Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander?

Seriously considering one or the other. Comments pro and con about either, please? I ran a '90 Accord for 140,000 miles with nothing but oil changes and a timing belt, so I'm convinced Honda makes great vehicles. OTOH, I've had Toyota 4WD's for twenty years, too, and can't complain about them. Would sure appreciate suggestions and advice, and thanks in advance.

Dick Behan

 

Past history says that you won't have any problem with either. They
are both great vehicles. I am not sure what anyone here could tell
you to convince you either way. My advice is to spend lots of time
with both of them and drive them. See what you like better.

Between these two, I'd go with your gut instinct and not spend a lot
of time second guessing yourself.

 

The wife and I looked at both seriously, tested a few new and used and ended up getting a new Hyundai Sante Fe. I don't buy new cars, but the Sante Fe was a pretty good deal, besides, I can't find a used one (that should tell you how much Sante Fe owners like their cars). $7500 less, about 6 - 10 cu ft less space and a real warranty. If Honda and Toyota vehicles are SO great, then why don't they put their money where there mouth is and offer a real warranty? I can tell you why, because both corporations are as arrogant and ignorant as their dealer representatives are. I will not tolerate the attitude of their sales staff and management.
Back to facts. Other than the warranty, the Hyundai has just as much to offer as the Pilot or the Highlander. The Hyundai handles and accelerates as well as the Pilot, the Toyota sucks in both regards. The Toyota is very utilitarian until you spend an extra $7500 over base, the Pilot is a little more pleasant for around $32000. The Hyundai is a well finished vehicle in the GLS or LS version, at $7500 less. Our Suburban / Tahoe / Excursion owning friends and relatives scoffed until they looked closely at our Hyundai, now they know who got the most vehicle for the money - we did. It doesn't cost you nothing to try one.
Seriously considering one or the other. Comments pro and con about either, please? I ran a '90 Accord for 140,000 miles with nothing but oil changes and a timing belt, so I'm convinced Honda makes great vehicles. OTOH, I've had Toyota 4WD's for twenty years, too, and can't complain about them. Would sure appreciate suggestions and advice, and thanks in advance.

Dick Behan

 

Sorry I forgot to mention in the previous reply that I am not just a random Honda-basher that shows up here every now and then to stir things up. I am a very satisfied owner of 3 Honda Del Sols. A 93 S that the daughter now has, a 93 Si that my wife used and the 94 Vtec which is mine all mine. We went into the SUV search mode with all intentions of getting a Highlander, or a Pilot if we couldn't find the right Highlander. After testing the Highlander, I will soon become a Toyota basher. P.O.S. THe Honda was just too overpriced.
Seriously considering one or the other. Comments pro and con about either, please? I ran a '90 Accord for 140,000 miles with nothing but oil changes and a timing belt, so I'm convinced Honda makes great vehicles. OTOH, I've had Toyota 4WD's for twenty years, too, and can't complain about them. Would sure appreciate suggestions and advice, and thanks in advance.

Dick Behan

 

Much obliged, sir. I'll certainly take a look. Hadn't even thought about Hyundai, but will take your testimonial seriously and do so. Thanks again.

Dick B.
The wife and I looked at both seriously, tested a few new and used and ended up getting a new Hyundai Sante Fe. I don't buy new cars, but the Sante Fe was a pretty good deal, besides, I can't find a used one (that should tell you how much Sante Fe owners like their cars). $7500 less, about 6 - 10 cu ft less space and a real warranty. If Honda and Toyota vehicles are SO great, then why don't they put their money where there mouth is and offer a real warranty? I can tell you why, because both corporations are as arrogant and ignorant as their dealer representatives are. I will not tolerate the attitude of their sales staff and management.
Back to facts. Other than the warranty, the Hyundai has just as much to offer as the Pilot or the Highlander. The Hyundai handles and accelerates as well as the Pilot, the Toyota sucks in both regards. The Toyota is very utilitarian until you spend an extra $7500 over base, the Pilot is a little more pleasant for around $32000. The Hyundai is a well finished vehicle in the GLS or LS version, at $7500 less. Our Suburban / Tahoe / Excursion owning friends and relatives scoffed until they looked closely at our Hyundai, now they know who got the most vehicle for the money - we did. It doesn't cost you nothing to try one.
Seriously considering one or the other. Comments pro and con about either, please? I ran a '90 Accord for 140,000 miles with nothing but oil changes and a timing belt, so I'm convinced Honda makes great vehicles. OTOH, I've had Toyota 4WD's for twenty years, too, and can't complain about them. Would sure appreciate suggestions and advice, and thanks in advance.

Dick Behan

 

My wife has a 01 Highlander that now has a little over 40K miles on it. She drives the car every day to and from work...something on the order of 300+ miles per week.

From my perspective....
- Mechanically the car is FANTASTIC! I have only to change the oil and wipers. I'll soon be putting new tires on it but it's not had ANY problems that required a trip to the dealer.
- (OK, this comment may not be totally applicable to the 03 or 04 but I'll say it anyway) If you plan on changing your own oil be WARY. The placement of the oil filter on the 01 Highlander totally sucks! The idiot that designed the engine compartment should be taken into a dark aley and beaten with a long peice of wood! The filer points to the front of the vehicle...about mid way across. It sits VERY close to the radiator and some frame members. The only thing that I have found to help me is to begin using K&N oil filters because they have a 1" "nut" stamped into the steel case and if you have a 1" socket...and a small extention to your wrench...well it works reasonably well with only a min. of scraped knuckles.
- I'm 6'1 and 250...the placement of the manual brake is REALLY close to the left foot rest. No a problem but you do occasionally bump into it.
- The V6 is one of the best engines I have ever seen or driven. SMOOTH & VERY powerfull...I would not consider the 4cy for this car. My wife gets something in the area of 25MPH...very nice engine.
- The car is smooth and easy to handle...even in emergency situations....
- The OEM tires...well let's just say that I'm very good friends with the people at my local Big-O tire shop...they require rebalancing every 5K or so...

Would I buy another one or recommend it...HELL YES.

(I have NOT yet driven the Pilot but it does appear to be bigger than the Highlander. Me...I drive a 98 Accord V6 and I plan on buying another one...maybe next year...or the year after. I love both Honda's and Toyota's...I doubt either would be a bad investment.

Scott Wallace

Seriously considering one or the other. Comments pro and con about either, please? I ran a '90 Accord for 140,000 miles with nothing but oil changes and a timing belt, so I'm convinced Honda makes great vehicles. OTOH, I've had Toyota 4WD's for twenty years, too, and can't complain about them. Would sure appreciate suggestions and advice, and thanks in advance.

Dick Behan