Hey Now Cooper,
Yeah, I agree it is a minivan. In my opinion the ody is the coolest of them all. Im 25 with four kids. We wanted an SUV but it wasnt practical. I am loving every second of my Ody. Its funny the type of reaction I get from my co-workers. When I mention Minivan, but when they see it, THey are in AWWWEEE!

 

I have driven minivans for the past 12 years. I love the cargo space, ease of getting in and out in crowded parking lots and the great room on road trips.

My 15 year old gets her drivers license in Dec. and then it will mostly be my 13 year old and her friends. For MONTHS I have wrestled with Odyssey or Pilot. I even took a loaner at the dealer's today - a Pilot which I loved driving.

After reading your post I have to laugh. Save it, and re-read that in 6 months. You will come to appreciate that mivivan owners are actually very savvy shoppers. A minivan costs less, has more cargo room, and often gets better mileage than an SUV. Just don't look at store windows when you drive by.

But, I still can't make up my mind.

mjones5

 

I think the minivan is the most versatile vehicle ever. I dont care what other people think or perceive of me. If they are going to judge me by the car I drive - screw them ! And yes, I am only 35 myself, but been driving minivan for the past 5 years, and loving every minute of it. It handles like a car, practical beyond explanation, high sitting position, and the agreesive looks make it cool, too (not to mention all gadgets !).

Get the MrGrille installed, and people will turn their heads !!!

 

I test drove the Pilot. I love it but its the cargo that veered me towards the ody. Its a bummer to see the vehicles, I could of gotten under the price of the Touring. Top of the line Pilot is 34 thousand. GRRRR!!! LOL>

 

What a shallow and insecure attitude you must have. There is nothing wrong with a minivan. I much more respect someone who buys a vehicle and uses it for the purpose for which it was designed, than someone who buys a vehicle because they think it enhances their image. People who buy SUVs (which were designed for offroad capability) and then would never consider driving their vehicle offroad are just vain! Same thing goes for someone who buys a sports car but would never consider getting it sideways. Plain vain!

I worked with a guy who drove a Corvette. I assumed he bought it because of its performance. I was wrong....he bought it because he thought he looked good driving it. I found this out when we went out to lunch. He had heard a few stories about my driving and I was waiting to pull into traffic for a wide opening. He commented that "I am surprised you didn't go for it from the stories I've heard." I said Ok and opened it up with way too little entry space for a docile merge. I had the car sideways and kept it there until we were about twenty feet behind the lead car and then I matched that cars speed. When I looked at my passenger, he was as white as a ghost and I really thought he was going to vomit. He demanded I stop the car and he got out and walked back to work. Most of my performance oriented friends would have loved doing this, but not this guy. He was all show and no go.

Please try to get over the attitude and be happy knowing you bought the best vehicle for your needs.

 

I hear you Rafael, it's definately the best one on the road, but like mjones5 says, duck when you pass the store windows!

And alexmish, I definately have some of that "who care's what other people think" in me, but do you really think the Ody looks aggressive? It's a good looking vehicle, well designed, but to me, aggressive is the ZO6 or maybe the Escalade.

I secretly really like the thing, am sitting here spending time on odyclub....but it reminds me of the (non-pc) joke:

What do fat girls and mopeds have in common? They're both fun to ride until your buddies see you!

 

What a shallow and insecure attitude you must have. There is nothing wrong with a minivan. I much more respect someone who buys a vehicle and uses it for the purpose for which it was designed, than someone who buys a vehicle because they think it enhances their image. People who buy SUVs (which were designed for offroad capability) and then would never consider driving their vehicle offroad are just vain! Same thing goes for someone who buys a sports car but would never consider getting it sideways. Plain vain!

I worked with a guy who drove a Corvette. I assumed he bought it because of its performance. I was wrong....he bought it because he thought he looked good driving it. I found this out when we went out to lunch. He had heard a few stories about my driving and I was waiting to pull into traffic for a wide opening. He commented that "I am surprised you didn't go for it from the stories I've heard." I said Ok and opened it up with way too little entry space for a docile merge. I had the car sideways and kept it there until we were about twenty feet behind the lead car and then I matched that cars speed. When I looked at my passenger, he was as white as a ghost and I really thought he was going to vomit. He demanded I stop the car and he got out and walked back to work. Most of my performance oriented friends would have loved doing this, but not this guy. He was all show and no go.

Please try to get over the attitude and be happy knowing you bought the best vehicle for your needs.

Ok RacerRik, so we probably wouldn't be hanging out together if we lived in the same town...but slow down a second. This post is tongue-in-cheek and meant to be fun. I don't think I'm up for character assassinations tonight.

 

Are americans shallow or what? Their identity is tied up in what car they drive? Geeze folks get a life! Well, with kids you kind of have one....or should. The main thing tested for me with having kids is maturity. You kind of have to act grown up. Those that fight it tooth and nail don't look cool, just pathetic. I get a kick out watching moms struggle with car seats at the car wash in their huge SUVs. They wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan. But I can out accelerate, and easily out corner all of them. I can get twice as much stuff inside from the Home Depot or Ikea. I'm on my fourth minivan. I started with a VW bus in high school. Very handy for, well you know....

 

Yes, I think Ody looks aggressive !

P.S. And I used to own a moped, which I've built all by myself. It was the envy of the town !

 

Are americans shallow or what? Their identity is tied up in what car they drive? Geeze folks get a life! Well, with kids you kind of have one....or should. The main thing tested for me with having kids is maturity. You kind of have to act grown up. Those that fight it tooth and nail don't look cool, just pathetic. I get a kick out watching moms struggle with car seats at the car wash in their huge SUVs. They wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan. But I can out accelerate, and easily out corner all of them. I can get twice as much stuff inside from the Home Depot or Ikea. I'm on my fourth minivan. I started with a VW bus in high school. Very handy for, well you know....

Shallow? I think most Americans are definitely fortunate to be able to obsess over the details and differences of vehicles, to joke, laugh, and share their feelings. That doesn't necessarily strike me as shallow. And if this post alone makes me insecure or immature, what can you do. I did buy the Ody after all. At least I'm capable of mature decisions. At the very least, the discussion is entertaining...

 

Alemish, that is definitely a very cool and aggressive Ody. I give you that.

PS--even though I meant no offense with the moped joke, which I admit, is tasteless, after the last few posts, I'm bracing myself for the replies...

In fact, I should apologize right now to any overweight people and/or moped riders, or any others who read those words and are offended. I could stand to lose a few pounds myself, and I've ridden mopeds, and they are a blast.

 

I'm on my fourth minivan. I started with a VW bus in high school. Very handy for, well you know....

For what? Hauling your tuba?


Ok, I'm laughing, but I'm sorry, I apologize in advance to anyone who may have played the tuba or might be offended by those words.

 

It’s just my wife and I. We have an 05 Ody and an 02 Audi A4. We hardly ever drive the Audi. Basically we use it in the wintertime when the roads are slippery because no car has better traction than an Audi with the all wheel drive quarto. The rest of the time we are fighting over the Ody. It is so easy to drive, park and get in and out of. There is nothing more practical than a minivan. If people were acting rationally when buying a car, everybody could be driving a minivan.

 

Hello , I am 35 and the Ody world Sucked me in.

For the past few years of my child's life I avoided the idea of being a mini-van owner like the plauge. I planned on a GMC ENVOY or Ford Explorer. Then child number two came along. We had to purchase a bigger vehicle. Test drove GMC ENVOY , Toyota Sienna, Ody, Saturn Relay, Chrys.Town and Country and Chevrolet Uplander. Read all Consumer report reviews and yahoo reviews. Next thing I know I got sucked in and loved the Ody. It was made for family driving. Cup holders, DVD, Navigation, 255 horse power, leather seats with an eighth seat. I love the mini-van, and I am proud to drive it around the block. This site has also exploited my love for the vehicle. If you would have told me 4 years ago I would be on a mini-van website, driving a mini van and waxing my mini-van for fun , I would have laughed myself silly. Oh yea, the fact that I enjoy this web-site is really out there. When I tell people I visit a web-site about my mini-van I get really strange looks. But this site makes my Ody world fun.

 

Not embarrassed at all. I thought of myself as kind of smart. It's the best thing on wheels for my family. You made a good choice.

 

It does surprise me a bit the number of people who say something along the lines of, "Oh my god, you bought a minivan, I'm so sorry! How did that ever happen?" Including my sister and mom (both of which drive 4x4 Suburbans and probably don't even know how to put them in 4wd). I think the Ody is an awesome car, and have never felt embarassed to drive it. I've certainly owned worse cars! I've never really been into the 'cool' car thing anyway, I want an appliance that works every time. I'll leave looking 'cool' to those who need the image boost.

Heck, we just bought a new Camry too (to replace our Miata which was just totalled ). I now own two of the most maligned and boring cars on the road, and love them both

When I met my wife, my only car was a completely beat up 10 year old Ford cargo van with 150k miles on it. Reliable, cheap, ugly, good stereo, good mileage, and could haul my bikes, what more could a single guy need? I'm quite sure the 'coolness' of my ride had nothing to do with her dating me.

david.

 

Some of you guys who haven't been around for very long might find this thread interesting:
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24714&highlight=minivan

 

Everything in the Ody is what I was looking for in a minivan. I love the rims and looking from the side... It looks lowered already. My buddies mention they wouldnt mind driving a van like mines. I have much more of a blast driving in my ody than my car. Every now and then when I see an Ody, I wave. My wifey thinks Im a dork for doing it and hitz me. LOL!

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having ties between one's ego and one's vehicle. In fact, I would suggest this is indicative of a normal healthy psyche. What kind of person isn't proud of their possessions?

Having said that, a mini-van is for the wife and a G35 6MT and a S2K is for the husband.

Ooops, almost forgot the Chevy 2500 Duramax crew cab with the Allison tranny to pull that 25 ft Parker tuna boat down to Florida along with some fishing buddies.

 

I rather be driving a minivan over most tall SUV

Sure minivans aren't as nice to drive as the smaller sporty cars. But it sure is more fun than similar size SUV and way more efficient and a lot more roomy.
I never understood the point of SUV, but then in the image-conscious America, it is kinda embarassing if you start to care about what others think. Most people could not even explain why they have an SUV other than it's cool..... All it is, is a huge chunck of gas gazzling walking danger waiting to happen especially when the driver suddenly think their are driving a sporty car.
A truck is a truck, if a SUV is based on a truck then it's simply a heavier version with more interior room that stop longer, accelerate slower, and cause more harm when to hit someone. When I see one I get out of it way simply because I don't want to be infront of one in case it couldn't stop like the rest of the traffic; not to mention their low beams looks like a high beam in my rear view mirror. huh....... what do people see in SUV, for me it's like to new fashion of wearing a pants with a skirts. image over practicality or eqivalent for someone buying a corvette just to cruise 60 on the fast lane.

 

Re: I rather be driving a minivan over most tall SUV

Sure minivans aren't as nice to drive as the smaller sporty cars. But it sure is more fun than similar size SUV and way more efficient and a lot more roomy.
I never understood the point of SUV, but then in the image-conscious America, it is kinda embarassing if you start to care about what others think. Most people could not even explain why they have an SUV other than it's cool..... All it is, is a huge chunck of gas gazzling walking danger waiting to happen especially when the driver suddenly think their are driving a sporty car.
A truck is a truck, if a SUV is based on a truck then it's simply a heavier version with more interior room that stop longer, accelerate slower, and cause more harm when to hit someone. When I see one I get out of it way simply because I don't want to be infront of one in case it couldn't stop like the rest of the traffic; not to mention their low beams looks like a high beam in my rear view mirror. huh....... what do people see in SUV, for me it's like to new fashion of wearing a pants with a skirts. image over practicality or eqivalent for someone buying a corvette just to cruise 60 on the fast lane.

Also, second to the "cool" factor, the other main appeal of SUVs is for those who think they need the 4WD to get from A to B, even if A to B is a quarter mile from home to the corner store on flat terrain in a mild rain or light snow. Don't get me wrong, I love 4WD trucks and I love sports cars (stick shifts, please!) and have had and do have both, but puleeze buy 'em and use 'em for what they're for (and by that I do not mean to be an ego-boosting bling-bling showcase of your wannabe pretensions, or as a reason to drive in weather that you practically admit to being unable to handle (another reason to avoid being in front of these vehicles - their often inept pilots) )! BTW, to your comment about their lights in your rearview - many of the big, bad SUV owners (the bling crowd especially) actually relish that their lights are so "visible" to those that share the roads with them and will go out of their way to make them as "visible" (i.e. blue tint, super bright, aimed high, etc) as possible.

 

But man, it's still a stinking minivan!

I agree..there is nothing worse to have to drive. But, with 3 kids..you gotta have it. We got one because my wife was up my a$$ about it for tooooooooo long...so I gave in. She is paying for that 30K decision now We both hate it. We leased a GTO and take it everywhere now............ and leave the van at home.

The van will be taking a trip to the outer banks......so..i guess is is good for hauling crap

 

I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death, but here are my reasons:

1. Fuel consumption has never been a material consideration affecting my car purchase decisions.

2. I pay more emphasis to performance, safety, luxury and utility for my family vehicle.

3. I find mini-vans provide better control, performance, and safety than a typical SUV.

4. Those SUVs that are superior in handling and safety to the Odyssey Touring all offer much less utility. Lack of room, no sliding door, no auto tail gate, much rougher ride, to name a few.

5. Honestly, I do not find driving an SUV fun whatsoever. They handle so poorly and in most cases, I can outrun them in my Odyssey!

6. Having driven many SUVS in less than ideal weather, I cannot say I like them at all in snow or rain. There is zero feedback in the steering wheel which is rather dangerous as one cannot tell the amount of available traction. We bought an Audi quattro for winter driving.

7. Don't understand the car image complex, I can understand why a straight man may feel feminine driving a pink Beetle, but SUV vs. mini-van, come on, they both look not particularly sleek (yet still better than the new BMWs).

8. Well, at least the mini-van has some utility while the SUV is good at nothing in my opinion.

9. If one needs the traction and moderate roominess, go with an AWD wagon which handles much better than a SUV and doesn't flip as easily (safer); if one needs the room, go with mini-van.

 

Re: I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death, but here are my reasons:

1. Fuel consumption has never been a material consideration affecting my car purchase decisions.

2. I pay more emphasis to performance, safety, luxury and utility for my family vehicle.

3. I find mini-vans provide better control, performance, and safety than a typical SUV.

4. Those SUVs that are superior in handling and safety to the Odyssey Touring all offer much less utility. Lack of room, no sliding door, no auto tail gate, much rougher ride, to name a few.

5. Honestly, I do not find driving an SUV fun whatsoever. They handle so poorly and in most cases, I can outrun them in my Odyssey!

6. Having driven many SUVS in less than ideal weather, I cannot say I like them at all in snow or rain. There is zero feedback in the steering wheel which is rather dangerous as one cannot tell the amount of available traction. We bought an Audi quattro for winter driving.

7. Don't understand the car image complex, I can understand why a straight man may feel feminine driving a pink Beetle, but SUV vs. mini-van, come on, they both look not particularly sleek (yet still better than the new BMWs).

8. Well, at least the mini-van has some utility while the SUV is good at nothing in my opinion.

9. If one needs the traction and moderate roominess, go with an AWD wagon which handles much better than a SUV and doesn't flip as easily (safer); if one needs the room, go with mini-van.

I agree...SUV's suck in all aspects...Except they get better MPG

 

SUV vs. mini-van

I agree...SUV's suck in all aspects...Except they get better MPG

I thought they're just as bad?

Have not been paying much attention to MPG, but my gut feeling is that our AWD wagon, high power sedan, mini-van, all weigh 4,000 lb+ and they use about the same amount of gas in city driving and have similar range.

I can forgive these cars for their poor mileage, as at the of the day, I can make use their utility, be it the roominess, smooth effortless power, luxurious ride, etc. But SUV? I just don't get it, pay for gas hauling such dead weight so high up the ground, poor high speed stability and cornering performance.

Unless high ground clearance is important, mini-van beats SUV in my books.