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Honda may prove me wrong, but I think marketing is the key. Why add conventional side air bags to a vehicle which has a 5-star side impact rating, especially when competitors (Saturn, VW, Chrysler [Stratus, Sebring], most luxury makes) are already introducing head/chest and curtain-style side airbags? Incidentally, I did not mean to imply that these airbags are a good substitute for seatbelts or a good structure. Head and curtain-style airbags are not only for rollover protection, they also protect the head in more typical side impacts. Curtains also typically stay inflated longer, which can help if the car does proceed to roll or have a secondary impact. In any case, side impacts with taller vehicles like pickups often require head protection to prevent death. See http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2000/pr121400.htm or http://www.hwysafety.org/srpdfs/sr3601.pdf
Thanks for the new rollover ratings. A different rating was released last year and can be found at http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/autos/mauto695.htm
As for mileage, if you live in cold-weather, you have many factors to consider. These include longer warmups, longer idling time in worse traffic, reformulated gas, operation of the A/C (automatically comes on with defroster), cold temps, snow/slush on road, etc. See the chart at the end of this link: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfgecon.htm
Best to give your van until spring to get a good idea of fuel economy. Plus, any break-in effects should be leveling off by then as well.
What's your basis for the fire hazard claim about cloth seats? It seems to me that, regardless of whether the seat is covered with leather or cloth, the seat heater goes on top of foam, which could present the same hazard. Plus, my Saab (with cloth seats) came with seat heaters.
At the same time, seat heaters that you plug into cigarette lighters and put on top of the seats have disappeared from the stores, for some unknown reason.
I checked out this van thoroughly before buying, test driving it three times, and compared closely to other vans. The Honda quality is all through this vehicle. BTW, this is my 4th Honda, and I hold them a long time.
See my comments in carreview.com about towing- I've put 7000 miles on the Odyssey towing a 19 foot Airstream Bambi travel trailer, and have had outstanding experience. This trailer loads to over 4500 lbs (1000 lbs in excess of Honda recommendation limit) and has 500 lbs tongue weight, but with Airlift suspension in rear the Odyssey handles perfectly. I have a class-3 hitch and transmission cooler installed, I change oil every 3000 miles, and change trans fluid every 3000 miles when towing.
Mileage WITH the trailer averages 12.5 mpg over the 7000 miles towing. Mileage without trailer averages 24.4 mpg for the other 30000 miles. I do lots of highway driving and upgraded tires to Goodyear Weatherhandler 205-60R16 for the extra sidewall strength.
Have had excellent maintenance service from Honda VIllage(Greensburg PA) and Hyannis Honda (Hyannis MA). Broke three rear exterior door handles, due to sticking gaskets, (all fixed in warranty) but otherwise no problems to speak of. I'm a big person and the front seat is great for those long trips. Handling and driveability is excellent in all weather conditions.
Lots of pickup and go when needed- I just pulled this trailer on I-80 and I81 for 2500 miles last month in the winter, and was doing 70mph passing tractor-trailers uphill. The Acura engine with the 4-speed transmission is robust and reliable, with smooth shifts and consistent performance.
As for mileage and fuel gauge - I have exactly the same complaints. I've been reading these postings for the past 2 months, seen similar complaints, but not a single positive resolution.
However, just about all manufacturer's curtain style airbags do not deploy in rollovers. Only Ford's (for now) will for their '02 Explorer. As mentioned earlier, this is a late avaliability option as the rollover sensor needs to be integrated and connected to the curtain airbags. Till then, the curtain bags will only deploy in a side impact.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hope they add BOTH the normal side impact airbags and curtain style airbags. Not just the latter. If not for marketing, at least for safety. Honda/Acura currently doesn't offer curtain style airbags, so I'm going to guess that they're going to offer the normal side impact airbags first, before the curtain ones.
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Consumer Reports and Volvo have some additional comments about the benefits of curtain style bags with regard to ejections, secondary impacts and rollover.
The Ford system will be a nice step if effective. Delphi is also developing such a system, but I don't know who will be using it (Presumably GM). I suspect this will be pretty common for all manufacturers as rollovers gain more press.
Any other general complaints about this mini van?
Thanks!
W.
Our Outback rates EXCELLENT. It's a 2000 auto with AWD and Limited Slip rear differential and Firestone Wilderness (HT H-rated passenger car) tires. It's really point and go.
If you need a van with AWD, you can get the Chrysler cans or some of the smaller cargo vans. I believe the GM vans will get versatrak AWD next year, and the Windstar will get AWD the year after according the BlueOvalNews...
I would say most complaints are w/ EX power door probs. I have one of the problems. Dealer and American Honda have been trying to get it fixed, and have been genuinely helpful - doubt it is anything serious but it is pesky. I am bringing in the van later this month. That is life w/ power sliders - my sister has power slider problems in a Windstar and good friends have problems in their GM (Montana) van.
The EX has many cool features like auto climate control, steering wheel radio controls, auto-off headlamps, remote door unlock/slider opener, etc. Prior to '01 only could get TCS on EX, but now since also on LX, makes this model viable option in snow lands if you can skip the cool stuff along with the power sliders.
Spending some time perusing this topic from post #1, if you have not it yet, would be time well spent. This forum is informative, though sometimes tangential.
Good luck. Do not pay over MSRP. Buy from a dealer you trust. I did, and it was really helpful for me when the doors started beeping for no good reason. Genuinely concerned salesman has been a major resource in dealing w/ the service dept on the door problem.
I-70 west of Denver in our Odyssey. We saw four or five accidents and several cars that had gone off the road. We have the standard Michelin tires on our 2000 Odyssey and had no problems, using 3rd gear and driving about 25 mph. I feel as comfortable in our Odyssey as when using four-wheel drive in our Jeep. But I think the main factor is to SLOW down. Based on 25 years' experience with Jeeps, four-wheel drive does not seem to help much when braking, even with snow tires. Many/most people drive vehicles with four-wheel drive like idiots on slick roads!
She said that upgrades are in the works for the Odyssey in particular - more power and better speakers to fill the large interior and also factory rear entertainment systems (VHS and DAD). Help is on the way!! Might be worth the wait for the improved sound.
Thank you geb1 for the inside information on the 2002 Odyssey. It makes sense that they would increase the horsepower, as Chrysler is comming out with their 3.5 engine, which will have more horsepower then the current Odyssey. Also a number of people on this board have asked for a better sound system.
If the low fuel light comes on at four gallons I would think that is OK. That would say their is about enough gas to get you 64 to 80 miles depending on your load. If you are on a trip and in a place were the gas stations are far between, I don't think you would want to cut it closer. Also gives you time to run a number of errands,if you are in a hurry and then go to the gas station when you are finished. Maybe they should have a one gallon light also for those who like to cut it close.
Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks for any advice...
Maria
mariau - Try www.tirerack.com. You input your vehicle information and they come back with a number of tires which will fit it. You should be sure that the tires available are weight rated for the Ody.
I did get snow tires for my Y2K Ody. Since we are shuttling 2 little ones now, it seemed worth the $500 for tires and rims to ensure a little more safety. Thus far the Michelin Arctic Alpins have been great for the 3 snow falls we have had thus far.
There is a technical service bulletin SB608017 which indicate that the low fuel light is designed to come on around 1/4 tank.
I think the washers are okay. It is the wipers that do not do a good job since when I clean my windshield while driving, I'll get washer fluid on my front, side and back windows but the passenger side windshield just doesn't get clean.
I agree it is the Michelin Symmetry tires (P215/65 R16 for '01 and '00 EX models) over concrete roads that are making the noise. Since when driven over asphalt, there is no tire noise and the van is very quite. The asphalt may be absorbing some of the road noise but there is a big difference. Also the tires will sing different tunes over different types of concrete roads.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/bridgestone/bs_re910.htm
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Since I don't much care for Firestone (in spite of the good service from this set), I replaced them with 235/60-16 (not factory size, btw) Michelin Symmetry tires. The ride is much improved!
I drove them through Western Michigan's lake effect snow belt right after Christmas and they handled exceptionally well in the snow. (They had 70+ inches in December.)
In considering replacement tires, you might want to look at the treadwear/life of the tires. The Ody is a very heavy vehicle, and those with low treadwear/life ratings will probably wear out quickly; and a performance tire is not really needed on this van.
Thanks.
They fit the wheel wells well. It looks like they should be enough room for the cable type "chains", but I can't say for sure. I've cornered these tires hard on occasion, and there's never been any rubbing.
As to road noise, they're quieter than the Firestones; and the ride is a fair bit firmer. I like 'em!
"I remember, if my memory is accurate, reading several posts on this board that said that the second seat back, (middle seat), use to be available as a 3 passenger bench seat on the Odyssey, but because of lack of demand it was no longer available."
In 1999 when I began looking, an Internet site listed an 8 pass configuration - the LX-B. This contained middle row bench seat. Despite really wanting the gadgets of the EX, I consented to order the LX-B due to the practicality of the additional passenger capacity. When I went to dealers summer '99 this LX-B was a piece of Odyssey history (along with the dark blue color soon after) apparently due to lack of demand.
My personal thought is that the utility of 8 seats is important. I have been hoping Honda or some after market producer would sell a 3 seater middle row that latches on to the existing capt'n chair anchors. GM vans seat 8 - anyone at Honda listening?
1. What if you start to shut the door and notice a kid's leg is there. Do you have time to look for your key and try to shut it? I doubt it. Can you stop the door from shutting or will it stop when it hits an object like a garage door? I'm concerned!!!
2. What it the automatic feature breaks. Can you still shut the door manually?
Please help
If the door motors malfunction, you can still open and close the doors by hand. It's not easy because you must overcome the resistance of the motor, but it can be done. I've only had to do it once.
Best of Luck
The 225/60X16 size has the same rolling radius as the stock 215/65X16, just a wee bit more meat on the ground.
The price (www.discounttiredirect.com)isn't bad either!
Nitto NT 460 Premium High speed touring all-season
P225/60R-16 97H UTQG: 460AA $59:00
My dealer, who in my book has a good reputation and very good service dept. based on my '94 Accord experience, not only can get me an Odyssey in less than a month, they actually have a few of them on the lot. They get them from Canada, built for Canada, and they switch out the speedometer to US/non-metric at no extra charge - they stick to MSRP.
My question is, are these Odysseys any different in build or features? Are they more rugged or do they have heavier duty components for the tougher weather (for instance I think I remember reading something about a sturdier rear wiper?). Would you expect better built vans from the Canadian assembly line since it has been operating longer the US one? Thanks for any insight.