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Comments
Not to worry about this. They now have the capability to turn off selective availability (which is the error) for friendly countries only. That's why North Americans (among others) now have access to much more accurate - but still not military precision, of course - GPS data practically overnight. Countries that are considered a threat still have the S.A error.
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
You are correct that because of the weight transfer (backwards) upon acceleration, the front tires have less grip, and hence are more likely to break loose. Just imagine what happenes uphill when the slope naturally causes most of the weight to move backwards anyway! I bet you know since you live in Denver :-) Slow and steady acceleration should minimise wheelspin and hence less TCS intervention.
Yes, a good set (of 4) winter tires will most definitely help to reduce TCS activation as well as ABS activation since the level of traction is increased. Personally, I recommend the Michelin Arctic Alpins or the Bridgestone Blizzaksin perhaps slightly narrower than stock tire size (try to get the same tire diameter as the stock tires though). Try http://www.tirerack.com/snow/changeover.jsp for their winter tire and wheel combinations for your Odyssey.
Hope this helps!
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
No problems with transmission; no problem with heating/air conditioning; no problem with TCS (it was GREAT in Colorado and Nebraska in the snow/ice); replaced the Firestone tires in November and are happy with the replacement (Michelin); road noise minimal; could use better speaker system.
Happy with the van. Just wanted y'all to know there are probably lots of ODY EX's out there that have no problems.
Mac
Hey Marjoe: You back in here????
The Alpins have performed great this season here in the Boston area. The TCS still kicks in, but it will on ice with any tire. Although the snow hasn't been too severe, my wife and I are glad we got them. With 2 little ones in back, it was worth the $500 for the reassurance.
I am curious if anyone knows around when Honda might make public its plans for the 2002 Ody, and also when they might show up on dealer lots?
Our thinking is if we find out at that time about enough desirable upgrades being in store (such as more colors, better sound system, better seats, seat/mirror memory, etc., you know, the upgrades people have asked for here, and not a painful price increase), we may just hold off for the new model year if the goodies are worth the wait to us, and the wait isn't another 6 months.
I don't expect all that much may change but maybe Honda will surprise us...
Thanks to everyone for all the great info being posted. I am devouring it in hopes of becoming an expert Ody shopper when the time comes to pull the trigger.
Have any of you EX owners dared (or inadvertently) catch your hand/fingers instead? How bad was it, though it may not be terribly quantifiable? I'm worried about my kids and fingers, not arms or legs, as hands/fingers to me is a much more likely scenario. In this case, I have to agree with a previous poster that I think I'd rather get caught in the EX's controlled slide vs Dad having whipped the door shut. That is assuming the final door catch/close distance doesn't kick in and its force is not excruciating. Comments?
I suggest you go back and do more comparison. Odyssey was not designed with Kids in mind. As you see, the seats don't recline on 2nd or 3rd row, there is not TV/VCR option and your toddlers have no built in child seat and by the way, they can snap their hands by electric doors. Some of these options can be purchased by 3rd party, but why should you spend so much money and time and effort and get so little. Check out Toyota or Nissan Quest and walk away happy with better reliability and options.
de Hawkeye
As for TV/VCR, 3rd party is a legitimate option. They tend to be much cheaper, often portable from car to car, and replacing them altogether is likely to be cheaper than repairing a factory unit.
Built in child seats are convenient, but properly installed aftermarket seats protect just as well, and often have additional comfort and side impact protection. And, they don't compromise the comfort of an adult sitting in that position when the integrated child seat is folded away.
If you don't like the electric doors, an LX has manual doors.
what you are describing is the "clear bra" as some dealers call it. There have been posts in the past on it. It is a clear plastic film(not sure what type) that is glued to the front part of the hood and bumper. It will protect the paint from chips. Even though it is tougher than the paint, this protective layer will evenuatlly also get chipped and dinged. I didn't bother with it since I think it is kinda like the plastic sofa covers although much better looking and high tech. Not sure if it can be removed without hurting the paint.
Thanks for the suggestions on the snow tires. Unfortunately, neither Tirerack.com nor tires.com have what I want in stock. tirerack.com didn't even offer the minus one size package you'd suggested. I lean more to the Artic Alpins or Yokohama Guardex 720 than the Bridgestone Blizzaks since their dry road perfomance is much better and the fancy rubber is full thread depth. The latter point is probably not as citical since a snow tire with only half thread left will start to loose snow traction performance and should be replaced.
Anyone know how much the Honda dealers are charging for the steel wheels? The price at the .com tire stores (if they have them) is about $40 each. Wonder if I have to worry about the steel wheels that the dealers had to take off to fix the drifting problem I've read about.
BTW, the second row seats in the Odyssey does recline. Probably about 30 degrees. Not as much as I'd like but it is dangerous to have it reclined too much if you get in an accident. The air bag for the front passenger maybe why Honda allowed that seat to have full recline. Not that the air bag will help much if you end up below it.
Also the third row does have slight recline adjustment capability for the seat back.
I agree that the Michelin Arctic Alpins' dry weather performance are better than the Blizzaks, so I'd recommend them too (over the Yokohamas, in fact).
Good luck!
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
He can be found at: http://www.handa-accessories.com/
I have yet to see an comparison test--anywhere--from a major publication (edmunds, Car and Driver, etc) that included the Odyssey in which the Ody didn't win outright. If anyone knows of one, I'd like to see it.
Even with the new Dodge vans out there (with their admittedly nifty--but probably breakage-prone--automatic rear hatch), the Honda continues to come out on top.
Couple that with Honda's reputation, and you can't go wrong. Nissan Quest? An also-ran.
We'll be getting our Starlight Silver EX in a couple of weeks (hopefully).
Don't get me started on the Sienna: you expect me to pay 25k + on a vehicle without painted bumpers? And if I want painted bumpers, I have to like them in that one color? C'mon. It's cheapness on the part of Toyota (a trait that's becoming more and more prevalent in their car line). #1, it costs money to paint the bumpers, #2 it costs more than that to get a good color match (which is why they stick to the one color on the top-end sienna), and #3 it requires more cost in logistics to match the colors with the cars on the assembly line. Honda seems to do it fine, all at a lower price than the Toy.
The Ody is hands-down a stellar value compared to the Toyota. I used to be a Toyota fan, 'till they started gouging the customer with high prices, low content, and low-rent items like the heinous bumpers on the Sienna.
Toyota, these days, is riding high on their stellar reputation, with undoubtedly fat profit margins. Still, I see straight through it. That's why I purchased the F-150 (a GREAT value)over the Tundra (overpriced) recently. I know that trucks are off-topic, only pointing that Toyota has fallen way down on my list of manufacturers.
My wife and I came away thinking: If this is the worst these people can say about the Ody, it must be a great van! Let's get the Odyssey!
I was wondering how many people got the same baby-spare speech from competing manufacturers.
Let's compare mini vans and their problems:
Honda - lessee, should you have a flat, you'll have to load the full-size spare inside. And the press continually busts on the shifter. Woe is me.
Toyota - too small, overpriced, . . and painted bumpers (in one color only) only if you spend 30k+. Hope you like gold!
Ford - I'm a big Ford fan, but the Windstar has given them fits from a reliability standpoint . . not sure why they can't get that one right. They're doing great with so many other lines.
Nissan/Mercury: That van is SO 1990.
Mazda: an interesting choice, like a 75% Odd in every respect (power, size, price, etc.). Too small for me.
Dodge/Chrysler: Great design, poor manufacturing execution. It's a shame. Did anyone else notice they were making plenty of money before the Daimler takeover (don't kid yourself . . it was not a merger). And I wonder if any of those soon-to-be-fired 26,000 are currently working on the Vans?
GM (Pointiac/Chevy): I don't know where to start.
For me, there was only one choice: the Odyssey.
There is only one complaint I have about this van, after owning the other 3 and that is with the automatic door locks. I cannot believe that the Odyssey does not automatically shut the door locks when the van either goes into drive, or at least goes above 15 miles an hour like my other vans did.
After not having to lock the doors on my own for 5 years, it will take a little getting used to.
I have already assigned my 5yr old as my official reminder, since she doesn't forget anything, and in my older age, I find I am forgetting things on a daily basis.
But other than that, I am very happy with the van.
Thanks..
While I'd prefer a full size spare, I'd much rather have the magic seat. Plus, I do like having the compact spare inside. Grandma can temporarily move to the drivers seat, but I don't want to be under the van on the side of an interstate getting off the full size spare like some vehicles. The best solution would be to have a runflat system, like the optional one on the Windstar. Then you can drive to a safe location to have the tire changed...
KarenS
Host
Owner's Club
1. Reviewers don't have to wait and go through B.S to get their cars.
2. Their assumption is that all the Vans tested are based on their MSRP. Nissans sell way below invoice.
List of items that come free with Quest GXE (Base) which you pay for or unavailable on Odyssey
LX:
;Much better and safer headlights with see around the corner lights.
:built-in child seat
:leather seat
:Free TV/VCR/game
:Much better seats and Stereo system
:Remote keyless entry
:full size spare tire
:Lights in the interior get dim in 15 seconds after exiting car to avoid battery drainage,
:extra plugs in back seat for Laptops or to charge phones
:The 2001 gets 5 star crash testing scores.
:5 yr/ 60000 warranty on transmission as oppose to odyssey's 3yr/36000
Nissans reliability. You show me a Honda Odyssey with over 35K mile and no problems with Transimission and doors and other stuff listed in problem board and I give you $50.
These are minor points. Major options that are offer on this van will take the entire page.
The only thing Honda has is 3rd row folding seat(I prefer 54 options on Quest's seats). Gas mileage which no one that I know of gets the actual 23 mpg. Real numbers are 20mpg and crash test (5 star rating) which the Quest 2001 matches now. Bottom line is Nissan is on average $5000 Less than LX, More options that are built into car and you don't have to purchase through 3rd party. Lot better reliability on top of that. This is based on 6 months worth of research!! For you Honda dealers that are posting here and you know who you are!!!...Stop your lies!!! For those of you who are really Honda fanatics...more power to you if you like to pay MSRP and think the value is really worth the money!!! I had Honda Accords in the past and it was a great car but Odyssey is No ACCORD!!!!
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/98023.htm
You seem to conveniently leave out the IIHS test results. I guess you could call it safe if you never need to use your legs again!! Are we sure YOU aren't a Nissan dealer (only dealers would call the TV/VCR option "free")?? 54 seating options...is that like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic??
Incidentally, you'll need that $5k less on the purchase price because that's at least how much less it'll fetch when you try and unload it...
Nissan has Quest Track railing system inside the Van that allows you to arrange the seats in 54 different ways!!!
The saftey record link that was posted on prior message only applies to 1999 modelss the 2001 was structurally enhanced.
I am taking time to come here to educate would be buyer...by the way..I am not just keen on recommending Quest...Toyota Sienna has just many options but it is pricier.
TV/VCR's are free on all the Quest by the way!!!As for the name Quest...well..lets not get into names because Odyssey comes From OASIS which it really referes to the Vans reliability Records!!!....This information is for would be shoppers..Dealers that are posting here sure will get offended!!!
It also says it was redesigned in 1999. If it was redesigned again in 2001, that would be unusual and maybe they finally got it right. Who knows? But at any rate it would then be too new to know how reliable it is, and you would have a hard time finding a test report on it. Also it would be unusual to have a crash test report out for it this soon.
Perhaps you got hold of a Beta copy of the Quest for 2003.
Would you like directions to my home or can you send the $50 sight unseen?
I have a 99 Odyssey EX with 80K miles. No problems with transmission, doors or any other "stuff". I also get 24-25 mpg routinely.
Are you going to put your money where your mouth is? I doubt it.
Always thought the VW Jetta commercial which touted the full size spare's return as silly.
Mike
I got average of 23.8 mpg on my trip from Denver to S.F over the holidays. And that was with average speed of 80 mph and sometimes with head winds of 30 to 50 mph in WY. Normal around town mileage is about 20 mpg. But you don't know me. Do you know any Odyssey owners?
"
Just about the last thing that I would want on a car is painted bumpers.
By the way, it's hilarious you think I'm a Honda dealer. I'm actually an Energy Marketer working for a large E&P (that's Exploration and Production) company here in Calgary...or do you think that's some sort of clever disguise?! Get a grip....
So I question if a full size spare tire is cost, and space effective. My experance tells me that I prefer the advantages of the extra space the small spare tire adds to the vehicle. I would guess the manufacturers have found that most car owners agree and that is why they usually don't provide one.
I also get new tires when my tires get down to the danger level. If you drive on bald tires you are going to have to change more flats yourself.
http://caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/1999/May/199905_feature_whatp.xml