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Fix the tranny and it'll probably also take care of the mileage. For the fogging, run the A/C compressor to dehumidify the interior, that helps.
Hope you have better luck from now on.
-juice
The point... this forum is for everyone that wants to talk about the Odyssey. Good or bad. It's that simple. So it's confusing to me, too as to why someone who isn't 'pro-Odyssey' would get such negative feedback.
1. Fit and finish on the MPV is really cheap. It sort of evokes a Ford Escort--lots of thin plastic. Doors and latches are lightweight and feel less sturdy than the Honda.
2. Size: the Mazda is a lot smaller. When the infant seat is installed in the middle row, I cannot have my seat back where I need it because it contacts the car seat. Not so in the Honda. My wife actually prefers the smaller size of the MPV because it is not as large, and it is easier to park, etc.
3. Power: MPV is gutless, and the tranny feels very iffy when you punch it to merge on the highway. The Ody really goes when you need it to.
My bottom line is this: I got a great deal on the MPV because they are not popular, while I got hosed on the Ody because they are flying off the lots. In fairness, the MPV is OK, and it has some of the features of the Ody (magic seat). It is OK for around town, but the larger size of the Honda, along with its power and superior fit and finish really sold me. I find myself trying to drive the MPV as much as possible because I'm putting all the miles on the Ody!
So does the Odyssey have problems? Well it has areas that could be improved upon, but it is still the top minivan.
Maybe we should send our suggestions to Honda on how to improve it. I would have some. So far, I would like them to fix the spare so I can easily put air in it, or just check the air pressure in it. I would like to be able to park up against the parking stop with one front tire. I currently can't do that as I hit something under the car before I get there. So there is two things I have found so far.
Also the day may come when it is not the top minivan, as the other manufacturers are going to come out with their new models.
Bottom line: The Odyssey a very good automobile and I don't have to own a perfect car or trade it in for a better one when it comes along.
I guess objective opinions from another viewpoint are not appreciated.
ps. After a day driving the van, I don't regret my decision at all. It outruns my 4x4 truck, gets much better fuel milage (20-26) and is very comfortable with tons of features. The only thing I'm changing eventually would be to put custom wheels and tires on it so it will handle better. I'm not used to vans.
Your reasons for buying the van you did are personal, and you shouldn't have to defend them to anyone. So please stop trying to rationalize your choice to the Odyssey owners.
There's plenty to discuss about the Odyssey without comparing every feature to how another make handles mirrors or armrests, and we could certainly use a bit less sniping in here.
/grumble/
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
My 2002 trip report via Redrock EX. One week old and 1500 miles. I owned a 99 EX that I sold after accident and can report the 2002 is better in many ways. 1. The sound system is adequate (note adequate for avg folks) 2. Engine and tranny are well mated and the 1-2 lunge is gone. I was driving 75 mph at 2000 rpm. 3. My mileage with wonderful .96 cent gas on the trip was 25 mpg with fully loaded van-first tank was 15 mpg in city. 4. Brakes are nominally better but not in Sienna league (Sienna has rear drums) hmmmn. 5. After about 1k miles I finally floored it to pass up a mountain and wow. My wife was watch TV in the back and said I thought I was on the space shuttle. In short, we are very pleased. Oh, and our 99 had zero problems other then the accident.
Good cheer to all
INKY
My '00 Olds was not a good van from day one. The '98 Olds Silhouette GLS we traded for it was a great vehicle. The only problem was a fog light burnt out. I would always get at least 26-27 mpgs on a trip with it.
I'm "hard-core" GM, but after my last experiance with them, my wife is now enjoying her new Honda EXL-RES. (Although she does miss all the Gizmos that are standard on GM and not even available on the Honda).
-juice
I have an '02 Oddy, and I'm curious about the gas tank. The owner's
manual states the tank holds 20 gallons. However, when the fuel light
goes on, and the gauge is close to E, and I fill it, I can only add 15
gallons. Is this normal? Is the tank really 20 gallons? I would like to
drive it until I only have 1 or 2 gallons. Maybe I should go another 50
miles AFTER the light goes on?
Thanks,
Barry
Merry XMAS to all.
The reason I would like this radio is because it only occupies a single radio slot which is all that is available on the Odyssey with Navigation's dash.
The concern is as follows:
1) Will the steering wheel controls still work?
2) Does the standard radio on the Odyssey automatically mute when the Navigation emits audible directions? And if so would the Nakamichi work the same way?
Any info would be very helpful.
Thanks
Thanks
BTW - most service intervals are fairly conservative and depending on the item you can defer. For instance my PCV valve was fine for the life of my last car - 13 years! Ditto the lube on the rear wheel bearings ( I did one side until I realized I was creating lots of work) Lots of perfectly good stuff gets replaced if you follow the rules to letter. Nothing wrong with that strict approach, but you can burn through some cash doing it. Just don't miss a timing belt replacement though....
DD
The dealer is the most likely to do it right and if you follow the manual you will have the least probability of ending up having to have your vehicle towed.
The service managers in some places get nutty and start padding the bill with things that are maybe 1/2 way worn, brakes, for instance. I've had friends who had the local dealer recommend replacing the valve guides on a motor as a "preventive measure", and recommended service for getting the dust out of the rear brake drums.
FYI Oil changes, transmission fluid changes, coolent changes, brake fluid, brake parts, filters, belts, etc are things I do not skip maintenance on.
What ever works for you, just a different opinion.
DD
ps. I've only had to be towed once in 23 years of driving and it was for a head gasket, not a maintenance item.
In other words, if you're never going to replace it, you may just want to remove it.
-juice
Yes. When I replaced mine at 30,000 miles there was a lot of trash built up in front of it.
The down side to removing and not replacing it is that all that trash will get into the heater core and AC evaporator; and, then, it will be major surgery to clean it out.
$80 does not seem like so much, if it lasts for 30,000 miles. Perhaps if the first time it is replaced it requires that something be cut out. Then after the dealer does it once and does the cut out, the owner could then replace it himself without too much trouble.
Even with the cutout removed, it's still a pain in the neck. There's a brace that must be removed and replaced; and at least one of the bolts holding it requires long and dextrous fingers to reach without dropping it into the behind the dash "netherland".
I have also heard that RS can really screw things up. Pros and cons would be appreciated. It would be nice to put our little ones in a nice warm car and not have to leave them in the house alone to warm it up.
Thanks!
-juice
-- actually my thought was that if the key was embedded in the dash to override the chip for the remote starter, all anyone would have to use is a screw driver in the ignition to put it in gear - no???
What is the point of needing another key with a chip if there is already a chip embedded in the dash? Couldn't I use an identically cut key (without a chip)to drive away if I had one embedded in the dash?
Below is an excerpt from a post I entered in this forum in early November after just picking up my SS EX. At the time of the purchase, 3 different people told me to fill in all excellents in the Honda survey and they would give me a $100 credit to be used at their dealership for parts or service. They said anthing less than excellent was a failure to them and Honda. When I rcvd my survey I was very honest about my experience with the 3 people I dealt with at College Park Honda and they therefore did not get high marks. (see below) They rcvd middle to low marks on almost all aspects of the survey. Yesterday morning at 10:30 AM while at home, I rcvd a phone call from the general manager of the dealership. He just wanted to call to let me know that he rcvd the survey results and let me know that I'm a JERK. I let him know that I felt the same way about him and commented that his behavior was very professional. So if anyone in the Washington DC area wants to spend $29K on a new van, and then rcv harrassing phone calls at home from the GM of the dealership and be called a JERK, please be sure to buy your new Oddy from College Park Honda in College Park MD. Be sure to ask to speak with the GM. He'll take care of you.
We wound up getting a Silver EX at MSRP with the crossbars and mudflaps included at no additional cost from College Park Honda in MD. They were not the nicest people but they were willing to throw in the crossbars and mudflaps for free and we got the van in a week. I had a big problem with their ad in the Washington Post and eventually had to speak to the GM there. They advertise $790 under MSRP for an EX but then they add options you don't want at exorbitant prices. That ad is in today and if you call them, they will tell you that you can't actually purchase the vehicle at that price without pay for dealer installed option which will then take the price over MSRP. Certainly seems like deceptive advertising to me. They will, however sell at MSRP, no questions asked.
Overall this was the most unpleasant new car purchase experience I ever had. This is a very good vehicle but for the dealers to act as though you should be grateful for them ALLOWING you to purchase one at MSRP is beyond me. I don't think I should feel priviliged to give a dealer a $3500 to $4000 profit on this vehicle. I was the one paying $27190 to buy a new vehicle and all dealers were treating me like I was purchasing a 1985 Chevette with bad credit.
Overall this is a very good vehicle, not the best vehicle of any kind, ever made, by anybody, at anytime, at any price!! But a very good vehicle. Take into account the very obnoxious dealers, and an unreasonably high profit for said obnoxious dealers and you have the ingredients for an unpleasant situation.
Again, I am very happy with the vehicle, but the purchase experience left a lot to be desired.
I would call the Honda company and tell them what happened. It might serve to improve the dealership. Maybe they could also lose their dealership to someone else if they get enough complaints.
This vehicle is my wife's car so I drive it only occasionally. But, we just returned from a 1200 mile trip and I think the lumbar support on the front seats stink.
Also, our car is starlight silver and like many silver Odyssey's ours arrived with 2 minor paint defects. I saw the defects before taking delivery but bought the van anyway. The dealer refused to give me $1.00 off MSRP. "If you don't buy this van someone else will." My wife said the defects were minor and she had waited 4 months for the van. I was aware of the paint problems on the starlight silver color from www.odyclub.com
Overall, a great van but Honda needs better quality control on the silver paint and I need lumbar support as an option. I paid MSRP but no doc fees.
Drew, now I am looking to add a convertible as a third car.
-juice
Had a chance to play around with the Navigation and have one gripe about it. It allows two seperate users to save upto 50 personal addresses. This is a nice feature, however, each time the system is turned off and on to perform any function it prompts you to enter in a PIN. I didnt assign any PINs yet I am still annoyed that I have to hit the dne button every time it asks for a PIN. Is it possible to turn off this PIN inquiry every time we start up the vehicle?
Thanks
the 99 and 00 used 5w30 and 5w20 is hard to get.
I like synthetic and no one makes one I know of.
INKY
All in all two thumbs up--oh yea Vanilla Shy was not IMHO
INKY
Oil should be 5W 30. I believe there was a misprint in the book but if you look on the oil cap mine says 5W30