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Vans & Minivans Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans 
7485 messages, Last post on Mar 23, 2008 at 7:43 AM
You are in the Honda Odyssey Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Replying to: marine2 (Feb 07, 2008 2:33 pm) You make it sound like you're brother is abusing his van. Yes, no? To me at least it sounds like is that he's maintaining it pretty well. FWIW, I go between ten and twelve thousand miles on an oil change and maybe fifty thousand miles on an airfilter (without ever blowing it out even once) for both of our DGCs. The vans have over a combined quarter of a million miles on them and still run as well as the day they rolled off the showroom floor, still return excellent fuel economy, and still burn only about a quart of oil every seven to eight thousand miles. Best Regards, Shipo |
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Replying to: maryh3 (Feb 07, 2008 12:26 pm)  We've owned a few clunkers that we bought cheap in college. The 93 Dodge Shadow we bought new and my 16 year old is driving that now, so yes, you can say we took care of her and maintained her quite nicely. The V6 caravan we bought brand new in 98 and tried to maintain her, but she more than crippled us with repairs. Sometimes you just get lemons, no matter what brand.   I have only read about happy caravan owners, so it's funny, we are totally at odds. I ONLY know odyssey owners that love their vehicles and caravan owners that hated theirs. Even met a guy at DD dance class that said he rented one, parked it and somehow had to chase the thing down the street. Is it my freaking destiny not to physically meet a satisfied owner. Sometimes I want to stop the boxy caravan owners and talk about their car, the longevity. But the used car dealer gladly traded in the van and gave us a tacoma, so I imagine somewhere in town, some poor family desperately wants a van. Hopefully the dealer will fix the power steering and the a/c heating (yet again, altho this time first time for the heat). Anyway, as always, no matter what the brand, I wish everyone the best of luck in their cars. I don't wish anyone the repairs and insecurity of driving around a lemony car. |
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Replying to: marine2 (Feb 06, 2008 10:34 am) 
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Replying to: picky7 (Feb 08, 2008 2:24 pm) The Odyssey noisier than some other minis. This is a Honda trait. My son's 2008 Sienna is very quiet. The transmission on the Odyssey is very smooth and quiet. I change the oil when the service computer indicates a change is required, usually about 8,000 - 9,000 miles. Nothing but Mobil 1 has been used since the first change. Wal-Mart changes the oil most times (once in a while at the dealer). On Monday the van goes to the dealer for a brake check as I have symptoms indicative of warped rotors.
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Replying to: artgpo (Feb 09, 2008 7:21 am) I'm happy to say that nearly 30,000 miles later those drilled rotors still stop their Odyssey straight and true with nary a pulse in the pedal. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Feb 09, 2008 10:34 am) Based on family experience, the Grand Caravan and the Odyssey are very reliable. 
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Replying to: marig0107 (Nov 18, 2007 9:34 am) And btw, was reading the new issue of Consumer Reports, check it out. It is an eye opener. Listed as one of the worst cars to buy, you guess it, the 1998 Caravan V6 model. Guess who owned that one? Nice to know I wasn't totally crazy! I thought it had to be ONLY my van that was the pain in the posterior. Anyway, thanx for everyone's well wishes. They were so appreciated. You let me vent all I wanted about that van and were never mean or rude. There was only one person once and he got the boot. I was afraid to write in, but everyone here was very nice.
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Replying to: marig0107 (Mar 05, 2008 6:44 am) Of course my perspective on 1998 Chrysler minivans is completely at odds with yours. Our DGC Sport from that year now has 155,000 mile on it and since new it has only cost us about $3,000 in unscheduled maintenance (including the new transmission), and continues to be absolutely the most reliable car I've ever owned (among those that I've driven for at least 75,000 miles). Good luck with your 'Yota. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Mar 05, 2008 7:14 am) You are just too nice! lol Thanx for the well wishes. I just want some darn peace around here regardless of car. And dh has to deploy sometime so guess who gets to drive that behemoth for a bit rofl Glad to hear your van is running strong. I have heard a few on here that have had some positives so it's nice to have that counteract the only negatives I had recently heard. |
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Background: Current van is a 2002 Mazda MPV ES which now with 3 children we have outgrown (only really seats 6 with booster/car seats installed). Requirements: Looking for van which can occasionally seat 8 (when friends/relatives visit and we all go out together), but with easy flexibility in and out of 3rd row for day to day driving. Also, Looking for van with much lateral legroom for driver. Specifically, I'm 6'2" (football player build) and on long trips, no matter how far back the driver seat is my right leg constantly bangs against the center dash/console (and the cupholders on the MPV). Even with cruise control on (to take foot off the pedals), cannot move leg far enough to the right to get a good stretch/comfort. Actions: Test drove 2008 Odyssey EXL RES. Ride was good. Extra stowable 8th seat was great, although not sure who would fit on it or whether a car seat could fit on it. Driver seat was terribly uncomfortable. Same problem with my right leg banging the center console. Liked Honda's package simplicity - easy to cross shop other dealers. Then drove 2008 Toyota Sienna LE. Ride was much softer than the Honda - much like the Honda salesman told me it was going to be. Thought with the extra "published" front seat legroom, the seating would be more comfortable than the Odyssey - or at least my right leg would be more comfortable. Not the case - comfort was about the same as with the Odyssey. Even after trying multiple tilts/heights of each seat. Yesterday drove the 2008 T&C Touring. Photo comparisons showed what looked to be a flatter dash with less of a protrusion into the cabin by the center console/dash. So even with front legroom measurements similar to the Odyssey, there was hope it would be doable. Sitting in the drivers seat I was not disappointed. Plenty of space to swing my right knee as far to the right as I wanted without tilting the front seat too far back. So now my concerns with this model: lack of seating for 8 (or specifically seating 3 people/children in the 2nd row), perceived quality issues/poorer resale if it turns out I want to get rid of van in a few years, small engine(s) on low trim models, 2nd row buckets do not slide to center to make easy passage to backseat. Questions: Anyone have any different feedback around the console issue - were you able to get the front seat more comfortable on the Ody/Sienna? Any way to get an aftermarket 3rd 2nd row seat into the T&C. Right now, I may have to look at full size SUVs with a front bench seat. Just looking for something with a front seat as comfortable as the one on my 1989 Ford Taurus..... |
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