In my area, you would find many Odyssey on the street, or in the parking lot. It's like ten years ago, when Chrysler minivans are everywhere. Odyssey is very popular.
if only people trying to purchase a Toyota were that fortunate. if they can navigate the dizzying matrix of options, they must then endure the realities of what is actually available in their region.
remember the SNL luncheon skit with the famous "Cheesburger Cheesburger Cheesburger" line?
It may be on the menu, but that doesn't mean you're going to get what you want.
My friend liked both the Odyssey and Sienna and had closely compared all minivans. Each had some characteristics he liked better than the other. He met salesmen at dealerships for each that were slimy and at other dealerships for each that were excellent. He looked at some 2006 Odysseys and ten 2006 Siennas and narrowed it down to an Ody EX or Sienna LE. The Odyssey dealers required a $ 500 NON-refundable deposit to get on a waiting list while one Sienna dealer had 10 each 2006 Siennas on the lot available for immediate sale. He bought the Sienna LE on September 23 that had the exact color and options he wanted...and for a price slightly lower than Edmund's TMV . IF the situation had been reversed and the Odyssey dealer had an Ody EX on the lot ready for sale of the exact color he wanted and the Sienna dealer had been playing games, he would have purchased an Ody EX.
Can I borrow your friend for a run to the casino?, because he is quite lucky imo. I went to a local Toyota dealer to find the color and options of Solara coupes that I wanted, and they had lots of cars, with different option packages, many of which I didn't want to pay for. The experience was mind-boggling, trying to juggle what came on an SLE vs and SE Sport. An SLE has more standard features than an SE Sport, but came with so many extra cost add-ons (options) that I didn't want, I couldn't afford the jacked up sticker (the one I really liked was pushing $28,000). I like the Accord Coupe because there is no question about what dealer prefers what options (therefore selling certain option packages more than others), instead each model comes with many standard features that the Solara makes you hunt for.
I decided to wait on buying a car at all, so I'm still in my 96 Accord, wondering why I shopped at all since I only have 152,000 miles and no difficulty keeping it running (only regular maintenence!), and at 27mpg (today I filled up), I cant complain too badly about the price of gas ($2.91 for me today @ Chevron)
There are plusses to simplicity and plusses to having many individual options and packages. Your friend is quite the lucky one to have found the right allotment of options for his money.
You are wise to keep your 96 Accord and I agree with you 100 % on Honda simplicity of options vs Toyota option games and the overly expensive Toyota options.
She never win alot in casino so she went there only couple times since we met. One thing she did right, I believe, is, she took the advice from HONDA sales person to buy a TOYOTA Sienna when she could not make a pick from Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
She ended up getting a Sienna XLE Limited with DVD and Navigation system at $34500. I took a ride with her, the ride is quite and comfortable. The size is huge though.
the rating of 230 HP of the 2005 Sienna. Most vehicles have a different horsepower rating for 2006 due to changes in measurement...as all people know if they have read in Town Hall for more than a few days.
As soon-will-be twin parents, my wife and I are cross-shopping honda and toyota for a new minivan.
I got a quote from local honda dealer for an 06 Ody EX-L at $29200. The local Toyota dealer gave me $32500 for a 06 Sienna XLE with Package number #6. He's quite firm. Feature by feature, they comparable, not that different.
We test-drove both. My wife is fine with either one. We're leaning towards Ody for the price. But I'm frustrated by the $3K delta. I'm expecting a much smaller difference.
My wife and I were looking at the exact same two vehicles (EX-L vs. XLE w/ package #6) back in February. I couldn't figure out what the deal was with the local Toyota dealers since they just wouldn't come down below (in our case) around $32.3k. Of the two vehicles, we really preferred the Sienna for a number of little reasons (smoothness, quietness, power rear-hatch, etc. etc.), but we were able to get an EX-L in our preferred color out of dealer stock for $28.6k+TTL.
For us, the delta was closer to $4k by the time you included the difference in taxes.
I think it comes down to what features you want in a minivan. For us, we wanted all the side airbags, Traction/VSC, leather, CD changer and sunroof. The EX-L fit our feature requirement to a T without many extraneous features. When you pick the EX-L first, and then try to find a comparable Sienna, you end up with the XLE w/#6 and a fairly large price delta.
But, if you start with the XLE w/#6 and key on some features it has that the Ody doesn't (power rear hatch, power passenger seat, console between the seats, etc.), then you might start looking at an Ody Touring by comparison and suddenly there ISN'T a large price delta.
Excellent post rorr. It is almost impossible to have a Sienna and Odyssey equipped exactly the same. Each of us chooses the minivan that has the most of the desired features at the best price. Neither my friend nor I want ALL of the luxury features contained on the higher priced models of the Odyssey or the Sienna. For my friend, the 2006 Sienna LE with option pkg # 2 at sellling price of $ 25,698 was his best choice for $ 2,508 LESS than a 2006 Ody EX and was well worth the $ 488 it cost more than a 2006 Ody LX would have cost.
Good thread. I agree with this line of reasoning. As a new (13 Sep) '06 Ody Touring w/Navi owner I was frustrated that a similarly equipped Sienna XLE LTD with a few add-ons was even more than the TOTL Ody. Just a friendly plug for the Ody; there's alot more to the Touring than just the power rear hatch, cam is nice, integrated Nav is simple enough to use and the DVD screen that is now standard is bigger (9 inches). It does raise personal choice questions about what you think of PAX and VCM (3-cyls shut down). Toyo does offer dealer installed screens on headrests if you're into that. The Sienna's interval keeping cruise control is a nice concept, lack of driver seat memory is not. I read somewhere that you have to be stopped to do keyboard entry of a destination on their nav system, can't imagine that.
You can't go wrong with either one. I was quickly frustrated with the inflexibility of dealers and non-availability of '06 Toyotas about a month ago, probably getting better daily. Team H wasn't any better but at least you have a chance of locating one (or a dealer that has one inbound) in the color you want with fewer choices, I had to go 350 miles and wait a week to get our Slate Green w/Olive (putty) one in GA but saved about $1,500 over the local dealer. Honda uses the KISS concept, keep it simple stupid. Purchasing an Ody gives you six choices total in '06 if I count right, Toyota clouds that with some of what I consider essentials in a matrix of packages that spell profit, why six packages when 3 might do? You need a spreadsheet and a calculator in hand to determine invoice and my head hurt enough without this aggravation. Good luck in whatever you choose.
Price-wise they are competitive with each other, their features are just impossible to match with each other, making a direct comparison really difficult.
Agree 100 %. Do Toyota and Honda deliberately market in this manner to make life more difficult? I like the Ody LX better than the Sienna CE but like the Sienna LE better than either the Ody LX or EX. The Ody middle row seats are the best but I feel the Sienna instrument panel is more attractive. Neither has award winning exterior styling in my opinion.
can not agree more thanks to the competition between honda and toyota making consumers difficult to make decision the flip side is, more choice both are nice vehicles > what about customer service?
I'm just beginning to shop the Sienna, the Odyssey and, possibly, look at a luxury SUV or two. I realize that this may sound like a strange question but, in part, I'm throwing the SUV's in the mix because of the availability of drop-off/pick up at home, with loaner car, when my vehicle needs servicing. I have two small kids and it's hard to caravan with my husband at strange hours of the day just to bring the car in for service. If I buy a top-of-the line minivan, spending close to 40K, would they offer this type of service at Toyota or Honda dealerships or is this a pipedream? Thanks!
I have two elementary age kids now, but I fondly remember the days of trying to get anything done when they were younger.
Here's how I handle it:
Our Toyota dealer offers a shuttle service and is near my husband's office - we'll probably do that most of the time for longer service calls. They also have a play area for keeping kids busy and a nice juice/coffee bar, so I'll take the kids for shorter things when it can't be avoided. We don't plan on being there very often - that's why I bought a Toyota. (Plus, I work full time now, so logistics get very complicated sometimes.)
Back in the good old days of preschoolers, my friends and I would just take care of each other. We all stayed at home then. So it was easy to find another mom with a free day who could pick us up at the dealer, and we'd have a long play date.
Finally, Toyota (and probably Honda) offers service plans that include rental cars, in case you decide that one of their vans or SUVs is the best choice for you.
I very want to buy a Sienna AWD, because we live uphill in Boston and have concern about snow in winter. However, we also very want the eight-seat version, so we can sit 3 kids on second rom, and fold down the third to have bigger cargo space. We thought back and forth between Sienna and Ody many times.
Does anybody know if the middle seat of second row can be provided as aftermarket? Thanks a lot in advance.
I was put into a Pacifica when our Ody required what was to be a full day of work for alignment verification/rework for drifting right. Enterprise picked me up shortly after appointment drop-off time. It turns out they were done in time for me to return it by COB but I was more than welcome to have it overnight. You can't expect this treatment with say an express oil change or rotation. We have one little one and the dealer was more than accommodating to ensure the rental or shuttle fit our child's needs (offered to provide their own booster seat). I have a Hondacare 7/100/0 extended warranty that covers rental car from mile 1 but the dealer said that had nothing to do with me getting a rental, it's just the way Honda does biz with warranty repairs that will take all day versus a loaner. As a former Expie owner, all I got from Ford was a shuttle ride with grumbling. I have no doubt all dealers will give you a lift and Toyota probably does the same treatment, 3-1/2 stars at best.
NO, it is not. . . The 06 Sienna brochure (inside back cover) has Footnote # 4 for features and specifications which states: " 8 passenger seating is not available on LE AWD, XLE and Limited" . Footnote # 5 states that Power folding/adjustable 60/40 Split & Stow 3rd Row seat is available on Limited 2WD model only. Available late Fall 2005.
I have a 2004 Sienna and a 2006 Odyssey. The navigation system on the odyssey is superior in most ways (larger, clearer screen, voice activation, better rural coverage, capability to modify when driving). However there are 2 features on the sienna that I really miss. On any marked point on the sienna (like the address list on the odyssey), you can attach a name and a selected icon which then appears on the map. So when I drive by my office, there is a building icon and a description "Long Beach Office" that shows up on my map. Or when I drive by my grandson's soccer field, I see a runner icon and a description that says "Astoria Field". These were both input by me, the user. I don't think there is any way to do this on the odyssey. Any comments?
Also on any destination, you can select a preview on the sienna which actually goes along the entire route on the screen using the scale you selected as if you were driving it. It is nice to see exactly the entire route before you leave. I also don't see this on the odyssey. Again, comments?
Is there any way to notify Alpine or Honda to see if they would add these features?
I am planning to get a 2006 Sienna CE AWD, because my two sons love skiing, and we need to frequently drive in snow and slippery conditions, but I am very concerned about 2005-06 Sienna's seat/head restraint Poor rating by IIHS, see: http://www.hwysafety.org/news/2005/iihs_news_091805.pdf My two son are both over 6 feet tall, and I am concerned that they may not get adequate protection from whiplash injuries in case of a rear-end collision with the current 2006 Sienna's seat/head restraint. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do about this? Is it possible to replace the current 2006 Sienna head restraint by something better?
Although my previous post was about 2005-06 Sienna's seat/head restraint Poor rating by IIHS, I think my request for ideas about what can be done to get adequate protection from whiplash injuries in case of a rear-end collision, would also interest 2005-06 Odyssey drivers as well, since the 2005-06 Odyssey's seat/head restraint only received a Marginal rating by IIHS, see: http://www.hwysafety.org/news/2005/iihs_news_091805.pdf
Dang bro. You're really worrying about something like that? The Odyssey is a great vehicle - so is the Sienna. Don't overanalyze government data. What about the avalanche or rock slide test? Or the bear attack test? You can't plan for everything. Live life and don't worry. My Odyssey is as good as it gets. Get one.
In certain accidents you will get hurt or killed no matter what. No amount of airbags are going to protect you from a semi hitting you head-on at 60 mph. I bought an '06 Odyssey because it has a great crash TEST record and is rated #1. It has terrific resale as well. Hopefully I can keep those semis away.
... and if you and prevail in the bear attack, it'll probably fit in the back! Be sure to strap it down in a 3-point seat belt to appease PETA. Recommend the bear be extinct before using the passenger compartment. Oh, don't forget they require game tags, have a limited season and that the roof rack is limited to 165 pounds. Rehearse this, "Yes officer, it was an accident, he darted right out in front of me. Thank goodness my Odyssey saved me." The meat is tough. Also think about how you'll explain to the kids you killed Smokey or Yogi.
A semi presents another problem, try honking intently at the last minute & pray hard.
Didn't the door on the Odyssey fly open in the crash test? :sick: How can an unsafe vehicle that has a door fly open in a crash test be rated # 1 for safety?
"The minivans, including carryover vehicles from Model Year 2004, that earned the top rating of 5-stars for all seating positions in frontal and side crash tests were: Chrysler Town & Country long-wheel base (later release); Dodge Grand Caravan (later release); Kia Sedona; Mazda MPV and the Nissan Quest. The Honda Odyssey also received 5-stars for all seating positions in frontal and side crash tests; however, the driver’s door unlatched and opened during the side crash test and thus a safety concern is noted."
If a door unlatching and opening during the side crash test does not cause any concern for you, get the Odyssey.
I prefer to have all doors remain closed if I get in a crash so to use CR terminology, the Honda Odyssey is "NOT Recommended" . :sick:
Regarding the aftermarket choices for middle row seats for a 7-passenger Sienna (to make it an 8-Seater) - - they do not exist. The problem being is the Sienna comes in two different floor configurations (based on the floor-welded latch bars needed to secure the removable seats). So, in essence, if you purchase a 7-Seater, you will have to live with the 7-Seater for life unless you are buddies with Jesse James (the motorcycle/auto modifier guru on TV), who can probably weld latches into the floor. But, then again, the second row armchairs of the 7-Seater probably couldn't accomodate the middle seat from an 8-Seater.
As for snow handling, you will need snow tires regardless if you have FWD or AWD. And, I've read studies (consumer reports?) where a FWD with snow tires is MORE effective than AWD without snow tires. So, if this is the case, then go with FWD and snow tires. Just my two cents...
"The door didn't "fly" ....." "It simply opened a bit"
I'm with hans and whoever else ....a door shouldn't "fly", "sway", "creak" or just "open a bit" in an accident. IT SHOULD STAY CLOSED.
Without that bear attack saftey data in yet, I'd be concerned. All it takes is a slightly ajar door for that bear to get his razor like claw inside. Then you'll be thinking " FIVE STAR" saftey rating.
i think if you view the video accompanying the test, you'll see that the cabin wasn't compromised. i'm not sure a car door latch will stay engaged under all scenarios. all you need is one test where it opens...it's a safety concern.
how many vehicles do you think honda already crunched and survived? i think this is a small N phenomenon myself... i don't think the testers would attempt to extrapolate between one failure of this type, and the likelyhood of similar failures.
however, we aren't privy to all the high-speed camera and accelerometer information, but I bet they shared it with honda.
you'd probably have to run a lot of mini-tests (ie don't waste an entire production vehicle) and perform some modelling to fit the data to also increase the number of scenarios "tested" at least virtually, ultimately to try to get at the root cause of this failure.
of all the companys out there, i don't doubt honda will take it very seriously and investigate it in-depth.
i'm willing to bet a bear will have greater success getting the door of a locked odyssey (or any mini-van for that matter) open than by ramming it with a test sled. i'd expect those marks to be low.
...in the early Caravan when the rear hatch opened in a crash and they were injured. But they were NOT. They were sitting in the cargo area and got ejected so some nit sued Chrysler. BTW, the Mazda MPV was the ONLY minivan to get all 5 Stars with no qualification like the Honda Odyssey door unlatching and flying open in the side crash test.
NOT recommended is MY OWN statement using CR terminology.
My quote was in reference to a posting that the Odyssey was # 1 for Safety...which to any person who reads the entire report is inaccurate. Which minivan to buy? Each of us can make an intelligent decision when we know all the facts. For me, at this time, the Sienna LE would be my first choice having bumped out the former first choices Odyssey EX and Grand Caravan SXT. (Toyota reliability with all other factors being equal being a trade-off).
Perhaps I should have added a " " when I mentioned the bear attack saftey data. I thought you guys knew me better than that by now.
But, when it comes to doors "flying open" in an accident...it's just common sense that a closed door will keep you safer. It will do so by keeping yourself and your personal items in, and foreign objects (i.e bears/wolves/pieces of other cars) out.
Plus, ya never know. You wouldn't want to be laying in the woods somewhere unconsious after an accident with the door ajar. A hear bears are particularly fond of car salesmen. :P
Your "Bear Attack" scenario was priceless and so funny I almost had an "accident" laughing too hard. Seriously, the bear attack safety data test is no more ridiculous than some of the other government mandated programs. Isell makes an excellent point that a person wearing a seat belt would not be ejected even if the door unlatched and opened. There was a roll over of an 18 passenger van in northern Utah recently where all 11 people in the van were ejected when it rolled many times when a tire blew out while the van was going between 95 and 100 MPG. Nine were killed because the doors flew open and all the windows broke. NOT one person was wearing a safety belt. Another incident where there were 17 or 18 people inside a Grand Caravan (middle row seats had been removed) and only a few were killed as it did not roll over as many times. Wearing seat belts is more important than whether the door opens or not in a crash.
It's amazing how this conversation is almost on topic yet totally ridiculous. I have to admit you all have me laughing pretty hard after reading all the bear comments.
As a side note, I can think of a few situations where I WOULD want my doors to open in an accident so that all my crap might fly out of the car instead of pinballing me in the head or something. When all is said and done though, it doesn't make me worry about having recommended the Ody (or if it were any other vehicle for that matter). If you do enough crash tests on any vehicle I'm sure you will see some strange things happen regardless of construction.
PS - If the bear knew how much the Sienna or Ody cost, I'm sure he/she would cut us all a break and attack a Santa Fe instead. (and yes, I have a friend who owns one of those.....shaddup)
:sick: is how I feel after you pointed out "MPG" instead of the correct "MPH". The van was going 95 to 100 Miles Per Hour and was probably getting 7 or 8 miles per gallon at the time. The Odyssey or Sienna does get 95 to 100 Miles Per Gallon when going down a long steep hill like entering Nevada from California on I-15.
Very professional posts by all. I think we all know that Toyota and Honda both offer great vehicles. I pretty much had my mind made up on a Toyota, until I decided to at least test drive the Honda with my wife. We both agreed that the Honda and Toyota were very similar and either would do. It came down to a great team of people at the Honda dealership and their ability to offer a tremendous price with little negotiation. We initially were looking at a 05 Sienna with the $1,500 rebate and an additional incentive from the dealer. It was a fair price for an 05 XLE Model with no options. If we added 8th passenger seating, 2nd and 3rd row air bags, leather, entertainment and a sunroof to the Sienna we would be well into the 30's. I picked up a 06 Honda EX-L with Leather, DVD, Sunroof, 8th passenger seating (2nd & 3rd airbags std) for just over 30K. Everybody makes their own deal. I feel I got a very fair price and I look forward to driving my first Honda for at least 150K miles. It easily could have been a Toyota and I would not have second guest myself. They really and truly are two great offerings to those who want a minivan. BUT I sure am glad I got my 8th seat, leather interior, DVD and sunroof for a lot less.
I get pretty wore out with people who speak negatively about minivans. It typically comes from people who would most benefit from one, but somehow feel they are above them. WHY???
The MSRP for Honda Odyssey EX-L with DVD, according to MSN, is $32,395. If you can have it for just above $30,000, that would be great price. Since I can tell from your postings, you push Odyssey alot, can you tell us where we can get this low price?
Comments
if only people trying to purchase a Toyota were that fortunate. if they can navigate the dizzying matrix of options, they must then endure the realities of what is actually available in their region.
remember the SNL luncheon skit with the famous "Cheesburger Cheesburger Cheesburger" line?
It may be on the menu, but that doesn't mean you're going to get what you want.
I thought it was pretty funny when Dan Akyroids character repeated John Belushis request...i.e " cheeseboygee, cheeseboygee, cheeseboygee !!!"
I'll take an Ody...and hold the onions.
He looked at some 2006 Odysseys and ten 2006 Siennas and narrowed it down to an Ody EX or Sienna LE. The Odyssey dealers required a $ 500 NON-refundable deposit to get on a waiting list while one Sienna dealer had 10 each 2006 Siennas on the lot available for immediate sale. He bought the Sienna LE on September 23 that had the exact color and options he wanted...and for a price slightly lower than Edmund's TMV .
IF the situation had been reversed and the Odyssey dealer had an Ody EX on the lot ready for sale of the exact color he wanted and the Sienna dealer had been playing games, he would have purchased an Ody EX.
I decided to wait on buying a car at all, so I'm still in my 96 Accord, wondering why I shopped at all since I only have 152,000 miles and no difficulty keeping it running (only regular maintenence!), and at 27mpg (today I filled up), I cant complain too badly about the price of gas ($2.91 for me today @ Chevron)
There are plusses to simplicity and plusses to having many individual options and packages. Your friend is quite the lucky one to have found the right allotment of options for his money.
One thing she did right, I believe, is, she took the advice from HONDA sales person to buy a TOYOTA Sienna when she could not make a pick from Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
She ended up getting a Sienna XLE Limited with DVD and Navigation system at $34500. I took a ride with her, the ride is quite and comfortable. The size is huge though.
Wow. She picked up a loaded XLE for more than $600 UNDER invoice? No wonder her Honda salesman told her to buy the Sienna.
I got a quote from local honda dealer for an 06 Ody EX-L at $29200. The local Toyota dealer gave me $32500 for a 06 Sienna XLE with Package number #6. He's quite firm. Feature by feature, they comparable, not that different.
We test-drove both. My wife is fine with either one. We're leaning towards Ody for the price. But I'm frustrated by the $3K delta. I'm expecting a much smaller difference.
Any idea? Bob
For us, the delta was closer to $4k by the time you included the difference in taxes.
I think it comes down to what features you want in a minivan. For us, we wanted all the side airbags, Traction/VSC, leather, CD changer and sunroof. The EX-L fit our feature requirement to a T without many extraneous features. When you pick the EX-L first, and then try to find a comparable Sienna, you end up with the XLE w/#6 and a fairly large price delta.
But, if you start with the XLE w/#6 and key on some features it has that the Ody doesn't (power rear hatch, power passenger seat, console between the seats, etc.), then you might start looking at an Ody Touring by comparison and suddenly there ISN'T a large price delta.
It is almost impossible to have a Sienna and Odyssey equipped exactly the same. Each of us chooses the minivan that has the most of the desired features at the best price. Neither my friend nor I want ALL of the luxury features contained on the higher priced models of the Odyssey or the Sienna. For my friend, the 2006 Sienna LE with option pkg # 2 at sellling price of $ 25,698 was his best choice for $ 2,508 LESS than a 2006 Ody EX and was well worth the $ 488 it cost more than a 2006 Ody LX would have cost.
You can't go wrong with either one. I was quickly frustrated with the inflexibility of dealers and non-availability of '06 Toyotas about a month ago, probably getting better daily. Team H wasn't any better but at least you have a chance of locating one (or a dealer that has one inbound) in the color you want with fewer choices, I had to go 350 miles and wait a week to get our Slate Green w/Olive (putty) one in GA but saved about $1,500 over the local dealer. Honda uses the KISS concept, keep it simple stupid. Purchasing an Ody gives you six choices total in '06 if I count right, Toyota clouds that with some of what I consider essentials in a matrix of packages that spell profit, why six packages when 3 might do? You need a spreadsheet and a calculator in hand to determine invoice and my head hurt enough without this aggravation. Good luck in whatever you choose.
Wow. She picked up a loaded XLE for more than $600 UNDER invoice? No wonder her Honda salesman told her to buy the Sienna.'
I was able to verify with her that the Honda sales person didn't get any Toyota prices from her. But, this was a good guess.
I like the Ody LX better than the Sienna CE but like the Sienna LE better than either the Ody LX or EX. The Ody middle row seats are the best but I feel the Sienna instrument panel is more attractive. Neither has award winning exterior styling in my opinion.
thanks to the competition between honda and toyota making consumers difficult to make decision
the flip side is, more choice
both are nice vehicles
>
what about customer service?
Thanks!
Here's how I handle it:
Our Toyota dealer offers a shuttle service and is near my husband's office - we'll probably do that most of the time for longer service calls. They also have a play area for keeping kids busy and a nice juice/coffee bar, so I'll take the kids for shorter things when it can't be avoided. We don't plan on being there very often - that's why I bought a Toyota. (Plus, I work full time now, so logistics get very complicated sometimes.)
Back in the good old days of preschoolers, my friends and I would just take care of each other. We all stayed at home then. So it was easy to find another mom with a free day who could pick us up at the dealer, and we'd have a long play date.
Finally, Toyota (and probably Honda) offers service plans that include rental cars, in case you decide that one of their vans or SUVs is the best choice for you.
Does anybody know if the middle seat of second row can be provided as aftermarket?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Good luck, it's a crowded playing field.
First, how do I send email to you?
2nd, I suppose your solution is for DLRs is for Siennas. Could this be applied to Ody's since they don't offer DLRs.
Thanks,
The 06 Sienna brochure (inside back cover) has Footnote # 4 for features and specifications which states: " 8 passenger seating is not available on LE AWD, XLE and Limited" .
Footnote # 5 states that Power folding/adjustable 60/40 Split & Stow 3rd Row seat is available on Limited 2WD model only. Available late Fall 2005.
Also on any destination, you can select a preview on the sienna which actually goes along the entire route on the screen using the scale you selected as if you were driving it. It is nice to see exactly the entire route before you leave. I also don't see this on the odyssey. Again, comments?
Is there any way to notify Alpine or Honda to see if they would add these features?
http://www.hwysafety.org/news/2005/iihs_news_091805.pdf
My two son are both over 6 feet tall, and I am concerned that they may not get adequate protection from whiplash injuries in case of a rear-end collision with the current 2006 Sienna's seat/head restraint.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do about this? Is it possible to replace the current 2006 Sienna head restraint by something better?
http://www.hwysafety.org/news/2005/iihs_news_091805.pdf
Agree though...adjust the head restraint to proper level and don't worry about it.
A semi presents another problem, try honking intently at the last minute & pray hard.
How can an unsafe vehicle that has a door fly open in a crash test be rated # 1 for safety?
from another poster, but from you?
Here is the note:
"The minivans, including carryover vehicles from Model Year 2004, that earned the top rating of 5-stars for all seating positions in frontal and side crash tests were: Chrysler Town & Country long-wheel base (later release); Dodge Grand Caravan (later release); Kia Sedona; Mazda MPV and the Nissan Quest. The Honda Odyssey also received 5-stars for all seating positions in frontal and side crash tests; however, the driver’s door unlatched and opened during the side crash test and thus a safety concern is noted."
If a door unlatching and opening during the side crash test does not cause any concern for you, get the Odyssey.
I prefer to have all doors remain closed if I get in a crash so to use CR terminology, the Honda Odyssey is "NOT Recommended" . :sick:
The door didn't "fly" open as you like to say. It simply opened a bit.
Granted, it shouldn't have but a belted in driver wouldn't have gone anywhere.
Still, FIVE STAR ratings!
As for snow handling, you will need snow tires regardless if you have FWD or AWD. And, I've read studies (consumer reports?) where a FWD with snow tires is MORE effective than AWD without snow tires. So, if this is the case, then go with FWD and snow tires. Just my two cents...
I'm with hans and whoever else ....a door shouldn't "fly", "sway", "creak" or just "open a bit" in an accident. IT SHOULD STAY CLOSED.
Without that bear attack saftey data in yet, I'd be concerned. All it takes is a slightly ajar door for that bear to get his razor like claw inside.
Then you'll be thinking " FIVE STAR" saftey rating.
how many vehicles do you think honda already crunched and survived? i think this is a small N phenomenon myself... i don't think the testers would attempt to extrapolate between one failure of this type, and the likelyhood of similar failures.
however, we aren't privy to all the high-speed camera and accelerometer information, but I bet they shared it with honda.
you'd probably have to run a lot of mini-tests (ie don't waste an entire production vehicle) and perform some modelling to fit the data to also increase the number of scenarios "tested" at least virtually, ultimately to try to get at the root cause of this failure.
of all the companys out there, i don't doubt honda will take it very seriously and investigate it in-depth.
i'm willing to bet a bear will have greater success getting the door of a locked odyssey (or any mini-van for that matter) open than by ramming it with a test sled. i'd expect those marks to be low.
So your seat belt is on, right? You aren't going to "fly" out of that door.
Bears...yeah, right!
BTW, the Mazda MPV was the ONLY minivan to get all 5 Stars with no qualification like the Honda Odyssey door unlatching and flying open in the side crash test.
NOT recommended is MY OWN statement using CR terminology.
My quote was in reference to a posting that the Odyssey was # 1 for Safety...which to any person who reads the entire report is inaccurate. Which minivan to buy? Each of us can make an intelligent decision when we know all the facts. For me, at this time, the Sienna LE would be my first choice having bumped out the former first choices Odyssey EX and Grand Caravan SXT. (Toyota reliability with all other factors being equal being a trade-off).
But, when it comes to doors "flying open"
Plus, ya never know. You wouldn't want to be laying in the woods somewhere unconsious after an accident with the door ajar. A hear bears are particularly fond of car salesmen. :P
Seriously, the bear attack safety data test is no more ridiculous than some of the other government mandated programs.
Isell makes an excellent point that a person wearing a seat belt would not be ejected even if the door unlatched and opened.
There was a roll over of an 18 passenger van in northern Utah recently where all 11 people in the van were ejected when it rolled many times when a tire blew out while the van was going between 95 and 100 MPG. Nine were killed because the doors flew open and all the windows broke. NOT one person was wearing a safety belt. Another incident where there were 17 or 18 people inside a Grand Caravan (middle row seats had been removed) and only a few were killed as it did not roll over as many times.
Wearing seat belts is more important than whether the door opens or not in a crash.
As a side note, I can think of a few situations where I WOULD want my doors to open in an accident so that all my crap might fly out of the car instead of pinballing me in the head or something. When all is said and done though, it doesn't make me worry about having recommended the Ody (or if it were any other vehicle for that matter). If you do enough crash tests on any vehicle I'm sure you will see some strange things happen regardless of construction.
PS - If the bear knew how much the Sienna or Ody cost, I'm sure he/she would cut us all a break and attack a Santa Fe instead. (and yes, I have a friend who owns one of those.....shaddup)
The van was going 95 to 100 Miles Per Hour and was probably getting 7 or 8 miles per gallon at the time.
The Odyssey or Sienna does get 95 to 100 Miles Per Gallon when going down a long steep hill like entering Nevada from California on I-15.
If you can have it for just above $30,000, that would be great price. Since I can tell from your postings, you push Odyssey alot, can you tell us where we can get this low price?