Dont know what to get? Odyssey/ Sienna/ Sedona

doggie750

Got any 2 cents for meh

brettw22

The Odessey is the highest regarded mini in the segment. It's also one of the highest priced, but from what I understand it's feature packed and very well worth it (if you're wanting a mini).

F1nut

The Odessey also has uncomfortable front seats, the steering wheel doesn't tilt down far enough, the liftgate door doesn't go up high enough for a 6 footer to walk under and despite the amount of horsepower, it doesn't seem to move quickly. Get a Dodge or Chrysler.

ND13

....

audiobliss

I saw 'Odyssey' and immediately thought about amplifiers.

I agree; go with a Chrysler. We've had three, so far, and I've been pleased. Well, considering they're minivans....I mean, just how pleased can you be about a minivan?

venomclan

I think the Odessey. I have not seen the latest Sienna though. Just whatever you do, buy a Honda or Toyota. My father in law is the manager of a Chrysler dealership, I still will not buy one of his products even at his cost.
Venom

ND13

....

F1nut

My father in law is the manager of a Chrysler dealership, I still will not buy one of his products even at his cost.

Care to explain why?

billbillw

Another thing to consider (if you hold off buying till fall) is that Nissan redesigned their Quest minivan for the '07 model year. If you liked the looks of it before, but didn't like the strange interior of the previous model, then the new one should be appealing. Most of the changes to the new model are in the interior.

FYI: Car and Driver has picked the Odyessy as best mini-van for something like 6 of the last 7 years. The year they didn't win was the last year of the previous genearation when the Sienna won.

dorokusai

The day I drive a minivan will be the day I'm found with a bloody stump for a head.

I'm not a Dodge/Chysler fan, but they certainly did something right when it comes to the numbers.

Demiurge

dorokusai wrote:

The day I drive a minivan will be the day I'm found with a bloody stump for a head.

I'm with you, it will never happen.

MrNightly

My parents had the Chrysler for a few years, really nice van. VW is also going to be releasing a mini next year. I wouldn't personally buy the Honda, just because I know how Honda's are made... crappy. My sister has the Sienna Toyota. Best on safety is what they said. It seems to be a step up quality wise from the Honda, but the Chrysler seems to be the most solid of the three.

Advice worth the price paid

wallstreet

I had a Dodge Grand Caravan. The car leaked something new every six months, literally spent many thousands trying to keep the fluids in damn thing. Head gasket blew out, braking was a nightmare. I went down a bought an 06 Honda Odyssey and couldn't be happier. My wife calls me on the cell and asks me if I saw all the fluid on the garage floor while I'm signing the papers for the new Odyssey. I just chuckled and told her it's not a problem anymore. The 06 also has variable cylinder management (VCM). Anytime your cruising or decellerating, the engine turns off 3 of the cylinders. Damned if I don't get 27-28MPG with this thing. No other minivan can touch that kind of gas mileage with 240HP to boot. Throw in leather/DVD, seating for 8 standard and I was sold. The only feature Dodge beats Honda on is collapsable second row seats.
For you men that can't drive minivans and have to have a big ol suv, I'm laughing all the way to the bank while you feed your retirement, or worse, next HT upgrade, down the gas tank.

MrNightly

wallstreet wrote:

For you men that can't drive minivans...I'm laughing all the way to the bank while you feed your retirement, or worse, next HT upgrade, down the gas tank.

That's funny. Our family car gets 35 MPG, easy. Look who's laughin' now Just joshin' with ya buddy...

Toxis

are a bunch of men talking about which minivan to buy? Sad...

venomclan

F1nut wrote:

Care to explain why?

It has nothing to do with him, just the product he sells. I will not buy anything but Honda or Toyota. The good thing is that the company he works for also has a Honda dealership and that is where we bought 2 of our Honda's from at employee deals. I used to buy GM and Ford products and have been burned every time. No problems with any of the Hondas or Toyotas yet.
Venom

okiepolkie

I've had an '05 Sienna for a little over a year now and have nothing but praise for it. We test drove just about every minivan available and I liked it the most. We went for the CE model, which is the fewest features. However, compared to a comparably equipped Chrysler, it was within $100 of being the same price. The Odyssey was nice, but it was priced higher than the Sienna, and our local Honda dealer wasn't very good to work with.

With both vehicles being recently redesigned, I think the Odyssey and Sienna are very comparable in most categories.

Take a ride in both of them and see what you think. As far as gas milage goes, we get 25-26mpg on the highway on a regular basis.

BTW, the Chrysler may have the fold down middle seat, but they are not very comfortable, so I don't think I'd miss them that much.

If i had to do it over again, I'd still get the Sienna.

F1nut

venomclan wrote:

It has nothing to do with him, just the product he sells. I will not buy anything but Honda or Toyota. The good thing is that the company he works for also has a Honda dealership and that is where we bought 2 of our Honda's from at employee deals. I used to buy GM and Ford products and have been burned every time. No problems with any of the Hondas or Toyotas yet.
Venom

Yeah, I knew it wasn't him.

I've owned Toyota's, rust buckets, drive line problems, blown head gaskets, among other problems. My brothers have owned Honda's, more rust buckets and one had the timing belt break way before it was due to be changed and Honda wouldn't cover it.

If anyone thinks that just because it's Japanese that it's a better made product, think again as those days are long gone. Your Toyota and Honda's are made right here in the USA. The bottom line is they all have their quirks, so pick your poison.

MrNightly

German engineered vehicles seem to be tops to me. The only down side is how expensive it is to service them. But quality wise, I haven't found anything that comes close.

faster100

My take, the siennna is ugly, never test drove one... The honda is wayyy over priced.. My father in-law has had 2 new ones the last 3 years. Nice van but no, you dont get the nice options standard.. they paid 30k plus and have nothing cool extra... I'm a Nissan guy the last several years.. test drove the nissan mini van and even though they swore i was wrong.. the base model rattled and drove like crap and the demo fully loaded leather 35k van drove like a dream, sky lights the whole lenghth of the van... dvd, power everything.. was NICE... American, The Chrysler town and country hands down.. Very nice van, we have kids and have looked at them, We cannot get a mini van yet.. We are doing the SUV thing now and love it.. Have fun looking, you have to test them all.. NOt the fully loaded LE demo.. but what you can afford.. Thier is a difference, dont let them let you take the DEMO they have.. you wont want the stock , base 20k van..

1996blackmax

dorokusai wrote:

The day I drive a minivan will be the day I'm found with a bloody stump for a head.

I had asked my wife if she would think about getting one a little later. Her response was "ok, we have already gone over this, your starting to piss me off". Guess we wont be getting one. I knew I married her for a few good reasons .

mrbigbluelight

ND13 wrote:

....

the cat appears to have his tongue, I think I will finish ND13's post for him:

"Yes, by all means buy a Toyota or Honda. Be sure to look closely at Hyundai and Kia, too. There are many fine foreign minivans, be sure to look closely at them all".

:rolleyes:


....somehow, someway, I think this is going to be one of those posts that I get chewed on.

venomclan

F1nut wrote:

Yeah, I knew it wasn't him.

I've owned Toyota's, rust buckets, drive line problems, blown head gaskets, among other problems. My brothers have owned Honda's, more rust buckets and one had the timing belt break way before it was due to be changed and Honda wouldn't cover it.

If anyone thinks that just because it's Japanese that it's a better made product, think again as those days are long gone. Your Toyota and Honda's are made right here in the USA. The bottom line is they all have their quirks, so pick your poison.

It is true that some Hondas and Toyotas are built here in the US, but not all of them. My 2 Hondas were built in LIberty, Ohio and has 70% US parts, making them more "American" than most of the domestics. I find the opposite in quality with H and T. Any car will have problems if they are not maintained right, and neither H or T are bullet proof. I just think they are the best out there for a while now. Their business plan is far superior than other companies. They care about thier customers and it shows. Looking 10-20 years into the future of thier business, not the next quarter. That is the std. Japanese business model.

A few decades ago H & T were still building great cars but did have a big problem with rust and corrosion. They did not consider salt corrosion from snowfall in thier designs. My 1986 Honda was amazing and never died no matter what I did to it. I had 2 flagship Chevy models at the time breaking down repeatedly. But the Honda did rust. Somewhere in the early 90's H&T fixed the problem and there have been few rust problems. They too have recalls like all others but they are taken care of quickly and with no question. I used to work for a GM dealer and there were so many recalls that were frustrating to the customers and also warranty claims denied when they should not be.

Regardless of who's quality is better, if this is the way they treat thier customers, I will not be one in the future. It also worked out for us because the product is better too for about the same price, or cheaper.
Venom

george daniel

Hell, I thought you were talking about AMPS

faster100

We have had a few american cars and regretted it... ford mustang V6 cracked heads, well known for this on the 3.8 v6.. few others, we had 2 toyota corolla's and loved them, should have kept the last one. have had a few Nissans and love them.. Nissan is like the middle ground between Honda and toyota to me.. Nice designs on all models and competitive prices.. Honda holds resale value very well, and so does toyota.. specially the trucks. base model dodge caravans are junk IMO.. ford had many problems with thier mini van for several years... not sure in Chevy except its ugly.. Mini vans in the higher end bracket are the way to go.. Nicer ride, more options and doesnt feel like a box on wheels.

audiobliss

faster100 wrote:

We have had a few american cars and regretted it... ford mustang V6 cracked heads, well known for this on the 3.8 v6..

Whao...you bought a Mustang with a V6 and then complained about it? Hello! Mustangs aren't supposed to have V6's in them!

faster100

They are when your young and cant afford a v8 at the time

McLoki

I have a 2001 Chrystler Town & Country LXI and here is my breakdown:

Purchased in 2002 with 26,000 miles on it - purchased an extended warranty to 75,000 miles. It is an LXi with power doors, locks, windows, liftgate, auto-air, etc.
30,000 miles A/C head unit stops talking to A/C motor - head unit in van replaced under warrantee.

36,002 miles A/C went out (under hood). Out of warantee (by 2 miles) had to use extended warrantee - (covered, but had to pay $100 deductable + $35 for a new fan belt)

50,000 miles passenger side sliding door won't work when under 50 degrees out (no idea why, works while at dealer, nothing done)

55,000 miles - driver window stops going up and down - motor replaced under extended warantee.

75,000 miles (out of warrantee) both passenger and driver windows stop working - don't have fixed.

80,000 miles - passenger window starts working again - no idea why

95,000 miles - passenger window stops working again. passenger sliding door no longer works under 70 degrees outside temperature - driver side sliding door no longer works under 30 degrees outside temperature.

115,000 miles - key no longer turns in ignition. Had to replace the cylender that the key slides into.

Currently 115,700 miles on Van and it is in this condition:

paint still very good
Starts first try every time (now that key turns again)
NO creaks, rattles, etc. - very quiet.
comfortable to drive and ride in.
Have replaced brakes (at 75,000 miles), front rotors were replaced there as well, but they could have used replaced at 30,000 miles.
Gas milage averages 17.5 mpg. (city) about 21-22 on the highway.
A/C still working well.

Driver and passenger windows no longer go up or down.
Passenger sliding door doesn't work well at all, driver side sliding door is "acceptable" but wont work on cold days in midwest winter. (doors work maually though)
Getting an odd vibration at decent speeds - could be shocks (still original) or tires (may need rebalanced - rears have 50,000 miles on them, fronts about 30,000)

All in all - it has not left me stranded very often and is decent to drive. I would purchase again, but would definately get the extended warrantee.

We test drove the honda van when we purchased the Chrystler and found it to be much less comfortable and much louder on the road. It may be more reliable but I don't think we would have enjoyed the miles as much.

Michael

ND13

Window switch

audiobliss

Wow. That's a pretty bad track record with your Chrysler, if you ask me. The dash lights and tail lights started working intermittently on our previous Chrysler Town & Country before we got rid of it, but besides that we haven't had an real troubles with them.

McLoki

ND13 wrote:

Window switch

Driver side the window attempts to go up and down but binds after travelling about 1/8" inch. (cannot force it down while pushing switch either.)

Passenger side just does not try. It could be the switch, but since the driver and passenger switch does the same thing I would more likely blame a break or short in the wire between the switch and the window motor.

Michael

Edit - I am not sure on either one, just throwing out my observations. One other thing - it was the first year of the body style - sliding doors, and liftgate were both new that year as well.