The lease on my wife's Pilot ends in March and she is getting nervous about the return inspection. How picky are they? The car is in generally good shape, but the carpet is dirty (mostly the driver's area around the dead pedal) and there is a small "gouge" in the driver's door exterior rubber strip. There are some other small things as well, but she's afraid they will hit her for every little thing since the market for large suv's has tanked. Has anbody here gone through the lease turn-in process that could lend some wisdom? I told her to have it professionaly detailed and not worry about it, but she still is. Any help would be appreciated.

The lease on my wife's Pilot ends in March and she is getting nervous about the return inspection. How picky are they? The car is in generally good shape, but the carpet is dirty (mostly the driver's area around the dead pedal) and there is a small "gouge" in the driver's door exterior rubber strip. There are some other small things as well, but she's afraid they will hit her for every little thing since the market for large suv's has tanked. Has anbody here gone through the lease turn-in process that could lend some wisdom? I told her to have it professionaly detailed and not worry about it, but she still is. Any help would be appreciated.

Honda sent me a packet with information regarding the lease turn in, including
what is considered normal wear and tear, I have to say when we turned in our 2003 Pilot they were not picky at all, we had a small bumper scrape from a parking lot incident that I touched up but they didn't mention anything or charge me for it. Don't worry too much unless you have body damage.

Where's Inspector1? He might have some thoughts on this.

yeah, he would be the best one to ask here..... :)

I have to look, but I think that the lease on our Pilot says something like "up to $500 of wear/tear items are acceptable", or something like that. We, too, have an '04 pilot going end of lease in the summer, and have some light bumper scrapes we've touched up that will probably be ignored. Also, in terms of dirt on the carpet, that's normal as well...

andy

Dont even waste the money to get it detailed. The dealer will handle that. I think the biggest thing is the mileage. And are you planning on getting a new Honda? If so, you can use that as a barganing chip in case they dock you for mileage if you're over.

Yeah don't pay for a detail. I wouldn't even worry about washing the exterior. It will probaby get half a** detail at the bank auction and then it will get one at whatever delearship it ends up at.