PIMP my PILOT

[mirrodie]

So to update, our family decided on a new car. I got 3 price quotes from 3 Honda dealerships.

When I went to test drive the Pilot again the other night at Huntington Honda,
the cute chick told offered it to me at invoice, instead of 500 over invoice.

I went back with my consigliere in tow. Enter Art@ISP. The salesgal told me the vehicle was $500 over invoice and that I misheard her, that she was going to try and see if we could get it AT invoice.

After a bit of back and forth with her and her higher up, we told them to stick to their guns or even go $200 over invoice. They didnt budge. We walked. (this was all part of their game. I didnt offer to pay invoice, she threw it at me!! And then played the game that she was 'trying' to help me out. That blew up in her face, like my load on a crisp Autumn day.)

Salesgal called us back as we were pulling into the other dealership but not with a counter offer. So the other dealership earned my business.

It was 2 entirely different experiences within an hour of each other.




AS I type, the car is being built. I want to add some aftermarket chrome and runningboards. Any good websites one can recommend?


PS,...it wasn't until several weeks later that the unintended aviation reference even dawned on us. A Pilot?! LOL

[PhilDernerJr]

Congrats!!!! I'm very excited for you. :)

Having financed a new car and also leased a 2nd a few months ago, I've developed some decent dealership experience. the funniest thing to me is the "let me talk to my boss" stuff. They know what they can and can't do for you in terms of price. It's all a joke.

A friend of mine is a dealer, and he tells me all these stories about how people come in and think they are going to work the salesman good, or even leave thinking they got a great price even though they actually got ripped.

Mel and I went into a Nissan dealership looking at Altimas. They guy gave us a price that I knew was about $4-5k too high. I said I knew he could go much lower. He played the game and went to his boss and was able to get $500 taken off, and it just wasn't enough. I told him that we wouldn't buy it at that price and he didn't budge. Oh well.

Mel and I went to a different dealership, got a better model at a better price, and then went back to the original dealership to visit. He was upset at us for "not giving him a chance to counter offer". HUH?! If you could have gone lower....why didn't you go lower the first time we visited? He told us specifically that he couldn't go any lower. Oh well.

The entire process is actually very interesting.

[Matt Molnar]

PIMPIN

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/1882/pilot225dy.jpg

[AirtrafficController]

Congrats Mario on the new ride! Excellent choice of picking the Honda Pilot. Enjoy the vehicle with your family for many miles.:)

[george]

Mario, if you want any Honda accessories for your new Pilot just let me know. I work for an Acura dealership but we have a sister Honda dealership in our company. I can get parts at employee price. Just let me know if you every need anything.

George

[Derf]

http://www.longislandwallpapers.com/Other/SmugShots/-/712061119_xNWBk-O.jpg
how is this

[mirrodie]

OMG, Fred, no way!


I like my front end but have read that many don;t like it. I think its bold and distinct:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2009/Honda/2009.honda.pilot.20232581-E.jpg


I have seen that I can replace it with any of the following but then I feel it makes the car look less distinct, and normal....:

http://www.carid.com/images/grilles/eg-classic/EG-1317-0102-09.jpg


I love this one (sarcasm). I can get it online for about $350 but I saw it on the dealer invoice for $995. Yeah right , good luck with that!


http://www.carid.com/images/grilles/ses-trims/SES-CG204AB.jpg

http://www.carid.com/images/grilles/ses-trims/SES-MG195AB.jpg



I'm just looking for steel or chrome running boards but also illuminated. Might be a custom gig.


I ordered my jcwhitney catalogs a while back, havent gotten them in the mail yet!


Thanks for the congrats. All around. Maybe in a few years I'll treat myself to mid-life crisis car. (enter suggestions now ;) )

[mirrodie]

Alright, need a second opinion. We need running boards so the kids can climb in.

We are torn. Which do you prefer?

http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer ... boards.jpg (http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer.html?pic=pilot/09-premiumboards.jpg)

http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer ... chrome.jpg (http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer.html?pic=pilot/09-chrome.jpg)

[T-Bird76]

Alright, need a second opinion. We need running boards so the kids can climb in.

We are torn. Which do you prefer?

http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer ... boards.jpg (http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer.html?pic=pilot/09-premiumboards.jpg)

http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer ... chrome.jpg (http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer.html?pic=pilot/09-chrome.jpg)

The first ones, they blend nicely with the car.

[mirrodie]

I should mention its also getting

http://www.piloteers.org/forums/attachm ... tid=342242 (http://www.piloteers.org/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=342242)

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-8900270476 ... 1_26058740 (http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-89002704764953_2081_26058740)

That might swing your opinion in one direction vs another.

[moose135]

I see you are planning to head off to the wilderness with that thing! I still like the first running boards.

[emshighway]

My wife wanted a CRV and went to Paragon on Northern without me. They convinced her she needed to give them a down payment check or credit card number then they would talk about the color and accessories. Of course then she called me. About 5 minutes later a job car was sitting on the sidewalk about two inches from their window. I demanded the credit card info (all originals) be returned immediately. They tried to tell me the "accounts person" went home. I advised them to call her back or go into her office. They tried to play "she only has the key". I advised them I could open the door for them. They threated to call the police to which I took out my cell phone, called the precinct and handed the phone to the manager. Amazingly the accounts person didn't leave but was in the bathroom. We walked out with all the paperwork and a promise they wouldn't have to see me nor anyone I know ever entering their dealership.

We went to Millennium Honda in Hempstead and drove out of their a few hours later with the car in the exact color and accessories she wanted at a very good price, the salesman (a little new) played the "I have to check with my boss deal". I told him I knew the game. Something he didn't know was while he talked to his boss I went looking for the sales board which has how many cars the salesman have sold. Some places have it in view thinking people can't read it. Since it was toward the end of the month I knew I had a good card to play. When he returned with a counter, I countered his counter telling him he needed the sale on the board more than we needed the car. We got the car closer to what we wanted plus the floor mats and an alarm system.

Just remember especially now, no matter how sweet the ride they need the sale more than you need the car.

[moose135]

Years ago, we were looking at pickups out in PA. We stopped in one place (I forget who it was, Chevy, maybe?) and when we were ready to talk price, the salesman said we would have to talk to the sales manager, but he would need to know that we were "committed to buying" before he would talk price with us. We were all sick that weekend, and in no mood to be yanked around. My wife went off on the salesman, the manager started to come out of his office, saw what was going on, and beat a hasty retreat. It was truly a thing of beauty to behold.

[T-Bird76]

I should mention its also getting

http://www.piloteers.org/forums/attachm ... tid=342242 (http://www.piloteers.org/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=342242)

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-8900270476 ... 1_26058740 (http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-89002704764953_2081_26058740)

That might swing your opinion in one direction vs another.

that Vanguard thing screams "I'm a douche." Front end guards are fine but go with one that doesn't have a brand stamped on it. Doesn't Honda have their own line of accessories?

[emshighway]

I should mention its also getting

http://www.piloteers.org/forums/attachm ... tid=342242 (http://www.piloteers.org/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=342242)

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-8900270476 ... 1_26058740 (http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-89002704764953_2081_26058740)

That might swing your opinion in one direction vs another.

that Vanguard thing screams "I'm a douche." Front end guards are fine but go with one that doesn't have a brand stamped on it. Doesn't Honda have their own line of accessories?

I'm not a chrome person. I prefer stealth. Below is a Ironhorse. They are on the BQE service road but only sell wholesale. Infinity Sports on 70 St/Queens Blvd carry their line.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j12/emshighway/JeepLiberty.jpg

[mirrodie]

The all black is nice but wouldnt go with our gray.


Sorry Tom, gonna have to chose a Douche brand. Westin, Vanguard or Blackhorse, and they all carry a shown name.

[mirrodie]

Hey, one more opinion.

We are partial to these as well.
http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer ... boards.jpg (http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer.html?pic=pilot/09-premiumboards.jpg)

But these are of extruded aluminum, which I have read can dent easily.

So I found a site that has these:

http://www.autoanything.com/GenericPage ... uctID=3740 (http://www.autoanything.com/GenericPages/ProductImage.aspx?GroupID=undefined&ImageID=95808&ProductID=3740)

Opinions? Might match a touch better with the bull bar but does it blend as nicely?

[emshighway]

Just don't go to any of the Go To sites.
www.GoToAutoAccessories.com (http://www.GoToAutoAccessories.com)

They are a scam and there are many complaints on them including me. They will take your order then tell you the item is on backorder forever and if you try to cancel they say you can't then relent as long as you pay a 15% restock fee.

[mirrodie]

Thanks for the heads up. True, its buyer beware.

Although the site http://www.autoanything.com/nerf-bars/6 ... 90776.aspx (http://www.autoanything.com/nerf-bars/61A3740A0A0A3190776.aspx) shows that its recommended at the bottom, a look at bbb.org shows a different story.


Which, by the way, just going back on the car buying experience, I did also check the dealers against bbb.org, in an effort to minimize the BS I may have to go through.

BUt EMS, you didnt chime in. Liking hte HOnda OEM Ive shown or the Romik?

[emshighway]

BUt EMS, you didn't chime in. Liking the Honda OEM Ive shown or the Romik?

I like the first but notices the URL is handa-accessories.com not honda. Weird but it does say they changed the name.

As you said the extruded aluminum tends to dent easier. Also be aware you will need a rivnut tool to install.

What about the rear bumber? Do you have a tow hitch? The easy way is to just get a bar for the receiver.

Are you going to add wind deflectors to the hood and windows? This is something that has become automatic for me. I just think it gives a better look.

[mirrodie]

Yes the first one is nice but the dent issue bugs me and so the Romik boards are appealing.

But I can't get any installation info online anywhere...Thats frustrating.

Got some rivnut tool access, which is cool but thanks for advising. Handa-accessories allow you to rent it for $10 too which is nice. Plus I've found sites where you can make your own.


So, more opinions......do I go with this one, a bit easier to dent?:
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/09-premiumboards.jpg

or this one, built tougher. Do you think this board blends as nicely? These are 2 pics of it on another car.:
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/romik_running_board_sidestep.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/runningboard-style-side-steps.jpg





For the rear, I am looking for this:

http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/img_1257.jpg

But cant find it online anywhere, at this length with the led.



All opinions and advice are appreciated!

[emshighway]

You mean this but a longer bar? Yea, I couldn't find it either.

http://www.ultimateautoaccessories.com/ ... ce=Froogle (http://www.ultimateautoaccessories.com/page/UAA/PROD/CR-605L?source=Froogle)

http://www.etrailer.com/p-CR-600LED.htm

You can always get the NYCA logo hitch:
http://alloyartisanstudios.com/

How about this?
http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Lighte ... /391ps.htm (http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Lighted_Xtreme_Step_p/391ps.htm)

[mirrodie]

Not into the wind deflectors. Got sunglasses for that 8)

Not loving those hitches. I really like that one I posted. Looks like i gotta go into queens, sheesh.

[mmedford]

Whats wrong with the Honda OEM ones?

[T-Bird76]

Whats wrong with the Honda OEM ones?

I was going to suggest that. Mario I'd really go with the Honda brand ones. That Vanguard one really looks like ass. I'll have to make fun of you each time i see the truck if you get those. LOL

[mirrodie]

The Honda OEM ones are of aluminum and dent so much easier. So that is why I am partial to the Romik boards. OTherwise I'd get the Honda boards tonight. Tough call.

Tom, your confused. DOnt worry ,I wont get a Vanguard front protection bar.

But talking about running boards, its either the Honda OEM or the Romik. The Romik boards are on that Landover pic and also in the photo above it. They are stainless steel tubes.



In spite of all that, everyone still agrees though, huh? The Honda OEM looks nicer than the Romiks too?

[emshighway]

When you are running around Queens Blvd. looking at speed shops, check the Vanguard bully bar. Some of those plates are bolted on not welded so you can get the bully bar installed without it.

[mirrodie]

Ordered the HOnda premium OEM ones this morning. Also got the rivnut tool to rent for 10 bucks, so I will install myself.

Might save me that trip into Queens for the bull bar as Steelcraft makes them.

But that rear hitch is elusive!

[emshighway]

But that rear hitch is elusive!

You have to find that vehicle and hope they don't have a hitch lock :D

[mirrodie]

Shame on you, Mr. Secret Agent man! LOL

[emshighway]

http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/V ... _4_Minutes (http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Videos/Viral_Videos/Cute/100_Greatest_Hits_of_YouTube_in_4_Minutes)