2004 Pilot- good first time drivers car? Also... (read thread)

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ZR1fan

ZR1fan

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Well, as the title says, pretty soon I am going to be teaching one of my best friends how to drive, and as the Pilot is my car, it is the one Im going to use. What do you think? did I give the Pilot a death sentence or is it a car you would use to teach someone who asked you the same question? It doesnt have drive by wire and its brake pedal is very firm, so its pedal response is basically perfect, my parents started me off on an Odyssey, but the first time I drove the Pilot, I was hooked by that throttle response. The visibility is also pretty good out of it, and the car drives alot smaller than it is, even at its old age. I personally find it a very forgiving car, but do you think that is enough? What do you find handy about a first drivers car (size notwithstanding, I know, the Pilot is big, but its all I have)?

Also if you have any tips or tricks that I can use to help her out, it would be much appreciated. As I said, shes one of my best friends, and I really want to get this right.
 
Just take it easy and drive it around to get acclimated to it. It's Fairly large so be sure to check your blind spots often.
 
Pretty much any basic car is ok to learn to drive in, I learned in a PT Cruiser, a Chevy cargo van and an old Toyota Celica from the early 80's.
 
Bopop4
The only concern would be the blind spots, parking, and the Pilot is worth a bit of money.
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Believe me.. This particular Pilot is my first car.. Its sentimental value alone to me is off the chart, I have so many memories that involve the thing I could write a novel, its been in my family for its entire 8 year life, and was the only car my parents ever custom ordered, I know what I'm risking in terms of its worth by turning it over to my friend.

I wouldn't teach her to park with it.. Unless she wanted to then maybe I'd let her stick it in a (vacant on both sides) spot, at most we'd be taking it around residential neighborhoods, I'm considering having her (while it's in park) step on the gas lightly until it gets up to 2000 rpm, because its got enough torque where that little power is all you need to get it moving, ya know teach her to roll into the gas, tread lightly instead of lead footing it and making the car lurch, that a good idea?
 
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ZR1fan
I wouldn't teach her to park with it.. Unless she wanted to then maybe I'd let her stick it in a (vacant on both sides) spot, at most we'd be taking it around residential neighborhoods, I'm considering having her (while it's in park) step on the gas lightly until it gets up to 2000 rpm, because its got enough torque where that little power is all you need to get it moving, ya know teach her to roll into the gas, tread lightly instead of lead footing it and making the car lurch, that a good idea?
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We tend to frown on double posting here..

That seems like a reasonable thing to do. Any girl I have ever tried to teach to drive thinks they are as good as me, and go way too hard, too soon.
 
hawkeye122
We tend to frown on double posting here..

That seems like a reasonable thing to do. Any girl I have ever tried to teach to drive thinks they are as good as me, and go way too hard, too soon.
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I know I coulda edited it back.. sorry, I have one last major question, having to do with that going way too hard too soon, the Pilot is so forgiving that it won't bite if she gives it too much gas, it simply does not lurch, the power comes on entirely too progressively, even the first time I drove it, I have never had a lurchy start with that thing. Do you recommend I borrow the 2008 odyssey that my family also has to perhaps give her experience with a 2wd car that will let her know if she's going too hard? Which do you recommend? The Odyssey or Pilot? And does a drive by wire vs. old style mechanical throttle make a difference? The Pilot has the mechanictroth riffle and the Odyssey has the computer throttle, The Pilot will cover her butt with that 4wd and mechanical throttle... I know it, its too smooth.. I started off my first time driving with a 2006 Odyssey that was my moms car at the time very similar to this 2008, and the way that car responded definitely made me think how I put my foot down at first, considering her family's primary car is a 2006 Caravan 2WD, I don't want the situation to arise where she gets confident when it's in fact the Pilot that's smoothing things out for her, I do want her to think a little bit about how she applies the gas, and the Pilot won't make her do it unless she somehow gets it going a lot faster than she wants it.. You get me?
 
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It's a car dude. They don't drive THAT differently.
But I would teach her in a small, cheap, non-sentimental car, like a Sunfire.
 
Bopop4
It's a car dude. They don't drive THAT differently.
But I would teach her in a small, cheap, non-sentimental car, like a Sunfire.
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I know they're just cars I want to make sure my bases are covered though. If I had such a cheap non-sentimental car I would use it. The odyssey is worth more money but the Pilot is more sentimental, both cars are worth enough where damage to either one would be disastrous, I can't win on the value equation
 
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You really shouldnt worry about it. She isn't going to wreck the thing...

My mate learned to drive in what is now his Dad's track day car(Mustang Cali Special). He is one of the best drivers I know, and he didnt wreck when he was learning..

I severely doubt she will drive hard enough to where the 4 Wheel Drive is actually going to save her. Same with the 2wd. Teach her not to just mash the throttle, and it's fine.
 
hawkeye122
You really shouldnt worry about it. She isn't going to wreck the thing...

My mate learned to drive in what is now his Dad's track day car(Mustang Cali Special). He is one of the best drivers I know, and he didnt wreck when he was learning..

I severely doubt she will drive hard enough to where the 4 Wheel Drive is actually going to save her. Same with the 2wd. Teach her not to just mash the throttle, and it's fine.
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I know I know, I want it right that's all... I'll definitely do the engine rev thing then. I wouldn't let her drive that hard with my car even if she wanted to, her mom is a fast driver though so its possible she'll end up doing so, just not with my car!

To be honest, I was not really thinking about the value equation or whether or not she was going to wreck the car when I agreed to get this done, in fact none of my thoughts had anything to do with the cars. They had to do with my friend herself, see awhile back I saw my now ex girlfriend (who's her cousin) when I told her I wouldn't, we were not allowed to be talking at the time and I was supposed to be getting over her, I thought with my heart instead of my head and took my friends trust for granted, it ended up really hurting her when my ex told her a couple months later that she saw me, it destroyed our friendship. Now two years later my ex and i are broken up for good, and honestly it feels like I saw her for nothing(it was a LDR.. Pretty complicated), i did see her a couple other times with my friends knowledge, but that one hiding it did the damage. we're getting close again now, but it took a lot of effort and persistence from my part to even get her to talk to me again, and it's not the same as it was, she used to think of me as her best friend, and honestly I may never forgive myself for being so selfish, it was the biggest mistake I ever made and my one regret, because it ruined a great friendship. I took her trust for granted that day (Halloween 2010) and every day I pay the price for it mentally with the guilt, it hurts even now. Morallly it was so wrong, I knew how much she trusted me, i didn't originally intend to see my ex, but yet in that final moment on my birthday (the 29th) when I got that surprise text after not having heard from her in months, I thought with my heart and not my head, and broke the promise. I treated her as great as a friend could treat another, I was always encouraging and nice, I still am. But in that one moment, I screwed up. Beforehand when me and her cousin were allowed to talk, I talked more to her cousin, and not as much to her, I took her for granted. It took me until we fought and she was out of my life to realize how important to me my friend really is, she always looked out for me, helped when I had a problem, shes fun to talk to, we used to be so open to each other, wed talk all the time, I realize how much of an influence she's been on me, I wouldnt be the person I am today without having met my friend, and I feel so stupid for not seeing it til she was gone and i was trying to get her back. So you can see what was on my mind- my #1 wish, getting as much of her respect as I can, even going so far as to put the Pilot at risk teaching her to drive to get this done. now you know why I'm asking everything I can, because I want it not just right, but perfect. Do I think that this will restore everything? Oh heck no, but it'll definitely help, I care about her a ton, so you see why I'm worrying, it has nothing to do with the cars, it has to do with her. I'm sorry it's so complicated but I hope you see where I'm coming from.dde1c
 
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Did OP just make this off-topic?

Don't worry about what she feels about who you saw or not, that's her problem and she can deal with it.

Just worry about how your side of the coin is doing.
 
sumbrownkid
Did OP just make this off-topic?

Don't worry about what she feels about who you saw or not, that's her problem and she can deal with it.

Just worry about how your side of the coin is doing.
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I know I dragged it a bit off topic but I only found it prudent to explain myself, I think well both end up fine, I just hate what I did, it was needless. And I don't think my car will end up in trouble.

Thanks for hearing me out I know that was long winded, your saying how incredible it is means a lot. She's a good kid.
 
sumbrownkid
Just learn from it and move on.

That said, enjoy your new found freedom!
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Haha I basically have learned from it, i mean i get that im being unnescessarily harsh on myself about it and am making more of an effort to ignore it, butthanks lmao I am enjoying the freedom! Haha the breakup was not my fault so i really don't care.
 
lol Sounds like you have been put in the friend zone without even knowing. If she wants to learn to drive her parents can take care of that. Put more emotional effort into your vehicle. If you're not marring this girl (friend zone will get you invited to her wedding but the actual husband will not likely be cool with it) you will be happier having washed your car everyday.
 
seanyb505
lol Sounds like you have been put in the friend zone without even knowing. If she wants to learn to drive her parents can take care of that. Put more emotional effort into your vehicle. If you're not marring this girl (friend zone will get you invited to her wedding but the actual husband will not likely be cool with it) you will be happier having washed your car everyday.
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Haha I can't touch her, that ex of mine in the LDR was her cousin, and we met through her, that'd be the uncoolest jerk move I could pull. I know im in the friend zone already haha, and i want absolutely nothing to do with my ex. Believe me the Pilot receives a lot of love and attention from me already, I intend to change the spark plugs on it myself this summer once classes end. Ironically this Pilot is the car that allowed me to see her cousin when opportunities would arise, it drove our dates and such, I don't know if that twist is funny or scary yet haven't decided.
 
Situations like those are always rough. Treat her right, take her to coffee, being friends is Under-rated.

Teaching someone to drive, as long as they are even OK with spatial reasoning should be fairly simple. Be VERY patient. The reason they require 6 months of a leanrers permit is because it takes about that long to feel safe-ish in the car.
 
hawkeye122
Situations like those are always rough. Treat her right, take her to coffee, being friends is Under-rated.

Teaching someone to drive, as long as they are even OK with spatial reasoning should be fairly simple. Be VERY patient. The reason they require 6 months of a leanrers permit is because it takes about that long to feel safe-ish in the car.
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I give her absolutely the best I can dude, don't worry, I care a lot about her as I'm sure the way I've talked about this has probably shown. Believe me I'm perfectly content being her friend, having friends just sitting back and enjoying life as a whole is underrated. I'll definitely try to have her come to lunch if she can one day.

The Pilot is big, but very easy to get used to, the pedals dont bite and the steering at low speeds is light, I got used to the car almost immediately and the first time I drove it was only my second time driving.
I'm not going to let her take the car in situations where spatial awareness would be required unless she gets somehow very good with it, which is possible. There is absolutely no one on the planet save for probably my mother and sister that I am more patient with than this friend of mine, I've never actually argued with her, and the those times we did argue( before the big one), I would never actually snap at her if she said something, I never cursed once in an argument with her, and I would calmly speak my opinion, then she'd feel bad for getting mad at me or having gotten me mad and then I'd automatically stomach whatever I was feeling and try to reassure her, she's the last person in the world who would have anything to fear about me losing my patience, I get it, it takes time, everyone is different, I'm gonna make sure she's real good with the car in the parking lot before I so much as suggest taking it on the road, and even then it'd be only residential sidestreets, main roads and the mechanics of parking between and stuff I'm leaving to her parents.

I'll update this as things happen and let you know how it's going, im confident, well see!
 
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Well we've done it.. Twice, the Pilot was perfect. Not a single problem save for one rather hairy left turn the first time, she loves driving the thing and we had a kick:censored: time both times!
 

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