New car..er...minivan!

[BrianWC]

Picked up a 2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L for the wife yesterday. Could bought a nice 3 series for what we paid, but...so is life. The EX-L is the "next to the top of the line" Odyssey and is prety dang nice. Man, the 3.5l is one smooth engine. Inside, this thing is decked out. Backup camera, nav, rear DVD, leather, leather, leather, 3 zone climate, power doors and liftgate.... Family haulers have come a long way. We wanted to give the General a chance and cross shopped Yukons. But...for the same features we would have had to buy a 53k optioned vehicle. That whole "they're giving GM cars away these days" bit apparently hadn't reached our local dealer. The offered us 3k off the sticker or 0%. The 0% got us pretty close to what our notes are on the Odyssey but that was with the basic 3 yr/36k warranty while we opted for an 8yr/120k bumper to bumper warranty on the Honda.

I'm normally not an extended warranty type of buyer but I was just thinking that for a few more bucks a month, I am not going to ever have to shell out in case the 5 speed auto hasn't been sorted out after all.

Anyway, it's back to the CR-V for me. It was my car originally and I gave it up to the wifey when our first kid came along. It's kinda weird to be SAAB-less after 6 years and two SAABs but maybe a nice 9-3 Sportcombi is in my future when I rack up more miles on the V. First, I've got to sort out the exhaust on the V. I'm in open loop with a front o2 and cat CEL. That's going to set me back a bit but otherwise, the car is fine and I just couldn't see trading it off when the 9-5 has always felt like a ticking time bomb to me.

The Yukon was really nice but it just isn't as practical a choice for us as the Honda. There was NO space with the third row up and the step in is just ridiculous compared to the van.

Anyway, Honda haters, don't jump me. I'm abivalent about Hondas. I know they are good cars but I knew we'd be fine with GM assuming they don't go under. The Yukon just wasn't right for us and I couldn't convince the wife to try a Traverse or Acadia....So Honda it is...

 

[hate2work]

Nice... but if you don't post pics you're just teasing us, man!!

Let the wifey know that the next new car is yours and it WILL be a beemer

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Picked up a 2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L for the wife yesterday. Could bought a nice 3 series for what we paid, but...so is life.

That is AWESOME.

Enjoy the new Oddysey

 

[oilboy123]

Just pretend it's a BMW............Congrats on the Van

 

[VK56VD]

The Honda Odyssey is the BMW 3 series of minivans!

 

[Ibrahim]

if wife is happy so life is happy...

 

[BrianWC]

To tell the truth, yeah, the thing probably has more gadgets than a 3 series. But yeah, wife loves it. I can't pretend that 3.5 doesn't impress me, either. This is my first experience with cylinder deactivation..well, intentional cylinder deactivation.... Hmmm, wonder what oil to use....

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
The Honda Odyssey is the BMW 3 series of minivans!

They do drive and handle well compared to who's left, that's for sure. I know for my purposes (kid/cargo hauler), I couldn't justify the extra ~$9K+ for an EX-L over my LX model.

Joel

 

[Pablo]

We got the EX model! (In between EX-L and LX) It's a 2006 and no cylinder disabling (I was a bit wary of that). Just the right amount of gizmos, but the most important thing, it hauls 6-8 people with ease.

47K miles, runs and shifts like a top. I just commuted to work in the beast as the family is in NM.

 

[BrianWC]

Well, the wife said that if we were going to make such a purchase, we might as well buy everything she wanted. As she's the fiscally responsible one, I just said "woohoo!" But we really couldn't justify the touring as I don't like run-flats and the only other major features were the parking sensors, fog lights, adjustable pedals and a better driver info display. For $4k....no thanks.

Yeah, the cylinder deactivation is kinda scary to me, too. But people said the same thing about VTEC, so.... I don't want to chance anything w/ oil, though. Think I may go ahead and start the arx maint doses!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: BrianWC
... But we really couldn't justify the touring as I don't like run-flats ...


My brother-in-law has 2008 EX-L with run-flat tires, he's paid more than $600 to replace 2 tires after less than 20k miles.

 

[M1Accord]

Congratulation on a new car. That thing may be so perfect and reliable that you could hand it down to the grand children as their first ride to college. My aunt is handling her Toyota van with over 200k southern CA city miles to her second oldest son who is about to turn 16. That car was purchased either in 1992 or late 80s, I am not so sure. I just remember her taking all of us to Disney Land when I was 13 during a visit. I am 30 now and that thing is still running strong. From what I heard, the Honda is just as strong if not stronger in the engine compartment. So beware that you may get 400k miles out of this ride.

Whatever you do, don't go with A-RX maintenance dose or regiment. I know people are crazy about that magic juice but for a new car, a good a change at a reasonable interval is perfectly fine. One of the thing I hate about having new car is that oil change has to be done by outside to make warranty claim easier. I prefer to do my own oil change and a good combination of oil filter and M1 OW20 will keep that vehicle running past 200k miles.

I am looking at a newer vehicle myself. My price range is under $6k and so far I see several Yukon (1998-2001) and some trucks that fit the bills. Cars seem to get blemish too easy around here due to road and weather condition so I don't want a new car as that only creates stress.

 

[BrianWC]

Thanks for the insight but I've already added a maintenance dose. It's not like I don't have a stash of the stuff so it's not going to hurt anything.

Old Yukons under $6k? Surely you jest. The GMC dealer assured me that Yukons hold their value better than Hondas.

Yep, that's what he said.

Not to knock on them. That Yukon we looked at was stunning! Just not what we needed.

 

[GMBoy]

Nice writeup, BrianWC. And thanks for giving my products (GM SUV's)a look at anyway. You bought a nice van and I can't blame you for buying what fits your needs. Dealerships shoot themselves in the foot so much, they get what they deserve. That 53k Yukon could have been sold to you at $45k and they'd still make money on it. I'd of walked out too.

 

[BrianWC]

Thanks for understanding GMBoy. The wife almost wanted to buy the Yukon anyway b/c it was so nice and it was more expensive-looking than the Honda. It was done up in the White Diamond Paint w/ the 20 inch chrome wheels. Incredibly nice. But the price and the practicality got us. Even though the wife thought it would look better in her practice's parking lot.

 

[rjundi]

Congrats.

Sadly my next vehicle change from 2004 WRX wagon(joy to drive) is a minivan.

I plan on a 3-4 year old version though with at least 50% depreciation from new price. Hopefully I can hang onto my WRX that much longer and pick up an Ody.

 

[BrianWC]

Man, if you get a Honda you might not feel that much difference. I swear this thing outhandles my 9-5. Not the grunt of the 5.3l GMs but silky smooth linear power.

 

[meep]

rjundi... there is no shame in driving a minivan. We bought a used 2001 Town&Country in '02 and it was great! My wife didn't like the "image" but it was my car anyway.

Had a kicking stereo (small sub in back, JBL separates, etc.), it was the "lunch car" at work, plenty of room on trips, L-R & rear HVAC, and achieved up to 24 mpg under 65 mph. Smooth ride, consumed little oil, fantastic headlamps. Also towed our camper trailer well.

We put a bunch of miles on it, and then sold it for a smaller commuter car... I missed the minivan for a long time.

M

 

[refaller]

Minivans are the ultimate vehicle. Their functionality is unsurpassed. I love our Ody and with the VCM, have achieved 29.8mpg on a highway trip (Philly to Columbus OH without much of a load). Still usually average around 20mpg in city traffic. In addition, the Ody seats 8 comfortably and when you have 6 kids a seven seater just does not cut it.

ref

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: refaller
..In addition, the Ody seats 8 comfortably...

ref


Ehh.. I dunno about that! #8 better be real petite or they are going to be very uncomfortable. Not all Odys are 8 seaters either. My 2008 Ody LX has seating for 7.

Joel