Well, we went to Carmax 2 weeks ago to see what we could get for Bethany's 04 Saturn Ion Bare Bones Edition (manual, manual windows, manual locks, cloth,) $3000. Ok, I wanted more, but she wanted something new and I was tired of screwing around with the non-starting issue. So we go though the credit union and get our financing and all that good stuff, and pick out the vehicle (more on that later) she wants. We liked the sales guy at the Rockville Carmax, so we decided to wait the 3 days to have it transferred from Laurel.

Then, Monday morning (right after that weekend, January 25th,) Bethany calls me and tells me that she wrecked. It was report card day at school, so I was still home. Hopped in the truck, rolled down to the scene (on our road, about a mile from home.) She was ok, which was the important part. The bumper, lights, rear passenger door and rim, and front fenders were jacked, but I drove it the mile home. Something was big-time bad in the suspension, because it was shaking like a wet dog on the way home. (Tired of typing -> end of story) They totaled it out, and cut us a check for $5000 & change! So we got out of the deal with $2000 extra, and she wasn't hurt!

Went last Sunday to pick up her new vehicle (more on that later.) 2007 Honda Pilot EX 4WD with 42xxx for $23500 out the door. Cloth interior, 6 disc changer, seating for 8. I really like it so far, except the seats are flat with no real bolstering for my butt, oh well, can't win em' all.

Well, it's been a whole 10 days since we bought Bethany's Pilot, so I figured it was about time to let the mods begin! (Well, at least, this is how long it took for the first mod to arrive! )

I did 3 things today, and ordered one more.

1. I think the stock running lights above the projectors look out of place in white, since the side marker, side turn and front turn signals are all amber, so I replaced them with amber 194 bulbs, $3.




2. I was origninally thinking about getting an intake, but the only one I've found sits where the stock air box is, and sucks warm engine air. So I decided to get rid of those two baffles that are on the intake tube. This should make the air flow a little bit better into the motor, instead of running into a pair of dead ends. I went to Ace Hardware and got two 2" rubber pipe caps with band clamps, $9. You can see the one on top of the intake tube, and the second is below it, and slightly to the right.


3. The reason I started working today, my 5000K HIDs arrived this morning! I reused the ballasts from the kit I had in the old Saturn, so I only had to get the bulbs and wires, $15.



From the dusk check I did, these projectors seem to be awesome for HIDs!

I'll continue to update this tread as I get and install the other handfull of mods I've got planned.

Congrats!

Sometimes good things happen to good people.

Glad to hear everything worked out. Congrats on the new ride!

Nice story! Glad she was OK!

Glad she was ok, also nice that you made some extra out of the ordeal!

Until the higher insurance rates kick in... (unless you guys have accident forgiveness)

You think she did it on purpose? haha

But seriously... glad no one is worse for the wear.

Nice choice! is it the FWD with Auto AWD? If so keep an eye in the maintainence schedule, service tcase/front diff ever 15k miles

+1

I like the Pilots. Nice choice.

Nice Mods!

Glad all worked out.

Matt - First, glad Bethany's ok. Next, good luck with the new Pilot. Honda has a good reputation. My wife's friend had one, and loved it.

Thanks everybody! It's no Tahoe, but it's nice, and Bethany likes it, which is the important part!


It's the Auto AWD with the VTM-4 rear locker. I'm going to get a Haynes or Chiltons manual to keep around for it. Thanks for the tip on the service.

Yup, thats what I had, oil every 7500, tcase every 15000

If I see one of these, I'm never coming over to your house again.

HAHAHA! Ryan - is that giving you nightmares!