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Comments
The Honda Ody Problems boards do seem to have more frequent and serious reliability and quality issues than the Toyota Sienna problems board. This is backed up by JD Power Assoc. and CR reliability studies. But, the 2005 Nissan Quest has improved its quality over the first year 2004 model...so hopefully Honda Ody can do the same.
A happy and joyful new year to all! :shades:
Happy New Year
I wish what you said was true of Toyota as we got rid of our 3 yr old Tacoma truck 3 months ago that had the dreaded engine sludge problem, despite our regular maintenance.
We got the Honda Ridgeline that performs far better. I can see why C & D rated it #1 against the competition, which included the Toyota.
I think you hit on something here its the posts that matter not who posts and what they say, there's alot of wierd back biting going on too from people who don't even own that brand! That said one of my best friends works for toyota and has a Sienna(3rd one)only had one minor issue.
This is backed up by JD Power Assoc. and CR reliability studies.
The JD POwers dinged it on fit and controls issues not mechanicial problems. My wife would have brought the van in like 4 times in the first month if I didn't read the manual, all tings I might have done myself. 1. Sliding door wouldn't open. Why? She didn't put the car in park. 2. Temp control wouldn't work separately Why? She pressed the defrost button. 3. Sliding door on drivers side won't open. Why she forgot to close the gas door. 4. Remote wouldn't unlock all the doors Why? She was waiting too long to hit the button a second time.
CR still reccommends it for purchase!
Sounds familar. My wife complained of no heated air coming from lower vent by drivers feet (feet heated first above all else). So, I stick my hand down there...no heat. Take it in to Mazda dealership to have them look at it. The carpeting needed adjustment to keep it from blocking vent.
And this was after I had asked for a loaner car. I felt
If I were buying today, I think the only minivan I wouldn't include on my list would be the Ford Freestar and maybe the new Kia Sedona as it is a first year model. I think overall there is a very good selection to choose from. Whatever best fits ones needs.
I have read the information on my friend's copy of his Toyota Platinum Warranty for his 2006 Sienna LE...but I too, will actually believe it when I see someone get their money refunded. :shades:
I live in south orange county Ca(Irvine is corp HQ)and on my way home from watching my beloved Tarheels get whooped by USC on the 21st I saw a Sedona on the road. Guess what passed it as I was driving checking it out? a Odyssey. The dang thing looked like a clone(same body size) With all the standard equipment it will be hard to beat at that price point. KIA's reliablity looks like its coming up. I'd wait for the crash tests to buy but that would be on my short list now too.
Similar experience with our Ody until we found out how to operate the auto climate control properly. This could/would have sent another owner back to the dealer needlessly. Our Ody's flawless operation continues...
I read the papers concerning the Toyota Platinum Extended Warranty for my friend's 2006 Sienna LE and it states that the entire purchase amount will be refunded if the extended warranty was not used.
However, the papers sent to him from Toyota Motor Services confirming the purchase of the warranty have a clause that states a pro rata portion of the warranty will be refunded if the warranty is terminated.
Does this last pro rata data pertain to termination of the warranty if it is wrecked? or does it disavow the statement signed by the dealer's representative when the Extended Warranty was purchased?
My friend is now concerned that the dealer may have been less than completely honest. :shades:
The Sienna is an excellent choice. We came very close to purchasing the 04 Sienna LE(package #7) before going with the Mazda MPV. Happy Motoring.
The good news is that I do not own anymore a Honda vehicle and will never ever again look back at this manufacturer/make as I am really happy that I got rid of my 2005 Odyssey EX-L RES.
Oooh what a luxury and quite driving experience that silver shadow pearl Sienna is... keep up the good work TOYOTA!!!!!
The transaction included a trade in...:
2006 Toyota Sienna Limited ($36941)
2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L RES (trade allowance $23500)
other misc. fees: $465
The dealership was at Mark Jacobson Toyota in Durham, NC.
Looking forward to the reliable trips I plan with the 2006 Toyota Sienna Silver Shadow Pearl bullet beauty.
Congrats! But I wonder what one of this forum contributors, who was critical about paying $30K for a minivan, would be thinking now.
Not meaning to whiz (too much) all over your parade but.....Edmunds lists the trade-in value for a 2005 EX-L RES at closer to $24500 (depending on color/region/mileage). :confuse:
Enjoy your Sienna XLE Ltd.
Well, substitute MPV for T&C and I'd agree with ya! :P
Seriously, great choice on the new Sienna. We have friends who bought a new Sienna last summer, right about the same time we got our MPV. Very nice.
Thanks for your help.
The Ody gets it max advertized HP(10+ more than Sienna with premium gas) with regular. Great for lead footers like me!
And in my car, Regular will also lead to lower MPG numbers.
Overall, we are pleased with the Odyssey. It certainly drives well, comfortably seats its passengers, and provides a relaxing and quiet ride. It has ample storage bins and cup holders along with friendly features such as the 60/40 rear seat. Removing the middle seats last weekend, I was able to easily haul 40 bags of mulch to the house. I had briefly considered purchasing a full size pickup truck when doing research early last year but decided that the Odyssey would carry pretty much any reasonable item that I would be hauling if the need arose. Finally, while it cast a somewhat larger footprint than most vans and seems large when driving in town, its true calling is on a road trip where its comfort, quietness’, and security can be appreciated by its occupants. I am pleased with the purchase but do have a few complaints. Here they are.
1. I have heard it before in this forum but the Odyssey needs a telescoping steering wheel like the Toyota Sienna. Why they haven’t placed one on the Odyssey, I don’t know. The cost can’t be that much. I’m six foot even and while the driver’s side electric seat provides an abundance of positions, my arm length measurements always seems to fall short. Honda .are you listening?
2. The gas door opening latch needs to be raised from it location which is almost at the floor level which requires an unnatural and extreme reach. What were the designers thinking (or not thinking) when they placed it there? I just turned 50 and while my back is in fairly good shape, why force the driver to bend down to release it. Surely, they’ve heard of ergonomics. Honda ..again .are you listening?
3. Living in Florida, the electric seats are rarely used or needed, though I used them this morning for the first time. One would think that their location, down near the floor, one on either side of the bottom storage bin, would be ideal .but its not. For one, it’s another stretch to turn them on (read comment 2 above). However, the main complaint is that they have “come on” a half a dozen times, maybe more since I purchased the car. Of course, the reason they come on is because I accidentally bumped them on which leads me to the third complaint. That being the switch has practically no sound to them when they are toggled. If they were, one would hear which they were switched to another location and turn them back off. The corrective action on this would be to move the switch to a location more at eye level, preferably on the dash.
4. The plastic dash trim on the Odyssey is the same as my wife’s 2002 Honda Accord; easily scratched. Again, Honda has a well deserved reputation for quality so why they continue to use a plastic that is not more stretch resistant doesn’t make sense. Or maybe it does make “cents” as in they are saving a few dollars but taking a hit on customer satisfaction. Honda, do away with the Hyundai-like plastic and install something more suitable for a Honda.
5. Honda needs to be more honest when claiming that the EX-L will achieve 28 MPG under highway condition. The best that I have done is 25 MPG even, driving in Central Florida along the coast; no hills, constantly 75 MPH using cruise control. There are MANY posts on the subject so I won’t add to their thoughts on this subject.
I agree with you concerning seat heater switches but mine have not turned on accidentally.
My highway gas mileage has gotten as high as 27 and should be at the advertised 28 with some more miles on the engine.
Two of the worse pieces of automotive junk I owned were a Toyota and a Nissan.
Obviously, they treated you much better. I ended up buying at Fred Anderson. It would be interesting to see which of the two have better service departments, since the sales and service can be completely different for any dealership.
And to whoever made the comment on the Kia van, don't dismiss the Koreans so fast. They've come a long way. It's entirely possible they could win our next auto purchase. I look for value and quality in a vehicle. They're almost there.
I'd agree, and take your statement a bit further. The last Nissan Armada, Quest (2004 auto show), and most recently the Xterra(2005 auto show) I sat in had horrible interior finish quality. Things like knobs that felt like I could pull them off easily, buttons that wobble in their housing, flimsy plastic buttons, etc...
Given, the 2005+ Altimas are better than these I mentioned here...
Hyundai's new cars have this beat by a mile, and cost much MUCH less.
Now we know why Ford and GM do not put too much effort in this segment as can be seen in their products.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-01-20-minivans-usat_x.htm
Both Honda and Toyota sales combined are less than those of DCX. So, using your logic, Honda and Toyota should "axe" the Odyssey and Sienna? :P
Different league/class, Mon!
WE can understand the case for MPV which will DISSAPPEAR SOON!
It is the only way to move these POSs!!!
Well said, Mon!
Even with low margins and higher volumes via fleet, the domestics are not as profitable as Toyota and Honda. The domestics are losing money to give their vehicles away. Toyota and Honda do not need to do - the buying public is willing to pay more for peace of mind!
Watch out - BK(Chap 11/13) soon for GM, Ford and Chrysler!!!
I know I wouldn't mind driving a 3.9L Terraza CXL with Navigation and satellite radio if I only paid $23,500 for the van.
I know I wouldn't mind driving a 3.9L Terraza CXL with Navigation and satellite radio if I only paid $23,500 for the van."
MEDIOCRE is a better(non-insulting) term that many others and I could have used.
Everyone of us is born a sucker! It is a matter of the degree for each individual. When I got my Ody almost 2 years ago, I refuse to be suckered by a $10K rebate into a Freestar. And look where that MV is today - Ford may axe it because of lack of buyer interest.
Mediocre is certainly a subjective term. And is probably the term used frequently by those describing the Honda Ody... who purchased Ford, GM, DCX and Mazda Minivans.
The 2004 Honda Ody we test drove was mediocre in comparison to the Mazda MPV. It's plain boxy exterior left a lot to be desired. I took the Ody on a "spirited" test drive on all the local highway exit ramps...and it performed no better than any other minivan on the market.
The general feeling that I was left with was that it was horribly overrated. Despite being offered roughly $500 under invoice on brand new 2004 Ody I did not feel it was worth it. Even if it had been 4 or 5k under invoice I don't think I would have bought it...as I just thought it to be "mediocre"
Don't the owners of a minivan know more about their vehicle than CR, Car and Driver, Forbes, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, etc?