[gram_parsons]

I'm a bit disappointed in the flex rigidity of the Ody. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic. I'm comparing it to our last car, a Mercedes C230. Mercedes have been known for "ignot" like rigidity, as if the entire car were carved from one piece of steel. It is very confidence inspiring.

I know this is a much bigger vehicle, and I didn't expect it to be as tight as my Mercedes. Still, it doesn't feel as tight as my F150, which is just body-on-frame construction. The Ody I think is something of a unit body on top of a ladder frame, so I was expecting a little more. This thing shudders and creaks a little more than I expected it to over railroad tracks, or anything else that puts a "twist" on the body.

I'm much more aware that I'm in a vehicle that is the sum of its parts, rather a vehicle that feels like a single piece of steel.


------------------
'01 SS Honda Odyssey EX
'99 F150 XL Supercab
'00 Kawasaki ZR-7

 

[ckonarske]

I had a lot of the same sensations at first and I was pretty disappointed with Honda. However, after the odds and ends that I've done to the body over the last several months as recorded earlier in these threads, and the lubing of the seals, etc., the vehicle feels pretty solid to me. For sure it feels better than the Ford, Merc, DC and GM vans I've been in.

I think the basic structure of the body is pretty well done, but of course, not nearly up to MB standards, but then again what is?


------------------
Chuck
Ody Pictures and Projects

 

[gram_parsons]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ckonarske:

However, after the odds and ends that I've done to the body over the last several months as recorded earlier in these threads, and the lubing of the seals, etc., the vehicle feels pretty solid to me.
</font>

Perhaps you should send your procedure to Honda Canada Manufacturing so they can get it right at the factory . . as they should.

It's not very confidence inspiring.



------------------
'01 SS Honda Odyssey EX
'99 F150 XL Supercab
'00 Kawasaki ZR-7

 

[triplecut]

To defend a vehicle I don't even own, these are mini-vans right? They are just big boxes and it is probably difficult to design huge amounts of rigidity into a "box". Not only that, they have big holes in them for the doors. 5 large doors plus windows.

You folks get the point.



------------------
Jim

 

[gram_parsons]

I did acknowledge that it was a larger vehicle, and I can see where the large openings for the doors and windows and hatch would be a design challenge.

Still, they're making convertibles pretty rigid these days. Again, I wasn't expecting it to be as stiff as a sedan, but I still think it shimmies and shudders a little more than it should.

Perhaps I should go test drive a Sienna, Windstar, and Dodge just for comparison's sake.

------------------
'01 SS Honda Odyssey EX
'99 F150 XL Supercab
'00 Kawasaki ZR-7

 

[CPSDarren]

We've only had ours for 4000 miles, but so far it is as good as the midsize and compact cars we've had. None were luxury class though. I can also say it is more solid and has better handling than other minivans and SUVs we've driven. I do expect it to develop more creaks and groans as it ages, simply due to the size and glass.


On the plus size, consider that the unibody construction will be safer for other motorists and safer for you if you hit another heavy vehicle or a wall. It seems only Mercedes and BMW have figured out how to make body-on-ladder-frame vehicles (ML/X5) that have crush zones as effective as unibody designs.

 

[gram_parsons]

You guys are starting to make me wonder if they missed a few welds here and there on mine.

Perhaps I'm just paying way to much attention to it.

------------------
'01 SS Honda Odyssey EX
'99 F150 XL Supercab
'00 Kawasaki ZR-7

 

[dlh2]

Have to agree with gram_parsons on this one. (Wow, this is a first-an Auburn grad and a Bama grad in agreement on something!) My 01 EX just does not have that solid, tight, quality feel about it. Maybe I'm spoiled since I also own Mercedes automobiles, but even my son's Nissan Xtera seems much more solid, tight and quiet although it is pretty much an entry level SUV. I know it's a subjective thing and I'm kicking a dead horse here, but between the engine noise under acceleration, wind noise, road noise on anything but the smoothest surfaces and the interior rattles and creaks, the van just comes across with a "cheap" feel in my opinion. I can't help but imagine what a fantastic vehicle this would be if it imparted a more solid sensation. I've decided that if I'm going to keep this vehicle, I will have to have to follow Chuck's lead and spend some time sound-deadening the cabin and de-rattling.

[This message has been edited by dlh2 (edited 03-27-2001).]

 

[ckonarske]

".....but even my son's Nissan Xtera seems much more solid, tight and quiet although it is pretty much an entry level SUV. I know it's a..... "

LOL! My son also has an Xterra and that's as solid a vehicle as I've been in in a long time. In fact, the solidity of the Xterra was what kept driving me to improve the Odyssey. I was jealous.

On the other hand, let's be fair. The Ody is a huge box with probably close to double the internal volume of the Nissan. What could be harder than stiffening a box of that size? The EX-Nav is already pushing 4500 pounds. When you manage to quiet down some of the seal noises and the latch noises you realize that underneath it all, the Odyssey IS actually pretty solid.

You're right though and it irks the hell out of me; Honda could've spent the extra few dollars it would've taken to finish the job and then we wouldn't be having this discussion.



------------------
Chuck
Ody Pictures and Projects

[This message has been edited by ckonarske (edited 03-28-2001).]

 

[gram_parsons]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by dlh2:
Have to agree with gram_parsons on this one. (Wow, this is a first-an Auburn grad and a Bama grad in agreement on something!)

[This message has been edited by dlh2 (edited 03-27-2001).]</font>

So what makes you think I'm a 'Bama grad? You're right, but you've got my internet privacy alarms going off.


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'01 SS Honda Odyssey EX
'99 F150 XL Supercab
'00 Kawasaki ZR-7

 

[dlh2]

Gram, Not to worry. You so much as admitted it in an early post. Sorry if I brought up something you had rather forget.

 

[gram_parsons]

If it turns out we paid $200,000 for a high school football player, I probably would rather forget.

I'm not one of those "I'll root for AU when they're not playing 'Bama" folks. I don't understand those people.

Roll Tide.

------------------
'01 SS Honda Odyssey EX
'99 F150 XL Supercab
'00 Kawasaki ZR-7

 

[albaby]

If you think the F-150 is rigid, look at the IIHS web page and see the crashes of the various trucks. The "rigid" F-150 practically disintegrated and was dead last in the tests. See the video and enlarge the stills. Picture yourself as the dummy.

Regards
Al

 

[tom3k]

I don't have any exprience with pickups or SUV's (and I don't make enough to even look at a Mercedes - online, even), but I found the Ody to be the most solid of the full-size minivans I've driven.

------------------
Tom3k, '00 GG LX

[This message has been edited by tom3k (edited 07-20-2001).]

[This message has been edited by tom3k (edited 07-20-2001).]

 

[Coleman_lot]

Why do you compare something that isn't the same species? When you compare something, you'll have to compare apple to apple. Check out all the crash test and all other test among all minivans. You'll find out which van is the safest and rated the best. Odyssey was rated best 2 years in the row.....! I driven other vans, which I didn't find any of them interesting. I didn't find any vans have have the luxury, convenience, room and safety feature that the Odyssey has. The only thing I notice very different is the sunroof. Honda didn't have sunroof option in any of their van. But who want a sunroof if it didn't have the eject seat to go along with it. As you notice, I didn't compare my Odyssey to my suv or my sport car or my sedan car.

 

[FrankBullitt]

I won't compare it to an apple or an orange or a Mercedes... I'll compare it to other minivans. My in-laws' 2001 Grand Caravan EX is noticeably smoother and more supple over the lousy roads we have in the Midwest, and doesn't seem to give up anything in handling. I did not even consider the DC vans (and still probably would not because of general quality issues) when shopping for a van. The only other van we seriously looked at was the Venture w/touring suspension. It had a ride comparable to the Odyssey, and a similar feel of rigidity- or lack thereof.

As a 4th time Honda buyer, I'm disappointed in the flexibility, squeaks and generally "loose" feel- compared to other Hondas and to the DC vans. I've noticed that it seems to be worst at speeds of 20-50, and smoothes out after that. I'm disappointed because I know Honda is capable of better.

I still like the van a lot, and would probably buy another. No one should take my comments or others' as an insult to car or buyers. Most of us are owners with realistic expectations and a perfect right to legitimate criticism of what we perceive as weak spots in a product for which we paid (a lot of) good money. Nobody here is trying to put ****** in Our Lord Honda's armor.

One last note re crash tests: When I was shopping, I was told how poorly the Venture performed in crash tests compared to the Odyssey. But when I look up insurance industry injury payouts ( which I would consider an accurate, real-world measure of degree of injury/relative safety), I recall they were essentially the same. Like I said, I still bought the Odyssey for other reasons, but would not have been afraid of most the others.

 

[Coleman_lot]

Frank, you said you Odyssey feel squeaky and loose. You might have a bad van. You need to have your dealer check out your Odyssey so they can find where all the squeak and loose coming from. My Odyssey feel very stealth and smooth at any speed compare to Chrysler van, Dodge Carravan, or any other vans. I drove majority of the minivans before I decided to get an Odyssey. I had my Odyssey for about 1 1/2 months and drove over 3000 miles. I didn't find anything wrong with it yet and it give me a smooth ride all the time. Or better yet, trade your Odyssey for a DC van since you feel more comfortable in it. You might have a better feel of the DC than the Odyssey. Again, different people have different taste.

 

[albaby]

I've had my 01 Ody for 3 months and 10,000 miles and have yet to have any rattles or squeaks, or problems with (the vans) rigidity. I don't bomb over railroad tracks and generally try to avoid chuckholes etc. as much as safely possible. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Regards
Al

 

[MerpsMom]

I only have limited experience since I drove my first new van only 30 miles before "losing" it to the repair shop, and very quickly, back to Honda. But--I'll swear--there is a completely different feeling when behind the wheel of the second one. The first one seemed "floaty", it had odd noises, a goofy gas gauge, and gave us the idea that it was sluggish and heavy. The second one has a totally different personna. Perhaps I was focused on the first car's problems and so magnified them, and I am very surprised at the second one: I love it. Frankly, it's not a good thought that cars differ that much.

 

[FrankBullitt]

Coleman-

I would still buy the Odyssey over the DC vans- I still have more faith in the Honda's engineering and like the looks, utility and interior feel of quality (the back and middle seats for example, are smaller, less comfortable and more claustrophobic in the DC.) I'm just disappointed in the overall NVH, and my biggest irritation is a creaking noise that seems to be centered in the cowl, at the base of or just behind the dashboard. A visit to the dealer is a definite- though I'm not expecting much response since my sister complains of similar noises in her 2000.

PS To those who think I'm nuts... I can just say I came by it honestly. I grew up helping my dad isolate squeaks by stuffing matchbooks and pieces of cardboard between trim panels. He was first driven to his obsession by the squeaks in his new '60 Chevy, which the dealer blamed on him for "driving on Chartres Street", a bumpy local road in his hometown.