When we were test driving both the Oddysey and Sienna we took a close look at seats. We through the back row fold down was superior on the Honda as you pull one latch when folding down and one strap to pull when putting back up. The Toyota was more confusing with 3 separate straps pull straps.
What's really funny is the second row seats. The salesman at the Honda store showed us how to take them in and out and it seemed pretty straightforward. When we got to the Toyota dealer we asked the salesman to do the same thing which he did; but then he couldn't figure out how to put them back in. He was a young guy and I'm fairly handy, so I gave it a shot and couldn't make it work either. We took it for a drive with the seat just laying there, came back and he aplolized and said he get another salesman who would know how to do it. Well that guy couldn't figure it out either!
Okay I'm sure when you get used to it, it's a snap, but when two guys who work there can't figure it out and I have trouble, it looks like it could be made more user friendly!
That wasn't the only reason I went for the Honda, but it was one of them.
We ended up buying a 2007 Honda EX. No droning and it seems really tight yet. We really like it.... :shades:
One thing I like about our new 06 Sienna LE compared to the 00 Oddy we replaced is the ability to fold the middle row forward... and potentially avoid having to take the seats out altogether when extra cargo room is required. I realize they are heavier, but the occasions we've had to take them out (with the Oddy) have been relatively rare. We will have even fewer reasons to take the middle seats out since the back seats are 60/40 split.
We have 3 kids. In the old van, there was no way we could put away the entire back row when everyone was travelling (which is to say, for all our long trips), so we had to remove one or two middle seats for extra occasionally required cargo room -- for coolers, sleeping bags, etc. This is not an issue with the newer Oddy's either, of course.
Another nice thing about the Sienna vs. the Oddy is the number of "tray" surfaces provided when seats are folded down. You do lose some seat back pockets (used by my kids for milk bottles, gum, leaky juice packs, french fries... you get the idea), but I'm not sure this is a bad thing.
i guess it depends on what one considers "major". :shades:
and then what, you pull a bank job to pay for timing chain and water pump, disks all around, pads all around, replacement of brake fluid, flush and fill of engine coolant, etc etc etc all at or near 100K?
come on, you've got to be doing some "regular" maintenance between 0-100K. so what's the manual say on that?
and if you're doing "regular" maintenance, what is prescribed at 100K?
i mean, that is some marketing spin, regardless of what the dealerships say and do. :shades:
I just bought Sienna Limited with package #3, means every feature that is available. After driving it for few days( As matter of fact, I realized that when I was bringing the vechicle from dealer to home), I felt the seats are not deep enough and made me feel like I am sitting on stool. Also, I put the child seat on 2nd row seat and whenever there is a big turn the car seat is leaning to a side. On the other hand, I own a BMW 525xi and thorught comparing to BMW, any VAN driving looks inferior. Then I remembered couple of instances I drove other mini Vans. couple of months ago, I rented Chrisler Town and Country and drove to pittsburgh and came back on same day and I din't feel tired a bit. Long time ago, I drove 2000 Honda Odyssey LX without leather and felt more comfertable than 2006 Limited with leather. Any experiences to share in this regard?
certainly, your seats have some form of lumbar adjustment, seat tilt or incline, and possibly height adjustments. i know my '03 ODY has the first two. what does a LTD seat provide you in the way of adjustments.
some people complain about the honda seats where my wife and i find them most comfortable. it's possible depending on the vehicle you're comming from, you've got your seats adjusted quite differently and just need to tweak them and get use to some driving time in them.
Thank you for quick reply and that was very consoling. I was worried that I spent about $40,000 on that VAN and still no satisfaction. May be you are right, Once I get used to it, probably it feels better. Even when I bought my BMW 5 series, it took me a while to enjoy the drive and comfert. Hopefully it is one of those things.
I own an 06 Sienna Limited AWD and I love it..I have a 1 year old and a 6 year old. I don't have any problems with the child seat, maybe your seat needs to be tightened or maybe your taking your turns a little to fast. As for the seats, in comparison to the odyssey, the toyota seats may feel like your sitting up high and when I sat in the odyssey, i felt really sunken in. In the ody when I looked in behind me, the head rests where partially blocking my view. Let me say that it was a very tough decision to go with the Toyota..although the 0% financing really helped the decision.
I actually was so hooked on the Odyssey that my Mercury lease ended and I was so excited to get the Odyssey. I can't believe that I went with the Sienna instead. I kept getting the run around at various dealerships and outrageous quotes that it kind of turned me off to the Ody. Honda didn't have any good programs and they're financing was at about 4% at the time. Toyota offered 0% for 60 months. That was a great deal to pass up. I got the 06 Sienna limited with pkg #3..it has everything. Honda has the nices outside appearance down pat but inside, Toyota takes the cake. Even Honda's high end model doesn't have wood-grain. Mine has it all, voice activated Navi,DVD, plug outlets, XM, bluetooth hookup, woodgrain,run-flats- it's a nice van. If lexus made a van, it would look like what I have. Honda has the run flats too but you have to go to a Michelin specialist and from what I heard there are not too many of them around. THe run-flats toyota uses can be taken to any dealer or any specialist. I admit, when I drive around in my van, I look at the Ody's there nice looking, but I have a lot more in my van than what Honda offers in theirs. Toyota's leather seats look a lot stronger than hondas. It's like the lower model lexus. Is there anyone out there with the same view points?
Even Honda's high end model doesn't have wood-grain.
In my opinion, thank God.
The aluminum-look trim is so much nicer than cheesy fake wood in my eyes(and let's face it, any so-called "wood" in these cars is highly polished plastic until you get into actual luxury cars). Honda has a sporty persona about it, especially the driving process, and the wood would take-away from that. My Accord has the same metal-look trim, and doesn't manage to look incredibly fake like the fake wood in my ex-gf's Toyota or even in the Accord's that do have wood trim.
Toyota's leather seats look a lot stronger than hondas.
Huh?
----
This isn't really related to your post, but the one above it, so I hope you don't mind me replying here for that one, too.
They wrote that the Odyssey sat a lot lower than the Sienna. This was done on purpose. Lower seating lends a more carlike feeling, something Honda was going for in the Odyssey. Some people need a van, but don't want to drive something that drives "like a van." The Odyssey is the closest thing to car-like handling you can get and still haul eight passengers. You sit lower, you have a lower center of gravity, and better handling as a result of the weight being lower in the car.
Where the Odyssey is the BMW out of minivans, the Sienna is the Cadillac.
Even Honda's high end model doesn't have wood-grain.
In my opinion, thank God.
This is my exact feeling. The "wood" trim is what turned me off most initially. The second time I saw it, I didn't mind it so much. I'm not sure if I was getting used to it or if was because we were in the taupe interior instead of the stone. Perhaps the color-combo was better? I would definately choose a package to not get wood trim if it were available. On my list of negatives for the Sienna, it's definately toward the top.
Thanks for your input, but I am still very confused. I really don't mind the feel of the Oddy because we also have a Mazda RX-7 so I'm used to sporty looks and feels. I do agree with what one person posted when they said that if Lexus made a minivan the Sienna Limited would be it, but I must say that I am bothered by the fact that the Sienna looks like a minivan. I like the fact that the Oddy sits lower and has a great outer look BUT no bluetooth and non-optional PAX on the Touring are huge strikes against Honda. Anyone have any more suggestions?? I did see a Sienna on the road a couple of days ago that had some really nice wheels/rims. Does anyone know if the 2007 Sienna's wheels are any different than the 2006? It did help the look of van.
In my opinion...all the honda ody's look alike, even they're high end..so you want to distinguish the high ends from the regular ones...a little wood-grain, not alot-adds a little luxury to the van. It's not gaudy looking..if you pay almost 40,000 for a high-end vehicle, I want the most out of it..I don't want it to look the 25,000 vehicle. I love the ody, I would of gotten it but the 0% financing toyota offered really sealed the deal. Ody does have the appeareance. My toyota has a smooth ride, handles like a car and also sit 8. You may feel like you are sitting lower in the ody, but it's still a taller van vs the sienna, it's how it's built. You put the ody and the sienna right next to eachother and you'll see how much taller the ody is because the windows are a lot higher on the ody so you'll feel like you're sitting lower, now you take the sienna and put it next to the accord and you're almost neck in neck. As far as a sienna is a cadillac, I think you've been inhaling to many caddy fumes..you really have to get into a sienna and see for yourself. And for the record..lexus beats out BMW's in luxury and ride by far!!! My question to you grad, why aren't you in the HOnda forum? Answer to another question regarding the 07's..the only change they made is the motor..everything else remains the same, the body and tires.
My toyota has a smooth ride, handles like a car and also sit 8. You may feel like you are sitting lower in the ody, but it's still a taller van vs the sienna, it's how it's built. You put the ody and the sienna right next to eachother and you'll see how much taller the ody is because the windows are a lot higher on the ody so you'll feel like you're sitting lower, now you take the sienna and put it next to the accord and you're almost neck in neck. As far as a sienna is a cadillac, I think you've been inhaling to many caddy fumes..you really have to get into a sienna and see for yourself. And for the record..lexus beats out BMW's in luxury and ride by far!!! My question to you grad, why aren't you in the HOnda forum?
In response to your last statement, I suggest checking your title on the forum. This IS a Honda & Toyota forum. I'll worry about me, you worry about you...
When I said Toyota rode like a Caddy, I was referring to the soft ride (which you definitely appreciate). Lexus obviously beats out the ride of BMW, but the BMW tears up the Lexus when it comes down to driving pleasure/fun/handling. I've been in a Sienna plenty of times, driven it once. It was soft, and didn't have nearly the handling of our 2000 Odyssey, much less my great-aunt's 2005 EX Odyssey, which drives similarly to my Accord.
Sienna = soft ride/squishy handling (Like a Caddy or Lincoln)
Odyssey = firm ride/better handling (Like a BMW)
And, for the record - Odyssey height = 68.8 inches, Sienna, 68.9 in
i think if you liked the handling of the ODY but wanted something with a different appearence than a VAN, specially a bigger VAN like the ODY or the Sienna, then you might want to consider the MPV or Mazda5. possibly even the CR-V.
bluetooth, MP3, sat radio? not critical to quality benchmarks for me.
the Mazda5 with a manual stick is the sort of vehicle I wish wish wish Honda would build. sort of like the original 1st gen ODY that was derived from the accord.
i liked the MPVs very much because of driving dynamics (having driven VWs, Mazdas and Hondas previously), and also liked the great view over the hood (at least in 2003. the MPV has gotten a bit bigger since then). good visability and good turning radius. nice fold-down seat like the ODY. nice simple interior.
what i didn't like about the MPV was the matching (or at the time what i considered mismatching) of the engine and transmission / gearing. i thought i'd have to wind the thing out to get power in certain circumstances. sounded like it was laboring.
i need to drive the Mazda5 sometime. i know i'd be giving up some space, but then for people that need something smaller than an SUV or big van, looks like an attractive possibility.
Your absolutely right, this is a ody/toyo forum..my bad. Not worried about you at all. What do you drive? Do you own an ody or a sienna? I mean, I don't think anyone really cares what your family or ex-girlfriend who's now your friend is driving? What are you driving?
Also, there is a difference in the height.. Odyssey height on an LX is 68.8 -exl and touring the height is 70.0..on an sienna your right its 68.9.. it's quite a difference.
Sienna = soft ride/squishy handling (Like a Caddy or Lincoln)
Odyssey = firm ride/better handling (Like a BMW)
I think it's funny, if you're an Oddy enthusiast, you compare it to a BMW and claim the Sienna is like a Buick or Caddy; if you're a Sienna enthusiast, you claim the Sienna is like a Lexis.
Fact is, Oddy handles more tightly, which also means it's more fun, but less comfortable. What do you want from your minivan? A comfortable ride or good handling? And it's harder than that b/c we're talking "degrees," not night and day differences - it's not that the Oddy is a sportscar and the Sienna is a boat; and it's not that the Oddy is a slab of concrete and the Sienna is a pillow.
Personally, I like the Oddy ride better b/c I enjoy driving that kind of vehicle more. My wife (and probably most passengers) prefers the Sienna, which is what we have. It's still amazing me how quickly tha large van can accellerate!!! :shades:
I have a 2006 Odyssey EX-L which is why I like to read these posts. I would like to comment on the 2006 Mazda 5 manual trans which I was interested in buying. These vehicles are quite small. There was definitely not enough leg room for me at 6'4" to be able to drive one. They come standard with 50 series 17" tires which are rough, noisy and very expensive and not appropriate for this type of vehicle. The engine is only 154 HP (i think) which would be strained with a full load. The rear seats are maybe OK for small children and none of the other seats are any good for larger that average adults. There is no left front passenger arm rest and neither of the two middle seats had arm rests on the doors. These are small things, but overall the vehicle just was not nice to be in. I have a 99 Intrepid ES that I was looking to replace with the Mazda 5. My Intrepid is better in every way than the Mazda 5 and even with the 3.2L 225 HP engine gets about the same gas mileage (22/28). If you go to compare my 2006 Odyssey EX-L to the Mazda 5 you waste your time. There is no comparison. Note that you can easily pay as much for a Mazda 5 as an Odyssey LX.
I think it's funny, if you're an Oddy enthusiast, you compare it to a BMW and claim the Sienna is like a Buick or Caddy; if you're a Sienna enthusiast, you claim the Sienna is like a Lexus.
Well, I couldn't think of another company that goes purely for comfort that was better than a Caddy or Lincoln. Cadillac wasn't meant as a put-down (I really like the latest things from that company, especially the 2008 CTS design).
mcjazzy wrote :Do you own an ody or a sienna? I mean, I don't think anyone really cares what your family or ex-girlfriend who's now your friend is driving? What are you driving?
To answer a previous question (not from you, taxesquire), I currently drive an Accord. What does it matter what car is "mine" if I know about the vehicle to which I'm referring, and have driven it? I logged thousands of miles in our 2000 Odyssey, and drove my aunt's 2005 Odyssey 2,000 miles to Orlando, FL and back when it was brand new.
The vehicle traded in on my Accord about a year ago was an Odyssey which we kept for five years, and which I logged probably 20,000 miles on, as well as learned to drive in it for a large part (it was my mother's vehicle, and she is who spent time with me when I got my permit - my dad is too impatient).
So, I don't currently drive an Odyssey, but that certainly doesn't disqualify me from knowing a thing or two about them, and doesn't disqualify me from posting here, last I checked.
Exactly...if lexus were to make a minivan, it would look like the sienna...I don't understand the comparison w/ the sienna and the caddy..caddy is a boat and rugged..it's a truck. It's like comparing apples and a watermelon. I like the ody and I always will, I'll probably switch when they redesign, but I really do like my sienna...like I said before, it was hard to pass up the 0% toyota was offering, honda wouldn't budge.
I don't think anyone's doubting your decision on the Sienna - 0% is too good to pass up when Honda dealers in your area won't deal with you properly. I would probably have done the same thing in your shoes. I don't understand the comparison w/ the sienna and the caddy..caddy is a boat and rugged..it's a truck
Sorry, in my head a Cadillac will always be typecast as a DeVille (now DTS) sedan, which is the idea I was putting forth. Not a rugged Escalade of a thing. I was only referring to the ride quality and handling capability, not the entire vehicle. Same goes for my Odyssey comments referring to BMW. BMW is known for being sporty, and the Ody is the most sporty "large" minivan. The Caddy is known for being softer, and the Sienna has the best ride of any "large" minivan I've ridden in.
Sienna has THE most cargo space behind 3rd row seats and the rear air intake for rear heater/AC is placed high so more of the cargo space can be used without blocking the air intake. Although the driver's seat of each is very comfortable, the other Ody seats are more comfortable than the Sienna. The Ody EX (cloth) costs about $ 1,500 more than the Sienna LE but has cast wheels, 2 power sliding doors and separately controlled temperature for driver and front passenger while the Sienna has only a right side power sliding door but also has complete overhead console with compass/outside temperature and trip computer. The Sienna has a mast antenna which gets better radio reception than the built in right rear window directional antenna of the Odyssey. We considered each and got the Sienna LE because it was available in the color with options we wanted. The Honda dealers demanded a $ 500 NON-refundable deposit just to have our name placed on a waiting list and would not commit to a purchase price at that time. Had the Ody EX been available instead of the Sienna LE, we would now be driving a 2006 Ocean Mist Metallic Ody EX. :shades:
Just wanted to thank you all for helping me make my decision. I went and looked at the new 2007 Sienna today and was very impressed. These postings and test driving it AGAIN helped me choose the Sienna. Now the only problem is trying to get a deal when they just came on the dealer lots a couple of weeks ago I'll be sure to post my deal on the Sienna forum after we purchase. Thanks again all!
i think the equation is not that equal. 4wheel disk, immobilizer, VSC, double-power sliders,... there must have been something else, oh yeah, floor mats. standard on the ODY EX, let's see, options on the Sienna LE, aren't they?
you sure you are pricing comparable vehicles? what option packages came on your LE, or rather come on an LE that make it comparable price/value to the ODY EX?
i could be wrong but i think the ODY EX has alloys, only the LX has non-alloys. at least that was true in 2003.
Hmm, I'm curious as to where in the Bay Area and which model of Sienna you were looking at? The quote I got earlier this week was for $1100 over. I did see numbers at a dealer to indicate that the model we are interested in (XLE with package #4) represents only 3% of the Siennas that were ordered. Add my color preferences onto that, and I suppose they have the upper hand in bargaining with those stats.
I compared the Oddy EX to a Sienna LE with Package #3, this is what I figured the Sienna's main feature advantages/disadvantages were:
+ fold-down/forward seats w/ tray surfaces on Toyota... + daytime running lights + +1 MPG, posh ride + roof rack cross bars - +30HP; sportier ride on Honda... - dual-zone auto climate control w/ air filtration - driver-side power door - sunshades
Pretty close to a wash for me... nothing I would particularly miss not having on the Sienna. On the old '00 Oddy, for instance, we could never seem to leave the climate control alone anyway. Dual power doors were nice though - but they were also a source of headaches.
Nice thing about the Sienna is that with package #6, you can get - in addition to LE+pkg #3 - upgraded audio, DVD, and AC outlets, which you can't get on an Oddy EX (IIRC), while still paying about $800 less than on an EX (assuming similar discounts vs. TMV - although you will typically do better with Toyota these days, esp with 0% financing). This is what swung the deal for me.
Thank you for posting your experiences with your new Sienna! I'm about to make a minivan purchase myself. I've had an 03 Honda Ody for about 4.5 years (EX-L Res) and loved it. Even traded my Turbo 01 Volvo wagon to get it.
Now that I have a chance to get a new minivan, I'm heavily considering the Sienna Limited Pkg#3 in Arctic Frost Pearl. I must say that my dream car is the Lexus LX with Pearlized white paint and that is not going to happen in this lifetime! I have 3 children (8,4,2yrs) and was thinking the Sienna could give me that Luxury feeling that I'm ready for. I will drive the 07 ODY again before final decision b/c I know it rates the Highest overall (and have been completely satiesfied with my 03), but I think I'm willing to give up a few of the Ody's extra's for the Lexus like comforts (cushiness)of the Sienna.
And it may be silly, but I get tired of going to the Grocery parking lot trying to figure out witch Silver Ody is mine (there are usually 4 duplicates any given day)!
Are there any amenities that are missing from the Sienna that you hate to live w/o?
Any more of your thoughts on your new purchase will be greatly appreciated!
the ODY EX MSRP is 28.7K. the Sienna LE MSRP is 25.7K. 3K apart - but what is the pkg 3 cost?
FWIW, in my zip code, i just went on www.carsdirect.com and presumably i could obtain a ODY EX with destination for 25.4K. A Sienna LE (A5) (SET) [what's that mean?] for 22.3K.
There's Edmund's pricing and there's Consumer Reports pricing... I presume if people do some research - seemingly they can save some $$$ here.
is there a place you can go and get package pricing for all the trim levels of the sienna so you know up front what the total should be trim + package? that would be a great help for shoppers. it's probably on the toyota site somewhere but i can't seem to find it this morning, or yesterday, or the day before. :shades:
ok, so you're adding pkg 3 and now the vehicles are a bit more comparable re: 4wh disk, dual sliders, trac and vsc, but no immobilizer right? how about those floor mats?
just kidding. i say this because once a dealer tried to bump me $150 for mats in an ODY, and I know they are quite standard.
pkg 6 doesn't exist for the sienna LE (unless i'm mistaken) so you are talking about hopping up to the XLE trim for pkg6 availability. that bumps you MSRP by 4.5K going from the LE and XLE, and that's before the pkg pricing.
ok, is pkg pricing based on availability and popularity?
i'd go mad shopping for a sienna and then comparing to the ODY. however by breaking it down, by getting the electonic brochures and printing them out, by looking for the the features which are important or must haves or truly valuable to me, then doing some pricing research, then by driving the vehicles a few times, i'd be better prepared to have some fun, know when i found a fair deal, and purchase with confidence.
No, I'm not saying that, you know a thing or two..and it is a free country you can post where ever you'd like, but people who usually post usually have the vehicles to which they are referring or even shopping for them. It just seems odd to me, that's all.
My 06 Sienna LE with Option Pkg 6 (BX), Accessory package Z1 (floor mats, cargo net, etc.), and an auto-dimming mirror ($189 invoice) came up to aprox. $27.8K TMV. An 07 Oddy EX was $28.6K TMV. My actual price on the Sienna was $26,999.
I just looked this up... the equivalent 07 would be $32.2K, with no 0% financing! I just saved more than $8K - yes, with the smaller engine and no rear sonar.
That's a good deal and I think the 06 Toyota's are as good a buy as anything right now as they try to clean up inventory. Let's face it, you're not going to notice that much difference in power and economy between the 3.3 and 3.5 engine. You are buying a year old vehicle, but who cares if you're going to drive it a long time?
I get a chuckle out of some of the posters who seem to want to demonize the other vehicle if it wasn't the one they purchased. I bought a 2007 Honda EX because I just liked it better, but a similarly equipped Toyota would have been fine too. They're both excellent vehicles.
That would be the least of our problems with all the other stuff going on right now would it? we have much bigger threats than that..I don't agree w/playing movies on the Navi, I would never do it..as for my husband, well, that is his decision..I dont' agree with it.
I can't think of a much bigger threat to my children (who drive small economical cars) than someone like your husband (who drives a big SUV) watching a movie instead of the road.
Let's just hope that if he kills someone it will only be himself (which would be only just since he seems only concerned about himself).
Not that it's any of your business, but it was installed when we went on long rides, for the passenger, not for the driver...and I would always be doing the driving because I get car sick most of the time and I do watch the roads. I'm sure you are one of many many people who talk on cell phones while driving which is also a big threat..(you probably smoke too, another threat to people 2nd hand smoke) and another threat from indecent people like you that hope that other people who have such technologies in they're vehicles get killed. Don't judge other people because you do not know them..So, please get off your high horse because you're acting like a complete [non-permissible content removed].
Are the Sienna owners happy with their DVD system?
Do you have to load it from the middle seats??
My current honda has the loader on the lower dash which makes it really easy for Mom (me) to load the movies for the kids. And I can press FWD, RWD, Play etc from the front dash. I'm really going to miss that feature in choosing the Sienna.
Name call all you want - it only demonstrates your maturity and judgment to the world.
For the record, my sister is without a husband and her son without a father as a result of a driver who did not properly consider his reponsibilities to others.
Wow, name-calling. NOW we're headed in the right direction...
I couldn't agree with cccompson more. Someone changing a radio station is one thing. Someone following a storyline to a movie - well, that's just not a wise thing to do (and I certainly wouldn't want to be the vehicle in front of the movie watcher/driver. I don't think cccompson was wishing death on your husband (you sure reacted like they did), only that, if someone is silly enough to cause a wreck because they were watching a movie, I'd hope if anyone had to be hurt, it would only be the ones that caused it.
Trust me, there is a reason vehicle don't allow the screen up front to watch movies without them being in park (in stock form, anyway). There are way too many UNDISTRACTED people on the road that aren't capable drivers. What we DON'T need is to distract them, or have them compensate for the distracted drivers that would normally be safe ones.
Let's see, I think I'll make pancakes while driving on my way to church tonight... or maybe do my taxes... :sick:
I'm truly sorry for your sister and your nephew's loss..but you are taking it out on others because of it..yes, you are probably still angry and upset it's a horrible situation, but you're passing judgment on people you don't know because of your experiences. You don't know me, I also have 2 little boys, I understand and I am always careful.
I don't think anyone would get in they're car and say to themselves, hey, I think I'll cause a crash today!!!..I do agree, there are way too many distractions and I don't agree w/the movie thing on the nav screen. I have nav in my car and I would never get that installed. My husband is into all his little toys "electronics and such"..he's not gonna go around and watch movies while driving..that's not why he got that..people are gonna get what they want no matter what..manufacturers are still building cars that can go up to 200 miles/per hour..people are gonna buy them, some drive them that fast.
Comments
What's really funny is the second row seats. The salesman at the Honda store showed us how to take them in and out and it seemed pretty straightforward. When we got to the Toyota dealer we asked the salesman to do the same thing which he did; but then he couldn't figure out how to put them back in. He was a young guy and I'm fairly handy, so I gave it a shot and couldn't make it work either. We took it for a drive with the seat just laying there, came back and he aplolized and said he get another salesman who would know how to do it. Well that guy couldn't figure it out either!
Okay I'm sure when you get used to it, it's a snap, but when two guys who work there can't figure it out and I have trouble, it looks like it could be made more user friendly!
That wasn't the only reason I went for the Honda, but it was one of them.
We ended up buying a 2007 Honda EX. No droning and it seems really tight yet. We really like it.... :shades:
A Toyota Sienna manual is a more reliable source of information than a Honda Odyssey salesman. :shades:
We have 3 kids. In the old van, there was no way we could put away the entire back row when everyone was travelling (which is to say, for all our long trips), so we had to remove one or two middle seats for extra occasionally required cargo room -- for coolers, sleeping bags, etc. This is not an issue with the newer Oddy's either, of course.
Another nice thing about the Sienna vs. the Oddy is the number of "tray" surfaces provided when seats are folded down. You do lose some seat back pockets (used by my kids for milk bottles, gum, leaky juice packs, french fries... you get the idea), but I'm not sure this is a bad thing.
and then what, you pull a bank job to pay for timing chain and water pump, disks all around, pads all around, replacement of brake fluid, flush and fill of engine coolant, etc etc etc all at or near 100K?
come on, you've got to be doing some "regular" maintenance between 0-100K. so what's the manual say on that?
and if you're doing "regular" maintenance, what is prescribed at 100K?
i mean, that is some marketing spin, regardless of what the dealerships say and do. :shades:
certainly, your seats have some form of lumbar adjustment, seat tilt or incline, and possibly height adjustments. i know my '03 ODY has the first two. what does a LTD seat provide you in the way of adjustments.
some people complain about the honda seats where my wife and i find them most comfortable. it's possible depending on the vehicle you're comming from, you've got your seats adjusted quite differently and just need to tweak them and get use to some driving time in them.
Thank you for quick reply and that was very consoling. I was worried that I spent about $40,000 on that VAN and still no satisfaction. May be you are right, Once I get used to it, probably it feels better. Even when I bought my BMW 5 series, it took me a while to enjoy the drive and comfert. Hopefully it is one of those things.
It's all good.
In my opinion, thank God.
The aluminum-look trim is so much nicer than cheesy fake wood in my eyes(and let's face it, any so-called "wood" in these cars is highly polished plastic until you get into actual luxury cars). Honda has a sporty persona about it, especially the driving process, and the wood would take-away from that. My Accord has the same metal-look trim, and doesn't manage to look incredibly fake like the fake wood in my ex-gf's Toyota or even in the Accord's that do have wood trim.
Toyota's leather seats look a lot stronger than hondas.
Huh?
----
This isn't really related to your post, but the one above it, so I hope you don't mind me replying here for that one, too.
They wrote that the Odyssey sat a lot lower than the Sienna. This was done on purpose. Lower seating lends a more carlike feeling, something Honda was going for in the Odyssey. Some people need a van, but don't want to drive something that drives "like a van." The Odyssey is the closest thing to car-like handling you can get and still haul eight passengers. You sit lower, you have a lower center of gravity, and better handling as a result of the weight being lower in the car.
Where the Odyssey is the BMW out of minivans, the Sienna is the Cadillac.
In my opinion, thank God.
This is my exact feeling. The "wood" trim is what turned me off most initially. The second time I saw it, I didn't mind it so much. I'm not sure if I was getting used to it or if was because we were in the taupe interior instead of the stone. Perhaps the color-combo was better? I would definately choose a package to not get wood trim if it were available. On my list of negatives for the Sienna, it's definately toward the top.
I really don't mind the feel of the Oddy because we also have a Mazda RX-7 so I'm used to sporty looks and feels. I do agree with what one person posted when they said that if Lexus made a minivan the Sienna Limited would be it, but I must say that I am bothered by the fact that the Sienna looks like a minivan. I like the fact that the Oddy sits lower and has a great outer look BUT no bluetooth and non-optional PAX on the Touring are huge strikes against Honda.
Anyone have any more suggestions??
I did see a Sienna on the road a couple of days ago that had some really nice wheels/rims. Does anyone know if the 2007 Sienna's wheels are any different than the 2006? It did help the look of van.
In response to your last statement, I suggest checking your title on the forum. This IS a Honda & Toyota forum. I'll worry about me, you worry about you...
When I said Toyota rode like a Caddy, I was referring to the soft ride (which you definitely appreciate). Lexus obviously beats out the ride of BMW, but the BMW tears up the Lexus when it comes down to driving pleasure/fun/handling. I've been in a Sienna plenty of times, driven it once. It was soft, and didn't have nearly the handling of our 2000 Odyssey, much less my great-aunt's 2005 EX Odyssey, which drives similarly to my Accord.
Sienna = soft ride/squishy handling (Like a Caddy or Lincoln)
Odyssey = firm ride/better handling (Like a BMW)
And, for the record - Odyssey height = 68.8 inches, Sienna, 68.9 in
No real difference.
bluetooth, MP3, sat radio? not critical to quality benchmarks for me.
the Mazda5 with a manual stick is the sort of vehicle I wish wish wish Honda would build. sort of like the original 1st gen ODY that was derived from the accord.
i liked the MPVs very much because of driving dynamics (having driven VWs, Mazdas and Hondas previously), and also liked the great view over the hood (at least in 2003. the MPV has gotten a bit bigger since then). good visability and good turning radius. nice fold-down seat like the ODY. nice simple interior.
what i didn't like about the MPV was the matching (or at the time what i considered mismatching) of the engine and transmission / gearing. i thought i'd have to wind the thing out to get power in certain circumstances. sounded like it was laboring.
i need to drive the Mazda5 sometime. i know i'd be giving up some space, but then for people that need something smaller than an SUV or big van, looks like an attractive possibility.
Also, there is a difference in the height..
Odyssey height on an LX is 68.8 -exl and touring the height is 70.0..on an sienna your right its 68.9.. it's quite a difference.
Odyssey = firm ride/better handling (Like a BMW)
I think it's funny, if you're an Oddy enthusiast, you compare it to a BMW and claim the Sienna is like a Buick or Caddy; if you're a Sienna enthusiast, you claim the Sienna is like a Lexis.
Fact is, Oddy handles more tightly, which also means it's more fun, but less comfortable. What do you want from your minivan? A comfortable ride or good handling? And it's harder than that b/c we're talking "degrees," not night and day differences - it's not that the Oddy is a sportscar and the Sienna is a boat; and it's not that the Oddy is a slab of concrete and the Sienna is a pillow.
Personally, I like the Oddy ride better b/c I enjoy driving that kind of vehicle more. My wife (and probably most passengers) prefers the Sienna, which is what we have. It's still amazing me how quickly tha large van can accellerate!!! :shades:
Well, I couldn't think of another company that goes purely for comfort that was better than a Caddy or Lincoln. Cadillac wasn't meant as a put-down (I really like the latest things from that company, especially the 2008 CTS design).
mcjazzy wrote :Do you own an ody or a sienna? I mean, I don't think anyone really cares what your family or ex-girlfriend who's now your friend is driving? What are you driving?
To answer a previous question (not from you, taxesquire), I currently drive an Accord. What does it matter what car is "mine" if I know about the vehicle to which I'm referring, and have driven it? I logged thousands of miles in our 2000 Odyssey, and drove my aunt's 2005 Odyssey 2,000 miles to Orlando, FL and back when it was brand new.
The vehicle traded in on my Accord about a year ago was an Odyssey which we kept for five years, and which I logged probably 20,000 miles on, as well as learned to drive in it for a large part (it was my mother's vehicle, and she is who spent time with me when I got my permit - my dad is too impatient).
So, I don't currently drive an Odyssey, but that certainly doesn't disqualify me from knowing a thing or two about them, and doesn't disqualify me from posting here, last I checked.
I don't understand the comparison w/ the sienna and the caddy..caddy is a boat and rugged..it's a truck
Sorry, in my head a Cadillac will always be typecast as a DeVille (now DTS) sedan, which is the idea I was putting forth. Not a rugged Escalade of a thing. I was only referring to the ride quality and handling capability, not the entire vehicle. Same goes for my Odyssey comments referring to BMW. BMW is known for being sporty, and the Ody is the most sporty "large" minivan. The Caddy is known for being softer, and the Sienna has the best ride of any "large" minivan I've ridden in.
Although the driver's seat of each is very comfortable, the other Ody seats are more comfortable than the Sienna.
The Ody EX (cloth) costs about $ 1,500 more than the Sienna LE but has cast wheels, 2 power sliding doors and separately controlled temperature for driver and front passenger while the Sienna has only a right side power sliding door but also has complete overhead console with compass/outside temperature and trip computer.
The Sienna has a mast antenna which gets better radio reception than the built in right rear window directional antenna of the Odyssey.
We considered each and got the Sienna LE because it was available in the color with options we wanted. The Honda dealers demanded a $ 500 NON-refundable deposit just to have our name placed on a waiting list and would not commit to a purchase price at that time.
Had the Ody EX been available instead of the Sienna LE, we would now be driving a 2006 Ocean Mist Metallic Ody EX. :shades:
I'll be sure to post my deal on the Sienna forum after we purchase.
Thanks again all!
you sure you are pricing comparable vehicles? what option packages came on your LE, or rather come on an LE that make it comparable price/value to the ODY EX?
i could be wrong but i think the ODY EX has alloys, only the LX has non-alloys. at least that was true in 2003.
+ fold-down/forward seats w/ tray surfaces on Toyota...
+ daytime running lights
+ +1 MPG, posh ride
+ roof rack cross bars
- +30HP; sportier ride on Honda...
- dual-zone auto climate control w/ air filtration
- driver-side power door
- sunshades
Pretty close to a wash for me... nothing I would particularly miss not having on the Sienna. On the old '00 Oddy, for instance, we could never seem to leave the climate control alone anyway. Dual power doors were nice though - but they were also a source of headaches.
Nice thing about the Sienna is that with package #6, you can get - in addition to LE+pkg #3 - upgraded audio, DVD, and AC outlets, which you can't get on an Oddy EX (IIRC), while still paying about $800 less than on an EX (assuming similar discounts vs. TMV - although you will typically do better with Toyota these days, esp with 0% financing). This is what swung the deal for me.
Now that I have a chance to get a new minivan, I'm heavily considering the Sienna Limited Pkg#3 in Arctic Frost Pearl. I must say that my dream car is the Lexus LX with Pearlized white paint and that is not going to happen in this lifetime! I have 3 children (8,4,2yrs) and was thinking the Sienna could give me that Luxury feeling that I'm ready for. I will drive the 07 ODY again before final decision b/c I know it rates the Highest overall (and have been completely satiesfied with my 03), but I think I'm willing to give up a few of the Ody's extra's for the Lexus like comforts (cushiness)of the Sienna.
And it may be silly, but I get tired of going to the Grocery parking lot trying to figure out witch Silver Ody is mine (there are usually 4 duplicates any given day)!
Are there any amenities that are missing from the Sienna that you hate to live w/o?
Any more of your thoughts on your new purchase will be greatly appreciated!
the ODY EX MSRP is 28.7K. the Sienna LE MSRP is 25.7K. 3K apart - but what is the pkg 3 cost?
FWIW, in my zip code, i just went on www.carsdirect.com and presumably i could obtain a ODY EX with destination for 25.4K. A Sienna LE (A5) (SET) [what's that mean?] for 22.3K.
There's Edmund's pricing and there's Consumer Reports pricing... I presume if people do some research - seemingly they can save some $$$ here.
is there a place you can go and get package pricing for all the trim levels of the sienna so you know up front what the total should be trim + package? that would be a great help for shoppers. it's probably on the toyota site somewhere but i can't seem to find it this morning, or yesterday, or the day before. :shades:
ok, so you're adding pkg 3 and now the vehicles are a bit more comparable re: 4wh disk, dual sliders, trac and vsc, but no immobilizer right? how about those floor mats?
just kidding. i say this because once a dealer tried to bump me $150 for mats in an ODY, and I know they are quite standard.
pkg 6 doesn't exist for the sienna LE (unless i'm mistaken) so you are talking about hopping up to the XLE trim for pkg6 availability. that bumps you MSRP by 4.5K going from the LE and XLE, and that's before the pkg pricing.
ok, is pkg pricing based on availability and popularity?
i'd go mad shopping for a sienna and then comparing to the ODY. however by breaking it down, by getting the electonic brochures and printing them out, by looking for the the features which are important or must haves or truly valuable to me, then doing some pricing research, then by driving the vehicles a few times, i'd be better prepared to have some fun, know when i found a fair deal, and purchase with confidence.
Edmunds lists prices for specific option pkgs:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/toyota/sienna/100604394/options.html?tid=edmunds- .u.prices.utmv.vdpprice.13.Toyota*
(You're right about no Option 6 for 07's. The equivalent package is #4:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/toyota/sienna/100834794/options.html?action=1&x=- 132&y=14 )
My 06 Sienna LE with Option Pkg 6 (BX), Accessory package Z1 (floor mats, cargo net, etc.), and an auto-dimming mirror ($189 invoice) came up to aprox. $27.8K TMV. An 07 Oddy EX was $28.6K TMV. My actual price on the Sienna was $26,999.
I just looked this up... the equivalent 07 would be $32.2K, with no 0% financing! I just saved more than $8K
I get a chuckle out of some of the posters who seem to want to demonize the other vehicle if it wasn't the one they purchased. I bought a 2007 Honda EX because I just liked it better, but a similarly equipped Toyota would have been fine too. They're both excellent vehicles.
now - if i were buying a FY old vehicle, i.e. an '06 in '07, doesn't matter what, i'd be expecting really good pricing on the '06 vs. the '07.
Let's just hope that if he kills someone it will only be himself (which would be only just since he seems only concerned about himself).
Do you have to load it from the middle seats??
My current honda has the loader on the lower dash which makes it really easy for Mom (me) to load the movies for the kids. And I can press FWD, RWD, Play etc from the front dash. I'm really going to miss that feature in choosing the Sienna.
Your thoughts, please.
For the record, my sister is without a husband and her son without a father as a result of a driver who did not properly consider his reponsibilities to others.
I couldn't agree with cccompson more. Someone changing a radio station is one thing. Someone following a storyline to a movie - well, that's just not a wise thing to do (and I certainly wouldn't want to be the vehicle in front of the movie watcher/driver. I don't think cccompson was wishing death on your husband (you sure reacted like they did), only that, if someone is silly enough to cause a wreck because they were watching a movie, I'd hope if anyone had to be hurt, it would only be the ones that caused it.
Trust me, there is a reason vehicle don't allow the screen up front to watch movies without them being in park (in stock form, anyway). There are way too many UNDISTRACTED people on the road that aren't capable drivers. What we DON'T need is to distract them, or have them compensate for the distracted drivers that would normally be safe ones.
Let's see, I think I'll make pancakes while driving on my way to church tonight... or maybe do my taxes... :sick: