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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 738 of 750

#7364 of 7485 Re: 2007 Chrysler T&C vs Honda Odyssey [marig0107] by marine2

Aug 29, 2007 (10:41 am)

Replying to: marig0107 (Aug 29, 2007 4:41 am)
wow, massive recall. I am so not surprised. There have been tons of recalls on caravans thru the years so what's the big deal on recalling this...guess the lawsuits are what's prompting the blind stance.
  
They are trying to make them LOOK nicer, but they really should work on quality and safety. I'd much rtaher pay in the $30's for a bare bones Odyssey or Sienna and feel I got that quality and safety.
 
What massive recall? I haven't heard of any.
 
I think Chrysler has come a long way with quality control. Have you looked at the recalls on Honda's transmissions from 1999-2002? Some of those people have traded trannys 2,3, and 4 times. Most of Chrysler's tranny problems were garages using the wrong fluid.
 
My 2005 Dodge GC has had one recall in two and a half years and that was only for a possible pinched hose, that I had looked at when I got my oil changed. With all the electrical stuff I have on that van, everything has worked as designed from day one.
 
You can't beat a lifetime warranty on engine and drive train, if you keep that van.
 
It's got many features on the new one, no other van has and all the safety features Honda and Toyota has. I think Chrysler will do quite well selling them.

#7365 of 7485 Re: 2008 Chrysler T&C/GC [marine2] by carcom2

Aug 29, 2007 (4:15 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Aug 28, 2007 9:56 pm)
Wow - what I difference comparing a Touring to the base. I saw a # of Touring T&C's in the lot and looked through the window. Much better looking than the base model.
 
Now I'm psyched to see the Limited or even something with leather.

#7366 of 7485 Mary36 by hayneldan

Aug 29, 2007 (7:29 pm)

I assume you don't have a degree in mechanical engineering since you know so little about seat belts and are so easily lead by erronious info put out on the internet. I own one of those 03 DCX minivans and also have a degree in mechanical engineering. First have you tried the test shown on the Utube video? It does not work on my van, you must push the red button into the retainer at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch before the seat belt releases. The front (driver and passenger) belts have the red button protruding from the retainer, while the second and third row seats have the red buttons flush with the retainers and require them to be depressed at least by the same amount. How do you account for this? Please don't post if you don't know what you are talking about.

#7367 of 7485 Re: Mary36 [hayneldan] by mary36

Aug 29, 2007 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: hayneldan (Aug 29, 2007 7:29 pm)
Hayneldan:
 
Your seatbelts are set up opposite of mine. My front two seatbelts have the red release button flush with the retainer. All of my PASSENGER belts have the red release button protruding from the retainer. These are the ones that are the GEN 3 belts.
 
We have also noticed that are daughter's car seat had completely UNBUCKLED from the van a few times - for no apparent reason at all. We were thankful we did not get into a wreck during one of those times.
 
When I do the ball test on our REAR Gen 3 belts - they do NOT pass. Again, my 2 front seats are good (pass the ball test with flying colors)... it's my back seat belts I'm worried about (where my CHILDREN are).
 
Regardless of my degrees (which I do have), I'm going to draw my own conclusion about the information I have found.
 
We can respectfully disagree.
 
I assume you're a mature, respectful adult - engineering degrees and all.

#7368 of 7485 Re: Mary36 [mary36] by bobber1

Aug 29, 2007 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: mary36 (Aug 29, 2007 7:58 pm)
Got a chuckle out of the last two posts. Mechanical Engineers are pretty smart(I have a brother who's one). They aren't the only ones who are however.

#7369 of 7485 Mary38 by hayneldan

Aug 29, 2007 (8:59 pm)

Try the this test, with the passenger seatbelts buckled without your daughter or the car seat installed see how much the red button must be pressed in before the seat belt releases.

#7370 of 7485 Re: Mary38 [hayneldan] by mary36

Aug 29, 2007 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: hayneldan (Aug 29, 2007 8:59 pm)
oops sent this twice - edited to delete

#7371 of 7485 Re: Mary38 [hayneldan] by mary36

Aug 29, 2007 (9:35 pm)

Replying to: hayneldan (Aug 29, 2007 8:59 pm)
I already have.
 
All it takes for the passenger (GEN 3) seatbelts to unbuckle is for the red release button to become FLUSH with the retainer. We're talking less than an inch compression.
 
In addition, it doesn't take much pressure at all for the buckle to release. During a collision, a loose cell phone, or child's toy... or even an elbow or foot could accidentally release the seat belt and have a child ejected from the vehicle. (And it's already happened to other families. Chrysler has settled millions of dollars in lawsuits, but still refuses to do a recall.)
 
My driver and side passenger seat belts are different. It takes MUCH MORE pressure to release them. Also, the red release button has to be forced INTO the retainer pretty DEEP for the buckle to release.
 
If you look at the list of models affected, you will see that my vehicle (02 Caravan) only has Gen 3 belts in the rear, which is consistent with what I'm finding.
 
http://www.unsafebelts.com/known.cfm
 
I believe only your rear belts are affected too.
 
Is it POSSIBLE my children will be ejected during a wreck? YES.
 
Is it PROBABLE? Probably not.
 
But after obtaining this knowledge and doing my own testing with my own seatbelts, I am going to be a VERY cautious driver until we get this van replaced with an Oddy.
 
Each family needs to weigh their own risks vs probability.
My family is choosing to replace our vehicle as soon as possible. Until then, I'm going to limit projectiles in our van and drive as cautious as I can.
 
(Although, it's not me I'm worried about driving... it's all the other idiots out there on the road.)

#7372 of 7485 Mary36 by hayneldan

Aug 30, 2007 (8:14 pm)

"I believe only your rear belts are affected too." Nope

#7373 of 7485 Re: 2007 Chrysler T&C vs Honda Odyssey [thegraduate] by aaron_t

Sep 11, 2007 (12:15 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Aug 29, 2007 9:58 am)
Those are all not including $635 destination charge. For comparison:
 
2008 T&C Pricing, with destination:
 
$23,190 LX
$28,430 Touring
$36,400 Limited
 
The LX & Touring models have three option pakcages each plus individual options to play with.
 
With the trims/features/options of minivans ranging from $22k to $45k, it's hard to compare any particular vehicle trim level to antoher. I may regret it, but True Delta's comparison is a reasonable tool to commonize features between competing models. The MSRP of the 2008 Chrysler minivans undercut Honda and Toyota on a feature by feature basis except for powertrains of the base models.

Messages Page 738 of 750

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