I watch some of the YouTube videos for car projects and cringe at the way people seem to use impact tools for everything. It's almost like the ratchet has disappeared from tool drawers. My philosophy on using power tools, especially impact guns, is similar to what Cintocrunch shares. For almost everything on the Pilot they are at best handy as nut-runners. On some larger suspension bolts and nuts they may get used to break something loose as well. But anything that includes "into aluminum" is treated with extra tender loving care, especially where there's a chance of corrosion interfering with the way things should come apart or go together. The rest get just regular tender loving care. For sure the torque wrenches and drivers are well used here, since any fastener that a factory bothered to share a torque spec for is treated to that same spec torque on assembly.
[Soap Box Mode]
TL;DR --
I've had the pleasure of working on more than a few interesting cars over the decades, and way too many have incurred damage when somebody ham-fisted a disassembly or assembly process sometime in the car's prior life. A long-ago neighbor shared that he had a friend with a very nice Jaguar coming available, and it was a pretty desirable model and trim. I was definitely interested. Owner brought it by, and proudly shared how much he'd saved over the life of the car by having it maintained and serviced regularly at a local gas station garage. Rolled the bonnet open, and what was typically a pretty impressive V12 was a patchwork of damaged and jury-rigged fasteners and parts, pretty obviously the result of using power tools and other poor work habits along the way. Dropped the bonnet back into position and fastened the latches, smiled and sent the car and a crestfallen owner on their way. I've promised myself that I'll never be that Previous Owner from Hell, the one who figures out a way to put a Delco alternator into a Bentley with a few washers and a few crimp connectors, or the one who used a power tool to weaken the threads in an expensive Porsche aluminum block or gearbox case, and fitted an imperial Heli-Coil and bolt to "repair" the damage.
Using the right tools takes too long... but fixing the inevitable damage that happens with incorrect power tool usage takes a whole lot longer, in my personal experience.
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I sometimes use a Makita 18V impact driver as a lug-nut runner. It's a great power screwdriver for deck and drywall screws, great for loosening grade-8 snowplow bolts that can be and are easily replaced every year. In the tool cabinet are various air impact guns and ratchets accumulated over the years, from 1/4" to 3/4" sizes and shapes, and virtually all of them are there for only very limited uses. I used the very vintage IR 231 air impact to remove a stubborn-by-LockTite impeller shaft nut on my snowblower last fall along with some heat, for instance. Two German V8 timing belt projects plus a full drive-package-out timing chains service on a $$$ red car in the past six months, all completed without power tools. No damaged fasteners or bolt holes, thank you.
[/soap box mode]
