Returned my 04 Pilot to dealer and traded for a 4runner!

[Hap]

Paid 9,000 for an 04 Pilot from a used car lot and on the way home it made a "rumble strip" noise at about 45 mph. This noise continued over the weekend so I brought it back to the dealer. They were not too keen on giving me my money back since I did not want the car. They said they would fix it. Thanks to this forum I found out about all the other pissed off people that had bad torque converters in the 03-05 Pilots. I provided the dealer with a file of information from this forum regarding bad transmissions. They said they would fix the problem. I returned to the dealer yesterday (week later) with my intention to continue to get my money back as I obviously wanted nothing to do with the Pilot. I was informed by the salesman who sold me the Pilot that they had taken it to a transmission shop to have the tranny fluid flushed. I argued that this was not fixing the problem and that I was told they were going to replace torque converter last week. They told me that the owner was not in but he had driven it for a few days and did not see any problems with it. I told them that this was unacceptable because the problem is still there and flushing it does not fix it. I insisted I want my money back and do not want this car. The salesman called the owner again and this time he asked me if I saw anything else on the lot that I would like to swap with. I saw an 04 toyota 4runner with V8 engine and 147,000 miles for same price 9,000 price paid. I took it for a ride and was actually impressed with the power and tightness of the truck, especially with that many miles. I looked at the engine and it was super clean and quiet. Another man came over to me while I was looking the 4runner over and said he heard part of my conversation inside the office. He said he was a senior partner with the ownership of this dealer and did not want to see any customer that was not happy. He said he would swap even with this truck and he would buy two new tires to match the newer ones which were on the front. He said he just bought this truck and it did not go through the shop yet. I told him I was impressed by the ride and felt this would be a great truck to tow my ATV's and boat around. I told him I was unsure of the V8 gas mileage and the 147K high miles on the car. He said to think it over on the weekend and come back Monday and he would try and get the new tires on it and a fresh oil change over the weekend. So my feeling here is just trade this useless Pilot in for the 4runner and hope for the best. The NADA book actually puts the 4runner slightly higher in value by about a 1,000. I think I am just going to make the deal and be done with it because I want to get out of that Pilot purchase. What would you all do with this situation? Anyone have experience with the 4runner? This V8 seems to be a beast!

[humanoid]

Get the 4Runner, I think you'll be more happy with it. The Toyota V8 is a pretty stout engine, but is a gas hog, probably the same as the Pilot's V6.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S.

[Hap]

I just got off phone with salesman. He called me because they could not find the keys to the 4runner and thought I had them. I told him that I went through my pockets and did not have them and believed I gave them to Steve, the guy who approached me in the lot that was a senior partner. He looked again near the desk where I was talking to Steve and then he finds them on the wall hook during our conversation! He tells me wanted to put new tires on it today and could not find the keys. He asks me if I thought about making a trade and asks me what I think. I just told him flat out that I would do the swap and take it!!!! He said ok, I'll make sure they set it aside for you. He then asks me about the Honda Pilot and if I heard the transmission since I drove it home yesterday after they flushed the tranny fluid. I told him that I did hear the noise again but it was not as pronounced. I told him I heard it on the way home and then again when I went to the UNH/Providence hockey game. I told him I knew the problem would not just go away by flushing. He said he agreed with me making the swap and he would not want to put any money into the Pilot either if he was me. So hopefully, when the owner returns on Monday, the deal will be made. Anyone else with 4runner V8 experience? I will have to join that forum next!

[sblvro]

how many miles on the pilot? as for mileage, vs the 4runner, pretty even. since your used pilot have issues, it is an easy decision to get the 4runner.

[Hap]

the Pilot now has 101,200. I left it at the dealer with a full tank and they gave it to me almost empty and put about 350 miles on during the week. I dont understand how he could say the problem was fixed because it didnt take much for me to hear it and I'm hard of hearing. It hits that sweet spot about 40 to 45 mph and the rumbling occurs. I think the Pilot would be a more comfortable ride if going on a trip but in my case, I will just be using the 4runner locally and my wifes CRV for any trips. The 4runner will tow way better than the Pilot. In addition, I would have had to pay for a hitch plus the 105K belt change for the Pilot, so swapping for the 4runner might be a better deal in the long run. I am now reading about these 4runners with 300K miles and still going!

[rocky]

It's obvious that Pilot isn't the right one. Never knew the 4runner could have a v8, that engine is nice!

[RussChicago]

The 4runner is an excellent vehicle. They are very well built. When I tested out the 4runner I did not like the short distance between the driver and the steering wheel. I moved the seat all the way back and I still felt crammed. I'm not sure why the clearance is so small for such a large vehicle.

[jamesgarner83]

4 runners are great vehicles, with that said the 4.7 v8 is timing belt driven just like the pilot. So you still need to make sure the T-Belt and water pump have been changed. Should have been done at 100k but if there is no record for this service you have to assume it has not been completed.

[Hap]

The 4runner has been well serviced at Toyota dealer its entire life EXCEPT timing belt/water pump. I will have to get that done. I just found out accidently that it has a remote starter by hitting the stock Toyota FOB. scared the hell out of me. I played around with it and found if you hit the unlock four times the V8 fires up! I do think it needs sway bar or arm bushings as there is a grunting noise at low bumpy speeds such as my long uneven gravel driveway. I will probably get new shocks as well. I will see if the dealer will cover anything but I will probably be pushing my luck.

[samc]

I can't comment on the V8 but 4Runners themselves are excellent trucks and can easily hit 200k+. I've driven my friends V6 2007 4Runner and it was a smooth ride, it was second to one. My pilot .

And since you asked, I've heard V8 4Runners getting 12 MPG mixed and even less with that 4x4 mode on. So yeah that's one of the reasons why I didn't get one. As for getting more coverage from a used dealership, don't count on it.