Honda Odyssey 1999 - 2004

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Comments

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I really thought you guys were getting better mileage than this. Anyone else want to weigh in with theirs?

    Steve
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  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    99 LX with about 35k miles and I'm getting about 16-18 in around town driving. Best MPG ever was on a 1000 mile roadtrip. Doing about 80-85 and getting 30 MPG.
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    Gas mileage varies with type of driving (e.g. bumper to bumper with lots of idling time with A/C on is probably the worst. My experience with Boston traffic is that it the worst city to drive in the U.S.)
    I get 21.5 MPG consistently on my commuting which is 40% highway and 60% city. I get about 26 MPG on all Interstate driving. I drive fast. I averaged over 75 MPH average on a 540 mile trip with 2 stops. (I was over 100 for some of the trip.)
  • bjk2001bjk2001 Member Posts: 358
    Over 100 for some trip? Shhhhhhhhhh don't say it too loud. Weren't we speeding a little bit fast? I only went up over 90-95 once or twice on a LA to Vegas Trip, never go over 100 line.
  • carrieb2carrieb2 Member Posts: 7
    I have had my order in for an 03 Odyssey since I learned they were coming out with a midnight blue. My dealer originally said late August I could take delivery but has since heard from Honda who has pushed the start of production back to Sept. Now they say I can take delivery in mid Oct. Any guesses on what I will hear next month??
  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    The reason I was looking for more than 19 mpg is because we drove home over 200 miles without stoping and must have averaged over 65 mph. But I understand that cars do tend to break in an improve in milege over time.

    CA adds MTBE to it's gas which probably hurts the milege a bit.

    The sticker on the Odyssey list the mpg estimates from 17 city to 25 hwy.

    I should state that the Odyssey is an awesome car after having the MBZ ML320 which isn't too bad either. I've got more room, more horse power, better fuel economy and (cross my fingers) better build quality.
  • bjk2001bjk2001 Member Posts: 358
    Did you read the fine print of mpg on the bottom of the window sticker? :D
  • cavillercaviller Member Posts: 331
    2001 LX, 19k miles.

    19.5 mpg overall, mostly suburban driving with lots of stoplights and stopsigns, usually under 40 mph and rarely over 50 mph. No gridlock or 'stop and go' driving, though.

    17-20 mpg in the city (lower in winter).

    24-26 mpg during a few highway trips (with A/C at about 70 mph) with 2 adults, 2 kids and luggage.

    87 octane gas almost exclusively.
  • ody01ody01 Member Posts: 100
    Long trip got anywhere 20 to 25 MPG when filled up each time. Always use Automatic air conditioning set temperature 72. Don't check mileage most times. Prefer comfort not worry gas mileage.
  • kiettran1kiettran1 Member Posts: 1
    Does anyone know when the 2003 Odyssey is available? I am would like to get one to replace my very old Windstar. Should I get the 2002 or wait for 2003?

    Thanks,

    Kiet
  • bostongardenbostongarden Member Posts: 25
    My recollection is that the "new" model year Odyssey has been launching in the late September to early October time frame. An August launch would be surprising, given Honda's approach for the 2000, 2001, and 2002 models. JMurman, sound right? You out there?

    As far as getting a 2003 vs. a 2002: hmmm, I don't believe that price and features will be that different. Long-run value may differ enough to make a difference to you. Choice may depend on other personal factors and preferences of yours. Personally, I'd wait to get the '03, however, I could understand many good reasons for getting the '02 now, for example, if my current minivan was unreliable and near death, and my lovely wife was letting me know about this a couple times a day on a regular basis. The "I'm happy when she's happy" principle trumps most reasons for waiting :-).

  • bjk2001bjk2001 Member Posts: 358
    kiettran1:

    Like bostongarden said there are some "major" determine factor how long can you wait? Look like you have time on your hands. Keep in mind if you want to get a good deal on Ody even for 2003, it's time to shop now. I think booking date for 2002 is almost over. You know Honda dealers will not have any left over 2002, there will not be any end of model year sale for 2002 ODY.

    Good luck,

    bjk
  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    bjk2001

    I assume it says milege will vary depending on lots of different stuff....

    Do you think Honda recorded 26mpg going down hill with the wind behind them?

    what was your point?
  • dchoppdchopp Member Posts: 256
    Only you can answere that question. How long can you wait? Are you tied to a lease? About the only change in 2003 are colors. If you can wait, talk to a dealer and get your name on the 2003 list which they should be taken delivery in Oct.
  • bjk2001bjk2001 Member Posts: 358
    Here is how MPG estimates obtained:

    http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml

    2001 Odyssey gets 210 hp, 229 ft-lbs of toque with 4 speed Trans, 2002 Odyssey gets 240 hp, 242ft-lbs of torque with 5 speed Trans.

    According to Honda's estimate both 01 and 02 get the same MPG 18 City and 25 highway. Isn't it amazing? 01 uses 5W-30 oil and 02 uses 5W-20 oil. IT MUST BE THE OIL!.............
  • tcoultharttcoulthart Member Posts: 17
    After 13k miles I am averaging 19.71 mpg. Most of it is city driving. We did make a 2500 mile trip for spring break and averaged 23.97 mpg.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    2000 EX

    Regular commuting north of and into Boston every day - appx 17-18 mpg - 50/50 city/highway.

    Throw in a weekend highway round trip to southern Maine or Cape Cod (200 miles round trip) and then commute a bit and it jumps to 21. I've never checked it after just the highway trips.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Thanks everyone for the mpg reports. I could have sworn the around town average was more like 20 mpg. Or maybe all of y'all are just leadfoots, LOL.

    Steve
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  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    bjk2001;

    I see larger engines today quite often getting similar milege to the smaller ones. I'm not sure if it's due to technology or oil or what?

    So I wonder if a 2000 Odyessey used 5W-20, if they would get a boost in milege.

    I did notice that a sticker under the hood says the coolent will last 1000k miles - which is another nice surprise with the Odyssey. This makes me want to put Synthetic Oil in so I can minimize mechanic time, which is a drag.
  • ody01ody01 Member Posts: 100
    2002 Ody 5 speed Automatic. 2001 4 speed same all minivan but 2002 Ody and Sedona. Lower RPM Highway speed 5 speed Automatic keep same mileage more engine power.
    Heavy foot driver probably lower mileage 2002 Ody than 2001 Ody.
  • jmurman42jmurman42 Member Posts: 675
    I haven't been given ANY info on the 2003 builds or changes...other than color. To be honest with you, I don't forsee any changes at all to the 03 Ody. Maybe a small bump in price, if that.

    Normally, at this point in time we would have been given a "build out" on the 02...to change to the 03. That hasn't happened. The last allocation that I had was for 02 and that was for August builds with end of Aug/early Sept deliveries.
    My last allocation was pretty screwed up too. We ordered color across the board and all we got was Silver and Redrock pearl..not a single Evergreen or Taffeta White.
    Hopefully, next allocation will see the Sage Brush and Sandstone. No word on when Midnight Blue and Black will be available.

    Sorry for not answering your posts, I do cruise through Edmunds, but my time is pretty limited now.

    Jerry
  • werdmanwerdman Member Posts: 9
    Last week I was told by Honda's Corporate offices that the 2003's will begin releasing the second-to-third week of August. I have a deposit on a Midnight Blue EX-L and spoke to my dealer yesterday. He's giving me a (hopeful) arrival date of mid-to-late September. Still, I feel like that I'm not getting straight and accurate answers. Does anybody out there (especially dealers) have the real scoop. Also, does anybody have any legitimate info about the subtle changes for the 2003 (besides the new colors)?
  • oddc1oddc1 Member Posts: 1
    I'm about ready to close the deal on my new Ody. Should I get wheel locks, mudguards, cargo mat, or cargo tray? They aren't included in the price. Thanks.
  • jmurman42jmurman42 Member Posts: 675
    the next allocation for odysseys are to be 2003's. This will be September builds with a end of Sept/early Oct delivery.

    No word at all on available colors.

    Jerry
  • bdaddybdaddy Member Posts: 171
    Mudguards - yes, keeps your vehicle cleaner.
    Wheel locks - your call. If someone really wants your wheels, they can take them. All you need is a jack and a long pipe that fits over the lock nut. Stomp on the pipe and the bolt snaps off.
    Cargo mat and tray - yes to one or both. A tray will keep your rear well clean when the magic seat is being used. A mat will cover the whole rear cargo area when the seat is folded. Shop on line for these items - usually cheaper than the dealer.
  • rms41rms41 Member Posts: 80
    I've seen a color chart for the '03s. The granite green has been dropped for sagebrush (fern interior) which is the same as a Pilot color. Also new is black, available only on an EX-L. They have also dropped the champagne color (can't remember its name) but added a fairly similar one and brought back the deep blue. All the other colors are a holdover from the '02s.
  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    if you have kids, and the Odyssey is a family car,
    then be sure to consider that dark colors look like hell after a garden rake is run down their sides.

    I personally love dark blue, but with two young kids, my last car was a nightmare.
  • dchoppdchopp Member Posts: 256
    I hope you used the other end of that garden rake on there behinds.
  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    I've had a debate with another guy who says Honda is an American company. I say it's a Japanese company with an American Division.

    I'm happy to see that Honda provides jobs in the US by assembling cars here unlike General Motors who seems to favor Mexico more and more.

    Does my honda purchase count against the bulging US trade devicit or is it considered an American product by an American company?
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    The profits go to Japan.
  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    As Honda is a pubicly traded company, the profits go back to the stockholders. It doesn't really matter what country the company is headquartered in. You too can buy Honda shares on the Tokyo exchange if you want to.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Honda is global company based in Japan with over 100 subsidiaries worldwide. My presumption is that the subsidiaries are corporations based in their area of operations. Just like the local operations of any global concern, they pay taxes on their revenue to the local/state/federal jurisdictions they operate in.


    You can buy shares in Honda through the NYSE under the symbol HMC. These are ADR's (American Depository Receipts) and give us the opportunity to buy stock in companies not based in the US. You can also find out whatever you want regarding Honda at http://world.honda.com. Their annual report is available online there.


    IIRC, a few years ago Honda considered moving its world headquarters to the United States as most of its business was conducted here. I don't know why they never did.

  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    for the good answers, although I'm not sure about post 4987 re: profit goes back to the shareholders. I wish it were that simple.

    It does matter to me where the revenue is headed. I buy from Honda because I like the product. It's also nice to know that many of their cars are made in the USA. It would even be an additional bonus to the US economy if it were taxed as a US company.

    I hold no stock in General Motors, yet I do benefit from their corporate earnings and taxes that they pay to the government (at least I hope I do). There's alot of critism of "US based" companies who set up "head quarters" in off shore nations merely to avoid corporate taxes. e.g. Stanely Tools.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Corporate structure and tax liabilities are way too complicated to go into here. I wouldn't be suprised if those companies who set up corporate headquarters off-shore don't pay some US taxes.


    Before you get too excited about Honda and US manufacturing - the reason most of the "foreign" manufacturers set up in the US originally was to avoid high tariffs established by the government to protect the US based auto manufacturers (ie Japanese trucks were once assesed a 25% tariff) and to escape the currency fluctuation of the yen. In the 1980's, the yen traded at over Y200 to $1. So for every dollar in revenue generated, they were able to buy 200 yen. When the yen weakened and dropped to appx 100, they were only able to buy 1/2 as much when sent home.


    Here is a great article on the transplants: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_28/b3791001.htm


    In essence, all the auto manufacturers are global concerns supporting and paying taxes to economies all over the world. Headquarters locations are nothing more than for local prestige IMHO.

  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    Profits go to the shareholders? Looks more like to the executives.


    http://quote.fool.com/Snapshot/snapshot.asp?currticker=hmc&symbols=hmc


    Latest dividend was a nickel.

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    A nickel? Well, that was more than Microsoft...

    Anybody got any Odyssey news?

    Steve
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  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    Well, Steve, you should see what they charge for Odysseys up in the greater Microsoft area, $2000 over MSRP if they can get it!

    That's a lot of nickels!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Please, no buying, selling or trading on Town Hall.

    Steve
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    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    I wasn't aware of that. If you are able, you can delete the previous post. Again, my apaologies.
  • jsb16jsb16 Member Posts: 64
    I just bought the HondaCare warranty on my 99 EX with 35K miles. You can buy this warranty until 42 mo 42K miles but they can require an inspection if you are out of warranty and they charge $100 premium and not just the $60 premium I paid. If I read the warranty correctly, they give you a $25 allowance for every scheduled oil change and this alone makes it worth buying sooner if you have an interest in the product. I have the dark blue color and would not get it again because of the scratches. They may buff out and I haven't had the time to try this yet. Interestingly enough, my 90 Lexus has a very dark (almost black) color and this paint has held up much better so I suspect that there is a difference in paint or clear coat depth that makes the Lexus paint job wear better
  • pdfspdfs Member Posts: 19
    Hi,

    Are all the Ody sold in US being made in Alabama now? From Autonews sites, Canadian plant is still making Ody there. I wonder if those are for the Canadian market only.
  • ohloneohlone Member Posts: 55
    robr2,
    the Odyssey is built in Alabama, not Mexico where General Motors sends alot of it's manufacturing.

    your dissing Honda by saying they are here merely because of tarrifs.

    Without Honda applying pressure, with great cars like the Odyssey, General Motors would still be jamming the public with sleds that are better suited for rental agencies. Japanese competition woke up the big three to step it up big time.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    ...I'm not dissing Honda whatsoever. I have great respect for what they did for the American auto industry and consumer. I have been a loyal Honda owner since 1991 and convinced my Dad to buy Honda. He is now on his second one. I also have great respect for the former big 3 in the fact that they were able to learn from the transplants are reinvent themselves.

    Manufacturers (in any industry) base their facilities where it makes the most sense to them for whatever reasons they deem important. For most, financial reasons are key. Cost of shipping, local resources, and currency exchange are but a few of the factors used for this decision. There may be some altruistic reasons for local manufacture, but I'll bet that profits and cost reduction are more primary in the minds of publicly traded companies. If altruism results, so much the better.

    Honda realized early on that North America would be their major market and transplanted early. Nissan and Toyota soon followed. Mercedes and BMW are here as well because the products made here are sold mainly in NA.

    As an FYI, Honda has manufacturing plants in Mexico and IIRC they were shipping Accords from there to the west coast of the US at one time.

    As for tariffs, Nissan has been manufcturing compact pickups in the US since the 1980's. At that time, imported compact trucks were assessed a very large tariff because US manufacturers claimed the Japanese were dumping the product in the US. So Japanese manufacturers had to raise their price by the tariff amount to levels where US mfrs could now compete. In essence, US manufacturers were allowed to maintain their inefficient methods while hiding behind tarrifs - tariffs paid by the US consumer. Rather than compete, they whined for protection. So Nissan invested hundreds of millions into a compact truck plant using American labor and resources to avoid paying the tariff. Nissan decided to fight at the other guys' playground. What resulted was a compact truck industry in which all products improved and the consumer won.

    As for GM moving jobs south, it's unfortunate that many manufacturers have done so. In the global economy, the comparative advantage of nations is prevelant. Each nation has some unique competitive advantage: Mexico offers less expensive labor with proximity to North America, The US offers it's service orientation and capital, Japan offers technological capabilities.
  • whambamwhambam Member Posts: 37
    Most excellent global view summary, Robr2.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Thank you. Spent many years listening to those international business professors pounding this stuff into my head. It even comes in handy at work every once in a while!!

    Hey where is everybody hanging out now?
  • whambamwhambam Member Posts: 37
    We be in a scissors-safe environment. Drop me an E-mail if interested. We need to raise our average IQ level.
  • chryslervan1chryslervan1 Member Posts: 52
    As a "would-be" owner of a Honda Odyssey and repeat buyer of DC minivans, I give Honda credit for causing not only GM, but also Ford and Chrysler incentive to improve. I think it no accident that Chrysler (now DaimlerChrysler) minivan reliability improved greatly since Honda entered the minivan market with the original Accord based Odyssey.
    The Honda Odyssey combined almost all of the best features of all minivans into a great minivan with the most powerful engine delivering the best fuel economy of all but GM FWD trio and the most interior volume in a very well executed package.
    I would personally prefer having 8 passenger seating capability of GM minivans with the larger 25.5 gallon fuel tank to 7 passenger seating with only 20 gallon capacity. However, as a total package the Odyssey is nicer than GM with a superior driver's seat, all seats more comfortable, higher build quality, and of course the "Magic Seat".....and at a much lower MSRP.
    BTW, I hope this does not get deleted for mentioning DC minivans since the comparison forum got deleted for getting "too controversial".
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    Haven't been here in a couple of months. Just checking in. Regarding the global economy thingamajig -- good luck sorting that out! If anyone, including Honda, can look at all factors -- corporate HQ, engineering, sales, delivery, production, parts maunfacturing and shipping, stockholders, taxes, tariffs, etc. etc. -- and figure out how much impact each of the big auto makers has on different economies -- congratulations! Your Wharton MBA is in the mail!

    Buy what's best. And that's almost always a Honda ;-) Got an '88 Civic and an '02 Ody in the garage. Now, if Honda just made a full-sized pick-up.....

    Anyway.............back to the topic.
    We are loving our minivan. We had a poor-man's RES trial run last week on a 400 mile drive with the toddler. We borrowed a neighbor's 9" TV/VHS with DC adapter, and it wedged very tightly between the armrests on the center console. It really felt quite secure. But, alas, it put a small tear in one of the leather arm rests. Anyone got any experience with aftermarket VHS RES for their Ody? My wife doesn't want DVD, wants to record children's programs of the tube and play them in the car.
  • whambamwhambam Member Posts: 37
    University of Chicago is where it's at.

    If you must wedge the TV/VHS (as obviously dangerous as that is), I recommend an 8 7/8" unit next time.

    If you can't save the kids, at least save the leather. image
  • shaka999shaka999 Member Posts: 1
    Hey everyone,

    My wife and I are shopping for a new minivan. Right now the Honda is leading the race. It would have won as easily as Lance did this year if it weren't for two issues.

    1) The passenger side front seat is crammed way to close to the dashboard. I'm 6'1" so I'm not giant but my legs can't really stretch out in the passenger side seat. Doesn't anyone know if this will be addressed in the 2003 model?

    2) The highway noise is much worse that other models we have test driven. Seems Honda needs to do a little work here. Anyone have comments on this?

    That all said, Honda is still the front runner but a couple tweaks would make a huge difference.

    Thanks for any comments
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