Finally, a Pilot in the family
by Cathy Droz

It’s one thing when a mom (marketing executive) wants her daughter (high school English teacher) to find a nice guy and settle down. It’s another thing when the daughter thinks her mom is “old school.” Put that combination of reasoning together with test driving cars for manufacturers and you really see the generation gap in this ongoing saga of cars, men and family.

Boomer: I was so thrilled when you called me last week to tell me you finally had a pilot in the driveway. Of course I assumed you meant an airline pilot, a potential son‑in‑law with travel privileges, not a car.

X: Mom, don’t you think I would have referred to a date with a pilot a little differently than that? You can only imagine how surprised I was with your excitement over driving a Honda.

Boomer: Sorry. When I finally realized you were talking about the 2006 Honda Pilot, and your dating status hadn’t changed, I realized I needed to pay attention to the changes made on the Honda SUV instead.

X: You are right about the Pilot getting some refreshing changes since 2005, especially in their overall styling, the availability of front‑wheel drive and curtain side air bags.  Honda’s changes were really just basics for many of their competitors. Maybe it was more like catching up.

Boomer: The Honda Pilot is considered a “mid‑size” SUV and it shares its basic chassis and powertrain with the Acura MDX. Not bad for big sister to have such status. Most people who are looking for a “mid‑size” SUV would test drive a Toyota Highlander, BMW X3, or a Honda CRV before making a mid‑size decision.

X: Well, I’ve test‑driven them all and I found the Pilot to be the most economical vehicle and with great looking masculine lines. You know how I like the bold structure and Range Rover’s athletic look.

Boomer: What are you saying? That I like the soft curvy lines that are sexy, smooth and emotional? I know you’re picking on me. You think I’m a wimp, don’t you?

X: Mom, are you taking your hormone medicine in a timely manner? I didn’t say you were a wimp, even though you own a turquoise blue ’02 Ford Thunderbird. I was just talking about my preferences.

Boomer: Whatever! The Pilot has a great turning radius. This I witnessed first hand as you whipped around all the different streets and avenues last Wednesday.  I’ve never shopped so quickly in my life. I felt like a mother/daughter team on “The Amazing Race” instead of on a nice leisurely shopping evening where we could bond.

X: I have enough going on between finals, graduation, playing indoor soccer, writing these articles, working on my Master’s, and keeping up with my girlfriends and family socially, that I had only one day to help you shop. Sorry, you felt hassled.

Boomer: Hassled? I felt dizzy and rushed. It was nice that the Pilot has three rows of seating and a 60/40 split folding bench for our packages. I did notice that without netting in the back cargo area for bags however, there was a lot of sliding going on. Speaking of packages, was the large box from Pier 1 for my birthday?

X: Like I would tell you. You may have worried about netting in the cargo area, but I was more conscious of the mpg since I was driving and paying for fuel last week. The price of gas hit my pocketbook hard this past year, but even with the per gallon price holding at about $3 per gallon, I really want to drive a fuel‑efficient vehicle.

Boomer: The ’06 Pilot came out with a Variable Cylinder Management, or VCM, feature which is designed to boost your mileage. The Pilot can switch from 3 cylinders to 6 when necessary. This is to help make the most of your gas and power. There is even an ECO light–for economy driving–on your dash denoting when you are in the 3‑cylinder mode. And the Pilot averages 22 mpg.

X: That’s cool. You can start to gauge when to drive more efficiently and be in that ECO mode as much as possible. For now, it is probably as close to a hybrid as we can come.

Boomer: The pilot has a 244‑horsepower, V6 engine with antilock 4‑wheel disc brakes and an antiskid system that comes standard. Oh, and new for ’06, are head protecting curtain side air bags for all seating rows.

X: The EX‑L model includes heated front seats and mirrors, but I think the best features on the EX‑L are the satellite radio, navigation system, and rear DVD entertainment center.  

Boomer: For what? The basic Honda Pilot is fine with me. I’m happy they have head air bags. At my age, I’m more worried about protecting my head than watching some movie in the second row of my car.

X: Is this where I say, “Oh Mom, you’re so right. Please protect that beautiful, intelligent, perfectly shaped head of yours?”

Boomer: Only if you feel like it?

X: I would rather talk about all the little storage spaces around the vehicle and the many cup holders. In the front there is a hidden plug in the console and a cell phone holder so the phone and cord don’t get in the way. That is my favorite feature.

Boomer: You shouldn’t even be talking on the phone while you’re driving.

X: Oh, really? Don’t you return most of your calls while driving? And don’t you have a hands‑free contraption you don’t use?

Boomer: Anyway, is there any chance you’ll be dating a real pilot soon? Think of all the travel benefits, a man in a uniform and phone calls from foreign cities?  How romantic! What do you think?

X: I think you read too many romance novels and the closest I will get to a Pilot is the test drive I did last week. Just for future knowledge, if I refer to an aviator, navigator, ranger, commander or Aston Martin, it’s a vehicle–not your future son‑in‑law.