I am not your stepdad, but I've got the X5 4.4i and my wife drives the Pilot.
Yes the Pilot is utilitarian and hauls the kids and their friends to soccer games, but nobody with a pulse could prefer to drive the Pilot over the X5 4.4i. The X5 is always stable, the Pilot is not. The Pilot does not "handle great". The X5 feels solid; the Pilot does not. The Pilot is not better on gas. They actually get about the same mpg in the real world. Yeah, the pilot has more room but so does a short bus.
Your stepdad is losing his marbles.

It's the ONLY car manufacturer stock I've owned, or will ever own. They do too many things right and are into alot of different industries. ie, it's the only engine run at Indy for the last couple of yrs.

__________________
Mark _______________________________
2001 X5 4.4i topaz blue/sand Sport, Mk4 Nav, complete Dinan S2 , hitch, V1, tint, BSW Stage 1
___________
Life is not fair!
You can't protect people from their own stupidity!

Honda's cars aren't what they used to be. The chassis' and engines still have a ton of r&d in them, but both are now extremely watered down (by marketing dept?); almost like they're holding back. Every CEO in the history of the company has come from R&D if that tells you anything. The regulars here know I'm a Honda guy to the core.. but there isn't a single one I'd own past 2003 model-year other than the S2k (and motorcycles).

__________________

I would get a Passat instead.

Let me also say, being a BIG guy, the Accord is one of the few cars out there I can fit into, which is more than I can say for ANY American car (not truck or van or suv) - VW does not make a vehicle with a 40" front head room, very few do, and I never found a comfortable position in the new bug

. The Accord is way too big. The Civic is also pretty large, but I have issues with its styling (in and out) and the terrible electronic throttle. I haven't driven the new TSX, but friends and purists tell me the current one is now watered down in a desperate attempt to reduce fuel consumption and cater to more "luxury" buyers. The Fit is a nice piece and well thought-out, but I wouldn't want one. The s2k is nice, but I prefer the pre-facelift model and well, its 2008 now so they're at least 5 years old at this point; roadsters in general are also too sporty for me.

It would be nice if we got more overseas models, but I guess folks in America somehow want more interior space (I still do not understand this concept) and more luxury gadgets.

Have you NOT noticed the average sized American?