Rent a vehicle for vacation or take Ody?

Ralph · Aug 16, 2004

For me it depends on how much driving will be done. I used to get a Budget Intrepid or Taurus for about $250 per week with unlimited miles. I think that's unbeatable if the trip will be over a 1000 or so miles.

We just got back from an 1200 mile trip where we took the van. The downside was I spent the whole trip worrying about the timing belt, since we're right at 105,000 miles. The upside was it didn't break, and that vehicle is just so nice for a trip like that. Big, comfortable, powerful, smooth, etc. But you people already know that!

But if it was any further I would have rented the full size car ( a rental van is usually too expensive). Because assuming the van will last 200,000 miles, $28,000/200,000*1200 = $168. Considering maintenance and wear costs, that's close enough to the $250 for me.

But there are also convenience and other factors. I had to clean the van before and after, not so for a rental. Maybe worry would have been a wash, since any damage to a rental would go on my insurance. Pick up and drop off is a pain - Enterprise?

So what is your formula?

jono · Aug 16, 2004

The downside of a rental is I have to move all of my radios for my hamradio. I did that a couple years ago and it took a while.

Also I have to re-learn all the stalk functions and buttons.

So, my preference is use the ody, so much so that in just 5 months of owning the ody I've racked up 12,000 miles after several vacation trips.

twiggy144 · Aug 16, 2004

It depends on how many passengers are travelling with you. I have 3 kids, drove to Florida 3 times, twice in the Ody, and before that a Grand Caravan.

The van is so convenient with kids, they can move around. They have all their own seats, this reduces the occurences of them fighting together. On a 2500 km trip, this is priceless. The Ody is the best travelling vehicule I have ever experienced.

I think with 4 people and more, (including driver) the van is the best choice,

manualman · Aug 16, 2004

My obervation has been that time and rust kills Hondas before miles do (under normal usage, anyways).

I'd never rent for a trip.

wild willy · Aug 16, 2004

I would take the van..That is why I bought it....If concerned..Put the 250 towards the belt replacement and your worries are over..and you feel safe..

Personally..I will never own a car with that may miles on it..I have yet to get out of the 30's on any new vehicle......

I just don't feel safe with that many miles on the odo

icydon62 · Aug 16, 2004

Good Grief--take the Ody! How can a car compare on a long trip? --unless you're driving one of the $200K Mercedes AMG's.

The comfort level--at least for me--is so much greater than any car I've ever taken. With my long legs, extended trips in a car can be a pain but in the Ody its effortless.

The adVANtages over a car (for a road trip) are just too numerous.

Guest · Aug 17, 2004

wild willy said:
I would take the van..That is why I bought it....

dnb · Aug 18, 2004

Ralph said:
For me it depends on how much driving will be done. I used to get a Budget Intrepid or Taurus for about $250 per week with unlimited miles. I think that's unbeatable if the trip will be over a 1000 or so miles.
[ ... ]
So what is your formula?

Under 1000 miles: take the Odyssey

Over 1000 miles: fly (I don't like to drive long distances.)

Ralph · Aug 18, 2004

I agree more with manualman that miles don't mean that much on a Honda than Wild Willy about not driving high mileage cars. I only stopped driving my 89 Integra with 175k because a darn mechanic killed it during the timing belt and head gasket replacement.

As far as driving, I enjoy trying different cars. I would never own one due to poor reliability, but I liked driving an Intrepid very much, and the room, even with a wife and two kids and luggage was amazing.

wild willy · Aug 18, 2004

Ralph said:
I agree more with manualman that miles don't mean that much on a Honda than Wild Willy about not driving high mileage cars. I only stopped driving my 89 Integra with 175k because a darn mechanic killed it during the timing belt and head gasket replacement.

As far as driving, I enjoy trying different cars. I would never own one due to poor reliability, but I liked driving an Intrepid very much, and the room, even with a wife and two kids and luggage was amazing.

It is more of a psychological thing with me..I get nervous with too may miles...I know it is crazy......36K and the shakes start

blujay · Aug 20, 2004

Geeeeez. 30k?! 44,000 on a 2000 Ody here, and a '92 Accord EX Coupe with 215,000...my family owned two more Hondas before that. 30k?! That's not even a lot for a Ford, and I can't stand Fords. You have to drive a Honda a lot more than that before you can really appreciate it.

egads · Aug 21, 2004

It will just be broken in and getting good mileage when he gets rid of it.

Guest · Aug 21, 2004

egads said:
It will just be broken in and getting good mileage when he gets rid of it.

Yup! We're at 32k miles now and my wife will finally let me drive it any way I'd like. I'd even shown her the videos of the acceleration runs and to my surprise, she didn't even bat an eye at any mechanical abuse but instead wondered if I was going to spend my allowance to pay for the gas that I had burned up!

Wayne

audreym · Aug 26, 2004

Oh well then,,, the vans best feature is long haul travel.. very comfty and safe! Why rent when you have a perfectly capable Odyssey in the driveway? on our starlight silver it has racked 15,000 miles since Feb 29.. on the sagebrush it just rolled 4500 we got that on may 20th..

Any travels 1500 miles or less goes in ODY.. with the exception of a plan trip to Las Vegas and Lake tahoe, the REs van will be going

audreym · Aug 26, 2004

Another way of looking at it, pay $200 for a rental CAR, everytime you get in the rental CAR you fall into the drivers seat, and have the knees smack the steering wheel. If your not a shorty then everytime you get out of the rental CAR you smack your head on the door frame. Is the rental CAR 5 star rated?
While your driving your rental CAR you day dream about that totally awesome ODY you left in the driveway or garage and then suddenly your face feels a burning sensenation as the airbag has inflated cause you rearended an object in the road.

Be safe and take the damm ODY!

gregbwhite · Sep 16, 2004

I just bought an Ody the other day. First van of any kind and first Honda. I can't wait for my first big road trip.

We drive from Chicago to Alabama a couple of times a year and for several years we've been doing it in a 97 Taurus. That was OK till the baby. The last trip down was a little cramped

Jeez, for such a small person thier stuff sure takes up a lot of room.

If your counting votes, I vote that you take the Ody. I hope I'm still taking mine on road trips at 150,000+ miles

Good luck whatever you decide.

Greg

fhata · Sep 20, 2004

Drive that Ody!

Traded the 2000 EXL-Nav on May 5th for an 04 EXL-Nav. Currently have 10,200mi. on the 04. Drive that Ody. You bought it to enjoy. What's there to save?

Jerry O · Sep 21, 2004

Amen! We're hitting the road to Illinois this week and wouldn't drive anything else.

Jerry O.

cc183 · Sep 29, 2004

Last Feb I drove my Odyssey from Ft. Lauderdale to Louisville Kentucky non stop. No problems. It has been years since I drove this far without an overnight stop. It was a very comfortable trip.

Drove the van from Lou to Phoenix and back in April. Enjoyed every mile.

Take the van!!

dtuason · Oct 10, 2004

Take the Odyssey

On July 2002, my brother and I took a 8,000 mile journey around North America in our 2001 Honda Odyssey. There's only a few cars I would trust out there to make that journey and one of them is our 2001 Honda Odyssey. Perfect car for that drive.

Rent a vehicle for vacation or take Ody?

Ralph

jono

twiggy144

manualman

wild willy

icydon62

Guest

dnb

Ralph

wild willy

blujay

egads

Guest

audreym

audreym

gregbwhite

fhata

Jerry O

cc183

dtuason

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