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Signed,
Buster Baxter
Can't help but think we are dealing with this here when it comes to vehicle quality. As traditionally smaller, specialty companies like Honda try to make it big time by adding minivans and SUVs, the traditionally large Co's (GM, Chrysler) get smaller (ba-bye Oldsmobile and Plymouth) and learn from mistakes (eg quality problems). We see Honda getting speedy and possibly sloppy while GM and Chrysler perhaps tightening up. The quality differential seems to be diminishing.
My own sense of Honda's missteps are 2:
1. Re-badging Isusu's as Passport and Acura SLX. Honda got their bottoms burned with Trooper/SLX rollover fiasco; and of course what's the Honda that Consumer Reports says not to buy used? Passport. I am no expert in autos but I told friends from day 1 that this Izusu thing was a mistake. But, Honda felt they needed to compete in the SUV marketplace so they rushed in.
2. Odyssey a rush job? At the NY auto show immediately preceeding the release of redesigned '99 Odyssey, Honda did not even have a name for the thing. Of course, they also did not have the proper sliding door latch, multiplex dimmer switch, rear window vent motors, A/C cables, and whatever else they have recalled on this vehicle.
Another good example is the Mercedes SUV. Many reviews cite cabin squeaks (incl Edmunds) and poor quality ratings. From a Benz? Regression towards the mean as they rush to get a vehicle to the hot SUV market come hell or high water (or substandard quality).
'tis a shame. The big 3 would have had the minivan thing in the bag had they not been lax on quality. I am just not so sure the (previously) able competitors from overseas are doing much better.
I posted an update in Ody Problems VII. In short, letter to Honda cc to dealer (salesman and owner) got me an immediate reply from dealer and offer to help further. Dealer has been helpful so far, it is just a pain to keep brining it back and back... Have not yet heard from Honda. I do hope they can get it right.
email darin.luman@brannforbes.com
Can anyone share prices they paid in the State of Michigan .
What dealers would be the best ones to call?
Everyone seems to speak highly of the Odyssey - anyone having buyers remorse and why?
Does the OD come with Daytime Running Lights?
Any Comments on the ABS,EBD,TCS for the Michigan weather conditions?
To cut cost we are considering the LX verse EX, power sliding doors just don't seem to turn me on. However; I am wondering if they are easy to open over a period of time for the wife to handle with no problems.
Is the 2nd seat really easy to take out. I have to haul some stuff up north every other weekend for a remodeling work on our place, etc ..Tools and odd ball building supplies...... Take up light furn when I do not feeling like loading the trailer... etc.
All help would be appreciated. If I have missed anything else, please just add it in - on things to be watchful of- or helpful hints.
Thanks
Can the Odyssey be improved? Yes. But not without raising the prices commensurately. Rather than be concerned about paying MSRP, look at all minivans. After a person closely compares all minivans, the question is: "How can Honda include so many nice items at such a low price on the Odyssey?" I like our GC Dual Zone, Trip Computer, padded arm rests. BUT...the Odyssey is a better buy at MSRP than most vans are with a BIG discount off MSRP.
I have read the Odyssey forums for almost 2 years and the only buyers remorse I have noticed is the rare person who by the stroke of bad luck got one of the few Odysseys that had a problem. And in those cases, Honda has bent over backwards to correct the problem.
www.hondapartsforyou.com
I ordered the crago tray, it came within 10 days at a great price!
Enjoy!
This is one of the most informative links on Odyssey technical info I've found, and answered a few of my questions-
1) They claim the 4-ring shell design offers rollover protection
2) Engine does share some design with 3.0L Accord V6
3)VTEC kicks in extra valves at 3300 RPM
4)ABS is a 3-channel setup (both rear wheels operate at the same time)
And another shameless plug to my site for anyone who wants to see Odyssey/Minivan safety information and how the new 2001 foglights look.
http://www.caviller.com
1. Can the third, "magic" seat be easily REMOVED if you don't need it and want to use the cargo bay space?
2. Are the Odd's equipped with daytime running lights?
The Odd is my first choice so far, but I am disappointed that Odd color choices are so uniformly ugly, the reliability isn't up to Honda's other products, and the gas mileage doesn't even match my old '85 Voyager (albeit a 4 cylinder). I also find it incredible that NO van has 4 wheel disc brakes! Why are we still driving with rear drum brakes almost as primitive as 40 - 50 years ago?
Thanks in advance!
What is your opinion?
If you live in SW Michigan, I can recommend Elliot-Demick Honda in Michigan City, IN. They sell at MSRP and include Cargo Tray and Splash Guards. I dealt with Rich via e-mail.
The Odyssey does not come with DRLs, unless you buy one imported from Canada.
We have had no problems with the LX manual doors. Very easy to operate. Unless you take them through a power wash when it's below freezing anyway:-)
2000. Approx 20k miles. Have had it in to the
dealer 4 times for the power sliding doors.
They just can't seem to nail down the problems
I continue to have; namely the door buzzing with
the door closed and the door open lgt on the dash
not illuminated.
Otherwise it is an excellent vehicle.
Wondering if anyone else is having auto sliding
door problems with their Odyssey EX.
There are very few used Odysseys avaialble simply because there are very few of them around, at least compared to the Chrysler Corp. output, and current production is also much smaller than the CC output. I wouldn't want to bet money that this price differential will hold up over the next 3 years.
"How does the traction control work? Up to a certain speed?" Traction Control works by applying the brake to the spinning wheel. Works up to 18 mph as per manual.
"What happens if you see a sign that says Traction Tires Required?" I don't know - I've never seen one. I presume that means snow tires and nothing else.
"Does the traction control work in place of the chains?" Doubt it. Traction control reduces wheel spin allowing the drive wheel to bite. Ask your local constable.
Last night, we went out with 2 other couples, all of us own '00 EX Odysseys. The couple who drove had aftermarket leather - very nice add-on. Aside form some pesky door issues (2 of us), we are all overall satisfied and none of us would have gotten a van from the Big-3 and the Toyota is too small, Mazda much too small.
I suggest going with a roof mount if you are physically able to do so. I plan on converting my Yakima to mount on the Ody's roof rails this spring. I have seen some with bikes on the roofs - sure looks like a long way up there.
Three screws are all that hold each one in place
and they are a snap to re-install. This permits
you to remove the "gunk" that has accumulated
between the guard and the vehicle body and then
apply a coat of car wax to the area hidden by the
guard.
We use them quite a bit since it gets pretty cold here in Western NY.
Thanks.
_ Alex
Recalls, Technical Service Bulletins, and Other Good Stuff
Also, check out the recent posts over in Honda Odyssey Problems VII.
Steve_
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Thanks.
_ Alex
alex, my 2001 ody ex with 4000 miles has never gotten less than 19 mpg combined city/highway, even with the current oxygenated fuels (shocking...i was expecting a MAJOR dip). on average, we get about 21-22mpg with regular 87 octane.
now, anyone see francine frensky?
-binky barnes
Thanks much!!
Now a curtain-style head/chest airbag would be a nice feature to see. These not only offer added head protection, but can also protect in rollovers, from flying glass and prevent ejection.
I thought I read that Accords now have the "Smart" dual-force front airbags, it would be nice to see those in Odyssey as well.
Notice that the Acura MDX already has the front side airbags. Hopefully Honda will add them to the Odyssey (at least for competitiveness) for MY2002.
Curtain airbags may only help in an accident only if they're hooked up to an altitude sensor (that can detect if the vehicle is about to rollover and deploy the airbags). This is a late availability feature (about half way through the model year) for the 2002 Ford Explorer; not doubt it will help a little with the currently tarnished image of the Explorer. Curtain airbags are no substitutes for seatbelts, or a strong roof structure though. The last I heard, Ford was still only doing dynamic tests (only using computer simulations and not actual crash tests) to test the strength of the roof and roof pillars.
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
1. Mileage is very dissapointing at just under 20mpg (Mostly Highway miles on a 1200 mile trip). Even with 35lbs. of air in the tires. I hope it improves with time. I was counting on 24-25 highway (like the sticker said).
2. The gas gauge is USELESS! It registers 1/2 tank after only about 120 miles (6 Gallons) and registers Empty with 7+ Gallons left in the tank. I typically never put more than 15 gallons in the 20 gallon tank at a fillup. On my recent trip through Pennsylvania, I drove more than 100 miles with the gauge pegged on Empty (to test my theory and to my wife's dismay) and still only put 17 gallons in at fillup. This is VERY ANNOYING especially combined with the miserable gas mileage. The low fuel light turns at about 250 miles range and the gauge reads dead Empty at about 320 miles range. Pathetic!
3. The interior driver and passenger door handles squeak like cheap plastic.
4. The tires really are very loud on concrete roads (Michelin Symmetry tire).
5. The CD player skips quite a lot (even on minor bumps).
6. The transmission is very slow to downshift (especially when cold).
7. Windshield washer squirters are very weak. They can't spray above the lower 1/3 of the windshield when going over 30mph. This makes cleaning the windhield very difficult, especially on salty roads.
Other than that, it's quite a nice van. Very spacious, smooth riding, great handling, good acceleration from a smooth and quiet engine. Quite a nice driving position with a great view of the road. I love the 'magic' seat!
Anyone with similar experiences?
WRT the tire noise, I believe the Michelin Symmetrys themselves are good tires. However, it's the (small) amount of sound dampening that allows the sound to get into the cabin. I believe other owners have commented on road and tire noises in the past. This is further amplified with the large interior acting like an echo chamber. Perhaps you should try aftermarket sound insulation? The Dynamat product, while pricey, seems to work extremely well. Also, I find that concrete roads, in general, are a lot noisier to travel on.
WRT the inaccurate fuel gauge, your fuel sending unit may be defective. I think this was another issue mentioned in the past. Perhaps someone else can elaborate?
WRT the windshield washers, the jets can probably be adjusted to point higher up the windshield. Stick a pin tip into the washer nozzles and try to point them higher, to the positions of your liking.
Good luck!
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Press Release
Steve_
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
From the NHTSA Understanding The Star Rating For Rollover Crashes:
"The Rollover Resistance Ratings are based on Static Stability Factor, which is essentially a measure of how top heavy a vehicle is. The Rollover Resistance Ratings of vehicles were compared to 220,000 actual single vehicle crashes, and the ratings were found to relate very closely to the real-world rollover experience of vehicles. Based on these studies, NHTSA found that taller, narrower vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs), are more likely than lower, wider vehicles, such as passenger cars, to trip and roll over once they leave the roadway. Accordingly, NHTSA awards more stars to wider and/or lower vehicles. The Rollover Resistance Rating, however, does not address the causes of the driver losing control and the vehicle leaving the roadway in the first place."
Unfortunately, people will generally not read far enough and will take undue comfort or suffer unnecessary heartburn over a guess.