Episode 22

full
Published on:

20th Oct 2022

First Generation Honda Pilot - Affordable Family Adventure Vehicle

00:00 - INTRO - First Generation Honda Pilot - The Affordable Family Adventure Vehicle

01:15 - GENERAL OVERVIEW – What Makes the First Gen Honda Pilot So Great?  

03:55 - YOU MIGHT WANT ONE IF….

  • You routinely need to carry more than 4-people safely and comfortably
  • You have active kids and need to haul a lot of their stuff (or yours)
  • You need all-wheel drive for snowy conditions  
  • You need to tow a boat or trailer up to 4500 pounds (with tow package)
  • You need a versatile, reliable used SUV that can do all that for a reasonable price

05:30 - FIRST GEN HONDA PILOT DETAILS

DRIVETRAIN

  • VTM-4 automatically sends torque to rear wheels in low traction conditions
  • VTM-4 Lock button on dash for added traction in snow/mud
  • Locks rear differential, sending 25% of the power equally to each rear wheel
  • Works only in 1st or 2nd gear (or reverse) and only up to 18-mph
  • 2003-2005 Models were all VTM-4 equipped
  • 2006-2008 models offered either 2WD or 4WD as an option

ENGINE

  • 3.5-Liter SOHC 24-valve V6 with VTEC
  • 2003 models had 240-hp and 242-lb.ft of torque
  • 2005 models got a bump to 255-hp and 250-lb.ft of torque
  • 2006 and later were rated with less horsepower, but that was due to SAE rating changes
  • 2006 and later offered an engine with cylinder deactivation on a 2WD models for better fuel economy

TRANSMISSION

  • A decent shifting 5-speed automatic transmission
  • Old-school column shift lever, takes some getting used to
  • Works fine though.

SUSPENSION

  • 4-wheel independent suspension
  • Coil springs with struts in front
  • Multilink set-up in the rear with coil springs and shocks
  • Comfortable on the highway
  • Corners relatively flat for an SUV of that era. 
  • Decent handling – better than most from that era
  • Not as sporty as the First Gen Acura MDX (2001-2006) 

BRAKES

  • 4-wheel disc brakes
  • ABS standard
  • Decent control and stopping distances
  • Discs warped with heavy use
  • Cryo-treated rotors and upgrade pads solved this issue

Tirerack.com Cryo-Treated Rotor Details 

https://bit.ly/3CWRDxA

WHEELS

  • Stock wheels are 16-inch diameter with 235/70-16 tires
  • Best upgrade - find a set of 17” wheels from a first gen MDX
  • Similar offset and you can use a lower profile 235/65-17 tires
  • This provides a little better handling
  • Use the stock 16-inch wheels for winter tires

PERFORMANCE/HANDLING

  • Decent Handling – especially for a large SUV
  • Comfortable on the freeway with good steering accuracy
  • Minimal to moderate body roll
  • Zero to 60-mph times of 7.5 to 8.0 seconds
  • Quick for a 4400-lb. SUV from that era. 

13:15 - BASIC PACKAGES

  • Base LX Model includes power windows and locks, cruise control, keyless entry, and a CD stereo
  • EX Model adds a power driver's seat, six-disc CD changer with steering-wheel-mounted controls, and front and rear automatic climate control.
  • Premium EX-L Model adds leather, a power moon roof, and heated seats.
  • Options for EX-L Model’s include DVD entertainment system for rear-seat passengers or a satellite navigation system (they can't be had together) 

INTERIOR

  • Comfortable front bucket seats
  • Seat heating in front on more upscale models
  • Leather available only on the EX-L Models
  • Lots of storage places and cup holders
  • 2003-2005 Pilots have front and side airbags for front row
  • Later 2006-2008 Pilots also have side curtain airbags for all seats

EXTERIOR

  • Styling of the first generation Pilot a little boring, but we liked it.
  • Not a minivan, so extra points for that
  • Headlight output on the 2003-2005 models is only adequate
  • 2006-2008 models had improved projector beam Halogen headlamps & fog lights
  • Not all Pilots have crossbars
  • Towing package was available on the Pilot (up to 4500 lbs) 

17:40 - WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A FIRST GEN PILOT

  • You will want to look for typical used car things
  • Minimal Owners?  Preferably 1 or 2
  • Has it ever been in an accident?
  • Does it have a Salvage or Rebuilt title? 
  • Did the Pilot perform regular service?
  • Does the owner have service records?
  • Any Check Engine Lights? (Bring an OBD II scanner)
  • Any Deferred Maintenance required? (T-belt, brakes, tires, transmission fluid, coolant, etc.)
  • Do electric & mechanical items work? (wipers, AC, heater fan, etc.)
  • Is it rusty? 
  • Does it need paint or bodywork?
  • Ultimately it comes down to condition, which is more important than anything else
  • Recommend an EX or EX-L for more features
  • Recommend models with VTM-4 (all 2003-05 + 2006-08 marked 4WD)

21:00 - COMMON ISSUES

These are pretty reliable vehicles that don’t have a lot of issues other than what is typical for high-mile used SUV’s. That said, here is a short list of common issues to look for:

  • Takata airbag recall
  • Brakes are weak (cryo-treated rotors & good pads can fix that)
  • Power steering pumps eventually fail
  • Transmissions in early Pilots are prone to issues
  • Radiator replacement after 100K miles is common
  • 105K Timing Belt Change (confirm it has been completed)
  • Lower Control Arms will wear out
  • Check shocks and other suspension components if over 100K miles
  • HVAC Air Blend Actuator can fail (won't properly mix hot/cold air)

23:45 - PRICING of First Gen Pilots for sale by owners:

  • $4,000 to $6,000 – Okay condition, a few minor issues, but high mileage. 
  • $6,000 to $8,000 – Good condition with low to mid mileage of 100K to 150K
  • $8,000 to $10,000 – The best examples (1-owner, low miles, recent maintenance – all the good stuff) 

27:40 - WRAP-UP EPISODE

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!