Honda Pilot - why did they stop making it?

[KMT]

I remember going on one of those corporate hospitality, try lots of motoring bits and bobs, many years ago and had an absolute blast in one of these. In a pathetic attempt to regain my youth I recently fancied buying one - only to find that they only made them across a couple of years in the late eighties. Er, why? I get that others have entered the market, but the Pilot seemed to me to capture the raw, single-seater, two-stroker madness better than the rest - oh, and didn't come with a mortgage application requirement!

[horne923]

Cut a long story short, Honda produced a great buggy however many people ended up in crashes with them. This is the same as with the off road trikes (atc), as a result in order to prevent big law suits and claims Honda just stopped making them.

Cheers James

[KMT]

Thanks James - I do remember the issue with the 3 wheelers but didn't realise that had extended through to the Pilots. Thank goodness Honda don't make any other dangerous vehicles, well aside the Fireblade. Oh and the CBR600. oh, better add the rest of the sportsbike line up - and the powerboats/quads etc etc. Mmmm... think I've spotted the flaw in their cunning plan.

[bigblock]

Honda had just recovered from all the bad publicity from the three wheelers when it all started again with the number of crashes people were having in the Pilots and Odysseys. Sales were also poor because they were very expensive so Honda decided to stop production.

They are still available if you look hard enough and the quality of engineering is still far superior to a lot of modern day buggies.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-PILOT-FLR-400-STAN...

[KMT]

Thanks bigblock - I have seen only a very few for sale and certainly the link you provided seems to have the best/cleanest. Need to save up!

[bigblock]

I have had quite a few different buggies over the years but none of them have been designed by a team of engineers working for one of the most innovative vehicle manufacturers in the world. The fact that there are so many Honda pilots left after 25 years speaks volumes about their build quality and design.

Here is a photo of one of my buggies (non Honda) that I managed to wear out within three years. Although you could buy two of these for the price of one secondhand Pilot.

[STICKY3]

simonites have a couple for sale!!

[KMT]

Saw those Sticky, thanks. I had a advice from a top bloke who is into his off road buggies - he said aim for the CVT drive and 100hp/ton - not sure which makes I need to hone in on - anybody help?

[STICKY3]

Aim high Rage buggy!! nothing too fast one with a fireblade engine should be fine!! Can Am and polaris got some real nice two seater buggies out now, and theres a race series in and around oxford (nora atv) if you fancy something more serious!

[bakerstreet]

I think the Pilots were removed due to do way the engine delivered drive to the rear wheels. I can't remember the details though.

The lower powered rage buggies are alright though

I also quite fancy one of these buggies, but its finding the space to use them

[Watchman]

bakerstreet said:

I think the Pilots were removed due to do way the engine delivered drive to the rear wheels. I can't remember the details though.

Sorry for the thread resurrection - I'm bored so I'm going through the various forums.

Anyway, the Pilot had no diff so understeered like an understeery thing. I hated driving them on the stag session I went to, preferring the quad bikes which actually turned in.

[marshall100]

I'm hopeful that the formula cross vehicle makes it's way over from the states in the not too distant future. If there's a race series in the offing then I'd definately try and get into it.

Getting narked off with this quad racing lark.