Another great thread. I can not wait to be a minivan owner. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

That will be a no-no. No just to swap them with one with Michelins. Same wheel design so they don't have to unmount/mount tires. Unnoticeable for many :dunno:

 

Thank you Boat.

 

Awesome. I would use that 700 for extended warranty.

I went to three dealerships in different town. EX-L with res or nav come with Michelin. EX-L with no res or nav come with continental tires. I guess All I need is to ask right? I will be happy man if it s possible.

 

Ask them to swap tires and wheels with other one on the lot to close the deal. That should not affect anything on the car at all

 

5k and no led daytime running lights really? Oh, New Honda insight come with LED DRL. Yes, I do care.

I was looking at EX-L NAV because they come with Michelin tires. (EX-L no nav or res come with continental tires).

I like how michelin tires look on ody. With continental tires on ody, they don't look...good depending on the colors. No offense.

Tough decision. Smart route is to buy EX-L and swap out for Michelin Tires. As right now, Michelin Tires cost under 700 bucks(4/14/12).

 

I was looking at EX-L NAV because they come with Michelin tires. (EX-L no nav or res come with continental tires).

I like how michelin tires look on ody. With continental tires on ody, they don't look...good depending on the colors. No offense.

Tough decision. Smart route is to buy EX-L and swap out for Michelin Tires. As right now, Michelin Tires cost under 700 bucks(4/14/12).

Not really. Honda just has 2 suppliers for the 17in tires: Michelin and Continental. Many LX, EX and EX-Ls come with Michelins (including my EX-L W/res). 2011s and 2012s

 

The blind spot indicators have saved me from minor scrapes at least twice in 6000 miles, and I'm talking front end. I agree that the camera does the job backing up. I am surprised to hear myself say it but I think they should be standard equipment on all vehicles. Having said that I'm damned if I know why they put the off switch where they did. Sooner or later you'll find you've accidentally turned the sensors off. Hopefully not when you're relying on them. You need to make the on light part of your start up scan.

 

Your talking about the parking sensors not the blind spot info system.

 

So pop in an aft market set. I don't think they're in the same class as airbags and seat belts but I'll grant you I've never driver with a set and we have several fatalities a year with moose vehicle collisions in this part of the world.

 

I'm just trying to determine if I'm missing something in terms of value in the Touring that warrants a substantially higher price?

The extras in the Touring are not essential so the "values" are entirely dependent on you. I was looking at a 2010 Touring but ended up buying a 2012 EX-L, simply because the rear-view camera in the new EX-L is so much better than the one in the 2010 Touring, which makes parking so much easier with such a big car.

I think overall the 6-speed is the future and will make the car drive better, although there seems to be bugs associated with being a new feature. Memory seat would be nice since my wife and I are of two different sizes. This has proven to be unnecessary as once you get used to the van, it is not hard for each one of us to quickly find our favorite driving positions. The parking sensors are not necessary once you have a good rear view camera. The blind spot sensor is also not necessary since it is easy to turn your head to the left to check. I do not want honda's NAV. We as a family decided that RES is more of a distraction, and we prefer to use iPod/iPad when we need entertainment in the rear. To me, EX-L represents just the right balance of features and cost (even though I don't care much about leather as they are of high maintenance). B/c of the reliability record of Odyssey, we used the money "save" on an extended warranty for 8 yrs.

 

Spend the extra 5k on something else. Exl with res is fine

 

Don't think I've ever seen a Touring in my part of the world that wasn't leather. But I chose the EXL myself because I didn't think I was getting enough to warrant the extra cost. Everyone makes their own decisions.

 

I can see the bigger difference between EXL-REs or NAV and Touring Elite, but it think it's another 10k difference at the end of the day.

I've never had Xenon lights and have no idea what they are. If their purpose is to make the roads look brighter then I'd rather have leather seats over Xenon lights any day.

 

I've never had Xenon lights and have no idea what they are. If their purpose is to make the roads look brighter then I'd rather have leather seats over Xenon lights any day.

You see a LOT more of the road and a LOT better too. Frankly, it's a safety thing. Can you live without it? Sure. You can live without airbags and seatbelts too. It's more akin to stability control though, in that it's a feature that helps prevent a crash in the first place, rather than help save you life after a crash.

 

We reap what we sow. A "Touring"we will go. A"Touring"we will go.
But let's face it. We're not exactly talking hardship here with either choice.

 

Get the Touring. Alternative may be marriage counseling.

 

I like the alternative comment lol

 

Don't forget about the Touring's multi-informational display (i-MID) that allows you to change the van's settings (i.e. door locking behaviour) through control buttons mounted on the steering wheel and a small screen on the dashboard.

 

Yes, I guess my question should be, if comparing a regular Touring and EXL-Res or NAV, are the extras worth 4-5k? I guess to each their own but i'm not so sure it's worth it.

 

Are the extras worth 4-5k? I guess to each their own but i'm not so sure it's worth it.

Exactly, opinions will vary from member to member.

IMO:

• I'd say that yes, completely worthy if I wanted to have them but to add those after buying the car instead (note: original Honda equipment options, not after market parts like a TomTom). There is a slight chance you'll save money and also, think about the amount of downtime the van will be at the shop/garage and the warranty issues even if it is OEM
• I'd say no if I don't perceive them as important or critical for my family hauler needs (which is my case)

Check this thread, it might help your decision:

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-20...forums/54-2011-odyssey/142093-why-did-you-choose-what-trim-level-you-chose.html

 

My Canadian EXL has proximity parking sensors. I think its because they heard about my driving record.

 

I liked the touring badge, so I though it was worth the little extra

 

I'm shocked nobody mentioned it before

 

I'm a sucker for Pearl White paint so I had no choice.

 

<sigh> This is my wife's rationale. My fault since I'm the one who convinced her that white pearl on our Lexus looks a lot nicer than the graphite she originally wanted. Now she's in love with the white pearl paint.

I'm also the one who convinced her of the superiority of xenon headlights, back when I bought a BMW (she was telling me to get leather, I wanted to spend my limited funds on xenons instead).

Now, we went from considering an EX-L to her demanding a Touring Elite. Not just the Touring cuz she must have the xenon headlights also.

 

Other things the Touring has that the EX-L does not:
- Mirror turning lights/markers
- Proximity bumper sensors
- Glossy finish pillars and tailgate spoiler
- Color matching side skirts

 

Don't forget the 2 extra speakers in the D pillar.
18" Rims and memory seats

Edmunds

Honda

 

Touring has the 6 speed. Though this may not necessarily be an advantage worth paying for.
Touring has 3rd row sun shades.
Touring has a fancy plastic piece on the back between the tail lights.
Touring or Touring Elite has blind spot radar.
Touring or Touring Elite has xenon headlights I believe.
Touring Elite adds widescreen RES and surround sound.
There's more, read the brochure.

 

Touring does not have blind spot monitoring. TE only. TE HID lights add auto on/off-Touring does not. Not sure what fancy plastic piece between tail lights your talking about but maybe I missed that. Just sayin.