i.pavlov

Hi,

I'm shopping for a minivan and the choices came
down to Toyota Sienna vs Honda Odyssey.
I'm wondering what are the group's impression of
Sienna. I did a test drive on both and I like both
of them with slight advantage given to Odyssey
due to more confident handling and ease of driving.
I looked in Sunday editions of the local papers
then and noticed that there were some special deals,
rebates and pricing from Toyota dealers including
some very attractive deals on Sienna, but none at
all from Honda. As much as I liked Odyssey, I don't
want to play the tag price.
I'm wondering what is the best Sienna model to go
for? Should I opt for 4w drive and more upscale
module or more basic one? - With Sienna price jumps
quite a bit when optional features are added.

Please share your opinions and driving impressions
of Sienna.

Thanks,
IP.

high tech misfit

You really can't go wrong with either one. They are easily the two best
minivans out there today, and not just because of reliability. Although a
handful of earlier Odysseys had tranny issues, Honda seems to have fixed
that for the current version. I wouldn't bother with 4WD or AWD, whichever
they have. If you do enough winter driving, just get winter tires.

dh

Honda makes a fine minivan. I know several people that paid the sticker
price and are perfectly happy with their cars.

We like our '01 Sienna and everybody I know who has a Sienna is also happy
with it.

You pays your money and takes your chances. Why don't you drive both and
see if you actually like one over the other?

As for AWD - what problem will this solve for you that will offset the
reduced fuel economy? If it's winter traction you're interested in,
traction control and snows might be a better solution. Snow tires will help
your braking in slippery conditions, a thing that AWD will not do.

None of my cars have AWD. I live where snow and slippery conditions are a
normal part of life and I haven't missed getting to anything important.

dbu

If I were you I'd buy the vehicle you like the best even though it may
be a bit more expensive. I don't think we're talking thousands of
dollars difference here so a few bucks one way or another shouldn't
deter you from buying the one you like. Go for it.

I have a 04 Sienna and like it very much, goes like a bat out a hell and
gives a good ride. I looked at the Honda also and I could have bought
one for less than the Sienna, but I liked the Sienna better so there you
go, my advice.
--

tony rice

We test drove both and they were VEEEERY similar in price, options and
driveability. The decision maker for my wife was the difficulty she had in
getting the steering wheel in a comfortable position in the Odyssey. She
had no such problems in the Sienna. Also we both found the visibility in
the Odyssey to be not as good as the Sienna.

In the end we put together deals with the Honda dealer and the Toyota
dealer and the Toyota dealer beat the Honda dealer by a couple $k.

Also the Toyota dealer was straight with us nearly the whole time while the
Honda dealer seemed to be saying anything he could to get the sale. One
minute he was saying "there's a waiting list for these vans", next minute
it was "I can get you any color you want, any package you want and get it
here tomorrow." This isn't a necessarily a knock against the Odyssey but
it did affect our decision, if only slightly.

ma_twain

We bought a Sienna in 1999. We also looked at the Odyssey. The
arrogance of the Honda dealer turned us off.

gord beaman

This amazes me...WHY would any dealer (or his representative) do
that?. Mind you I know they sometimes do, seems to me that
now-a-days vehicles and prices are pretty competitive and it
takes very little personal put-offs to queer most deals.

I know for a fact that you'll never see my face inside any Dodge
dealership because of the arrogance of the Service Manager at
Summerside Chrysler Dodge here in Summerside PEI...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

lena

I have an '02 Sienna XLE. Smaller than the newer Siennas. Drives
nice, some problems, BUT, all the dealers service departments in our
area are rip-off artists, IMHO. Brake rotors warped at 30K, should have
been under warranty, dealer overcharged me for "brake job" (new pads)
and I effectively paid for the rotors. Toyota USA would not help me
get a refund. Another dealer tried to get me to pay for a new exhaust
manifold ($500) when the O2 sensor failed because it was "siezed". I
stopped the work and had a gas station mechanic replace the sensor.
Highest mpg only 25 highway, 19 city. Not happy with that. Next
vehicle will be same as better half drives; '05 Chevy crew cab short
bed with cap. 5.3 L V8 gets 22 mpg highway 18 city. Not bad for a
TRUCK. Rides just as nice, room enough for six, can haul a lot more
than the minivan. Repairs much less expensive.

Lena

tomh

Brakes are not covered under warrantee and almost all premature
break jobs are due to the driver. My wife is very easy on cars
and brakes. Didn't have to replace our 2000 Sienna brakes until
70K and was a quite reasonable $90. Don't know about
price of repairs because we haven't had any in six years
and 80K+ miles .

Another dealer tried to get me to pay for a new exhaust


That's pretty good for a vehicle of that size that can haul 7 people
and their luggage. Did you not check the sticker for the EPA gas
mileage estimate. Next

You're full of crap. Maybe under the best of cir***stances you might
get close to that, but on average it will be closer
to 15 in the city and 18 on the freeway, if you drive it easy.
To say the a Chevy pickup rides as nice a Sienna is also pretty absurd.
I've driven the Chevy, nice truck, but it still rides like a truck.

kenneth

Howdy,

I have an '04 Sienna, and I know I checked the EPA sticker.
It said 24 highway, and I have never gotten over 17. I drive
with a very light foot, BTW.

All the best,
--
Kenneth

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