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If you live in Bayarea CA, you end up paying 30K for the EX with 1 month wait from the local Honda dealers all the way up to Oregon and south down to LA. If you go with Mazda ES your you get quoted around 26-27K..great van by the way...then for ultimate deal if you have to have Japanese..go for Nissan Quest at 21K GXE..In bay area for every Odyssey on the road you see 7 Villager/Quest...for the price you get loads of option along with best engine & transmission on the road (Pathfinder V6). If you still want Odyssey..there is one dealer in Elko, NV that will sell at MSRP $28,800 with NAV..but you gotta drive 10 hours and spend a night at a cheap motel.Now there are Sienna's and GC's but they are couple of thousand higher than Odyssey...for that price range..you get to argue with some folks about quality and reliability..bottom line..if you want Odyssey..you have to pay up...Go test drive the 3 mini's I mentioned..so you have a good knowledge on features and handling and etc.,
We have a problem, however, on this new Ody. When I got it from dealer, it had 3 miles on odemeter. But, it has the problem pulling to the left slightly from the very begining. This slightly pulling to the left makes hightway driving hard. Of course, I am going to ask dealer check it out. I want to ask how many of you experience such a problem? Are Honda doing worse job for quality control now than then?
Other than this problem, we have not notice other things. This long trip took about 700 mils.
"We've had 3 Odys (long story) and 2 had trannies replaced while we had them."
Could you share your experiences with us? You must have some luck with Honda's automatic transmissions:) Kind a fishy to me too! are you Ms. Blake's husband?:) -engine sluds with Toyota, and transmission failures with Honda.
"We were told that Honda would not allow the dealer to rebuild the tranny of these relatively new vehicles. Essentially, it was said that Honda wanted all problem trannies sent to them and that they wanted to take no chances on a dealer rebuild."
All modern automatic tranaxles are complicated animals. In general, Dealers don't have the time and expertise in house to overhaul them. It is a lot more cost effective to replace the entire unit if it is "REALLY" defective. Put it this way, it is likely to introduce more problems than trying to solve the original problem.
Any way, I "REALLY" don't think reverse engagement noise is an "ALARMING" issue. It's like a "FREE
My co-worker's 98 civic auto 4 cyl have had the noise since new; it has 50,000 miles now, and never a problem with the tranny. A co-worker with 2000 Ody EX, same noise, approximate 9000 miles, has no problem. another co-worker owns a 91 Acura Integra, 110,000 miles, same noise since new, with no problem whatsoever with his tranny. I went to dealer for free oil change the other day, there happened to be an 2001 Ody EX waiting to be oil changed also. I asked the Master Mechanic to test drive the van while I listened by the side of the vehicle; sure enough, there is that "thud" noise. My office budy had a 1985 accord, 350,000 miles, never have a problem with his auto trany and sold it for 900 bucks recently. Lastly, my wife's 91 accord EX, now with 200,000 miles, still going strong, don't remember hearing the noise but never had any problem with her transmission either. Well, I expect my 2000 Ody LX's trany to last for 150,000 miles at least.
One isssue thou, Ody is a heavy van, it puts a lot of stress on trany, and 100,000 extended waranty is a good idea to have. above just my humbled opinion:)
Happy driving!
Happy driving
as comfortable as the EX's because if they are not then we will buy an EX. We can't find an LX to look at. As you all know the market is very strong on these. Please let me know if
you have any insight into my dilema. Is the material comparable on the seats?
Thanks in advance!
Purchased SS Ody EX without Nav for well below MSRP on Friday, 4/13/01. It was low enough for me to drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Dayton, OH. I ordered it on 4/07/01 and both the dealership and I were expecting it at the end of the month. Boy, was I surprised. I bought it from Voss Honda dealership. I'm sure the midwest hospitality will be served to anyone who visits this dealership. However, my experience with Wally Scisson (800-597-8677) was ABSOLUTELY wonderful considering that this has been my seventh car I purchased in all my life.
I saw many messages that mentioned Kentucky and various parts of IN, OH, and IL offering below MSRP. I called all those mentioned in this forum during early part of April + I blindly contacted many Honda dealerships in these areas, including greater Pittsburgh, PA. There were a few who were willing to waive destination charge, but that wasn't enough for me. The only dealership who actually went below $440 above and beyond MSRP was Voss Honda and Wally Scisson as my saleperson.
They also provided HondaCare 7/100/0 for $875 without any hassel. I named the price, and they had no problem with it.
About three weeks ago, I knew I wanted to purchase a Honda Ody. I wasn't entirely clear about a LX versus EX w/o Navigation. The forum had mixed feelings about this. I have a five year old, two year old, and am expecting a third child within three weeks from today. Naturally, the automatic sliding doors are of concern. Nevertheless, during those moments of, let's say, grocery shopping, I think it's worthwhile to be able to just press a button and let the kids run right in...a feature I like to think of as a safety issue around the parking lot.
As for accessories, the prices Wally was offering were pretty good. They were a bit above what you can get at the HANDA-ACCESSORIES.COM. I ended up purchasing it from the website because I didn't have prior knowledge about it, but future customers may want to consider Wally's prices for the following two reasons: 1) the dealership installs them for you and 2) they are also covered as part of your warranty. The ones that I ordered (cargo tray, mud guards, wheel locks, and x-bars) will only have 12 months warranty. Something to consider.
Before Pickup:
After I made my initial call, everything was conducted via telephone calls and faxes. Wally and I agreed on a price. He faxed me a confirmation of what we had agreed including financing rate of 6.79% for 60 months. Wally was very professional and responded to my requests very promptly. He kept me informed as to what the current status of the vehicle was (e.g., he called and said that the vehicle is currently at Niagara Falls, and that it should be arriving the next day). All documentation that was needed for the processing of paperworks, he requested them in advance so that my time at the dealership was minimized (e.g., copy of drivers license). Lastly, he requested for my insurance information only to find out that I didn't need to do anything with my insurance until AFTER I returned home. Wally took care of all of that on my behalf. This was an experience I never had! Prior to the pickup, Wally gave me a great direction (from Pittsburgh, I70 west; I75 north at Dayton, OH; 3rd exit (exit #68), make a right onto State route 571; immediate right turn at the first stop light onto Garber Rd...there is a BP gas station and a McDonalds - with an activity center for the kids).
During Pickup:
Upon my arrival, Wally introduced himself and greeted me. The vehicle was in great shape; all the paperworks were ready. He went over the papers and introduced me to the financial manager who went over all the details including the financing of the vehicle. All of this took less than 30 minutes. Subsequently, Wally went over the vehicle. I used the great "check list" provided by this forum (www.1netweb.com/checklist.htm)...I checked what I could and they were all in great working order. I did ask Wally to demonstrate the following: second row seat slider; third row seats fold; and use of security features. Wally convincingly placed his arm without hesitation to demonstrate that the sliding doors will retrieve if it detects something in its way. Wally did exactly that + one more feature that I didn't know about nor read about. It's pretty neat. First, you remove all three headrests. You keep the third row seats in tact (i.e., don't fold it). Release the lever that holds the seat in place, then pull so that the third row seats are facing you. Although the hatch cannot be closed, it is a great feature (I think) for the kids when they are at the beach having a snack or during a soccer game for a quick stop. Most of all, for enjoying a sunset (which I plan to do in the near future).
The rest of the family now was able to "see" the vehicle. Needless to say, the kids went wild. I think that's because they can roam and walk inside of the vehicle. They loved it. Another family was next to us in their new Ody EX. Their kids, more grown up, went crazy also.
After pickup:
Because I rented a vehicle to drive to Dayton, OH, I had to return the vehicle to a nearby airport (about 8 miles away from the dealership). Wally was nice enough to take his time to drive to the airport with us so that we can drop our rental. During the drive back to the dealership, Wally shared additional Ody insight that was helpful. Overall, a very professional and pleasant gentleman.
There is an advertisement here in Pittsburgh that I had not believed in until I met Wally - who would have thought that one can have an ENJOYABLE experience purchasing a vehicle!
The 300 miles drive back home was very very pleasant. The vehicle was solid. Wally (well, the dealership) filled the tank up. We came home with the gas gauge indicating a bit over 1/4 remaining. The gas light has not come up at this point. I was informed by Wally that the light will typically come up when there is about 4 gallons remaining although it will vary a bit from car to car.
There is much more to my experience, but.....So, I hope that this is helpful, and I also hope that I didn't irritate anyone with such lengthy message. If you have specific questions for me, feel free to contact me at dgk@andrew.cmu.edu. I am a professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in case anyone is wondering.
I thought you would have mentioned it.
The comfort of the seats are purely subjective, especially on the LX. I'm not sure but I think the passenger seat is the same on both. I know that they have added height adjustment to 2001 LX so that is kind of nice. I have no problem with the LX seats but others have. I find that one needs to assume proper posture in order to be comfortable in the LX seat. They are not made for slouching IMHO. For long trips I put a pillow behind the 'ole lumbar and am comfortable for as long as I can stay awake.
Thanks for the info.
Is there anyone who has any complaints about the LX's driver or
passender's seat comfort?
I bought my Odyssey 2000 last August and from day one I heard the "thud" discussed in an earlier post. I took it to the dealer to get the "thud" checked out and they told me it was my strutts. They replaced them. Took the van home from the dealership only to find that the thud was still there when shifting gears. I've read that many Odysseys have a similar clunking sound. But it does concern me. Do you think that I should pursue a transmission replacement?
Would be nice if the 2002 US models came with heated side mirros like the Canadien models do (I think). It does get cold and freezing in the US too.(thought Honda would have realized that)
http://carpoint.msn.com/jump/news/jncbsnews_4019783_6.asp
3 of the top 6 spots is owned by Ford. Accord is the only product line by Honda listed there. So you may want to have H on your hood but zillion others want the blue logo.
-mike
Consumer Reports points out that a mini van is a more practical and more useful vehicle then a SUV, unless you need to do off road driving or tow a large load. The Ford Windstar, while a good van, is not as good as the Odyssey, as confirmed by a number of different test reports. Also test reports show a number of problems with the Ford SUV's. I drove a Ford Explorer for about 200 miles on a test drive, as I was considering that and the Odyssey. After I drove both vehicles, it was no contest. The Odyssey won out. Ford has re designed the Explorer for 2002, so that model may do well. The Ford Excursion is considered at the bottom of the SUV's, and sales for it are poor.
I had to replace about 20' of fence a few weeks ago. Went to the local hardware store and loaded up. With the third seat down, the back of one of the second row of seats folded forward, and the front passenger seat moved forward I was able to load-- 4 4x10'x10' posts(from the front dash to the rear hatch), 4 2x4x10's, 43, yes 43 1x6x8' fence boards and 3 90lb. bags of cement. And close the hatch. The van did not look appreciably lower either.
The v6 has plenty of power, the mileage is better than an suv (though maybe by not as much as we'd all like) good handling, no rollover worries compared to an suv, better resale value and maybe something the suv'ers don't consider, sliding doors on both sides. It's sure easier to get in and out of tight parking spaces not to mention loading when you don't have to worry about door clearance. As for 4wd, I live in Oregon where every other vehicle seems to be a 4wd and that 4wd is not used nearly as much as one would think it would be here. BTW I have a 2000 lx, no problems so far.
As for minivans, I'm not sure if the Windstar is sold in Europe, but I know the Odyssey is sold as a "La Great" in Japan and probably something else in Europe. Am I saying that all foreign cars are superior to domestics? Heck no. But, it does show that many foreign car companies can design a globally accepted automobile whereas the big Three does a good job catering to the Western Hemisphere. Okay, time to get off the soap box...
Druce
How about cargo space inside the vehicle? The Odyssey has about the same interior room as the Excursion while carrying less weight and sitting lower and burning much less gas.
Although your Odessey can hold as much on paper as an excursion, plese don't try to compare them, they are not built for the same purpose nor should they even come into the same discussion.
-mike
http://isuzu-suvs.com
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Anyhow, I believe it was frank2001 who began the Expedition vs. Odyssey debate, not any of us Ody owners. But as Ian2 pointed out, many people make up excuses for buying SUV's. Yes, there are people who actually use SUV's as their intended for (I have a '91 Nissan Pathfinder that's used to Pre-Run construction sites). Everyone's needs are different, but due to marketing of many auto companies, people THINK that an SUV would suit their needs the best, but in most cases they're mislead.
So the point is, I don't think any of us here are challenging the fact that an Ody does better offroading nor in the towing capacity department. Good day.
Druce
-mike
Going back to the Ody vs Expedition debate... To many of us Ody owners who don't tow anything over 3000lbs, an Expedition would not provide more utility. So what if they cost the same? People buy minivans because they provide more utility more efficiently. The Expedition sits higher making it hard to get in and out of, rolls over easier, drives like a truck, has less usable space while burning 50% more gas.
The main reason (admit it) people buy SUVs is because they want the sporty image (yeah, like an SUV will make a fat person look sporty). That's why we have so many cross-over, unibody, SUV-wannabes on the road right now. Hopefully, this attitude will change once recession hits later this year and as the baby-boomers age.
I am sure Sienna, GC owners say the same for your Odyssey since Honda doesn't offer basic options such as leather seat, running board, TV/VCR,moon roof or built-in child seat..most of these are a must for family with kids. If you buy them from 3rd party your Odyssey will cost over 35K or more.
Billg,...Explorer and Expeditions are two different SUV's one is lot smaller than the other..Compare apples to apples..just because you drove explorer..that doesn't mean anything for this dicussion.
As for international sales...don't forget that Ford Owns many foriegn owned companies and has stakes in others. Jaguar and Mazda are good examples...Opel's in Germany is another one...so it may not sell directly but indirectly they owned lot of market share.
As for non SUV sales....what about the Mustangs, Taurus, Towncars?..check the sale numbers!!! ARE THEY ALL BOGUS??? Wake up and smell the roses!!
-mike
As for Ford owning other companies, that's a given, so does Chevrolet. I think Opel's owned by Chevy, not Ford. But what's the point in comparing models that are only specific to one region of the world? (Heck, I wouldn't mind owning a Cogsworth Focus myself.) BTW, who owns Proton Automotive, anyone know? I think there is still a difference between Ford made products and those made by already established companies, owned by Ford, wouldn't you agree?
As for an Expedition vs. Odyssey, it all boils down to what we value more, some people value ride/handling more than widgets and gadgets while others love power and could care less about mileage. The point is, is to choose something that suits YOUR needs (it's your money) rather than having other people tell you what your needs are.
Druce
I paid several hundred dollars over MSRP but the dealer included shipping in his acceptance to my offer. It took Priceline less than an hour to find me the car I wanted. The fellow there said it was unusually fast to get the offer taken so quickly, it had to do with the time of day I made my bid. I was told I could have gotten the car for less but I did not want to drive too far to pick it up at the dealer's.
Jan 2001 issue of CR, Odyssey is 12/30 and 19 overall. I saw on CBS news that some "experts" are predicting $3.00 per gal by the end of the year so it could add up. So figure maybe $2.00-2.50/gal. The overall rating is good on the Expediton, but it is also more expensive to buy. For the 4WD it is listed for an average price of $36,000 (32525-39635) MSRP for the year 2000. Insurance and maintence is also higher.
So an Expedition will have significantly higher costs then the Odyssey. Reliability is below average. Injury rate compared to other vehicles is very good, wereas for the Odyssey it is excellent. So the reasons I would see to buy a Expedition over an Odyssey is if you are towing a big load, driving a lot of off road or are looking for the right image. I myself would prefer a Chevrolt Tahoe( I thing they now call it a Yukon) to a Ford Expedition.
"An Ody gets 17 MPG in the city, as does the Chrysler T&C. The Expedition gets 16 MPG in the city with the 4.6L engine. Not exactly 50% more. Check you fuzzy math. Even the 5.4L engine gets 12MPG, which is 29% less, not 50%"
was kind of interesting math to me especially the 29% less number. Another way to look at it would be how many gallons of gas are needed to go 1700 miles in the city, the Ody needs 100 gallons and the 5.4L engine Exp needs 141.7 gallons. About 42% more and rather close to the magic number 50%. Ah yes, fun with numbers... Is my gas tank half empty or half full? It all depends vehicle you want to justify, I mean drive. I drive an 2001 Ody (20mpg overall) and I used to drive a Civic (30mpg). I love the space but it costs me and the envrionment 50% more at the pump.
Thanks.
_Alex
afalkovich@lnc.com
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Does it only happen when the van is at a certain location or does it happen at when parked at various places?
-Trevor
thanks for your response. You might be on to something as the same thought crossed my mind.
<< Does it only happen when the van is at a certain location or does it happen at when parked at various places?>>
It happens when the van is parked in various places. What's even more weird is that it happens when the alarm is activated and NOT activated.
_ Alex
Also, if the alarm has glass breakage sensor, it may be triggered by loud thunder. And this: I was in a hotel room in San Francisco two nights ago, when a Harley-Davidson went by and revved its engine real loud. Guess what, a car parked on the street had its alarm go off.
Economy of scale is not an excuse, you can find right hand drive cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and even Ferrari and Lamborghini. These are car makers whose home market are left hand drive.
BTW, Opel is owned by GM, not Chevy per se. And yes, there are right hand drive Opels.