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Comments
With the Nav. option you will have camera showing the distance on the Nav. screen this is alot better than the beep.
Lou
1. Vehicle handles and rides quite well. It is way better than any minivan that I have owned or rented in the last several years (GM, Toyota, Chrysler, Ford)
2. Wind and Road Noise is quite acceptable in any road or weather conditions
3. Engine is strong and have sufficient reserve for oscassions when it is loaded with people and luggage
4. Braking is very good. It is better than my GM minivan (with rear drum) or new Chrysler (with 4 disc around)
5. Transmission shifting is very good. It does not suffer the 2-3 second delay of downshift in the case of Chrysler minivan. For those who wants to merge into high speed traffic in LA hwy, you should not worry about this situation with this new van
6. Vehicle has side glass antenna for AM/FM. This is a step backward for radio reception for those who used to own the previous generation of Odyssey. I have not seen one vehicle with side glass antenna which performs well yet. BTW, I don't think any Honda vehicle has FM Diversity antenna. If it has one, the FM reception could be better. Typical problems with antenna embedded in glass: directionality, reduced reception range (40 miles vs. 55 miles for example) and sometimes Overload (drive by local FM stations). The static noise that some owners of the 05 complained about is caused by the Audio Frequency tuning. Honda probably prefers High Fidelity for FM (more treble, more stereo separation) which is good for normal listening conditions but will produce more high frequency noise. My advise: if you were to listen to weak station (40 or more miles away), turn the TREBLE setting down. It will soften the noise. Overall, I do not hear any vehicle Electrical Noise that jams radio.
7. Gas mileage is about 23.5 MPG on highway and 14.5 MPG around town. So I think the Cylinder Cut-Off feature works well and we can't barely notice the difference in noise or vibration when the engine switches mode (by looking at ECO indicator)
8. One noticeable nuisance for us: engine/transmission (?) has a noticeable resonant and booming sound at around 2200- 2600 RPM. We noticed this behavior the first day we took delivery of the vehicle. We came back to the local dealership to test-drive another EX or LX at the lot, and observed the same thing on this vehicle. Mostly, this is the around town speed and it spoils an otherwise wonderful drivetrain. Even my 8 year old GM minivan with old tech engine and 4 speed Transmission behaves better below 4000 RPM as far as uniformity of engine noise. This behavior is independent of the occurance of the cylinder cut-off (ECO light)
9. Some interior trim piece misalignments. Plastic panel looks good but the material is too hard to the touch
10. Rear hatch does not close well. We have to slam it hard to lock it. Some mechanical alignment needed
11. Every time we starts this vehicle from PARK, we hear some scratchy sound (must be something engaged , solenoid may be?). It is so faint that one has to pay closed attention to hear it
Overall, we are very happy with the new van. Being a first year production vehicle, we expect some level of imperfection. I have no doubt it will last us for more tham 10 years
JNT
After reading comments in Town Hall by owners of the new 2005 Odyssey and also my nephew's comments about the "whistling noise" in his new 2005 Odyssey EX, I now plan to keep driving my 2002 Chrysler T&C LX. I would be most upset if I sold my T&C, got a new Ody, and had spent $14,000 more to get a new van that is not as quiet as the one I own.
That is one best kept secret of Mechanical Playback (CD, DVD,...): They have limited operating temperature range. Normal Automotive Electronic modules (radio, HVAC,...)inside passenger compartment has to work between -40C and +85C. But I doubt that you can find CD or DVD player which can tolerate the extreme temperature conditions. I was told it has to do with the limitation of the laser optic system in these playback devices (focus motor, drive motor..)
JNT
One of the item, we noticed is the booming, resonant sound the engine makes at about 2200-2500 RPM. It is rather noticable for us. We have the EX-L so this vehicle has 6 to 3 cylinder mode. But this noise is independent of the cylinder shut off feature.
JNT
The ECO light does not indicate when the engine is running on 3 cylinders (VCM). It only indicates when the engine is running economically on either 3 or all 6 cylinders. The owner's manual doesn't explain this clearly but the video does.
The resonance you hear is independent of the ECO light because the ECO light comes on often when the engine is running on all 6 cylinders.
Thanks to your information. Do you know the operating temperature range of the automotive DVD player? No one told me about the effect of temperature on the odyssey DVD player. Does dealer need to explain it to me when I pick up the van?
Thanks
Peter
I'm not sure who writes "Autospies", but I'm satisfied with my purchase of an 05 Ody LX. Nothing groundbreaking, no gimmicks (though a "Touring" high-end minivan sounds a bit like a marketing gimmick, just like I think Town & Country is also a Chrysler marketing gimmick that appeals to a need for "prestige" among people that worry what their peers will think as they drive around a big box with wheels -- how else can you really describe a minivan? "Frumpy" applies to any big box with wheels).
Okay, the Lazy Susan is a gimmick, and Honda should be flogged for it, but you can throw it out and have much more useable room.
The van does what I need it to do, and I think it is groundbreaking in the number of standard safety features it provides on even the lowest end model. Autospies probably isn't turned on by safety. I am.
As far as looks go, for crying out loud, it's a MINIVAN! How good can one of these look??
Looks are so subjective it's not worth mentioning!
You may want to talk with your Honda dealer or tech rep about this since car makers may have different spec. on the operating range of their playback mechanism. But I would suspect the operating range is narrower than -40 to +85C
One thing for sure: at low temp (-25C), those tiny motors that drive CD/DVD mechanisms tends to be sluggish and that impacts the DVD operation. Other factors like himidity level which may effect the focusing function of the lens. So in the cold weather condition, you may want to let the radio warm up a bit before operating the DVD. At other extreme, one may encounter problem with >70C + (not motor in this case, but something else). That is the main reason of having a tiny DC fan in some car radio with tight internal package (primarily to make sure CD mechanism don't overheat and stop working)
JNT
Thanks for your info. I will watch my DVD to make sure on the ECO topic.
JNT
15% improvement in mpg is not worth the $3300 additional cost plus the lower resale value as hybrids age. Some of the improvement in mpg comes from VCM that is already on the Odyssey, so an Odyssey hybrid may not get much improvement in gas mileage without sacrificing performance.
When Honda surveyed me about how much I would be willing to pay for an Odyssey hybrid, I asked what the mpg improvement was expected to be. When the person doing the survey said he didn't know, I chose the less than $1000 answer. I'm glad I did. It may help to convince Honda that an Odyssey hybrid needs more than a 15% improvement in mpg to justify the cost and complexity of a hybrid engine.
Remember that Hybrid isn't all about improved economy. It's also about increased power. The Lexus RX400H is being touted with increased performance with better economy - performance is the leading selling point.
Toyota's approach to hybrid operation may provide a better compromise between economy and performance. Toyota hybrids can run on electricity only in stop-and-go city or congested freeway traffic, giving a big increase in gas mileage and eliminating the frequent on-and-off of the gas engine.
Problem with the California units is you pay for California emmisions equipment you don't need in Missouri.
Anyway, performed very well. It does have what I would call a "firm" ride, but not uncomfortable, and I prefer it that way. Much smoother than our '99 Quest in any case.
Seat comfort was fine, even with a 5 hour stint in the saddle. The lower lumbar area could be designed a bit better (it's not quite a Volvo), but I was OK, and I have a bad back. It also makes a big difference how you adjust the seat.
Very quite. no noiticable wind/road noise (at least nothing objectionable). The nise level overall is very muted, so and remaining tire/wind noise seems magnified. Just a smidge of noise that I think was wind around the mirrors (but may have also been tire related), but even at 75mph, was barely audible.
Radio seemed fine (mostly just CDs). Plenty loud, even with luggage piled up over the rear speakers. Maybe not Mark Levinson quality, but certainly OK.
Seemed prety rattle free, but may have heard the passenger side slider rattle a few times over large sharp bumps, but only when it was very cold outside (10F ish).
Amazing amount of room. I wasy overpacked, and still had room for more.
Extremely powerful. Seemed to be loafing at 70mph, and would pull hard if you needed it to. Solid as a rock at 80 also.
Also has an amazing turning radius for something this big!
I think on my last leg we got about 23mpg, this was a highway run (70-75, with lots of hills) and some local roads (lots of stop-go).
Anyway, I seem to not have many of the common(?) issues some others have. Maybe because of when it was built (early-Dec., vin of 42K+).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Our normal use is lots of 1-3 mile short hops, stop/go with lights and being stuck in traffic. We are in the burbs, but really have more like a city auto-usage lifestyle!
Anyway, this driving kills the mileage on anything, so 15ish isn't unexpected on a large, heavy, powerful vehicle.
I would expect better mileage if I lived in a more remote area, and lots of my trips were 15+ miles w/o frequent stops.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I think it's a defect and we'll ask the dealer about it soon enough. If you find out anything else about this, please post!
mr_t
Does anyone else have this type of rattle.
Thanks
performance gain in a mini-van.
It's more of a rattle, and intermittent. Hoping I can isolate it before I take it to the dealer. Figures, the only rattle in the van has to be right behind my head. It's probably something in the pillar to do with the seatbelt. the side air bag, or the DVD system.
Thanks
60mph is 88 feet/sec.
Devil's advocate
Besides, what do you care about what people think of the sheet metal and rubber parked in your driveway? Educate the neighbors if you're concerned about what they think...or buy sports car (better be at least 800 horsepower or some folks in this forum won't be impressed. THEY need a bit of education too!)
I would think the increased safety and performance would outweigh it's looks but, hey, that's me!
As far as a "turkey"? Well, we can't keep these "turkeys" on our lot. Most are presold before they arrive and every other phone call, it seems is an Odyssey call.
It's just frustrating we can't get more "turkeys" out of the oven!
Like the person in #2134, I am a big enough dude to get the gate closed. I have to slam it so hard that I think the thing is gonna fall off or break the glass. Even after slamming it, it appears not to be fully latched and the dome light stays on and/or the indicator on the dash is activated.
I took it to the dealer to have them look at it and of course got the response that everything is fine and that is the way all the 2005s are. I HATE this! It is NOT right.
Is anyone else having this problem???
On the 14.5MPG city mileage, there is no problem with my 05 EX-L. It has to do with the driving condition (stop and go traffic, less than 40 MPH) and probably my driving habit. Even with 4 cylinder vehicle (Geo Prism, 5 speed stick), I rarely got more than 22MPG in the same area.
JNT
The dealers do not offer it as an after-purchase installation either. I suspect that there may be complications/conflicts with the electric sliding doors. Or maybe even product proprietary concerns.
I had planned to get a 2005 Odyssey and in fact recommended the Odyssey to him as my #1 choice. His concern about the "whistling noise" at 35 MPH and above has nothing to do with a firm or softer ride.
I prefer a firm ride with firm seats and have written many times that in my opinion the Odyssey has THE most comfortable seats of any minivan starting with the 1999 model. I have NOT ridden in his 2005 Odyssey but I have driven my son's 2001 Odyssey EX and it is not as quiet as my 2002 T&C LX nor another son's 2002 GC Sport.
I feel that the Odyssey is THE best minivan but just like anything else in life, it is still not perfect and I wish it had the heating coils at the base of the windshield and overhead console with outside temp/compass and accurate Trip Computer that are on my 2002 Chrysler T&C LX. My T&C LX could be better than it is if it had the 8 passenger seating of the 05 Ody EX and 60/40 split "Magic Seat", the extra power and 5 speed AT of the Odyssey.
FYI, I still plan to buy an Odyssey for my next vehicle.