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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: maryh3 (Nov 14, 2007 8:21 pm) |
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Replying to: maryh3 (Nov 14, 2007 12:30 pm) And who would you put in the third row of seats, tiny humans? The XC-90's third row is not habitable for adult humans. I know and have tried to sit there.
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Replying to: thegraduate (Nov 14, 2007 9:25 pm) Some people on here bash Consumer Reports' annual auto survey as taking too much time to complete yet spend hours on here posting. I consider the CR comments and actual owner's evaluations to be far more accurate because they take a weighted total from a large group. As I have said many times, a person who spends BIG bucks to buy a Chrysler mini to see its value drop 50% in the first year HAS to defend their purchase. Others will try to impress you because they own a luxury nameplate car. We have had those too in this family only to see them as huge piles of junk. Nothing and no one is served by bashing another member. If the core purpose of this forum was adhered to then valuable information might be exchanged. Grad, keep on posting!
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Replying to: dennisctc (Nov 15, 2007 3:40 am)  It sounds to me like the Chrysler defensiveness is caused by folks trying to convince others that they made the best choice in their purchase. Usually when someone is trying to convince others, it's mostly because they were unsure of their decision in the first place. Now if you really like the stowNgo or swivel seats, then the T&C/Caravan is the only choice. But if those two features aren't important, then what? You can probably get a T&C/Caravan cheaper with the discounts. Look at other cars in the linup...Calibur or Sebring. How do those compare to a Toyota Matrix or Accord? But it's good to have die-hard manufacturer loyalists like some of those here. It's makes for fun (if slanted) conversation!
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Replying to: thegraduate (Nov 14, 2007 9:25 pm) I found this comment rather arrogant. I get exactly what you mean. However, with all the floatiness of the T&C -- it still handles remarkably well. No personal attacks on my ability to determine a good handling auto please. IMO the 08 T&C was both - good driving - responsive, good traction, good steering and cushy at the same time. It is fair to say that the things that bothered me about the Odyssey may have tainted my test drive -- when something bothers you you don't see the good because of the bad. But I didn't feel the alleged horse power difference between the Odyssey and the T&C -- either engine. |
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Replying to: bobw3 (Nov 15, 2007 6:15 am) Unfortunately this is exactly how I feel about Odyssey owners. It is almost as if they can't handle someone not liking that van. And again trying to convince themselves they made the right choice, that Honda is not having design, reliability or quality issues just like everyother auto manufacturer is. I may have chosen an Odyssey had they not moved the spare tire into the window and split the 2nd window into 2 windows with thick black moulding further obscuring vision. Wanted an Oddy in 2000 - but too long of a wait. Thought I settled for a T&C and transmission problems. Now it looks like I made the right choice years ago, and I suspect I did so again. |
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Replying to: artgpo (Nov 15, 2007 5:41 am) |
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but its pretty hard for me to take anyone seriously who says they don't want a "Japanese feel" in a minivan. It just shows a lack of product knowledge. The two Japanese entries in this segment (unlike the Chrysler minivans, by the way, these two are actually made in the US, but I digress) are the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. In terms of "feel," they could not be more different. If you want a "relaxed, Cadillac" feel in a minivan, than the Sienna gives you exactly that. It rides softer than either the Honda or the Dodge/Chrysler. Numerous reviews and my own test drive confirm the cushy, plush sort of ride in the Toyota. When you combine that with a torque 3.5L V6, you get quite the "relaxing" ride. The Honda, on the other hand rides more like a sedan. Its certainly not harsh--we're not talking BMW here--but it does communicate more with the road. The steering is very precise and weighted perfectly. A few relevant impressions from the Edmunds Ody vs. '08 DGC comparison test: At the test track the Honda kicked butt, pulling 0.76g on the skid pad compared to the Dodge's 0.71g and traipsed through the slalom at 60.3 mph compared to the Dodge's 56.2 mph. Neither is going to give a Lotus Elise a run for its money, but if there's such a thing as a "driver's minivan," the Odyssey is it. It also rides better. The Odyssey's ride is composed and recovers nicely from any sort of upheaval. The Grand Caravan isn't bad, but there's more impact harshness over larger pavement cracks, and recovery after a disruption takes longer. In sum, the Dodge doesn't feel as substantial or refined as the Honda — which is only exaggerated by the cheap feel of controls like the steering wheel and transmission shifter. In our 60-mph-to-0 braking test, the results were close, 131 feet for the Honda and 134 feet for the Dodge, but the Honda's firm pedal was preferred over the Caravan's, which alarmingly traveled all the way to the floor on every run. There's no denying the Honda feels better assembled, plus its navigation system proved to be easier to program and its screen is larger. We also give the seat comfort crown to the Honda. Both vans were subjected to family road trips during their stay with us, and the Honda's driver seat was voted to be more comfortable over the long haul. And then there's price. Some careful excision of the Grand Caravan's more lavish options would bring the prices closer together, but the Dodge's $39,305 as-tested sticker is a thick $3,815 more than the Honda's $35,490 bottom line.
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on the issue of noise. Also from Edmunds, '08 DGC vs Ody: DGC: Db  Idle: 44.7 Db Full Throttle: 77.8 Db 70 mph Cruise: 70.2 Ody: Db Idle: 44.8 Db Full Throttle: 72.1 Db 70 mph Cruise: 67.2 In other words---at both full throttle and at cruise, the Ody is significantly quieter than the Grand Caravan. And on turning circle--which is particularly important to my wife, who will be using this van in many parking lots, grocery shopping, etc: Dodge-39.1 Honda-36.7 And did I mention it was cheaper?
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Replying to: dennisctc (Nov 15, 2007 4:04 am) When the host steps in and decides we can only talk about vehicles we currently own, I'll happily leave. Until then, you can get over it. I'm here; if you don't feel my posts are valid, please feel free to SKIP THEM. What is "the Japanese feel?" Would you clue me in please, I can't say I've heard of it. Not so much "feel" but Honda aren't exactly the quietess vehicles on the road. Their noisy high reving engine can be really anoying. So Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, etc... are all the same? My question was directed at someone else. I was looking for their view of the Japanese feel, as relative to their DCX product. Toyotas feel an awful lot different than Hondas do. They are a lot quieter, and a lot softer-riding. I equated them to the last Grand Caravan SXT I drove (which was a prev. gen model). Hondas are more sporty in handling and ride (meaning firmer) while DCX and Toyota are more cushy, although the Dodge made a ruckus when pushed above 3k RPM.
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