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I have no idea why some are getting such poor milage.
From #1451 of 1472 Questions re Odyssey and Camping & Towing by mikeinhouston Feb 27, 2001 (02:42 pm)
After driving a Suburban for several years my wife has decided that she'd rather have a van. So far we have narrowed it down to the Odyssey and the Mazda MPV. I've got some questions re the Odyssey though.
We do a lot of camping (at least once per month) and while we're not driving up backwoods 4 wheel drive only type roads we do drive up some rough dirt roads to get to various camp grounds. In your experience, how will the Odyssey handle this type of driving conditions.
Also, does anyone have any experience towing with the Odyssey. From time to time, we tow either a popup camper or a trailer with some jet skis (2) on it. How will the Odyssey handle this?
While I've got your attention here are a couple of more questions: is it possible to get leather seating? what's your real world experience re gas mileage (I've seen complaints of around 12 mpg)? any problems with the transmission? Also, is there any type of rear-entertainment (tv/vcr) system for the Odyssey?
Thanks for the help.
Other experience with 00 EX:
1. Speakers replaced... read 01 has better speakers.
2. Rubber door seals are loose, have to push them every now and then.
3. Passenger side rear step plates are also loose.(edge locks seems to be broken)
4. Reported cranny hesitation
5. Very fast on Highway.
Lastly, I hope that everyone having this MPG problem should complain to HONDA.
5.
Right now, the button on the panel won't be able to completely shut the door. The handles, inside and outside the door, simply cause no action. In order to live with the Odyssey before the scheduled appointment, I have to turn off the sliding door button and manually open and close the door.
The funny thing is that this happened second day after one of my friends asked me if I ever had problem with the power doors, because he heard many complains on the power door on Odyssey EX. To be honest, I gradually lose the confidence on the Odyssey. Many things relate to the decline. For example, the Traction Control does not work as sharp as the early time. This may be because of tires worn out. But come on, only one year usage. May be I should sell it early than I expected.
I have had no problems as yet, except that I have had a door open up on its own two or three times. This might be a bigger problem, but I have my doors locked most of the time. No transmission problems, no untoward noises - I do hear the gas sloshing ocassionally, but it is not troublesome.
I do not drive off the paved road, so cannot address your primary concern. I have a short list of nits I would pick with Honda if I could, such as the doors not automatically locking, but I am overall very satisfied with my purchase and the overall quality and useablity of my van.
Leather is available from 3rd parties; you should be able to find it in the $1300-1800 range. Ditto for entertainment centers, although I don't know the price range on them.
I recommend the extended warranty, simply because the motor - just the part - for one of the power doors will cost about the same as the warranty, and these things seem to have problems on many models of vehicles.
In general terms, I expect that the Odyssey could handle your towing needs with alacrity and aplomb, but I have no personal experience to validate that opinion other than the impression I have of the available power.
Dave Kelsen.
Atilla the Nun - a simple girl pledged to a life of violence.
An Odyssey is definitely not a Suburban when it comes to towing or really rough roads, but it handles OK on washboard, sand and gravel roads. (Noisier than you might expect on a washboard road, but it handles just fine, and I haven't developed the rattles some of the others have).
There are several posts in the "Towing with a minivan" Townhall Topic from people using Odyssey's to tow loads similar to what you propose. The short version is... get the transmission cooler (as required by Honda), and most everybody thinks the Odyssey is an adequate tow vehicle up to about the rated (3500 lbs.) weight.--not too many posts from people who have towed using something like a Suburban and then the Odyssey though. Most of the Odyssey posts are way up near the beginning of that forum. I haven't been able to convince my wife that "her" Odyssey needs a hitch, so all my towing is done with a 1/2 ton GMC pickup.
Maybe once or twice in 33,000 mile we have gotten less than 20 MPG. Generally 22-24 MPG, but we do live in a very small town, so we get 20 highway miles (70 MPH) before we get any city miles. For a trip to Idaho last summer we got 27-28 MPG running 80 MPH all the way across Wyoming, into the (not at all gentle) wind.
As kelsen indicated, leather and entertainment systems are strictly aftermarket additions, I have no experience with either. I nearly went with the Toyota Sienna because I couldn't get factory leather in the Odyssey.
My transmission has behaved flawlessly, as have most others. A few have apparently taken to making a very loud BANG while moving in reverse, and been replaced by Honda under warranty. I don't recall reading about anyone being stranded by a transmission failure, or limping into the dealer in an Odyssey. (Suburbans, Chevy Vans and Diamler Chysler minivans are a whole nuther story--don't get me started about my Grand Caravan!)
That's disingenuous: there is nothing inherently unreliable about vans. The Mazda MPV and the Toyota Sienna are more reliable than most cars. The Odyssey is somewhere in the middle of the pack along with the Mercury Villager, the Nissan Quest, and the Dodge/Chrysler minis. Others, such as the GM vans, are worse. So the distribution is just about the same as it is for cars.
If you've ever replaced the rear quarter window motor that opens that little window, you know they are about $180 each, plus labor of about $125. Hummm.
If you think that maybe the tranny goes west at 80,000 miles while you are towing that boat over the Rockies, and the replacement costs $2500 parts and labor, then maybe you want the insurance.
It's not a matter of how reliable any particular brand is, I think. While I believe that Honda's reliability is very good, stuff happens. So it was worth it to me to pay $925 to buy the comfort of the extended warranty.
As for extended warranties-
Consider that as insurance, they are priced to make the manufacturer money, even after commissions are paid. For that reason, the perceived reliability of a vehicle probably isn't the most important factor in a decision to purchase or decline an extended warranty. Instead, consider the price you pay. At suggested retail prices, almost every extended warranty on anything I've seen is pretty much a rip-off. Prices posted on Hondacare warranties are quite inexpensive relative to prices I've seen online for OEM warranties on other makes, plus Hondacare includes roadside assistance not in the basic Honda warranty (AAA charges $40-$50 a year for this). Also consider whether or not you have the discipline to save that money for repairs later if you don't buy the warranty. Finally, it also may offer peace of mind for some people, and for others the ability to pay for it by financing with the new vehicle.
Yes, but I also bought one for the last car I owned. It turned out to be a very "wise investment" in that case.
It's also fair to say that there are many more car models than there are minivan models, so the probability is higher that there will be cars that are more reliable than the most reliable minivans.
It has nothing to do with "comfort", it's just plain and simple reality. How much it is worth to someone, and how much it is worth relative to other considerations, is something else altogether. Don't get defensive: these are just hunks of machinery we're talking about.
Sincerely,
Eric
Dear Mr. Kam:
Thanks for your e-mail asking us about the Honda Odyssey. We appreciate
your looking to us for information and guidance.
According to our technical staff, as can be found on our site, the Odyssey
has maintained "Average" reliability for 2000. Generally, our reliability
data found online, and in the April issue are the same. The only real
difference is that the website gets the information first, around January.
As for specific problems with the Odyssey, our technical staff has informed
me that most of the problems stem from the power sliding doors.
Unfortunately, I have no other information to offer you.
Thanks again for your e-mail.
Sincerely,
John McCowen
Customer Relations Representative
338530
Now look at the Family Sedan category. 14 of 21 are above average. The top 4 (G20, Camry, Accord) are all 40% or more above average. Only 3 models were around 40% below average.
Other categories like "Small Cars", "Upscale Cars" and "Luxury Sedans" also appear much better than the minivan category. "Sports cars", "Coupes", "Large Sedans" and "SUVs" appear only slightly better. "Pickup Trucks" is the only category that appears about as bad as minivans top to bottom.
Top to bottom, I'd say minvans are less reliable than family sedans and most other categories, according to Consumer Reports. It will be interesting to see if this changes for 2001.
I've just purchased the Audiovox CDM9000 cell phone and the HF4000T hands free car kit. The installation of the car kit (in a 1999 Honda Odyssey) is scheduled for Monday so I thought I'd ask if anyone had a kit installed (not necessarily the HF4000T) and where they mounted it.
Thanks for any advice!
Scott
My technician showed me a kit called ProFit which eliminates the need for a pedestal on a jointed arm.
ProFit does not appear to make a kit for the Ody but my guy modified one for me.
It sticks out in the crease between the panel that holds the radio and the next panel to the right of that in the dash.
It's not perfect because the metal bracket is a little too thick to modify easily with the tools he has. The dash panels don't fit back together nicely.
He is going to look around for another version of the same kit that might be a little easier to bend.
With the standard pedestal mount I couldn't come up with a good place to mount it. The center console has cup holders and drawers all the way down the front of it.
Mounting a jointed arm with a pedestal on either side of the console would interfere with leg room for my very tall spouse.
I really wanted to have it mounted up inside the space occupied by the sunglasses holder in the roof console but I couldn't talk my tech into doing that much wiring.
If someone has another solution I would like to hear about it.
Sincerely,
Eric
Is this a problem or just a person who bought a Town and Country taking a shot at Hondas?
Thanks
I've ridden in the third seat in our Ody for just a short ride. It seemed OK, but it is nowehere near the comfort of the captain's chairs. Personally, I don't care how comfortable that 3rd seat is. I'm never going to ride back there!!! And my kid's (just baby's now) can whine just like as teenagers my brother and I did. Each 6' and combined weight of over 300 lbs. had to sit in the back of a 79 Pontiac Sunbird coupe for 60 mile drives. I still wonder how that thing survived.
E,VG,G,F,P
For other vans they list: Toyota Sienna F; The new Dodge Grand Caravan G; Chevrolet Venture G; Ford Windstar G.
So it looks like the Odyssey is about as good as you are going to get.
I know I have been told advertising is not allowed but I would think it would be a service to the members if the price was no more then MSRP and hopefully MSRP with extras added for no extra cost, as a few dealers do. This is because of the current demand for the vehicles.
I suspect that the above advertising is for above MSRP and perhaps for a made in Canada model, which has some problems, however. I know when I was looking for the Odyssey I would have wellcomed and valued an ad which listed an Odyssey at MSRP with extras added for no extra cost. Canada models come without a manufacturers model if they were made to be sold in Canada.
As to reliability, I have seen some negtive posts that reference articles read. Where are these articles? What magazine?
Gimme a break. The Odyssey is the best minivan out there. In the 2 years we have had it, the only problem was a recall on the sliding door latches - bolts torqued down too much or something to that effect.
As for price, sticker is about the best you are going to do. Many dealers are bringing down Canadian models, retroing the speedometers and tagging on a new warranty. Keep in mind, these vehicles are technically "Used" when you buy them but with the replacement warranty, its not a big issue. Also, the thermostat for the Heat and A/C is in Celsius and cannot be changed.
On the good side, the Canadian models have day time running lamps and heated side view mirrors.
Hope this helps.
Steve
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