Ask the Car People.SM


Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

3798 messages,  Last post on Mar 31, 2013 at 5:37 PM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

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

Messages Page 78 of 381

#763 of 3798 Re: fun to drive, energetic Ody? and sour grapes? macakava] by hansienna

Jun 04, 2005 (3:45 pm)

Replying to: macakava (Jun 04, 2005 3:06 pm)
No Sour grapes from me. I had driven a 2001 Ody EX many times and also a 2002 GC Sport. That is why I jumped on the chance to buy a mint condition used 02 T&C LX clone of the 02 GC Sport when it had 27 K miles for half price of a NEW 2005 Ody EX....even though I would have preferred the 05 Ody EX if it had been within $1,000 in purchase price of a new 05 GC SXT.
      Once a couple has experienced the ultimate comfort of separately controlled temperature for the driver and front passenger, there is no going back to the old fashioned "One temperature fits all". In addition, my 02 T&C LX has a third different temperature for the rest of the vehicle and the coveted overhead console with compass/outside temperature and trip computer.
      Some who like the Magic Seat and more powerful engine with 5 speed AT of the Ody should feel just as strongly that their Ody is just right for them.
      Jipster likes the "just right" size and Zoom-Zoom-Zoom of his Mazda MPV.

#764 of 3798 Please Help!!! by dfiore

Jun 04, 2005 (8:49 pm)

Can anyone tell me what a "Coming Home Device" is? I just bought a 2003 Chrysler T&C LXI and is listed as one of my options. I don't see it described in the owner's manual. Thanks!!

#765 of 3798 Re: Please Help!!! [dfiore] by marine2

Jun 04, 2005 (9:29 pm)

Replying to: dfiore (Jun 04, 2005 8:49 pm)
I have the 05 Dodge and it doesn't show that name in my owner's manual. But I'm willing to bet it's the garage door opener on your over head console.

#766 of 3798 Re: Comparison of 2001 Ody EX, 2002 GC Sport and 2002 T&C LX [hansienna] by lastwraith

Jun 04, 2005 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: hansienna (Jun 03, 2005 8:34 pm)
Didn't realize you meant no dual climate on your older model Ody EX...my mistake.
 
The trip computer is pretty nice to amuse yourself with on a boring trip (long drive in the midwest for example), especially the instant mpg calculations. Also, the "distance to empty" function is helpful when you are wondering if you should grab gas immediately or if you can safely wait for that next rest stop another 50 miles down the road. I have to admit that it is somewhat disappointing to be without that in a new minivan.
 
I think the Ody drives much better than the GC however. The pitifully small engine differences are basically meaningless as far as I'm concerned but I do enjoy the Ody's relative nimbleness for a minivan. And the engine sounds good when wound up (it IS a Honda after all) but really.....it's a minivan. I don't plan on trying to whip any unsuspecting cars at a stoplight or on the freeway. And I disagree with mackava more with the way he said things than the facts behind them, but there is a certain threshold of performance people want in even their minivans. My '98 Plymouth Expresso is totally gutless, and it's downright dead (acceleration) over about 50mph....this even with the largest V6 offered that year. I think all three minivans for '05 pass muster for engine performance....but would agree that Honda has the most agile of the 3 entries. And in many places (NYC area especially) that is a big plus.

#767 of 3798 I know what my wife wanted [marine2] by tamu2002

Jun 04, 2005 (11:01 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Jun 04, 2005 12:35 am)
Good points! My wife hardly knows anything about anything under the hood I'm sure she'd be bored to sleep if I tried to explain to her what OHC and OHV mean. What she really cares are good looks, convenience features (e.g. power doors), storage features, and a comfortable driving position.
 
As I have posted, we've just purchased a Quest. She liked the Quest's looks the most, power doors, and then its many cleverly designed storage spaces. But she was mostly (I was too) concerned about the price! Interestingly, she absolutely fell in love with GC's stow-n-go, especially the 3rd row split seat, which she thought would make storing a double stroller a breeze. For this single reason alone, she would've thrown everything she loved about the Quest out the window...if it weren't for the GC's $1K higher price tag.
 
There's NO WAY we would pay $28K for a Honda, even if it's light years better! Who cares when it's that much more expensive!! Even though we're quite affluent incomewise, we've got a huge mortgage and quite a few mouths to feed (who doesn't?).

#768 of 3798 Re: I know what my wife wanted [tamu2002] by marine2

Jun 05, 2005 (7:06 am)

Replying to: tamu2002 (Jun 04, 2005 11:01 pm)
I think most people look for value for the buck. Of course they want their van to look good and perform well and if it does, they're wanting to get all the goodies they can for what they want to spend.
 
I think Honda and Toyota have great minivans. Their down fall, as far as I'm concerned, is value for the buck. They're priced to high for what many people are willing to pay and what they offer, that people want.
 
Outside of inside good looks, the features they offer and really excel in, make little difference to the average minivan buyer. The things the average buyer wants, they charge a heck of a lot of money for and price themselves out of the market to many buyers.
 
Reading some of the complaints on the Toyota threads, it seems quite a few paid around $40,000 for their minivan. I don't know about most of you, but their is no way I am going to pay anywhere near that price for a minivan even though I could afford to do so. Especially if I can buy something else that has all the features on it the Toyota has, but might not be quite as nice looking, but sells for a good $15,000 less. I'm willing to bet in 5 years, if wanting to buy another, they're not going to give me $15,000 more over a Dodge, Quest, or even a Ford.

#769 of 3798 Re: I know what my wife wanted [marine2] by dae

Jun 05, 2005 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Jun 05, 2005 7:06 am)
Reading some of the complaints on the Toyota threads, it seems quite a few paid around $40,000 for their minivan
 
Top of the line Chrysler, even with $2500 rebate of invoice is about $33K ($38 invoice), while Odyssey Touring can be had easily for $33.5K. Reasonably equiped EX is $26. I do not think then are so vastly different in price as you imply.
 
I'm willing to bet in 5 years, if wanting to buy another, they're not going to give me $15,000 more over a Dodge, Quest, or even a Ford.
 
That's an odd way of thinking. Cars depreciate proportionally to the intial price. So if they lose 50% in 5 years, 15K difference in paid price results in $7.5K difference in remaining price.
 
Not that this hypothetical $15000 difference is grounded in reality for comparable products, as I mentioned above.

#770 of 3798 Re: fun to drive, energetic Ody? [macakava] by mrblonde49

Jun 06, 2005 (6:22 am)

Replying to: macakava (Jun 04, 2005 3:06 pm)
No sour grapes at all. Very happy w/ the purchase.
 
You're a bigtime flamer, but I don't wish you ill will, and truly hope you don't run into problems while thinking that your minivan can do things that it wasn't designed to do (the things that a GTO or other like vehicles can do)

#771 of 3798 Re: marine2 [marine2] by irg

Jun 06, 2005 (7:45 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Jun 02, 2005 12:55 pm)
"It would have been over 30,000 to get one with a power rear hatch, from what I have been reading. And $28,000 doesn't even get you the over head computer. Not sure about the upgrade radio, CD/cassette. " I got a power rear hatch on my XLE (standard) for $26k, a great overhead computer comes standard, as does a 3 way automatic climate controlled system, and standard comes a 10 speaker (including sub) JBL cd sound system, with controls on the wheel. Not $30k like you want to believe.

#772 of 3798 Re: marine2 [irg] by marine2

Jun 06, 2005 (7:58 am)

Replying to: irg (Jun 06, 2005 7:45 am)
Congratulations irg for your good buy. But reading lots of other posts, Many others are not getting anywhere near that price for those features.

Messages Page 78 of 381

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement