Hyundai Santa Fe vs Pilot

[madfish]

Okay - have had the Pilot now for 30 days and 4K miles after having a Santa Fe for 2+ years and 68K....

Geez...I know I'm gonna get spanked for saying some of this....

Pilot EX-RES "Win" Column

8 seats
Resale value
Availability of integrated DVD
Legroom & interior width
Climate control

Santa Fe LX 4WD 6cyl "Win" Column

Fit & Finish (yes really)
Engineering and ergonomics (besides legroom)
MPG
Handling
Cost of accessories
Initial cost
10yr/100K warranty (although we never needed it)
Braking power
Stock "luxury" sound system
No seat sag
Seat heater for back of passenger (wife unhappy about that on Pilot!)

We had no choice but to move up - the Santa Fe carries only 5 people, and we needed to carry more. In the 8 passenger class, the Pilot is the clear winner. I do miss the Santa Fe though - especially everytime I hit my head on the open rear hatch!

[Alexandra242628]

To me this is like comparing apples and oranges! But, since you owned a Santa Fe and had no problems with it you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

[jay]

Originally posted by Alexandra242628
To me this is like comparing apples and oranges! But, since you owned a Santa Fe and had no problems with it you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

But in the right light at the perfect angle the Sante Fe looks like a Porsche Cayenne.

[ramirami]

I have heard only good things from people who have owned hyundais...atleast those who have bought in the last 2 years...

[jay]

Originally posted by jay
But in the right light at the perfect angle the Sante Fe looks like a Porsche Cayenne.

The Sante Fe.

[jay]

Originally posted by jay
But in the right light at the perfect angle the Sante Fe looks like a Porsche Cayenne.

The Cayenne.

[jay]

Originally posted by ramirami
I have heard only good things from people who have owned hyundais...atleast those who have bought in the last 2 years...

Same here, and the Kia Amanti (Kia's now a Hyundai company) is a beauty.

[Scoobs]

I know a couple of people who own a Santa Fe and they are quite happy with them. Now that the V6 engine has more power I think it made it a much better vehicle.

[madfish]

Originally posted by Alexandra242628
To me this is like comparing apples and oranges! But, since you owned a Santa Fe and had no problems with it you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

There's that Honda snobbery I was waiting for...this is my point. Take a close look or spend some time in a Santa Fe and your attitude would radically change.

Pilot - a symphony of nervous ticks and scrunchy body noises going at 60, all from day one.

Santa Fe - None of that, even after 2 years.

The fact that we paid 7K more for a Pilot is not apparent in the fit & finish, materials or engineering of the Pilot.

[jay]

Originally posted by madfish


...snip

The fact that we paid 7K more for a Pilot is not apparent in the fit & finish, materials or engineering of the Pilot.

That works out to only $2333.33 for each extra seat in the Pilot.

[madfish]

Originally posted by jay
That works out to only $2333.33 for each extra seat in the Pilot.

No worries - we'll recover that in resale!

[RipRocK]

Originally posted by madfish


There's that Honda snobbery I was waiting for...this is my point. Take a close look or spend some time in a Santa Fe and your attitude would radically change. [snip]

I don't think it has as much to do with "Honda snobbery" or "Honda pride" than it has to do with different experiences each of the Pilot owners have had. So, there's no way they can empathize with owners like you and me. It was just our bum luck that we ended up with a shoddy Honda.

I've had so far, a very dismal and a very, very disappointing experience with my Pilot. It has to go in again for the passenger side door handle replacement since the chrome coating has flaked off again. It'll be now for the third time. And it'll get one of the rear vents replaced as well, yet again for the fourth time for this one.

Then there are other incessant issues too numerous to write about. So, madfish, I know exactly where you're coming from. Our lowly Pontiac minivan has only had two minor issues taken care of while under warranty and one after the warranty expired. That's it. And this is a car which I only changed oil in for the first three years cuz we were just leasing it. No other fluids or maintenance were performed on it and it's been so reliable with no incessant issues like our Pilot has had. Compared to the Pilot, it's acted like a Honda and my Pilot's acted like a Lada, despite the overzealous maintenance that's been performed on it.

Originally posted by madfish


No worries - we'll recover that in resale!

I often think about the time when I'll be getting rid of my Pilot. But what I'm wondering is, would you be telling the prospective buyers, if you are selling it privately and not trade it in, the issues and the points of dissatisfaction with the Pilot?

I think I will be. Starting the window scrunch to the ratchety/pinging noise, to how, compared to my minivan, it's been an absolute disappointment. And if someone doesn't pay me a fair price for it, then I'll just have to trade it in and see what I can get. I don't think I can sell something to someone with all the issues and problems that had plagued and affected while I had it.

[Scoobs]

Originally posted by RipRocK

Our lowly Pontiac minivan has only had two minor issues taken care of while under warranty and one after the warranty expired. That's it. And this is a car which I only changed oil in for the first three years cuz we were just leasing it. No other fluids or maintenance were performed on it and it's been so reliable with no incessant issues like our Pilot has had. Compared to the Pilot, it's acted like a Honda and my Pilot's acted like a Lada, despite the overzealous maintenance that's been performed on it.

RipRock

I think you got the one good Montana just like I seem to be the only person who got a good Dodge Grand Caravan. It's a '96 built in St.Louis in the first two months of production in '95. My Caravan wasn't to the dealer half as many times in it's first two years of ownership as my Pilot has been and it's still soldiering on. That being said I'm still quite happy with the Pilot.

I know five people who have owned Montanas. All five of them have had to have warranty work on the head gaskets. Two of them had to fight GM to get it done when GM denied that there was a problem. Three of them have the common Montana problem of the dashlights and all other electrical systems turning off and on whenever they feel like it. If you've got a Montana that's working I'd keep it.

[andrec8513]

Then sell your Pilot and go Buy another Santa Fe! Jeez! Maybe these are issues with YOUR Pilot, but most of us dont have these issues!

[jay]

Originally posted by andrec8513
Then sell your Pilot and go Buy another Santa Fe! Jeez! Maybe these are issues with YOUR Pilot, but most of us dont have these issues!

If your response is directed to madfish, I'd suggest that you go back and re-read his initial post. If it's directed to RipRock, then you need to chill out. RipRock has had the problems we all had, and then some. His characterization is right on for his experience, and you're out of bounds with your comments. If I were him, I'd have traded my Pilot long ago.

What am I saying, I did trade mine long ago.