Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans - READ ONLY

7485 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2008 at 8:43 AM

You are in the Honda Odyssey Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler Voyager, Plymouth Voyager, Van

Messages Page 129 of 749

#1281 of 7485 Torque Talk by 4aodge

Jun 03, 2002 (8:55 pm)

bdaddy, if you want real driving impressions go look at the 2001 Edmunds minivan comparison. Chrysler won just about every category involving performance, ride, and drive. As Edmunds put it best when they said the Chrysler is "a driver's minivan." As I've said before, the T&C beat the Odyssey in engine performance.
 
Edmunds found the Chrysler also delivered superior braking performance than the Odyssey stopping from 60-0 8 feet shorter. That could be the difference between life and death. The 2002 Ody has 4-wheel disc breaks (finally) but from what I've heard from owner's hear in the club, there isn't a significant difference in braking feel with the new discs. However, numbers could prove otherwise.
 
You speak of four wheel independent suspension, how nice. It really must be great. That's why whenever you see an Odyssey with more than 4 people in it, it looks like the back is about to hit the ground. At least Chrysler offers load-leveling suspension on their vans for people who tow or carry heavy loads in their vans. In fact, Edmunds gave Chrysler the nod in suspension performance over the Odyssey in it's comparison test.
 
And lets not forget the torquey Chrysler 3.8 215hp engine. I'll stop there.
 
bdaddy, if you want real driving impressions you can find them right here at Edmunds, which is what I base alot of my comments on. You can argue safety cargo capacity fairly easily with the Odyssey but it becomes much harder when you talk about performance and driving characteristics.
 
As Edmund's says, the Town & Country is a driver's minivan and they don't call it that for nothing.
 
-Adam (16/M/CA)

#1282 of 7485 by hersbird

Jun 03, 2002 (9:22 pm)

The quote is all that was on the JD Powers website. It was actualy in an article explaining the durability study. Maybe the Director of Porduct Reasearch doesn't know how his own tests are run, I don't know.
My Grand Caravan does have 4 wheel disk brakes, and the load leveling suspension. Even fully loaded for vacation, towing a camper trailer we sit perfectly level. I always wondered how that load leveling works because I have never been able to catch it in action. It definately works though, the van is a campers dream.

#1284 of 7485 hersbird by 4aodge

Jun 04, 2002 (12:10 am)

We have a trouble-free 2000 Town & Country LX FWD. What kind of Grand Caravan do you have? I'm sure you've probably posted what model you have before, but I have forgotten over the many messages I've posted here at Edmunds. Thanks.
 
-Adam (17/M/CA)

#1285 of 7485 Torque Talk by 4aodge by dmathews3

Jun 04, 2002 (3:30 am)

bdaddy, if you want real driving impressions go look at the 2001 Edmunds minivan comparison. Chrysler won just about every category involving performance, ride, and drive.
If the DC van was so good, did it take first place? Besides, thats old news, the 02 Odyssey will run circles around the DC van which means not only was it in first place last year but is way out a head this year and this is against a van that was just redesigned. Seems like a new redesigned van should be number 1!

#1286 of 7485 adam by odd1

Jun 04, 2002 (10:31 am)

Thanks for setting me straight. I'll go right now and trade for that extra 3lbs of torque in that under-powered engine. I mean that extra 1.2% of torque must feel just awesome!!!

#1287 of 7485 Don't believe everything you read by bdaddy

Jun 04, 2002 (10:36 am)

"if you want real driving impressions you can find them right here at Edmunds, which is what I base alot of my comments on." - 4adodge
 
Bingo! My point exactly. You base a lot of your comments on what you read and what you want to believe. As I previously stated, I've driven every minivan out there (with the exception of the VW Eurovan). All I've been trying to say is that before you make all of your comments about torquey this and torquey that, you really should drive the vehicle you're putting down. As far as reviews go, I take them with a grain of salt. (Do you really think reviews don't have biases?) As I've said before, the Odyssey, or any van for that matter, may not be everyone's cup of tea. If it were, they wouldn't need so many different makes and models. Everyone has their own set of determinents for things like seat comfort, ride quality and other subjective measures. As far as the objective measures though,(0-60, braking distance, turning radius, crash test data, H.P. and yes, torque) the numbers speak for themselves. (make sure you use current, 02 data please)

#1288 of 7485 crkeehn - Neon by bdaddy

Jun 04, 2002 (10:43 am)

From Edmunds, long term test, 2001:
"Base prices start at $16,500 and will probably return there once production is ramped up and the car-buying public calms down. How much can you expect from a car springing from the Dodge Neon platform?"
 
Am I missing something?

#1289 of 7485 It is funny by odd1

Jun 04, 2002 (10:43 am)

how Adam quotes where Edmunds likes the T&C and then calls them biased where they don't like T&C.

#1290 of 7485 Hersbird - resale by bdaddy

Jun 04, 2002 (10:53 am)

"My reliable, comfortable, sporty, AWD Dodge on the other hand will given us such great service, for so long, it will have proven more valuable, even if it's worth a couple thousand less then the Honda."
 
Hersbird, glad your DC is holding up well - I expect the same from my Odyssey. Experiences with other Honda products tells me I have an excellent chance of achieving it. I'm not looking to capitalize on my van's excellent resale value by selling it all the time. Why would I, or anyone for that matter, get rid of a perfectly good vehicle. If that were my intent I would have leased. I can take comfort though, in the fact that when it is time to move on and sell my Odyssey, I'll be obtaining a substantially higher resale or trade in than had I gone with a DC product. (Depending on when I sell it the difference could be $5,000 or more*.)
*Based on estimated residual value after 4 years and a purchase price of $30,000.

Messages Page 129 of 749

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement