Honda Pilot Advice
- Thread starter JSparky
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CookieRoe
Senior Member
Sparky, I have to say that I've done a ton of reading regarding the Pilot. It's hands down the best 3 row SUV out there. It's AWD system bests the Highlander, is more efficient, weighs less and lots roomier. I was in a Highlander yesterday and I left completely cramped. The Pilot, not so much, if felt like a 3/4 Honda Odyssey. I can provide links to back up what I typed.
If I had the money, I would plop down $45K for a Pilot Touring Elite. Now.
As far as Honda reliability, well, I'm biased. I have a DD (07 Civic sedan) with 215,000 on the clock and runs like new.
I want to LOVE the highlander, It's a solid SUV, but my preferences would be a Pilot.
EDIT: I did hear of transmission issues AND the V6 burning oil, but it is to my understanding they solved the oil issue with this (latest) generation. As far as the transmission, I've heard sporadically that some are being replaced prematurely. It is NOT a wide spread problem. The rest of the vehicle is bulletproof. Who cares, I would be an extended warranty with that puppy. I sincerely doubt the Pilot will give you problems. Like I said, If I had the smoke, I'd get one right now. (I even have a color picked out, LOL)
If I had the money, I would plop down $45K for a Pilot Touring Elite. Now.
As far as Honda reliability, well, I'm biased. I have a DD (07 Civic sedan) with 215,000 on the clock and runs like new.
I want to LOVE the highlander, It's a solid SUV, but my preferences would be a Pilot.
EDIT: I did hear of transmission issues AND the V6 burning oil, but it is to my understanding they solved the oil issue with this (latest) generation. As far as the transmission, I've heard sporadically that some are being replaced prematurely. It is NOT a wide spread problem. The rest of the vehicle is bulletproof. Who cares, I would be an extended warranty with that puppy. I sincerely doubt the Pilot will give you problems. Like I said, If I had the smoke, I'd get one right now. (I even have a color picked out, LOL)
Last edited:
drei4runner29
New member
My sister has the second gen Pilot and she said that her A/C isn't blowing cold air as it should. And she's had that car maybe 5 years or less. On a side note, I had a 2000 4d Accord and after a couple of years, the A/C stopped blowing cold air and would only blow cold air during the winter time when it was cold outside. Wife had a 1992 Acura Integra and after a few years, the A/C stopped blowing cold air and would only work in the winter time when it was cold. Can you imagine how crappy that is living in Vegas during that time in the summer? Son has a 2002 Honda Accord coupe and when he received the vehicle from his grandparents, my in-laws, the A/C was also blowing hot air. Talked to a few other Honda owners and they said that their A/Cs stopped working w/in 2-3 years after owning them. They had to recharge their A/C system to get it to work again.
Don't know if it's a Honda thing, but it seems like the people I know that owns Hondas have had problems w/ their A/Cs. Even my mechanic says that he fixes or recharges Honda A/Cs a lot. On my 4runner, I still haven't recharged my A/C and it's still going strong and I've owned that for 15 years now since I bought it brand new. Hopefully Honda has fixed the problem w/ their A/Cs, but I'll stick to a Toyota myself.
Don't know if it's a Honda thing, but it seems like the people I know that owns Hondas have had problems w/ their A/Cs. Even my mechanic says that he fixes or recharges Honda A/Cs a lot. On my 4runner, I still haven't recharged my A/C and it's still going strong and I've owned that for 15 years now since I bought it brand new. Hopefully Honda has fixed the problem w/ their A/Cs, but I'll stick to a Toyota myself.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
It might be. I purchased my 07 Civic new and started to experience problems (A/C loosing gas) a couple of years ago. I found a "relatively inexpensive" indy shop to repair my A/C. My 05 4Runner's A/C still runs like if it's brand new. However, I will forgive Honda for it. The Pilot is just leaps and bounds better than the Toyota in terms of, well, everything. If the A/C starts to pull my chain after a few years, so be it. Apart from this, the vehicle is rock solid.
SoCal5thGen
New member
2006 Pilot
We have a 2006 Pilot with 185,000 miles and it runs like a champ. Never had any significant problems. Highly recommend it, although I don't care for the new styling very much.
We have a 2006 Pilot with 185,000 miles and it runs like a champ. Never had any significant problems. Highly recommend it, although I don't care for the new styling very much.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
I really STILL like the last gen Pilot. I LOVE the new one, but that tranny has me irked. I dunno. As far as styling, yes, it doesn't have me convinced. Seeing how the new Civic and refreshed Accord look, I would bet Honda will "refresh" the Pilot soon enough.
