OT: Honda Pilot

Lee Along with a 05 Chrysler 300 and a 05 Dodge Dakota Pickup we have a 05 Honda Pilot 8 passenger with the 3.5 V6 engine. It is a great vehicle. 24 - 25 mpg on the highway, great handling and ride. We go to Myrtle Beach at least twice a year and that is the vehicle we go in. It's fully loaded and we will buy another one when the time comes. Ron

You might want to drive and get a total drive home price on one of the newer type vehicles on the market, one of the "crossover vehicles" like the Ford Edge. They do a better job of providing the advantages of vehicles like the Pilot, Escape, Rav4, etal, but are based on a better handling, more modern, more efficient and comfortable car chassis.

mike

The Pilot is a crossover. I think you may be remembering the Honda Passport which was just an Isuzu Rodeo in Honda clothing, It was truck based. Paul Johnson

I have the Pilot's dressed up brother, an Acura MDX. I traded an Olds Bravada in on it. The Bravada was a truck-based SUV- not even close in terms of comfort, quiet, room. The Acura is car based as is the Pilot. It is a great travel car- lots of room, very quite, very comfortable, very quick, great suspension. It actually handles like a sports car- great on slick roads, winding roads, etc. My only gripe is that I have to use 91 octane. I think the Pilot, with less horsepower, uses 87. Paul Johnson

The Ridgline is a crossover, built on the Accord chassis.

mike

I think the Pilot and Ridgline are basically the same vehicle from the back seat forward.

Lee

I think if I was looking for a Honda SUV like thing I'd take a hard look at a Element, there is something about their funky styling I find very appealing.

Jeff DeWitt

Lee Aanderud wrote:

I take a hard look at an Element everytime I see one... to see what "funkying" idiot is sitting in the driver's seat.

Lee

Yes but did you ever notice how happy they always seem to be?

After all....

they are in their Element.

Good thing we all like different things!

Jeff DeWitt

Lee Aanderud wrote:

screw what "transportation" looks like on the outside, do you want comfort, mileage, etc. or a expensive lawn ornament to impress the neighbors. I drive crap and proud of it!

I am no so sure about driving around in a lunch box though!

Joe Roberts

Yeah, they're so happy they could almost be described as gay. Someone called it the Miata SUV the other day at work.

Gotta love the styling though... it reminds me of a kindergartener's drawing of a school bus.

Lee

Hello,

Just so that this thread will not get too far "OT", let me add that I just put together a pretty good, roomy, comfortable, travel machine. It's a 1965 Sliding Roof Wagonaire with a Chevy 305 TBI , 700R4 overdrive transmission, with a 3.31 limited slip rear. The suspension is slightly enhanced with H D gas shocks and a 1 " Avanti front stabilizer bar. It has A/C, power front bucket seats, remote power door locks, and an Alpine Stereo that is Ipod compatable. The head light system is enhanced to accept Sylvania Silver Star H-4 bulbs in the outboard lights - it also has aux driving lights. (We older folks need all the night help we can get). Shoulder harnesses have been installed front and rear although there will rarely be anyone riding in the rear seats.

While I realize it doesn't have the features and capability of a new Honda Pilot, it looks like it's going to be a good travel vehicle that has no trouble exceeding 20 MPG on trips. and-- it's a STUDEBAKER .

Jack

You betcha... My little $200 shitbox Civic paid for itself within two months when I compared the gas mileage to my T-Cab. I love that little turd so much that I'm going to give it an engine refresh, (about $400 including labor), to hopefully drive for another 100K or so. It has been ultra dependable... Just like a Studebaker!

JT

The Element does look like a garden shed on wheels. I'd go for the Toyota FJ Cruiser instead, at least it has some STYLE to it!

I can say the same for my $300 Datsun 310 I drove for 7 years. The only reason it died is because it got written off in an accident. With your Civic, definitely sink some $$ into it!!

Craig

You mean the "Hummer .5" ?

Lee

What I've found to be remarkable is that up to the 1983 model year, every issued has been resolved based on my traditional knowledge of auto mechanics. The design is simple by elegant from an engineering and maintenance viewpoint. That all changed in the 1984 model year...

JT

(Who hopes to keep the '82 in RI and the '83 here in TX)

I say it has more ties its late 60's ancestor, the FJ-40 Land Cruiser than it does to any Hummer.

Craig

I saw one with a Hummer .5 bumper sticker.

Lee