My thoughts...

It all depends on what you want. I think either the 02 V or the Pilot are upgrades to a 98 V. For that matter a 99-01 V is an upgrade to your V due to the change in interior color and slightly more powerful engine. I remember someone trading in a 97 V for an 01 V when the 02s came out. It's definitely the cheapest upgrade. Like Vincent said, it all depends on what you want. I think that for the money either the 02 V or the Pilot are a no-brainer. Is the money an issue for you? If not then either will fill many different needs. I am sure the new V will be sportier feeling and handle more nimbly than the Pilot but the Pilot can hold up to 8 people and has much more cargo capacity and flexibility. I believe they should both be on par as far as safety and comfort. If gas mileage is an issue then the price difference might also be. The LX automatic 4WD V with side airbags has an MSRP of about $20,690 and the comparably equipped Pilot LX will likely have a sticker around $26,000. The V is over $5K cheaper and burns less fuel over the life of the vehicle. I like the new V but since my wife and I changed our plans and decided to have our second child a little earlier we are looking at something larger than the V. The Pilot(or a minivan) would allow us to carry other people in the vehicle besides ourselves and our two children with car seats.