| crofttk |
Well, my wife and kids picked up our 06 Sage Brush Pearl Pilot AWD EX-L w/ RES (our first) yesterday on schedule from the dealer !
This happened while I, unfortunately, was was enroute in a plane from Houston, TX to Charlotte, NC, happy that Tropical Storm Ernesto had not delayed my flight and hoping that he hadn't delayed my connecting flight from Charlotte to home in the suburbs of Allentown, PA.
I did the whole deal while I've been gone on temproary assignment all summer, including the last three weeks, when I did most of the researching and all of the dealer price shopping and negotiating by email and phone. My wife and kids at home did the test driving and voted for the Pilot over the Highlander.
So, my wife picks me up at the airport last night in our new baby and I'm very pleased with how things look. I got up this morning and ran out to the driveway to see the color in the light of day. I love the color and can't wait to see it in the stronger sunlight of midday when my wife gets back from chemistry class at college. She was kind enough to leave me the owner's manual at least !
As I walked around, I looked at the rear bumper and to the right of the license plate. NO BACKUP CAMERA, NO SENSOR HOLES IN THE BUMPER !:(
The Pilot pricing report I got along with the $39 New Car Buying Kit from Consumer Reports online told me this feature was STANDARD on the AWD EX-L w/RES ! I double checked it, there is no question what the pricing report says !
BTW, I DID buy a $1.90 VIN report day before yesterday as soon as the dealer gave me the VIN, and it did NOT list an "electronic parking aid " as standard. At the time, of course, I wasn't looking specifically at that and didn;t notice the "discrepancy". I wanted to verify AWD and the trim line based on the VIN since I hadn't gotten to actually see the vehicle with my own eyes.
SO, you 06 AWD EX-L w/RES owners, was I indeed led astray by Consumer Reports, whom I've trusted for years and years ? |
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| 135_avi8tor |
If the CR did indeed say the RES came with a backup camera then there is an error.
The Backup camera is designed to play on the Navi screen in the front dash and there is not an option to have BOTH the RES and Navi system.
If I had to choose between the two (and was carrying kids around) I would much rather have the RES. |
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| crofttk |
quote:
Originally posted by 135_avi8tor
If the CR did indeed say the RES came with a backup camera then there is an error.
The Backup camera is designed to play on the Navi screen in the front dash and there is not an option to have BOTH the RES and Navi system.
If I had to choose between the two (and was carrying kids around) I would much rather have the RES.
Thanks, avi8tor.
I just checked page 184 of the Owner's Manual and it says it's included with the NAVI Pilot. I guess, being a kind of "navigation", this makes sense !
You know, we first wanted the NAVI, but found that they are becoming very scarce in 2006 models around Eastern PA and Central NJ right now, with price negotiation leverage dwindling even during clearance. Then, the wife and I rethought things, and despite our initial feeeling that the RES for the kids was "decadent", I was tickled that it included the backup camera and that was one (albeit incorrect) factor that tipped me over to the RES !
However, I also had benefit of these wonderful forums and gathered that decent portable GPS systems can be had with mapping and even more features than the Pilot OEM one. PLUS, we can also use a portable GPS in our RAV-4 which I will "inherit" for commuting.
We figured the path of least resistance as far as being able to negotiate hard and get a better value, was to go for the RES or just plain EX-L rather than the NAVI.
As far as I can tell, if I can trust both Edmunds and Consumer Reports on that at least, I was able to get the dealer down to a 1.6% profit, or $800 and change over his "net" invoice (after $4039 in holdback and clearance incentive), which I feel good about.
I'm quite happy with my choice overall but a bit miffed at Consumer Reports right now and wondering if they'd give me my $39 back.:mad: |
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| andyschneider |
quote:
Originally posted by crofttk
I'm quite happy with my choice overall but a bit miffed at Consumer Reports right now and wondering if they'd give me my $39 back.:mad:
My experience with the consumer reports data is that it's correct to the 90% level, but sometimes they miss things. I've found that when we were researching Gas Convection stoves last year, and also some of their car reviews are off just a bit. And, I'm willing to bet that somewhere in the fine print of the agreements when you got the report, that it says that they're not responsible for errors, etc.
The lesson learned here is what I figured out a while ago - Use multiple sources to make sure you're getting what you think you are. In the case of Hondas, their web site and brochures are always the defacto standard. As an example, I think the Edmunds site early in the 7th gen reports said that the Accord LX had 4 wheel disc brakes, and I got excited till I double checked and found out it was rear drums.
andy |
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| tim.s |
Yes, as you have discovered, the back up camera is only standard on the 06 EX-L with Navi.
The back up sensors are not standard on any trim line.
www.hondacars.com is usually the most accurate with trim details.
Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and others base their info on vehicle inspections, etc... You often see these websites with standard equipment listed as "optional" or "N/A" and many accessories listed as "N/A", but I've never noticed them listing the wrong standard equipment - that's an even bigger screw up.
Sorry for your mix up, but your only options are to keep the car or try to take it back. I guarentee the Dealer isn't going to add these options (unless you pay). Unfortunately, the only one you could add with RES is the back up sensors.
I'm sure CR has a disclaimer with all of their info too. |
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| crofttk |
quote:
Originally posted by tim.s
Yes, as you have discovered, the back up camera is only standard on the 06 EX-L with Navi.
The back up sensors are not standard on any trim line.
www.hondacars.com is usually the most accurate with trim details.
Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and others base their info on vehicle inspections, etc... You often see these websites with standard equipment listed as "optional" or "N/A" and many accessories listed as "N/A", but I've never noticed them listing the wrong standard equipment - that's an even bigger screw up.
Sorry for your mix up, but your only options are to keep the car or try to take it back. I guarentee the Dealer isn't going to add these options (unless you pay). Unfortunately, the only one you could add with RES is the back up sensors.
I'm sure CR has a disclaimer with all of their info too.
Thanks for the response, tim and andy. I'm sure you're right about the CR disclaimer!:p I absolutely am not dissatisfied with our vehicle or the dealer. They are and were great, so no second thoughts there.
I just regret that I was in a position with limited time and resources and couldn't see the vehicle first hand -- although I am overall confident in our knowledge of the vehicle, my wife's test driving, and that we made the right choice -- I chose my resources and trusted them but no resource is perfect -- yes, multiple sources and more time to research the details, I'm sure, would have been very useful. I've been watching the Honda as our next purchase for years, so the choice was more or less already made. Looking at Highlander and others was really just "due diligence".
The backup camera and sensors would have really just been gravy for us and not a substantial loss as far as what we were counting on and personally prefer in a vehicle.
SO, the dealer put on the tow package and the chrome side-steps and thanks to the prompt shipping of hondacuraworld, I already have my splash guards, roof rack cross bars, and all-season mats in hand to go install !:) |
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| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by crofttk
... and thanks to the prompt shipping of hondacuraworld, I already have my splash guards, roof rack cross bars, and all-season mats in hand to go install !:)
So how about being prompt about pictures, because
:needpics:
:D |
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| crofttk |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
So how about being prompt about pictures, because
:needpics:
:D
:D Hahahaaaa ! I KNEW that was coming ! Thanks for asking, jay. The pictures will be forthcoming. But first I have two other priorities:
1) I have to get the loan finalized with the credit union so they'll send a check to the dealer before the dealer has a calf and,
2) I can't tell you this one, but the hint is, I've been gone from home all summer except every other weekend and my wife and kids have been visiting family in Europe all summer until a couple of weeks ago... you'll have to figure out the rest of that one on your own.:cool: |
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| crofttk |
OK, bear with me -- first time I've tried photos in this forum so I may have to fiddle with it some:
For this profile view with some front I used a flash because it's overcast today. Even so, the green cast of this Sage Brush Pearl is not as evident as I expect it is in full sunlight: |
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| crofttk |
OK! Well, posting an image worked as advertised.;)
Here is a left profile from the rear. The green cast of the Sage Brush comes out a little better in this one: |
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| crofttk |
| And, for completeness sake, here is a view from the right rear (splash guards, roof rack cross-bars, Bug Deflector 11, Xtreme Floor Mats, and Exhaust Finishers are pending DIY install): |
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| john802 |
| Congrats on your new Pilot!:) |
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| crofttk |
quote:
Originally posted by john802
Congrats on your new Pilot!:)
Thanks ! |
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| andyschneider |
Nice ride! Now you just have to replace that RAV-4 with a new CR-V !!!!
:2:
andy |
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| Scoobs |
quote:
Originally posted by andyschneider
Nice ride! Now you just have to replace that RAV-4 with a new CR-V !!!!
:2:
andy
No. Now he has to replace the RAV4 with a new RAV4 V6 Sport edition:D
It'll leave the Pilot choking on dust.:2: |
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| deezee123 |
Regarding the Consumer Reports false report ~
Some time ago my son was shopping for a car and there was a similar error. He contacted them by phone and they refunded his money. Might be worth your while to check it out - particularly since you made the purchase partially based on their inaccuracy. My son discovered the error prior to purchase, when he went to check out the vehicle in person and asked about it. I don't quite recall what the error was and I don't believe it was anything major, but it was STILL an error.
BTW ~ I love that color! My new Pilot is in Steel Blue, which I also love!
I say ~ Get your money back! |
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| samster |
I haven't dealt with Consumer Reports, but it would be terribly ironic if they weren't willing to make a good faith effort to rectify the situation.
I am thinking that the "not responsible for errors" part means they won't buy you a new car (or won't buy your old one) because of the error, but I would imagine that a refund for the price of the report itself would be quite possible under the circumstances. |
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| crofttk |
quote:
Originally posted by andyschneider
Nice ride! Now you just have to replace that RAV-4 with a new CR-V !!!!
:2:
andy
quote:
Originally posted by Scoobs
No. Now he has to replace the RAV4 with a new RAV4 V6 Sport edition:D
It'll leave the Pilot choking on dust.:2:
Eh, sorry, but I'm from the "run them into the ground" school. There's only about 38,000 miles on the RAV-4 -- I expect there are many more miles to be gotten out of that one !
deezee and samster, thanks for your responses. Indeed, it would be irony for CR not to give me some kind of satisfaction for my trouble. All of this weekend is R&R for me and I spent about all the harda--ness I had on car dealers this past week. I have to fly back to Houston for the last 3 week leg of my temporary assignment on Monday night.:( So, I'll think about calling CR next week after I am back in Houston on my own. |
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