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• One poster mentioned that the middle seat of the MPV can be slid while there is a passenger occupying it, and that to move the Honda's middle seat the seat must be unoccupied. Is that true?
• And, if that is true, has anyone found that to be an inconvenience in any way?
• I know the Odyssey is larger and more powerful than the MPV, but would you share some other observations between the two vehicles?
• Besides the sliding middle seat, the MPV supporter also mentioned that the MPV has roll-down rear door windows, and a rear seat that can fold out for a tailgate party. Also mentioned was the fact that because it is smaller, it is more nimble and more fun to drive.
Comments?
Bob
Ody does not have any windows that roll down other than the two front windows. But the rear seat does fold back for tailgate party.
Here are some additional things to take back:
Honda has 240hp engine Mazda 160
Honda is 14 inches longer and 700 lbs heavier yet gets better gas mileage than the Mazda.
And lastly the Honda is safer and has been rated as the best minivan by every magazine and consumer group.
Have you driven both? And if so, how would you compare them?
Bob
The Honda is a much better vehicle. See the two vehicles compared (please put the following 3 lines of the address end to end with no space on your browser).
http://www.comp.autosite.com/honweb/Compdata.asp?
VehMod=2805&VehTrim=9555&otherMake=35&otherModel=2
554&otherTrim=8411&model=undefined&AdvOnly=No
The only real advantages that the Mazda has are price and not having to wait to get one.
I cross-shoped the MPV and ODY a couple years ago but decided not to go with either because I can't carry my family of 5 plus all the gear we need for an extended road trip because the 2nd row of seats is limited to 2 passengers. We currently have a lease on a 2000 Caravan (short wheel-base). I am able to remove the 2-seat bench and roll the 3-seat bench up into the 2nd row. This gives me seating for 5 plus a lot of cargo room behind the middle row. The big drawback is that I can only seat 5 when I get to where I am going. I like the seating lay-out for the new Chevy Venture - seating for 8, fold away 3rd row bench . . . unfortunately, the crash worthiness of the Venture is a bit suspect.
I read another post here on the Ody board about someone wanting to do a conversion to get a 3-seat 2nd row of seats in the Ody . . . if that person finds someone that could do it, post it here on this board because I would be interested in that as well.
The thing I liked better about the MPV than the Ody was the size. The Ody was a bit too big for my tastes. The MPV suited my needs better.
Good luck
I've found the Ody LX for 24,000 ($660 under MSRP) in Cleveland. I test drove the MPV before hearing about the underpowered engine and imperfect trans. I thought it felt ok but I didn't drive it on the highway. Clearly the Ody is a bigger, better vehicle but I'm just not sure it's worth $4000 more. What is a reasonble amout to pay for 80 HP, a 5th gear, and a 14 inch longer van? I'd also like to know what people think about:
1. the value of traction control.
2. reliabilty and availability of parts for the two vans.
3. The extra resale value I can expect by buying a 2002 rather than a 2001 (even if the total miles when I sell will be the same.)
Also, Where is the other discussion comparing the two vans?
As far as availability, there are fewer LX's available as the EX has a higher profit margin and Honda is making a great deal more of them.
Good luck and if you can swing it, I'd go with the EX. I plan on keeping the vehicle 10 years, as I do with most of my vehicles and if you look at it that way, it's only and extra $157 per year over the 10 years.
There was too much on the EX I didn't need. I went in thinking EX and came out thinking LX.
Got the Silver LX a couple of weeks ago.
A Minivan is just a family hauler, not a fancy custom designed limited edition must have sports car. Odyssey is a fine vehicle - reliable (like Toyota) and spacious (but unlike Toyota), but kind of very boring to look at. Reminds of a big hiking shoe box on four wheels (that is a personal opinion so no debate).
I have a loaded 1999 GC sports, and is very satisfied till now, kids like it, drives great and sound of infinity stereo is awesome. It does the job for which it was baught thank fully with no problems till now (touchwood!). It was baught at much lower cost than a Honda so it will be sold at somewhat lower price at the end of its life with me so no big deal. As I already have Accord, buying yet another Honda was somewhat out of question more so my son didn't like Odyssey looks, and there was a wait list, and Toyota didn't have luggage space and was expensive.
In short, don't pay premiun - its not worth it. I can't believe people will wait for years or drive miles to pick up an appliance of a family vehicle. Look at alternatives, and like thousands of other families with Minivans other than Honda, you are likely to be greatly satisfied.
1. Do you think your added safety as well as your passenger's is worth extra $4K?*
2. Do you need the extra space? Because no matter how good the deal, if you don't get the space you need, it's a moot point.
3. How long do you think that 2.5L Duratech engine's going to last doing family hualing duty? Sure it's great for the Ford Contour and lighter cars, but at 160 hp in a near 2 ton vehicle, it becomes a safety risk, IMHO.
The only disadvantage I see with the Ody are for those that have 5 people families, (you can't split the 3rd rows). As for MSRP, that's all relative, I can argue that Honda priced their MSRP lower than most manufacturers while others have inflated theirs. I'd rather be the one who decides how much a vehicle is worth to me, not some bean counting accountant!
* Not too sound cynical, but stuff does happen, just got into a little side fender bender with a Chevy full size van. The bumper's ripped off and the driver's quarter panel is damaged, but that's about it, van still drove fine.
I think the Odyssey is going to be very cost effective over its life cycle. That is the amount of money you have to put into it over the period you have it, taking what you get back in resale value.
I live in an area that has about 3 times the auto accidents that Los Angeles has. The way I know this is I use to live in LA and I can count the accidents I see here and in LA. Also drivers love to tail gate me and I drive above the speed limit usually. I did not need a car as big as the Odyssey, but I wanted safety. Sure enough I got hit after living here 4 years, as I told everybody in LA that I would, with two other near misses. After $4,200 plus $750 in auto rental fees from the other guys insurance company, my Odyssey is like new. The dealer had trouble getting the power doors to work right but they do now.
I spent about 3 months researching what kind of car to buy. I filled about 10 3 ring binders with information and came up with the Odyssey. The proof that I have made the right decision is I have had no regrets like I have had with other cars I have bought.
1. Um, thats a Ford engine in that MPV. (don't make me spell out what F.O.R.D. means, please.)
2. Re-sell value (PERIOD)
Lumanksi
2001 EX
6 Disc in-dash changer
Steel Horse Video system
Thanks,
Parker
The main reasons we ordered an Ody LX last week:
1. Size, size, size. The rear well alone would be enough, plus overall interior room.
2. The quality of interior materials. For instance the rear air (important here in AZ) -- each passenger has their own vent and it really kicks out the cool!
3. Honda reliability and number of dealerships/places to repair cross-country.
4. Bigger engine, although MPV's was enough for the type of driving I do.
When it came down to it, the percentage we would have saved wouldn't have been worth it in the long run.
All that said, if you need a great smaller van and can't spend quite as much or wait as long, the MPV is it. Also, if you really want the "high-end" stuff like the RES, leather, etc., the MPV does have it at a lower entry price.
My .02,
vikki26
I realize that the Ody is probably the best minivan available right now (my father owns a White 2000 Ody EX Nav) and I have driven his on an extended trip . . . but with only 2 of my 3 kids on that trip. This made it possible to carry 4 people plus all of our gear on the trip. If Honda could develop a 3 seat second row it would make for an even better minivan (at least for my needs). If I am not mistaken, Honda had originally considered offering the Ody with a 3 seat second row bench. Is that right?
It is obviously an option that could be implemented very easily. You could keep the floor brackets in the same spaces and just make the bucket behind the driver into a 2 seat bench. Remove the armrests between the two seats to make a continous seating surface and use the existing floor brackets to hold everything in place. It would be easy enough to flip the single bucket forward to allow access into the third row (my father does this on his Ody because he has put a clutter catcher between the 2nd row bucket seats). It is a simple fix that would add value to the vehicle and they could offer it as an option (after all, they have already done this type of thing with the MDX). For a family transport vehicle, Honda has limited themselves by keeping the 2nd row a 2 passenger space.
Of course, this is just my biased opinion . . .
Breakdown of your VIN from left to right:
JHK - Honda of Canada (MultiPurpose Pass. Vehicle)
RL1 - Line and engine type Odyssey/J35A1
8 - Body and transmission types
9 - Trim level
0 - Check digit
2 - Model year 2002
I learned the hard way.
I think you could perhaps be able to find that seat somewhere and install it however. You could ask through the Honda web site http://www.honda.com or your dealer or call Honda.
For the MPV, check the current issue of Car & Driver, it reports the long term results of driving that van, not a very positive one.
Or you can go to caranddriver.com
By the way, when we travel with 5, it's with one middle seat removed and a cooler strapped down. A huge amount of luggage fits behind the rear seat because of the deep well, and no two kids have to sit in adjacent seats...plenty of room for everybody equals less fighting. We have also use the middle seats spread apart and then the back seat becomes the prized sleeping position.
FWIW Odyssey is bigger inside than Suburban. You want bigger? You've got six choices: Eurovan, Astro/Safari, Excursion, Econoline, Express/Savana, Ram Van.
Interesting that the Odyssey is bigger then the Suburban, but I can certainly understand it as it has a more efficient design. Looking at my AAA Auto rating book it says that the Suburban seats 9 whereas the Odyssey seats 7. Also for cargo space the S is listed at 45.7 ft cubed and the O at 25.1. But perhaps if you measure total interior space the O comes out ahead or maybe AAA is wrong with their numbers.
Of course the S is going to be much more expensive to buy or to operate. I for one would not want an S. Also if you have a really big family you might consider buying a bus.
Diploid, when I am doing extended traveling with the kids, the 3rd row would be folded away and the kids would all be in the 2nd row. That would eliminate the need to have the kids "climbing over the 2nd row to get to the 3rd row." Also, I do not let my kids get up and move around in the car when it is moving. Also, I like to have a vehicle that is pretty economical to drive. The bigger vehicles (SUV's and full size vans) are gas hogs.
Just my $.02
The J indicates a vehicle built in Japan.
parveentexas, your dealer gave you the wrong VIN#.
Good points and thanks for clarifying that the Odyssey IS larger than the Suburban...7 more cubic feet to be exact.
I realize the Suburban can be had with three bench seats, so It can carry 9, while the Odyssey cannot. For 5, 6 or 7 passengers, and especially for third row passengers who's legs extend more than 8" below the knee, the Odyssey is a more comfortable, easier to enter and exit way to go. I've done time in the third rows of Suburbans, and I'll take the back row of the Odyssey any time.
To tell the truth, I would prefer a Suburban, and tried to talk my wife into one. She told me that I could have one instead of my pickup, but she wanted a minivan. She had been driving a sport sedan and was intimidated by the (exterior) size of the Suburban when she did consent to test drive one. Since that was in 1998 it was the earlier, even bulkier, body style. Back row comfort wouldn't have been all that important to me, because I would have been in the front row!
Somebody pretty smart once told me, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy.". If "Momma" want's a minivan, she's gonna have the best dogone minivan I can find. "Momma" likes her Odyssey, so I like it too!
Bob
thanks for your help
NO matter what the dealers offer, always insist on the final drive-out price. Some dealers will write down the selling price for hundreds under MSRP, you thought you've got a good price and go home with a written selling price as promised, so you wait for months and finally the dealer think that you have been waiting long enough and decide it is time for you to purchase the vehicle. You'll be ended up paying even higher than your neighbor who paid MSRP.
Why? you'll asked. Simple, that dealer had you to buy a lot of extra add-on, dealer prep...etc. Even if you are not overwhelmed with your dream van in front of you, and you noticed all this, they hope you do not want to go to another dealer and go through the ordeal again to wait for another month or so.
My point is, compare the 'drive-out' price instead of the deceiving offered selling price.
I have a 2000 EX Odyssey and when I park it, if I am not very careful I hit something underneath the car with the front parking stop or the front curb, instead of my front tire which was the case with all my other cars.
I took a look at a parking lot and noticed that most of the cars were parked with their front wheel resting against the parking stop. So that is how most drivers know when to stop going forward. With my Odyssey I knew when I hear the bad noise as I hit the parking stop with some part of the car.
I saw a post here where with the wheel well liner, that it can break it, get wrapped around the wheel at high speed and be a serious problem. One person here had this problem so far and posted it.
I don't have the wheel well liner but do have the mud guards.
Since most drivers park their cars till it stops up against something, the tires, I would think this is a problem with a lot of you out there.
If others are not having this problem then maybe it is something wrong with my Odyssey.