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Now to be fair, I didn't take either van on a slalom course to see which behaved better, or who did better in the 1/4 mile. I did not do a hot lap around Watkins Glen, although that would have been amusing. And guess what - no one else here on this board with the exception of you perhaps, will be doing that either. What I did do, was compare van features, like the fold away seats, how my child seats fit, and how a stroller and groceries will all fit into the back, while seating 7 people. Typical issues when shopping for a 3 series, right?
Comparing the Sienna to a Lexus is an understandable analogy, since Toyota owns Lexus, and a sharing between the two is likely. But the Odyssey and say a BMW 3 series share nothing (obviously since they are two different manufacturers, but their designs and philosophies are completety different). If you want to continue going on about how the Odyssey is sportier than the Sienna and is similar to a BMW, fine, that's your right, but I will continue giving my opinion too, and that is that minivans are not sport enthusiast vehicles, and are not intended to be, capiche?
The Hemi would be SWEET!! Get me one too!!!! They can call it the DGC SRT8 Family racing vehicle!
For example, if I did not get on this board before going back to Honda, I would have bought the Odyssey Touring, not knowing the PAX tires are not available for them in Germany (this has been confirmed). So I would of moved over there and been stuck after a puncture. I also came on this board to ask which vehicle may perform better on the autobahn, doing around 95mph for 5 years. Haven't really got a straight forward answer, but what do you expect? This is America and we have speed limits, so I understand that people may not have the answer to that question.
So I remain torn between the Ody and the Sienna. The Sienna XLE at least has fog lights, which I would really need in Germany. And I think the power tailgate would be useful, Ody doesn't have those features on the EX-L. Plus, the '06 Sienna is supposed to add puddle lighting, 2 new colors, new wheels, new front end and tail lights, POWER 3rd row seat (Hello!), new optitron gauges, and turning signals in the mirrors. There just seems to be so much more on the XLE alone than the EX-L, but we really like Hondas because of their resale values and dependability (we have had about 15 Hondas in my family alone). I also do not like the exterior of the Sienna. I am only in my mid twenties and I love the sportier look of the Ody. They just screwed up making those dang PAX tires standard on the Touring. Not everyone wants the tires, but we want the other features.
So being that I have learned so much from this board, I will not let someone's misguiding views lead me not to come on here. We do all have our own opinions anyway. Hopefully I will have my mind made up when my husband returns from Iraq in Oct. (I pray for his safe return), then we will get whatever, prepare for our move back to Germany, and be happy. But until then, I for one will continue seeking these boards for advice. Thank you all!
Based on driving each, maybe the difference between the performance of the Sienna and Ody depends on the individual vehicle of each.
Not TOO SURE! Since by your response, it is not obvious that you do. Maybe it would be a waste of time to continue to illustrate...
In the minivan category, the Ody is called(i.e. nickname/alias) the "BMW"(By Edmunds.com - this same forum source) of this segment because of its better dynamics and handling characteristics.
The Sienna is called the "Lexus" of this segment because of its quietness and luxury amenities, etc.
FYI, The Freestyle is NOT a minivan, but a Crossover - it does not know what it wants to be, pretending to be a half breed SUV/minivan. The Freestar is the minivan which scored dead last in the 5 minivan comparo of June 2004 C &D. Ford and GM have given up on minivans as shown by the poor execution of their models.
"If you want to continue going on about how the Odyssey is sportier than the Sienna and is similar to a BMW, fine, that's your right, but I will continue giving my opinion too, and that is that minivans are not sport enthusiast vehicles, and are not intended to be, capiche? "
In my family of 5 vehicles, we always pick the ones that are fun and exciting to drive. We needed a minivan and the Ody was it. It is judged the best in handling and spirited driving by 7+ independent sources. I support their findings after test driving all the competing minivans, including 70+ minivan rentals, mostly DGCs and some loaded virgin T & Cs.
If you believe that you have more wealth of knowledge than all(7+) independent agencies/sources who have tested all the minivans and supported the Ody with awards/accollades, then that must be interesting - VERY INTERESTING!
Capiche? Comprendo?
Mit freundlichen Grüssen (As they say in German)
The problem I have with this analogy (and yes, I understand what the term 'analogy' means) is that it is so completely misleading.
The Odyssey does give the impression that it is more 'sporting' than the Sienna (due to it's firmer ride/steering and chassis control). But the differences between the Ody and the Sienna are SLIGHT in this regard. With regards to performance and chassis control, the Ody and the Sienna are MUCH closer in feel than, say, the difference between an actual BMW and Lexus.
At the same time, the Sienna does give the impression of more luxuory/isolation than the Ody; but again, the differences (IMO) are also slight in this regard. Personally, I think the two vans feel more similar in terms of creature comforts than in a similar comparison between a BMW and a Lexus.
Odyssey the BMW of minivans? The key terms that everyone should key in on are "of minivans" Kinda like if I shoot a round of 'horse' with my half-blind brother, I would be the 'Michael Jordan' of the family. Entertaining but doesn't mean a damn thing.
Just remember that the Oldsmobile Silhouette is the undisputed "Cadillac of minivans."
Ody - "BMW" of minivans
Sienna - "M-B" of minivans
They are both fine vehicles. It is just that the Ody suits my driving preference better.
My son uses his father-in-law's new toy frequently. It is a new M-B SL500. Lovely car - which causes a lot of head turns when you cruise the parkways.
Hasta la vista!
Buick is next???
Same with Crown Vic and Grand Marquis. But Ford is lucky here that the police and taxis use them.
Buick is trying to change that image with the Lacrosse. But I heard many seniors prefer the previous designs/shapes.
Toyota has changed that image with the 2006 Avalon.
It looks like the Baby Boomers are not yet ready to succumb to the golden age that quickly!
You might as well call the Ody the "F-16 of minivans" or the "McLaren F1 of minivans". Or maybe the ".454 Casull of minivans".
The 'BMW of minivans' is absolute, pure, 100% hyperbole and has absolutely NO relevance in the real word. My 'driving preference' would be a 10-year old Honda Civic over an Odyssey.
Look, I have an '05 Ody. It drives.....okay. Doesn't it 'handle' better than the Sienna? Yes, a bit. But the difference was marginal. Was the Sienna more cushy/comfy (Lexus-like)? Yes, a bit. Again, the difference was marginal. But you try to make it sound like one would get behind the wheel of an Odyssey and start channeling Aryton Senna. Uh, no.
Yes the Ody is not a "BMW"
Yes the Sienna is not a "M-B" or 'Lexus"
But the BMW tends to have a better drive feeling than the M-B(even more than the Lexus) in the car category, just like the Ody is vs the Sienna in the minvian category.
They are both fine vehicles - it all depends on one's personal driving preference. Like you said many times before, you could have purchased the Sienna as well.
"just like"?
No. There is a much wider range of drive feel between the BMW and the MB (or Lexus). The differences are huge. There is a very narrow range of difference between the Ody and the Sienna. That is why I have a problem with the analogy. One can't use these analogies for 'relative ease of comparo' because while there IS a large difference between the BMW/Lexus comparo, there is NOT in an Ody/Sienna comparo.
Try this on: under your logic, I could call the Ody the "F1 of minivans" and the Sienna the "Maybach of minivans". The problem is that there is an absolute universe of difference between a McLaren F1 and a Maybach while there is NOT between the Ody and the Sienna.
If you insist on analogies for 'ease of comparo' , how about: the Ody is the 'Accord' of minivans and the Sienna is the 'Camry' of minivans. This would actually convey a more realistic comparisons of the strengths of the two vehicles. Of course, it doesn't sound nearly as sexy as comparing it to a BMW.....
Not prepared to go further.
If BMW were to make a minivan, do you think it would drive just like an Odyssey?
After all, Honda makes the Pilot. I can certainly envision you making some statement like "the Pilot is the BMW of SUV's". But BMW does make an SUV. So, do you think the Pilot drives just like an X5?
Since I do not wish to use my personal resources on this further, I suggest that you take the subject up with Edmunds.com which had a paragraph(which I concur with) in their 2004 minivan comparo in the link,
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=101676/pageId=58617
with extracted paragraph,
"If you value sporty handling and sedanlike driving dynamics above all else, then get the Odyssey. Where the Sienna is the Lexus of minvans, the Odyssey is the BMW of minivans. The Odyssey is actually fun to pilot down a twisty mountain road. Here's a really great quote from our editor in chief that effectively sums up how we feel about the Odyssey's driving dynamics: "Honda has done a great job of making the Odyssey drive, ride and feel like a big Accord." And that, as they say, is a good thing. The Odyssey also earns five stars in government crash tests."
The 2005 Ody would fare better with its improvement and indeed trade places to the top spot in the 2005 comparo.
First, reviewers utilize excessive hyperbole all the time. It's called entertainment and is expected. You should see some of the hyperbole thrown around in C&D from time to time; I remember one analogy comparing the handling characteristics of the subject vehicle to "a pregnant water buffalo with dysentary". Humorous? Certainly. But not to be taken seriously (I can just see a customer expressing real concern to a salesman that he heard that car handled like a water buffalo).
But when that hyperbole is repeated ad naseum in here by owner's, then other potential owner's start thinking 'hey Mildred, that thing'll drive just like a Beemer'. That's not the case.
"The Odyssey is actually fun to pilot down a twisty mountain road." Umm, I've driven an Ody on mountain roads. Competent? Yes. Sure footed? Sure. Confidence inspiring? Okay.
Fun?
FUN??? The whole time I was driving the Ody on our vacation through Colorado, I kept thinking about how much fun I COULD have had if I had been in my Celica instead of herding 2+ tons of understeering, body-leaning, slushbox-motivated, crayon-hurling, juice-spilling minivan. If your idea of 'fun' is driving an Ody on a mountain road, you've led a fairly sheltered automotive life......
Yeah, I would agree with rorr. I read that Lexus of minivan, and BMW of minivan, junk so much in here I'm about ready to hurl. Comparing the 2 is about as useful as you know whats on a bull.
Why not just use the same source for all the sales prices? Carsdirect.com can provide an actual quote for consistency.
Adjust the ALG residuals if their percentages are based off MSRP.
It may still come out in favor of Chrysler, but at least you haven't added any spin. Not that Chrysler needs to be in the comparison. Given that the title of the forum is "Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna", I think more people would be interested in numbers for those two vans...
Isn't it really more the Lotus Elise of minivans since it is the smallest and lightest? I read it somewhere so it MUST be true.....
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I did get the opportunity to test drive the EX-L up my steep driveway, and we're really close, but we make it.
Are you comparing it to the Sienna XLE Limited, XLE, LE, or entry level CE?
I live in Phoenix. As such, we use the air quite alot. In fact, the only reason I am looking to get a new car is that our '99 ML320 doesn't have rear vents and my children are beginning to complain about the heat. Anyway, how easy is it to control the air for the back passengers from the front for the Sienna and the Ody? Specifically, can I set the fans at a different level as well as the temp? Also, I heard that the Touring with Nav has voice command so I wouldn't need to take my eyes off the road to adjust the air. Does the EX-L work the same?
TIA,
Nesha
That being said, I know that in the standard EX-L (no NAV), the rear fan speed can be adjusted from the front seat but not the rear temp. The Ody Touring has tri-zone (driver,passenger, and rear) automatic climate control. So, I don't know that the voice control NAV can be used to adjust rear temp in the EX-L. Truthfully, I wasn't aware that the voice commands also worked the HVAC system. Interesting.
The Sienna XLE and XLE Ltd. also have tri-zone automatic climate control. However, no voice commands for the NAV (or HVAC).
Well, to Andrew's liking, the 2006 rear DVD monitor has been increased to 9". The body colour Park Assist sensors are standard compared to the black ones of 2004-'05 Siennas. Seat memory on the XLE & Limited are available. Optitron guages (Odyssey style) are now available. And some new gadgets including power folding 3rd row seats.
And perhaps to some's liking. The ugly (IMO) black trim on the CE and LE have been eliminated for silver colour
Also, because of new SAE regulations, the 3.3L makes 215hp/222lb-ft. There really was no decrease in performance except the numbers.
That's surprising that Toyota would lower the horsepower...considering the fact that thats all a lot of people seem to talk about.
In reality, the engine has not been touched at all.
Here, my friend
http://www.sae.org/certifiedpower/details.htm
I know certain Honda models have already participated in the new SAE and thus the HP/torque ratings fell for 2006.
So, my 2004 Sienna 3.3L V6 has 230hp/242lb-ft under the old SAE regulations but is 215/222lb-ft under the new SAE regulations.
We would be wasting our time continuing to explain what the analogy meant in this case. So I have given up with another similar past experience I had...maybe another analogy??
A few years ago while teaching a class of 15 in a post graduate course in my alumni university where I got my PhD in EE, one of the students was just lost because he did not understand the concept of what was being discussed. He was asking so many questions and holding back the other students, that it was clear that he needed to take a pre-requisite course before attending the next offering of this course. Which he did.
So without wasting more time, let us drop the subject.
Have a great weekend!
I won't be suprised that this was done to correct their claim that the Sienna is 230HP with regular gas, when in fact it needed premium for 230hp.
So it makes sense that the stated power is lowered to 215hp for regular gas.
I won't be suprised that this was done to correct their claim that the Sienna is 230HP with regular gas, when in fact it needed premium for 230hp.
So it makes sense that the stated power is lowered to 215hp for regular gas. Maybe some secret investigations have been done by the authorities?
Since this is Toyota's perception that hp is not critical for minivan owners, one of this forum's earlier dreams of the the 280hp Avalon engine as an optional engine is now toast?
The 255hp of the Ody vs the 215hp of the Sienna is much more attractive for us leadfooters! Maybe this will further differentiate the Ody from the Sienna as a better spirited performer.
Do you know if the 2005 Ody was tested under the old SAE methods or the new SAE methods?