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Someone commented earlier on the rough ride of their new Ody... and mentioned dealer had set tire pressure at 32 psi. Check your door label and owner's manual - recommended pressure is 36 psi cold. I noticed my tires were low at delivery and aired them up. Does anyone have any info to contradict owner's manual? I trust it more than the dealer's say-so. Driving a couple of pounds low can be bad news over the long term.
I just took delivery of my '02 GG EX. I love it. It's nice to have a brand new car that all of the kids fit into.
When I picked it up the sales guy and I did a little chatting (fishing for all excellent feedbacks). He mentioned that Honda was *cutting back* on production over the next two months.
I think many people on this board have the idea that the reason that they wait so long for their minivans (waited 5 months for mine) is that it is so popular. While that is definitely a factor, the real reason it stays that way is that Honda restricts the supply because they like it that way.
Also, so I'm supposed to give feedback on the Honda dealer. I really wish I could give feedback on the two Honda dealers that I passed on the hour long drive I took to pick up my minivan (clue: slime).
Can anyone explain why my EX came with roof rails but not the cross bars? Isn't that kind of a slap in the face to say that you get only 1/2 of the roof rack package? How useful are those things without shelling out another $120 for the cross bars?
To the moderators: why is this forum not viewable in a standard NNTP thread style? This mix of discussions kind of sucks.
Perhaps Canadian plant will make more MDX in the mix but with Alabama on line now there will be no net decrease of Odyssedy until new SUV is made in the Spring. Man--Honda dealers want to keep the MSRP hype going. INKY
On the '00 Odyssey with Michelin Symmetry, the recommended pressue on the door label is 35psi. It is also the max pressure recommended by the Michelin as stamped on the tire. Your tire pressure should be adjusted depending on your expected load. I tend to follow the tire manufacturer's specs more than the car manufacturer's door label. My Odyssey is riding on 40psi on Michelin Arctic Alpins which are rated for 44psi. You should not go over the tire mfg's recommended pressure, but I also never go under the car mfg door label. There are going to be varying opinions on what is the correct tire pressure. 32psi is definitely too low IMO for a heavy minivan unless you have tires that spec that.
Town Hall has been "conversation" style since its inception in '96 or so. Different strokes.... Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Well, as far as the cross-bar goes, that's the way it is for Honda. As a matter of fact, that's only one of the reasons why the Odyssey can be so price competitive. And pay attention to the BMW X5, MB ML SUV on the road, they do not come with cross-bar as well. And they cost a lot more than our beloved Ody. Besides, Honda does not come with mud guard, cassette, cargo tray... too. Did the missing of all these supposedly standard equipment affect your buying decision ? Obviously, I can tell it did not. I bought my cross-bar over the internet for a lot less than the dealer and it was very easy to install, (just make sure you follow instruction as not to install the front bar in the back or vice versa, and also make sure the front part of each bar is facing to the front.)
I'm a little concerned about something I did today. Let me state for the record that I own a 2001 Dark Emerald Pearl Odyssey EX; agonized over the purchase decision for several months; waited three months for delivery; paid MSRP less $1; purchased from a dealership located 130 miles away from my house; but, hey, they did deliver it to my door and I never had to set foot in a dealership for this transaction; you all on this board gave me plenty of confidence to go ahead and take the plunge; no regrets at all.
On my way home today, I entered a large rotary. A Honda dealership is on the opposite side of the rotary from where I entered it. In front of the dealership was a transport truck. An Evergreen Pearl 2002 Odyssey that was up on the top rack caught my eye. I had not seen the 2002 in that color up close and personal. I knew that the green color was somewhat different from that offered in earlier model years.
My direct and usual path home is to take the first right off the rotary. As I entered the rotary, I thought to myself "I am curious about that new green color. It's just a van, what's the big whoop? I've got to know the color. Green is green, just head home. Oh man, I've got to go check it out. It's just a minivan, family man's best friend. But, I've got to see it. Oh no, do I have Odyssey fever? I can't believe I am doing this."
I stayed in the rotary and hooked all the way around to drive by the transport and check out the 2002 Evergreen Pearl Odyssey. Darn, the sun was in my eyes as I headed toward the truck. Still, I was able to make out enough about the color without causing an accident. The 2002 Evergreen Pearl is a little bit brighter than the Dark Emerald Pearl. Nice. I like it.
Does this mean I am hooked? Am I afflicted? Am I ok? Do I need saving? Or, have I been saved?
In any event, I have much to be thankful for this year: A lovely and tolerant wife, three wonderful children, seating for seven, automatic doors, Odyssey owners willing to share an "I know what you went through" gaze, smile and occasional nod as we pass each other on the road, and the delight in knowing that Evergreen Pearl is a terrific looking color. Happy Thanksgiving.
I haven't heard any good comment on this new color. It is nice to know another person who actually likes this green. Most of the comment on color for the 02' fall on the Redrock Pearl. I happened to have ordered the Red for a week and after much thought and an acutal physical seeing the color. My wife and I decided to change to the Evergreen. Now my van has just arrived today at the dealer and I can't wait to go and say hi to her.
Cross Bars: When you add cross bars you add wind noise and the mileage goes down slightly. Probably why Honda does not include it. Also you can make do without the cross bars.
Tire pressure: The tire pressure they recommend is the maximum allowed for the tire at 35#. I think they do this to get the best mileage figures as well as for maximum load. Remember the mileage figures are a US government requirement for their fleet average. I think you can probably go to 32-30, easily enough and get a better ride. You could ask the tire manufacturer.
Color: I just get a white car every time. That or course is a personal decision. I believe in the KISS principal and there are a lot of advantages to white. Especially since I live in a hot climate. If you live in snow storm country then a white car may not be seen in a snow storm and maybe not be as safe.
Advantages of a white car. Safety- can be seen easily, Durability -holds up well; Coolest- In hot climates; Matchablity- matches perfectly even years later if you have to repaint after an accident; Easy Care- does not show dust well. I seldom have to wash my car. A Don't Worry Color- can order it with out worrying what it is going to look like, you already know.
Our '01 Odyssey LX now has 13,000 miles in just over 12 months (we're not heavy drivers obviously) of mostly city driving. We've had absolutely NO problems and have not had the car into the dealer or other service center since buying it (I change oil and rotate tires myself). The van has performed flawlessly.
When new last winter in MN-- and it was a cold winter-- the van got as low as 12 mpg on tankloads of city-only driving. As predicted by others on these boards, the mileage did gradually improve as the engine got 3K, 5K, 8K miles on it-- I'd say it seemed to level out somewhere before 10K. We're not back into cold weather here yet (40 degrees-- not cold by MN standards), but now our city-only tankloads average about 16 to 17 mpg instead of 12. I expect in real cold weather it may go down to 14 or so, we'll see. On our interstate family vacation to Mt. Rushmore in August, we averaged 26 mpg on the highway-- 1 mpg HIGHER than rated!-- with two tankloads hitting 28 mpg. I didn't expect great gas efficiency out of a 4,200 lb vehicle, and I'd still trade some of the horsepower for higher mpg if I could; but overall I can't complain much about the mileage especially compared to the DC vans and all the SUV's on the road of about the same weight as the Odyssey (such as the Explorer) that get lower mpg.
I was apprehensive about seat comfort, since I'd read a number of posts about it, and in fact my initial impression was I didn't like the driver's seat very much (maybe colored by the posts?). However, after a couple months, I realized that in fact I was finding it quite comfortable, more so than our previous car for sure (Subaru Legacy). On the vacation, we drove home from Rushmore (about 675 miles) in one day, about 12 hours total with stops, with 2 kids (9 and 3) with nary a comfort complaint from ANY of us. My initial impression was clearly wrong-- and the Legacy seats would have been fairly uncomfortable under those conditions. I will say my wife and are both "short" (5'8"/5'7") and people with fairly long legs may find the seat bottom too short. I think lumbar support with the adjustment wheel is pretty adequate though.
We've done faily extensive hauling with the van and it's been great for that. Moved my mother-in-law with it; made a number of fully-loaded trips to Goodwill; carried 10 4x8 sheets of paneling at once. When equipping a new bathroom we got all the following home from Menards in ONE trip (with 2nd row seats out): new 40 gallon water heater; new toilet (bowl and tank); small bathroom vanity and sink; and-- biggest item of all-- new 36" shower enclosure. We did have to take the components of the shower out of the box, but that giant box wouldn't have slid into an empty Suburban without doing that. We had to push the front seats up a little, but it all fit!
We had a Yakima roof rack on our Legacy, but the Odyssey (LX with no factory rack) needs different "towers" and some other small pieces to adapt it. I'm glad I didn't run right off and spend $150-plus on those parts. We're very into biking, but so far haven't needed the roof carriers. With 3rd row seat down, we can fit our TANDEM bike (72" wheelbase) into the van with both wheels attached, front wheel and handlebars resting between the two 2nd row seats; and have room on either side of it behind 2nd row for a child's bike and a folded Burley trailer. When the kids are bigger, or if we want our single bikes instead of the tandem, a family ride will require the roof rack, but we haven't needed it yet. No way the tandem would fit inside a Sienna like that.
We're very happy with the van overall. But-- I'm still glad I bought the extended warranty (my dealer matched the cheap Internet price) based on the reports of transmission problems. I'm convinced ALL these big, heavy "mini"-vans are prone to tranny problems, regardless of make-- some more than others and I'm sure the Honda is less prone than DC or Ford at least. I'm also glad we waited a couple years and got an '01-- sounds like the earlier ones are a little
After much research and reading these message boards, I have decided to take the plunge into minivan mania and get an '02 Odyssey EX, and I have one on order. I have a two year old and a very large husband (6'3), thus, the need for space.
I guess the only way to get one, at least around Northern Virginia is to pay MSRP or over MSRP, which I find unbelievable. After all is said and done, $30,000 seems like an expensive price to pay for a mini van, but I guess that's life in the 00's. The seats seemed comfortable for taking trips and there is plenty of room, and safety couldn't get much better. I drive an '88 Acura Legend with 190,000 miles (with minimal repairs) and she still keeps going. I hope my Ody goes that long, too. I have a feeling that repairs to this Honda are quite costly. Am I right on that? It seems like the average mechanic will NOT be able to work on this engine encased so perfectly and so neat looking. I do intend on getting the extended warranty for peace of mind.
I recommend the extended warranty. You can get the 7yr/100km/0d for just under $1,000. You are not really paying $1,000 on average, as without the warranty you will have some repair costs on the average, anyway.
On spending $30K. I think any other van with the same options would cost about the same. The difference would not be significant. I looked at buy the Odyssey as a long term investment.
The Odyssey is currently the best minivan you can buy.
On your large husband. He may not be completely happy being a passenger in the front seat. Some people over 6 feet have said they would like more room there. He will probably have enough room as a driver. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Selling a Used Odyssey. The best way to sell a used car to a private party is to put an ad in the newspaper, or the local ad paper is even better. It comes out every week and people flock to it, as soon as it comes out. In some areas it is called the Shopper or Penny Saver (in California), and is about 20 pages, about 7 1/4 x 10 1/2, in a magazine shape, but written on newsprint. Only problem is perhaps the lower price vehicles sell the best there.
I own a 2000 Odyssey EX, but don't post much to this board. I found this on another automotive restoration website that I frequent. The guy that posted this is a PPG paint rep and he sent this description of the paint and assembly areas of the new Alabama plant that Honda is bringing on line. I just thought it may interest some here..... Shannon
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As some of you may know Honda is opening a new manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Some of you my also know I work for PPG. Well I was invited to go to the new plant to work with their paint shop on end of the line touch ups. PPG and Dupont are both suppliers to the plant but that paint is high bake waterborne product that can't be air dried. So that's where refinish products like the rest of us come in. I met with the Honda people a few times and had to submit products for approval. Next I got to see the manufacturing process from the floor of the plant because everything must be done the Honda way. It's really interesting to see how cars, or vans in this case, are made out close. First prestamped body parts are loaded into jigs on the start of the assembly line. The jigs go into huge welding booths were robots build the uni-bodies, next people with grinders cleaned up the welds, now the doors were put on. The bare metal bodies are inspected and run through a phosphate dip, dried, and then into the electro dip primer tank. At this point the primed bodies went up to the second floor to the paint shop which was a huge series of U shaped paint booths. First the primed bodies are inspected (they do a lot of this) and any nibs or runs are sanded out of the primer by teams of people. The bodies get a coat of colored surfacer, the color depends on the top coat color that van is to be painted. Each stage of painting is basically the same first two guys, one on each side spray under the hood and in the jambs. Next robots spray the bulk of the body painting, in the top coat booth there are two sets of robots to give two coats of color and again two coats of clear. There are infrared drying chambers after the surfacer, color, and clear so everything is throughly dried at each stage. Well you guessed it the painted bodies are inspected again in a very bright room with scafolding on either side. Any nibs or flaws are sanded out with airsanders using tiny 1" foam pads. After that the line splits if there is not much wrong it goes in to a buffing room where teams with little 4" buffers polish the spots. If there are any flaws that require touch up painting the body goes to two touch up booths where the refinish type air dry product are used and then they go to a bank of infrared spot lamps. A neat thing about the touch up operation is that because of the heat from the IR lamps they must mask with aluminum foil because paper would catch fire. After the repair the bodies go to another buffing room and the back down stairs to continue the assembly process. In another part of the paint shop is the bumper line where the front and rear bumpers are painted. Yes the bumpers are painted with the same paint but not at the same time some that's why they are a little off. Down stairs the doors removed and taken to another line where trim panels and glass is installed and the interiors are put in the bodies. The assembled front subframe with the power train is joined to the body along with the rear suspension. The finished doors and lift gate meet up with their original body and are reinstalled. Wheels, exterior trim, and fluids are added and the Honda Odyssey minivan is finished and ready to by driven out of the plant under it's own power. They are building 40 a day during the shake down and training time but plans are to build over 200 a day starting in the beginning for the year. I just wanted to share an interesting experence, I hope you found it of so interest as well. Greg
Hi! everybody' I'm thinking of instaling a trailer hitch to my 01" ODY, Any advice on what brand and style that will fit good (function, looks, quality and price )?
Living in DC area is hard to find good bargain on Odyssey. Therefore I went all the way to Ohio to get my new 2002 EXL-RES. $500 below MSRP. After just 2 weeks waiting period, I took a $70 one-way Southwest flight from BWI to Columbus, OH. The dealer picked me up at the airport. An hour later, I was on my 6-hour journey back to DC.
Congratulations. In order to get around buying a California (CA) car with all the smog controls,and the smog controls really hurt the cars mileage and performance then,and this was many years ago, I took a plane to Phoenix and a taxi to the dealer and picked my car up there. CA passed a law against that, but I don't know what the current law is. I think now that maybe all smog laws are the same though so it doesn't matter. But I don't know that for sure. The DMV does know.
I like the idea of buying your car anywhere in the US that gives you the best deal. That is the free market concept
Took our first roadtrip in our 2002 GG Ex-L and thought I'd post some observations.
This is a great vehicle. Mileage over the road was exceptional. We traveled from Atlanta to Kiawah Island (near Charleston SC). Got an amazing 28+ MPG on the all highway trip cruising at 70-75MPH. 310 miles on 10.7 gallons. I was surprised because the in town mileage (virtualy all of our mileage at home is suburban) is running 14-15 MPG. While at Kiawah and on the return trip (75% highway and 25% local) got 25MPG+.
Overall, we were very satisfied with the ride and comfort. We are three including a 13 month old and were able to pack for 5 days with plenty of room to spare. THis included lots of kid stuff like gates and highchair (we stayed in a condo). Could not have taken all that stuff if we needed the third seat, however.
Glad I bought the nosemask as there were many insects and probably stones that would have chipped the hood/nose. Even with the mask, we still siffered a small chip on the hood above the mask.
Was very aware to notice any drifts left or right. As far as I could tell, the van follows the crown of the road, but wants to pull left in the left lane more than it wants to pull right in the right lane. Not sure if there is a problem, so I'll watch tire wear.
Overall, 840 miles with no difficulties. Hope many of you get to enjoy your Ody's on the road.
I just read in AutoWeek that Odyssey will come out with a redesigned Ody in 2004. And with how automakers need time to work out some design problems, I will be looking for a new 2006 Ody late 2005.
I have always used 35 PSI in cold tires. My 99 came with Firestone Affinity tires which I had 49,000 miles on when I switched to Michelin Symetry. I still could have got another 5,000 on the Firestones, but wanted new tires for winter. BTW the Firestone dealer quoted a 50,000 warranty on the Affinity. I drive fast and somewhat aggressively. This is the highest mileage I have ever got on tires. I still have had no problems. I have a question about the 02 ODY, does the 5 speed tranny have "grade logic" like the 4 speed ?
I just got in the mail a notice from Honda about some areas of the country are experiencing with clogged EGR System. I have not experienced this in Tidewater VA. What parts of the US have experienced this problem? My wife has been very happy with her '99 Odyssey LX. Her only complaint has been the sticking sliding doors. I wish Honda would come up with a remedy. She lets me drive it when it needs gas. She averages between 16 and 26 mpg. The kids love it and the VCR/TV I install for longer rides. I wonder if the 2002 is worth the extra $4-$5K for the upgrade. We are very happy with what we have.
If you could keep some lube on that very top sub seal and it will keep the doors from sticking. We use Shinitsu greese and it works great..available at your local Honda dealer<-sounds like a Honda comercial-..
"I just read in AutoWeek that Odyssey will come out with a redesigned Ody in 2004. And with how automakers need time to work out some design problems, I will be looking for a new 2006 Ody late 2005."
-- Well, I just read in FutureGeek that Odyssey will have wings and rocket-fueled turbines on the 2010 model so I recommend holding out till 2009 when that one becomes available. Or better yet, the refined 2012 model - that one will be sweet.
I have 2.5 yr old twins and expecting another in March so will have three large carseats. I had decided on the odyssey but my parents think it is unsafe to put the 2 toddlers in the third row so close to the back window. The only other option I can think of is a station wagon with three across in the 2nd row. As far as safety is this safer? I think practically speaking it sounds nuts as I wont have room for 2 more adults, although the wagon would be easier to maneuver for me. Any thoughts?
I would put one toddler next to the baby in the 2nd row, and then the other toddler in the middle of the 3rd row. You should have plenty of crumple space behind the 3rd seat, and the middle is safer in a side impact.
I agree with tteixeira on the carseat thing. The middle seat is always the safest location for kids, especially infants. What I do is put the middle row seats together so the baby can be as close to the middle as possible. The older ones can go to the back row, though I would still use the middle seat first before using the other two.
The safest position is the one farthest away from a likely point of impact. Obviously, the center seat in the second row of a car or minivan is farthest away from any point of impact. After that, consider that side impacts are more frequent and more severe than rear impacts. According to crashtest.com, side impacts are about 6x more frequent than rear impacts. Side impacts are very deadly. Rear impacts are rarely as severe, though whiplash is a major issue for adults without proper head restraints.
In a larger minivan, you also typically have more crush space behind a passenger in the third row than you along side a passenger in an outboard seat in the second row. For those reasons, I would consider the middle seat in the third row to be safer (statistically) than an outboard seat in the middle row. Access to a child in the third row AFTER a crash may also be a consideration, as is day-to-day loading and unloading of children and adults which will vary in each case.
When deciding where to put the kids, "Best Practice" indicates that the most protected children should be in the outboard locations when possible, assuming the carseats fit properly. Rear-facing seats tend to provide the best frontal and side impact protection, followed by front-facing carseats, followed by boosters. Assuming your carseats fit properly, the ideal setup would be to have one twin in the center of the middle row (passenger-side chair moved inboard), the other twin in the middle of the third row and the infant behind the driver in the middle row, rear-facing. Juice's advice was right on the money:-) All that said, our two children are in the outboard locations in the second row chairs (GASP!). Significantly greater convenience was a bigger factor for me than a marginal increase in safety. These are 'tough choices' that only a parent can make.
Keep in mind that properly used carseats are by far the best precaution. Ideal seating arrangements can decrease risks somewhat, but nothing like making sure your carseats are installed correctly and used properly each time. Also visit:
Personally, I have little trust in my dealers for mechanical concerns, let alone those pertaining to the safety of my children. Unless the person at the dealer is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (and has the card to prove it), please be sure to verify everything yourself. Better yet, call your local police department, fire department or hospital. Many have trained, experienced technicians on staff who will do a free inspection.
I've done carseat checkup events at dealers that have sales and service people trained, so they do exist. Still, these still appear to be the exception rather than the rule and that includes companies like Chrysler that have programs like Fit for a Kid.
I just picked up my 02'EX-L-NAV this past weekend. It is to replace my 99' EX-L. I have not had any EGR problem on the 99' as yet. To upgrade to 02' or not? I had the same question couple months ago. There is nothing wrong with my 99', but the resale value of it made me to go ahead. Now, I have driven the 02' for about 150 miles. I am glad that I made the decison to upgrade. NO regret at all. The description of 240HP, 5 sp tranny, more sound deadening, etc.... which I have read in the brochure cannot say it all. There is more refinement than those and the drive is a lot more silkier, the ride is more comfortable (the seat is wider too, it is just not mentioned), the all disc brake does make a lot difference and the overall feel is more solid as the whole van goes. Thanks to Honda for offering us such a practical driving machine.
The safest place for a child is the middle of the middle row (passenger side chair moved in), BUT that will only work for you if you have a car seat with the LATCH system and a tether. If you have to use the seat belt to anchor the seat, you will have no access to the third row.
Is the Latch system available on the 02 Ody? Is it standard equipment and how exactly does it work? Do all of the middle and rear seats have it?
I have a 2000 Ody currently and I am not aware of a latch system. We are trading in our 00 Ody for a 02 Ody. Currently waiting for the 02 to come in. Spoke to dealer he said the production date is scheduled for 12/11/01 and says that we should be able get delivery by 12/20.
We are thinking about getting the fog lights on the 02 Ody. Live in NJ and don't get so much fog but the suburban roads become difficult to see at night on rainy days. Will fog lights improve visibility in those conditions? What shoudl I expect to pay for them?
And also interested in getting the wood trim. I saw one at the dealer with it and it really looked nice. It had the wood trim just about everywhere (dash, doors, AC vents and lights on the ceiling, as well as on the front and rear portions of tray) From what I recall the dealer said it wasn't real wood. Has anyone else purchased this option? Was it real wood and what are the primariy differences between real and fake wood. And lastly how much should I expect to pay for this.
I currently have Weathertech floormats on the 00 Ody but am not particullarly impressed with them. They don't look nice, and the mid and rear mats aren't even specifically designed for the Odyssey. Had to cut to fit. Anyone suggest alternative floor mats that are better and specifcally designed for the Odyssey?
I have them on my '01 LX. They are strictly ornamental 99% of the time. Properly aimed (downward), they will help you see the reflective lines at the side of the road just in front of you in very dense fog. They do illuminate the area immediately in front of the van to some degree, and another light to help others see you isn't a bad thing either, but those reasons are really stretching it for a rationalization:-) They do look nice, though, and you will no longer have a cover plate in the dash where a button should be...
No one uses real wood and you wouldn't want to. The nice looking burls you see on the plastic wood trim is made to resemble a good quality wood veneer. If you used real wood veneer that stuff wouldn't last the first time you left the car in the hot sun.
For pricing, just buy it online at www.hparts.com or here at http://handa-accessories.com/odyint02.html. If you bought it all it looks like around $450 before shipping. And that is do-it-yourself, I'd hate to imagine how much it would cost if the dealer did it.
I had foglights on an Accord and honestly it really didn't do a thing to improve safety 99.9% of the time. I think foglights are for appearance purposes only.
Lastly, on the floormats why not buy the Honda mats for about $115 online?
The links provided by caviller are great. The 2002 does have the LATCH system in the second row seats. All five of the rear seating positions have tether hooks. Your biggest problem will be finding a car seat with the LATCH system. My daughter is 2 1/2 and they weren't available when we moved her from the infant seat to the child seat. I had planned to put her car seat in the middle of the middle row, but didn't because of the seat belt. She is on the side, maybe not as safe a position, but the seat is very stable with the seat belt and tether (all newer car seats have tethers). It even stays tight with her climbing in and out of the seat herself. I did remove the headrest to make the tether as tight as I could.
Fog Lights: I have PIAA 1000X driving lights mounted in the fog light location, aimed down slightly. I can see much better, but only turned them on in bad weather or if the road is poorly lit. I also have PIAA Xtreme White H4 bulbs, but I find the Catz Galaxy Whites to be slightly better than the PIAAs. The Galaxy Whites do have a slightly whiter temperature. The Galaxy Whites are H1 in my Legacy. Catz has Zeta module with H4s, but I haven't had a chance yet to see if they will go on the Odyssey without a problem. Just FYI, PIAA white reverse bulbs don't appear to do much. By the way, if you buy the 1000X driving lights, the aftermarket H4s don't help much. The driving lights are more significant and I do not see any bounce-back glare in foul weather in the mountng location since you're sitting higher. I'm in North Jersey at the State Line. The best foul weather lamps that I have experienced are the Dick Cepek driving lamps that are copies of PIAA 1200's in the Dichroic Yellow. I believe they lit up the road really well without having an offensive beam at other drives. Don't know if they are still available.
Weathertech Mats: Have them in front and middle. I feel that the $10 Kraco SUV/Minivan mat from BJs (also available at a number of mass merchandisers) have more water channels (ribs) and is just the right width for the rear. They are available in 3 colors as well. I don't know if you will find better fitting mats than the Weathertechs for front and middle. I won't say they are perfect, but the Odyssey floor is not exactly flat to begin with.
Well, it was finally time to replace the Firestone's on my 99 EX with just over 67,000 km on it. We've had snow in Calgary since last Friday and the roads have been very slick ever since. The tires were just about down to the wear indicators and not getting much traction at all--it was time. I did a bunch of research on Edmunds and elsewhere for all season tires and settled on the Michelin X One as the tire to go for. Also decided to go for the +0 sizing and go with 225/60/16's vs. the OEM 215/65/16's. I ended up at Costco where they have the Michelin X Radial Plus, which is the exact same tire but is made for the discount clubs. Bought the tires on Sunday and had them installed on Tuesday (as they were way too busy installing tires on the weekend due to all the snow). All in all we are very happy with them so far. They seem to grip in the snow and ice better than I remember from the OEM tires when they were new--certainly 1000% better than when they were just about worn out. Have not had a chance to try on dry pavement yet as none currently exists. For reference for anyone else shopping for new tires in Canada, they were $125 CDN each plus GST, tire recycle tax, installation and balancing. Totaled to just under $150 CDN per tire. From what I've seen, that looks to be a pretty good price for this tire, On the internet I found the X One's available for $135 CDN. The very cheapest no name tires in the same size available at Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire were about $100 each (plus GST, recycle tax, etc...). I'm sure the Michelins will be well worth the difference. Like many places these days, Costco offers free flat repairs and rotation for the life of the tires. Once it warms up outside, from what I've read, on dry roads I should expect much less road noise and better handling. I'll report back once one of our chinooks roll in over the mountains...
In reality, you did not do a 0 tire size exchange. You decreased your rolling distance by 1.4%. The radius of your new size is 13.3" vs 13.5" for your old tire. Rolling distance is 83.7" on your new tire vs 84.8" for your old tire.
In other words your engine will have to travel an additional 1.4% to go the same distance as your old tires.
I read in one of your earlier posts that you had gone to set of 235/60 x 16 tires. Have you tried using any chains on them for winter conditions? Have you had any problems with rubbing when you made very tight turns? How about the ride and handling? Any information you can give would be very helpful to those of us who are going to replacing the OEM tires currently wearing out. Thanks for helpful comments.
He basically shortened his gearing by 1.4%, but that's not very significant. It'll rev higher at highway speeds, and the speedo will actually register more miles than you have, but by a small amount.
Benefits include quicker acceleration, but you give up a tiny bit of ground clearance.
I am picking up my EXL-NAV at the end of Dec. (sooooo excited). I wish to get seat covers for all the seats. I don't want to get sheep skin - too expensive. Any suggestions on great fitting seat covers? Thanks.
I have a 2001 GG Ody Ex. Does anyone have some good tips on how to service the Sliding doors, without having to go to the dealer? Just a few times the doors wouldn't close all the way and I had to help it along by hand. I heard something about sanding of the contacts, greasing of the door tracks and resetting the doors. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
When I picked it up the sales guy and I did a little chatting (fishing for all excellent feedbacks). He mentioned that Honda was *cutting back* on production over the next two months.
I think many people on this board have the idea that the reason that they wait so long for their minivans (waited 5 months for mine) is that it is so popular. While that is definitely a factor, the real reason it stays that way is that Honda restricts the supply because they like it that way.
Also, so I'm supposed to give feedback on the Honda dealer. I really wish I could give feedback on the two Honda dealers that I passed on the hour long drive I took to pick up my minivan (clue: slime).
Can anyone explain why my EX came with roof rails but not the cross bars? Isn't that kind of a slap in the face to say that you get only 1/2 of the roof rack package? How useful are those things without shelling out another $120 for the cross bars?
To the moderators: why is this forum not viewable in a standard NNTP thread style? This mix of discussions kind of sucks.
http://1netweb.com/checklist.htm
HONDACARE WARRANTY PRICES
Chris Scofield at Honda of Princeton (609) 683 – 0722 $895
David Winnie at Upstate Honda (518) 587-9300 $895
Rusty Wallis Honda in Dallas, TX
Brandon Winfree Business Manager (214) 348-7500 $895
(214) 328-8809 fax
www.thehondaking.com
Hope this info helps you
INKY
Town Hall has been "conversation" style since its inception in '96 or so. Different strokes....
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I bought my cross-bar over the internet for a lot less than the dealer and it was very easy to install, (just make sure you follow instruction as not to install the front bar in the back or vice versa, and also make sure the front part of each bar is facing to the front.)
Hi. I'm Bruce. And I am a Honda Odyssey owner.
(You all: Hello Bruce!)
I'm a little concerned about something I did today. Let me state for the record that I own a 2001 Dark Emerald Pearl Odyssey EX; agonized over the purchase decision for several months; waited three months for delivery; paid MSRP less $1; purchased from a dealership located 130 miles away from my house; but, hey, they did deliver it to my door and I never had to set foot in a dealership for this transaction; you all on this board gave me plenty of confidence to go ahead and take the plunge; no regrets at all.
On my way home today, I entered a large rotary. A Honda dealership is on the opposite side of the rotary from where I entered it. In front of the dealership was a transport truck. An Evergreen Pearl 2002 Odyssey that was up on the top rack caught my eye. I had not seen the 2002 in that color up close and personal. I knew that the green color was somewhat different from that offered in earlier model years.
My direct and usual path home is to take the first right off the rotary. As I entered the rotary, I thought to myself "I am curious about that new green color. It's just a van, what's the big whoop? I've got to know the color. Green is green, just head home. Oh man, I've got to go check it out. It's just a minivan, family man's best friend. But, I've got to see it. Oh no, do I have Odyssey fever? I can't believe I am doing this."
I stayed in the rotary and hooked all the way around to drive by the transport and check out the 2002 Evergreen Pearl Odyssey. Darn, the sun was in my eyes as I headed toward the truck. Still, I was able to make out enough about the color without causing an accident. The 2002 Evergreen Pearl is a little bit brighter than the Dark Emerald Pearl. Nice. I like it.
Does this mean I am hooked? Am I afflicted? Am I ok? Do I need saving? Or, have I been saved?
In any event, I have much to be thankful for this year: A lovely and tolerant wife, three wonderful children, seating for seven, automatic doors, Odyssey owners willing to share an "I know what you went through" gaze, smile and occasional nod as we pass each other on the road, and the delight in knowing that Evergreen Pearl is a terrific looking color. Happy Thanksgiving.
Most of the comment on color for the 02' fall on the Redrock Pearl. I happened to have ordered the Red for a week and after much thought and an acutal physical seeing the color. My wife and I decided to change to the Evergreen. Now my van has just arrived today at the dealer and I can't wait to go and say hi to her.
Tire pressure: The tire pressure they recommend is the maximum allowed for the tire at 35#. I think they do this to get the best mileage figures as well as for maximum load. Remember the mileage figures are a US government requirement for their fleet average. I think you can probably go to 32-30, easily enough and get a better ride. You could ask the tire manufacturer.
Color: I just get a white car every time. That or course is a personal decision. I believe in the KISS principal and there are a lot of advantages to white. Especially since I live in a hot climate. If you live in snow storm country then a white car may not be seen in a snow storm and maybe not be as safe.
Advantages of a white car. Safety- can be seen easily, Durability -holds up well; Coolest- In hot climates; Matchablity- matches perfectly even years later if you have to repaint after an accident; Easy Care- does not show dust well. I seldom have to wash my car. A Don't Worry Color- can order it with out worrying what it is going to look like, you already know.
When new last winter in MN-- and it was a cold winter-- the van got as low as 12 mpg on tankloads of city-only driving. As predicted by others on these boards, the mileage did gradually improve as the engine got 3K, 5K, 8K miles on it-- I'd say it seemed to level out somewhere before 10K. We're not back into cold weather here yet (40 degrees-- not cold by MN standards), but now our city-only tankloads average about 16 to 17 mpg instead of 12. I expect in real cold weather it may go down to 14 or so, we'll see. On our interstate family vacation to Mt. Rushmore in August, we averaged 26 mpg on the highway-- 1 mpg HIGHER than rated!-- with two tankloads hitting 28 mpg. I didn't expect great gas efficiency out of a 4,200 lb vehicle, and I'd still trade some of the horsepower for higher mpg if I could; but overall I can't complain much about the mileage especially compared to the DC vans and all the SUV's on the road of about the same weight as the Odyssey (such as the Explorer) that get lower mpg.
I was apprehensive about seat comfort, since I'd read a number of posts about it, and in fact my initial impression was I didn't like the driver's seat very much (maybe colored by the posts?). However, after a couple months, I realized that in fact I was finding it quite comfortable, more so than our previous car for sure (Subaru Legacy). On the vacation, we drove home from Rushmore (about 675 miles) in one day, about 12 hours total with stops, with 2 kids (9 and 3) with nary a comfort complaint from ANY of us. My initial impression was clearly wrong-- and the Legacy seats would have been fairly uncomfortable under those conditions. I will say my wife and are both "short" (5'8"/5'7") and people with fairly long legs may find the seat bottom too short. I think lumbar support with the adjustment wheel is pretty adequate though.
We've done faily extensive hauling with the van and it's been great for that. Moved my mother-in-law with it; made a number of fully-loaded trips to Goodwill; carried 10 4x8 sheets of paneling at once. When equipping a new bathroom we got all the following home from Menards in ONE trip (with 2nd row seats out): new 40 gallon water heater; new toilet (bowl and tank); small bathroom vanity and sink; and-- biggest item of all-- new 36" shower enclosure. We did have to take the components of the shower out of the box, but that giant box wouldn't have slid into an empty Suburban without doing that. We had to push the front seats up a little, but it all fit!
We had a Yakima roof rack on our Legacy, but the Odyssey (LX with no factory rack) needs different "towers" and some other small pieces to adapt it. I'm glad I didn't run right off and spend $150-plus on those parts. We're very into biking, but so far haven't needed the roof carriers. With 3rd row seat down, we can fit our TANDEM bike (72" wheelbase) into the van with both wheels attached, front wheel and handlebars resting between the two 2nd row seats; and have room on either side of it behind 2nd row for a child's bike and a folded Burley trailer. When the kids are bigger, or if we want our single bikes instead of the tandem, a family ride will require the roof rack, but we haven't needed it yet. No way the tandem would fit inside a Sienna like that.
We're very happy with the van overall. But-- I'm still glad I bought the extended warranty (my dealer matched the cheap Internet price) based on the reports of transmission problems. I'm convinced ALL these big, heavy "mini"-vans are prone to tranny problems, regardless of make-- some more than others and I'm sure the Honda is less prone than DC or Ford at least. I'm also glad we waited a couple years and got an '01-- sounds like the earlier ones are a little
Blue Book $23K.
Open to $21K
Email on familialanier@yahoo.com
I guess the only way to get one, at least around Northern Virginia is to pay MSRP or over MSRP, which I find unbelievable. After all is said and done, $30,000 seems like an expensive price to pay for a mini van, but I guess that's life in the 00's. The seats seemed comfortable for taking trips and there is plenty of room, and safety couldn't get much better. I drive an '88 Acura Legend with 190,000 miles (with minimal repairs) and she still keeps going. I hope my Ody goes that long, too. I have a feeling that repairs to this Honda are quite costly. Am I right on that? It seems like the average mechanic will NOT be able to work on this engine encased so perfectly and so neat looking. I do intend on getting the extended warranty for peace of mind.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Mayme Grim
On spending $30K. I think any other van with the same options would cost about the same. The difference would not be significant. I looked at buy the Odyssey as a long term investment.
The Odyssey is currently the best minivan you can buy.
On your large husband. He may not be completely happy being a passenger in the front seat. Some people over 6 feet have said they would like more room there. He will probably have enough room as a driver.
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Selling a Used Odyssey. The best way to sell a used car to a private party is to put an ad in the newspaper, or the local ad paper is even better. It comes out every week and people flock to it, as soon as it comes out. In some areas it is called the Shopper or Penny Saver (in California), and is about 20 pages, about 7 1/4 x 10 1/2, in a magazine shape, but written on newsprint. Only problem is perhaps the lower price vehicles sell the best there.
I own a 2000 Odyssey EX, but don't post much to this board. I found this on another automotive restoration website that I frequent. The guy that posted this is a PPG paint rep and he sent this description of the paint and assembly areas of the new Alabama plant that Honda is bringing on line. I just thought it may interest some here..... Shannon
Begin quoted material
As some of you may know Honda is opening a new manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Some of you my also know I work for PPG. Well I was invited to go to the new plant to work with their paint shop on end of the line touch ups. PPG and Dupont are both suppliers to the plant but that paint is high bake waterborne product that can't be air dried. So that's where refinish products like the rest of us come in.
I met with the Honda people a few times and had to submit products for approval. Next I got to see the manufacturing process from the floor of the plant because everything must be done the Honda way. It's really interesting to see how cars, or vans in this case, are made out close.
First prestamped body parts are loaded into jigs on the start of the assembly line. The jigs go into huge welding booths were robots build the uni-bodies, next people with grinders cleaned up the welds, now the doors were put on. The bare metal bodies are inspected and run through a phosphate dip, dried, and then into the electro dip primer tank. At this point the primed bodies went up to the second floor to the paint shop which was a huge series of U shaped paint booths. First the primed bodies are inspected (they do a lot of this) and any nibs or runs are sanded out of the primer by teams of people. The bodies get a coat of colored surfacer, the color depends on the top coat color that van is to be painted. Each stage of painting is basically the same first two guys, one on each side spray under the hood and in the jambs. Next robots spray the bulk of the body painting, in the top coat booth there are two sets of robots to give two coats of color and again two coats of clear. There are infrared drying chambers after the surfacer, color, and clear so everything is throughly dried at each stage.
Well you guessed it the painted bodies are inspected again in a very bright room with scafolding on either side. Any nibs or flaws are sanded out with airsanders using tiny 1" foam pads. After that the line splits if there is not much wrong it goes in to a buffing room where teams with little 4" buffers polish the spots. If there are any flaws that require touch up painting the body goes to two touch up booths where the refinish type air dry product are used and then they go to a bank of infrared spot lamps. A neat thing about the touch up operation is that because of the heat from the IR lamps they must mask with aluminum foil because paper would catch fire. After the repair the bodies go to another buffing room and the back down stairs to continue the assembly process. In another part of the paint shop is the bumper line where the front and rear bumpers are painted. Yes the bumpers are painted with the same paint but not at the same time some that's why they are a little off.
Down stairs the doors removed and taken to another line where trim panels and glass is installed and the interiors are put in the bodies. The assembled front subframe with the power train is joined to the body along with the rear suspension. The finished doors and lift gate meet up with their original body and are reinstalled. Wheels, exterior trim, and fluids are added and the Honda Odyssey minivan is finished and ready to by driven out of the plant under it's own power. They are building 40 a day during the shake down and training time but plans are to build over 200 a day starting in the beginning for the year.
I just wanted to share an interesting experence, I hope you found it of so interest as well.
Greg
Thank you everybody in advance
Inggo
I like the idea of buying your car anywhere in the US that gives you the best deal. That is the free market concept
This is a great vehicle. Mileage over the road was exceptional. We traveled from Atlanta to Kiawah Island (near Charleston SC). Got an amazing 28+ MPG on the all highway trip cruising at 70-75MPH. 310 miles on 10.7 gallons. I was surprised because the in town mileage (virtualy all of our mileage at home is suburban) is running 14-15 MPG. While at Kiawah and on the return trip (75% highway and 25% local) got 25MPG+.
Overall, we were very satisfied with the ride and comfort. We are three including a 13 month old and were able to pack for 5 days with plenty of room to spare. THis included lots of kid stuff like gates and highchair (we stayed in a condo). Could not have taken all that stuff if we needed the third seat, however.
Glad I bought the nosemask as there were many insects and probably stones that would have chipped the hood/nose. Even with the mask, we still siffered a small chip on the hood above the mask.
Was very aware to notice any drifts left or right. As far as I could tell, the van follows the crown of the road, but wants to pull left in the left lane more than it wants to pull right in the right lane. Not sure if there is a problem, so I'll watch tire wear.
Overall, 840 miles with no difficulties. Hope many of you get to enjoy your Ody's on the road.
Mike
Something to look forward to.
I have a question about the 02 ODY, does the 5 speed tranny have "grade logic" like the 4 speed ?
My wife has been very happy with her '99 Odyssey LX. Her only complaint has been the sticking sliding doors. I wish Honda would come up with a remedy. She lets me drive it when it needs gas. She averages between 16 and 26 mpg. The kids love it and the VCR/TV I install for longer rides.
I wonder if the 2002 is worth the extra $4-$5K for the upgrade. We are very happy with what we have.
-- Well, I just read in FutureGeek that Odyssey will have wings and rocket-fueled turbines on the 2010 model so I recommend holding out till 2009 when that one becomes available. Or better yet, the refined 2012 model - that one will be sweet.
I have 2.5 yr old twins and expecting another in March so will have three large carseats.
I had decided on the odyssey but my parents think it is unsafe to put the 2 toddlers in the third row so close to the back window. The only other option I can think of is a station wagon with three across in the 2nd row. As far as safety is this safer? I think practically speaking it sounds nuts as I wont have room for 2 more adults, although the wagon would be easier to maneuver for me. Any thoughts?
Karen
-juice
In a larger minivan, you also typically have more crush space behind a passenger in the third row than you along side a passenger in an outboard seat in the second row. For those reasons, I would consider the middle seat in the third row to be safer (statistically) than an outboard seat in the middle row. Access to a child in the third row AFTER a crash may also be a consideration, as is day-to-day loading and unloading of children and adults which will vary in each case.
When deciding where to put the kids, "Best Practice" indicates that the most protected children should be in the outboard locations when possible, assuming the carseats fit properly. Rear-facing seats tend to provide the best frontal and side impact protection, followed by front-facing carseats, followed by boosters. Assuming your carseats fit properly, the ideal setup would be to have one twin in the center of the middle row (passenger-side chair moved inboard), the other twin in the middle of the third row and the infant behind the driver in the middle row, rear-facing. Juice's advice was right on the money:-) All that said, our two children are in the outboard locations in the second row chairs (GASP!). Significantly greater convenience was a bigger factor for me than a marginal increase in safety. These are 'tough choices' that only a parent can make.
Keep in mind that properly used carseats are by far the best precaution. Ideal seating arrangements can decrease risks somewhat, but nothing like making sure your carseats are installed correctly and used properly each time. Also visit:
http://www.car-safety.org and http://www.car-safety.org/odyssey.html
-juice
I've done carseat checkup events at dealers that have sales and service people trained, so they do exist. Still, these still appear to be the exception rather than the rule and that includes companies like Chrysler that have programs like Fit for a Kid.
To upgrade to 02' or not? I had the same question couple months ago. There is nothing wrong with my 99', but the resale value of it made me to go ahead. Now, I have driven the 02' for about 150 miles. I am glad that I made the decison to upgrade. NO regret at all. The description of 240HP, 5 sp tranny, more sound deadening, etc.... which I have read in the brochure cannot say it all. There is more refinement than those and the drive is a lot more silkier, the ride is more comfortable (the seat is wider too, it is just not mentioned), the all disc brake does make a lot difference and the overall feel is more solid as the whole van goes. Thanks to Honda for offering us such a practical driving machine.
I have a 2000 Ody currently and I am not aware of a latch system. We are trading in our 00 Ody for a 02 Ody. Currently waiting for the 02 to come in. Spoke to dealer he said the production date is scheduled for 12/11/01 and says that we should be able get delivery by 12/20.
And also interested in getting the wood trim. I saw one at the dealer with it and it really looked nice. It had the wood trim just about everywhere (dash, doors, AC vents and lights on the ceiling, as well as on the front and rear portions of tray) From what I recall the dealer said it wasn't real wood. Has anyone else purchased this option? Was it real wood and what are the primariy differences between real and fake wood. And lastly how much should I expect to pay for this.
I currently have Weathertech floormats on the 00 Ody but am not particullarly impressed with them. They don't look nice, and the mid and rear mats aren't even specifically designed for the Odyssey. Had to cut to fit. Anyone suggest alternative floor mats that are better and specifcally designed for the Odyssey?
See:
http://www.car-safety.org/latch.html
http://www.car-safety.org/odyssey.html
For pricing, just buy it online at www.hparts.com or here at http://handa-accessories.com/odyint02.html. If you bought it all it looks like around $450 before shipping. And that is do-it-yourself, I'd hate to imagine how much it would cost if the dealer did it.
I had foglights on an Accord and honestly it really didn't do a thing to improve safety 99.9% of the time. I think foglights are for appearance purposes only.
Lastly, on the floormats why not buy the Honda mats for about $115 online?
Good luck!
Weathertech Mats: Have them in front and middle. I feel that the $10 Kraco SUV/Minivan mat from BJs (also available at a number of mass merchandisers) have more water channels (ribs) and is just the right width for the rear. They are available in 3 colors as well. I don't know if you will find better fitting mats than the Weathertechs for front and middle. I won't say they are perfect, but the Odyssey floor is not exactly flat to begin with.
I notice a rattling sound much like that of a loose shock absorber.
This annoying noise seems to be a systemic problem because both my 2000 & now my 2002 make the same noise.
This problem aside, the van has been just super. I do wish Honda would upgrade the sound system in the future, my system sounds feeble...
Thank you in advance for any comments you can pass along on this problem...
In other words your engine will have to travel an additional 1.4% to go the same distance as your old tires.
tried using any chains on them for winter conditions? Have you had any problems
with rubbing when you made very tight turns? How about the ride and handling? Any
information you can give would be very helpful to those of us who are going to
replacing the OEM tires currently wearing out. Thanks for helpful comments.
Benefits include quicker acceleration, but you give up a tiny bit of ground clearance.
-juice
Hillary