24th Jan 2009, 17:04
The Pilot isn't an SUV? It is 4x4 and can haul up to 4500lbs in towing capacity. Car & Driver November issue did a comparison of Mid-Sized Crossover vehicles (SUV's for you that don't believe it's an SUV). They compared Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9, Ford Flex, Chevrolet Tranverse and Hyundai Veracruz. Guess who was the winner? Honda Pilot baby!! In fact it scored highest in offroad capability.
Since 2002 Honda's Pilot has bagged six of Car & Drivers 5 Best Trucks trophies, and they say with the newest generation Pilot it may well land in the SUV Hall o Fame.
It is built with a Uni-body construction meaning it's not a body on frame design like most domestic trucks. This style of frame is more rigid and more safe.
25th Jan 2009, 09:43
No, none of these, including the Pilot, are an SUV. No 2-speed transfer case = not a real truck. AWD is not 4WD. These are just grocery getters, not for real use.
25th Jan 2009, 22:13
To say that a front-drive unibody vehicle based on an Accord sedan is an "SUV" is REALLY pushing definitions. In fact NONE of those "SUV's" listed in comment 17:04 is a real SUV. They are not even called SUV's anymore, but rather "crossovers" (a more consumer acceptable term than "station wagon"). The Highlander is a Camry with a boxy body, the Flex is a pure station wagon, and the Chevy Traverse is not a true SUV either. As noted before in the comments, Honda does not now make a true SUV.
26th Jan 2009, 08:08
Just a minor point -- a crossover ISN'T an SUV. A crossover is a vehicle that is bridging the stylistic, size, and capability gap between cars and SUVs... thus the name "crossover". They run the range from being very car-like to being very SUV-like, but most, if not all, are based on a car platform. This is a minor point because the Honda Ridgeline is one of the more SUV-like models with SUV-like capabilities.
26th Jan 2009, 12:08
Having had a terrible experience with Honda in the early 90's we generally avoid even test driving Honda products now when looking at cars, especially with the huge number of transmission problems Honda products have.
I did check out a basic Accord with the 4-cylinder engine before buying our Ford Fusion. The Accord had nothing to impress us. That's why we bought the Fusion.
26th Jan 2009, 12:29
All other unnecessary comments aside, Honda still makes better vehicles than any of the U.S. Big Three. Unless I need a pickup truck, I will be hard pressed to spend my hard earned money on a domestic vehicle I will be replacing again in less than five years. I drove my last Nissan 21 years and will drive the one I have now that long and the one I buy next year that long as well if not longer.
26th Jan 2009, 13:10
"If you pay $5000 MORE for a vehicle and sell it for only $2000 more, you have LOST $3000. Do the math".
Very true, obviously. Some other factors are fuel costs and repair costs -- assuming the vehicle is owned past warranty. Still, it is generally true that depreciation is the single largest cost of automobile ownership.
26th Jan 2009, 15:26
12:29 so you also agree you would not buy a new Accord as well... correct? I think the Nissan SUV looks nice but is underpowered.
27th Jan 2009, 23:51
Who on Earth keeps ANY vehicle for TWENTY YEARS?? I'd be bored out of my skull with a Ferrari in that length of time. Most people trade around 100,000 miles or sooner if for no other reason than to have the latest style and technology. With domestics having 100,000 mile warranties, that pretty much ends any discussion about reliability issues.
28th Jan 2009, 09:20
Accord would not be my first choice. Only way I'd buy one is if I got a really good deal. I wouldn't buy the SUVs though, maybe the Rogue. The only car in their line-up I've ever really been interested in is the Maxima.
28th Jan 2009, 21:05
Choosing between a Honda or Nissan is like deciding whether you'd rather have a bucket of crap or a jug of pee.
28th Jan 2009, 22:20
So far I have only owned vehicles made by the Big Three, and I have been laughing a little bit at the ugly styling on the new Accord when I have seen white ones. But today I saw one in a reddish brown color, and I have to say it has totally changed by mind. It looks really good in that color.
29th Jan 2009, 12:19
Let's see an Accord try to last as long as a Ford Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car, and we'll just see if that piece of junk is better than ALL domestic vehicles as stated by people who obviously believe whatever they're told.
See there are people who believe whatever Consumer Reports says, and then there are the ones who actually know about the vehicles they own, plan to own, or are researching.
I chose the Vic because of its unmatched durability, and of course knowing it will last longer than any of the garbage Honduh can crap out! It's basically survival of the fittest!
30th Jan 2009, 14:25
In response to commenter 12:19, maybe you are correct. However, that has not been my experience with owning a domestic vehicle. Besides Crown Vic/Grand Marquis are only one of many domestic offerings, 80% of which are not worth a dime.
I am a faithful and loyal owner of Nissan products now. My Nissan product lasted me 20 years with NO problems. Regular maintenance, nothing unusual at all. The car was driven many times across the country, went longer than it should've without oil changes and was driven 120+ miles daily until the day it was totaled. The car started every time I turned the key, low repair bills and was just the car I needed in 1987. It was what I needed then and it was fine in 2008. ANY car that gives me so few problems as this one is a GREAT car and unfortunately, I have not had that kind of luck with a domestic vehicle.
My 1996 GMC pickup was crap, with maintenance bills stacked a mile high. Just 3 weeks ago I decided to give them another chance and bought a 1999 S-10 pickup. This is GM's last chance to make me a domestic consumer again, otherwise I'm done with them all. The build quality of the 1999 seems much better than previous models but we'll just have to see if that means anything.
Also, the Maxima had been on the market such a short time in 1987 that consumer reports did little good. I did however go by other owners who had success with Japanese cars. An aunt had a 1985 Toyota Cressida brand new and had no problems though her car was relatively new when I bought mine. She drove her car 12 years and only parted with it then because the styling was far outdated. She has gone through a Mazda 929 (piece of crap) and now is a happy owner of a Toyota Highlander.
So now, consumer reports are not always the most reliable means of research, but word of mouth and past ownership experiences are enough to buy a loyal owner.
24th Jan 2009, 13:23
"The comment says "ALL SUV's" drop in value. This includes imports as well."
This is a poorly phrased remark. All vehicles drop in value. Domestics value just drops faster than all others.
For those import owners who have had bad experiences, too bad. All myths are not true, especially the one that says imports will give you no problems. Well it is true to some extent, its true only if the vehicle is properly maintained and the service manual schedule of recommended maintenance is followed. Imports are only for those who actually take the time to follow a service schedule. Sometimes it means following it to a T. Domestics are for those who don't like thinking as much and who don't mind waiting until something is wrong and going to the service department. An import that has not been properly maintained will be a nightmare. I guess I've just had good luck to have never had a problem with my imports!