| deparson |
I was at the Honda dealer today and looked a 2009 EX-L Pilot.
Having a 2005 Pilot my first impressions were rather negative. The look is good in general but once you start touching things you get a 'not so well put together' felling. Lots of plastic molding seems to move a lot when touched, trim pieces like the one around the shifter move to the extent it seems loose.
And, the front seats are a good deal more narrow than the 2005 seats. If you thought the 2005 was to wide you would like the 2009 but if you like the 2005 you might find the 2009 less than ideal.
I had been planning on exploring a trade when the 09 came down to invoice but now I think I will either hold on to the 05 or look at another manf.
Just IMO but I did not come away with a felling that this is a new generation of Pilot. |
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| Pairallel |
| Can we assume you didn't test-drive it then? |
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| deparson |
No need to assume :) I did not drive it nor even turn it on.
I would expect that the driving dynamics would be improved in any 'next generation' vehicle but I can't attest to that in the Pilot.
I do really like it but I just don't see it as a next generation to the previous Pilots. I would call it more of a 'significant refresh'. If I did not already have a Pilot and have been expecting more I would likely have had a better impression of it.
-D
quote:
Originally posted by Pairallel
Can we assume you didn't test-drive it then?
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| tomd |
quote:
Originally posted by deparson
I was at the Honda dealer today and looked a 2009 EX-L Pilot.
Having a 2005 Pilot my first impressions were rather negative. ....
Just IMO but I did not come away with a felling that this is a new generation of Pilot.
Surprising
I've owned a new 09 Touring for a month now. Having traded in a 07 Pilot exl.
I can say, without reservation, that the 09 is an improvement over the 07 in EVERY way. In a different league, as it were. I have no regrets selling the 07. By comparison, it now seemed like a dated, basic transportation, type of vehicle. |
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| jhorstma |
| I don't know about the '05 but my wife and I test drove/compared an '08 and an '09 and there was no comparison - hands down the '09 was in every way superior to the '08. I agree about the plastic trim - a bit much for a $40K (touring) vehicle - and the VCM takes a bit of getting used to, but the seats in particular seemed much more comfortable. |
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| Urabus |
I visited my Honda dealership yesterday and saw the 2009 Pilot for the first time and I'm actually quite impressed.
I currently have an '06 Odyssey Touring but am looking a getting something new in anticipation of our 5th child. We're probably not like most people in that we really need a usable 3rd row with storage behind it.
When we were shopping for our Ody, we looked at the '06 Pilot, too. The 3rd row was just not adequate. Then 2nd gen Pilot is much, much better. I'm really impressed at how the interior space is so well designed allowing 3 LATCH child seats in the 2nd row and giving more space behind the 3rd row than a lot of other SUVs. The day before, I also test drove an '08 Sequoia (I used to own an '03) and I have to say that the interior of the Pilot has a much more intelligent design, better for large families than the Sequoia, despite the Sequoia's size. The Sequoia is spacious in all the wrong places for us: The captains chairs in the front- and second-rows are cavernous, while the 3rd row is barely enough for 3 adults let alone 2 wide, high-back booster seats. To me, that makes the Sequoia Platinum only a 6-passenger vehicle--not enough for us.
I'm looking forward to going back for a test drive of the new Pilot. I like the Touring trim because it has all the things we like on our Ody Touring with some minor improvements. |
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| sblvro |
| :4: I went to my favorite honda dealer in town and was quite impressed by the new honda pilot compared to my 03 exlres. It has a lot of features that is present in some more expensive vehicles. The leather seat feels like "pleather" or vinyl of a BMW, very hard compared to the lexus soft of the 03 which in my mind was a plus(h!). There is no doubt that it is the best pilot compared to the previous years except in the looks department which makes it just plain boring.:( |
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| archie |
quote:
we really need a usable 3rd row with storage behind it.
When we were shopping for our Ody, we looked at the '06 Pilot, too. The 3rd row was just not adequate. Then 2nd gen Pilot is much, much better. I'm really impressed at how the interior space is so well designed allowing 3 LATCH child seats in the 2nd row and giving more space behind the 3rd row than a lot of other SUVs.
Compared to SUV's, many vans have more space. The 2008 Odyssey has more space in the third row and behind the third row compared with the 2009 Pilot. You knew that already. Replacing the Odyssey with a Pilot would give less room. But maybe you adding a new vehicle.
Specs
2008 Odyssey, http://automobiles.honda.com/odysse...ifications.aspx
2009 Pilot http://automobiles.honda.com/pilot/specifications.aspx
Odyssey LX Legroom (in., front/middle/rear) 40.8 / 40.0 / 41.1.
Pilot LX Legroom (in, front/middle/rear) 41.4 / 38.5 / 32.1
Odyssey LX Shoulder Room (in., front/middle/rear) 63.5 / 63.1 / 61.2
Pilot LX Shoulder Room (in, front/middle/rear) 61.5 / 62.2 / 58.9
Odyssey LX Hiproom (in., front/middle/rear) 57.0 / 64.4 / 48.5
Pilot LX Hiproom (in, front/middle/rear) 58.6 / 56.9 / 48.4
Odyssey LX Cargo Volume (cu. ft., behind 3rd-row) 38.4
Pilot LX Cargo Volume (cu. ft, behind 3rd-row) 18.0 |
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| Urabus |
quote:
Originally posted by archie
Compared to SUV's, many vans have more space.
Oh, yes, that's for sure. To me there is no perfect vehicle for all situations. It's a matter of balancing compromises with need.
The Ody has a ton of space in the back, but most of the time we only use the lower recessed area for groceries. We hardly ever pack things to the top of the seat backs. However, our Ody only has 2 captains chairs in the 2nd row and with rear- and front-facing seats there, our oldest child has to sit in the 3rd row in the middle between 2 high-back boosters which is not very comfortable. I'm not happy moving her to 2nd class accommodations just because the new baby is coming.
The Pilot offers us a couple of advantages. First it gives us more 2nd row space--especially since we can fit the front- and rear-facing seats side-by-side. The oldest child can then have a window seat and allow access to the rear. The 2 boosters in the third row will be lots of room. I'm really impressed with the size of the space behind the third row because even though it's a lot smaller than the Ody, it's enough to carry our stroller as well as some fresh groceries, too. The kids don't usually come with us when we go on big shopping/Costco trips so in those situations we can always fold down the seats.
The other plus that the Pilot gives us is 4WD. We live above the snow line and last winter we had trouble getting into our driveway even with winter tires on our Ody.
I guess I was so impressed with the new Pilot after test driving the LR3 and the Sequoia on Monday. I think a lot of vehicles boast about passenger capacity, but few are actually designed so that you can use maximum capacity most of the time. The Sequoia is just so massive, yet it doesn't offer a lot of interior versatility. I looked at the new Highlander, too, and the interior is just too small for us. That extra couple of inches of space in the back of the Pilot makes the world of difference.
Now, many years down the road when our kids grow out of child/booster seats, the van might make sense again, but right now the Pilot looks to be the top contender for us. I think I'm going to schedule a test drive later this week. |
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| Patience |
When my wife was setting the sales guy up for the kill on our 09 Pilot, I, like always, cowered away in shame (she is THAT good) and he gave me the keys to the 2008 to check out thinking he would call her bluff and she would "down grade" in payments to an 08.
They were sitting side by side and the physical difference was obvious. For the 2008's he had left on the lot they were nice, but not the EX-L RES she was currently at full count in the ninth inning with the sales guy. If she would have actually attempted to look at the 2008, I would have had to pull her from the game and go home. I couldn't see getting an 08 after the short time in the 09 I spent sitting and driving. But, she walked out with the dealer invoice in one hand and keys in the other. I couldn't beleive she got invoice on a truck less than a month on the lot. |
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| richard112360 |
| Can anyone see the similarities between the '09 Honda Ridgeline and '09 Honda Pilot |
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| charly |
| Yes if you cut the bed off, you will have a mini Pilot. yes they look a lot similar. |
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| slicknickns |
The only really cool thing I like about the '09's are the Hill ascent assistance --- i find that very cool, no more having to gun the engine really hard to get up a fat hill.
Other than that, the new pilots are simply too big. That what was so cool about the older ones, an SUV that held 8 people, but was no bigger than previous small to midsize SUVs. The new Pilot is more Suburban than Pilot |
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| tomd |
quote:
Originally posted by slicknickns
Other than that, the new pilots are simply too big. That what was so cool about the older ones, an SUV that held 8 people, but was no bigger than previous small to midsize SUVs. The new Pilot is more Suburban than Pilot
Odd. Do you own one?
I do; owned one for almost 2 months. Having traded from an 07 Pilot. And I have driven a Suburban. The 09 Plilot is no more like a Suburban than it's like a Prius.
The 09 Pilot drives NO BIGGER than the 07 Pilot. Your contention is just unfounded in fact. |
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| Urabus |
quote:
Originally posted by slicknickns
The only really cool thing I like about the '09's are the Hill ascent assistance --- i find that very cool, no more having to gun the engine really hard to get up a fat hill.
I've been at the dealership several times looking at the 2009 Pilot and have test driven both the EX-L and the Touring models. They do NOT have Hill Climb assistance where they will slowly take you uphill automatically like a Lexus LX570 would.
It has hill START assistance which simply prevents you from rolling backwards when you release the brakes on a slope. |
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| ONIJDM |
We've been driving the 2009 Pilot Touring for a month now; it doesn't drive like a big vehicle; the turning radius is small; I find the rear backup camera and the proximity alerts very useful in tight spots.
Overall I think the Pilot was well designed with families in mind. |
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| slicknickns |
quote:
Originally posted by Urabus
I've been at the dealership several times looking at the 2009 Pilot and have test driven both the EX-L and the Touring models. They do NOT have Hill Climb assistance where they will slowly take you uphill automatically like a Lexus LX570 would.
It has hill START assistance which simply prevents you from rolling backwards when you release the brakes on a slope.
there's a difference between the two? thanks for telling me, it helps.
tomd, i sat in one for a while. hahahaha. "Sat in one for a while". that makes it sound stupid. whatever. anyway, that is my perception of the vehicle. It felt a lot different from my 07. all i can say is that i think if feels simply too big in the drivers seat. i sat in the back and the 3rd row --- much improvement over the previous generation. I like Honda putting the VTM-4 switch away from the emergency signals, in case of accidentally pressing the vtm switch instead of the emergency signal in a bad situation.
I'm very, very happy you love your new pilot and took such an interest in reading in on my opinion. buy anyway, 07 honda pilots kick ass. |
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| Urabus |
quote:
Originally posted by slicknickns
there's a difference between the two? thanks for telling me, it helps.
...i think if feels simply too big in the drivers seat.
Oh, yeah--I've been researching the LX570 and the Hill Climb feature lets you get up all sorts of terrain without having to use the gas pedal at all. It's really neat. Most other serious off-roading vehicles like the Land Rover only have Hill Descent control. Unfortunately, the Pilot has neither.
I do know what you mean about the Pilot feeling big in the driver's seat, though. I like having my seat all the way down and in the '09 Pilot there is quite a lot of adjustment (unlike some other vehicles). The first time I went on a test drive, I started to put the seat down and it kept on going and going. I felt like I was going to sink down below the door sills! LOL
Anyway, as a result, even though I was properly positioned looking out the middle of the windshield, the hood seemed to take up two thirds of my view! |
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| slicknickns |
crazy about the LX. I'm just surprised toyota...er Lexus doesn't market the Lexus land cruiser...er...lx 570 as an off road vehicle.
at least honda did make it a little more off road friendly. I sure as hell could use hill start assist climbing hills at the nature reserve by my house.
i wonder if honda will up the ante on off roading the ridgeline |
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| Hmmm1369 |
| I'm a newbie to the Honda world, after driving Jeeps and Mustangs for years. I've owned my 2009 Pilot EX for 5 days now. I had it on the highway for 200 miles and normal around town driving for 100. I can't wait to get through the 600 mile break-in period so I can see how it really drives. Not that my opinion as a newbie means much but I think it drives like a charm so far. I knew the gas mileage wouldn't be great from the start but I did clock 25.5 mpg on the highway with the cruise set at 75. A few of my neighbors have older models. I like how the 09 looks a little meaner. |
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| tangotango99 |
Honda has been of the few automakers to actually post sales gains in the new $4 a gallon world, but even Honda isn’t immune to the downturn in the light truck market in the U.S. The Japanese automaker announced on Monday that it plans to cut Odyssey and Pilot production by 10,000 units this year.
“Honda is not immune to the shift in the market,” Honda spokesman David Iida told Automotive News. “We don’t want inventories to get too high.”
Both the Odyssey minivan and Pilot crossover are made at the automaker’s Lincoln, Alabama plant. Despite the reduction in production, Honda says it has no plans to lay off any workers at the Lincoln plant. Production of Honda’s Ridgeline pickup will shift from Alliston, Ontario to the Alabama facility in 2009.
Conversely, Honda also announced that it will boost Civic production at its East Liberty, Ohio and Alliston, Ontario plants, but failed to mention how much production would be ramped up. |
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| jdeanski |
quote:
Originally posted by tangotango99
The Japanese automaker announced on Monday that it plans to cut Odyssey and Pilot production by 10,000 units this year.
They are cutting production so Honda and their dealers won't be forced into offering steep discounts and incentivates to get rid of unsold units. |
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| fallen |
I've had my 09 for about a month now and I love it. This isn't my first Honda - I had an '01 Acura CL (just a fancy Honda) prior to the Pilot and my wife has an '08 CRV. I love Hondas.. they never disappoint me.
I love the spaciousness of the Pilot - I'm not a small guy, so having a lot of leg & hip room is very important. Also having 4-month-old twins in their rear-facing car seats makes passenger and cargo space of huge importance to me. The CRV is a very nice car, but with the car seats in the back, my knee was constantly hitting the dashboard... it was funny for a few minutes, but got old really fast. Also, the stroller (for 2 kids) took up ALL of the CRV's cargo space. With the Pilot, I still have enough room to throw in a swing, a bouncer, and a couple of high chairs.
It doesn't feel like a truck. I've driven my buddy's Ford Explorer Sport and that feels like you're diving a truck. The Pilot is a lot bigger than that Explorer, but rides almost like any other V6 sedan (a littler heavier obviously).
It looks badass. Previous model looked a bit ghey, if you will. I paid zero attention to the Pilots before seeing the 09 redesign, and as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted it. I also considered the new Toyota Highlander, but it still looks a bit ghey... it'd be a good SUV for my wife, but it ain't for me. And let's face it, style plays a huge part for most people. The key is to find a car that satisfies all your needs and compliments your style. I feel that the 09 Pilot does that for me.
The only negative is the gas consumption, but this wasn't unexpected. I was fully prepared to pay more for gas, considering what I was gaining. I did a quick estimation of how much more I'll be paying for gas vs my old Acura CL. It came out to $2,000* per year. Seems like a pretty high number, but IMHO, it's totally worth it for my healthier back, robustness on long trips (which will require packing a bunch of crap and involve dirt roads) and my overall happiness.
* My estimate is as follows:
I filled up my CL every 1.5 weeks for $55.
I now fill up the Pilot every 1 week for $75.
$55 * (52 / 1.5) = $1,906
$74 * (52 / 1) = $3,900
Difference = $1,994 |
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| CKinNC |
recently started my hunt for a new vehicle since the wife told me she was pregnant with out third child. had a 2005 element that i loved so thought after checking out fords, dodges, toyoats that i should check out the new pilot. i had test drove last year the 2008 one and did not have the space for me that i wanted. being 6'-6" and around 3bills i needed more space.
after finding out honda redesigned the pilot me and my oldest went out test drving all different models. I settled on the touring one for me and the family. though my gas mileage is a bit less ( i was averaging 24.5 in the element) i love this vehicle. I've not found the interior to fell cheap in any way and the power is great and the features this has are fun and i am still trying to figure everything out. :2: my best mileage so far was 21.8 in this. it was pretty much highway only very little city. average though is 20.2. I do not feel that is too bad. way better than the wife suburban. |
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