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Comments
Since I have an 03 in the family I just mistakenly thought this would be a better one for 05.
in the 60's I would have been proud of the EXL radio but its 2004 and some of the best stereos come from Japan - what was Honda thinking. the dealer won't give me the part numbers for the Touring radio!!! Go figure
I bet that for less than the cost of the radio unit, you could have a custom stereo shop do an upgrade that will make a huge improvement. I don't know how much diffrence the headunit will make anyway by itself. Maybe an amp/sub/speaker upgrade will do the trick?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The EXL operates off a diversity antenna on the right rear window which is more directional, on
AM when you make a 90 degree turn expect a loss in signal. The main speaker location is at your feet, so at low volume (so you can talk to other people)the sound is tinny because most of the sound comes out of the tweeters mounted on top of the dash. so the crappy sound along with poor reception is a real nuisance. I ive in Central new Jersey with plenty of strong stations around. The radio has a unique face plate so you just can't go to an aftermarket. YOu would think that Honda would offer upgrades but they don't other than a subwoofer from HandA.
The road noise is atrocious in this day and age. The engine is relatively quiet so the noise is coming from he tires and wind. (maybe I should have bought the Touring but the PAX tires scared me from serviceability and availability). fundamentally the Touring and EXL are the same cars save the dual memory seats and maybe better radio. Toyota uses a steel-tar-steel sandwich in the floor to deaden the noise. This noise is what I would have expected from a $15,000 car. there is also quite a bit of wind noise despite the removal of the antenna.
The heating system has an AUTO setting which I was using. this seems to make the fan run at a pretty high rate. The fan is in the upper dash just under the window. So part of the road noise was this loud fan. I reduced the fan noise by operating it in MANUAL mode where I reduce the fan speed to acceptable levels. do I really need to reengineer this piece of crap.
The inside plastic trim must be painted plastic it is so easy to scuff up. LIke a key scuff near the ignition switch, or your shoes hitting the door panel as you exit.
the side windows should be great but again you cannot open them while driving without opening the fronts to relieve air pressure. the resulting air buffeting noise will split your eardrums. The sienna retained the 3rd. row swing out windows with their side operating windows so this should release the pressure. clearly, I did not drive with these windows open during the test drive - how many hours should a test drive be?
More points:
-at night when you reach for the radio without looking you can knock the gearshift into N.
-they provide two 12v outlets on the dash you would think that they could have wired one of them to stay on (when power is off) so you can continue to charge your cell phone or something.
-recently used the wipers for the first time, another lack of refinement is that they truly "SLAP" at their end points so I use the intermittant feature, 'The wheels on the bus go round round round and the windshield wipers go SLAP SLAP SLAP.
-the instrument cluster is ALWAYS lit when you drive so it is hard to tell whether you have the headlights on other than a small light in the cluster - this is more of an annouyance.
Honda claims that towing capacity is 3500#. But to do so you need ~$1300 worth of installation and parts of the hitch and a cooler for all fluids. My trailer is 2000#. the fine print in the manul that you only get AFTER you buy the car it states that you need a weight distributing hitch for anything over 1850# and that's another $350. Either its good for 3500 lbs or it is not.
If the roead noise and radio were not an issue I could probably live with the rest of the shortcomings.
If you have not purchased an Ody yet be sure to take it for a long ride, turn the radio off and on, open the windows. Try a 'concrete' paved highway rather than macadam
I think the masses would disagree with you on most of those points.
BTW, the fan will automatically adjust as the temperature reaches your desired setting. You might want to try the auto setting again.
I am looking at the Sienna, I just have a problem with the dorky looks but technically its fine. I like the GMC Yukon XL but it is due for a redesign, ditto for the Toyota Sequoia. Any suggestions? I don't 'need' 4wd but I need room.
I am posting on this board to get some feedback and suggestions. I had high expectations that honda was reaching for a luxury level in the new Ody. they missed the boat.
I am learning that a lot of people are figuring out what to buy and are checking these sites. You can see from those who own them there are complaints. go back and check this board. It also depends what you are comming up from. also short local trips will minimize my concerns. I took two 250 highway rides and trust me my ears were ringing. much of the highway mles was on concrete.
I am usually an astute car buyer and am bewildered by my ineptitude in ferreting out the Honda shortcomings as well as my disbelief in Honda giving short shrift to the NVH.
While the engine, horsepower and handling are superb that is not enough to make a well rounded tranportation appliance!
The trouble is that VSA must be shut off to use a donut spare tire (according to the owners manual) due to the difference in diameter of the spare compared to the other wheels.
Bottom line: You cannot get away from PAX wheels once you own a Touring model. I am locked in now. The damn dealer told me it would be no problemo to switch wheels if I wanted. But the owners manual is clear: If you have PAX, you gotta stick with PAX or your warranty is DEAD.
The manual also states that you cannot install snow tires on the Touring Ody either. What a crock.
So, here's to PAX. I have a vested interest now. Everyone go out and buy lots of PAX equipped Odysseys. I need this technology to spread like wildfire. But there is zero chance of that happening. This will be a doomed experiment.
I was considering an '05 EXL-RES but after road testing $30k is too much for the van. Road noise and rattles made that decision a no-brainer.
So, I am looking at '00 or '01 Ody EX with 70-100k miles for $10-11k. Love everything about this generation van except road noise is awful.
I would like to Dynamat the whole van - will that work?
Steve, Host
Can the 3rd row seats fold into the cargo area with only the boards removed without removing the whole right and left assembly to which the boards attach?
Is it worth the cost?
Compared to the Sienna it is every bit as quiet and at some speeds even quietier.
I think people read of these "problems" on these boards and then drive the cars looking and listening for things that they probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise?
I have learned that things that are nothing to most people can be a great big deal to a few.
No car will please everyone.
By the way, the dealer gives a Santa Fe as a loaner. So unimpressive about the SUV. The V6 is very weak and the interior is poor designed and parts looks and feed cheap. Feels good that I have a Honda.
How many complaints of 'little things' must be heard before they're taken seriously? This is a rhetorical question, of course. But four items that keep cropping up here are road noise, mediocre radio, uncomfortable seats, and PAX. It may be a great vehicle, but no automaker gets everything right.
Other reviews have said the Ody is very quiet, and that the seats are comfortable. The whole road noise level and seat comfort is absolutely personal preference.
If you thing a Lexus LS is barely quiet enough, the ody will be loud. I considered a Miata with the top down to be fairly quiet on the highway 9actually was noiser with the top up, but not uncomfortable).
PAX is only a conceptual problem. I haven't really heard anyone complain about the driving experience.
And the cargo board structure has to come out before you can fold the seats.
But, all this discussion will lead me to take another, longer test drive sometime soon!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
We've got life so comfy in this
country we have to go out of our
way to find things to whine about.
Just think about how far automotive
technology has advanced in the last
20 years but....not good enough for
some people.
And since automotive technology has advance so much in the last 20 years, we can stop trying now.....?
It depends what you are comming from if you are buying up or down.
I had a toyotat 4 Runner before with big SUV wheels that was quieter.
I wish I would have gotten a heads up on the noise issue before I bought. All I saw was discussions of interior colors BEFORE people actually bought them.
As a kids hauler the EXL is fine for local trips, quite handy steering. But this should not be your prime vehicle if you are contemplating long vacations.
I am reminded of my bad decision everytime I drive the car. Safety features were a Plus, BUT I haven't and don't hope to try them.
But seriously, I hear no road noise, just a few rattles here and there. To me, the seats aren't extremely comfortable, but they are not annoying either. I have leather, which is nice to some, but cloth seats seems more comfortable to me overall. I don't have a Touring so can't comment on PAX. Happy driving!!
http://www.dynamat.com/
could not find the varmint postings.
has anyone tried this product and installation??
NOw lets work on the Radio.
ANT14 "Lincoln LS" Oct 28, 2004 9:57pm
Steve, Host
Sienna claims to have thicker glass to help reduce road/wind noise.
Honda claims to improved the NVH significantly in the O5 Ody. Clearly the early buyers think otherwise.
NVH is a complex science, getting a lower co-effiecnt of drag is just the starting point. I believe Toyota has an edge over Honda. They seem to have have applied their Lexus like technology to Sienna quite well.
As far as I am concerned, If I can have a conversation with someone in the third row at highway cruising speeds, that would be adequate sound insulation. I rented the Sienna and was able to do this easily. I have not test driven the 05 Ody yet. Can 05 owners comment on this?
One thing that I have found is that as cars get better insulated in some areas, it highlights what is left. That is, if you eliminate all the wind noise, you hear the tires more, or the engine (you get the idea). So, if they mute the engine and wind, the tires might drive you nuts or something.
Hopefully the radio does have enough volume to sound OK. Otherwise I will be investigating amps and speaker upgrades, but I know I can test that out on a testdrive.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
forget talking to the third row passengers at highway speeds.
There is also wind noise from around the front window but I don't think its a major contributor. most of the noise comes from below.
When the heater is in the Auto setting the fan kicks up quite a noise. So I had a big reduction by using the fan in manual mode (2 bars or so).
From the literature I don't see any differences with the touring other than tires, thicker sway bar up front and the rest are amenities like seat memory.
The radio has enough volume and does sound better at higher volumes but at that point you can't talk to your passengers. But the station loss and crackle is also more evident at higher volumes. since its a custom fit I would be curioes to know how you would upgrade it.
You might also have a problem with your particular van (tire, suspension or something). Have you tried another one to see if it is normal?
Actually, looks like you are in NJ also, but even so, different roads have different surfaces.
I haven't done radio stuff in a long time, but you can always swap speakers, and I assume that the sub is a plug/play. What I don't know is, how easy will it be to add an external amp/pre amp (or whatever they are called). I wouldn't consider replacing the head unit though.
The whole purpose of the van is taking trips, so it's too bad you don't think you can go more than a few hours.
I also don't usually like auto climate since they often run the fan too high, which bugs me. I would probably use the manual mode too.
I rarely have 3rd row passengers in the car for very long. If I want to talk to them, I turn off the radio anyway. If it is my kids friends, I turn it up to drown them out.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
these things have to be put in perspective.
We're talking about a minivan which is
basically a large hollow can of
sheet metal meant to move a lot of people.
Of course there is going to be some road
noise and some rattles.
It's all part of the driving experience.
Go to another dealer, take the EXL for a long ride to see how you really like it taking not of the concerns noted on this board.
Its easier to walk away from a $500 or 1000 depoasit than to live with this for years.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Does anyone know can you program EX-L to automatically lock the door when you shift out of "Park"? I read throught the manual and looks like it can be done in Touring, but my wife really wants to have the door lock automatically? Any suggestion?
Thanks,
The windshield cowling (black plastic below windshield) is making the whistle noise. For me this happened exactly at 40MPH. Fortunately, this was easily rectified by my dealer under warranty.
It's hard to take someone that bought a Toyota Sienna but then prefers to hang out in the Odyssey forum seriously.
Do you work for Toyota? Are you trying to prevent the freefall in the Sienna's market pricing? I'm not complaining, a low quote on a Sienna helped me get a better price on an Odyssey.
I own the Touring and the only thing I experienced in your comments was the uncomfortable seat. This lasted for one 5 mile trip. Fortunately, I read the manual and found the hidden lumbar lever on the right hand side. I now find the seats very comfortable. About the only complaint I have with the seat now is that it uses the same weird adjustable armrests that are found on the Sienna.
Maybe it would help if all the roads we drove on were all fresh and smooth, but the reality is that we are in motion. If you want a smoother ride---get something else.
I am enjoying our new Ody. Of course at the moment it's at the shop (nothing mechanical---just some small lot damage repairs) and we currently have a rental. A red 05 Ford Explorer. Hey, it's got a slightly smoother ride---but the rest of it is, well, lets say I can't wait to get my Ody back. The seats on this rental, now these are something to whine about. By the time the heater warms up--I don't need it anymore because I've reached my destination. The handling is sloshy, the dash looks like it's 1985!
I know the Ody isn't perfect, but no car is.
There are so many things I like about our new van. For those of you unhappy, I wish you felt different and that you weren't having issues with your vans. For those of you that think this van is not priced right---please go and look and test drive all of the other 7/8 seaters out there in this price range. Maybe you'll find something you like better---most will not.
Just my .10
And if I'm gonna be forking out $30 to $40k for a "hollow can", then I feel this is a great deal.
Of course this is just my opinion
I drove a Touring and road noise did not pop out at me in a test drive. He is my technical suspicion as to why:
-the Pax tires have a lower profile so that the tread is closer to the internal doughnut, hence the 17" rims. so if you get a flat the colapsing tread doesn't have far to travel to hit the doughnut and thus allows you to keep on riding. the secret to letting you ride another 125 miles is that the sidewalls flex easier than on a conventional tire resulting in less heat build up that would destroy a regular tire running flat. the softer sidewalls of the PAX tires are then also cushier thereby minimizing the transfer of road schock (noise) to the chasis.
Furthermore I suspect that more engineering and chasis design went into optimizing the PAX tires that the "lesser" models such as the EXL etc had to then wear big brothers clothing that didn't fit. (I say this because the 05 EXL is noisier than my 03 EXL which I would say is comfortably noisy)
- Drive is very smooth and handling is definately Car -ike. I find it driving more comfortable than my 2000 Toyota Corolla.
- I was suspicious about the 8th seat on 2nd row. Surprisingly it fits 3 passangers better than the third row. Off course you need to pull back the had rests from the bucket seats.
- Very Noisy vehicle. I belive its the design problem Honda will have to seriously reconsider design to reduce the noise. I woudn;t have bought this VAN had I test drove it on a highway and observed the noise.
- THe Plastic parts are very poor finish. I am sure they will start felling apart after 2 years of use.
- Gas Milege : 19.5 Mixed City & Freeway - Bay Area CA.
Over-All experience,
Good to drive VAN, Poor in Finish. Not worth the high price paid.
A 04 Odyssey would have been a better choice. Its still a well matured VAN. 05 models doesn't comply with Honda History of perfection.
Personally, I can't find any 05 Odyssey review in Epinions.com.
The latest model Epinions.com reviewing is 04 ody, and has only 2 reviews. one said the front seat "reasonably comfortable". The other one says "The front seats, and the second row captians chairs are extremely comfortable".
So where is your description of "05 Odyssey as 'uncomfortable." from?
Actually, there is a negative saying as "SEATS SUCK!" and "very uncomfortable to drive.", but this review is for 04 Sienna.
Please clarify.
Thanks
Lead reviewer blames poor comfort on the adjustable lumbar support, and its being located 'a couple of inches above where it should be.' Interestingly, he had no such discomfort issues in the Touring's passenger seat, which apparently lacks the lumbar support feature.
Epinions
Steve, Host
It's still hard to tell what the bogey for the road noise level is. He mentions "luxury car levels", so is anything louder than a Lexus no good? How does it compare to other vans is important, and the family hauler compitiion (SUvs, etc.). Again, personal preference.
I'm also not that concerned about the stow away middle seats. I would rarely need this feature, since the rear seat stows. I do take the 2nd row seats out of my Quest, but that's just when I need extra room, so I slide the rear seat to the middle. The Ody is a much better solution.
When I need to carry a long object, it usually isn't too tall. I end up folding the 2nd and 3rd row backrests down, to make an elevated flat floor. Works just fine usually. If I really needed the full box, it isn't that hard to pop the captains chairs out. Personally, I would rather have the bigger, more comfy seats at the expense of the stow and go.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Actually the reverse is true on both counts. The sidewalls are stiffer on runflats so that the tire can hold up the weight of the vehicle without air. Stiffer sidewalls mean less heat buildup not softer sidewalls. Remember all the firestone tires that overheated because they flexed too much from being underinflated.
conven. run flats need the sidewalls for support
Steve, Host
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"Honda is in a class of its own when it comes to producing clean cars and trucks," said David Friedman, Research Director of UCS's Clean Vehicles Program and lead author of the report.
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regarding road noise and radio - have you taken a good highway ride for over one hour at 50+ mph?? if so was it pleasant??
I assume the LX has the same Michelin Energy LX4 tires as the EX is that right.
"These tires came with the car when purchased new and they have been a problem from the beginning. These tires are great on the highway as long as the surface is dry. Horrible traction in the rain. We lose traction even with soft starts on wet surface. Snow and ice? Forget it. Just stay home until everything melts. -- Review Submitted 2004-10-19"
these tires are available at the tire Rack for $109 so the factory probably paid $30/tire
At least, if you have an LX or EX, you have an option to try something else when it comes time for replacements......