twaugh5

We have owned a RX300 and now have a Pilot. The Pilot is bigger, runs on
regular gas, handles better and costs less to maintain than the RX300. Our
Lexus cost close to $2,000 US in maintenance costs for the first 30k miles.
That with the oil gelling problem, and a recommended belt change at 75k for
$2,000 made it even less attractive to keep any length of time. The Pilot
is around 10-15k less expensive than the new 330.

"Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
news:Sg%Pa.4773$b_4.392@lakeread07...
> I'm shopping for a mid-size/car-based SUV and so far I like the RX 330
> (checked out the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX and Nissan Murano as well). I
have
> yet to see a Honda Pilot (they are not in stock at the local dealer). The
> Honda seems like it's pretty functional and rugged based on what I see in
> reviews and on the Internet. I'm not too crazy about the appearance of
the
> front end on the Pilot though but I imagine I can get some appearance
parts
> to improve that. I haven't seen much in a direct comparison of them.
> Anyone compare these? Thoughts?
>
>

GRL

I'm curious about the oil gelling problem. Did you use din-oil or synthetic?
How frequently did you change the oil? Type of driving?

Also, who wanted $2,000 to do a belt change and what caliber hand gun were
they holding when they gave you the quote?

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"twaugh5" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
news:zXcQa.3732$zd4.704@lakeread02...
> We have owned a RX300 and now have a Pilot. The Pilot is bigger, runs on
> regular gas, handles better and costs less to maintain than the RX300.
Our
> Lexus cost close to $2,000 US in maintenance costs for the first 30k
miles.
> That with the oil gelling problem, and a recommended belt change at 75k
for
> $2,000 made it even less attractive to keep any length of time. The Pilot
> is around 10-15k less expensive than the new 330.
>
> "Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
> news:Sg%Pa.4773$b_4.392@lakeread07...
> > I'm shopping for a mid-size/car-based SUV and so far I like the RX 330
> > (checked out the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX and Nissan Murano as well). I
> have
> > yet to see a Honda Pilot (they are not in stock at the local dealer).
The
> > Honda seems like it's pretty functional and rugged based on what I see
in
> > reviews and on the Internet. I'm not too crazy about the appearance of
> the
> > front end on the Pilot though but I imagine I can get some appearance
> parts
> > to improve that. I haven't seen much in a direct comparison of them.
> > Anyone compare these? Thoughts?
> >
> >
>
>

Tom Waugh

The oil gelling problem is well known with Toyota V6s. Apparently a design
problem. Ours was suposedly OK at 33 k miles, probably because we had it
serviced on the severe schedule every 5k. The 2k charge on the belt is
apparently because the belt is difficult to get to. But, Lexus service is
way overpriced anyway -- $150 for a minor service, which is little more than
an oil change. But, to ensure the extended warranty Toyota offers (to 80k
miles) because of the oil sludge problem, you are pretty stuck with taking
their service -- or getting a lawyer.
Our local Honda dealer is better.

"GRL" <GLitwinski@CHARTERMI.COM> wrote in message
news:vh37gsove03lf6@corp.supernews.com...
> I'm curious about the oil gelling problem. Did you use din-oil or
synthetic?
> How frequently did you change the oil? Type of driving?
>
> Also, who wanted $2,000 to do a belt change and what caliber hand gun were
> they holding when they gave you the quote?
>
> --
>
> - GRL
>
> "It's good to want things."
>
> Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
> Visual Basic programmer)
> "twaugh5" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
> news:zXcQa.3732$zd4.704@lakeread02...
> > We have owned a RX300 and now have a Pilot. The Pilot is bigger, runs
on
> > regular gas, handles better and costs less to maintain than the RX300.
> Our
> > Lexus cost close to $2,000 US in maintenance costs for the first 30k
> miles.
> > That with the oil gelling problem, and a recommended belt change at 75k
> for
> > $2,000 made it even less attractive to keep any length of time. The
Pilot
> > is around 10-15k less expensive than the new 330.
> >
> > "Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
> > news:Sg%Pa.4773$b_4.392@lakeread07...
> > > I'm shopping for a mid-size/car-based SUV and so far I like the RX 330
> > > (checked out the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX and Nissan Murano as well). I
> > have
> > > yet to see a Honda Pilot (they are not in stock at the local dealer).
> The
> > > Honda seems like it's pretty functional and rugged based on what I see
> in
> > > reviews and on the Internet. I'm not too crazy about the appearance
of
> > the
> > > front end on the Pilot though but I imagine I can get some appearance
> > parts
> > > to improve that. I haven't seen much in a direct comparison of them.
> > > Anyone compare these? Thoughts?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Niles Standish

I went to go see a Honda Pilot and was surprised at how unhelpful the sales
person was. They did not have a Pilot in stock, and the ordered vehicles
took about 2.5 months to arrive. I'll definitely need to see one before I'd
buy one. How is the Honda service in general?

"Tom Waugh" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
news:IKHQa.5614$zd4.2886@lakeread02...
> The oil gelling problem is well known with Toyota V6s. Apparently a
design
> problem. Ours was suposedly OK at 33 k miles, probably because we had it
> serviced on the severe schedule every 5k. The 2k charge on the belt is
> apparently because the belt is difficult to get to. But, Lexus service is
> way overpriced anyway -- $150 for a minor service, which is little more
than
> an oil change. But, to ensure the extended warranty Toyota offers (to 80k
> miles) because of the oil sludge problem, you are pretty stuck with taking
> their service -- or getting a lawyer.
> Our local Honda dealer is better.
>
> "GRL" <GLitwinski@CHARTERMI.COM> wrote in message
> news:vh37gsove03lf6@corp.supernews.com...
> > I'm curious about the oil gelling problem. Did you use din-oil or
> synthetic?
> > How frequently did you change the oil? Type of driving?
> >
> > Also, who wanted $2,000 to do a belt change and what caliber hand gun
were
> > they holding when they gave you the quote?
> >
> > --
> >
> > - GRL
> >
> > "It's good to want things."
> >
> > Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
> > Visual Basic programmer)
> > "twaugh5" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
> > news:zXcQa.3732$zd4.704@lakeread02...
> > > We have owned a RX300 and now have a Pilot. The Pilot is bigger, runs
> on
> > > regular gas, handles better and costs less to maintain than the RX300.
> > Our
> > > Lexus cost close to $2,000 US in maintenance costs for the first 30k
> > miles.
> > > That with the oil gelling problem, and a recommended belt change at
75k
> > for
> > > $2,000 made it even less attractive to keep any length of time. The
> Pilot
> > > is around 10-15k less expensive than the new 330.
> > >
> > > "Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
> > > news:Sg%Pa.4773$b_4.392@lakeread07...
> > > > I'm shopping for a mid-size/car-based SUV and so far I like the RX
330
> > > > (checked out the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX and Nissan Murano as well).
I
> > > have
> > > > yet to see a Honda Pilot (they are not in stock at the local
dealer).
> > The
> > > > Honda seems like it's pretty functional and rugged based on what I
see
> > in
> > > > reviews and on the Internet. I'm not too crazy about the appearance
> of
> > > the
> > > > front end on the Pilot though but I imagine I can get some
appearance
> > > parts
> > > > to improve that. I haven't seen much in a direct comparison of
them.
> > > > Anyone compare these? Thoughts?
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Niles Standish

I did the "build it" thing on line with both and I see about a $9k
difference between them with roughly similar options (as close as I could
get, generally this meant no DVD or Nav system). To me that's a tie-breaker
if they're even, and not really a deal-breaker if I happen to like the more
expensive one. Someone in another post mentioned the off-road vs
forest-trail vs country-club-in-the-snow usage. I guess I'd be in the range
between forest trail and country-club-in-the-snow usage... I'll need to get
a few more close looks at them and see how the impressions settle in for me.

"twaugh5" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
news:zXcQa.3732$zd4.704@lakeread02...
> We have owned a RX300 and now have a Pilot. The Pilot is bigger, runs on
> regular gas, handles better and costs less to maintain than the RX300.
Our
> Lexus cost close to $2,000 US in maintenance costs for the first 30k
miles.
> That with the oil gelling problem, and a recommended belt change at 75k
for
> $2,000 made it even less attractive to keep any length of time. The Pilot
> is around 10-15k less expensive than the new 330.
>
> "Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
> news:Sg%Pa.4773$b_4.392@lakeread07...
> > I'm shopping for a mid-size/car-based SUV and so far I like the RX 330
> > (checked out the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX and Nissan Murano as well). I
> have
> > yet to see a Honda Pilot (they are not in stock at the local dealer).
The
> > Honda seems like it's pretty functional and rugged based on what I see
in
> > reviews and on the Internet. I'm not too crazy about the appearance of
> the
> > front end on the Pilot though but I imagine I can get some appearance
> parts
> > to improve that. I haven't seen much in a direct comparison of them.
> > Anyone compare these? Thoughts?
> >
> >
>
>

Karan Mohal

I cant say about your particular town or city
Where i live though (winnipeg, cananda) all the honda dealerships are owned
by the same guy, and they all have absolutely horrible service. ABSOLUTELY.


"Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
news:4EIQa.15048$AD3.7863@lakeread04...
> I went to go see a Honda Pilot and was surprised at how unhelpful the
sales
> person was. They did not have a Pilot in stock, and the ordered vehicles
> took about 2.5 months to arrive. I'll definitely need to see one before
I'd
> buy one. How is the Honda service in general?
>
> "Tom Waugh" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
> news:IKHQa.5614$zd4.2886@lakeread02...
> > The oil gelling problem is well known with Toyota V6s. Apparently a
> design
> > problem. Ours was suposedly OK at 33 k miles, probably because we had
it
> > serviced on the severe schedule every 5k. The 2k charge on the belt is
> > apparently because the belt is difficult to get to. But, Lexus service
is
> > way overpriced anyway -- $150 for a minor service, which is little more
> than
> > an oil change. But, to ensure the extended warranty Toyota offers (to
80k
> > miles) because of the oil sludge problem, you are pretty stuck with
taking
> > their service -- or getting a lawyer.
> > Our local Honda dealer is better.
> >
> > "GRL" <GLitwinski@CHARTERMI.COM> wrote in message
> > news:vh37gsove03lf6@corp.supernews.com...
> > > I'm curious about the oil gelling problem. Did you use din-oil or
> > synthetic?
> > > How frequently did you change the oil? Type of driving?
> > >
> > > Also, who wanted $2,000 to do a belt change and what caliber hand gun
> were
> > > they holding when they gave you the quote?
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > - GRL
> > >
> > > "It's good to want things."
> > >
> > > Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist,
chemist,
> > > Visual Basic programmer)
> > > "twaugh5" <twaugh5@***.net> wrote in message
> > > news:zXcQa.3732$zd4.704@lakeread02...
> > > > We have owned a RX300 and now have a Pilot. The Pilot is bigger,
runs
> > on
> > > > regular gas, handles better and costs less to maintain than the
RX300.
> > > Our
> > > > Lexus cost close to $2,000 US in maintenance costs for the first 30k
> > > miles.
> > > > That with the oil gelling problem, and a recommended belt change at
> 75k
> > > for
> > > > $2,000 made it even less attractive to keep any length of time. The
> > Pilot
> > > > is around 10-15k less expensive than the new 330.
> > > >
> > > > "Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:Sg%Pa.4773$b_4.392@lakeread07...
> > > > > I'm shopping for a mid-size/car-based SUV and so far I like the RX
> 330
> > > > > (checked out the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX and Nissan Murano as
well).
> I
> > > > have
> > > > > yet to see a Honda Pilot (they are not in stock at the local
> dealer).
> > > The
> > > > > Honda seems like it's pretty functional and rugged based on what I
> see
> > > in
> > > > > reviews and on the Internet. I'm not too crazy about the
appearance
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > > front end on the Pilot though but I imagine I can get some
> appearance
> > > > parts
> > > > > to improve that. I haven't seen much in a direct comparison of
> them.
> > > > > Anyone compare these? Thoughts?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Elmo P. Shagnasty

In article <yxlRa.474140$Vi5.12267652@news1.calgary.shaw.ca >,
"Karan Mohal" <karan.mohal@shaw.ca> wrote:

> I cant say about your particular town or city
> Where i live though (winnipeg, cananda) all the honda dealerships are owned
> by the same guy, and they all have absolutely horrible service. ABSOLUTELY.

So much comes down to the dealership. I have a superb relationship with
my Honda dealer, and that's what keeps me coming back. I know that
Toyota is a good brand, but we don't have any good Toyota dealers around
here. So, no dice for me.

Steve Lee

On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 21:18:59 -0400, "Niles Standish"
<rwardak@homail.com> wrote:

>I went to go see a Honda Pilot and was surprised at how unhelpful the sales
>person was. They did not have a Pilot in stock, and the ordered vehicles
>took about 2.5 months to arrive. I'll definitely need to see one before I'd
>buy one. How is the Honda service in general?

Where exactly are you located? As popular and high selling the Pilot
is, I can't believe it'd take that long to get one. Go check out
www.honda-pilot.org and ask there for dealers close to your place.

Niles Standish

Went about 40 miles away and found a dealer that seemed much more helpful,
and they had a Pilot on the lot to demo. I liked it, and my impression was
that it was more "truck" than some of the other vehicles in the
range--smooth and sturdy, and like it would be a great vehicle in an area
with a lot of bumps/rougher road. Went back and tried a Murano again and
liked that too--it was about as likable to me as the Honda, but it seemed to
have a more sporting handling to it, although it was a little less
utilitarian in nature.

I'm having trouble seeing the $40k+ range on these vehicles anymore
(Infiniti for instance), so I feel like I'm narrowing down to the Murano or
the Pilot at this time. Also, I didn't really care for the MDX when I tried
that, and I can't really explain it at this time... I'd like to get a peek
at a Cadillac SRX at some point, but I think it won't be worth its price...
I'm going to re-read some reviews now that I've had a fresh look at the
Pilot and the Murano and look at them again in a week or so.

"Pagan" <pagan@linkline.com> wrote in message
news:vhiq9pjjq6dt98@corp.supernews.com...
> "Niles Standish" <rwardak@homail.com> wrote in message
> news:4EIQa.15048$AD3.7863@lakeread04...
> > I went to go see a Honda Pilot and was surprised at how unhelpful the
> sales
> > person was. They did not have a Pilot in stock, and the ordered
vehicles
> > took about 2.5 months to arrive. I'll definitely need to see one before
> I'd
> > buy one. How is the Honda service in general?
>
> We have to go about 40 miles for a good Honda dealership. There are three
> that are closer, but this one rocks. They even have free internet access
> and coffee, and everybody there wants to kiss your butt. The closer ones
> are on par with GM dealerships (they suck).
>
> Pagan
>
>