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Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

3643 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2009 at 6:32 AM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum. Your Host is Karens

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan, Chevrolet Venture, Mazda MPV, Kia Sedona, Honda Odyssey, Chevrolet Uplander, Nissan Quest, Hyundai Entourage, Van

#3514 of 3643 Re: Timing chains that never need servicing? [siennami] by dvsutton May 02, 2008 (4:55 am)
Replying to: siennami (Apr 09, 2008 6:21 pm) Sliding door fell off of my wifes Honda Oyssey minivan onto my sons foot. Looks like Honda needs to address its quality issues with a recall, wait...Honda only has service bullitens not recalls to keep fooling the media, on the door issue. Replies to this message: ateixeira (May 02, 2008 7:26 am)
#3515 of 3643 Re: Timing chains that never need servicing? [dvsutton] by ateixeira May 02, 2008 (7:26 am)
Replying to: dvsutton (May 02, 2008 4:55 am) Sure it did.
#3516 of 3643 Press Request by KarenS HOST May 07, 2008 (3:33 pm)
A reporter with a large national newspaper is interested in talking with owners who had considered purchasing a Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Caravan. If you had considered one of these vehicles and purchased another one instead, please contact Chintan Talati at ctalatiedmunds.com no later than Friday, May 9.
#3517 of 3643 Press Request by KarenS HOST Jul 01, 2008 (1:21 pm)
A reporter from a large local newspaper is looking to speak to recent minivan buyers and minivan shoppers that ended up purchasing an SUV or crossover. If you’re interested in speaking to the reporter, please contact Jonathan Wahl at jwahledmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than July 3 2008.
#3518 of 3643 re: Old Odyssey with swing out doors by autowrite Aug 14, 2008 (7:01 pm)
Guess what! The swing out door Odyssey is still produced in Japan and sold to many countries. What is build in North Ameria is probably a Honda Elysion with some modifications for the NA market. see - http://www.batfa.com/new-honda.html
#3519 of 3643 Cousin's Ody by ateixeira Aug 15, 2008 (7:07 am)
I dropped my cousin off at the airport, and so I have her Ody until she comes back.   It's a 2002 with 80k miles, so this isn't really a fair comparison, but I much prefer my 2007 Sienna. Road noise is much louder, she has a howling wind noise from the A-pillar, and the seats are flatter than my Sienna's, which are already too flat. The shifter blocks the radio volume knob when it's in Drive, also.   The steering has a lot more feel to it, and it handles well, though it doesn't ride as smoothly as my 'yota.   The cruise control buttons are not lit, and neither is the ignition key hole.   I'm sure the new Ody is better. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Aug 15, 2008 7:24 am) ateixeira (Aug 15, 2008 7:37 am) thegraduate (Aug 15, 2008 7:55 am)
#3520 of 3643 Re: Cousin's Ody [ateixeira] by thegraduate Aug 15, 2008 (7:24 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 15, 2008 7:07 am) I'm sure the new Ody is better.   It is.   The steering is much tighter, the seats are more bolstered, the shifter is 200% easier to modulate and isn't as in the way, the steering wheel buttons are lit (which doesn't affect me; these being on the wheel are there so I don't have to move my hands or eyes - I'm used to how they are placed though, different from Toyota I know ).   Some differences still stand though, the ride in the Odyssey is the most carlike (meaning sportiest/firmest) but so is the driving experience. The noise level is higher than most want it to be, although it is marginally improved from the previous generation (we had a 2000 model, and my aunt has the "new" 2005 model).   You mention the volume knob; is hers an LX model (hubcaps, manual A/C)? If not, there are volume buttons opposite the Cruise Control buttons that should be redundant with the knob (volume up/down, and a button to change between tracks/presets). Replies to this message: ateixeira (Aug 15, 2008 7:37 am) thegraduate (Aug 15, 2008 7:55 am)
#3521 of 3643 Re: Cousin's Ody [thegraduate] by ateixeira Aug 15, 2008 (7:37 am)
Replying to: thegraduate (Aug 15, 2008 7:24 am) Having the buttons lit helps a new-to-that-van driver like me. I hopped behind the wheel and was not familiar with the layout, so I had to turn on the lights to see the cruise buttons, all while driving.   I'm sure the wind noise in the A-pillar is just some loose door trim. I will tell her when she comes back to have that looked at during her next service.   Yes, hers is an LX, but she had the dealer swap out the stereo for a 6CD changer. To be honest I'm not sure if it's a Honda stereo or not, but it was installed by a Honda dealer. I had to reach around the shifter, as I don't think the LX has those audio buttons on the steering wheel (my Sienna LE does).   Again, not really fair, it's a 2002 so mine represents 5 years of progress. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Aug 15, 2008 7:55 am)
#3522 of 3643 Re: Cousin's Ody [ateixeira] by thegraduate Aug 15, 2008 (7:55 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 15, 2008 7:37 am) Yes, hers is an LX, but she had the dealer swap out the stereo for a 6CD changer. To be honest I'm not sure if it's a Honda stereo or not, but it was installed by a Honda dealer. I had to reach around the shifter, as I don't think the LX has those audio buttons on the steering wheel (my Sienna LE does).   No, the LX (about equivalent to a Sienna CE I guesss) doesn't have the buttons on the wheel for audio. The EX Odyssey did, starting in 1999, and steering-wheel buttons were backlit starting in 2005. What I like about the newer Honda wheel in the current Odyssey (and in my '06 Accord) is that the cruise and audio buttons have a different texture pattern on buttons with different functions.     You can see a smooth, horizontal, raised bar on the Accel/Resume and Decel/Set buttons. The Cancel button has little raised dots that feel more rough, and the master switch is smooth; you can do it by feel. The audio controls are similar. The wheel pictures is from an Accord, but the Odyssey wheel is identical in this regard.
#3523 of 3643 Considering Van/minivan as third vehicle, advice sought by kmauss Aug 15, 2008 (8:00 am)
Hi everyone, My sister and I are thinking about adding a third vehicle sometime next year mostly for the specific purpose of being able to haul 'stuff.' We both have our cars, and while neither of us wants to drive a large vehicle all the time, as homeowners, we frequently find ourselves trying to stuff things into our smaller cars that they weren't meant to haul! My sister is turning in her leased hatchback next fall, and fully intends to buy a small sedan, leaving us with no good way to haul odd sized things.   We are considering either a mid sized SUV or a minivan. As a happily single, childless individual, I haven't really ever looked at a van, and I certainly haven't driven one, so I have no pre-conceptions about what's good, bad or indifferent. I know my sister in law keeps buying them even though their kids are older because as she puts it "they're just so darn useful!"   Biggest considerations (More or less in order of priority) Dependability/ minimal repair costs Nice to drive/ quiet/comfortable/ something fun to take on road trips Ease of dealing with extra seats - not having to take extra seats in and out of the vehicle would be a big issue! Insurance costs Safety   Not big issues Resale value (planning to keep it on the long term) Lots of bells and whistles like power everything, dvd players, etc. Millions of cupholders   Hope that gives all of you with much more experience enough info to provide me with some advice. I have no particular loyalty to a brand / place of origin, except that we will never, ever bring home a VW again! (BAD experience!)   thank you all in advance! Karen Replies to this message: thegraduate (Aug 15, 2008 8:21 am) kmauss (Aug 15, 2008 2:46 pm) imariquinn (Aug 15, 2008 6:17 pm) and 4 more... kmauss (Aug 16, 2008 1:01 pm) and 16 more... ateixeira (Aug 15, 2008 8:25 am)

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