Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
2008 Minivans
Does anyone know when the 2008 minivans arrive on the scene? I'm especially interested in the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. Will there be any changes? Comments appreciated.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
The mini van is going the way of the stegosaurous and this Odyssey is the last for us that's for sure!
The 2008 Sienna and Odyssey are not due for a major overhall. 2009 for the Sienna (i think) and 2010 for the Odyssey (I'm sure).
2008 should bring small changes but not a new platform. (new tail lights, few more details but that's it)
As for timeing most come out Aug/Sept. Look for details to leak out June/July.
DC minivans have had more reliable transmissions than the Odyssey from 1999 to the present. Just read in the Edmund's Problems Forums for both.
Also from Edmunds, '08 DGC vs Ody:
DGC:
Db @ Idle: 44.7
Db @ Full Throttle: 77.8
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 70.2
Ody:
Db @ Idle: 44.8
Db @ Full Throttle: 72.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 67.2
In other words---at both full throttle and at cruise, the Ody is significantly quieter than the Grand Caravan.
And on turning circle--which is particularly important to my wife, who will be using this van in many parking lots, grocery shopping, etc:
Dodge-39.1
Honda-36.7
And did I mention it was cheaper?
The 2007s arrived in January, so don't expect 2008 models too soon.
Here's a question, though, what improvements are you looking for?
IMHO the minivan market is fairly mature, i.e. the wish list for segment leaders is established.
My Sienna has 266hp, which is enough to get me too many speeding tickets, so it certainly doesn't need more power. The 2nd row windows go down. The door tracks are nicely hidden. You can get 7 seats or 8. FWD or AWD. Magic 3rd row. SAC and VSC for safety. You can get every power option under the sun, if you're willing to pay for it.
What's missing? Honestly. :confuse:
I think the stigma that minivans carry has forced automakers to keep improving these vehicles, enough that there's not much else to do that I can think of.
Many thanks!
I would avoid that Kia dealership for the simple reason that he's lying through his teeth! :mad:
Why is it your last one? You don't have the need for something so spacious, or you never did?
Seems like an odd match up to me. I would have preferred to see the very cool Bus concept produced.
Personally I think all 3 are excellent cars and would be thrilled to own any of them. The Entourage in "limited" trim can be had with the entertainment package for $26k ($2500 cash back included). A similarly yequipped car from either Toyota or Honda would cost $5000 more. My choice was simple.
The ONLY option I wish they had available would be a Navigation system. I don't know why they don't offer it in any model, it's not like it would be to difficult to source out a double Din to Pioneer, Alpine or whoever maked the Chrysler unit.
I didn't go for the "Ultimate Package" only because the only useful thing for the extra $1800 (over the entertainment package) would be the backup alarm.
Non-captives can be moved from vehicle to vehicle or in some cases even carried in my wife's purse, or incorporated into my cell phone.
7= Looks the cheapest
1st Honda Odyssey
2nd Hyundai Entourage
3rd Nissan Quest
Tie Toyota Sienna
Tie Kia Sedona
6th Dodge/Chrysler
7th GM Minivans
Whats missing is the option to get leather seats or even a friggin sunroof with the 8-seater. Whats up with that? Honda also gives you less options with 8 seats, but at least I can get leather and a sunroof. That's why I'm going with Honda(I hope you're reading this, Toyota)!
#2. Honda EX-L
#3. T&C Limited
#4. ALL The Rest :sick:
I think I'm going over to GM for an Enclave or Acadia next....superior towing, similar mpg, a little less space, but great interior. I truly think the sleeping giant of GM is waking up....their interiors are world class.
Of course, the Astro/Safari were the ONLY minivans ever made that could tow anything of consequence without damaging the weak FWD sedan drive trains. :sick:
Honda's is really just 7+1, and even saying +1 is being generous.
Also, I read that Honda uses vinyl for the 3rd row while Toyota uses leather.
Moonroof? You can go aftermarket for that. Find the local ASC certified install shop. I've done that 3 times in the past, on an '86 Sprint, a '98 Forester, and a 2002 Legacy. No problems on any of those.
In fact, you can go aftermarket for the leather, too. In fact the grade used by Katskins is far superior to any of the seats I sampled on test drives with leather (Honda, Kia).
The Hyundai Veracruz, though, has the best leather I think I've ever sample. Jaw dropping. Extremely comfy. Too bad the stuff in the vans I tested weren't even close. :sick:
That's why we went with cloth.
Why the bias against Toyota, may I ask? :confuse:
I don't want to picture Hans (did I spell that correctly) in a thong. :surprise:
My 06 Sienna LE driver's seat is VERY comfortable as is any of the 3 seating positions on the 3rd row seat. I am also impressed with the LARGE cargo area behind the 3rd row seat of my Sienna and the OUTSTANDING fuel economy ( which is slightly better than the fuel economy of my former 2002 T&C LX with a lower powered 3.3L V6).
However, I miss the T&C separately controlled temperature for the driver and front passenger, its better trip computer, and more comfortable 2nd row seats.
There is NO such thing as THE BEST minivan since the Sienna, T&C/GC, and the Odyssey each have distinct advantages. :shades:
Seat comfort is so subjective, plus we are all shaped differently.
The funny thing is that seat comfort was one of the reasons we chose the Sienna.
Let's just say it's important to try them out and bring the family along to get their opinions, too.
While I was considering trading off my 2006 Sienna LE on either an 07 GC SXT or T&C Touring, I took our daughter and her 2 children to check the seat comfort. Our 12 year old grandson told me he does NOT like the 3rd row seat of the GC and T&C because there is no toe room under the 2nd row seats.
We got the 06 Sienna because the GC and T&C have cheap looking, cheap feeling door panels and we do not like the 3rd row seats. The Sienna also has a MUCH more comfortable driver's seat than the GC and T&C. Sadly, I did NOT notice the glare caused by the shiny surfaces surrounding the tachometer, speedometer, gas gauge, and engine temperature gauge nor did I notice that glare can be caused by the shiny, sloping surface on both sides of the center part of the dash. I keep a dark towel on the dash to cover these items during the time of day that the sun angle causes the glare.
BTW, our 2006 Sienna got an overall average 28.0 MPG on our most recent long round trip when cruise was set 73 - 74 MPH most of the time using 87 octane gasoline.
Mine is shiny silver, I guess they try to imitate aluminum. My friend has an older one that is flat black, and that's probably best to avoid glare.
His dash is also different, not luminescent but also lacking that silver circle that you find bothersome. It hasn't bothered me, though, and even my friend said he liked the new dash look better.
We got 27.6 mpg going to Six Flags yesterday. :shades:
While (another) great idea from Chrysler, I did think the leg room was a bit tight when you do face the seats. You have to zig zag legs for 4 to fit, never mind more than 4.
The side windows will go down, though, which is nice.
Appreciate any thoughts....
Thanks,
JK
I can think of one other time I'd want it - pulling a boat up a wet ramp. At that angle, the weight all shifts to the rear axle, so an unloaded front axle combined with wet tires is going to create lots of wheelspin.
If you've ever seen a FWD vehicle do this, it ain't pretty. I saw a Prelude pull a twin jet ski trailer and it was plain ugly.
And there is PA and then there is PA....
Suburban areas, FARM country, will be worse.
I don't know of any minivan with a truly functional AWD system when it comes to icy and packed snow roadbed conditions. And were I you I would avoid any supposed AWD derived initially from a FWD base vehicle.
I would suggest a minivan with VSC/TC/etc, and spend some time learning to drive well/cautously, on the slippery stuff. Whatever you do don't go out in that stuff unprepared.
For the RAV4 they moved to a cheaper part-time system, and that may be the fate of a future Sienna, but for now it actually uses a pretty decent system.
This is why both city and highway mileage suffer a bit, it's always engaged, so that's the trade-off.
Now, try to drive out of that mud hole or up that slippery ice covered slope...
NOT...!!
I think it has a viscous coupling that acts as a center diff, but that's not the same as having a wide open center diff.
So by default, at least 2 wheels are sent power, one from each axle. And that's assuming the pavement is slippery.
Info is scarce but here's a discussion on the subject:
http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=16047&hl=AWD+System
Sounds like the AWD works but people wish they could turn off VSC (you can with FWD models).
Now, try to drive out of that mud hole or up that slippery ice covered slope...
Ummm, it's a minivan, not a rock crawler. You need to adjust your expectations.
For the mud, you'd need some serious clearance, and it's not fair to expect that from a van. Driving in to a mud pit is driver error, period.
For the ice, it would all come down to the tires. I think I'd want studded snow tires for that. Remember the Audi that climbed a ski ramp? You guessed it, they used studs.
Some '08 models have the ability to turn off VSC. TC must be turned off first and only then can VSC be switched off.
You don't have to be "mudding" to encounter a slippery, muddy, roadbed. Some of us rely on AWD because our suburban environment involves traveling on gravel or even dirt roadbeds.
Personally I run on nice quiet and comfortably riding SUMMER bridgestone Turanzas ALL YEAR 'ROUND and use tirechains (rear FIRST, then..) on the rare (Seattle eastside) occassions of need.
*** My best guess is that once TC was adopted to control, alleviate, wheelspin/slip there was not enough level of F/R disparate rotational rate to "stiffen" the VC, making it virtually useless.
Sources are scarce so it's hard to verify that.
Either way, let's remember that by default, when all four tires have traction they all get some power. It's only when one or more tires loses traction that the VC or T/C comes in to play.
Basically that means it should be less likely to slip in the first place. You're sending less power to each wheel, so it's less likely to overcome the amount of available traction.
Gravel and dirt roadbeds are more than most minivan owners will encounter. I bet most want AWD for snowy climates. The AWD Sienna is a bit more than an inch higher in terms of ground clearance vs. the FWD models, too.
They're nice, though.
Also, Chrysler announced a new lifetime powertrain warranty which will apply to it and most other vehicles effective today.
Hope it doesn't bankrupt them.
Great for minivan buyers, though. It should cover that transmission my neighbor keeps having to replace on his vans.
One catch is it's not transferable, and that could hurt residuals because now people would prefer new vs. used.
Warranty