My old Honda Pilot

[Morris Minor]

My son has it now - the car's coming up to 11-years old. It's got about 145,000 on the clock. His last escapade was to fit a tow hitch, but no transmission cooler, then buy an old crappy 2-wheel enclosed trailer (no brakes & wheels at the back - max weight on the hitch). Then, with the nose up & the tail down, he hauled all his belongings from Saratoga Springs NY to Atlanta. He stayed with us a few days, had the Pilot's brakes fixed, then drove 2,200 miles from Atlanta to San Diego.

He made it, took three days & the transmission did not blow up. I guess he's benefiting from the years of TLC & scheduled maintenance bills under my ownership. A dad that keeps on giving. 

[TurboDan]

When I tow my boat with the LR2, it's somewhat near the max in terms of tow rating and my trailer doesn't have surge brakes. In my observation it drives at a slightly higher RPM but the auto transmission is stunningly smooth with its shifts – WAY smoother than my mom's old Durango, which we used to use to tow the boat. That thing would snap gears back and forth so hard you thought the tranny was going to come flying out from under the hood and land in the passenger seat.

I think surge brakes have more to do with the rated load of the trailer than the capacity of the vehicle, if I'm not mistaken.

[Morris Minor]

The old girl still lives. My son parked it at a friend's place in the desert ten months ago & came back to it today after an overseas tour. Reconnected the battery. Turned the key. Started first time.

Hooyah.

[12,000 RPM]

That good old Honda magic.

If hes towing up hills a transmission cooler is not a bad idea though.

[Morris Minor]

That good old Honda magic.

If hes towing up hills a transmission cooler is not a bad idea though.

He's moving it with him to Hawaii - plenty of hills there.

[AutobahnSHO]

fun assignment, nice vehicle. My dad sold me my first car ($650) and it drove beautiful because he'd kept it up well. Sons appreciate it.   

[Morris Minor]

Ooh - we just got the "Your airbag behaves like a fragmentation grenade" recall notice.

[Morris Minor]

Spoke to my son last night. He's going to sell the old Pilot. He's pretty sure he hastened the demise of the transmission early last year when he towed a trailer way above the Pilot's max weight rating from Groton, CT, down to Atlanta GA, then across to San Diego CA.  Now that it's in mountainous Hawaii it's beginning to complain, lots of elevation changes and steep gradients. Guessing he will get a CPO Grand Cherokee.

[BENZ BOY15]

My son has it now - the car's coming up to 11-years old. It's got about 145,000 on the clock. His last escapade was to fit a tow hitch, but no transmission cooler, then buy an old crappy 2-wheel enclosed trailer (no brakes & wheels at the back - max weight on the hitch). Then, with the nose up & the tail down, he hauled all his belongings from Saratoga Springs NY to Atlanta. He stayed with us a few days, had the Pilot's brakes fixed, then drove 2,200 miles from Atlanta to San Diego.

He made it, took three days & the transmission did not blow up. I guess he's benefiting from the years of TLC & scheduled maintenance bills under my ownership. A dad that keeps on giving. 

My Dad's Pilot is going strong and I think he's probably around 130K and he doesn't plan on getting anything different anytime soon. The only thing I don't like is the road noise, but other than that, it's a good vehicle.

The engine ain't bad either.

[Morris Minor]

I'm in Honolulu and, sob, my old Pilot is still going strong: 158,000 miles, battered & scraped, but still standing - my son's daily driver. So weird to see it with Hawaii plates.

[AutobahnSHO]

I'm in Honolulu and, sob, my old Pilot is still going strong: 158,000 miles, battered & scraped, but still standing - my son's daily driver. So weird to see it with Hawaii plates.

Hondas last great. My Odyssey has done 12k miles since I bought it and realized it has a "transmission shudder"...

[Atomic]

When I tow my boat with the LR2, it's somewhat near the max in terms of tow rating and my trailer doesn't have surge brakes. In my observation it drives at a slightly higher RPM but the auto transmission is stunningly smooth with its shifts – WAY smoother than my mom's old Durango, which we used to use to tow the boat. That thing would snap gears back and forth so hard you thought the tranny was going to come flying out from under the hood and land in the passenger seat.

I think surge brakes have more to do with the rated load of the trailer than the capacity of the vehicle, if I'm not mistaken.

When I tow my boat with the LR2, it's somewhat near the max in terms of tow rating and my trailer doesn't have surge brakes. In my observation it drives at a slightly higher RPM but the auto transmission is stunningly smooth with its shifts – WAY smoother than my mom's old Durango, which we used to use to tow the boat. That thing would snap gears back and forth so hard you thought the tranny was going to come flying out from under the hood and land in the passenger seat.

I think surge brakes have more to do with the rated load of the trailer than the capacity of the vehicle, if I'm not mistaken.

BTW: Land Rover / Range Rover LR2

Hey Turbo Dan, before commenting on the Honda Pilot, I am wondering if you are away that the LR2 is already nearing a major redesign and will become the next generation Discover, losing its "LR2" moniker. Any additional information or thoughts about this on your part? If I can get a full report together if there this is enough published on that change, I will start a new post unless you or another fellow 'spinner does so first.

RE: Honda Pilot

Proud and seemingly great, dad, I am enjoying your post! Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on the all new for MY16 Honda Pilot? A good friend just took deliver of one he ordered in a luxurious white metallic or pearl coat white in whatever they are calling the new top of the line model. IMHO, it is far more Acura like. It even nearly rivals Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Crossover / Sport Utility Vehicle-like offerings as so equipped and with its MY16 Honda fit and finish. Very posh. The beige leather with black trim, including carpeting has a very upscale look.

Always, a Honda guy, I am wondering if there might happen to be a "current" Pilot available that is more inline with your son's era Honda where I think many would feel more comfortable using to knock around in and using to haul cargo other than the families luggage, some fine antiques, etc. I would imagine so, but have not looked that closely at any new Honda Pilots aside from his. My buddy wanted a luxurious crossover / SUV for himself and the family from the very start and ordered it as such and actually made it quite unique in the way he choose to accessorize it. I am impressed with his new Pilot and even though above 40 grand (not certain how much more), it is far below what you would expect driving it, especially compared to similarly equipped vehicles. Impressive!

[BENZ BOY15]

My son has it now - the car's coming up to 11-years old. It's got about 145,000 on the clock. His last escapade was to fit a tow hitch, but no transmission cooler, then buy an old crappy 2-wheel enclosed trailer (no brakes & wheels at the back - max weight on the hitch). Then, with the nose up & the tail down, he hauled all his belongings from Saratoga Springs NY to Atlanta. He stayed with us a few days, had the Pilot's brakes fixed, then drove 2,200 miles from Atlanta to San Diego.

He made it, took three days & the transmission did not blow up. I guess he's benefiting from the years of TLC & scheduled maintenance bills under my ownership. A dad that keeps on giving. 

My dad has the same version with around the same amount of miles. He loves it and it's going strong as well.

[Morris Minor]

I have not looked too closely at the new Pilot - it's big: almost minivan-like appearance.

One thing I noticed when driving around Oahu is that the a/c still blasts out cold air like crazy. Honda specced a very beefy system  - nice in hot climates.

[Morris Minor]

Update. She's dead, Jim.  14 years almost to the day since I bought it. 170K miles - transmission needs replacing. Son has no time to deal with it; he's transitioning out of the Navy and is in the middle of all that. He could have a rebuilt transmission put in, but something else is going to fail & he has the money to buy a newer car when he's back on the mainland.

He'll sell it as is in Hawaii - some transmission shop will fix it up & sell it on no doubt.

[Cookie Monster]

170k on the stock transmission is great. The MDX's transmission assploded in grand fashion at around 115-120k.

[Morris Minor]

170k on the stock transmission is great. The MDX's transmission assploded in grand fashion at around 115-120k.

I bet it would have lasted longer if he hadn't done that little journey I detailed in the OP 3-years ago.

[Cookie Monster]

I bet it would have lasted longer if he hadn't done that little journey I detailed in the OP 3-years ago.

Eh, I doubt it. How heavy was the trailer? I can't see it being more than 1000 lb fully loaded, which is significantly less than what the Pilot is rated to tow.

[AutobahnSHO]

Supposedly used car prices are silly high in Hawaii since it's a closed-off market....

[CALL_911]

U got your money's worth

[Morris Minor]

She still lives. He gave it s stay of execution.

He brought it back to the mainland and is getting it fixed. Next up is a trek from San Diego to Boston to take up a new job.

What I've learned is that meticulously maintaining and looking after a car only benefits you personally if you keep it for more than a decade.

[Morris Minor]

Still she lives - son had the transmission replaced. It's had a few gremlins but is still going strong.
South Dakota Badlands - en route from Boston to San Francisco.

[Xer0]

The first gen Pilot still looks very good.  Glad its held up well, obvious Honda transmission issues aside.