Impala kept going back to the shop. Wife's Malibu had to have the pistons replaced under warranty at 21,000!)
Overall the Pilot is a great vehicle if you need the ability to carry 5 very comfortably, 8 for shorter trips, tow light to medium loads. It is rated highly in terms of safety and quality. No vehicle is perfect but so far I have had no issues at all.
The bottom line is a lot depends upon what you need. The Pilot is a good balance for most families. |
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| Sportymonk |
Just went to the Ford site and compared. When I compared to other Fords and listed as my criteria the qualities of the Pilot, it grayed everything out. There is no comparison! :p (We knew that didn't we folks?)
Then I compared to a Pilot under the compare to other manufacturers at
http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/ex...?vehicles=17200|17439|18470|18369
Price of the Eddie Bauer was within a few hundred dollars of the Pilot EX-L. Ford advantage =
1. Second row reclining sport bucket seats.
2. POWER folding third row seats. (OK so even just third row seats are an option and the Pilot has them standard.)
3. Seating for 5. (Don't want it crowded)
4. Manual Climate control (Pilot has automatic standard) :p
5. Rear A/C optional (Pilot makes it mandatory.)
6. Remote Decklid/Tailgate Release (OK it would be nice on the Pilot)
7. 210 horsepower to Pilot's 244. (Don't want to overdo it and lose control due to too much power!)
8. Ground Clearance 8.2 vs 8.0. (Oh cry my self to sleep)
You get the idea. The Explorer does have some advantages like towing (oops can't tow a U-Haul, wonder if anything else is safe)
If you need to tow, I guess you should go get a Nissan or Toyota but like said above, the Pilot is great at everything overall. Let me put it this way, you won't buy mine for a long, long time. |
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| rocky |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
Agreed - almost entirely - except for the part about adverse weather conditions. My Pilot is extremely surefooted in just about everything. I don't think I'd ever felt out of control at any point from the day I bought it.
I will certainly miss mine in the winter time as I just traded it in on a Mazda6 Grand Sport wagon which I'll pick up this weekend.
I'd rather drive my Land Rover in Adverse weather conditions rain or snow....maybe its them crappy Integreties |
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| Sportymonk |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
I will certainly miss mine in the winter time as I just traded it in on a Mazda6 Grand Sport wagon which I'll pick up this weekend.
WHAT! :eek: Say it ain't so. No room in back, no AWD. Oh well, don't leave here. Let us know about the Sport Wagon. I considered it when I decided to get rid of the Impala but needed more room. It is a nice vehicle. |
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| g35 |
quote:
Originally posted by cwa107
Agreed - almost entirely - except for the part about adverse weather conditions. My Pilot is extremely surefooted in just about everything. I don't think I'd ever felt out of control at any point from the day I bought it.
I'd have to vote with stiles_s with respect to the AWD system -- I'm also not that impressed with the Pilot's AWD system. For comparison, I've owned a 2004 Subaru WRX, and a 2004 Lexus RX330. Subaru's system is the best by far.
The Pilot's system has a noticeable delay you can hear before the rear wheels lock in - it's brief -- but you do slip. The WRX and RX330 wouldn't. I also know its not just me if my wife has to ask "did we really get AWD?" :D |
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| JungleJim |
quote:
Originally posted by g35
I also know its not just me if my wife has to ask "did we really get AWD?" :D
No, you didn't get AWD. A good way to describe it is "part-time AWD".
True AWD provides power to all the wheels all the time. |
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| cwa107 |
quote:
Originally posted by JungleJim
No, you didn't get AWD. A good way to describe it is "part-time AWD".
True AWD provides power to all the wheels all the time.
That makes the assumption that there is an industry-standard definition of the terms "AWD" and "4WD" - which there isn't. Not to beat a dead horse, as it's been argued many times before, but these terms hold very little meaning other than to say that the vehicle can be powered by any one of its four wheels. These are mostly marketing terms.
And for the record, Honda refers to the VTM-4 system as 4WD, not AWD. |
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| Wrazor |
It never occurred to me that the Pilot was a bit feminine. Even in "Amazon" green...in fact I've told the women in my family that I picked the color in their honor since each of them can relate to the "Amazon" monikor.
I've had one female friend tell me how "manly" my Pilot looked even without me in it.
I find the front grill boldly designed. The way the headlamps tilt slightly downward toward the center of the Pilot give a "I can kick A--" look. And that BIG "H" in the middle...it must stand for "Hard" cause that's the "feeling" :eek: I get when I stand back and look at that beautiful machine.
However, I must confess that after driving a Ford Windstar since 1998, I feel like a 16 year old stud in the Pilot. The Windstar was without a doubt feminine but I never stopped to dwell on it. BTW, I test drove a Ford SportTrac for a week before buying the Pilot. It too is a very manly looking truck...it was just a bit on the tight spacewise.
I'm looking forward to hearing what choice you make. |
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| Wrazor |
quote:
I’m in the market for a used mid-sized SUV to serve as the family hauler and DD for the wife.
BTW, What is the meaning of "DD"? |
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