[MindEddy]

2003 EX Odyssey with 102k miles.

"Looks" great. Inside and outside very clean. Underneath very clean. Engine very clean. [Nothing has been "detailed" if you are wondering.] By clean I mean: In really good shape with no obvious signs of damage, leaking, or abuse.

"Drives" very nice. No odd shifting. I've taken it around town [stop n go] for 10+ miles and had it out on 'hilly' highway for 20+ miles.

"Tires" 70% tread, all matching. Rides and brakes well.

VIN check says the transmission was "recalled" sometime in its life, which resulted in a NEW [different part number] Honda transmission being installed at the dealer. The Honda tech I talked to [not related to original purchase dealer] says they haven't had any worse luck with 2003 recall transmissions than with any other car. Tells me it is a good model van, very reliable.

** Only CONS: Rear vent window motor issues, but both will close tightly and not leak [I checked with hose]. I also looked at 4 other 2001-2003 Odysseys last week and ALL but one had at least one vent window motor acting up.
Timing Belt not done yet, dealer cost is $672.00.

_OK. This is a purchase, not a date. Give me your most "glass half empty" perspective. What are my concerns or additional items to check??

[P.S. - Can someone please tell me how to change my "signature" on this site?]

 

[MindEddy]

Yep, decent list. Repairs/service are something I'd do AFTER I actually owned the van. Since I haven't bought it yet, I'm more in the "things to look for" mode, which I'm sure was really unclear from my post.

Thanks Keith...and good luck to you also.

 

[MindEddy]

Thanks again. Everything seems tip/top. Put quite a few miles on it and pushed every button and open/shut every door/window. Can't think of any other gotchas, but in negotiation on a used vehicle this old...not a lot of room to bargain anyway.

Cheers. ME.

 

[MindEddy]

Does anybody really replace cabin A/C filters? What is the purpose. My old cars don't have A/C cabin filters.

 

[MindEddy]

Well, gotta decide now. Offer on the table for $7600.

 

[MindEddy]

@aaronm - I hear ya happy. I always have $4000 budgeted for whatever may come. The van has 102k on it. I know many folks with 200k+and no issues and know one that replaced at 150k. You take your chances. That is life. Be sure and budjet for a pine box, I hear death can't be predicted.

 

[MindEddy]

LOL. You think so? Your are truly a "master of the obvious".

 

[MindEddy]

@rsedad - Thanks for the feedback. Timing belt IS a good bargaining chip and has been used. The seller was not even aware of the maintenance. Also, I've never used the dealer so far, except for parts. There is an "ex-Honda" mechanic who still runs a shopt [cash on side] only 3 miles from me. Great resource for 'just above shade tree' jobs AND good advice.

Chaz.

 

[MindEddy]

Follow up. Decided not likely to buy this 2003. Too many unknowns, and found at last inspection that ignition is not working "all the time" [allowing key to turn] and owner only has ONE key. Just the straw that broke the camel's back. No emotion. Always willing to walk away from a deal and that has served me well. NEXT!! [still looking]

Thanks guys for all the input. I appreciate you all.

 

[MindEddy]

Damnit! This 2003 is stalking me!! The seller called again today very apologetic about the ignition and took the initiative and went to the dealer. Told me he'd discount the van by the $500 quote to replace ignition.

Ok, so we are down to $7000 on a 2003 California Ody with 103,000 miles. It is one of the cleanest I've seen after looking at 12 in the past 3 weeks.

Pros: Very Clean inside and out
Mechanically very sound & tight
103k
$7000
Local seller [new to small communitee]
Seller needs to sell.

Cons: NO maintenance history.
No record of timing belt.

I can still walk away, but the deal is looking more fair. I've looked at two one-owners with ALL maintenance records that were really rough. Maintenance records mean less to me, since they don't indicate how something has been treated.

Also...this guy is making great effort to make things right.

Still....

...I can walk away...but should I.

 

[MindEddy]

Last follow up [really]. @aaronm - thanks for being such a "glass is always broken & empty" kind of guy. LOL Some people may not appreciate it, but it forced me to look at my inner demons.

I decided NOT to buy the van. The van is quite perfect, but honestly it boiled down to research in general on Honda for all vehicles in this era. We have a 96 & 98 we just can't kill. Honda apparently started sucking in 1999. When I say sucking, I mean compared to 90's Honda reliability. They still have GM/Chrysler beat, hands down. Point is, I realized we don't need to settle for the BEST 2nd Gen on the market. Every month we don't buy something we are $500 closer to something $500 better. Also, I fixed my 1996 Ody idle issue by cleaning the EGR system over the weekend [woohoo!], so my wife isn't angry while driving.

By March I'll be in "stripped down 3rd gen range" and my summer will be in "stripped down middle 3rd Gen, low miles range'. Also, we are actually considering a large Ford SUV or Toyota.

Anyway, this is my goodbye to Honda 2nd Generation V6 anything. 1999-2004 is a blank spost as far as I'm concerned. My next family cruiser/travel vehicle will either be a 2006+ Honda or NOT a Honda.

Thanks for the input. Love this friggin website!

Chaz.

 

[MindEddy]

@Redmond - Such timing. Yesterday evening I was at Honda getting parts. We pulled in front of the wolf pack [group of salesmen perched on the porch ready to pounce] for me to be dropped off as my wife ran an errand. They all started to guess the year of my 1996 Odyssey in perfect condition. I eventually said, "well, I'd have a newer one right now if I didn't find out Honda started making garbage in 2000"...and it got real quiet. After returning to the porch with my Honda parts to await my ride, one of the salesmen came over to me and said he agreed with one I said and told me he QUIT Honda in 2003 out of frustration and just recently came back. He also said exactly what you did; rather than just 1999-2004 [2nd Gen] he said to avoid 2005&2006 also and start at 2007+.

Reading the 'blogs' out there, tons of folks who started with Honda in the 90's were quite shocked when they went out of their way to invest in a new Honda in 2000+ and found the myth had vanished. Maybe that's why the likes of GM & Ford were able to peddle their attempts at the mini-van class so easily.

We've definitely outgrown the 1996 Odyssey, especially for our long drives to see family. We thought we wanted an Odyssey, but this learning experience has opened up my views a bit. I used to own a 1987 Suburban. Yep, I looked at newer one the other day to re-acquaint myself. Our lifestyle permits us to mitigate fuel cost by owning 'extra' [daily] cars, since we buy used and don't have payments. I've got my old 88 Ford parked in the yard that only gets used to kayak & run when a Honda is down for work. Little shuffle and..... I'm just saying....

.....I'd really like to know how many miles I can get out of this 1996.