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Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans - READ ONLY

7485 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2008 at 7:43 AM

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

#7379 of 7485 Re: head gasket [shipo] by achislett Sep 28, 2007 (8:30 am)
Replying to: shipo (Sep 24, 2007 5:54 pm) Thank you for your feedback. I have a clear idea now of how to prepare based on what you've said. I can see the years of appropriate maintanence are going to pay off now. My wife is often concerned about the cost of things especially when going to the dealer. I'm not necessarily worried about cost of labor and parts, that's just the way it is. I'm more interested in knowing that mehcanic knows what he's doing and can admit when he's not sure. I l also prefer to know that I've got the attention of the dealer and that people are listening. Over the years I've built a good relationship with the dealer and given them lots of money but, now I see the pay back; I don't have to replace it based on high mileage alone.   Anyway, sorry for the rambling but many thanks. The rad flush is due and so is brake fluid.   Allan
#7380 of 7485 Re: head gasket [achislett] by maryh3 Nov 18, 2007 (6:51 am)
Replying to: achislett (Sep 24, 2007 4:46 pm) I have 172,000 on my CT&C. I loved the new 08 T&C so, I ordered one. Wanted it before X-mas when we plan to do a 800 (each way) mile trip to see family like we do every year. It looks like my new 08 T&C may not arrive on time so I did the following:   Received a mailer from a local Dodge dealer offering a $19.95 oil & filter change and a coupon for a free 23 point safety check. Dealer did a good and honest job and said low front brakes, nothing else. I then asked them to check the suspension since everything is still original except struts and shocks which I replaced at 143,000. Dealer said bushings are worn. Brake job at dealer $200, bushings $200. Paid only $19.95 for the oil change.   Have had only 1 brake job -- at 105,000 with Midas who gives free pads for car life. Replaced front brakes for $90 instead of $200 with Midas's free pad replacement warranty (still pay for labor though). Said they can do bushings for $150 but it is not unsafe if I do not replace them, just noisy and perhaps bouncier. If my new van does arrive in time I won't replace them.   Within this last month we have taken this high mileage van on three 200 mile trips. Goes fine. Suspension is worn but adequate.   If you have maintained the vehicle reasonably well (and I am not NEARLY as good as some of these posters) you should be fine.
#7381 of 7485 with some luck by marig0107 Nov 18, 2007 (9:34 am)
looks like we might finally get rid of lemon caravan. woohoo.......... It's a 98, has had lots of maintenance, unfortunately with lots of repairs. Looks like it needs one more, but I don't think we'll do it. Power steering has a leak.   So if things work out, husband will trade it in for a toyota truck, as old as maybe the van or slightly newer, but hopefully we'll have better luck with it.   Wish us well the next few months that we can somehow budget that in. Replies to this message: marig0107 (Mar 05, 2008 6:44 am) shipo (Mar 05, 2008 7:14 am) marig0107 (Mar 05, 2008 7:23 am)
#7383 of 7485 Re: 2007 Chrysler T&C vs Honda Odyssey [marine2] by marig0107 Jan 27, 2008 (12:03 pm)
Replying to: marine2 (Aug 26, 2007 9:52 am) marine2, thanx for the nice comments. I just spoke to her again, she still has the gas leak problem and has missed a few days work dealing with it. So even though it's free, it's not, kwim? She said they had to call the fire dept because it had pooled up so bad in her driveway. Yikes.   Then she said her son was pinned in the sliding door and her husband had to work frantically to get that child out, not to mention the dog being pinned. At least it was a big dog I know, not funny, but I can't help it.   She also said her brakes are worn. She has to brake about a block away. LOL Well, that's what she said. So more time off work to get that fixed. What gets me is that this car is newer than my car which I bought March 07 and she's had that many problems.   My van is a 98 and it started having problems within a week or two of having it, but darn, it wasn't as many as that. Not sure what quality control is like these days, but they failed on her van.   sigh.....it stinks when all you can afford is this. I told her to force Chrysler to take it back, but she won't. I know her and she'll keep dealing with all that. I'd be a wreck right about now.   So yeah, at least I can hope and pray we'll be rid of ours soon. The phenomenal deal we got early on on it has been spent towards repairs. I won't even count the regular maintenance. Right now we are holding it together with spit until we can get something else.   you sound like us with our first dodge. We have a 93 shadow and our 16 year old is now driving that. We bought it when he was 2 years old. We kept it in great shape and other than the typical chrysler crap paint, it's been good to us.   Good luck to everyone else on their car buying. Replies to this message: marine2 (Feb 03, 2008 6:24 am) marig0107 (Feb 04, 2008 1:29 pm)
#7384 of 7485 Re: 2007 Chrysler T&C vs Honda Odyssey [marig0107] by marine2 Feb 03, 2008 (6:24 am)
Replying to: marig0107 (Jan 27, 2008 12:03 pm) marine2, thanx for the nice comments. I just spoke to her again, she still has the gas leak problem and has missed a few days work dealing with it. So even though it's free, it's not, kwim? She said they had to call the fire dept because it had pooled up so bad in her driveway. Yikes.    Then she said her son was pinned in the sliding door and her husband had to work frantically to get that child out, not to mention the dog being pinned. At least it was a big dog I know, not funny, but I can't help it.    She also said her brakes are worn. She has to brake about a block away. LOL Well, that's what she said. So more time off work to get that fixed. What gets me is that this car is newer than my car which I bought March 07 and she's had that many problems.   Leaked so bad she had to call the fire dept. because it pooled up in her driveway? I would think most of it would have run down a driveway onto the street. If not, all she would have had to do is hose it off.   Having to break a block ahead to get it to stop in time?   I have to wonder if she's telling you the whole truth. That sliding door has a sensor on it that will make the door pop open if anyone touches the edge of it while it's closing. Same with the rear hatch. The whole thing sounds fishy Replies to this message: marig0107 (Feb 04, 2008 1:29 pm)
#7385 of 7485 Dodge/Chrysler or Honda? by srs_49 Feb 04, 2008 (9:31 am)
I owned a 1994 Dodge Caravan 3.3L for 11 years that gave us good service for the 170,000 miles that we owned it. The transmission did need to be rebuilt once, but that was done at less than 50,000 miles under the new car warranty. It was fine for the rest of the time we had the van. There were really no other major costly repairs that we had to do. Struts, brakes, one starter, along with the usual maintenance stuff (plugs, oil and transmission fluid changes, filters, wipers, etc). Never needed any A/C work, and I think it was still on the original exhaust (including catalytic converter) when we traded it in for a PU truck. I think our overall TCO (total cost of ownership), including acquisition, fuel, maintenance/repairs, insurance, etc was $0.26/mile.   Now, there's been some changes in our family and my wife wants another minivan (she's currently driving a Subaru Outback wagon). But, I have mixed feeling about buying another DC minivan because of all the bad press about drive train issues. I'm not worried about the smaller stuff because I can do almost all of the other work (brakes, struts, etc) myself. I'm leaning towards the Honda Odyssey. Either one will have to be a used vehicle, but the Odyssey's, are $5K-$8K more expensive than the DC products for comparable years and mileage. I can find a low mileage 1-2 year old T&C for $12K-$14K, while a year older Odyssey seems to be running more like $18K. Should I gamble on a DC product, figuring I have $5K-$8K to thow at it, or go with the more reliable Odyssey. Note that we intend to keep this van as long or longer than we had or Caravan, so longevity is a major consideration, not trade-in value. Replies to this message: blackexv6 (Feb 04, 2008 10:18 am) sebring95 (Feb 04, 2008 10:19 am)
#7386 of 7485 Re: Dodge/Chrysler or Honda? [srs_49] by blackexv6 Feb 04, 2008 (10:18 am)
Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 04, 2008 9:31 am) Have your researched reliability for the Honda Odyssey transmissions?   They have a really poor history of failures. There was a class action lawsuit for the '99-'01 models. The '02-'04 models also have numerous failures reported.   The '05-'06 models have the same transmission as the '02-'04's so don't expect longevity there.   '07+ Odysseys have a redesigned 4-shaft tranny shared with the Pilot & Ridgeline trucks. Have to wait for reliablity data on these models.   Overall, if you can afford one, I think you are better off with the Honda. They drive like new after 150k+ miles & are worth a good trade when you're finshed. I know that re-sale is not a factor in your decision but it is nice to see at least $5k for an 8 year old van (We got $5k for a 2000 Odyssey with 165k miles).
#7387 of 7485 Re: Dodge/Chrysler or Honda? [srs_49] by sebring95 Feb 04, 2008 (10:19 am)
Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 04, 2008 9:31 am) My take (and an Odyssey owner at that) is that $5,000-$8,000 on a used model is a TON of money. It's not a guarantee that the Honda will not need the same amount of repairs so if you're happy with what the DC van offers, I'd say go for it. We mainly bought the Ody for some of the features and the 8 passenger capability. Otherwise, I would have probably gone the DC route myself. I know plenty of folks with DC vans that don't have problems and are more than happy with them (my mother is on her 3rd Caravan that's about to pass the 200k mark).
#7388 of 7485 Re: 2007 Chrysler T&C vs Honda Odyssey [marine2] by marig0107 Feb 04, 2008 (1:29 pm)
Replying to: marine2 (Feb 03, 2008 6:24 am) I am sure she put in some drama to her story, but I was there for the smelling of the gas after that repair. It was clear as day that something was not right. I expect to smell some gas after refueling, not when the thing is half used. The braking, well, having had issues with the caravan's brakes, albeit a 5 year old one, I did have to brake well in advance. So that much I believe without exaggeration. Not to mention since we had brake problems in snowy upstate NY, darn skippy I braked a block out.   That snow did a number on the underside of the vehicle. I don't know if other cars have issues with rust and snow damage like ours did. I kept it garaged and hosed it quite a bit, but darn! Of course, we have a 93 shadow and the paint on that was never terrific.   Sensors do occasionally malfunction, but that I had heard from a friend who had an imported van. I just have never trusted power sliding doors myself. Us getting power windows was a big step for me   I spoke to another close friend of mine who has a caravan one year newer than mine. We almost wet our pants laughing because all the stuff going wrong with mine is happening to her right now. Luckily she has a friend of a relative who can fix them for cost of parts. I was afraid to know what it would cost for us. We just give up, kwim?   Luckily dh was able to find a used Tacoma that he wanted and they were willing to take the van. I feel like we cheated them in the deal. ROFL.

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