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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 557 of 749

#5560 of 7485 Re: Most other vans are slow [jordan5cyl] by fljoslin

Dec 18, 2005 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: jordan5cyl (Dec 18, 2005 1:37 pm)
During geophysics field school, we took some 2004 Dodge Grand Caravans on our trip. At high rpm, the engine sounds like crap (raspy and weak) and the power drops off rapidly. The same thing happens to my mom's Intrepid. They feel anaemic going up hills. I had to try and redline the thing just to pass on the highway, and I only had one other person in the van. It had the 3.3L V6. What a terrible engine.
As I noted in an earlier post where I used the word "prehistoric", the 3.3 L engine was introduced in 1990 and was an archaic design at that time 15 years ago. I had one in a 1992 Grand Caravan, and no, they are not designed to rev. Maybe that is why some DC owners berate the Odyssey for having to rev the Honda engine high to get to the torque and HP max. Their experience is that high RPM is bad. If you drive the Honda you realize that the engine revs happily as it is designed to. I know that I was always concerned about how fast the engine was going in my Grand Caravan. This is not something that I worry about in my Odyssey. Also note that most DC vans come with the 3.3 L engine not the 3.8 L engine, while all Odysseys come with the 3.5 L engine.
Rumor has it that the next generation of DC vans will have a significantly more powerful engine and a 5 speed auto. Why would they do that if there is nothing wrong with the current version and what will that do to the already abysmal resale values of this generation vans?

#5561 of 7485 More 2005 long term testing results by socalawd

Dec 18, 2005 (1:55 pm)

Well 21000+ miles on this Ody and no real problems. Man I think they like this van as much as me!! ;)When is the last time you had car mag guys saying they don't want to give up a minivan!!
 
link title

#5562 of 7485 Re: Most other vans are slow [fljoslin] by jordan5cyl

Dec 18, 2005 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: fljoslin (Dec 18, 2005 1:54 pm)
I agree with that. My mom's Intrepid is the 3.5L. It hasn't had any major problems except for a bad spark plug and the coolant thermostat sticking causing an overheat, but it just doesn't feel smooth to drive.
 
In my opinion, and the opinion of a lot of auto enthusiasts, Honda still makes the smoothest, nicest revving engines in the world. The power output is decent too (255hp in the 05 Odyssey). That van is capable of 0-60 in 7.8s. That's extremely fast for a van. Plus the fact that the J-series engine blocks don't weigh a lot either.
 
The 3.8L engine available in the Caravans might be stronger than the 3.3L, but it's still CRUDE revving and unrefined. Plus that huge displacement weighs more and offsets the handling even worse.

#5563 of 7485 Re: Most other vans are slow [fljoslin] by thegraduate

Dec 18, 2005 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: fljoslin (Dec 18, 2005 1:54 pm)
Rumor has it that the next generation of DC vans will have a significantly more powerful engine and a 5 speed auto. Why would they do that if there is nothing wrong with the current version and what will that do to the already abysmal resale values of this generation vans?
 
DCX would be smart to make the 3.8L V-6 the base V-6 in the Grand Caravan, the 3.3L V-6 the standard in the swb Caravan, and offer the 3.5L out of the Pacifica/300M/300 cars that offers 250 hp. That would be a real competitor.

#5564 of 7485 Re: Most other vans are slow [thegraduate] by fljoslin

Dec 18, 2005 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Dec 18, 2005 2:03 pm)
DCX would be smart to make the 3.8L V-6 the base V-6 in the Grand Caravan, the 3.3L V-6 the standard in the swb Caravan, and offer the 3.5L out of the Pacifica/300M/300 cars that offers 250 hp. That would be a real competitor
I think that DC needs to junk the 3.3 and 3.8 L engines. The 3.2 or 3.5 should be the base engine. That would certainly help DC to even things up with regards to power. But, what will happen to the mileage then? My wife has a 2005 Pacifica with the 3.5 L engine and gets 15 mpg in town. I have a 1999 Intrepid with the 3.2 L engine and get 20-22 mpg in town. Notice the Intrepid is significantly lighter than the minivans while the Pacifica is heavier with AWD. However, both are 4 speed autos which DC also need to improve. I am sure that using the 3.5 L engine in the DC mini vans will hurt the mileage which is the wrong direction to go at this time, especially to compete with the Honda VCM system. Don't forget, the Odyssey is the heaviest, fastest most powerful minivan with the best handling and ALSO gets the best mileage.

#5565 of 7485 Re: Price paid for 2006 Town&Country Limited ? [fljoslin] by kfdmed

Dec 18, 2005 (2:50 pm)

Replying to: fljoslin (Dec 18, 2005 10:21 am)
Paid just under 28K for T&C touring signature series. Also got 0% financing for 5 years. Signature series includes ... leather, dual power doors, power hatch, sunroof, 6 CD/DVD changer, rear video, navigation, tri-zone automatic temperature control and of course stow and go seating that is not available on any other van. I believe I could have gotten an additional $1500 off if I didnt take the 0% financing. The 0% worked out better for me.

#5566 of 7485 Re: $6,000 Repairs [artgpo] by dennisctc

Dec 18, 2005 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: artgpo (Dec 18, 2005 11:22 am)
You make broad, unsubstantiated statements but claim that is what is wrong with everyone else. I gave FIRST HAND experience. I just read a Canadian review of the Odyssey which claims the Odyssey is as close to perfection as can be expected from a minivan.
 
I gave first hand experience with my 3 Caravans, and my friends. It is every bit as valid as your claims! I also can see the first hand experience of Ody owner on here, and the Ody is far from perfection, just the FACT that 2006 owners are still having some of the same issues as the 2005s! I can also claim as fact 4 recalls.
 
Canadian review from who or what? That certainly carries a lot of credibility with me!
 
I have driven many an Odys, some on 4-5 hour trips up to northern MI with Visteon engineers to test and compare DVD systems. I also seriously considered an 2005 Ody when shopping a year ago, visiting almost every Honda dealer in the Detroit Metro area, as to not bug one too many times. I was the FIRST customer at Bloomfield Honda to drive a 2005, hours after coming off the truck! Having driven them back to back, the DCX vans are definitely quieter and ride smoother than Honda. Your suspicions are WRONG!
 
All my comments are factual and based on first hand knowledge and experience!

#5568 of 7485 Re: 2000 Honda Ody [artgpo] by dennisctc

Dec 18, 2005 (3:01 pm)

Replying to: artgpo (Dec 18, 2005 11:26 am)
We don't have to take shots at the Ody, it's already riddled with shots from Ody owners!!
 
What makes you a "facter"?? Personal experience?

Messages Page 557 of 749

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