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Comments
Is there any?
- andrewtran71, I'm with you man, NAV is great. I do wish it is smarter though. Say, I want to go to Border's bookstore, type in "border's" and it will give you a list of borders ALL OVER THE COUNTRY! starting with New Jersey. Can it be configured just list the local ones?
- Harry, I've been looking for your Sand Ody whenever I get on 880
Thanks
Yeah, the (cigarrette lighter) front power supply is at the bottom center under the $1.99 mirrors------- I mean center storage compartment. I believe for convenience the new Sienna has 30 of these power supplies, including the glove compartment where you would normally find a digital sound meter to prove to everyone that it is indeed quieter than other minivans when using the dBA weighting scale. The other power supply in the Odyssey is around the cargo tray----- I mean cargo space like Norman says.
As for the daily commute, sadly my wife has been hogging it and using it to drop off our 2 year old son at day care everyday. As she is 7 months months pregnant, she hates to bend down in our other "family" car, 1993 Honda Civic. As she says it's too low riding and with her condition, it's uncomfortable for her. So you'll need to look for some dude in a 93 dark blue Civic on 880 freeway going 20 MPH on that ugly traffic. Takes me 50 minutes everyday to go less than 20 miles to work everyday. The only sound level in my car versus the Odyssey is my grumbling at the people cutting in front of me in order to save 10 second of commute time.
What I need is Andrew's NAV to keep me occupied while I sit on the freeway. But I think that NAV probably is worth more than my entire Civics' blue book value...
So who picks the feature of the week topic? Rotation? Based on the number of posts past previous 2 weeks? Or just some blinded folded monkey throwing a dart at the wall, the same method I use in my NASDAQ investment (see WSJ).
I think I might need your Navi to get home. If I can even make it over to the Port Authority.
Since I was filling in for Steve while he was on vacation, vans just seemed to be a natural.
You like your Ody so far? Or do you have to sell yours like lapvn's after 1 week or ownership?
For next new week's topic, let's try for van warranties?
So far, so good! We did buy some "extras" (not from the dealer - too pricey) such as the cargo mat, cargo tray, leather steering wheel cover, full-nose mask (husband's request - closest he is getting to a sports car...)
We haven't 'revealed' the DVD player to our daughter yet as she would never get out of the van.
That being said, we still want to thank everyone that posted on this discussion board, especially to Norman for your generosity in sharing your buying experience. I did see a few familiar names in the Sienna discussion board, so I guess I will continue to see you there.
Well, never say never. Maybe after being humiliated by the Toyota dealers we will still end up coming back to the Ody, you never know...
I just got my new issue of Car & Driver--no showdown yet between Sienna and Odyssey. But the interesting thing was that they continued to post interior sound levels. They had a bunch of comparisons in this new issue and the take home message here is practically all cars are identical in interior sound levels and if they differ, it is insignificant--unless you can hear frequencies at 14hz or at 25khz:-)
Part 1 you say. Yes, because Part 2 is "Do you buy the ext. warranty or not". I am still mulling over the tons of pages I have from each company. Trying to see if I can make a spreadsheet that is easy enough to read and compare. well see on this one.
Good Luck, and keep us posted
Hook me up with a "cheaper" NAV. Like I said in post 3653, this $2K NAV is worth more than my 93 Civic.
Would it be cheaper if I substitute my wife's voice instead of the computer's voice? She's always more than happy to tell me where I need to go to...
Just this morning I looked at a Yahoo map online to find my way to DMV, and took a city map along in the car with me. I still missed my road and had to U-turn through a strip mall and double back....
Any predictions on when they'll get the "affordable" price tag on them? I need help bad!
Steve, Host
The Honda Ody drove a bit smoother and much quieter than the Toyota. One thing odd we noticed about the ODY DVD Entertainment system is that although there are controls for the DVD, CD and AM/FM only the DVD system works with the wireless headphones.. Very strange but several of the salesman confirmed that for us. We ended getting an ODY without the DVD system.
Overall we felt that the ODY at almost $6K less than the Toyota Limited was a real good value. Even when the XLE was priced it too was more than the ODY with less features.
I chose the '03 Ody over the '04 Sienna based on the deal and my wager on reliability. The Toyota dealers here are still asking for MSRP, including the one who sold me my company car, an '03 Camry under invoice with 2.9 % for 48 months back in November. As for reliability, I had all the gremlins in my '99 Ody that you see on this and other sites - transmission, EGR clogging (twice), freezing rear doors, even the clock light.
So why another Ody you ask? Well if you study automobile model reliability in the foremost magazine reporting consumer issues, you will find that even Honda's and Toyota's new models have gremlins the first year out lately - note the '02 Camry. The same source also shows Ody reliability improving each model year. Also, while I've experienced all the gremlins with the '99 Ody, Honda and my local dealer have been great about covering the cost, so I've been out little out of pocket relative to the probelms I've had. Honda even covered the transmission even though I had it rebuilt by AAMCO - it occurred out of town on Christmas Eve.
Also if you consult the same magazine above you will find that in overall rating the difference between the '03 Ody and the '03 Sienna is minisule. I view the difference in features as quite significant, however. Having studied and driven each vehicle, I view the POTENTIAL superiority of the '04 Sienna over the '99 - '03 Ody as much less than the superiority of the '99 - '03 Ody over the '98 - 03' Sienna.
I had to do some work to get the deal I ended up with. I've been looking since Christmas and getting resistance to go more than $1000 under MSRP from the dealers I visited. Finally Airway Honda came out with an ad for EX's at $2300+ under MSRP. They wouldn't do that on an LX when I visited, however. Jacobs Twin came up with a reasonable deal, though. I may have been able to get a similar or better price relative to MSRP, but the financing and adding accessories at "cost" - I realize it has some padding in it if they'll show me the numbers - clinched the deal.
I find the handling tighter, the seats firmer, and the engine a hair better in the '03. Having traction control and 4 wheel discs standard is nice as well.
To get your own deal, I recommend:
1) Do your homework - there is no substitute. Read the ads, look at this and other sites, and read the magazines.
2) Know what you want - in the vehicle as well as price. Is a particular color important? Which model do you want? How much will you spend for the next model higher?
3) Be patient and persistent - keep talking to dealers and probing. You probably won't get the best deal from the guy down the street. Visit dealers while you're out for other things.
4) Be willing to walk away if the deal isn't good enough. I shopped seven dealers after my initial contact. I calculate that each one saved me several hundred dollars though.
Good luck and good hunting.
Scott, I couldnt have said it better on your tips. If you dont mind I will just add a little of my two cents from my experience
1) YOU MUST DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Dont expect the salesman to come right out and give you everything you want and give you a price HE feels is fair. If you don't do any homework then expect to get screwed. And if you are like my brother in-law who is terrified of salesman, than pay MSRP and get it over with, but don't complain of the price you paid.
2) If you are in a rush, dont act and don't tell them. Salesman can smell blood and it will only make you an easy target.
3) Persistences is what got me my deal, and it is what got Scott his deal. I got screwed 2, but I just kept going back to Honda's site and email dealers some more.
My final email to the last batch of dealers was very mean, I said I want, A,B,C,and D, if you want to make me an offer than contact me, if not, keep me in mind when you can meet my demands. When you make the offer I will want it in writing and signed by an authorized manager and fax to me with a VIN#.
This last email just cut all the games for me, I wish I had done this a long time ago.
4) You bet you can walk out. I drove an hour to a dealership, and they thought they could play games with me, and I got up and walked out. I was pissed off but in the end I got a better deal from another dealer. There are other dealers out there, and someone will be willing to give it to you.
One last thing, try to use other vehicles to your advantage. Doesn't matter if you aren't considering them. In my case I used the 04 Sienna and the 04 Quest coming out in July. Told them I have no problems waiting for the 04 Quest and to see what will happened to the pricing of the 04 Sienna then, and watch the pricing on the Ody really drop. So they can get my deal now, at my current price OR get my deal later at a bigger discount for me.
Donutdan - $299 is the list price for the complete roof rack for the LX. Have you thought about doing it yourself? I've found it online for $215 and looked at the installation instructions. It looks pretty easy. You might also want to think about using any online price which is better to get your dealer to include the installation fee in the $299 purchase of the roof rack from them.
I can't get to the "handaaccessories" page you mentioned. Can you double check the spelling?
I'm looking for Andrew's "mother in law soup proof" cargo tray for now and I know the other site is where he bought his. Just wanted to do some price checking before I buy it and then visit the in-laws.
Thanks.
So looks like your deal is better than this place.
The wife didn't want the cargo tray at first, but I keep reading about the soups you and lapvn talk about with the in-laws and I'm getting nervous with our up coming trip to the in laws. What's the approx. delivery time for your tray after ordering?
I ordered the cargo tray on a Monday and got it on a Friday. If you're in a hurry, Harry, you might ask your sales person if he can match the internet price on the Cargo Tray---which would be the "at cost" price. See what's the difference in price.
Understand too that they are in Western NY while we are in NJ, not sure of transit time from West NY to CA. They shipped via UPS.
Like Andrew said though, check with your dealer and see if they can price match so you can have it quicker. It's not like they are loosing any money, they are just getting less.
If they make $10 from you, it is better than nothing at all if you go elsewhere.
Being a lazy person that I am, I will just order on the internet if the regular price is the similar just so I don't have to drive out there and to pay $2 toll/8.25% sales tax/$2.35 per gallon gas just to go out to the dealer for the same value. Assuming the "installation" part is simple enough, I can do it myself. If not, I'll email you all for help next week on "taking corner A of the cargo tray and then drop it onto the rear end and then take corner B...". Hopefully it's easier than Andrew's NAV...
We're off to the in-laws on the Easter Sunday, so I still have time to order this puppy by then.
I know there's been discussion on the other accessory forum on cross bars, so need to think about that later on.
But just so we stay on the prices paid topic, npkb in post 3642 asking for help and my response in 3643, where are you? the "collective wisdom" is back in town from Florida's spring break, come back and ask all your questions. So did you buy or you didn't?
Step
1) Open liftgate
2) Throw tray in.
3) Throw mothers soup in loose container in.
4) NO WORRY
5) Close lift gate.
Where's that forum for the cross bars, love to find out which one to get.
One option is to get a LCD screen, mount it somehow in the car(I prefer the headrest), Pyramid's MV7SC come with a universal mounting bracket that fits all headrest and doesn't require any cutting on my leather headrest(it's like a clamp). Cost about $120, I have a playstation2, it plays DVD also, all I need is a converter, about 30 bucks.
Another more elegant solution would be, get one of those large screen portable DVD players, like Panasonic LA95, Samsung L100, they have 9'to 10' screens, beautiful picture, light weight, $600-700 price range, if only they come up with a mounting bracket of some kind, that'll be perfect. If they can add a video input, that's even better, so I can hookup my PS2...
Either cost considerably less than dealer installed flip-down DVD.
Just my 2 cents
Honda Odyssey Club-Audio & Video Ideas
Steve, Host
Now I am sure Honda had something going on for the dealerships to make that last final push during that last week. Literally, they didn't care too much about the price they sold it for, just as long as it went out the door.
It will be interesting to check the sales figures (for all makes) - anyone seen them for March yet?
Steve, Host
Three weeks ago when I bought my Ody, they quoted me $500 off MSRP on the internet price. But if you can get $900 over invoice, that implies to me you're getting it at $2100 off MSRP for price of $28,259 before ttl. That must like you more than they like me.
That's about as good as the other deals mentioned here from El Cerrito Honda or Capitol Honda in San Jose. Seeing the black is not always on the lot and if you really like black, then it's a quick decision in my mind.
You can ask Hexn and others in the bay area. Staff Sylvia can help also. Just read posts starting on 3/25 forward. Good luck and let me know if you need more help.
The dealer I bought from had 7 on the lot, but only one EX - L DVD package and in the color I wanted (don't need to tell them the color is a requirement...) If there are 38 on the lot it may provide them a bit more incentive to move inventory - but more specific how long the vehicle you are looking at has been sitting there.
Good luck!
"timing IS everything", isn't it? And, yes, this is Dublin Honda, and I have thought about "aging inventory", too, but can you believe they can have THAT many Ody's on the lot.
Just paid my prop tax this week, income taxes are next, and I already got my loan application in so, if there's anything left for a "down" after I'm done, I just might be giving them a call, and if their inventory keeps building, who knows, I still might hold out for MY price of $500 over.
The most I have ever seen their inventory (I'm anal enough to check every 3 days or so) is up to 45 Odys. That compared to Livermore Honda of average of 5 Odys or San Leandro of 10 or Larry Hopkins average of 15. Autowest Honda seems to quote me the highest price. Menlo Honda and Hayward Honda tends to have the least inventory of Odys of the Honda dealers I follow in the bay area.
The biggest question is color. If you are willing to be "color blind", then you can afford to play the price waiting game as with every Sienna that hits the showroom and sold, that's potentially one less competitor you have to buy an Ody. But if you only want that color and unless Dublin Honda is willing to give you that price on a special order or dealer trade, then you need to evaluate what X dollar of saving is worth to you compared to getting the color you want.
My wife wasn't willing to be color blind for any price. We have to have that one color, so I jumped on the trigger when I saw the color. So it depends on your preference and flexibility. Call around/email other dealers to see if they have the black. If they do (say Oakland Honda has it), then you can afford to hold out and wait for better prices at Dublin or get Oakland Honda to go lower. But if no other dealer has black, then you have a tough choice to make.
Good luck on the process. Let me know if you need anything else.
Oh, yeah, paying federal/state/property taxes all in the same week sucks. I'm writing checks myself tonight...
The other dealerships have MSRP in each web site, so it's no hard to figure out which ones have NAV.
I never even thought of buying a NAV as my wife is more than happy to point out where she thinks I should go.
Like I said before, if color is important and price is close, then if I were buying, then the decision is a quick one. But by no means am I telling anyone when/how much they should pay in their car purchases. They need to make that family decision themselves.
I bought it from Nelson Honda, El Monte, CA
Their web site is http://www.nelsonhonda.com
After getting lowest six internet quotes, I bargained the price with them. After agreeing on the price, I paid money and walked out with the van. Thanks for all of you who have been a wonderful resource.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
While I was searching, I started with the EX as well and the best I could do was $25,590, and I was happy with that (for a few days at least).
And if you refresh your screen after posting (without going to the next page or elsewhere in Town Hall), your message will be reposted. To avoid this bug, please click on "Recent Messages" or something instead of refreshing.
thanks!
Steve, Host
Did I pay too much? Any comments would be appreciated.
thanks
On a side note, I know the RES system is only available on the EX-L, but do the dealers put an aftermarket one on the EX model? (We are not sure if we want leather or not)
My wife is unwilling to be color blind for any price either.
Yeah, Dublin wouldn't do anything below MSRP in December when I started talking to them.
Even last month they were trying to sell me the Ody at $500 of MSRP. But they started lowering the prices fast after I told them Anderson/Capitol Hondas are going much lower. Personally I don't understand why they don't have THE lowest price in SF bay area with 30 plus Odys on the lot the past 2 months. I'd think they want to move those as fast as Anderson and Capitol, but what do I know about dealership profits?
Thanks to Sienna, now prices in SF area are falling faster than my NASDAQ portfolio, but that's another topic...
Right now I have 3 strong quotes- two in Atlanta and one from Alabama. One is right at $28,000 with about $125 in various fees (not including Georgia sales tax). I have two more: one at $28,200 plus $400 in fees and one at $28,400 with $99 in fees. These last two quotes are better than they seem as both these units also include the crossbars for the roof rack, the cargo mat, and the mudguards. These are all add ons I was interested in- I just thought I would buy them later in the parts department.
Incidentally, I also had another quote for a unit with no add-on accessories at $28,000 plus $400 in fees but I would have to wait about 2 weeks for delivery in my color. Subject to getting retraded by the dealers over the weekend I should get a 2003 EXL-DVD with crossbars, cargo tray, and mudguards for about $28,400 with our total drive out price at $30,450+/- after 7% Georgia sales taxes and fees. Once the deal is closed I will repost to confirm but things look good considering I have 3 quotes all within about $200 of each other (once add-on accessory value is considered).
Comments:
Several dealers responded that my $28,000 expectation was way too low and quoted around $28,900. A few also commented that as recently as a few months ago they were getting MSRP+ for Odys (too bad, so sad).
If you look on the Nissan Quest 2004 page you will see that I am seriously interested in that model. For those of you who can hold out I think by, say August, prices will even be lower. By then you will have 3 competitive minivans competing- Ody, Sienna, and Quest.
However, my wife will be driving this thing every day. She wants a minivan now- not in 3 or 4 months. We have to take a 500+ mile each way trip for Easter. She did not want to do this with two kids (including a newborn) in an Altima (hers) or a Infiniti G20 (mine). I can't blame her except I think the Quest (if we could have waited) might be great.
As to the Sienna, I like it a lot and I think it is supeior to the Honda. However, I think, in my arbitrary opinion, that the Sienna is about 10% better than the Ody indicating we would only pay around $31,000 (not including TTL and sales tax) for a Sienna. My 10% better assessment includes the fact the Sienna has certain features the Ody does not. The best Sienna comp for a Ody EXL-RES is the XLE leather with four wheel disc brakes and DVD. This ideal model for us, if obtainable (which it is not) would list for about $34,500 (we would also get the side curtain airbags). I think it will be several months before we could see the kind of discount we would need ($3,500) on a Sienna to be only 10% more than an Ody. The other problem is that optioning out and obtaining the "ideal" Sienna is nearly impossible because the regional Toyota distributors are controlling what option combinations are available (of course you can special order but that type of buy won't be discounted much).
The final point is that since the Ody is about 5 model years old now I hope that it is well refined in terms of reliability. And, yes, I have surfed the Ody problems page. Plus my brother in law has a '99 Ody.
Thanks for reading this war and peace length minivan confession. I will write back once our Ody purchase is closed in the next couple of days or with the news we chickened out and decided to hold out for the Quest introduction.
Any last minute thoughts or comments before we commit?