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I swore I'd never own a minivan, mostly due to image. Until I had kids and safety became a high priority. Of course, like most people around here who buy monster SUVs for a suburban commute, we don't tow or off-road.
I have some links and info at my site: http://www.caviller.com
My wife is going to try direct negotiations tomorrow closer to home. I have to work. It certainly seems to be a lot of trouble so far.
You can find it at this link under "Road Tests".
Steve
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Steve
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I'm a new '01 Oddyessey EX owner and new to this board. I've had it for about three weeks now, and have been happy with one exception. I've noticed a hessitation/drag when the transmission shifts gears, particularly between first and second. I'm wondering if this is a defect or just a characteristic of this vehicle? I didn't notice it during a brief test drive of another vehicle prior to purchase. I appreciate any responses.
Thanks,
John
In order to get it for MSRP, and with the options YOU want (not the ones the dealer wants), you will most likely have to "order" it. The dealer knows about 60 days in advance what the factory will make for him. Model (LX or EX), color, factory options (like NAV) etc. You then get the dealer to commit the unit to you and wait until it arrives.
My experience at Pohanka Honda of Fredericksburg, VA: Committed to an EX in dark green on November 1, 2000, at MSRP. All options I wanted would be dealer installed at MSRP. Production schedule confirmed by factory about December 15. Produced in the first 10 days of January 2001. VIN assigned and dealer notified 1/10. Van arrived 1/27. Dealer called and begged me to take delivery by 1/31--quotas, etc. When I showed up, it had mud guards and wheel locks that I planned to get from either handaaccessories.com or hondapartsforyou.com. They gave them to me for free. The options I ordered (tranny cooler $275 installed) and cassette deck ($275 installed) were put in, they did the make-ready work and I took delivery 1/31.
From what I read on this thread, my experience was fairly typical--negotiate the extended warranty if you want it (I paid $925 for the 7/100/0) and hold out for MSRP on the options YOU want. Good luck.
You need to be able to prove that you've made every reasonable effort to get the problem solved. (And, in fact, Honda doesn't want you coming back and back--messages on these threads indicate that dealers are pretty cooperative about tranny problems that show up early in the vehicle's life.)
Tranny hesitation is NOT a "normal" matter, nor is it characteristic of the Ody. Regardless whether or not you bought a Hondacare extended warranty, the tranny is covered for 3/36.
If I were you, I'd find another Odyssey and take it for a drive, to see if it acts like yours, if it does, then they probably all do it, and something is lost in translation when I compare what I think you mean with what I have experienced. If the other Odyssey shifts noticibly differently than yours, it's time to see the service manager.
I had posted this topic about a month ago concerning rough engagement of the reverse
gear from either D4 or N. The dealer had replaced the tranny (so they said) but kept the
original casing. For the first week or two after the replacement, everything seemed OK (not perfect), now it seems to go back to its old-self. So the questions are:
"Is there suppose to be a thud when going from D4 or N to R?" Did anyone else experience this? The thud is sort of like parking a car on a hill, putting it in park (without engaging the parking brake), letting it row forward/backward, and trying to shift out of park afterwards. BTW, do NOTt do what I just described! Thank you.
Druce
They guaranteed me no surprises and 2 gold vans in stock...drove up from VA and took ad...beware to the uneducated buyer...they were ready to take me to the cleaners, but I was armed and ready...tried to pressure me hard on options like $400 mud guards, $500 cassette, etc. I laughed and I held the line and said I expected a deal - below MSRP...it helped that I was ready to walk (and almost did) and I was armed with cost knowledge on the van and accessories (handaparts.com). Final deal was gold EX with pinstriping, mudguards, cassette (I install myself), wheel locks, and free oil changes for MSRP. 4 hours total from time I walked in to time I drove out with van (I had my loan ready). So, MSRP + some extras is available in DC area.
My primary salesperson was Candy, who seemed to be honest, but very inexperienced. I'd recommend her based on honesty, and she did follow-thru with getting my cassette deck to me. Of course, I had to deal with the "round robin" of people and process wasn't fun.
thanks to everyone who posted, good luck and good driving!
steve_ "Honda Odyssey Problems VII" Apr 11, 2001 11:23am
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I'll try out Neech7's suggestion and if that doesn't work, back to the dealer (2 more strikes and I get a new van!)
Druce
As far as noise is concerned, it will always be there due to design. replacing with a re-manufacturing unit will not fix it. I can't believe your dealer replaced your original trany. I think your dealer probably absorbed the cost of your tranny replacement because Honda is not going to re-imburse them. Honda has a TSB, #A00-065, that describes the engagement noise is normal. It only become a problem when after reverse gear is engaged, vehicle is accelerated and moved and a big loud bang is produced. a new tranny is then needed in that case.
The internal design of Honda, Acura automatic tranny, except Passport, are quite similar to manual transmission's. The noise you heard is normal and all automatic trany made by Honda, Acura have it.
BTW, the same type of noise is bad news on other make of automatic transmission (i.e, Toyota, GM, Ford, Maza, Isuzu, Honda Passport etc,...)
Happy driving
Honda-matics are wonderful things (I've read your theory about the synchros, or lack of). I suppose my tranny's ok, considering (1): it's been replaced (2) I've always came to a complete stop before shifting into a gear to go in the opposite direction and (3) after engaging R and moving, there is no problem whatsoever. So, I'll keep my fingers crossed! Thanks again for your support!
Regards,
Druce
2001 GG EX < 1500 miles
I submitted a request to one of the internet services today. They have two days to get the offers to me.
Given my wife's experience, I'm not willing to order the car since the dealer can just sell it to someone else if they want to.
Thanks again for your previous help!
Happy driving
I simply walked in and told them I would pay MSRP. They laughed, so I walked out and went to drive away (I figured the chances were 50/50 that they would come and get me). They actually let me start driving before the sales manager came out of the dealership and stood in front of my car and said $500 over MSRP. I said no. He said that I was crazy and good luck... I would never get that price.
So I rolled my window up, and started driving; then they sent a salesman out in the shuttle van to come and get me as I drove off. I drove back to the dealership and they agreed on MSRP with no options. They gave me the VIN # and I waited two weeks for the van. BTW, my wife loves the van.
The whole process of purchasing the van took less than 15 minutes. Why hassle with a long time negotiating... just offer list (or your price), and if they don't like it just walk out. That's the quickest way to know whether they will do MSRP. Which most will.
Good luck everyone!
Lumanski, If the sales records of F-150 and Mustangs don't impress you...I don't know what will..perhaps your Odyssey...but my point was given the fact that prices were same, I picked Expedition over Odyssey for its 4x4 and towing and room. Honda Odyssey is a great van...however I think it needs couple of years to wash off the remnants of Issuzu Oasis. They need to put the same quality they put in their Accords and Acuras into this product. Once they do it...I will buy their van.
Thank you for sharing your opinions in a civilized non-threatening manner. To answer your question, IMO I think there are two reasons: (1) Many Ody owners previously had good/great experiences with a Hondas in the past and (2) we feel that the foreign car companies do a better job of taking care of its customers than the domestics. Case in point, my dealer called me up and asked how I liked my van and whether or not I had noticed anything "not right" with the tranny. I said "yes", took the van to the dealer, test drove with them for about 3 minutes, then they offered to replace the tranny with a new one, no hassle. Compare that to the owners of DC vans and the Windstar, and you get the idea. There are problems which crop up in a couple of cars that get fixed and there are those that affect the whole product line but never gets resolved. (Think back when the Expedition first came out, they weren't exactly trouble free either, even after the first couple of years.)
The question is, given your towing capacity needs, do you think any minivan would have met those needs? The Windstar? If you feel that you need an Expedition for this, the obvious answer would be "no". To us, the Odyssey is the best van available out there, for us. Notice I didn't say that it was a perfect van. Okay, name me one minivan that is perfect, free from any problems I doubt that any car company will ever make a van that's equal to or surpasses the quality in its cars. (The Sienna is close, but still has some issues.)
As for MSRP, that is just a number derived by bean counters. I'm sure that many Ody owners would assign an MSRP higher than what it currently is, so the argument is a pretty moot one IMHO. Some of us simply don't need 4WD or 6500 - 7200 lb towing capacity period. Nice to have, but not essential. In return, we get a better handling vehicle with better gas mileage and comfort (subjective of course). Enjoy your
Expedition and happy wheelin'! Good day.
DTKWOK
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I hear rumours that Joe Isuzu is being rebaged next year to increase Honda sales. He will
advertise as Joe Honda..Any truth to that?..since Isuzu can't sell their cars ..they want to do another Odyssey/Passport run for the bank...what is your thought on it?
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I have already got my new tranny last month. The tranny never failed, it was just a thud when shifting to R from either D4 or N. But after shifting, everything worked perfectly, both in forward and reverse direction. Now, I still hear a thud but not as pronounced. Odyfan's suggestion works from time to time (I never change to a reversing gear until the car is at a dead stop). So, all in all very happy with my van!
Druce
I don't think the odessey would fit into their target audience. The nex Axiom may be re-badged as a hond passport in 2003 or 2004 though. Which would be good for honda.
-mike
Since she is now driving a 1979 Chevrolet Impala 4 door sedan (inherited from our mother) and her husband has a 1997 Nissan King Cab 4 cyl pickup, the new Odyssey EX will be a "great leap forward" in room and comfort.
We've had 3 Odys (long story) and 2 had trannies replaced while we had them. We were told that Honda would not allow the dealer to rebuild the tranny of these relatively new vehicles. Essentially, it was said that Honda wanted all problem trannies sent to them and that they wanted to take no chances on a dealer rebuild.
So, if that is true and if you still in fact have the same transmission case, your dealer is trying to pull one over on you. Perhaps the other posts that said the dealer "probably absorbed the cost" were close, though not precise. Your dealer may have just tried a few things to improve the situation and then told you that he replaced the tranny, hoping that the psych factor would kick in.
I'd check into this further if I were you.
FWIW, the wife still LOVES her Ody. But the overall experience has been a challenging one. I would consider another Honda (the Ody was our first), but I'm certainly not sold on them. My wife said that she doesn't intend to buy another Honda. But she loves this one, so you figure it out.
Have a Happy and Holy Easter.
To get 'em for MSRP, and you control the cost of the options, you have to order it from the upcoming allocations. The dealer KNOWS what's coming--color, NAV, etc., and can assign one to you, in advance, well in advance of manufacturing. I suggest that you (or your wife) go to a reputable dealer, explain what you want, and what you expect to pay, and ask them what they have coming in, within the next couple of months. If they will sell for MSRP (and walk if they won't), you only now need to get it in writing.
They should be willing to show you the printout from the factory--there are no prices on the report, so nothing confidential. Pick what you want that the dealer has not commited to another customer, submit a purchase agreement, get it signed by the manager (does ANY dealer let the salesman/woman do ANYTHING on their own :-) ??) give them a deposit ($500 is typical in the Washington, DC area) and your wait for a couple of months begins.
I don't know where you are, but this thread covers dozens of dealers nationwide who will sell at MSRP. See my prior post about Pohanka H. of Fredericksburg, VA. Odys at MSRP, with options at MSRP ARE available, as long as you are willing to wait a bit for the shipment to arrive. Good luck!
Perhaps if I was carrying a heavy load or driving in the mountains, I would consider the premium.
OT: I see if you have AOL, as your internet service provider, you can expect that things are going to slow down, on Holidays. It took a long time for even the "Buddy List" to come up
"Cause: Internal Gearing Failure
218102 Transmission/Torque Converter -
Exchange. This OP# for Auto Tran
Rebuild Program Only. S/B 90-014.
(Trans)
5027WHSC3..."
Now as I stated before, I have no other Ody transmission to compare it to (they claim no test drives on incoming Ody's.), but I figured I'll probably go to another dealer to see if they can fix this problem (if it is one). Thanks for your follow up.
Druce
ody its a good van and I'm sure your recomendation to her to buy an ody helped alot. As far as comparing one van to the other side by side let me know what you think I haven't had that chance yet. BTW as you know we have a 1k,2k,3k, ody LX taffeta white and are very very happy with it if you know what I mean. %}} I think I got em.