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Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans
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Deep Velvet Blue Pearl best Ody color no contest.
BTW, the Chrysler 3.8 makes 215 horses not 200. And also, 4 wheel disc brakes are optional on all models (if not standard) but the base SE trim which allows many people to get a feature filled van for less than 20k dolars out the door. Which Honda Odyssey model can compete with that?
Deep Velvet Blue Pearl too hot in Alabama.
Steve
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Steve
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Note the topic name = Ody vs.D/C minivans.
My Ody is a rare and valuable Deep Velvet Blue Pearl minivan EX with a lovely gray interior and a Hidden Hitch attached for easy addition of a genuine Uncle Booger's Bumper Dumper.
My son-in-law's uncle's niece, Daisy May Bob, owns a D/C minivan and she reports that it sucks pond water, although she likes the divided A/C.
Based on the empirical evidence presented, it is clear, then, that Ody is superior to D/C.
Steve
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Odyssey big like tank but not guzzle gas like tank. Odyssey and Chrysler quiet, smooth ride. Tank noisy, probably poor ride. Odyssey nicer colors than tank. Chrysler minivan also many nice colors.
Prefer Taffeta White color. Dark colors too hot, show road grime most quickly.
Ody hard to run out of gas. Still have many gallons left after signal, fool many driver run to station think tank empty.
I like the idea of Honda's third row magic seat, but only wish that Honda had implemented a split folding rear seat.
I have a fourth child on the way and need the extra utility of being able to fold down half of the third row. Folding down all of third row or taking out the middle row seats isn't an option if I want to carry my whole family.
I love the 240hp V-6 and 5-speed auto in the Honda but wound up going with a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country Limited AWD.
I chose the Chrysler because of the seating considerations, much better deal (although I may pay for it in the long run), and 7yr/100,000 mile warranty.
This is my first Chrysler product and it seems like buying any car in this day and age is a crapshoot. My wife's uncle bought a Lexus SC430 and was blowing fuses left and right, finally got it fixed after four trips to the dealer (that's how many times it took to find the electrical short).
So far, I love the minivan. It's luxurious, comfortable, economical (compared to an SUV), and fun to drive.
I have three gripes with it: I have an intermittent chirping/squealing sound from under the dashboard, the driver's side mirror bounces up and down even on the smoothest paved surfaces, and the headliner up front by the roof console is loose. Hopefully I will be able to get these things fixed and not be a regular at the Chrysler service dept.
Sales numbers are great, but I would rather know who builds the better product. I am the proud owner of a 2002 T&C Limited AWD and based on my current experience, I would guess Honda.
I love the Town & Country but I am less than thrilled about having to take it back to the dealer to get the "bugs" worked out. This is supposed to be a top-of-the-line product.
Since the Honda has only been out since '99 (The older ones were a Accord Station Wagon. Very well built but a very different car) with alot of first year issues, time will tell. Honda with the change in engine and transmission has addressed the serious issues. DC with the change in transmission and increase build quality has also addressed the serious issues.
They are both on the C/R recommend list. Actually, the DC is the only recommended option from the Big 3.
So the quality issue is not very big on either side.
Caravan Sport since 5/30/01.
We have had zero problems with this van. We now have 15,000
trouble free miles. Usually you
have a few squeaks and rattles
when you first get your vehicle.
But nothing...with this van.
Hope our good luck continues.
Just wanted to give D/C credit
where credit is due.
Luxury EX DVBP model have many extra feature, special wheel, chrome nuts hold on.
Ody01 no problem 2001 Taffeta White Odyssey EX now have 16000 miles. Pat84, whambam, many Odyssey owner no problem.
Steve (Host) no problem Nissan Quest minivan.
Read many problem some brands minivan ( Windstar Headgasket, Sienna Sludge, GM many problem, etc.)
Odyssey and Chrysler tie best minivan now.
Steve
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Sienna owner try tell Humphrey Sienna tie, Humphrey say "There ain't no lousy stinkin' ties!"
This also apply Ody vs. DC.
The Town & Country Limited AWD is in a class of its own as far as minivans go. No other van on the market offers such a blend of luxury and utility, especially considering the benefits of AWD traction. However, the AWD Limited is very expensive and also gets poor gas mileage, at least from what I've heard.
Imo454, I hope you enjoy your Town & Country as much as we have enjoyed ours.
(Actually it was almost In the Beginning there was the Ford, but Henry Ford II didn't believe in that strange idea that Lee Iaccoca and his designers had, that the world was ready for a smaller van.)
When Lee went to Chrysler, he found a company ready to accept new concepts, especially if they could be spun off of the venerable K Car chassis. Thus was born the Caravan/Voyager. Suddenly those puppies were everywhere and the factory couldn't keep up with the demand. Ford and GM, sensing a good thing, leapt into action and came up with the (drum roll please)
Aerostar and Astro
Oops. They came out with capable vans that strangely enough drove like trucks. Unfortunately, the buyers wanted vans that drove like cars. Back to the drawing board.
As time went on, the market shook down and the various manufacturers took their first stumbling steps into the world of minivans.
We are fortunate now, to be presented with a group of second or third generation minivans. As the various manufacturers tested the waters, their initial offerings seemed to be "not quite right" Honda's initial Odyssey and Toyota's Previa both fell into that category. The manufacturers studied the field carefully and released their later offerings which pretty consistently hit the target.
Today we benefit from their work. We have a series of minivans, all very capable and all offering very different features. We have a choice of sizes, performance, features and costs. Assembly quality seems to be getting better right down the road, and yes we do have Honda and Toyota to thank for that, the increased competition means that everyone has to try harder. I really do believe that DC is also trying harder. The release of the PT Cruiser proved that DC (Or at least DC Mexico) could release a solid, well assembled vehicle which is in effect it's third year of production and proving to be trouble free. Whether you call it a tall car or microvan, the entry of Toyota/Pontiac into the fray indicates that the consumer is again presented with a new level of choice.
I got more mileage (48K miles) than your T&C has, on the OEM Firestone tires on my Odyssey. BTW My Odyssey is worth more on trade in than I owe on it.
One of the biggest differences between DC and Honda minivans,is retention of value. Even DC apparently knows this.
I have noticed that many (a lot?) of people write "alot" as a single word, which it's not. Then I tried Edmund's spelling checker and it fails to call "alot" an error. What dictionary are you people using?
We don't give demerits for "chat typo" around here, but I'll mention the spell check thing to the programmers. Also, you can add words to the spell check for your own use.
Steve
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pluto5- You must have really done something to get deleted. I've been baiting 4aodge and Carlton for over a year and a half without getting an e-mail with a deletion.
It is no fun trying to bait Carlton now that he has come to the Odyssey side and changed to Ody01.
Adam-I hope you're having a good summer.
My daughter is in the market for a new van. Her current one is a '96 Voyager that has been lots of trouble. I found that Dodge has a Grand Caravan model called eL. My understanding is that it is meant to compete head-on with the Ody LX. It seems to come with a fixed set of options and there is no $3,000 cash back available. Edmunds says the TMV is $23,184. A local Honda dealer will sell her an LX for MSRP -$500 ($24,210). That makes the difference only $1,026. In looking at the two vehicles I found the Honda has 240HP vs. 180HP, 5 speed instead of 4, 16" tires instead of 15", rear disc brakes instead of drums, standard side airbag, traction control, and 38 vs. 20 cubic feet of luggage space. Given Honda's excellent resale value, it seems like a no-brainer to get the Honda. Am I missing something?
Good Luck
Grand Caravan have many nice feature not on Honda LX: padded armrests, triple zone temperature, 7 year 70,000 mile warranty, automatic door lock, overhead console many nice items.
Odyssey best minivan but more people buy Dodge and Chrysler minivan. Happy with 2001 Odyssey EX now 16,000 miles no problems.
Pay lot monies Odyssey, get lot monies back when sell.
This break tie with DC.
Like Humphrey Booger say, Ain't no lousy stinkin' ties.
Regarding the Grand Caravan EL, it does have a few features the Honda Odyssey LX does not. Such features include a split rear bench seat, trip computer, power sliding door, roof rack, and optional center removable console. Not to mention the 70k mile warranty and slightly lower price. I personal think the Odyssey LX is one of the ugliest minivans on the road with no roof rack, cheap wheel covers, and gray handles. But I don't know if looks matter to your daughter as much as they do to me.
All this talk of odd1 being Carelton is ridiculous. I frequently speak with Carl outside of Troll Hall and he is not odd1 and doesnt even post any more here at Edmunds simply because he can't. Carl just purchased a 2002 Town & Country EL not so long ago and is really enjoying it.
And yes, the Grand Caravan EL does have padded armrest.
Also, if you really want four wheel disc brakes go with the Town & Country EL which comes standard with them. But I wouldn't worry about it since braking on any DC minivan is excellent in the first place, regardless of the brake configuration.
Odyssey not need pad, can use small pillow.
My Odyssey doesn't have a spilt rear bench? No, it has a fold away bench. Does the GCEL have that?
My Odyssey doesn't have a removable console? Oh, that's right, the STANDARD tray just folds down. Does the GCEL have that?
Btw, my door handles are black, not gray. Considering how important looks are to you, I'm surprised you missed that.
Every reader know Chrysler bad transmissions 1996/Odyssey bad transmissions 1999. Every reader know both now good transmissions.
Every reader know Odyssey large deposit long waiting list, no discount. Chrysler minivan large discount, no waiting list.
Why Dodge #1 selling minivan, Chrysler #2?
Glad Honda make few Odyssey, not fill demand. Keep Odyssey resale high so can buy Sedona.
Not easy for bankrupt company honor warranty.
Longer standard warranty, more flaw have to cover up to make sale.
Next year DC have 10 year, 100,000 mi. warranty?
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Can your Odyssey still carry 5 people and have even more room for luggage with half the rear split bench taken out? No.
And does your "cheap" and "flimsy" center tray power your cell phone, hold a DVD player, and act as a large storage bin or ice chest? No.
Also, can passengers in your Odyssey LX select their A/C temperatures in three individual zones? Of course not.
Did your Odyssey come with a power sliding door w/ obstacle detection? Nope.
Lastly, does your Odyssey with no roof rack, cheap wheel covers and black door handles look as good as a Grand Caravan with body color handles? We all know the answer to that question.
I have seen 18 wheelers going down hill at 80 mph with 2 passengers and AC on. Depending on whether the 80 mph 18 wheeler is about to get out and pass another 18 wheeler going 75 mph and an up hill part of the road is coming up (so both 18 wheelers will remain passing each other at 25 and 24 mph respectively) I will pass the 80 mph 18 wheeler. I have had my 99 odyssey over 100 fully loaded with the AC on.
I owned a 96 Grand caravan with the 3.3 V6. The big difference between that and the Odyssey is that the Odyssey has independent suspension and holds the road much better at high speed. The odyssey has plenty of acceleration at 80 mph, too. The 3.3 did not.
BTW the Odyssey sliding doors do stop when the encounter an obstacle.
Hope you don't ever pee in a pool.