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Before you buy a Pilot

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4.2K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  tim.s  
#1 ·
Before I bought my Pilot I search the interment and concluded the main problem I should look for on my test drive was the vibration thing. Wrong.

For those of you about to buy a new Pilot here's a tip when you test drive:
Not only should you turn off the radio and not engage in conversations to avoid being distracted. Roll down the windows! While the engine is running sit for a minute or two and LISTEN!
If you hear a high pitch noise, don't buy that car.
Please tell the salesman/dealer what you heard.
Please don't let them sugar coat anything saying it's normal.
It is not normal.
As far as I can tell this problem has not been fixed and Honda is refusing to address it.

If future buyers speak up, maybe someday Honda will listen and fix known problems.

Perhaps some one should start a thread titled:
Test Drive Tips and what to look for before purchasing a Honda Pilot.
 
#4 ·
rocky said:
Anyone know what hes talking about?
What's the difference? You almost never test drive the actual vehicle you're buying. Dealers keep one vehicle for test drives (often, even last years model) and usually the first time you put your car in gear is after you've taken delivery. Sure, they may let you take your car around the block before you sign the papers, but if you're backing out of the deal, you'd better have something more substantial than "something doesn't sound right".
 
#5 ·
krygny said:

What's the difference? You almost never test drive the actual vehicle you're buying. Dealers keep one vehicle for test drives (often, even last years model) and usually the first time you put your car in gear is after you've taken delivery. Sure, they may let you take your car around the block before you sign the papers, but if you're backing out of the deal, you'd better have something more substantial than "something doesn't sound right".
Dealers around here let you test drive the vehicle you are buying before you sign. I wouldn't buy any other way.
 
#6 ·
krygny said:
What's the difference? You almost never test drive the actual vehicle you're buying. Dealers keep one vehicle for test drives (often, even last years model) and usually the first time you put your car in gear is after you've taken delivery. Sure, they may let you take your car around the block before you sign the papers, but if you're backing out of the deal, you'd better have something more substantial than "something doesn't sound right".
It doesn't make any sense not to drive and inspect the vehicle you are getting before making the deal. :confused: And until you sign the papers, you can walk away for any reason
 
#7 ·
tim.s said:
It doesn't make any sense not to drive and inspect the vehicle you are getting before making the deal. :confused: And until you sign the papers, you can walk away for any reason
I've never taken a car off the lot. I've always done all my test drives before I decide on a particular vehicle, then I have them search for the exact car I want (color, options, etc.). Yes, I test drive the vehicle when I take delivery, but usually around the block to make sure it's been prepped and such. The sale is virtually done. Are you all implying that I can walk onto a Honda lot where there are seven Pilots, test drive them all and take my pick? I don't know how dealers do business in other places but here they have only one of a particular model to test drive and that's it. You don't get to test drive cars that are for sale.
 
#8 ·
krygny said:

I've never taken a car off the lot. I've always done all my test drives before I decide on a particular vehicle, then I have them search for the exact car I want (color, options, etc.). Yes, I test drive the vehicle when I take delivery, but usually arond the block to make sure it's been prepped and such. The sale is virtually done. Are you all implying that I can walk onto a Honda lot where there are seven Pilots, test drive them all and take my pick? I don't know how dealers do business in other places but here they have only one of a particular model to test drive and that's it. You don't get to test drive cars that are for sale.
Wow - I've bought new cars for the last 30 years, and NEVER been told I couldn't test drive the SPECIFIC car I was buying before I signed on the dotted line. If you're getting that line, then you're working with the wrong places....

As far as the original poster - he's obviously talking about the fuel pump noise, and to be honest, he must have never driven a Chevy Tahoe or a GMC Yukon - those fuel pumps make the Pilot's sound like nuthin'. That being said, I can hear the fuel pump on my pilot, but by no means would I put up the "warning" that was put into the original post - sounds like there's more to it than just that........

andy
 
#9 ·
andyschneider said:

Wow - I've bought new cars for the last 30 years, and NEVER been told I couldn't test drive the SPECIFIC car I was buying before I signed on the dotted line.
...
andy
I've never been told that either. (Well, if I was, I can't remember and would have walked out anyway.) But are you telling me that all the cars on the lot are available to be test driven? That, I have never seen. No wonder I hear about people getting "new" cars with 400 miles on them. 20 other people have already driven the car and farted-up the seats.
 
#10 ·
krygny said:

I've never been told that either. (Well, if I was, I can't remember and would have walked out anyway.) But are you telling me that all the cars on the lot are available to be test driven? That, I have never seen. No wonder I hear about people getting "new" cars with 400 miles on them. 20 other people have already driven the car and farted-up the seats.
I can remember back in the 80's when Hondas and toyotas had big 'waiting lists" that the'd have a designated "test drive" one so you could order the car you wanted. But when they came, you were allowed a test drive before you signed, and if you said 'no', they had other buyers.

As for today, you can go to any lot and say "I wanna drive THIS car" and they throw you the keys and a plate and you're off. In my case, I typically will buy one of the cars I drive (I don't get so specific that I want a specific color and model and trim level) because I pick the dealer I want and try to buy something off their lot so to not make them swap. But I also know that I've never seen cars driven with 400 miles and farted-on seats in any place I've gone - typically the only "rule" is you leave the plastic on the seats when you do the test drive. And the most miles I've ever seen on a drive like this is like 80 or so. Only time I've seen more is with a demo or a swap.

andy
 
#11 ·
krygny said:

I've never been told that either. (Well, if I was, I can't remember and would have walked out anyway.) But are you telling me that all the cars on the lot are available to be test driven? That, I have never seen. No wonder I hear about people getting "new" cars with 400 miles on them. 20 other people have already driven the car and farted-up the seats.
The last time I saw a designated test drive vehicle on a Honda/Acura lot was during the introduction years of the MDX and Pilot where they couldn't keep up with demand. All were essentially sold before they hit the lot. Once demand caught up though, test driving individual vehicles was not a problem. I doubt any dealer will let you start test driving all the vehicles on the lot one at a time - they will not consider you a serious buyer if you do that. A common scenario is to test drive one and if that is not exactly what you want, the dealer will find you one and let you test drive that one before buying. If all they have are vehicles with a few test drives, you can test drive one of those and then have the dealer order or find a new one and then test drive that one.

The last two vehicles I bought, the dealer let me take for the afternoon without any assurances I'd even buy them. I bought one (the Pilot) but decided on a different version of the truck. I then took a short test drive with the truck I decided on before signing the papers.
 
#12 ·
Test Drives

I've only bought a few brand new vehicles (4 exactly) and only one wasn't the vehicle I test drove. And that was only because they didn't have the exact model I wanted on the lot. By coincidence it's the vehicle I kept the longest and loved the most. (1998 Honda CRV LX) Now it's feeling kinda small so I'm gonna give it to my mom and get a new/used Pilot sooner or later.
 
#13 ·
Yes, I am telling you that I can test drive ANY and ALL cars on a lot. You should know the car options, colors, engine, tranny, all other configurations anyway. Then the only matter left is how does it feel, how does it drive. So if the dealer has 9 cars on the lot, you don't need to drive all 9 cars and THEN select your pick. I would not let you do that if I was a dealer. I would want to find out from you if you hate yellow, don't drive a stick, don;t want a V8, hate black interiors, etc... pretty soon the 9 cars choice comes down to 2.

ANY make, even high end ones like the local Ferrari and Lambo and Astin Martin, will let you drive a car if you show that you are serious. A Honda is nuthin'.


krygny said:

I've never been told that either. (Well, if I was, I can't remember and would have walked out anyway.) But are you telling me that all the cars on the lot are available to be test driven? That, I have never seen. No wonder I hear about people getting "new" cars with 400 miles on them. 20 other people have already driven the car and farted-up the seats.
 
#14 ·
I would hope that most people would drive the dealer's 'test driver' until they knew exactly what they wanted.

At that point you would make the deal (via email I hope) and, when ready to take delivery, drive the specific unit you were about to purchase.

But please don't rack up test drive miles on a car you don't intend to buy.

-D
 
#15 ·
deparson said:
I would hope that most people would drive the dealer's 'test driver' until they knew exactly what they wanted.

At that point you would make the deal (via email I hope) and, when ready to take delivery, drive the specific unit you were about to purchase.

But please don't rack up test drive miles on a car you don't intend to buy.

-D
Most dealers around here do not have "Test Drivers". You drive the new vehicle they have in stock that is closest to the model you want. If it isn't exactly the vehicle you want, they will then find or order the one you want. Since a deposit is usually required to order or trade a new vehicle between dealerships, you want to make sure you test drive whatever is available before ordering. You also want to make sure that your deposit is refundable pending the test drive of the ordered/transferred vehicle.
 
#16 ·
krygny said:

I've never been told that either. (Well, if I was, I can't remember and would have walked out anyway.) But are you telling me that all the cars on the lot are available to be test driven? That, I have never seen. No wonder I hear about people getting "new" cars with 400 miles on them. 20 other people have already driven the car and farted-up the seats.
Ha! "farted up the seats" - that is awesome... on the 260 mile trip back home after purchasing our Pilot, we stop at Lamberts - home of the throwed rolls - well if you have ever eaten there, you know that you nearly go into a coma from all the food - anyway, about 30 minutes after leaving - I had to let one go really bad... but we were in my wifes brand new pilot, so I refrained and it went away - once we got about 50 miles from home and stopped for gas, my wife wanted to drive the rest of the way - once we got home she gets out and says "I christened the Pilot for us!! That lamberts really got to me!" - I was quite taken aback and told her "I held one in for 120 miles and you stink it all up in the last 50!" - it was pretty funny.
 
#17 ·
tfrain said:


Ha! "farted up the seats" - that is awesome... on the 260 mile trip back home after purchasing our Pilot, we stop at Lamberts - home of the throwed rolls - well if you have ever eaten there, you know that you nearly go into a coma from all the food - anyway, about 30 minutes after leaving - I had to let one go really bad... but we were in my wifes brand new pilot, so I refrained and it went away - once we got about 50 miles from home and stopped for gas, my wife wanted to drive the rest of the way - once we got home she gets out and says "I christened the Pilot for us!! That lamberts really got to me!" - I was quite taken aback and told her "I held one in for 120 miles and you stink it all up in the last 50!" - it was pretty funny.
That is pretty funny. I live about 45 miles from Lamberts and have eaten there a few times. I had a friend who was coming home in her van one time. She thought it was a fart - It wasn't.
 
#19 ·
We test drove the dealerships "test" vehicle when we were trying to decide which vehicle we wanted (pilot, highlander, edge, etc). However, once it came down to knowing we wanted the Pilot I test drove the actual one we got.

In fact, we drove one, liked it but I found a big scratch in the front. I told him we weren't taking that one, to get a like model. He did so. I then took that model, identical in every way, out for another test drive.

If I can't test the unit I'm putting my name on, I'm not buying.
 
#20 ·
deparson said:
I would hope that most people would drive the dealer's 'test driver' until they knew exactly what they wanted.

At that point you would make the deal (via email I hope) and, when ready to take delivery, drive the specific unit you were about to purchase.

But please don't rack up test drive miles on a car you don't intend to buy.
Well then you won't like this: When I am gathering info on new models or trying to decide between brands/models, I might drive several vehicles I'm interested in to narrow it down. I will usually go to the lots near my work (Dealers I would never buy from) and take test drives during my lunch hour. These Dealership might be awful and full of no-nothings, but it's a convenient place for me to gather information. Then I will look for the best deal on line and start negotiating. At that point I know exactly what I want and I can use Dealerships much farther away - if the Dealer doesn't have the one I want in stock, I haven't wasted a trip.
vader716 said:
...In fact, we drove one, liked it but I found a big scratch in the front. I told him we weren't taking that one, to get a like model. He did so. I then took that model, identical in every way, out for another test drive.

If I can't test the unit I'm putting my name on, I'm not buying.
Same here. One time I even put off the purchase until the next morning because it got too dark to do a thorough visual inspection. We did most of the paper work that night, but I didn't sign until I got to look it over and drive it again that next morning.