neuronbob

.....so I bought some a couple of weeks ago. The OEM PS2s were a blast in dry weather and competent in the wet, and lasted about 17k miles with my relatively gentle driving. I replaced with Pilot Super Sports in the OEM size and let me tell you, the hype these tires receive is well worth it! Even better traction in the dry--I can now barely chirp the tires in 3rd gear like I used to be able to do with the PS2s. Wet performance is almost like being in the dry....slightly better than the PS2s. Wear rating is 300 as opposed to 220 for the PS2s. Best part is that they are better than the PS2s for 2/3 the cost. Incredible.....more tire for less money!
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I also decided I wasn't going to drive in the worst snowy weather anymore in the V wagon. As some of you know, I had some premature rust on the wagon because of a manufacturing defect. Instead of buying/leasing a TLX as planned, I decided I LIKE not having a car payment....at least for now. All my cars have been paid off for almost a year now--the longest time in my adult life I've been without a car payment.

With that in mind.....I bought as a winter beater, another Honda Pilot EX. It's a 2004 with 132k miles that was in remarkably good shape for its miles. It was cheap, just over $6k (these go typically for $7.5-9k at this mileage in my area, people always want 4WD/AWD trucks), and I paid cash for it so I don't have a car payment. The plan is to use it as my go-anywhere winter beater on snowy days. I simply don't give a $hit about what the paint looks like. Given my current experience with the V wagon and its fabulous, but hard to care for blue paint, that is soooo liberating.

I will continue to drive the V wagon on dry, nonslushy days during the winter to minimize exposure to salt. That car is too fun to keep in storage for the winter.

This Pilot is a "placemarker" car as I plan on moving either an RLX hybrid (really really REALLY want this if it's not vaporware) or TLX SH-AWD Advance (consolation prize). I will wait for the first and second-year gremlins to work themselves out. Soooo......2016 or 2017 MY. Of course, I may decide I just like the status quo and not have a car payment for longer, or decide I REALLY like having a car I don't give a $hit about.

Anyhoo, enough talking and a few pics from the dealer:






So far, only issue is rear AC not working ($88 part and 15 minutes of time to replace transistor) and driver's seat bolster is cracked ($20 part and 5 minutes to replace). Otherwise, it rides and drives as well as the wife's '07 Pilot with 90k miles on it. Folks routinely get over 200k miles on 1G Pilots so I expect many trouble-free miles out of this "clunker".

knight rider

iTrader: (1)

The Pilot is a great pick Now, about the Michelin Pilot Super Sports. You're right. That is an awesome tire. Plenty of grip and little road noise. My experience with that tire is that it is very good, but they did not last long at all. 10K - 12K. After that, forget about wet driving.

Costco

Consider that Michelin has a mileage warranty on most, if not all of the latest street tires.

Yes, Michelins are more expensive but they'll prorate the mileage for you. Some people go to Sears to do this and have the service writer do the legwork getting Michelin to approve the warranty.

http://www.michelinman.com/mediabin/...warranties.pdf

fsttyms1

I feel ripped off. Where are the pictures of the tires

fsttyms1

Oh and nice Pilot! Trying to find one around here for under 12k is few and far between. And when you do its usually really well beat.

neuronbob

I forgot to mention, it comes with a tow package, transmission cooler and wiring for a trailer, a real bonus. It was obviously used to tow in the past but having the tranny cooler means the transmission may not have suffered as much as without. It wasn't advertised but owning a Pilot already, I knew to look for one since the early models had them as an option, not standard. Nevertheless, will have diff and tranny fluid flushed and changed as cheap insurance.

On top of that, timing belt, water pump, and engine mounts were done 20k miles ago, so no cost there, it's what put me over the edge to buy it.

And LOL at tire pics!

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Congrats on the new-to-you Pilot! And the tires, as unsexy of a purchase as they are, well, actually the PS2s are pretty sexy, so congrats on the sexy tire purchase, too!

Hapa DC5

Smart buy Bob! She looks great.

mrmako

Very nice Bob. But I was looking forward to seeing the V pulling a camper. Hell, the Germans doit with S550 Mercs.

NBP04TL4ME

So essentially you got 5 Pilots.

Regarding the round black ones, I have them mounted on my A-Specs and I LOVE them.

Good luck with all of them

zac

Nice pickup, and great price. I wouldn't mind one for the winter, it gets pretty bad here, and its very hilly.

Sarlacc

Heh. Nice

AZuser

Not car payments (or beaks) FTW!

Congrats

fsttyms1

Awesome.
I wasnt joking There is nothing nicer than seeing a nice set of rubbers.

UA6

Very nice!

Black Tire

damn just $6K?

350

iTrader: (4)

No car payments FTW! I miss having a beater too, although my TL is in beater role now, when I a 94 Buick no fucks were given how it looked, never washed it once, it was the best.

SaaBaaDoo

I switched out from PS2s to PSS and love them as well.

RPhilMan1

When my current summer tires wear out, I plan on switching to the PSS. Great to hear your personal review.

And nice deal on the Pilot. I'm sure your V will appreciate it on those harsh winter days.

neuronbob

Yup, been looking for a deal for a while and found it.

Hopefully I don't give in to the "new" car fever for another year or two since I have now indulged. Love being able to put the car payment money in my son's college fund and my retirement accounts. If the TLX becomes a screaming deal (which it won't for a while), I could change my mind, in which case the Pilot becomes part of a down payment.

Since I'm going to be keeping the V wagon for a long while I'd like it not to rust up again.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Congrats

oonowindoo

i thought it was:

"My CTS-V needed tires, so i got a FWD RLX"

i will save my jokes for next time then =)

neuronbob

Oh HELL no. I'd rather get a cheap Pilot, which is what I did.

I'd have to turn in my "car guy" credentials if I made that trade.

Shoofin

Michelin PSS is probably the best street tire I've ever owned...

Put a set of Toyo Proxes 888's, go to the track and get them nice and warm...You'll be amazed at what your car can do!

oonowindoo

Better than Michelin All seasons?

neuronbob

1st mods/repairs done last week, and initial service/Honda dealer inspection/fixes today.

Last week:

New gas cap as additional insurance to keep the P1456/1457 codes away.

I purchased and installed (by myself ) a GTA iPod/iPhone connector and the accompanying Bluetooth kit. Now I can use my XM app via BT from my iPhone, or connect my ancient 5G iPod, on which I keep my music.

Installed new rear AC transistor because the rear AC wasn't working. It's a common problem on 1G Pilots. All is peachy and cool in the back seat.

Replaced driver's seat plastic (part with controls), 2 min job. Replaced rear AC vents which were broken, 30-second job.

Thinking about adding running boards to differentiate mine from my wife's a little more but that will come later.

P1457 code showed up again this week, so I mentioned it at the dealer when I brought it in for the previously scheduled engine oil/diff fluid/tranny fluid change. I asked for a smoke test as the small indy dealer I purchased from was supposed to have replaced at least the evap shut valve, and they told me they'd replaced the valve and the canister. Yeah right....

Smoke test revealed the problem. It turns out that the small dealer I purchased the Pilot from had replaced the canister and shut valve with used ones that, according to the mechanic, had lots of rust on them and a broken bolt. Grrrrr......being outside of the Honda emissions warranty, of course, I had to pay up. I managed to get the service department to reduce the parts cost, though I couldn't get them to price match Majestic or Honda of Lisle, my current go-to sources for Honda parts. $330 for that part of the job ($170 for install, the remainder for parts); they originally wanted $450 .

Good news is that I didn't have to replace the ECM (the final fix for P1457 if all else failed), which would have been costly (though I would have just sourced the part from a junked Pilot and saved some $$$ instead of paying $800+ for a new part).

I also had engine oil, diff oil, and transmission fluid all changed out at the dealer. I had a thorough inspection done and the only other issues they found were worn/broken rear stabilizer links and exhaust leak between the convertor and B-pipe, both easy fixes.

Altogether the service was around $800. I knew I was going to have to put some money into making the car more serviceable than it already was, and honestly it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. In short, I got lucky. Even with that cost, I paid enough below market value on this particular Pilot that I still came out ahead. Now fingers crossed on the tranny remaining intact.....

....and I passed the Ohio E-Check today, which I would not have with a recent P1457 code. Now I can get plates.

Now I'm ready for winter.

NBP04TL4ME

Certainly sounds like you are all set. Still amazed at the find - congrats again!

fsttyms1

Still no pictures of the new tires???

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Whew....had me scared upon reading the thread title...

Congrats!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Fantastic set up...for about 1/2 the cost of the taxes alone on a purchase of one of your two new car pics, you have another paid off beater car.

I have to say, haven't had a car payment in almost 2 years now...but I'm good about maintenance but it has really been liberating in having that expendable income every month.

West6MT

Congrats!

charliemike

Any concerns about safety considering how bad the newest model is in crash testing?

neuronbob

Not particularly. 1G Pilot was pretty safe.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Yeah, even an unsafe Honda isn't unsafe really IMO.

charliemike

Have you seen the latest tests?