Thinking about getting a Highlander, Ody, Sienna or Veracruz. With the Ody and Highlander the front runners. The wife and I would prefer the Highlander but its hard to ignore the practicality and lower price of a Minivan.

Thoughts?

 

I driven my cousins Odyessy and i was truly impressed on how it drove.

Although, i think people on the road naturally get mad at minivans. I wasnt driving slow and yet people still rode my ass. Was weird.

How much of a price difference is it? I do like the new Highlander a lot.

 

Me too. And my wife loves it. She's really doesn't like minivans either.

If I can get them at or just above invoice (all signs point to yes) Then 35,800 for the Ody EX and 40,000 for the Highlander SR5. (Canadian)

 

5k more to keep your wife happy? Easy choice then.

 

Odyssey. It's a lot easier to load with the big side doors and rides better.

 

You're not a spring chicken anymore....Get the van.

 

Highlander- keep the wifey happy.

 

Ody....automatic sliding doors FTW.

 

EX = No auto sliding doors, I think.

Just test drove the Highlander. The steering was far too light. You could move it 3 4 inches either way without a reaction, although it does firm up at speed. Also didn't feel like 270 horses under the hood and I couldn't believe how loud it was. And it was a Limited. Other than that it was nice. Great interior.

Unfortunately the people at the Honda dealership are making too much money and didn't offer to help me as I stood there waiting. And no, I don't look homeless.

 

dunno about but in the US, EX gets the auto sliding doors.
The Ody is ALOT funner to drive than the Highlander....consider the Ody the BMW of minivans...if you will.

 

Now I'm even more pissed nobody at Honda helped me. Fawkers.

 

1 vote for the Odyssey. Much more practical, roomy and versatile than the Highlander, or any SUV, for that matter.
I drive our Odyssey often and do not fear for my manhood-- I have a wife & kids to demonstrate my virility and ability to get laid.

The Toyota products as a rule do not have the steering feel and response that Honda products have (different philosophies).

The only issue of note with the post-2003 Odysseys was the auto doors; hopefully they have been ameliorated by now. Otherwise, you won't have to worry about the auto doors if you don't get them.

 

EX has em, the wife will love that I think.

 

I think the wife has a bigger issue with the minivan than I do.

I hated the steering on that Highlander.

You'd think they'd have fixed that by now? I'll likely be looking at an 07. 08's aren't in yet.

 

even though the highlander has a 3rd row, does it seem kinda hard to access it? or is the middle part removable? If you have more than 2 kids or are planning to, I think captain seats make more sense.

I haven't seen the new highlander in person yet, but the interior looks like a huge improvement over the last generation.

too bad the odyssey doesn't look like this:

 

I voted Ody - I've driven one before (family member's) and they're pretty nice IMO, and I now own 2 toyota products. You also can't beat the hauling room you can get in a minivan - you put the seats down/take them out & you can damn near put a living room suit in there.

The Ody is definitely the only minivan I'd ever drive if I had the need.

 

 

I'd pick an SUV over a minivan any day. Unless you have 5 kids, go for the Highlander.

 

As one who owns both a Quest and the Murano, I can state that the Quest has been far more useful (for our needs) than the Murano. As far as this survey goes, I just saw the new Highlander and I like it MUCH better than the outgoing model but, I would still opt for the Odyssey when it comes to our "family of five" needs.

 

Lets keep it real.

 

How you liking the Quest?

 

Emailed a couple of dealers stating I'd pay invoice, $33,764 for an Ody EX (MSRP $36,900). Deal already accepted by two dealers. Should have I gone lower?

So $33,764 + 1550 freight & PDI for a total of $35,300. Any idea what EX's in the US are going for out the door?

 

is that CD?^

 

Yep...a lot I know.

 

about 36...

Have you asked around at odyclub.com and TOV? I have no idea how much they're really running for down here, esp. in the cities that you'd consider picking one up in, but I'll be at work for another couple of hours with nothing to do, so I can see what I can find.

 

dunno about pricing...but with year-end and a 2008 model facelift...you should be able to get a good deal. IMHO you should be able to get below invoice. In Socal Honda is giving $2,000 cash on the Oddy.

 

lol, thanks.

I'll check out Ody club and TOV.

 

That's a good point...I assumed you were looking at 07s b/c of the facelift = huge discounts. There are quite a few threads I saw on odyclub re: the 2008s.

 

Dom, how many kids do you have? Is it 2?

I know everyone has different preferences and all, but I just think a van/SUV is excessive for 2 kids. Is it really necessary/do you do a lot of camping/traveling in the car? Would a larger sedan (new Accord) do the trick, or are you really set on a van/SUV?

 

You gotta think about it a little more.

If you have 1 or 2 kids, plus their friends...you need more than a sedan. Sometimes you end up taking the grandparents along for the rid too.
Kids also have alot of crap too...(not talking about the kind) getting the "cargo" in and out of the back hatch is much easier than stuffing it into a trunk. The van alos becomes the "Home Depot" vehicle too. :wink:

 

2 kids, with a 3rd likely in a few years. We currently have a 03 Rendezvous and we use ALL of it. We're quite active as far as going places with the kids and taking all their crap so we need the space.

 

Exactly. Especially the Home Depot part.

 

^^ you got PM

 

From what I've found over at Ody club, 40K out the door for an EX is a good deal. And thats what a few have paid. Apparently there's no hold back in Canada.

 

^ so what does that mean for your decision?

 

I have an older Quest (2G: 99-02) and it has had its share of "quirks". While it never disguises the fact that it is a Ford built vehicle, it has soldiered on fairly well. It was rear ended by a Ford Expedition last month, caving in the rear bigtime. Despite that, it still drove and handled as good as new immediately afterwards.

 

Not true. Definately not true. Most of the times when we go away for more than a weekend we need to take the truck. And the trunk in my I35 is huge.

I voted for the mini-van even though it was really tough. I have a Pathfinder and it's pretty adaquate, but I think if you're trading and want to have a 3rd kid then the mini van is the way to go. I would actually like to trade my Pathfinder in, but I want a Murano or a Pacifica.

 

Another vote here for Odyssey. I say 40k is good in CAD dollars,although a little high. Take a look at the fairly used 06-07 if you want it even lower. But everyone loves theirs so it's hard to find one!

 

I was just asking for the sake of asking, because back in the day, most people had just cars, SUVs and the like didn't really exist yet, but people made do. When I was younger, my family went everywhere in our sedan (2 parents, 2 adults). Just seems like everyone jumps on the SUV/van thing nowadays and I'm just not sure they're necessary for everyone. That's all.

 

Just noticed throght the wholesale car report that there is currently $2500 manufactuer incentive on 07 Ody's til Oct 31. Invoice - 2500 brings me closer to $31,500 + taxes etc. So I'm hoping for ~38K OTR. Might go tonight.