Highlander or Pilot?

[Caminetto]

Indeed, there has been a drop in price, its about $500 less compared to week back. Zag - USAA, overstock and Costco, showing about $500 less than overstock. Is their price a good price or can I get any lower? I am not a good haggler, dont want to spend days going back and forth between dealers just for a few hundred dollars... I am thinking of sticking with the zag price and see what happens. 0% ends October 2nd, next week want to zero in on something... Any last piece of advise?
Oh btw, as of now leaning towards Highlander, but will be visiting the Honda dealer on Monday...

It's always better to know what the dealer paid and negotiate up from that price. Zag was fairly accurate when I purchased.
Last piece of advice is to read at least the last few months of the Edmund's Pilot and Highlander forums (there may be rebates to dealers that bring down dealer cost and are not reflected in the online prices).
For example, when I bought my Pilot I was unaware that Honda was giving dealers a $3,000 rebate if they were able to get their customers to finance through them. Many dealers were willing to share that rebate with customers. I was paying cash and my dealer did not mention the rebate. If I had seen this discussed in the Edmund's forum (indeed it was) I would have found an appropriate dealer, financed, and then just paid it off later. That was an expensive oversight on my part. (And if you decide on a Pilot, check if that rebate is still available to dealers).
Good luck to you.

 

[redgtxdi]

Consider this heavily......

Both will have a great engine/transmission. So take it down to the "vehicle" itself.

I bought a Venza last year and thought I shopped as hard as I've ever shopped for a vehicle. What I've learned is that Toyota has moved to a single class of interior........it's called "sh1t" and it's a program 5 years in the making.

Now, you may experience it in the pilot too, I can't say as I didn't include it in my shopping but here is what you can expect in your new highlander.....

Snap, crackle, pop, rattle, squeak, rattle, misaligned plastic of the Rubbermaid/LittleTikes design.

And try this once........give one of the front doors in the highlander a good shut. The thing will drone like the hollowness of a mid 50's pickup with no door card on it.

So remember.....Great engine. Solid transmission. Sh!t-cheap vehicle.

 

[DesiPower]

I won a 08 Camry and I know what you are talking about... but then what are the choices? I rented a Traverse last year and Explorer few years back and they were not much better either, solid build quality? maybe, interior of both were pretty unimpressive... I have a budget of 35k, need a mid-sizeish SUV with a rare/occasional use/emergency 3rd row seat, so what else should I look at? As I mentioned earlier, Flex or CX9 are our of question because of their external shape, something sold by Acura, Lexus, GMC and so on will be out of my price range... So what do you suggest?

 

[AdamK47]

Get the Toyota or Honda. Not buying either would be unnatural and would upset the balance in the world. What would people in your community think if you didn't? You have to think of the important thing here.

 

[NutBucket]

There's $2500 in incentives for Acadias and you should be able to get a mid-range (no leather) for around $35k given the 2013s are gearing up for production (refreshed styling and new/better interior).

 

[Throckmorton]

The Highlander looks like a chick crossover. The Pilot looks more truckish and chunky.

 

[DesiPower]

Get the Toyota or Honda. Not buying either would be unnatural and would upset the balance in the world. What would people in your community think if you didn't? You have to think of the important thing here.

You and other certified dimwits like you in the thread are not even reading what I have been saying, stop wasting bandwidth, provide your sincere suggestions based on my requirements or GTFO.

 

[redgtxdi]

As I mentioned earlier, Flex or CX9 are our of question because of their external shape, something sold by Acura, Lexus, GMC and so on will be out of my price range... So what do you suggest?

Well, the dilema you have that I didn't is you really want the 3rd row. My gut says to look for something a few years old. I believe some brands were actually better several years ago, though I don't know if that's doable for you and I still couldn't put my finger on an exact make/model to best suggest.

You *could* include Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorrento in the mix. (I didn't like Nissan/Subaru CVT and VW is pretty pricey). I believe Sorrento comes w/ optional 3rd row already and Santa Fe will later this year in a longer wheelbase version to replace Veracruz which might also be a contender. Hook up a deal on the Veracruz & that could fit the bill.

While *I* considered Edge and would probably do an Edge if I had to do it over......I would *not* recommend the Explorer to get the 3rd row as even though I liked the front in the Explorer, the 2nd row had the leg room of a compact sedan.

Traverse & siblings is nice looking, though sucks gas. Another thing I frowned on the GM vehicles for is that RIDICULOUSLY dated green-screen info center/radio stack. The green dots need to go back to the 80's where they came from.

I wish Toyota would have never ditched Kaizen philosophy. Their cars would be incomparable today if they hadn't.

 

[SandEagle]

There's $2500 in incentives for Acadias and you should be able to get a mid-range (no leather) for around $35k given the 2013s are gearing up for production (refreshed styling and new/better interior).

lol u think 35k for an ACADIA is a deal!? and without leather? f that pos. with 35k you can get a loaded Highlander, Pathfinder, or Pilot. No way in hell would I ever buy an Acadia. it's such a toxic car.

 

[NutBucket]

Take your pick. I've always bought Japanese cars but Pilot and Highlander didn't impress me at all.

 

[ScoobMaster]

I won a 08 Camry and I know what you are talking about... but then what are the choices? I rented a Traverse last year and Explorer few years back and they were not much better either, solid build quality? maybe, interior of both were pretty unimpressive... I have a budget of 35k, need a mid-sizeish SUV with a rare/occasional use/emergency 3rd row seat, so what else should I look at? As I mentioned earlier, Flex or CX9 are our of question because of their external shape, something sold by Acura, Lexus, GMC and so on will be out of my price range... So what do you suggest?

Would a Kia Sorrento fit your needs? I recently bought a used 2009 Borrego Limited V8 (I needed body on frame and towing capacity) and Kia's quality surprised me. (see my prior post with pictures) It has so far been a wonderful vehicle.

The Subaru Tribeca also looked nice (I didn't look TOO close at them as it didn't fit MY needs) and Consumer Reports has recently moved Subaru to the top of the quality list. The Hyundai Veracruz is a 7 seater too IIRC.

 

[DesiPower]

So finally went with the Highlander, test drove Pilot and Traverse, Highlander felt more nimble and responsive, others felt bit more bulky... of course it is a lighter and smaller vehicle but it met my needs perfectly! Great car, I am impressed and enjoying it!!! got the Limited with navigation package, looks cool! As someone suggested, its is made with very light material and the exterior does feels cheap, it kinda waves and vibrates when you close/slam the door..

Thanks everyone for your views/inputs/suggestions...

 

[CraigRT]

A truck platform, separate body frame is out of question, also out of question is Nissan, had two Nissans, still own one, long term reliability is horrible...

Depends on the model, A first or 2nd gen Xterra for example are awesome SUV's and very reliable. Terrible on gas like all the others. Honda's 3.5 engine for example is not perfect, it has VTEC solenoid issues. Not sure about the Highlander honestly, I think it looks decent though.

 

[AdamK47]

Highlander is on the Camry platform, right?

 

[DesiPower]

Highlander is on the Camry platform, right?

Yup, a Camry with 270 HP engine