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Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans
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Even the biggest 3.8L V6 engine in the T & C is gutless, unrefined, and noisy compared to the standard and only engines of the Ody and Sienna.
These whistling noises are usually due to a crack or opening somewhere that may have been overlooked or some roof rack addition that presents a perfect condition for wind noise.
All I hear from my Ody is that sweet, melodious sound from a very refined engine!
The engine may be more "high tech" but overall noise inside the Odyssey is louder than either DC minivan. The Odyssey was purchased NEW by him and both DC minivans were purchased as used vehicles.
The 2001 Ody is slower off the line than either DC minivan with the 3.3L engine and the Ody EX lacks many features contained on both low end DC minivans.
All 3 minivans have been very reliable with no maintenance needed except for oil and oil filter changes.
What year and what was the mileage on the T&C's with leather seats?
My comparision has been with an Odyssey EX and the GC Sport and T&C LX which had comparable MSRP's when new. Neither DC minivan actually cost as much NEW as did the Odyssey EX.
Both DC minivans are quieter and smoother riding than the Odyssey EX.
Why would they do this? Well, to sell slow moving cars, or to sell the cars the auto workers have contracts to build, regardless of whether the market wants them. That is why they offer all of the rebates and incentives on the dodge vans, and one reason they make and sell so many of them.
Who does it hurt? Well, if you decide to buy the van at the end of the lease, and they determined at the beginning of the lease that it would be worth $18K, but the market now says it is only worth $15K, you are getting ripped off. You should not buy the van, but just give it back.
Doesn't that then shaft Dodge? Actually, all finance companies (including the captive finance companies owned by the manufacturers) have insurance on their leases to cover losses they might experience at the end of a lease, such as in a case like this.
The moral of the story is, if a manufacturer of the vehicle is offering a subsidized lease, jump on it, but just don't expect to buy the vehicle at the end of the lease. If you do, you will have to pay much more than market value for it.
I do not intend to purchase it at the end of the lease as in three years I will no longer need a mini van.
A car with a high residual value(the Ody is the minivan higest) is the best candidate for a lease provided you have no intentions of buying it at the end of the lease at the high residual market price.
ENJOY!
The residual is carefully calculated to approximate a car's WHOLESALE value when the lease ends. Honda wants to get that much or more if it go's to auction.
If the person leasing the car wants to keep it, the residual is a price he can't beat!
The Ody LX has the side curtain air bags that are not standard on the GC SXT while the GC SXT has separately controlled temperature for the driver and front passenger, power sliding doors on each side, cast wheels, overhead console with compass/outside temperature and trip computer.
The Odyssey LX has more power and a 5 AT instead of the GC 4 AT. It will also have better resale value for many years.
The GC SXT is assembled in Canada (as are all DC minivans with Stow-N-Go Seating).
The quality of assembly and the superior "sporty" handling/performance is a benchmark for other manufacturers to follow.
Being a "car guy" person and also very practical-minded, I am seriously considering replacing my 10 yr old car with another Ody when the timing is right. The Ody just drives so well that makes it very compelling!
It would make it easier(cheaper?) for me to maintain spare parts in my garage to do my own preventive maintenance if I had two Odys instead of different makes. I have been repairing my vehicles for the past 30 yrs. At any time, I have several cases of oil and filters bought on sales(and rebates) for oil changes. It would also simplify things by having the same brake pads, fuel and air filters, etc for my supply chain.
ENJOY!
Macakava, you sure you aren't a Honda salesman? You're a little too excited about that Odyssey, I think you may need professional help.
Remember, it's just transportation. Don't make it a lifestyle! I have a lifestyle that requires minivans (3 kids and one on the way), but the minivans are a means to an end, not the final goal.
Nope I am not a car saleman.
But I do like to make driving enjoyable and engaging instead of just transportation. That is the difference that is difficult for our "Aunt Mildred" to comprehend. With the latter, any vehicle but the best will do.
The Ody transmission issue is history after the Dec 2004 build date. All Ody vehicles, 2004 and 2005 beyond that, have the new tranny with the fixes in place - so that problem is history. Besides that past transmission issue, the Ody has provide one of the most reliable transportation that is reflected its highest class residual value.
I would be sick if I sold my 2002 Chrysler T&C LX and got a new 2005 Honda Odyssey and found it was not as quiet and smooth riding as my 3 year old Chrysler.
My plans to do that have now been placed on an indefinite "hold" until the whistling noise problem has been diagnosed and eliminated by the Honda engineers.
Did you mean Dec 2003, or Dec 2004? I know Honda put a jet of fluid onto the 2nd gear as a retro-fix, but I thought that was last Spring (2004). Did they do something different this month (Dec 2004) at the factory? My VIN is 6000 something, so the vehicle was probably built in late summer or early fall, and if so, I guess I'm still at the transmission roulette wheel (hopefully with a lucky number).
I'm just hassling you about your excitement for the Odyssey. I was ready to buy it before the test drive was through. The responsiveness of the vehicle (for a van) is awesome. I would call it a "driving enthusiasts van". Does that work for a "car guy"?
"Driving enthusiast van" would be another correct interpretation for "car guy" as far as I am concerned. Even my wife, who is not into car stuff, likes the handling and the "lightness" feel of the Ody(for a 4300lb car) compared to the Windstar we had before or the other minivans we test drove.
That's the best post I've read in a long time, LOL
(post 2760)
Enjoy it while it lasts.
I can now see no reason to get a new Odyssey if it is not as quiet as my 3 year old Chrysler. Time to sit back and wait until Honda finds the reason for the "whistling noise" and makes the necessary changes.
I think the necessary changes have been made.
To keep this in perspective, this is something that won't strand me on the side of the road, it won't cost anything to fix (except my time), and it will not harm the resale value of the vehicle. It is only a piece of plastic that was poorly engineered/manufactured/installed (one or more of the above).
I still say the Honda's engine and transmission are far above what I experienced with my ‘98 Plymouth Grand Voyager (owned one year) or the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan I test drove. The Honda motor is more powerful, but smoother and quieter than the Dodge. The transmission in the Honda is almost unnoticeable as it shifts – IMO smoother than the Plymouth or Dodge.
But what I like most about the Honda is that it is well engineered (despite the whistling problem). Honda isn’t afraid to incorporate technology to make their van stable and safe (standard side curtain airbags, standard 4 wheel ABS disc brakes, standard traction control, standard stability assist, and crash test results that Chrysler is still trying to emulate. The Odyssey is also rated better in real-world injury results according to the Insurance Institute).
The whistling noise is a small thing. Separately adjustable climate controls for driver and passenger are a small thing. Fold-in-the-floor seats are a small thing. Even turning circle is a small thing (although here in Europe, or in any big city in the US it can be almost a big thing).
Safety is Huge.
My hat is off to Chrysler for safety improvements on their 2005 vans (see the ALLPAR website), but I think Honda still has them beat for the reasons listed above. I’ve got 4 reasons besides myself to think safety is a big thing, and I wish Chrysler would try to make their safety improvements standard, and not options or top-model standards. If you don’t have a family, your values may be different, but I think this is one area where Chrysler needs to improve, and they can thank Honda for the competition that will force them to be better.
When one can buy a new DGC for under $16K USD and a new T & C for under $20K, compared to over $22K for a Sienna CE and over $24K for an Ody LX, we get a strong message. That the buying public thinks that the DGC, T & C, Sienna, and Ody are only worth that much.
The manufacturers know this too well. So Chrysler will only use or offer those parts/technology that will allow them to still make a profit at those discount prices. Toyota and Honda can use better(and more expensive) parts and technology because of the premium prices thay can command relative to Chrysler.
"You get what you pay for" still rules.
The Odyssey was purchased new by my son and the other son and I each purchased our DC minivans used.
Neither of our minivans will depreciate as much as the 2001 Odyssey EX. He likes his Odyssey just as much as we like our DC minivans. Comfort is more important to me than having a high tech engine.
Again, the value when sold subtracted from the actual price paid is depreciation...NOT some fictious number subtracted from initial MSRP.
Smiles!
Cheers!
Some of us who had planned to buy Toyota or Honda decided the Chrysler quiet, smooth ride with personal comfort items were of more value to us than high tech engines that cost more to maintain and do not improve gas mileage.
I must have missed something...?
yep, avoid the problem when Honda have something that is not up to the standard. By the way, didn't the Ody has the skinny steering wheel that feel so cheap. Oh wait, since it is in a Honda it is fine.
Steve, Host
Infact the melodious sound is more pronounced in the 2004 and earlier model because the 2005 models have more insulation added.
Again if one just views their vehicle just for transportation and/or is a "laid-back" driver type, it would be difficult to understand the joys of a good, refined engine sound.
My acquaintance said it will cost her $500 for the 6000 mile routine maintenance of her 2004 Honda Accord V6.
By comparison, a 6000 mile routine maintenance of a GC or T&C with 3.3L V6 is less than $30 total.
Is she being ripped off by the Honda dealer or do high tech engines just cost that much more for routine maintenance?
Or look at the Maintenance column in the True Cost to Own tool.
Steve, Host
I am sure that she is being ripped off...
If she lives close by, maybe I would give her a relative bargain deal at $250!
We are talking about maybe an oil change at that interval. This is exactly where bad rumors get started.
" I read on the internet that it costs 500.00 every six months for routine maintenance!"
Peace
She told me she had been misled because when she took the 2004 Accord in the Honda dealer service writer told her $90. She said she had a coupon from them so the total cost was only $73.
That is still MUCH higher than the less than $30 for a oil and oil filter change for a Chrysler T&C 6000 mile service at a Chrysler dealer.
And, yes, to my ears everything Honda makes is noisier.
Dusty
We charge 32.95 for an oil and filter change including a car wash.
Unfortunate there is a policy here in Town Hall that salesmen cannot state the dealership name where quality, reasonable service is provided.