dc_driver: Thank you for a VERY informative "posting". Last night, I stopped at the local Hyundai dealer and looked at their new Hyundai van. If it didn't say "Hyundai" on the vehicle, I would have thought it was a Toyota. It seems that there are a lot of Toyota components on the interior of this vehicle. What stops me from considering this vehicle is as follows: 1.) This is the first year for this Hyundai. 2.) While I believe that Hyundai does produce a "quality" vehicle, the resale value of the Hyundai van over the Toyota or Honda will be very different. If the person purchasing the vehicle wants to drive the van for a long time, then "resale" is not an issue. I do not own a vehicle after the extended warranty expires, which translates into 100,000 to 120,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer. (Honda = 120,000 miles and Toyota = 100,000 miles). Thank you for the information. ---- Best regards. ---- Dwayne
Just drove the Odyssey today and it seems the breaks only do it sometimes, because it didnt today. I made sure to pay close attention. And also, the engine "humming" only does it around 80km/h, when the rpm is at about 2000-2200rpm, but other then that I cant really hear or feel it :confuse:
I hope to be buying a minivan soon, probably the Odyessy ut the Sienna has its advantages too, like smooth driving, nice interior etc. The disadvantage is that the seats are short under thighs, (I am a 5'8" mom of 3)and this makes it NOT comfortable. I had a 2000 Odyessy, the comfort was so so on this and the 2006 is a lot better. It is not perfect but better, I am picky because of bad back problems. I am wondering what people think of the odyessy as far as comfort, even on long drives? I have a SUV right now, it is way too expensive and too big to drive so I want to go back to a minivan. Have looked extensivly at other vans and this is the best. So just want to know what others think? Thanks
I have an Odyssey 06 EX-L and found the seats to be very comfortable on a recent road trip (not too long, but spent about 6 hours in the drivers seat one-way).
That said, I am just under 6' tall and weigh about 185lbs and do not have any back problems. My wife also finds the Odyssey to be much more comfortable than our previous sedan.
As for switching from a large SUV, I would expect the seat comfort to be very similar in the Odyssey, it will be much easier to get in and out of, easier to put groceries in and out of, easier to herd the kids, in many cases will be safer, and will definitely save you some $$ at the gas pump.
Today myself and my significant other were out and about, and we came across a Chevrolet and a Ford dealer. We had some time on our hands, so we decided to look at their line of vehicles. Recognizing, that I presently have a 2003 4 door Accord, my major concern is to try to get into a more comfortable vehicle for the long highway rides. At the Chevrolet Dealer we looked at the HHR and the Impala, and at the Ford Dealer we looked at the Ford 500 Limited. The Ford 500 and the Impala had the fold down rear seats which gave more than enough room to carry our "stuff"! The HHR was like a large PT Cruiser. The seats in all three vehicles seemed to be comfortable, but you really don't know, until you spent two hours behind the wheel on the highway. While I would like a van, I am also very concerned about the fuel mileage issue. If you read some of the postings on the various sites, some van owners are complaining that they do not get the fuel estimates that were advertised on the new vehicle sticker. Is this lack of fuel mileage the fault of the particular vehicle, or the driving habits of the operator? If it is the vehicle, what allows one vehicle to get great mileage, and another,(of the same year and model), getting less mileage than expected? If this occurs, what can the customer expect from the vehicle manufacturer, to correct this issue? Right now I am in the process of looking at all the options. I would like to see more positive postings about the quality of the Honda Van. Reading some of the postings, I would like to believe that the negativity is based on just a few vehicles. If that is the case, then the product is getting a bad reputation for a small percentage of units. But, on the other hand, if there are some issue that run through the entire production, that is another kind of a problem. ----- Best regards. ---- Dwayne
Odyssey - First non-big 3 family vehicle. During test drive, initial impression was that seats were firm and supportive. However, after our first drive over an hour or so, both my wife and I were uncomfortable. My wife was actually in pain and going numb on her right side. Our complaint was that the seats had too much lumbar support. Even at the minimum on the driver's seat, I still felt like there was a tennis ball in the small of my back. My wife also had issue with the larger side bolsters. It was so bad that we ended up trading it in at 6 weeks.
Sienna - Wife is much happier, and has no issues. I still think there is too much lumbar support. Instead of a tennis ball, I feel like there is a bar across my lower back. I'm starting to get used to it, but I still occasionally use a small cushion on the upper seat back to sort of flatten out the lumbar. Additionally, the seat cushion is too short for my liking.
I know we're in the minority here, but if you search these threads, you will find others who have had issues with the seats in both vans. Make sure you take a long enough test drive of both.
I never thought I would miss our Suburban - the seats had a much wider range of adjustment. These are the first vehicles that I (we) have ever had issues with the seats, but it seems to be the trend (at least in minivans, I guess).
mchappell This is exactly how I feel about the seats in my Honda Accord. My back kills me after a couple of hours behind the wheel. In order to be comfortable I have to sit on a pillow. This is one of the main reasons why I am looking at other vans, and other four door cars. I like the Honda products, but the seats are TOO HARD! Yesterday, I looked at a Ford 500. While the seats were softer than the Accord, they were not all that great! It seems that every vehicle manufacturer seems to think that the buying public wants hard seats and road feel. Personally, I would like a soft ride. ---------- Best regards. ----Dwayne
That's interesting...The seats in our 2000 Odyssey were much softer than those in my Accord, and to me, were a LOT more uncomfortable. I'm 6'4", 180 lbs, and the Accord seats are the best I've ever sat in, including an Audi A4 Cabriolet and a Lexus GX 470 I drove recently. I have cloth seats, BTW, and wouldn't trade them for leather if you gave it to me at the same price. Too hot in the summer (today's high in Birmingham is 93), and I slide too much. I guess it's difficult to make a seat where 100% of the public is comfortable, but I'll take firm and well-shaped (which the Accord is for my particular back) over wide and mushy (which wears out my back) anyday!
I'm in the Kansas City area and was given a price of $29,900 + TT&L for an Toyota XLE with package #5 and door sill protectors and floor mats. I'm not taking the $1K rebate because I need the 4.9% financing. Is this a good deal?
My other vehicle of choice is the Honda EX-L. I'm dealing w/ the internet guy and will discuss $$ Monday morning. I'm pretty sure that the difference in price between the two will even out by the discounted the interst rate.
The big difference between the two vans are the sunroof on the Honda and the power lift gate of the Toyota. {also, power passenger seat, digital A/C controls in the rear and coin holder for the Sienna. I'd be pleased to call either my new vehicle. Am I missing anything that could further affect my purchase? I'm the sole wage earner of a family of 5, so saving $ is important to me.
Faulkner in Harrisburg and Bobby Rahal in Mechanicsburg. Get those 2 in a bidding war and you will get a great price. Even better than mine. I just used their price to make my local dealer come down to $1,200 under invoice. They both would have done $200 more than my local dealer but it wasn't worth it to drive an hour plus for $200.
Thanks! Here in State College the prices aren't so good on either Honda or Toyota because there is only one of each. Service is good, but prices aren't. In your shopping around, did you learn anything about Harrisburg Toyota? I wouldn't mind getting two dealers in that area to compete with each other.
Well, I ended up going for the Odyssey. My cost for a slate green / olive leather EX-L was $28,452 including all fees but the TT & L. I got them to 'throw in' the All Season Protection Package that includes: Front and Rear Splash Guards, Cargo Tray, All Season Rubber/Vinyl Floor Mats, and Locking Lug Wheel Locks. How'd I do? Dawn, mom to 20 month twins and a new brother due in 5 weeks! Overland Park, Kansas
I am in the market for a new van. I started out thinking the sienna was the way to go-- I have 2 friends who recently purchased sienna's and they are happy with them. However, after much research, I have narrowed it down to the Odyssey basically due to pricing, the drive--better control (my personal preference) and the seats. I have sat in the 2nd row of my friends sienna and my back was killing me after 1 hour. It was stiff, too straight, and generally too hard. The sienna's seat shape did not fit my body. I much prefer my town and country seats over the sienna. In riding in the Odyssey, I did not have back problems, and felt fine.
Trying to decide between Odyssey and Sienna. One difference (I think) - only Sienna has AWD option. Question is - living in suburban Philadelphia, with maybe 2-3 heavy snowfalls, and rare ice - is this something to worry about, or is weight/FWD enough to cover me? Second question - anyone willing to give ballpark 'fair price' that dealer would ask for a used 2006 Sienna XLE or Odyssey LX with 15-20K miles?
Hi Elaine- We were in the same place about a week ago. I was looking for a used EX or EXL 2006 w/ 10-15K miles. In Chicago we found that it wasn't much of a differnce in price from a new Odyssey to a used one. I was surprised! Not to mention that they are hard to come by. Also w/ a new Odyssey we got a better price because they are trying to get ready for the 2007's. Good Luck in your search. Meg
Elaine, a Sienna XLE and an Odyssey LX are not directly comparable as the latter is the base model while the former is a very well equipped vehicle. The MSRP between the two (as typically found on lots) has to be $5000 I would guess.
I agree with Meg - the prices on new Odysseys (I can't speak about Toyotas) are so attractive right now that it makes little sense to buy a used '06.
Have you had problems with FWD vehicles getting stuck in the past? If not, the FWD Sienna or Odyssey will do just fine unless you frequently travel to unplowed rural areas. We have a FWD Odyssey and AWD Subaru Outback. Sure, the Outback gets going a little quicker sometimes, but I've never had any issues with the Odyssey or any other FWD vehicle in Chicago winters.
Snow tires are fine if you live on a hill that doesn't get plowed quickly or have a steep, icy driveway or something. Otherwise, a good set of all seasons tires will be fine in most urban areas. In the future, I'll probably opt to save the money upfront and in fuel costs and go with the FWD. Granted, with the Subaru there wasn't a choice...
Hello, folks -- new to this board but thankful for the useful information I have found here. I am going to be replacing a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan this week or next with a 2006 Odyssey EX or Sienna LE with package #3. As I did with the Caravan purchase, I plan to negotiate online to find the dealer who will give me the deal I want, after researching prices of comps in the area. I am looking for advice on prices paid for these vehicles in the Suburban Phila/SE Pa/S Jersey/Del area, and also advice on whether I should start the online price negotiations first, or if I can go out and start test driving this weekend. Any thoughts would be highly appreciated!!
We were just looking at the exact same vans and ended up going with the Sienna LE with Pkg#3. We bought it from Price Toyota in New Castle, Delaware and were really pleased with our experience there. We got in touch with them through their website initially and they ended up giving us a good price in addition to a reasonable value on our trade-in. I would definitely consider them the next time I was in the market. I think it depends a lot on who you happen to get assigned to as a salesperson, though, since they don't have internet-only sales people. For a reference price on the Sienna, you should also definitely check fitzmall.com, especially since they aren't too far away from Philly (about 3 hours).
I think the Sienna LE w/Pkg#3 is probably about $1,000-$1,500 less than the Odyssey EX, for which I figured I got a van that was a little more reliable and cushy, but handles less well and doesn't have quite as many features (like the driver side power door, power seats, and automatic climate control). We went with the 8-passenger Sienna and felt like the middle seat was more usable than the Odyssey's. I felt like it was pretty close to a toss up and probably would have gone the other way if the prices were the other way around.
You will not believe this, but I live in Jenkintown, pa, right near you probably, and I actually have a 2wd minivan with a SNOW PLOW. Yes, I plow snow on a few driveways with a 2wd Dodge Grand Caravan which has a SnowBear plow.
I do not even use snow tires, just the all seasons. Now mind you, I can plow up to about 5 inches like that, plus the plowing area must be relatively level. But above that amount of snow fall, or an a hill, I have to install tire chains on the front.
So, here in Philadelphia, you will have absolutely no problem with a 2wd car. An AWD would seem to be an overindulgence.
Now why didn't I get an AWD Caravan, knowing I would use a plow on it? It was because the plow manufacturer does not offer an attachment for the AWD Caravan! Ha!
Thanks for a very useful response. Can I ask what price you got for the LE with package #3 at Price ? (They're definitely close enough to deal with.) How extensive was their selection?
i'm about to buy a 2005 used sienna xle limeted awd with nav, entertainment, back up cam, and all the extras for 27,900..is there a honda that compares to this?
".....but i heard awd is about 10 mpg less than the fwd.."
Uh, no.
Yes, there is a mileage penalty for awd. But it's more on the order of maybe 4-5 mpg on the highway and around 3-4 mpg penalty in town. (The fwd Limited is rated at 19/26 by the EPA; the AWD version is rated at 17/23).
Does anyone know if Sienna's AWD system a All-Time-drive system or just like the one on RAV4 ---- rear wheels kick in when the computer senses a front wheel slip? :confuse:
I'm wondering which one is more quite Ody or Sienna. I drove 92 ODY and was pretty noisy inside. I know it is re-designed and says it is quiter. Anyone have noticed if it is quiter than old ODY's and how does it compare with Sienna.
Caravan, I’m not sure if you're kidding around but I'll play along. You might rank today’s vans as quit, quiter, and quitest or in relative terms quite quieter as technology has progressed in the last 14 years since you drove the '92 Sienna, (aka Hi-Ace deluxe). Noticing your name you might drive a Caravan and they quit quite often. I find I want to quit to take a nap when driving the latest Sienna but it is somewhat quieter (yawn) than the new Odyssey, surely neither is a quitter. The new Sienna is certainly serene, the Odyssey is omnipotent, obviously the opposite of obtuse. You can look at noise statistics all day long until you want to quit, quite blue in the face. Quit querying the quintessential questions of quality and conquer your quest quietly. Take a test drive to tell today if the teetering Sienna or tremendous Odyssey tickles your tactile tastes. This definitely determines which one you do feel does defrag deafening or what might be called in poetic terms, "quite quieterer". This messed up language of ours is so much fun, don't you think?
On it's maidden voyage down to San Diego, the Silver Ship Odyssey was quite quiet. I think even Motor Trend noted that the Honda seemed to have less road noise.
Thanks for the poetic response, I really enjoyed it. I'm not joking. I do drive Caravan. This is much quiter than the old ODYs. And I have driven it 180K+ miles and have not quit on me yet. Maybe, it got lucky.
I'm thinking of buying ODY or Sienna. Both are great quality vans. I just want to get feedback about the quitness about both. Test driving for 10 minutes does not do justice to either one of those. I did rent Sienna for a week and was great. I could not find Ody to rent. I do like Ody better then Sienna because of features, packages and handling. And then I rent quit often Caravans as they're readily available at all the rental companies and guess what... they ride quite nicely:)
I just want to get feedback about the quitness about both. Test driving for 10 minutes does not do justice to either one of those.
I'd recommend test driving any car for much more than ten minutes when contemplating purchase. If anything, drive two different models of the same vehicle to make sure one vehicle isn't an anomoly, if possible.
Go spend an hour or two with each van, that'll help you decide, and give you time to drive your regular routes and see which is quieter.
Both are fine vehicles and you can't go wrong with either. Pick the one that offers the total package that you'll enjoy most rather than focusing on one feature like lower noise. They are both so close that noise isn't a good tiebreaker. I can tell you from my keep both overnight experiences and reading many reviews by consumers and pros that the Sienna has a more plush compliant ride that by itself might create the illusion of being quieter even if the Ody lets in a scosh less road noise. Our Touring Ody does fine but had a bit louder road noise than an XLE Sienna, probably because the Ody has Michelin PAX tires, only the XLE Limited has runflats (Dunlop ones Toyota uses are terrible). The Odyssey handles much more like a sedan and is the more unvanlike van of the two, in fact it's probably the most sedan like minivan ever! In this world of varied opinions I think the majority of folks who drive both for ten minutes, an hour, or for years appreciate the minor differences and probably concur with this plush Sienna vs. sportier Ody assessment. It all comes down to what suits your tastes. I look forward to reading about your decision and how you enjoy your new van, whatever it may be.. other than another Caravan.
No need to rent - if you're serious the dealer should let you drive either as long as you need to properly evaluate it.
Another thing - be sure to take them over various types of pavement (i.e., concrete and asphalt) as there can be a MAJOR difference in the interior noise level.
It was a difficult decision, but we went with the Sienna LE over the Odyssey EX because of price. Ody was very nice, but had some features we felt we didn't need and didn't want to pay for. Toyota was about $2000-2500 cheaper (not as many bells & whistles, but Honda doesn't let you pick and choose).
i would have to disagree on this one. i've test drive at a couple of dealership locally and most will ask you to turn back after abount 2,3 miles. I guess they're afraid that i would , in 1,2 hours put 100 mniles on the vehicle and come back the next day to buy it as used
Comments
This was one of the deciding factors (safety) for us when we picked the Odyssey over the Sienna..
http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/v2/_a/top-10-safest-cars/2006060912210999000- 1
Thank you for a VERY informative "posting". Last night, I stopped at the local Hyundai dealer and looked at their new Hyundai van. If it didn't say "Hyundai" on the vehicle, I would have thought it was a Toyota. It seems that there are a lot of Toyota components on the interior of this vehicle. What stops me from considering this vehicle is as follows:
1.) This is the first year for this Hyundai.
2.) While I believe that Hyundai does produce a "quality" vehicle, the resale value of the Hyundai van over the Toyota or Honda will be very different. If the person purchasing the vehicle wants to drive the van for a long time, then "resale" is not an issue. I do not own a vehicle after the extended warranty expires, which translates into 100,000 to 120,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer. (Honda = 120,000 miles and Toyota = 100,000 miles).
Thank you for the information. ---- Best regards. ---- Dwayne
Give these guys a few more reliable years and they could be a real contender...
Thank you for the reply. It seems that two "great minds" think alike! ---- Have a "GREAT" day. ---Dwayne
I have an Odyssey 06 EX-L and found the seats to be very comfortable on a recent road trip (not too long, but spent about 6 hours in the drivers seat one-way).
That said, I am just under 6' tall and weigh about 185lbs and do not have any back problems. My wife also finds the Odyssey to be much more comfortable than our previous sedan.
As for switching from a large SUV, I would expect the seat comfort to be very similar in the Odyssey, it will be much easier to get in and out of, easier to put groceries in and out of, easier to herd the kids, in many cases will be safer, and will definitely save you some $$ at the gas pump.
Odyssey - First non-big 3 family vehicle. During test drive, initial impression was that seats were firm and supportive. However, after our first drive over an hour or so, both my wife and I were uncomfortable. My wife was actually in pain and going numb on her right side. Our complaint was that the seats had too much lumbar support. Even at the minimum on the driver's seat, I still felt like there was a tennis ball in the small of my back. My wife also had issue with the larger side bolsters. It was so bad that we ended up trading it in at 6 weeks.
Sienna - Wife is much happier, and has no issues. I still think there is too much lumbar support. Instead of a tennis ball, I feel like there is a bar across my lower back. I'm starting to get used to it, but I still occasionally use a small cushion on the upper seat back to sort of flatten out the lumbar. Additionally, the seat cushion is too short for my liking.
I know we're in the minority here, but if you search these threads, you will find others who have had issues with the seats in both vans. Make sure you take a long enough test drive of both.
I never thought I would miss our Suburban - the seats had a much wider range of adjustment. These are the first vehicles that I (we) have ever had issues with the seats, but it seems to be the trend (at least in minivans, I guess).
Mark
This is exactly how I feel about the seats in my Honda Accord. My back kills me after a couple of hours behind the wheel. In order to be comfortable I have to sit on a pillow. This is one of the main reasons why I am looking at other vans, and other four door cars. I like the Honda products, but the seats are TOO HARD! Yesterday, I looked at a Ford 500. While the seats were softer than the Accord, they were not all that great! It seems that every vehicle manufacturer seems to think that the buying public wants hard seats and road feel. Personally, I would like a soft ride. ---------- Best regards. ----Dwayne
My other vehicle of choice is the Honda EX-L. I'm dealing w/ the internet guy and will discuss $$ Monday morning. I'm pretty sure that the difference in price between the two will even out by the discounted the interst rate.
The big difference between the two vans are the sunroof on the Honda and the power lift gate of the Toyota. {also, power passenger seat, digital A/C controls in the rear and coin holder for the Sienna. I'd be pleased to call either my new vehicle. Am I missing anything that could further affect my purchase? I'm the sole wage earner of a family of 5, so saving $ is important to me.
Any thoughts?
Thanks. Dawn
EXL - $27,500
EXL/RES - $29,200
The Sienna is usually $1-2k more than an equally equipped Odyssey.
Test drive both...they drive & handle very differently.
This is apparently very location-dependent.
In your shopping around, did you learn anything about Harrisburg Toyota? I wouldn't mind getting two dealers in that area to compete with each other.
Dawn, mom to 20 month twins and a new brother due in 5 weeks!
Overland Park, Kansas
http://www.arifleet.com/pnews/2006/pn608.pdf
Trying to decide between Odyssey and Sienna. One difference (I think) - only Sienna has AWD option. Question is - living in suburban Philadelphia, with maybe 2-3 heavy snowfalls, and rare ice - is this something to worry about, or is weight/FWD enough to cover me?
Second question - anyone willing to give ballpark 'fair price' that dealer would ask for a used 2006 Sienna XLE or Odyssey LX with 15-20K miles?
Thanks, hope questions are not out of line.
ElainePA
I run snows in SD and it does amazingly well.
We were in the same place about a week ago. I was looking for a used EX or EXL 2006 w/ 10-15K miles. In Chicago we found that it wasn't much of a differnce in price from a new Odyssey to a used one. I was surprised! Not to mention that they are hard to come by. Also w/ a new Odyssey we got a better price because they are trying to get ready for the 2007's. Good Luck in your search.
Meg
I agree with Meg - the prices on new Odysseys (I can't speak about Toyotas) are so attractive right now that it makes little sense to buy a used '06.
Snow tires are fine if you live on a hill that doesn't get plowed quickly or have a steep, icy driveway or something. Otherwise, a good set of all seasons tires will be fine in most urban areas. In the future, I'll probably opt to save the money upfront and in fuel costs and go with the FWD. Granted, with the Subaru there wasn't a choice...
cosco / sam's club
www.edmunds.com
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/ViewTypeCenter/category=type/attrib- ute=minivanvan
also Incentives + Rebates (Cash or APR) and Advice and Tips
www.carsdirect.com
www.consumerreports.com
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/newaps/aps_home.jsp?aps_type=new&bmUID=11528- 92956203
www.carbuyingtips.com
before you start asking for quotes online or not.
I think the Sienna LE w/Pkg#3 is probably about $1,000-$1,500 less than the Odyssey EX, for which I figured I got a van that was a little more reliable and cushy, but handles less well and doesn't have quite as many features (like the driver side power door, power seats, and automatic climate control). We went with the 8-passenger Sienna and felt like the middle seat was more usable than the Odyssey's. I felt like it was pretty close to a toss up and probably would have gone the other way if the prices were the other way around.
I do not even use snow tires, just the all seasons. Now mind you, I can plow up to about 5 inches like that, plus the plowing area must be relatively level. But above that amount of snow fall, or an a hill, I have to install tire chains on the front.
So, here in Philadelphia, you will have absolutely no problem with a 2wd car. An AWD would seem to be an overindulgence.
Now why didn't I get an AWD Caravan, knowing I would use a plow on it? It was because the plow manufacturer does not offer an attachment for the AWD Caravan! Ha!
BTW - depending on mileage and condition of course, 27,900 for a maxed out XLE Limited AWD sounds like a real good price.
Uh, no.
Yes, there is a mileage penalty for awd. But it's more on the order of maybe 4-5 mpg on the highway and around 3-4 mpg penalty in town. (The fwd Limited is rated at 19/26 by the EPA; the AWD version is rated at 17/23).
I'm wondering which one is more quite Ody or Sienna. I drove 92 ODY and was pretty noisy inside. I know it is re-designed and says it is quiter. Anyone have noticed if it is quiter than old ODY's and how does it compare with Sienna.
Thanks,
Thanks for the poetic response, I really enjoyed it. I'm not joking. I do drive Caravan. This is much quiter than the old ODYs. And I have driven it 180K+ miles and have not quit on me yet. Maybe, it got lucky.
I'm thinking of buying ODY or Sienna. Both are great quality vans. I just want to get feedback about the quitness about both. Test driving for 10 minutes does not do justice to either one of those. I did rent Sienna for a week and was great. I could not find Ody to rent. I do like Ody better then Sienna because of features, packages and handling. And then I rent quit often Caravans as they're readily available at all the rental companies and guess what... they ride quite nicely:)
Thanka,
I'd recommend test driving any car for much more than ten minutes when contemplating purchase. If anything, drive two different models of the same vehicle to make sure one vehicle isn't an anomoly, if possible.
Go spend an hour or two with each van, that'll help you decide, and give you time to drive your regular routes and see which is quieter.
Thanks... that makes sense....But...
would the dealer allow to take the vehicle for that long? That's why I was hoping to rent one.
Both are fine vehicles and you can't go wrong with either. Pick the one that offers the total package that you'll enjoy most rather than focusing on one feature like lower noise. They are both so close that noise isn't a good tiebreaker. I can tell you from my keep both overnight experiences and reading many reviews by consumers and pros that the Sienna has a more plush compliant ride that by itself might create the illusion of being quieter even if the Ody lets in a scosh less road noise. Our Touring Ody does fine but had a bit louder road noise than an XLE Sienna, probably because the Ody has Michelin PAX tires, only the XLE Limited has runflats (Dunlop ones Toyota uses are terrible). The Odyssey handles much more like a sedan and is the more unvanlike van of the two, in fact it's probably the most sedan like minivan ever! In this world of varied opinions I think the majority of folks who drive both for ten minutes, an hour, or for years appreciate the minor differences and probably concur with this plush Sienna vs. sportier Ody assessment. It all comes down to what suits your tastes. I look forward to reading about your decision and how you enjoy your new van, whatever it may be.. other than another Caravan.
Another thing - be sure to take them over various types of pavement (i.e., concrete and asphalt) as there can be a MAJOR difference in the interior noise level.