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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 138 of 749

#1367 of 7485 odd1 by 4aodge

Jun 11, 2002 (10:44 am)

If I am comparing apples and oranges here than so is every car reviewer when comparing the powertrain of the Town & Country to that of the Honda Odyssey, including Edmunds. Yes your right, Chrysler and Honda utilize two different engine technologies to achieve power in their minivans. That does not meant that they cannot be compared and contrasted. Nor does it mean that a comparison between the two should be dismissed as irrelevant.
 
ody01, I don't think I understand why you are thinking of getting rid of your 2001 Odyssey. Hasn't it it been a trouble-free mode of transportation for you and your family? Just because others here at Edmunds are having problems with their Honda vans doesn't mean you will. Besides, most of the problems Honda has had with their vans were in the 1999 and 2000 model years.
 
bdaddy, your dad sounds like a very wise man. The kind I'd like to meet someday. But I don't see how chrome wheels, especially when they don't look cheap, falls under the category of "all show, no go." DC minivans have good performance and look great at the same time, especially the Town & Country Limited with side ribbing and chrome rims. I know the 16 inch chromes on our 2000 Town & Country look very nice and really compliment the champagne paint. But as you said, I guess it all comes down to personal preference.
 
-Adam

#1368 of 7485 Adam just drop it and by odd1

Jun 11, 2002 (1:52 pm)

add some curb feelers and you're all ready for the ghetto.
 
Yes, they are very different technology that work differently. I was just trying to point out that the higher RPMs isn't "working harder" for this engine. High RPMs on that ancient technology push rod of your parents may be bad but, it is what the Honda engine is designed to do. If it is so hard on the engine why do so many Hondas and Acuras go well over 200,000 miles? Why is this engine a top choice of street racers? And as said before why do Honda engines dominate formula racing if they aren't able to run at high RPMs?
 
Maybe you need to stick to facts like the T&C has chrome wheels, average crash test results WITH airbags, that it has 25% less horsepower than Odyssey, and get lower gas mileage and resale. Since you've tried recently to say the 3.3 has more torque and that higher RPMs are bad for the Vtec engine.
 
In less you've been in a 2002 EX-L and a 2002 T & C You should possibly stop saying that the interior is vastly better in the T&C. I spent time in both at the auto show last month and there isn't a lot of difference.

#1369 of 7485 Bragging Rights by steeleng

Jun 11, 2002 (3:05 pm)

It is really amazing how this topic has changed from a comparison of the features and capabilities of these two vans to some sort of macho man-check. The Honda people want to limit the discussion to strictly the 240hp 2002 van while beating the reliability issue of 15 year old DC vans. The DC people attack the issue of Honda styling looking like a box and the fact that Odyssey reliability has not exactly been up to par with the Accord and Civic.
 
Let's face it, these are actually both really good vans. The Odyssey is typical Honda. They wait for the market to decide what it wants in a vehicle and then offer a package with the most desirable features. They spend their money on engine design and get by with very conservative styling. This has been true with generally late market entries of the CRV, Odyssey, and Pilot. That is why Honda usually scores very well on the first try. They waited 15 years to decide to enter the minivan market so they had a lot of history to study.
 
DC tends to go for more aggressive styling while saving money by refining existing drivetrain technology. It is a long standing American car concept of trying to offer more features to keep sales up while simultaneously trying to increase quality to where it should have been in the first place.
 
As I have said before, the only fair comparison is to take vehicles of equal price and compare features and performance, or take vehicles of equal features and performance and compare price. Edmunds did neither in their comparison.
 
Yes, I am a DC owner but I am willing to admit that the Honda is an excellent vehicle. I did not buy it because I was looking for a used vehicle and the Odyssey is not a good value used. Also, the Magic Seat does nothing for me at this time as I will always have child seats in the rear for the next few years and would not be able to fold it down.
 
Sorry for the long post. Pick the one that fits your needs and budget best and enjoy it. If you are worried about your manhood buy a sports car.

#1370 of 7485 odd1 by 4aodge

Jun 11, 2002 (7:09 pm)

Ok, let's back up a bit here. Alot of what I said about not liking how Honda Vtec engines have to rev to ridiculous RPMs just to get peak power comes from my personal preference. I don't like having to rev to 3.5k+ RPMs just to keep up with traffic, which I don't have to do with our pushrod 3.3 V6. I'm sorry that I did not take into account in my posts how Honda engines are made for high reving.
 
I never said the 3.3 V6 has more torque than the Odyssey but I'm pretty sure it would feel like it. The 3.3 delivers its 203lbs of torque at a very low RPM of about 3k, which is really nice for large minivans. I've never seen a pre 2002 Odyssey get off the line with such power as my Town & Country. Although after about 3k RPMs the power in the 3.3 begins to fade, which I'm sure would not be the case in the Odyssey. However, the 3.8 V6 does have more torque than the Odyssey 3.5 and delivers it at a lower RPM, even though it only has 3 more lbs.
 
Also, let's not forget that the "ancient" pushrod technology used in the Chrysler 3.8 was rated higher by Edmunds than was the high-tec, advanced, wonderful 3.5 V6 found in the 2001 Odyssey. It was smoother and quieter than the Honda 3.5 V6. Also, the Chrysler engines are reliable and proven, especially the 3.3 V6. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
 
Although I've only sat inside a 2001 Honda Odyssey with aftermarket leather at a local dealership, I have driven a 2001 Town & Country Limited with the 3.8 engine. It would be a lie and an insult to Chrysler to say the interior of Odyssey is even similar to that of the Town & Country. Even my friend who is a die-hard Honda fan and owns a 2001 Accord Coupe EX thinks the Town & Country interior is more plush and luxurious than the spartan Odyssey, not to mention more attractive. When you sit in the Odyssey you feel like your sitting in a Honda. Period. When you sit inside a Town & Country LXi or Limited you feel like your ridding in the lap of luxury.
 
When was the last time anyone called the Honda Odyssey a luxury vehicle?
 
-Adam

#1371 of 7485 Why don't you two just exchange phone #'s? by bibbens

Jun 11, 2002 (7:36 pm)

And MY Dad could kick both your Dads' butts.

#1372 of 7485 "High Tech" by hersbird

Jun 11, 2002 (10:39 pm)

Of course Chrysler was using that "high tech" OHV type motor a long time ago on their minivans. Remember the 3.0 v-6 that was the mainstay for so many years of Chrysler vans. I had that motor in 3 or the 4 Grand Caravans I've owned but would take the 3.8 over it anyday. The pushrod design is just more reliable. All OHV motors will ultimately have problems with the valve guides, and also warpage on the aluminum heads. Our highest mileage caravan did do well, but I feel if it had the optional 3.3 pushrod motor it would have been in better shape at 145,000 (with only fluid changes and tires no less). Yeh there are lots of Accords out there with 150,000 miles on a OHV motor, but there are lots of them out there smoking as well. It's just not as common with iron headed, push rod motors. Both designs are actually about equally old so I really don't consider one "high tech" and the other "outdated". Besides winston Cup cars make 850 HP with those old pushrods on a 5.7L motor with no power adders. They can ONLY spin to 10,000 rpm doing it though...

#1373 of 7485 (bibbins) by pat84

Jun 12, 2002 (5:14 am)

Good one.
I have always wondered why these topics "vehicle A vs. vehicle B" frequently degenerate to my vehicle is better, because your vehicle sucks types of arguments.

#1374 of 7485 Expectations by bdaddy

Jun 12, 2002 (6:55 am)

The last time I checked, this thread was titled "Honda Odyssey vs. DC minivans". What do you expect. If you want to hear only the praises of your vehicle, go to a vehicle specific thread.
 
Maybe we should all just say, "the Honda and DC vans are both very nice vehicles", and then we can end this discussion - close it down, no need to discuss anything else cuz they are both great. Flip a coin.
 
Most of the banter here is good natured ribbing. Sure there is some testosterone sprinkled in from time to time, but I don't think anyone takes it to heart. As for comparisons of the vans, I'm all for it. Lets just make sure were comparing vehicles and offering opinions based on our experiences, not based on what we've read in other chat rooms or publications. As I've said before, I've driven most every 2002 minivan out there (save for VW). My comments are based on my experiences not on my perceptions and prejudices.

Messages Page 138 of 749

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