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Vans & Minivans 2008 Minivans 
1261 messages, Last post on Feb 27, 2008 at 7:47 AM
You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Replying to: colloquor (Dec 11, 2007 3:05 pm) I for one like to keep it simple, similar to my old '90 Honda Civic . . . roll up windows, no power steering (didn't need it), stick, and only a few minor options. The more esoteric stuff they put on vehicles, the more there is to go wrong, and even more importantly, when they do fail, it costs big money for the repair. On the other hand, I think it's impossible to buy a minivan today with roll up windows - or, practically any other vehicle for that matter. Excellent point. When I talk to mechanics they typically say that they get only the basics on their own cars. They say "The less that can go wrong". And they also say that all the add ons often make repairs more expensive because the extras can get in the way of the essentials. You have to pull the revolving ash tray motor to get to the spark plugs etc. And again when they go wrong, there usually is no manual override so you can't just "live without it". Many of us questioned the necessity of our automatic windows the day after the bridge collapsed in Minneapolis wondering how we would be able to exit our vehicle under those circumstances!! |
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Replying to: bobw3 (Dec 11, 2007 6:39 pm) Kinda think that goes for anyone, or if a Chrysler owner is concerned, only swivel seats when stopped. It's called personal responsibility
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Replying to: dennisctc (Dec 12, 2007 2:26 am) I agree...but that's not how Chrysler advertises it.
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Replying to: bobw3 (Dec 12, 2007 6:06 am) And what is the problem with stopping fast while buckled in a swiveled seat doing homework? Not much different than stopping quickly with forward facing seats while holding a book is it? Better than balancing that text book on the lap and haunching over it, for that would exasperate any whiplash that might occur should one need to stop fast too. Perhaps they will be playing cards and get a jack of diamonds in the eye? No worse than a coke can in the face resulting from the cans flying out of their cup holders during a fast stop either. I find the idea of it being any more dangerous because of swiveled seats and a table compared to its counterparts as unlikely. According to the Honda salesman, a minivan is more likely to be rear ended. He told me to check out the rear end crash test results based upon this info and chose an Odyssey because it fared better than its counterparts for rear-end crash test results. Perhaps he was just trying to make a sale but, my 2 accidents that I have had in my current minivan were both being rear ended so I consider what he said as having some merit. If this be the case - having a rear facing swivel seat would be better - instead of 6 cases of whiplash, it might result in only 4 cases. |
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Replying to: mfletou1 (Dec 10, 2007 6:41 pm) When I was shopping an EX-L was exactly $29,052. THANK GOD I did not buy one because I would have been absolutely slammed on resale value. Scary thought!  At $25k, I'd probably be driving an Ody now, too. Actually, probably an EX for $23k. We did not like the leather, which we found a bit hard. 3 out of 4 of us in the family said "No" to leather. I realize this is personal preference. That meant we would lose VCM, too. Obviously, you will place the priority on the leather and moonroof because you wanted those things, and the dual zone climate control as well. That is precisely the reason you picked the Honda. Naturally!  I did notice the 07 Siennas had some stuff missing from the EX-L that we test drove, though: * better 8th seat * tow prep package was standard (gone for 2008 Sienna) * 2nd row seats tumble (Ody can be joined, though) * 3rd row can be placed for tailgate seating * plays MP3s (2008 Ody does that, not 2007) * more powerful engine * roof rack with cross bars * puddle lamps * trip computer We seat 5 often so that 8th seat was the key issue for us. Today, at these prices, it would be harder, because the Ody EX is $23k, so that's a much lower price. I'm cheap so I'd probably pick the Honda and force the nanny in to the 3rd row.  You can see, though, that depending upon your priorities, choosing either way can be justified, even now.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 12, 2007 12:35 pm) I'm not worried about resale value because 07 Ody pricing is such a quirk. This is sort of a one shot deal---essentially, 07 Ody production lasted much longer than usual for Honda because all their efforts were on the Accord launch. They wanted to try to make a little bit of a splash with the minor 08 refresh, but they knew that if they did it at the same time as the Accord intro, it would get completely ignored. So they decided to continue 07 production around 3 months longer than normal, and dealers sort of had to play along if they wanted Accord inventory. As a result, you had a lot more 07s than normal---I actually drove a 2007 Ody with a 10/07 build date--and that was in the last week of October! (Car had arrived on the lot a few days earlier...though I didn't end up buying from that dealer). Anyway, that situation hasn't happened before, and isn't likely to. 2008 prices are much higher--Honda raised the price an average of a $1000 or so for each trim line to begin withm, and vans are selling at invoice or a little above, which points an '08 EX-L without res and nav at around $29.500/$30500 range. So I think resale will remain very strong for the Ody---I just got lucky with this little quirk. If you really need a full size 8th seat, than regardless of price, you made the right decision in going with the Sienna. I've only got one kid right now, so I'm in a little different spot. I wish that our Ody had a power liftgate and a trip computer. (Though it does at least have an outside temp gauge and oil life monitor. And...I've yet to have a trip computer that actually works, even in my Camry Hybrid--its always off on MPG by a fair amount). MP3 woudl be nice, but that's an easy add-on aftermarket. The other clear advantage for the Sienna is the engine. The Ody is no slouch, but the Sienna's is the best. From a driving dynamic standpoint, I really prefer the Ody handling though, so...kind of mitigates the powertrain. The Sienna's a nice van. It was my solid second choice, and if it had been much cheaper than the Ody, than I might have gotten one. |
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Replying to: colloquor (Dec 11, 2007 3:05 pm) |
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Replying to: mfletou1 (Dec 12, 2007 2:38 pm) I don't think this is will be the case. This discounting ripples thru all previous MYs....that's just common sense. People hear about discounting thousands of dollars on brand new ones, why buy a used 2005 or 2006?, so their value will drop. If Honda is set on "Number One Selling Minivan" bragging rights, like they compete with Toyota on for mid size car, this price cutting will continue on the 08. I think it was WSJ article talking about incentives on Odys recently - I think its $2500 on the 08s even now. On the Honda site, they're advertising a $10 difference in lease rates between 07 and 08 Odys!!!
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Replying to: dennisctc (Dec 12, 2007 3:54 pm) The discounting occured for about 3 months on a very small number of Odyssey's. CarMax was selling a used '07 EXL, no RES or NAV, with 11k miles for $28998. It sold in a week. Once the '07s are gone, the incentives end. The only way for it to really affect used prices is if Honda was discounting at the time you were trying to sell your vehicle. I already explained the quirk in scheduling that caused a glut of 2007s. It was a one shot deal. And as you currently pointed out, the situation is similar on the Accord and Camry, both of which still have excellent resale. If you REALLY want to believe that resale on an Odyssey is still going to plummet, go ahead, but compared to the other vans in its class, I think that's a very tough sell.
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Replying to: mfletou1 (Dec 12, 2007 4:21 pm) Get snippy all you want, and maybe Honda isn't advertising their "incentives" to dealers, but when you can get "special leases" on 08s that are only $10/month more there's incentives. Just go to Honda.com. Or you can go to the Prices paid section for Odys and see what people are getting across the postings. And as you currently pointed out, the situation is similar on the Accord and Camry, both of which still have excellent resale. It's only similar in that they're vying for bragging rights. You're comparing apples and oranges here. It's Ody vs Caravan, and Ody will be playing in the dirt here with Dodge and lowering their prices to do so. You don't maintain resale value by adding incentives, and think people will forget in a few months, especially when incentives are continuing. I did not say resale was going to "plummet" - you did. It will certainly take a hit. I bet people are rushing to Honda dealers saying "OHhh!! give me the used 06 for same price as the 07!!!!". Ohh and you can't take one example from CarMax and make some broad assumption. That just proves there's a sucker born every minute, that's all. |
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