New 2012 + Observations

[kscurl01]

Hello everybody-
I've been lurking around here for a few weeks and finally picked up our 2012 Touring earlier this week. My observations are based on my previous vehicle, which was a 2010 Ford F-150 Lariat that I sold about 4 months ago (No, I won't compare off-road capabilities )

So far, I've added Weather Tech Digital Fit Floorliners, tinted the front windows 30% to match the 2nd row, added the rear cargo floor liner, storage bin dividers, and premium running boards. The next major purchase will be remote start/alarm system that I can operate from my iPhone.

Pro's:
> Seats are solid, comfortable and form around your torso
> 2nd row seating is VERY roomy
> Impressed with gas mileage (25.5 mpg highway, 21.5 combined) And didn't catch my low tire pressure (~5 psi) until today.
> Stereo sounds crisp not much distortion on high volume (not quite as good as the Ford-Sony offering though)
> With the exception of the front bumper, overall fit and finish is solid (really impressed with the seals on the doors and hood)
> Love all of the smart storage space
> Tranny shifts VERY smooth (coming from my F-150, thank you Honda!!)
> Wind noise is quite low considering the bad reviews I've read
> Like the higher position of arm rests on driver's door and center console
> Good seating position and driver visibility
> Brakes feel pretty solid despite the poor reviews I've read
> POI Icons on the Navi are pretty cool
> Wife doesn't like the sensitive steering, but I do!

Con's:
> No SiriusXM Travel Link service available on Honda's (I'm going to miss my real-time weather radar, movie times, etc...)
> Despite the rumors of an updated Navi for 2012, Honda Navi feels as if it's a full generation behind Ford's Navi/SYNC offering. The Navi voice is not nearly as clear as Ford's, and as far as I can tell, you can't simply say "Call John mobile" for example. It appears that you need to go through a series of menu's and do a "Dial by Name".
> Rear-view camera looks distorted and fuzzy most of the time (Ford's was perfectly clear)
> Yes, the interior door handles look a little cheap, but I'm getting used to them
> I can feel the VCM shudder when (dis)engaging despite reading before that it was very difficult to tell when it occurs
> Not sure I like the view of the air deflector from inside of the cabin, but that's on me!
> Climate control area is a little cluttered and has a bad glare/coloration when looking at it from my Polarized Ray-Bans
> I guess Honda took away the passenger seat storage tray for the 2012 Touring as mine is missing, but after reading about it, I guess it wasn't big enough to matter. I'll try to find a suitable replacement.

Overall, this is a solid vehicle, and we are really enjoying it. We can't wait to take it on a road trip!

I'll try to search the threads, but I'm interested to know about other experiences with the VCM and the clarity of the rear-view camera.

[diamond dave]

Interesting comments for sure. Always enlightening to see what other folks focus on and what are their nits. As I like to say, that's why we have more than one flavor of ice cream in these United States.

I just traded in a 2009 EX-L/RES for an exact same 2012 model. It's the vehicle my wife drives and is mainly used to haul the kids to school, her work, and of course shopping. I've always been in to German performance cars and without sounding patronizing, the Pilot is an excellent all around vehicle for its target audience. The bulletproof engine & tranny are smooth as buttah and unlike a BMW or Porsche, doesn't require pricey service. Regularly change the oil in a Honda and it will run forever with nary a hiccup.

I personally would like a much beefier suspension and massively upgraded brakes but then I'm asking the Pilot to be an X5 or Cayenne and clearly it's not. I'd like more than 18mpg city but this is a big SUV and my wife is a leadfoot. Again, all total this vehicle fills a market niche to perfection.

No VCM feel at all with this 2012 model or even the 2009 and I'm sensitive to any engine anomalies. Not sure what you're seeing/feeling there. If it persists I'd have a Honda tech drive your car and assess.

Our backup camera verges on one of those high def Panavision units that Spielberg uses to film his movies with. Again, not sure what you're seeing there. Have you taken some Windex and a ultra soft cloth and cleaned the lens? Don't scratch it!

Can't wait to hear your impressions after owning it for some time. An F150 pick-em-up-truck this isn't.

[Case1993]

Interesting about the back up camera - mine looks a bit fuzzy as well. At first I thought there was still some protective plastic over it, but there is not. Might have to try out some at the dealership to see if mine's out of whack.

[kscurl01]

Originally Posted by diamond dave

the Pilot is an excellent all around vehicle for its target audience. The bulletproof engine & tranny are smooth as buttah and unlike a BMW or Porsche, doesn't require pricey service. Regularly change the oil in a Honda and it will run forever with nary a hiccup.

I couldn't agree with you more. My daughter's Civic gave her over 290,000 miles with just the regular maintenance, and my '06 Accord was the most reliable auto I've ever owned.

Originally Posted by diamond dave

No VCM feel at all with this 2012 model or even the 2009 and I'm sensitive to any engine anomalies. Not sure what you're seeing/feeling there. If it persists I'd have a Honda tech drive your car and assess.

Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye on it...

Originally Posted by diamond dave

Our backup camera verges on one of those high def Panavision units that Spielberg uses to film his movies with. Again, not sure what you're seeing there. Have you taken some Windex and a ultra soft cloth and cleaned the lens? Don't scratch it!

Probably forgot to wipe off the cleaner that I used or something...

Originally Posted by diamond dave

Can't wait to hear your impressions after owning it for some time. An F150 pick-em-up-truck this isn't.

Yeah, the truck was nice, but that darn Ford 6-speed tranny really took away from the overall quality! The off-road capabilities were a little overkill for our needs, so I'm sure the Pilot will fit the bill nicely.

[Hakone]

I'm glad to hear about the good bump in MPGs from the O.P. Perhaps a follow up on you guys' MPG ratings along w/ your driving environment (I.E. 70% highway on flats etc.) once you hit your first oil change. I'm about halfway there, getting nearly 21.7mpgs on a 2WD, 80% highway on varying hills.

Thanks guys.

[Makdc]

Originally Posted by Case1993

Interesting about the back up camera - mine looks a bit fuzzy as well. At first I thought there was still some protective plastic over it, but there is not. Might have to try out some at the dealership to see if mine's out of whack.

Just wondering. There are three views for the rear-view camera. Normal, wide, and top-down. The last one is pretty fuzzy. For me the other two are very clear.

[br1522]

Originally Posted by Makdc

Just wondering. There are three views for the rear-view camera. Normal, wide, and top-down. The last one is pretty fuzzy. For me the other two are very clear.

Yeah the top down is a bit fuzzy; probably because the focus/focal point is set for a farther distance for the normal/wide angle views which I would think get the most use. Also you can turn the interface dial clockwise (while in camera view) to brighten the picture- mine was really dim from the dealer.

[mmm666]

Honda did the great job on the pilot. Honda Sold 12,466 Pilot on October 2011. Look like many people buy pilot for reliability, space, and value.. HP doesn't mean much in this economy. Good Luck.

[kscurl01]

Originally Posted by br1522

Yeah the top down is a bit fuzzy; probably because the focus/focal point is set for a farther distance for the normal/wide angle views which I would think get the most use. Also you can turn the interface dial clockwise (while in camera view) to brighten the picture- mine was really dim from the dealer.

Thanks for the tip. After changing to normal mode and adjusting brightness, it's much better.

[mudbog]

kscurl01,
After you installed the premium running boards, is there a gap (~1/8") between the running board and the bottom edge of the vehicle? I have a '12 EX-L and noticed it after installing them today.

[kscurl01]

Originally Posted by mudbog

kscurl01,
After you installed the premium running boards, is there a gap (~1/8") between the running board and the bottom edge of the vehicle? I have a '12 EX-L and noticed it after installing them today.

My dealership installed them for me, and I have about a 1/2" gap all the way around. I actually don't mind the gap as I believe it will help shed snow, water, and any debris better as opposed to having a tight fit under there.

[mudbog]

OK -thanks for the feedback. On my '04 Pilot, the plastic cladding below the door had a right angle bend down that extended towards the ground for about 1/2 inch. This filled the gap nicely. That's the problem with having both an '04 and a '12 Pilot -I can't help comparing the two. :-)