Honda Odyssey 1999 - 2004

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Comments

  • inky4inky4 Member Posts: 238
    canada 37,537 units since 1/1
    us 11,786 units since 1/1
    This represents significant increase over last year and confirms the $500 discounts dealers are offering to credit union members in my area.
    On an annual basis this could yield 200,000 units.
    However, the 80,000 pilots will cut into this eventually but for this spring I think many of you could end up with $1,000 discounts for a while.
    INKY
  • carl2058carl2058 Member Posts: 3
    Any ideas which tires will make the speedometer match actual speed? Now, with 60 MPH indicated I am only going 57.
  • edwinfongedwinfong Member Posts: 25
    Another Ody owner is using 235/60X16 tires and they just about reduce the speedo
    error to nothing.
  • stangeljstangelj Member Posts: 74
    make less than a 1% difference compared to 215/65/16's as I recall, I think it was 0.4%. The error on my speedo is about 7%. I don't think you could fit a tire that would make up that difference without going to larger wheels and risking rubbing the fender wells.
  • billg7billg7 Member Posts: 342
    There is a federal law that gives a maximum for speedometer and odometer errors in a vehicle. It was enacted after Congress determined that auto manufacturers were put in the errors on purpose, for greater profits.

    That way 100,000 mile warranties become 93,000 mile warranties for them and service intervals were shortened.

    I remember some one at this site had a link to the law on the web.

    Maybe someone can find it for us.
  • 4aodge4aodge Member Posts: 288
    I can't believe some of the arrogant and snoby comments many Honda owners make about other vehicles. And it is not just Odyssey owners who do this. Comments like, "owners of other minivans are jealous of Odyssey owners" are just plain rediculous.

    I've seen numerous comments made here at Edmunds.com and while browsing through other online forums like the 'OdyClub". These remarks discourage me, and im sure others, from even wanting to own or drive a Honda vehicle, especially the Odyssey.
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    4aodge, many makes of cars have proud and, yes, occassionally arrogant owners. I've even seen posts from Kia Sedona owners, ridiculing buyers of other vans. Just look past it. If you think it's bad here, try the Pickup Trucks section and look for a Chevy vs. Ford or Tundra vs. anything discussion.

    BTW, I know you would never give up your DC minivan for an Ody, so don't even try to blame it on Edmunds! LOL
  • cavillercaviller Member Posts: 331
    If you don't want to see biased comments praising a particular vehicle or attacking its competition, I suggest you avoid forums dedicated solely to that vehicle. It's the nature of the beast.

    Would you expect things to be different in a forum dedicated to Mustang, or Miata, or whatever?
  • odd1odd1 Member Posts: 227
    If you don't want Odyssey owners trolling the DC boards then you probably shouldn't troll the Odyssey boards.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    #3 Honda Odyssey

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • pacinpelopacinpelo Member Posts: 142
    In the market for this vehicle and a dealer could get me one right away (despite other dealers wanting me to wait a week or two or three).
    I am not a big fan of Honda Ody interior but this minivan is class leader. maybe............?

    Does Honda not offer roadside assistance?
  • 3boys33boys3 Member Posts: 1
    Was riding down the highway and a rock hit the windshield of my new 2002 Odyssey Red Rock Pearl.
    It left a chip about the size of a nickle. What is the best way to repair the windshield?
  • liebesiliebesi Member Posts: 33
    Which VIN is made in Canada and which is US? I see two ODY's on a dealers lot and one starts with a 2 and one with a 5 but I can't remember which is which? Any recommendations as to whcih is better at this point??
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    2 is Canadian, 5, is US.
  • cavillercaviller Member Posts: 331
    "Does Honda not offer roadside assistance?"

    Honda offers one of the worst standard warranties in the business. To get roadside assistance, consider a Hondacare extended warranty. The genuine Honda extended warranty can be had for 4-5 years and 48-50k miles for $350-$450, and that will include roadside assistance, rental coverage, etc. For $30-$50 a year, you could also get AAA.
  • beyebeye Member Posts: 3
    I'm about to order an Ody from Europe for my return to the U.S. this summer - the only interior colors I've seen are the small samples in the brochure downloaded from the internet. My wife wants the darkest leather interior possible - can anyone tell me if the fern or quartz leather is the darker choice? Thanks in advance.
  • rockycowrockycow Member Posts: 114
    suggest you get your vehicle to a windshield repair shop quickly and ask them about repairs. I waited and the chip turned into one long crack and I had to replace the windshield. Many insurance companies fully cover repairs of this type.
    rockycow
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    We have '02 EX-L Silver/Quartz. I have many friends with Ody's, but all are pre-2002 and no leather. In cloth, I think fern is a little darker. In my "real" (rather than "virtual") brochure, the fern leather looks a shade darker. But it's a close call. I think it's probably a matter of liking a medium-gray (quartz) vs. a green-gray (fern).

    BTW, IMO the difference is so minimal that exterior color would be more important. Honda does not offer choices for interiors, each exterior color comes in only one interior. I personally would have loved the Ivory leather, but liked the silver exterior too much to get Red Rock or Evergreen exterior.
  • cct1cct1 Member Posts: 221
    We own a Grand Caravan, which we have been relatively happy with, but it's getting up there in miles and it's time to replace it. Looking at either the TandC or Odyssey, leaning toward the Odyssey at this point.

    How much are people paying for the EX with leather? From what I can tell, $500 of MSRP seems to be about average from some of the above posts.

    Anyone have the Honda DVD entertainment system, and if so, are you satisfied with it?

    And lastly, opinions on the extended warranty--worth it or not?

    And one observation on the owners being jealous of the Odyssey: I find it incomprehensible how ANYONE could be jealous of owning a certain brand of minivan.....(a Porsche Boxster, well yea, maybe, but a minivan? come on....)
  • rmtraderrmtrader Member Posts: 30
    Absolutely agreed!
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    We paid MSRP, no doc fee, for '02 EX-L, no DVD, no NAV, back in Feb. However, it seems from surfing around that we just missed a relative "glut" (and I do mean relative), and prices are inching down.

    Extended warranty - many get it, I said no. I've owned two Hondas previously, and currently drive an '88 Civic. Based on my experience, extended warranty was like paying to insure a diamond against rusting. If you are the type who always likes the extended warranties offered every time you buy a gadget at Circuit City or Sears, go for it. Of course you are rolling the dice a little - every maker has lemons. I was willing to take the chance. Problem is, there are scarce few posts from people with 3-7 year old Odysseys, and if there were they would likely be from people who had problems.

    One questions - if happy with your DC minivan, why not stick with a T&C? They are pretty nice, too.

    I recommend checking out two other boards if you haven't alraeady. Odyssey -- Prices Paid, and the Ody vs. T&C board.
  • mwaddomwaddo Member Posts: 30
    I have 2 questions concerning the leather in the EX-L.

    1. How does it compare to leather in any other cars (ex. Accord).

    2. For those of you that have car seats/booster seats...how do you protect the seats? Do you put towels or blankets under the seats?

    Thanks in advance.

    Mike
  • billg7billg7 Member Posts: 342
    1. If as often happens, the service people tell you that you need to have a repair done on your car, you do not have to go out and get a second opinion, to see if they are telling the truth. You just tell them to go ahead and do it. I have had unnecessary repairs done on my car in the past.

    2. Its and insurance policy and so it lets you know how much(about $0) you are going to have to put out for auto repairs the next x years.

    3. You get a free loaner car while you car is being repaired and free road side service.

    4. The insurance is very reasonablely priced for us. We pay about $900 for a 7yr/100k mile/0 ded policy. Some dealers offer this policy to their customers for about double that price. I have read, somewhere I think, that the dealer pays about $800 for the policy.

    So I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. It is not the same story for most other extended warranties for things you buy. I would not buy those.

    Be sure the warranty you get says on it Honda Care however, as some dealers try hard to sell you something else, and even tell you it is a Honda Care Warranty, as they make more profit on it.
  • billg7billg7 Member Posts: 342
    I first found it through AOL. When I went to it through Edmunds, I at first could not find it. I found their less detailed way of pricing.

    What you do is go to their used car price area then go to "Customized Prices." Customized Prices gives a more detailed price list and break down then if you just ask for the used price of you car. It adjusts for color of you car + other things and lists four different prices depending on, if Trade-in, Private party etc.
  • odd1odd1 Member Posts: 227
    I was at the Houston Auto shoe this weekend and was very impressed with the quality of the leather in the Odyssey. I think it is nicer than the T & C leather.

    In our BMW we have nothing between the car seat and the seat and when ever I remove it for washing by the time I put it back in the indents are gone and I've never noticed any scratches on the seats.
  • jracinejracine Member Posts: 28
    Check this out:

    http://www.travelingtikes.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/princelionheartseatsaver.htm?E+scstore
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The New Car "Price with Options" button flops up a window that's very similar to the Used Car "Customize Appraisal" window. The buttons have been around for a little while - maybe they need to be bigger. The "How Much Should You Pay" links on the main page will get you to the same place.

    In any event, glad you found the link. I check the used one now and then when I want to see how much my van has depreciated :-)

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    I have used those Edmunds features for some time, they're great. Gives you the ballpark figures for negotiating new purchase or used car sale. Want to see what market forces are? Check out TMV for Acura MDX (way over MSRP), and compare to some GM products (barely over invoice).
  • pacinpelopacinpelo Member Posts: 142
    Saw one this weekend....while parking in the local mall...wasn't this color to be available in June. This model looked to be an LX.

    Was blue offered in a previous model year?
  • odd1odd1 Member Posts: 227
    To fallow up on the leather question. I was in an Acura MDX last night and the Odyssey leather was of the same quality.
  • dchoppdchopp Member Posts: 256
    My first impression was far greater than what I expected. On interstate driving, the wind noise was not noticable for a vehicle this size as reported on this forum. The sound system was better than I had expected, the ride is fantastic and Consumer Reports was wrong again on that issue.We found the ride comfortable at any speeds. Lots of power and great for passing. The only negative is a noticable sloshing of gas in the tank. Honda should probably use more baffles to help with this problem. Lots of room and the seats are a lot more comfortable than in the past. We wanted leather for the comfort but the cloth was fine for us. lots of space in the engine compartment also. We went to the dealer last week to test drive one and found they had three on the lot for sale and we took one. Total wait time was 2 hours and it beats the 5 to 8 month waiting list our local Honda dealer quoted us. So far its a great van. Looking forward to doing some traveling this summer.
  • cct1cct1 Member Posts: 221
    Thanks for the response. I like the TandC and am still considering it, but my wife really wants the honda and I can't afford the alimony, so we'll probably go with the Odyssey--the convienent 3rd seat, reliability and safety rating are hard to argue with...We have two kids (5 and 1) and the relatively luxurious interior of the TandC limited is not a major priority for us--although if the kids were older, it would be.

    Any thoughts on the Honda DVD vs. aftermarket DVD?
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    That same Prince Lion Heart seat saver is available at Toys R Us for $15.00. We use them on both our Ody and our Accord.
  • wardley99wardley99 Member Posts: 5
    Pacinpelo, I thinks Honda discountinued the blue color in 2001.
  • bdaddybdaddy Member Posts: 171
    I use a 2X4 throw rug (dark green) on my fern leather seats for car seat protection. I got the kind with the rubberized backing so they wouldn't slip. Cost about $7 each.

    BTY - in my opinion the fern leather is darker than the quartz.
  • billg7billg7 Member Posts: 342
    "the ride is fantastic and Consumer Reports was wrong again on that issue. We found the ride comfortable at any speeds. "

    I drove a Ford Windstar for about 200 miles and then drove the Odyssey before I bought the Odyssey. I found I liked the Odyssey ride better. The Windstar ride has larger and slower motions. The Odyssey is a more controlled ride, with faster and smaller motions.

    CR rates the Odyssey ride as good and the Windstar ride as very good. But you see this is subjective. It just depends on what type of ride you prefer.
  • dchoppdchopp Member Posts: 256
    Consumer Reports indicated the ride was somewhat firm at lower speeds. I am not finding this true at all.
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    For the average person (who doesn't drive a lot of different cars) the ride quality of the Ody might be considered firm, especially compared to American products. My wife complained about exactly this point when we went from a '96 T&C to a '99 Ody. She said the Honda ride wasn't soft enough. I'd had Accords before and thought the Ody was about the same as an Accord. A person in my office went from a Buick Skylark to an Accord (on my advice) a couple of years ago and loathes the ride of the Honda as too firm. Seems to depend on one's perspective.
  • dchoppdchopp Member Posts: 256
    I to believe after driving my brother-in-laws 2000 Accord, that the ride was firm.I also test drove a 99 Ody and also felt the ride was firm. I was told that they reworked the front suspension in the 2002 Ody and after a good 30 min. test drive over some god forsaken back roads, I found the Quality of the ride to be even with the Town and Country van. Honda did something to it. It definately rides better than the 99 I drove.
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    Kudos to dchopp, not only for finding an Ody to test drive, but also for talking a dealer into letting you drive it for 30 minutes on back roads! LOL

    The "ride" thing clearly depends on your own experience. I have driven Honda for many years, so I love the ride.
  • bdaddybdaddy Member Posts: 171
    Ride quality, like so many other attributes, is purely subjective. Many Americans are used to the mushy suspensions in the older GM and other "Big 3" auto makers. I find the Odyssey to handle much better than other minivans. That means cornering, braking, body roll, sway, etc. To have these handling characteristics, the vehicle's suspension must be firmed up a bit and that's where the misconception of a harder ride comes in. This is true with any vehicle and so the consumer needs to make a trade-off in softness of ride for improved handling.

    On the subject of car reviews, take a look at David Heraud's biased reviews of the 02 Odyssey and Chrysler T&C. He gives the Honda an overall rating of 68% - the T&C a 72%. What really irks me are thngs like:
    Honda gets a 75% in safety vs. an 80% for the T&C; this despite the fact that Honda has standard side air bags and higher crash test results (go figure).
    Honda gets a measily 40% for performance to T&Cs 50% grade. More horsepower, better engine and braking and a low score (go figure again)
    Honda gets beat by 15% in the breaking category despite having 4 wheel ABS disks all around.
    Honda gets beat by 10% in the insurance category, despite Mr. Heraud's admission that it costs less to insure than other minivans.
    Honda also gets beat by a whopping 25% points in the fuel economy department despite Mr. Heraud's noted similarities in gas milage.

    Bottom line with all of this is don't trust reviews. Reviewers are biased, just like everyone else. They also don't review or measure to a consistent standard so reviews are all over the place. You need to check out a vehicle for yourself, although this might be hard to do with an Odyssey given the scarcity of test drive vehicles. Check out Mr. Heraud's reviews - I find them entertaining at best.
  • cavillercaviller Member Posts: 331
    Some time ago, I wrote him a few letters about some glaring inconsistencies/contradictions like the ones you post here. I never received the courtesy of a response.

    His overall ratings and ratings categories are a completely arbitrary, and not even worth a glimpse or passing consideration. The rest of his comments seem as reasonable as the next guy, though.

    I do like Job and Jedlicka. They also appear in local papers, and seem to be among the better reviewers, for what that's worth...
  • 3beems3beems Member Posts: 2
    I paid $495 for this package and I'll tell you living in Montana will sure help with the paint and the underneath side of the vehicle. For the earlier remark about not telling the truth about the price, well, don't buy the option, it's that simple! It has reduced road noise and make for a more pleasurable drive. This has been the best new vehicle I've bought to date. Hope everyone is enjoying theirs.
  • cavillercaviller Member Posts: 331
    "Maybe Mr. Heraud owns a Chrysler T&C? Many owners prefer brand they drive. "

    He must own a number of cars, then, since my letters were on various models, none of which were minivans...
  • dchoppdchopp Member Posts: 256
    Wasn't he one of the judges in the Olympic Figure Skating Competition?
  • tj_610tj_610 Member Posts: 132
    Actually I think he hosts a TV talk show and loves Buicks. Tag line - "Heraud: Oh, Riviera!"

    ;-) Terrible pun, couldn't resist.
  • liebesiliebesi Member Posts: 33
    What are people paying for the 7yr/100k mile warranty? is it worth it for the ODY? and Is the new Blue color coming this summer, light or dark??
  • mfeldmanmfeldman Member Posts: 140
    It is hard to read thousands of posts. I am ready to buy one. Any way to avoid the long wait? Any chance of paying below sticker? Any inside info I should know?

    Thanks
  • liebesiliebesi Member Posts: 33
    I think the best way to get a discount off of MSRP is to find a dealer that has a few in stock and go in and make them an offer with check in hand. Just tell them you buy right now if they give it you for $1000 off MSRP, my experience and reading has given me the impression that they will come back and say no but then they will do $500 off MSRP. Take it and run!! They will only do this if they have them sitting on the lot which means they got an extra alottment or someone cancelled their order. Never hurts to try!
  • ody01ody01 Member Posts: 100
    Honda vehicles very reliable. Need no long warranty for Odyssey. Doubt dealers will sell Odyssey at discount for long time. Maybe wait time will be less.
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