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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

#7406 of 7485 Re: with some luck [marig0107] by shipo Mar 05, 2008 (7:14 am)
Replying to: marig0107 (Mar 05, 2008 6:44 am) He-he, I think I'm the one you are referring to as having gotten the boot. Sorry, I'm still very much around.   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 Replies to this message: marig0107 (Mar 05, 2008 7:23 am)
#7407 of 7485 Re: with some luck [shipo] by marig0107 Mar 05, 2008 (7:23 am)
Replying to: shipo (Mar 05, 2008 7:14 am) couldn't possibly be you unless you've been invaded by the pod people 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.
#7408 of 7485 Confused about which Van to get by cheapdad000 Mar 05, 2008 (9:59 am)
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..... Replies to this message: hansienna (Mar 05, 2008 12:18 pm) cheapdad000 (Mar 05, 2008 7:12 pm) maryh3 (Mar 07, 2008 4:25 pm) artgpo (Mar 05, 2008 2:13 pm)
#7409 of 7485 Re: Confused about which Van to get [cheapdad000] by hansienna Mar 05, 2008 (12:18 pm)
Replying to: cheapdad000 (Mar 05, 2008 9:59 am) BUY the Odyssey if you need seating for 8 on occasion but want easy access to 3rd row most of the time. The "Plus 1" middle seat of Odyssey 2nd row is easily removed while any 2nd row seat of a Sienna is HARD to remove and replace. The 2nd row seats of the Sienna 8 passenger do NOT have armrests.   However, are you buying the vehicle for your OWN comfort or for the ability to take the 8th person on occasion? Replies to this message: cheapdad000 (Mar 05, 2008 7:12 pm) maryh3 (Mar 07, 2008 4:25 pm)
#7410 of 7485 Re: Confused about which Van to get [cheapdad000] by artgpo Mar 05, 2008 (2:13 pm)
Replying to: cheapdad000 (Mar 05, 2008 9:59 am) I am about the same height as you although not a football player build....a football maybe but not a player. My car is a 2006 Odyssey. I am like a NASCAR driver in that I like to sit close to the wheel. We have taken many long trips in this van with no problem in the leg room area. My son is 6'4" and seems to have plenty of room when driving the Odyssey. However, when he and his wife decided to buy their own minivan they chose a 2008 Sienna XLE. My son claims no discomfort. I prefer the Honda but his Sienna is VERY nice as well.
#7411 of 7485 Re: Confused about which Van to get [hansienna] by cheapdad000 Mar 05, 2008 (7:12 pm)
Replying to: hansienna (Mar 05, 2008 12:18 pm) However, are you buying the vehicle for your OWN comfort or for the ability to take the 8th person on occasion?   Now that is the million dollar question (or $30K one at least). Next stop will be to go to local Carmax and have them line up the leading contenders side by side and move from one to the next to see about fit (should be able to take care off all (or equivalent body style) but the 08 T&C).
#7412 of 7485 Re: Work horse [hansienna] by maryh3 Mar 07, 2008 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: hansienna (Mar 02, 2008 7:58 am) Our daughter's 1999 GC SE is running well at 107,000 miles and my sister's 2001 Ody EX is also running well at 88,000 miles. Both have had a few minor repairs.    Based on family experience, the Grand Caravan and the Odyssey are very reliable.   I always do my own research so I asked my 3 friends who bought the Odyssey in 2000 when I bought my Chrysler how their vans were holding up. It doesn't look too good. One has 105,000 and has not had transmission problems. Another had hers replaced in the 80K range through the recall (I did not ask if she had to pay anything) and the transmission went again at 135K. She fixed it again because she can't afford another van right now. The third friend had the transmission go at about 90K. I was replaced for free by Honda. She then traded it in for an 07 Odyssey. Now she has discovered that her 99 Accord's transmission is going with less than 90K on it. I told her that her 07 Odyssey should be better because they redid the transmission placing the heavier Pilot transmission in it. I hope I am right because she is having some health issues and I'd hate to see her have problems again.   I would avoid used Odysseys. What I can't decide is how many miles people should get out of a transmission? What is considered the norm before a transmission is considered to be poorly designed? Replies to this message: bobber1 (Mar 07, 2008 6:06 pm) dennisctc (Mar 08, 2008 3:13 pm) thegraduate (Mar 08, 2008 10:26 pm) srs_49 (Mar 14, 2008 2:36 am) and 1 more... hansienna (Mar 07, 2008 6:49 pm)
#7413 of 7485 Re: Confused about which Van to get [hansienna] by maryh3 Mar 07, 2008 (4:25 pm)
Replying to: hansienna (Mar 05, 2008 12:18 pm) The 2nd row seats of the Sienna 8 passenger do NOT have armrests.     I don't know if this is necessarily bad because most of what will be sitting in the center row will be a child in a car seat which usually already have arm rests. I think the comfort of the center seat should be the deciding factor between the 2.
#7414 of 7485 Re: Work horse [maryh3] by bobber1 Mar 07, 2008 (6:06 pm)
Replying to: maryh3 (Mar 07, 2008 3:32 pm) I think anything past 100,000 is gravy for any make on transmissions. Everybody can tell you a story about a vehicle that has 300,000 mile with no problem, but statistically every make also going to have an increasing percentage of cars that has problems.   Honda has a well documented problem with the 99 to 04 models. Those models seem to be 95% of the complaints you see on this site. I haven't seen many problems from 05 to 08's but they also have less miles on them. Still a lot of those are well into the range when the previous model was showing problems.    Chryslers warrantee is good, but they haven't had a good history with transmissions either and there are some strings attached. It's a crap shoot anyway you cut it. Replies to this message: dennisctc (Mar 08, 2008 3:13 pm) thegraduate (Mar 08, 2008 10:26 pm) srs_49 (Mar 14, 2008 2:36 am) maryh3 (Mar 15, 2008 6:37 am)
#7415 of 7485 Re: Odyssey transmission failures [maryh3] by hansienna Mar 07, 2008 (6:49 pm)
Replying to: maryh3 (Mar 07, 2008 3:32 pm) The many Odyssey transmission failures are ignored by CR in their April 2008 issue.

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