Chrysler Town & Country owners:
"I spent almost a year deciding on a minivan. I drove my cousin's 2000 Odyssey extensively. It is quiet and rides well, but the driving experience left me cold. The transmission hesitates on downshifts and the low-end acceleration feels sluggish. When I first drove the 2001 T&C, I was amazed at its superiority over all its competitors. The Honda does not offer automatic climate control, power tailgate, leather interior, memory seats and many other features available on the T&C. And the T&C is measurably quieter, drives much better with a very smooth powertrain and has much better power side doors that can be overridden manually. I have had my car a month and have driven 2,500 miles. The vehicle is solid as a rock with absolutely no flaws that I can identify, and I am very demanding about my vehicles. My only complaint is that Chrysler failed to split the third seat in the Limited, although it did so in all the other minivan models. So I took my third seat out and [will leave] it in the garage until I need to carry more than four. Not a problem for me, but definitely an inconvenience for many minivan owners." -- wnycarguy, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #320 of 537, Nov. 9, 2000
"I bought my 2001 T&C LXi a month ago after they had only been on the lot for about a week. The sticker price was $31,805. I was paying cash so I told them I didn't want to B.S., I would give them $30,000. No problem -- that's what I walked out the door paying. Options included were the 3.8-liter engine, dual power sliding doors, power lift gate, removable center console, traction control, the four-disc changer with steering wheel audio controls, roof rack, and side air bags. I love this van! It truly deserves the title of 'best minivan ever.' The engine is quiet at cruising speeds, but roars and lets you know you have an engine when you step on it. The Infinity stereo is probably the best stock system I have ever heard, and the steering wheel mounted controls are so nice. The power liftgate always gets comments and the power doors are even better. Both of my kids get a kick out of pressing the button behind the driver and passenger seats and watching the doors close. It's so easy that even my 2-year old can do it. I only have a couple of complaints. (1) The drink holder blocks the disc changer when holding drinks. (2) The hubcap retaining clips squeak. I've had it back to the dealership twice for this with only 2,000 miles on it, and they say that there's not much they can do and that they've had problems with them before. Not a huge problem since I plan on buying different rims for it anyways, but if you're not, then I suggest going with the premium stock rims." -- axle59, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #311 of 537, Oct. 24, 2000
"Purchased our 2001 Limited four months ago and have only encountered one minor problem. The power liftgate would not open automatically from either the key fob or the overhead console. A simple door latch adjustment fixed this problem. Before buying the T&C we also looked for quite some time at the Odyssey and Windstar. Neither matched the T&C for comfort, ride quality, or quietness. The folding third seat was not a major issue for us since we will rarely, if ever, use the van for cargo (already own a Suburban for the big stuff). Based on our needs, we feel we have made a wise decision in choosing the T&C." -- lingf15e, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #356 of 537, Jan. 3, 2001
"I have never owned a minivan before nor would I have even considered it before this year, but with a 3-year old and a 9-month old (and don't forget the 75-pound Golden Retriever), it only made sense to buy a van. My wife and I looked only at three vehicles -- the Toyota Sienna XLE, the Honda Odyssey, and the T&C LXi. Obviously, we knew the Japanese had good reputations for reliability. So we first drove the Toyota -- what a joke. Very cramped quarters, small cargo area, and who designed that clever stereo system, almost on the floor (that's convenient when your driving)? Also, moved side to side on highway with minimal wind. Next, we drove the T&C LXi with the 3.8-liter engine. Had a nice heavy car-like feel and plenty of options that are very useful (rear liftgate, side doors that worked better than the ones on the other vans, an air conditioning system with three separate zones and auto temp control, a stereo system with four-disc changer and unbelievable sound, trip computer, temp monitor, compass, movable center console with power outlet -- basically, very well loaded). I had never owned an American-made car before. So we were a little apprehensive about liking the van we actually liked best. Next, we went to the Honda dealer. I must admit I liked the Oddy better than I thought I would. The rear flip down seat is great. In the T&C LXi, the seats are 50/50 split -- they are less convenient than the Honda's, but that's only one aspect. Yes, the Honda and Toyota did get a great crash test result. Which is very important to us. Feature-wise, you can't compare the luxury of the T&C to any other van and even a lot of cars and SUVs. As far as resale, we are leasing. So although the residual value is important in calculating a payment, we were happy with the payment on all vehicles. We wound up going with the T&C LXi. So far (three weeks), it is one of the best vehicles I have ever driven. It is solidly built, has plenty of versatility, and hopefully, will not give us mechanical problems. After all, I am used to driving Japanese luxury cars. It is such a quiet ride. It compares interior sound-wise to our '98 Lexus LS 400. What would be a nice feature on minivans is if they would add HID headlamps.... By the way, the steering wheel on the Oddy is very thin and feels like you are driving a cheap import -- not as solid a feel as the sporty steering wheel on the T&C (maybe a very little thing but test driving it on a different day than my wife, we both noticed that). Bottom line: we absolutely love driving the T&C. Also, how come our cap cost for a lease on a $33,450 van retail ($29,000) was only ten to fifteen dollars more than an Oddy leasing at a price of $27,000?" -- bondguy, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #451 of 537, Jan. 27, 2001
"I ...had to deal with what van suited me best. I had had two previous trouble-free Chrysler vans, so I was not looking at the Honda because of bad experiences with my Chrysler vans. I just wanted to see if it really was the 'BEST' minivan every magazine was toting. Plus, the price looked convincing. My previous vehicle was a 1996 Town & Country LXi. In a nutshell, I was not too impressed when I looked at an Odyssey EX on the showroom floor (already sold, though). It was nothing compared to my '96 T&C. It didn't have leather (sorry to all you people who think it's stupid or that it 43.56% vinyl), but leather was a must because of the comfort and cleanliness factor for me. It didn't have a power passenger seat, memory driver's seat and mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a trip computer, temperature readout, a digital compass, dual zone air, decent sound system, etc. Some people think those are dumb things to fret about, but once you have them and get used to them, it'd be hard to then step down again. I realize for your basic, medium-equipped van, the Odyssey may bring you a good value, but I'll take my new 2001 T&C Limited any day. Here again, when comparing my new 2001 van to the Odyssey, the Odyssey doesn't offer heated seats, power liftgate (great for when your hands are full), tri-zone digital automatic temperature control, four-disc in-dash CD changer, auto headlights, head/torso side air bags, dual stage air bags, etc. And I got all this for only about $1,800 dollars more than what I was quoted for a loaded 2001 Honda Odyssey EX, which wasn't even loaded in my opinion and had a four-month waiting list. I managed to walk out the door with my new 2001 T&C Limited for about $30,000, where the Odyssey $28,500. I was looking for a van with the most comfort and luxury for the money, and the Odyssey just didn't cut it for my type of preferences. This is all just my opinion, and I realize why other people might choose the Odyssey, whether it be the name, the reputation, the convenient folding seat, a low MSRP, and/or a high resale. One thing to note is many people and magazines are saying the Odyssey has the best bang for your buck at MSRP, and the Chryslers are overpriced unreliable vans that can go up to $36,000 at MSRP. The difference is you can make great deals on the Chryslers and get the MSRP down a whole lot, whereas the Odyssey's price is 'take it or leave it,' with no dealing room...." -- dave210, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #380 of 537, Jan. 15, 2001
Ford Windstar owners:
"We (the wife, two children and myself) love the van. In all honesty, I picked the safety, and she picked the options. She only missed the painted mirrors and heated seats. The children have their theater, and Daddy has peace of mind. The performance of the van has been great, but it only has about 3,000 miles on it. The motor does seem a little loud, but ...it is snappy. We find the interior very appealing (except I feel that the instrument panel is lackluster since I like gauges). The seats are incredibly comfortable, and in general we have never had a vehicle with so much luxury. If the rest of the van's life is anything like the first 3,000 miles, I would recommend this van over any other." -- callo, "Ford Windstar Problems II," #336 of 424, Feb. 17, 2001
"We got a new 2000 SE under the buyback program in the spring. In light of all the knocking of the Windstar is these topics, and our prior experience, I was skeptical [but] we could not wait four months for the Odyssey. However, 4,000 miles later, and just coming off a 1,000-mile round trip to Cape Cod, my impression of the Windstar is becoming more favorable. We loaded it up with baggage and five people, including stuff on the roof, and hung four bikes off a bike carrier from the rear hitch. I expected the van to be a bit ponderous and sluggish, and I barely noticed a change in the responsiveness -- testimony to the strong engine. The road manners were very solid, and I never felt like I was driving an overstuffed and overloaded vehicle. The comfort was excellent and mileage was OK (20-ish fully loaded at 60-70 mph). We also have not had any mechanical problems, yet. The radio is good to excellent. My only true complaint at this point is the noisy engine upon acceleration -- it sounds more like a truck than a car. In summary, we got a good deal because of the $3K rebate and 0.9 percent financing, and I am becoming a believer, although the real test will be reliability and quality as it ages." -- kent25, "Ford Windstar II," #215 of 396, Sept. 12, 2000
Honda Odyssey owners:
"Odyssey has most of what you're looking for in a minivan. Great price, lots of room for cargo and kids, great safety ratings and good resale value. You probably won't find 'super reliability' in any minivan out there these days but our Odyssey has been trouble-free. Our only complaint has been gas mileage -- we've been disappointed that it hasn't been what Honda claims it should be, but it's in the same ballpark with other vans of its size. As long as you don't let dealers add on a bunch of options you don't want, the Odyssey is a great value." -- mojo66, "Best van for family with 4 kids," #5 of 64, Jan. 11, 2001
"When we got our Ody last May our kids were 3 years old and 6 months. We carted those car seats from dealer to dealer to make sure they fit in well. Salespeople loved seeing us arrive!! The Dodge Grand Caravan was a good option for us (as was the Windstar -- really liked the adjustable pedals) and the deals and financing were great, but the features on the Ody met more of our needs. In the summer, we go to Maine almost every weekend. When we get there, we like to pop up the third row and cart Gramma and Papa with us so we can go out in one car. Also, we don't have a garage to store seats, and I can guarantee that my wife is not going to lift seats in and out of a van no matter how light they are." -- robr2, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #488 of 537, Feb. 1, 2001
"When my wife and I were on the hunt for a minivan, we really settled between the Dodge Caravan (T&C) and the Ody. Both drove very well (I was very surprised, as I expected a truck-like handling for such big vehicles), but the Ody handled a bit better for my taste. I knew right off the bat that both minivans would work well with similar expectations for reliability (hey, minivans are very unreliable compared to sedans) -- so the differentiation was heavily on the practical and intangible items. The interior look and feel is very personal and subjective. The Odysseys have been accused of being 'plastic,' but I don't see it. On the other hand, the T&Cs had that cheap plastic mismatched molding look (especially the door locks) -- and still do for the 2001 models. If you want lots of nice knick-knacks, the 2001s have it, hands down. Lots of nice usability stuff, and some extremely well thought out stuff. It really does make the Odyssey's interior looks Spartan by comparison. But, thankfully, the Ody doesn't have that cheezy 'wood trim.' Safety was a big factor, and we've all discussed the validity of real world results vs. safety ratings. I personally chose to weigh the ratings a bit higher than real world results. After my harrowing experience with a drunk driver, I realized that not all accidents can be avoided -- as there are a lot of bad drivers out there. The magic seat was the clincher. We use it every week. Period. There is a price to be paid for the magic seat (that thunking noise on the gas tank when it is full), but it is easily ignored over time. The ability to hide the third seat is a Godsend. If my wife and I were to choose between the 2001 Ody and 2001 T&C, we would be mulling over the decision for a very long time. The big considerations would be: (1) T&C's transmission problems -- is it still there? (2) Honda's lack of side airbags. (3) T&C's automatic doors are definitely safer than the Ody's. (4) Honda's magic seat! (a.k.a. back-saver). IMHO people wait 3 months for delivery because it is worth the wait. If I'm spending my hard earned cash ($26K+ of it), then I want the best car that fits my needs...." -- mliong, "Chrysler Town & Country vs Honda Odyssey," #490 of 537, Feb. 1, 2001
"...I'd [recommend] the Odyssey because: (1) For the price it's a pretty good deal all around, even at MSRP. If your near Ohio or Kentucky, they seem to be getting them at $800-$1000 off that. (2) Yeah, you can't put the third seat down with all the kiddies in tow but if you need to haul stuff and can leave two of them at home its ever so convenient. (3) With the third seat up, you can still haul more stuff than any other van out there cause of the deep well that's left for storage in absence of the collapsed rear seat. It's killer when hauling bags of groceries, [because] they don't spill and you can put large number of them in there. (4) If you're into crash test results you can't beat the Ody, except of course, the Windstar (almost a tie, I think), so you could look there I guess. (5) I own one, have three kids 5 and under and love it...." -- masshoosier, "Best van for family with 4 kids," #15 of 64, Jan 21, 2001
"I have about 4,000 miles on my van and am pleased with it so far. It eats gas, in my experience, does no better than 23 on hwy and about 14 in city -- this using the accelerated odometer too, which reads 5 percent fast. On long trips I am able to sleep solidly in the third seat with two girls in captain chairs -- which helps a lot, and my 6-year old and 8-year old haven't had one complaint about their positions there. Stereo is...satisfactory, and I love being able to fade certain children's tapes to the back speakers, which are far enough away so that we can actually talk. The van isn't whisper quiet, but good enough for a van. Sliding doors are convenient, but won't be if they fail.... Handles grandparents and kids excellently. Drives very well, too, really does. I have to remember to keep speed down, just not to wear out brakes and burn up gas. I do feel a bit uneasy sometimes when it's just me driving this boat around -- where's my CVCC when I need it? It is dark when you back up at night, and I wish the interior lights went off automatically -- have left them on once or twice but car has started anyway. Felt disappointed to see the Consumer Reports ratings drop but am consoling myself by saying it's just the doors. Tranny has revved up a bit once or twice -- is that a bad sign? -- and gas sloshing is an absolutely trivial 'problem.' Overall, I am pleased with the purchase -- paid $700 under MSRP at Dan Young Honda in Indianapolis -- but still get a twinge when I see an MPV go by. I drove a couple of them and thought they had a lot of appeal -- including their smaller size...." -- captevans, "Honda Odyssey XX," #1547 of 1858, March 5, 2001
Mazda MPV owners:
"I'm of two minds about the MPV. I own one, and wouldn't trade it for any other one. I don't think [others'] concerns about the engine and powertrain of the MPV are valid. The Ford Duratec has proven itself over the years in the Contour as a reliable piece of work. Admittedly, it is a bit small and takes a while (like a month) to learn how to drive it effectively, but once you do, it's a delight to handle. The transmission is not overbusy. Once you learn how to handle the gas pedal, the transmission finds and keeps its gear on all but the steepest hills. And when you're at highway speed, it cruises effortlessly at 70+. On top of that, the car itself handles better than the '98 Jeep I traded on it. One of the posters on the MPV site called it a driver's van, and he nailed it. Handling is simply phenomenal. It's like a tall touring sedan.... The MPV is smaller (on the outside) than the Dodge Caravan is. On the other hand, there is much more usable space on the inside. The side-by-slide second-row seats move sideways AND back and forth. In the rear, you've got a seat that tumbles down into a spacious well (incredibly useful for groceries etc. when the seat is up) for additional luggage space. But on the best of days, it won't carry that legendary 4x8 sheet of plywood flat on the floor. I guess it comes down to how much room you need and what for. If you need seven-passenger seating and a lot of luggage room on top of it, no good. If you need four- or five-passenger seating and a lot of room intelligently laid out, give the MPV a good look and a long (overnight, if you can manage it) test drive.... I haven't regretted my decision for one second." -- rjr425, "Best minivan value for $25,000?" #4 of 13, March 26, 2001
"I felt that the MPV was the best value, by far. I really liked the Sienna, but for comparable amenities as in the MPV, it would be over a budget [of $25,000]. I would have paid approximately $3,500 more for a comparable Sienna as I did my MPV ES, and the Sienna doesn't have the tumble seat or the second row windows that go down (no other van does)." -- blondemom1, "Best minivan value for $25,000?" #2 of 13, March 26, 2001
"I drive a 2000 MPV LX everyday and I really enjoy it. The sound system is great, and my daughter loves the TV. As a previous poster wrote: 'you will see a lot of people posting about lack of power.' I have seen people write such things but it's ridiculous. Every body is in such a hurry to go nowhere these days and they think more horsepower will help them get there. This van has plenty of power for the sane driver." -- rotarykid, "Mazda MPV vs Nissan Quest," #6 of 7, March 21, 2001
"Have a minivan: yes. Have a gorgeous wife: yes. Have 4 kids: yes. Have a dog: no (don't want one)
Have any problems with van, wife or kids: no. The MPV works great for us and my wife's friends are always goo-goo eyed when we roll down the side windows so they can see the kids." -- maltb, "Best van for family with 4 kids," #43 of 64, Jan 24, 2001
"We have had our MPV ES for 15 months now and couldn't be happier with it. We still have people stopping us and asking us about our 'beautiful new van.' It is a great red color with nearly all the options (leather, sunroof, 6 CD, rear air, 4 seasons package, etc....) and has been problem free -- no complaints. We have taken it cross-country, and it travels great. I would recommend it to anyone to try." -- otish, "Mazda MPV vs Nissan Quest," #7 of 7, March 21, 2001
Pontiac Montana owners:
"One month since I picked up my 2001 Montana. My wife and kids love it, and I kinda like it, too (staunch Ford fan, eh). I'm impressed by the ride and handling. Pickup isn't too bad for the engine and size of the van. Get a loud vibrating sound from the left rear that lasts for five seconds or so, most often just after startup but sometimes after shutdown, too. I kind of suspect that it's got something to do with the compressor or air leveling. Fit and finish is much better than many here described, only a small burn spot on the driver's seat for which they're going to replace the cover. No rattles, no creaks, no leaks. Fuel consumption is off it's Energuide rating by about 4l/100 km but maybe that will improve as I get a few more km on it. Had a weird one happen this morning: got a scraper out and one of the overhead lights stayed on after all the others went out. Had to get in, let the lights turn off, then push the light off. Light wasn't on last night or this morning. At least I didn't think I left it on. Started fine, no sign that anything was wrong after, i.e., light didn't stay on again. Overall, not too shabby." -- bcbob, "Pontiac Transport/Montana," #385 of 406, Feb. 15, 2001
We have our 2001 Montana for 2 weeks now and are happy we got it. My wife and sons wanted a van and I did not. We had a '94 Transport 6 years ago that we liked a lot and was a good vehicle mechanically. We decided to test drive the Montana and were extremely happy with it's looks, ride and features. We love the room and most importantly, the second row captain's chairs really keep my two boys from fighting. Great vehicle!" -- oemman, "Pontiac Transport/Montana, #400 of 406, March 6, 2001
Commentary from 2001 Chevrolet Venture and Oldsmobile Silhouette owners:
"My wife and I took delivery of our 2001 Chevy Venture in November 2000. We were leasing a '98 that was do to expire in February '01 but we wanted the seven-passenger seating instead of the eight-passenger version.... We did not want the folding bench. We like the versatility of being able to remove or fold down one seat while leaving the other rear seat in place. We ordered a 2001 but we were no longer able to get the seven-passenger version, so our dealer did a search and found exactly what we were looking for. We took it. We love our new Venture WB edition. The pros outweigh any cons. The ride is great, the kids love it, the dog loves it! As for the leather/cloth seats -- the reason they put the cloth in the center is so your bum does not get cold. I think they could have made the seats all leather and put heaters in them; however, this could be costly with 7 bucket seats, 5 that are removable! Many of our friends, who were turned off by the safety reviews, have been won over after driving or riding in our Venture. It is a great van! If you are on the fence, just stop someone in a parking lot and ask them how they like it. I did that when I before I bought my last car...." -- cugolfn, "Chevy Venture," #650 of 722, Feb. 4, 2001
"We bought our 2001 Silhouette Premiere on August 24 (we had ordered it in June). It has 6,500 miles on it today, I've changed the oil three times (once at 1,000 miles and then each 3,000 miles since). We've done a lot of mountain and highway driving and the van's been great. The entertainment system is great at keeping the kids occupied when there's nothing they want to see on the road. The wireless headphones are a godsend! The only problem I had was when I put in a bad CD and it 'broke' the player. The dealer ordered a new one and replaced it while I was there in about an hour. The seat warmers in this year's model are great. You never know you 'need' something until someone invents it! I do have a couple of gripes, but they wouldn't prevent me from buying this van again. My gripes -- I ordered the third row captains chairs. When they're up, they impede rear view mirror vision through the van. I usually have them put down. The new cup holders in the front stack -- when you have anything in them you can't reach the buttons for your rear wiper, fog lights, etc. [This is] minor, but annoying. The chrome wheels -- don't buy them if you live in a city that gets lots of snow. The stuff they put on the road along with all the dirt makes them dirty all the time. Unless I'm scrubbing them all the time, they look like the alloys! Anyway, I traded in my 1997 GLS with 75,000 miles for this one. I'm glad I did. We'll just see if we all end up with orphan vehicles!" -- KKLOTZ, "Oldsmobile Silhouette II," #165 of 247, Dec. 12, 2000
Toyota Sienna owners:
"We purchased a 2001 Toyota Sienna LE about two weeks ago. We looked at a 2000 Sienna LE, Mazda MPV, Dodge Caravan and tried to check out Honda Odyssey. The 2000 Sienna LE had the highest sticker, $27,800, but it drove quietly and felt like the car was made out of one solid piece. My parents just bought a Lexus GS300. It is a beautiful and extremely confident-felling car. The Sienna felt very much like the Lexus. It had enough power to accelerate effortlessly; the transmission shifts were imperceptible; road noise was subdued; the ride was a bit soft and queasy but comfortable for my wife who was also in the car. But, above all, all the switchgear and the doors moved silently, smoothly and with minimal effort with appropriate feed back.... I drove my '94 Accord 140,000 miles before I traded it in for the Sienna. Those miles weren't trouble free. After 90,000 mi, I was putting in about $1500 a year replacing worn out or non-functioning parts such as the fuel-gauge sending unit, the speedometer, pumps, muffler, etc.. So I decided that an Odyssey wasn't desirable enough for me to wait two months for the car and to pay MSRP plus dealer-installed, profit-fattening options. Granted, the price of an Ody LX at MSRP+ was still comparable to my 2001 Sienna LE's price of $24,600. However, looking at the invoice price difference between Sienna and Odyssey, I can't help but thinking that Odyssey had to have a few cut corners to be $2000 cheaper in comparison to Sienna. So far, my 2001 Sienna is turning out to be as splendid as I had hoped it would be. The 2001 models have more power, better headlights and sliding third bench seats, which help tremendously in the rear cargo capacity. I have 700 miles on the car with one 350-mile trip last weekend. It rides beautifully on the highway; the adjectives that come to mind are solid, effortless, supple, quiet, luxurious and competent." -- jung5, " Toyota Sienna vs Mazda MPV," #169 of 212, Sept. 29, 2000
"I've had four of the 'gotta-have' SUVs in the last 10 years (Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Ford Expedition). I bought the darn things 'cause I needed the room for work. They were all perfectly fine cars, but each fell short in some way. My '92 Explorer was a brilliant 'better idea' from Ford, but the thing had a punishing ride. The Grand Cherokee was pretty 'grand,' but too small made even smaller by that dumb spare in the back. (Didn't hold much more than my wife's Volvo wagon.) The Tahoe was plenty big, quick, and fun, but seemed like a very well done car straight out of the 80s. The brakes were downright dangerous. The Expedition was the best of the bunch -- a little too tall yet very well done inside and out, but the 11 mpg in town and 50 bucks a fill-up was unacceptable. I finally put my ego aside and bought a 2001 Sienna (you bet, you gotta have a pretty good self-concept to move from a sexy, gotta-have-SUV to a soccer-mom minivan). I love the darn thing. It's supremely quiet, unbelievably smooth, plenty quick, and surprisingly roomy. It's got that curious Toyota quality that does not come across until you drive it a while -- that quality you don't quite get when you test the thing off the lot (and ask yourself what all the fuss is about), but a quality you learn to love the longer you drive it." -- dardson1, "Toyota Sienna VI," #499 of 581, March 8, 2001
"Tough choice but I ended up with the Sienna. After spending time driving a lot of vans, I bought the Sienna over the Town & Country and the Odyssey. Why? Personal choice. The Oddy was on the lot -- in fact, five EXs were there as this Honda dealer does not pre-sale. He had added leather on all at $2000, and some had video at $2500. [Other extras included] a Rosen unit, which retailed for $1500, or a moonroof for $2000. Some had all [of these add-ons]. Extra markup was a bit high, I felt. But it was still a very good van. I got most of this on my Toyota anyway. Price was a non-factor even after I said all that about the Oddy. I preferred the seats in the Toyota, as they were better for me. I liked the way it drove and handled. Also, size [was a factor] as I have been driving in Europe and like smaller cars. the Honda was too big. That all said and done, either van is a good choice. Toyota just fitted me better for my needs. Was very surprised by the new Town & Country. Came close on that one, but past reputation held me off." -- gbush1, " Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna V," #405 of 461, Dec. 10, 2000
"...There's nothing on the road I'd rather be driving, the ride is excellent, the seats are comfortable and luxurious (leather), and after a Chevy Blazer LT, I enjoy making only one stop to the gas station per week. I'm averaging 17-19 mpg for combo driving. I thought it was going to be hard to transition from a SUV to a minivan, but I don't miss it all, and now I don't even want that Navigator or Land Cruiser I thought I would always get when I made it big. My two little ones love it and as for size, it is very functional. I replaced the Firestones with the 80,000-mile Aqua Grip and told them I'd be keeping the Firestones and [to please] place them in the van (bagged, of course) I flipped the 3rd row seats forward and went shopping. To my surprise, I returned to see that all 4 tires were upright in a row without impeding the closing of the rear door. I then got a week's worth of groceries in the cargo area to go with them...." -- crystaltod, "Toyota Sienna VI," #473 of 581, Feb. 28, 2001
"I have two power doors on my XLE and love them. My requirement was one, but we wanted the XLE and the package (moon roof, dual sliding doors) came with two. It has been great (I guess it depends on the age of your kids). My kids are young teens -- they play with them a little, but they are really handy if ...someone gets out of the car, especially if their hands are full with book bags and school projects and someone can't easily or forgets to close the doors (and you are driving and can just push a button on the dash and close them). I just think they are great -- no problem with them. AND if you have toddlers you can completely disable them and they become manual -- by a 'per door off' button on the dashboard. They also have child safety locks that can prevent kids from opening the doors on the inside." -- blizz1, "Toyota Sienna VI," #466 of 581, Feb. 26, 2001
Commentary from owner of 2001 Odyssey and 2001 Sienna:
"We own a 2001 Sienna LE and just received our 2001 Honda Odyssey EX. (We previously had a Grand Caravan and Chevy Venture, both of which were in the shop too often for our likes. That is why we're back with foreign. Way back, we also had the smaller Honda Odyssey, great 'van' but was too small for our growing family.) I am 6' 3" and I find the Odyssey much more comfortable. I feel somewhat cramped in the Sienna. My wife, who is much shorter, is more comfortable in the Sienna. Both give a great ride, the Sienna is a little more car-like in the drive and a little quieter. I do not find the noise level in the Odyssey bad, though. (Especially after the Chevy!) Storage space in the Odyssey is great, but the smaller space in the Sienna isn't really that bad since we usually fold up one of the back seats. It ends up giving us an L shaped storage area. In comparison to the other vans we had, the Caravan was very comfortable to drive, the Chevy not bad, but it had lots of engine and road noise and seemed to be very top heavy and would lean a lot. Neither the Sienna or Odyssey seem to lean...." -- van fan, "Toyota Sienna VI," #300 of 581, Dec. 9, 2000
— Edited by Erin Riches
