2WD or 4WD

[DonP]

Originally posted by dothedishes
P.S. LOL I thought the backup camera was for not running over children.

Naw. They tend to just fall over and not cause any damage to the vehicle. j/k. That was actually a big reason. We had just hatched our first rugrat when we got the Pilot. And I actually do wait for the image when I'm in parking lot.

[BillG]

Originally posted by dothedishes
So far I know I want EX-L.
Trying to decide the rest.
2WD vs 4WD ??? IS 4WD worth the extra $Anyone have 2WD and wish they had 4WD?
DH is trying to talk me out of NAV (I like the backup camera)Anyone with backup sensors?
Any other options you can't live without?
Thanks

I really like the NAV and find the backup camera very useful. We just moved to a new area and the NAV made the transition a lot easier. I never get lost.

Here is a good backup camera trick -- After I pull into my garage, I put the Pilot in reverse and the rear camera comes on. This lets me see if I'm pulled into the garage far enough!

I have 4WD. Haven't really needed it yet, but I'm glad it is there.

I really like having the tow package. Since we just moved last fall, I've rented a U-Haul trailer at least once a month to go pick up furniture or appliances or something. Here again, the backup camera is useful when you are backup up to a trailer hitch.

[jonaz]

I too, live in Southern CA. Experienced driver or not, you need AWD if you ever go into the local mountains for the winter. AWD is something you never think about, until you get stuck, and wish you had it. AWD is just safer, and has better resale value. I dont think it eats up anymore gas, which maybe 1mpg more.

[mmmmark]

Originally posted by jonaz
I too, live in Southern CA. Experienced driver or not, you need AWD if you ever go into the local mountains for the winter. AWD is something you never think about, until you get stuck, and wish you had it. AWD is just safer, and has better resale value. I dont think it eats up anymore gas, which maybe 1mpg more.

With the VCM, the AWD ends up costing you more than 1 mpg. YMMV.

[BubbleSparkxx]

being in the Bay and not expecting to spend much time in Tahoe or towing anything, I opted for the 2wd. Mileage is already killing me with the hills in the city, so any advantage i can get with fuel economy is well appreciated.

additionally, the 4wd primarily engages when the computer decides its loosing traction in the front wheels - which means for a majority of drivers, the Pilot is essentially FWD. FWIW, if i did plan on doing any towing, I would get a 4wd.

The Navi is well worth its price - the backup camera really helps me navigate into tight city parallel parking spots.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by mmmmark


With the VCM, the AWD ends up costing you more than 1 mpg. YMMV.

It's 1 mpg city and 2 mpg hwy under ideal EPA test conditions.

[mmmmark]

Originally posted by jl_ss


It's 1 mpg city and 2 mpg hwy under ideal EPA test conditions.

That isn't what my numbers have shown me in my own use.

[BillG]

Originally posted by mmmmark


That isn't what my numbers have shown me in my own use.

Everybody is different because of our driving habits and local conditions.

I would think that the best predictor of whether 4WD will cost you at the pump is to consider the mileage you get on your current (or previous) vehicles.

The closer you have historically gotten to the rated highway number, then the more likely you would be to benefit with the 2WD Pilot. If you usually get the "city" mileage or even less, then the gas mileage difference between 2WD and 4WD on the Pilot will likely be negligible.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by mmmmark


That isn't what my numbers have shown me in my own use.

That's what Honda publishes - and I doubt that are going to be conservative with mpg differences. You own both a 4wd and a 2wd for direct comparison under your own exact driving conditions?

[2muchfun]

Originally posted by andyschneider

Just a nit - but the Pilot is an "automatic 4WD system" - meaning that only 2 wheels are used until the computer detects slip, then creates a 4WD scenario. True AWD directs power to all 4 wheels as necessary all the time. And the Pilot system is similar to "4x4" systems except that you can't override it, vs having to engage it with other vehicles.

But there's tons of discussions about this one in other threads.

As for the topic at hand, I agree that the Pilot is suited to its 4WD system very nicely, even in non-snow conditions.

andy

I know there is plenty of discussion on this, but I was thinking that with the VTA and 4WD it gave power to each individual wheel as needed

All I can say is that when we first got the Pilot and went up to Big Bear, I was in the wide open parking lot of Bear Mountain (?) Covered in snow and I was Trying to get the Pilot to break free and it just simply would not do it. I was bummed for the fun factor but very impressed for the safety

The only time I could get it to 'slip' at all was getting the ABS to activate on hard braking

[Tupperware]

Buy the 4wd
I owned a 2wd and currently own a 4wd Pilot, both 2006 models. I made all sorts of excuses as to why I didn't need 4wd when I bought the first Pilot but, honestly, this vehicle was originally designed as a 4wd and removing that feature seriously diminishes its value and utility.
Obviously driving conditions can never be exactly the same but I feel that my experience with both a 2wd and a 4wd provide valid information. I check and record mileage every tankful. I drove the '06 2wd about 13,000 miles and got an average of 18.57 mpg. My '06 4wd has given me just 1.3 mpg less, overall, during it's first 6,000 miles of operation. That figure is skewed as I feathered the throttle, out of necessity, in the rain with the 2wd and in the 4wd I'm far more aggressive
Worst case, figuring 15,000 miles annually and fuel at $3/gal the difference in fuel economy costs me about the price of a coffee at Starbucks each week. For the added traction and security the 4wd provides, it's worth it.

[dennis052]

We are thinking of getting pilot EX-L with GPS but we are not sure to get 2WD or 4WD. I know 4WD can consume more gas. Anyone can tell me which one you prefer? We will buy the car for family use, no off-road or towing. I really like the concept of 4WD and I think it can keep the value better but my wife like 2WD as it is cheaper and more gas saving. Please share the pros and cons. Thanks in advance.

[eluwak]

You'll hear alot talk about how thw 4wd is soo superior to 2wd and you don't waste that much more fuel yada yada yada...

It comes down to if you need the 4wd for light snow (which is subjective in itself). Otherwise 2wd is just dandy.

[colorider]

Originally posted by dennis052
We are thinking of getting pilot EX-L with GPS but we are not sure to get 2WD or 4WD. I know 4WD can consume more gas. Anyone can tell me which one you prefer? We will buy the car for family use, no off-road or towing. I really like the concept of 4WD and I think it can keep the value better but my wife like 2WD as it is cheaper and more gas saving. Please share the pros and cons. Thanks in advance.

Welcome to HondaPilot.org.

"search" is your friend........................

Try this thread for starters.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by dennis052
We are thinking of getting pilot EX-L with GPS but we are not sure to get 2WD or 4WD. I know 4WD can consume more gas. Anyone can tell me which one you prefer? We will buy the car for family use, no off-road or towing. I really like the concept of 4WD and I think it can keep the value better but my wife like 2WD as it is cheaper and more gas saving. Please share the pros and cons. Thanks in advance.

The mpg savings is negligible. The EPA estimated differences are only 1 mpg city and 2 mpg highway between the 2wd and 4wd. This is well within the "noise" of what people are really getting. For example there is a range of about 11 to 16 mpg city reported here for 4wd (epa is 17 mpg). I would assume they are essentially the same for comparison purposes. It really comes down to "do you need 4wd". You don't list where you are, but here in the Northeast, I've never even seen a 2wd.