Old Odyssey vs. new - old drives better

In the market for a mini-van that handles, accelerates, and drives well, I
test drove a 2002 with 60,000 miles on it and a brand new, re-designed, EX
one at a Honda dealer. Old one first.

Liked the old one a lot. Astonishing how much better it drives than our
department Chrysler mini-van that one rides on more than drives. Then I
tried the new Odyssey and to my great surprise I liked it quite a bit less
than the 2002. Felt slower, less road feel, and more Chrysler-like. Just did
not care for it.

Never drove any Honda mini-van before this.

Anyone else feel the same way?

 

------------------

The 'old' Odyssey van was sold from '95 - '98. It's even cooler, with
four swing-out doors and a much lower roofline. The second generation
looks like a Winnabago on the inside, by comparison.

The Gen 1 drives like an Accord, I guess. Probably less top-heavy than
the current ones too. The '98 version came with a V-Tec.

'Curly'

 

: GLitwinski wrote:
: > In the market for a mini-van that handles, accelerates, and drives well,
I
: > test drove a 2002 with 60,000 miles on it and a brand new, re-designed,
EX
: > one at a Honda dealer. Old one first.
: >
: > Liked the old one a lot. Astonishing how much better it drives than our
: > department Chrysler mini-van that one rides on more than drives. Then I
: > tried the new Odyssey and to my great surprise I liked it quite a bit
less
: > than the 2002. Felt slower, less road feel, and more Chrysler-like. Just
did
: > not care for it.
: >
: > Never drove any Honda mini-van before this.
: >
: > Anyone else feel the same way?
: >
: ------------------
:
: The 'old' Odyssey van was sold from '95 - '98. It's even cooler, with
: four swing-out doors and a much lower roofline. The second generation
: looks like a Winnabago on the inside, by comparison.
:
: The Gen 1 drives like an Accord, I guess. Probably less top-heavy than
: the current ones too. The '98 version came with a V-Tec.
:
: 'Curly'
:

I think the comparison is between the 2002 (2nd generation) and the 2005
(3rd generation), isn't it?

I can't comment on the new one, not having driven one, but I love the way my
2001 drives. The '02 (also 2nd generation) might be a little bit better,
with more power and a five-speed automatic instead of four, among other
improvements.

On paper, the new ones sound even better, and if I were in the market I
think the safety features would be a big factor in deciding which to buy.
But driving dynamics count for a lot with me, too.

Paul

 

Exactly. It starts with the feel of the steering wheel. The old one felt
good in the hands. the new one feels skinny with a unpleasant texture.

I also don't get why the car books rave about the quality of the plastics in
the dash vs. that used by GM. Neither the current nor earlier generation
Odyssey has any better plastics in the dash than my 2000 GMC Yukon. We also
own a Lexus LS so I know what a very high quality dash "feels" like, and the
Odysseys and our Yukon are a notch below, with little difference among them.
Bit of a disappointment in that regard given the build up.

 

Personally I wouldn't buy the old or the new with the rate of expensive
transmission failures being reported on the Odysseys, Pilots, etc. It
seems like Honda didn't engineer a transmission strong enough for the
weight and power of it's bigger vehicles.

John

 

Please elaborate. I had not heard of this problem.

 

http://www.hondanews.com

Look for a press release in the last year or so that talks about Honda's
*latest* transmission recall--one of the largest recalls ever.

This is ON TOP OF the major transmission problems they had with the 4
speed units hooked to V6 engines. Those, they simply extended the
warranty on to 100K miles. But the 02-04 5 speed models, they spent
huge amounts of money (a) checking every transmission, and (b) replacing
quite a few of them.

Frankly, from 1998 well into the 2004 model year, Honda struggled very
badly with auto transmissions hooked to V6 engines. It's a HUGE weak
point in an otherwise stellar engineering record.

I have an 02 Odyssey. According to the recall, mine required only the
oil jet kit, not a replacement. Regardless, I have promised myself that
I will not pay for a single transmission repair on this vehicle.
Between my dealer (with whom I have a great relationship) and Honda,
they can argue about who will take care of it. All I know is, it won't
be me should anything come up.

 

transmission failures being reported on the Odysseys, Pilots, etc.

I found these:

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID0000?mid=2004041436013&mime=asc

The recall involves approximately 600,000 light trucks
manufactured in the U.S. and Canada. Affected models
include certain model year 2002, 2003 and early 2004
Honda Odyssey minivans; 2003 and early 2004 Honda Pilots;
and 2001 and 2002 Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles.

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID0000?mid=2004063039497&mime=asc

The voluntary action involves approximately 499,000
Honda and Acura passenger vehicles with V6 engines and
5-speed automatic transmissions. Affected models include
certain 2003 and early 2004 model Accord V6 sedans and
coupes, 2000-2003 and early 2004 Acura TL sedans, and
2001-2003 Acura CL coupes.

More than a million vehicles.

 

Just Google on "odyssey transmission defect" and you will find more to
read than you can ever hope to look at.

 

Have the 2002 Odyssey, it handles well. Even better since replacing the
original tires with
new Michelin's, never liked the original tires it came with. Thank goodness
they finally wore out!

Like the hard edge styling of the 2002 over the wet bar of soap Chrysler
look-a-like the designer's
gave us this go round. Real hard to tell it in profile at speed from a Town
and Country, why did
they do that! The chrome bezel around the window is true Detroit.

Was hoping to turn in the 2002 in another year for a new one. Now might
hang on to it until the
next style change, in what five years? Will test drive the new Odyssey at
my next service.
Will evaluate it then.

Just an fyi, the transmission did go south at 37k, this van has been driven
with kid gloves.
Never abused and maintained per the book. Honda did replace it no questions
asked. Was ready
with a ton of news group print outs if they said it was my doing. I was
pleasantly surprised when
the best service writer I ever met called me 30 minutes after it was dropped
and told me
the trans would be replaced at no charge. No if's and's or butt's, we will
call you later and tell you
when it will be ready, WOW! Most service writers act like they have
"never" heard
of any problem that an owner is complaining about. They picked up the
rental tab, and he stressed I would
not have to use my extended warrantee for the replacement. Very business
like, really appreciate that.

I do believe the transmission is under designed for the vehicle weight. All
the manufactures seem to think
or try to take the off the shelf power trains they have and put them in a
van. They all get the same result, had two
Ford Windstars before the Odyssey, first Windstar lost the transmission
before 30k. Just about every Chrysler
van owner I know has replaced a transmission or two. Has to hurt the bottom
line at some point, but then
they do not all fail and I guess that is the bean counters point.
Interesting concept.

Greg in California


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