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Comments
Leather is NOT as comfortable in a vehicle as cloth and the modern cloth seats are very durable. Leather is also prone to cracking if not properly maintained.
the slate green color for the exterior. But I am confuse on the interior whether to get in gray or the new color olive. Has anyone seen the olive interior. I am afraid that it olive may look awful.
My wife definately wants a sun roof in her minivan, but in order to get one, you must get leather. We typically try to keep our cars about 10 years and I question how leather will hold up that long. I've seen leather, crack, split, etc.... We also have a black lab that comes with us in the car at times. I'm not sure if she could scratch the seats, etc. I could always put down a blanket for her.
Let me know your thoughts??
Mercedes has stated that stability control is the most important active safety feature that cars can have. It is obviously much higher on the list of safety features than is AWD. AWD improves safety in certain situations; stability control improves safety in more situations and is estimated to be able to save thousands of lives each year.
AWD does not necessarily provide better handling. Consumer Reports has commented on the Subaru's tendency to fishtail in every test of an AWD version of the Legacy/Outback without stability control. For example, in its January 2003 test of a Legacy, CR wrote: "when pushed beyond its handling limits, the tail tended to slide out abruptly. Though controllable, that made it a challenge to get through our avoidance maneuver." And its handling limits were not higher than FWD cars.
The ability of electronic stability control to improve handling and avoid loss of traction is why it is standard on so many high performance cars whether or not they have AWD.
Anyway, I enjoyed everything about the new van except the long reach to the steering wheel. I'm 6'1" and with the seat in a comfortable position in relation to my legs, I found that my arms were almost fully extended to reach the steering wheel (not a natural driving position and not something I'm used to in a Honda). This thing desparately needs a telescoping wheel!
The adjustable pedals in the Touring may well solve this problem but there is no way that model is worth $4K more than the EX-L. Any one else notice this problem?
Thanks
Mark
My EX-L with Navigation and DVD is being built in the next few days, to be delivered on or about Oct. 10th.
I currently own an '01 Sienna and I enjoy the way it drives. The '05 Ody handles more crisply, with much less body roll. It has much more of a sporty feel but it's definitely not uncomfortable on the highway. I think the two vehicles both drive very well. A preference for one over the other is a matter of personal taste. After three years in the Sienna, my personal taste is now leaning decidedly toward an 05 Ody.
It's not that Honda doesn't know how to make nice paint colors. I really like some of the reds, blues, greens, and silvers I see on some other Honda models. But they appear to have gone out of their way to make sure that none of those colors made their way onto the Odyssey.
The Midnight Blue Pearl is so dark it's nearly black. The Slate Green Metallic doesn't look green at all. The Redrock Pearl is a weird shade of red, along with some pink and maroon. The Silver Pearl Metallic is more pearl than silver. (Apparently, the 2004 Odyssey had a true silver, which I would have preferred, but not the 2005). I haven't yet seen Ocean Mist Metallic in person, but it doesn't look so great in the brochure (more like turquoise), and it looks very different on the web site (more like gray). Black is black, and white is white. That leaves Desert Rock Metallic, which is nearly the same color as my 2000 Odyssey, which I never cared for. (My wife selected the color.)
Does Honda assume that people who buy minivans are conservative and don't want a color that in any way be considered flashy? Or is the problem that brighter colors wouldn't look good on such a large vehicle?
Am I the only person who feels this way?
Thanks for letting me vent.
Evan Zucker
San Diego, California
"Leather is NOT as comfortable in a vehicle as cloth and the modern cloth seats are very durable. Leather is also prone to cracking if not properly maintained."
So why is leather so popular, and why do the manufacturers insist we get it if we want all the other cool gadgets on the high-end models?
I hate leather because it's hot on my legs in the summer, but if I want the features in the Touring I have to get it.
-- EVAN
When we bought the '05 we compared it directly with the silver '04 side-by-side. The silver '04 was boring in comparison. Not that a person couldn't like the color, but it didn't seem to have the depth of the '05.
Anyway, that is my for-what-it-is-worth comment.
John
Thanks for the quick feedback. The Silver Pearl Metallic is probably what I'm leaning toward. I'm glad to hear that an actual owner likes it; hearing the dealer say how much he liked it isn't quite the same thing.
For what it's worth, my dealer said that the Redrock is the least popular color, which I suppose could be a negative when the time comes to sell it.
-- EVAN
*we noticed that the floor mats are buttoned to the floor in several locations. We've never seen that before but it is a cool idea. The mats on my Subie and Alero are always shifting around. I'm paranoid that one day they will get wedged under something important like the brake. Unfortunately, it looks like one of the buttons on the passenger side is missing though, so I'll mention that when I go for service.
*While stopped at a stoplight (facing up hill) my wheels spun out when the light turned green. I thought that traction control would limit this kind of thing. I guess that the system works to a certain point, but if the driver is doing something dumb like me, it can only do so much:-) A friend mentioned that new tires have a break in period where traction isn't at its best - another possible factor.
*I'm still getting used to the tailgate. The tailgates I've used on older Chrysler/Dodge vans were a lot heavier. The Ody's gate seems really light in comparison. I guess that is a good thing, but it just seems kind of plastic0y.
*the passenger-side window for the 3rd row seems to have etching for window defog. I'm curious why the driver's side window of that row does not.
*Both my wife and I try to drive so that the ECO light is on as much as possible. I wonder if those dashboard lights can burn out.
*The van's ride is smooth and is quite quiet on the inside. Normally I get car sick when I'm the navigator and trying to read something while the car is moving. On the Ody, I still get carsick reading, but it takes alot longer for me to get queasy:-) Until the hover or anti-grav Odyssey is released, nothing is going to completely cancel out the pitted roads of CA:-)
Overall, the van is awesome! We all love the interior. I'm actually looking forward to heading to the gas station tomorrow and figuring out the mpg.
This is the radio antenna.
This could be the radio antenna....
Sloshing was an issue when the '99's came out but Honda added some baffles to the tank. New owners still noticed it but would quickly become used to the noise and tuned it out. I haven't noticed anyone complaining about it on the boards I host for a long time now (years).
Steve, Host
"Fuel System
The 21-gallon, saddle-shaped fuel tank is molded of high-density polyethylene for low weight, freedom from corrosion and impact resistance. It is positioned immediately ahead of the rear wheels to help guard against collision damage. Corners of the tank are rounded and the inside of the tank is baffled to diminish the likelihood of sloshing-fuel noise. The polyethylene filler pipe and fuel lines are light, not susceptible to corrosion and resistant to fuel vapor losses. A high-efficiency fuel pump is housed inside the fuel tank. The fuel-filter is a lifetime design that never needs replacement.
The Odyssey complies with all evaporative emissions, on-board diagnostics, and refueling vapor recovery requirements. The fuel vapor canister and filter are rubber mounted for noise isolation and protected against rock and debris damage by a deflection shield. The capacity of the tank has increased by 1-gallon for 2005."
Several times while making a turn or pulling out of a parking lot, I was surprised to heard a "bang" noise. The sound seemed to be coming from in front of me somewhere. Thoughts of the fancy VCM blowing up, or something dangling from the vehicle ran thru my head. After investigation, it turns out that it was the key fob knocking the side of the steering column:-) I guess a good innovation would be if they rubberized the edges of the thing.
Ahhh. The radio antenna. Many thanks! I was wondering where that thing was. I didn't notice the etching until my Mom pointed out the "unusual and interesting artwork" that Honda was putting on their windows:-)
The leather is quite comfortable. In the past (on older vehicles) we steered away from leather as it seemed hotter and we didn't like getting our legs stuck to the material. The new stuff seems to breath better and the low-E windows don't get them as hot. Another reason I moved toward leather is that I am prone to building up a massive static charge. The cloth in my Alero, and the cloth in the 05 Ody EX and 04 Sienna we test drove causes me to get zapped every time I close the door.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I am at top of list for Touring model at my dealer. We were on fence between Silver and Slate Green and wanted to see both in person before making final decision.
The GM at our dealer has told me that Honda substituted other colors for all slate greens that he ordered and that it will be a few weeks or more after initial touring models come in before the slate green arrives.
Too bad about the fobs. I was hoping to have less keychain appendages when my wife got a new car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I couldn't care less about AWD.
Traction Control, Stability Control, Anti-Lock Brakes, and 3 Row Side Curtain Airbags are all I need for safety.
I couldn't care less about AWD."
I can't believe you forgot the CHROME!!!!!
8^)
Forget about all this talk of boring safety stuff.
NAV, RES, & CHROME rule!
Of course, I'll find out for sure when mine is delivered in a few weeks, but I just can't wait for Christmas....
OK, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. :-D From what you told us about torque steer and losing control during accel, are you sure VSA is not turned off. With VSA on, there's no way you spin the van out of control even during acceleration because that's what VSA is designed to prevent.
As for stiff ride, I would tend to agree. Honda wants to make the car more sporty. In my opinion, I prefer that much over the mushy and numb ride of the Toyota. That's for a difference in taste. But that doesn't make one supperior then the other. Like someone said before, in a somewhat noisier car like the Honda, you can drown out the noise with your music. But with a weaker and poorer handling car, nothing you can do spontaneously to solve it. For example, while try to pass a slow car on a twisty hills road, you can't do anything compensate for the lack of power and handling. :-D
Forget about all this talk of boring safety stuff.
NAV, RES, & CHROME rule!
Well said!!! :-D Me, too, except maybe for the chrome thingy.