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Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans
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Email secret for now so FBI not find and question again. Also want to keep undercover while H.E.I.T. Fear many DC owners write notes try and get secret information on new cars and vans.
B-diddy break whambam code. Max have penchant for old David Bowie song, Suffraget City.
Bdaddy (Honda Engineer In Training)
After much comparison and almost falling into the Odyssey "hype" (I own a '98 Accord - very good car), the DGC was really the better value and more accommodating for my family. The best price I got on a Odyssey EX was $5,300 off the sticker of $27,450 with my trade for a net of $22,150. I got a DGC EX with Side ABS and left sliding door (sticker price $27,500) for $20,025 with my trade. They also added for no extra charge an in-dash/ceiling mounted DVD player and additional transmission and engine cooling for towing more than 2,000 lbs.
The only thing the Ody had over the DGC was a little more power and slightly better crash test scores. The "magic seat" means almost nothing to us - the power liftgate is much more useful (especially since my wife is 5'1" tall).
To us the DGC was more comfortable, quieter, almost as powerful, easier to access the rear bench, and has more useful features such as the trip computer/compass, DVD player, power liftgate, CD AND cassette, and better sounding stereo.
My biggest concern with the DGC was reliability but, quite honestly, the Ody has not been "Honda-stellar" in that arena. Consumer Reports shows the Ody and DGC virtually equal on frequency of repairs and both are recommended. With the free 7-70 engine warranty on the DGC, I felt better about the DGC long-term (as I plan to keep this vehicle 6 or 7 years). Just look at the number of messages in the "Ody problem" discussion versus the number in the "Chrysler/Dodge van problems" discussions. Given the much higher volume of Chrysler/Dodge vans sold, the problems seem to be disproportionate against the Ody.
Good luck shopping!! I am happy.
Glad all like choice of Honda/ DC van they buy. Too bad wives not think you and brother funny.
Does brother own minivan ?
rbell2 - I'm glad to hear that you got good service from your '96, especially since that was one of DC's most problematic years. It sounds like you got a good deal on your new van. I wouldn't mind having the DVD entertainment system. I originally thought the power liftgate was a waste of money but it seems that most women that I talk to like the idea as they are generally smaller and have a harder time reaching up and pulling the gate down. I guess that I am lucky that it is not a big deal to my wife as our van doesn't have any of the power doors.
Meanwhile, the 2003 Grand Caravan SE with 3.3L V6 has EPA rating of 19 City 26 Highway while the 2003 Caravan SE with 2.4L 4 cyl has EPA rating of 21 City 27 Highway.
Will be interesting to see if EPA ratings of other minivans has also increased for 2003.
You claim DC is so great. Now I see they are recalling all PT Cruisers for fuel leaks. Can't they make anything that don't leak fuel. Of course I guess that could be one way of selling more vehicles than Honda. Burn them up so the insurance companies have to replace them. At least the Odyssey wasn't on fire.
As for the PT Cruiser recall, no PT Cruisers have "blown up" as a result of faulty part. There have been no death and no injuries and no known incidents or problems that have been reported as a result of the fuel line. Those are the facts. You claim Honda is so great. Yet we both know Odyssey quality and reliablity is not up to par. The woman I saw who was probably BROKEN DOWN on the side of the road only further proves that point.
Interesting, I have a 2000 Town & Country which has not been recalled for anything and is doing just fine with 48k miles...
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
See this link
http://members.tripod.com/~viningM/manifold.JPG
She may have been on her cell phone telling her family that dinner would be ready in 5 minutes.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
And you talk about maturity.
Talk cheap.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Honda Owners like the Odyssey
DC owners like the DC vans
Each has good and bad features
It took 1542 posts to get that far.
Now I have close to 40k miles on the van. It has not been perfect (TSB repair on cruise control, high note horn replaced, EGR valve replaced) but has been a perfectly good family hauler.
It has been quiet (well after I adjusted the left side sliding door, and fixed a rattle from the steering wheel), comfortable (upto 1000 miles a day without a problem), economical (usually 20-24 mpg, best 29.4 mpg (not a typo, 29.4), worst 16 mpg) and above all reliable (never let me down so far, despite going upto 111 mph, and cruising at 80-90 mph all day long).
Frankly, I admit to having been a bit apprehensive about buying an "american" vehicle because of their perceived unreliability. And this was based partly on my long experience with Japanese makes (Suzuki, Diahatsu, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda). I think that the Dodge GCS has been as good a vehicle as any japanese one that I have owned.
I am sure an Odyssey would have served me and my family equally well.
I do keep on top of maintenance myself. And I think this is a key factor when comparing vans, other than emotions and childish mine-is-better-than-yours arguments.
To each their own: some will find the magic seat a must-have feature, some will find the Odyssey noisy, or have a mediocre stereo, some will quote lots of friends stranded by transmission woes on Chrysler vans, and so on and on.
However, they are both good vehicles with their own characteristics and features. And in the long run, the owner and his attention to maintenance and driving habits will perhaps be the most important determinant of long-term performance of what is a relatively complex, but still only a machine.
Maybe the lady broken down in the Odyssey never changed the oil. Maybe sliding doors on both makes need not be slammed or they will malfunction or rattle. Maybe the 401TE transmission should have 10k oil changes with type 7176 fluid only.
A high-revving 240 hp OHC engine may be good for some, some may like an old-style OHV engine with more torque lower down in the rpm range. At the end of day, they both do 0-60 in 9-10 seconds, and it is perhaps more important not to spill any drinks than making it to the next red light first.
I could go on and on, but I think I have rambled enough to make my point. This forum, and other fora on Edmunds should be more informative rather than argumentative.
Maintenance tips, quirks and features of a particular make, tips to help out, statistics (like the ones above), and just plain good advice are my favourite messages. And if we can all have such a discourse in a pleasant and friendly manner, then it would be wonderful. Otherwise, it can become a bit tedious to sift through a lot of dirt to pan out the diamonds.
Cruise control, brakes, leaks, and engine check light so far in one year. He drives it hard, I suppose, but he is getting a little disillusioned with the "quality".
Also, the NAV system voice wont turn down independently. He has to turn his music down along with it. Kinda annoying if you want to listen to your tunes loud and not have the NAV voice screaming at you.
He regrets not getting a Buick Rendezvous after seeing Buick top Honda in the last J.D. powers quality poll, and the Buick would have been cheaper by a lot with the discounts.
Seems tho dat dem boys at Mazder done stole the magic seat an da quality for der minivans. Maybe da Auburn Hillbillies can steal some a dat too.
I ended up paying 3k US to get out of the lease and headed to Honda (this was around sept 2000, after most of the hype of the oddessy was gone). The dealer was only willing to sell at MSRP 33k CDN for a base model, around 22k US (Canadian cars are usually cheaper), and not negotiate any discounts or offer incentives.
Because I was cash-strapped, I went over to the DC dealer. for under 30k CDN (20K US), i got a loaded SE Sport DGC, with everything the top of the line ES had, except awd, leather, and 17' wheels (the 16s were fine, and still large in this class) and got a 1.9% lease.
For less than the cost of the sienna or odesssy, i got an almost fully loaded DGC. To this date, I have not had any serious issues with the DGC except for a minor sqeek or rattle, but the good looks of the DGC and its significant cost advantage makes it acceptable.
The DC minivans don't have great resale value but they can be purchased at a lower price than the Odyssey, which easily holds its value well over the years. Good luck with your choice. If I were you, I'd buy the Town & Country Limited, especially since its a 37k dolar vehicle you can buy for only 30k. What a deal!
Of course, if you want a subwoofer and other goodies, you will spend a lot more.
As for armrest comfort, I'll leave that debate for someone else....
Remarks such as the Odyssey's sound system is significantly lackluster and lacking in comparison to the DC Infinity sound system are presumedley acceptable.
I took out my donut spare and keep my hat collection in the sack that the real tire was supposed to go in.
I, too, have a 99 Odyssey. It still runs like new with over 62,000 miles. I get 20.5 MPG commuting, about equal city and highway.
I get a little better than 25 on the highway, but I drive faster than 70 . I did a 540 mile trip at over a 75 MPH average. That included 1 gas stop and 1 rest stop.