Comments on: So we drove the new Honda Pilot

By: Ejaz

Ejaz — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:00:55 +0000

I am planning to buy a 4wd in next 3 months. I would like to know which one woud suit me best given the below:
1. Driving conditions: mostly on road with family (of 3 only), but would like to go for off roading (not dune bashing, but camping etc.) in weekends…
2. Looks: would like to have a tough looking vehicle (not a car like cross over):
3. Would own for 3 years or so and will go for a new one probably.
4. price range 100K-110K AED
5. Interior should not be cheap looking as it puts us off completely.

SHould i consider Xterra, Explorer, or something else…

By: Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury

Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:17:50 +0000

It has a fake diff lock. I forgot the specifics, but their system simulates a locked diff. I might have mentioned in the review.

By: spyke

spyke — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:03:34 +0000

Hey Mash quick question..Since you drove both the MRV and the Pilot, do they have any automatic rear locking diffs?? any LSD?? or is it just the manual switch operated centre diff lock that sends power to the rear wheels?? if for any reason you want to go off road..

By: vivek

vivek — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:37:34 +0000

yup mazda speed 6 is a 4wd

By: spyke

spyke — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:31:37 +0000

You sure about it being 4wd? i always though it was Fwd. Good performing cars though.

By: vivek

vivek — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:14:31 +0000

mazda speed 6 is a 4wd too…if they bring it here, thn the Evo will face some more competition!

By: spyke

spyke — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:59:14 +0000

Ive seen couple of RX-8s, imports may be..

By: RayD

RayD — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:57:37 +0000

The 2.3ltr turbo does duty in the Mazda Speed6 as well. I’m waiting to see if they will launch a new Mazda Speed6. Apparently this engine produces 260hp+ The CX-7 looks like a mini CX-9 but it has a different set of lights + interior is different as well. I tried to find out whether they would bring the RX-8 here but they do not intend to. Apparently the rotary engine will not be able to run in this weather. Then again,they are constantly developing new tech so hopefully we may see the RX-8 in the coming years.

By: spyke

spyke — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:32:51 +0000

One more thing, the CX7 was designed to be a sporty CUV, it has the same 2.3 turbo charged engine in the Mazda speed 3 i belive. Sure u guys already knew this but just for your info.Wonder why it took mazda so long to bring it here. It looks very much like a mini cx9.

By: spyke

spyke — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:28:36 +0000

Heya i feel the pain Vivek, the thing is i was’nt driving the last time, if twas me i wouldve just stomped on the gas after passing him, but ma dad being the good driver didnt.wut to do..

Full option 114K damn,thats alot..But yeh i read in couple of the US mags that the Xterras now gettin leather seats, appaarently people wanted
a bit of leather as well.
From what ive seen, the front bumper, rear bumper and the interior has been redesigned, instead of the rotary dials you now get button operated AC controls. It looks a little better now. You also get lights on the roofs for the off road ediion like Royer said. The off road editions have always been available in the US again i dont know if it’ll be available here or how the vehicle will be configured.

By: vivek

vivek — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:44:40 +0000

yup..thre is a new camera thre!..did see that and tat is why the race ended too early ..it was sort of a surprise though; however, I noticed the new pole from a little far, so I had enough time to bring the speed down to 120 ..and by the way, the new cameras do flash..I have seen the one right after 3rd interchange flash in yellow, and that was during the night!! In another instance, and tis time during the day, I’ve seen the same camera not flash at a Murano cruising at 160+kph; however, I did notice a bright red LED light on it that blinked while the vehicle flew past it!

By: RayD

RayD — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:07:51 +0000

Vivek – i think that new camera was placed a while ago – these cameras apparently don’t flash I suggest you get on the RTA website and check for fines!

By: vivek

vivek — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:04:38 +0000

RayD – I travel on SZR everyday, so I know the cameras .luckily, I got this guy soon after passing MOE, towards sharjah; from there,there is good distance before you come across the next radar..however, they have just set up a new one just now..saw it only today!!..and yea, that guy wud not have ever imagined that he would get that kind of a blow!! poor chap!..anyway, he is a l’il wise..did not waste his time once he came to know that he cannot catch up ..

Xterra for 114???? that is too much for an Xterra!..I would go for the base Pathy instead..Or would even consider a fortuner..

By: assassin

assassin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:14:51 +0000

* Whole family.

By: assassin

assassin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:05:54 +0000

i used to have bad experiences when i drive my old civic even i was driving carefully. but now, things changed, nobody wants to make a problem with me when i drive LC. you know, it has that great position in this region.
that’s why I preferred to buy LC, since i hate to have any bad things happening from other crazy drivers when i go out with my hole family

By: RayD

RayD — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 06:12:00 +0000

Well guys,it goes to show drivers of Toyotas,Hondas & Nissans have a superiority complex,only to be given the boot by some of us driving other brands of cars
Vivek – 180 on SZR?? Didn’t you get caught by any of the cameras?? That guy you took on is probably wondering why he bought an Accord and will now trade it in for a Mazda6 As for the CX-7,i’m not sure if it will be displayed at the Auto Show. If you want to have a look first hand,just visit the Galadari service center in Dxb;there’s a grey one parked there It’s sort of a scaled down version of the CX-9 – lights are different and so is the interior to some extent. I even saw the new shape MX5 at the service center once. As for the Xterra,the ‘new shape’ has come with a revised interior(dashboard) similar in overall design to the Pathfinder. As for the price,when i checked in Jan. a full option model was going for 105k and now it’s going for 114k – a sizeable increase don’t you think?

By: vivek

vivek — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:01:03 +0000

And assassin, the no.of Xterra’s in Sharjah are quite less..but it definitely is coming up. On the way to office and back, I do see some Xterras..What I feel is, Nissan should upgrade the Xterra’s interiors..the one that is thre right now is too basic & cheap-looking..but atleast, it is not over-priced!..

By: vivek

vivek — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:54:19 +0000

hey spyke & RayD..had a bad experience with an Accord guy just yesterday night!!..I was on shk zayed road driving at 90 kph on the last lane; and there was an Accord guy (2008, full options), on the second last lane at a speed of abt 60-70 kph!..as i was approaching him, he makes an attempt to jump in front of me..i flashed at him once; but he continued; so i honked, jus a short honk to wake him up!..at tat, he moved; and the moment i passed, the moron comes right behind me, bumper to bumper, flashes at me and honks at me; and thn takes the yellow lane, comes beside me, showed me the finger, and thn cut me off!!..however, to my luck the road was sort of empty with hardly abt 3-4 cars around; so i caught up..and at a speed of 140, cut him off! i continued till abt 180 in the fast lane, while the chap was apparently trying hard to catch up..and when finally i started seeing more number of cars, I slowed down..However this time, the chap simply slowed down alongwith me, maintained a good distance until I moved off and gave him way; and he passed by without anymore gestures or rage out of superiority complex! I really don’t know what it with these Accord and Altima guys..Anyway, RayD, I liked your suggestion…Hummer is the solution to all this!

And RayD; do u think the CX-7 will be revealed here in the auto show? I saw the car in Mazda’s US website. Looks like a scaled down CX-9..

By: Royer (2009 Xterra)

Royer (2009 Xterra) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:17:15 +0000

Guys 2009, xterra has new grill, roof lights from Nissan itself, and one special offroad edition. (Blestion Shock absorbers, Electronic Rear Differential Lock, it borrows some of electronic wizardry (Hill Assist) from more sophosticated brother Pathfinder). This xTerra is almost as expensive as a base Pathfinder. The front grill looks more nice now.

http://www.nissanusa.com/xterra/

By: assassin

assassin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:25:43 +0000

4wd, well that my be in dubai. But in sharjah where i live. It is too rare to see Xterra in the steets of sharjah. You will notice that when you come to sharjah show.