[blairellis]

While I’m proud that I have an elite, and it’s my first new car ever, I also don’t need the world to know. I don’t want to come across as pretentious (like some have said the MDX forum members are). I feel like I would like the clean look of not having elite and awd text on the back hatch. I think for sure I’m going to replace the Honda H emblem with a black one to match the color of the car and the Pilot lettering. Didn’t know if anyone has done it yet and wanted to share a picture.

 

[MY_ELITE_2023_PILOT]

Chrome/Silver Delete Discussion

Wanted to start a discussion about replacing OEM parts or vinyl wrapping to remove the silver and chrome on certain trims since the US didn't get a Black Edition. So far I've replaced the upper grill trim and emblems on the rear and powder coated the wheels black. I also purchased a black rear...

www.piloteers.org

 

[blairellis]

Didn’t see a picture in that thread. Did I miss it somewhere?

I’ve replied multiple times in that thread. Most people in that one seem to want to switch them to black ones instead of chrome which wasn’t the intent of this post. Mine was about taking the chrome ones off and not replacing it with anything.

 

[Hogan773]

Interesting thoughts. Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much...I don't think anyone is gonna accuse you of being pretentious for choosing the Elite trim. I would say 99% of the people walking by or driving around you probably don't even notice, or even worse are texting while driving. Do as you wish of course. It's not like you are adding a bunch of bodywork and sh&t to your new Type-S MDX and painting the brake calipers bright red and whatever else is going on over there

 

[MY_ELITE_2023_PILOT]

I thought you were looking for a picture of the black emblem. "I think for sure I’m going to replace the Honda H emblem with a black one to match the color of the car and the Pilot lettering". I misunderstood. I don't think anyone is pretentious for buying Elite. I drove an 05 MDX touring for the last 15 years (loved that vehicle) and plan to drive this Pilot as long. Since I plan on keeping long term, I wanted all the available features, including the heated steering wheel, and larger display 😉

 

[Hogan773]

I thought you were looking for a picture of the black emblem. "I think for sure I’m going to replace the Honda H emblem with a black one to match the color of the car and the Pilot lettering". I misunderstood. I don't think anyone is pretentious for buying Elite. I drove an 05 MDX touring for the last 15 years (loved that vehicle) and plan to drive this Pilot as long. Since I plan on keeping long term, I wanted all the available features, including the heated steering wheel, and larger display 😉

I agree. Really happy I decided to splurge on the Elite. Anyone following my earlier posts would know I was initially going to go EXL, but then I decided what the hay. I'm sure I would like EXL too, but I am loving all the extra bells and whistles on the Elite and for once I will not have to worry about little mental naggings ("could have had X or Y feature, but that's okay, I didn't really NEED that feature, etc") over my long ownership of this car.

I think nearly anyone out there will just look at your car as a Honda, and most people don't really know all the different trims, and even if they did, it is still just a Honda. If you saw some dude getting out of a Kia "Prestige" or whatever trim (I'm making that up, I have no idea what their trims are called) I doubt you would be like "what an arrogant M-fer". If you saw some dude getting out of a bright pink Lambo convertible, you might!

If you just like the "debadged look" then go for it (I know it is sort of a thing they do in Europe or at least it used to be a thing) but don't do it because you are worried someone will think you're flexing!

 

[keangabriel0830]

Mine, I am planning to debadge the Elite emblem and change it to Black Edition.

 

[andywatson]

Debadging? I go the opposite way: upbadging!

Or like this guy: https://www.reddit.com/r/upbadging/comments/11eilq7

 

[Hogan773]

Mine, I am planning to debadge the Elite emblem and change it to Black Edition.

Maybe given all my issues with the Acura dudes I should just change out for an Acura emblem in the rear haha

 

[blairellis]

Interesting thoughts. Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much...I don't think anyone is gonna accuse you of being pretentious for choosing the Elite trim. I would say 99% of the people walking by or driving around you probably don't even notice, or even worse are texting while driving. Do as you wish of course. It's not like you are adding a bunch of bodywork and sh&t to your new Type-S MDX and painting the brake calipers bright red and whatever else is going on over there

Honestly, I hate the term.
It just has this, "I'm better than you are" feel to it or when you talk about the high society "Elites".
I am probably just reading too much into it, but it just rubs me the wrong way. I wish they would have made the "Touring" name the top of the line and done away with Elite.
Probably going to try and remove the Elite and AWD from the hatch in the next couple of days. I'll do the H emblem later on down the road. The chrome just looks so out of place on a black car.

 

[Hogan773]

Honestly, I hate the term.
It just has this, "I'm better than you are" feel to it or when you talk about the high society "Elites".
I am probably just reading too much into it, but it just rubs me the wrong way. I wish they would have made the "Touring" name the top of the line and done away with Elite.
Probably going to try and remove the Elite and AWD from the hatch in the next couple of days. I'll do the H emblem later on down the road. The chrome just looks so out of place on a black car.

Funny! Although I guess you are correct, you can't get much more "Elitist" than slapping "Elite" on the back of your car haha. I just think people will know that is just the Honda name and not something that YOU chose to do. Now all the people with that bumper sticker that says "My Child is an Honor Student at Snobsville Prep HS" should definitely feel embarrassed about the choice they made to put that on their car haha!

Funny also that my 15yr old son keeps questioning why "Touring" is an upper trim line (we are looking at Accords right now) - he is like "I know what Elite means and I know that means we got a loaded car, but what the heck does Touring mean???"

 

[blairellis]

That’s awesome. Haha
Our kids (5,3,1) just know “new car” and “big car” (my wife drives a 10th gen Accord) and they fight over who gets to put what we listen to on daddy’s screen (infotainment system). I try and keep them distracted with the sunroof.

And yes, good point, it’s not my choice of naming conventions but Honda’s.

 

[Nlakhani]

I replaced the back H the other day
& the top grill trim

 

[SkyeHack]

Here you go OP. I debadged my new car just to show you.

 

[MY_ELITE_2023_PILOT]

Hard to tell but did you take the Pilot letters off also? And I'd hate to say it but I think you need the black trim panel down where the trailer hitch would go😉

 

[SkyeHack]

Hard to tell but did you take the Pilot letters off also? And I'd hate to say it but I think you need the black trim panel down where the trailer hitch would go😉

They are off.

As requested, black trailer panel.

 

[SkyeHack]

Black exhaust tips.

 

[MY_ELITE_2023_PILOT]

How'd you do the tips?

 

[SkyeHack]

How'd you do the tips?

photoshop

 

[SkyeHack]

sloppy debadged front grill.