[FrontierOdy]

My Question: Does the EX-L come with the leather wrapped steering wheel? If not, does it make sense that this should be part of the package?

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"You can call me anything, but never call me late for dinner!"

01 Nissan Frontier SE CC
02 MB EX-L RES (End of March)

 

[nemogira]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by FrontierOdy:
My Question: Does the EX-L come with the leather wrapped steering wheel? If not, does it make sense that this should be part of the package?

</font>

Nope.

Strange, I know. They do however have an accessory wood/leather steering wheel for 2002s. Although I don't know if anyone bought one yet.

-Nestor

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2000 CCS EX-NAVI

 

[Lead Foot 60]

You can also order a Leather Steering Wheel cover for less than $40.00 through some of the parts suppliers listed in the links section of this terrific web site.


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ODY in Waiting,
95 Volvo Turbo Wagon,
91 Mitsu GSX
83 Volvo Turbo Wagon

 

[02EXLODY]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by FrontierOdy:
My Question: Does the EX-L come with the leather wrapped steering wheel? If not, does it make sense that this should be part of the package?

</font>

Don't you agree that the EX-L should come with a few extra's? I notice a lot of the top of the line model mini vans come standard with fog lights, mud guards etc... The one I don't understand is the luggage rack. What's the point if it doesn't come with the cross bars. I'll probably never use mine but I'm getting the cross bars. Everytime I look at the top of my Ody it looks like they forgot something. Oh well. .



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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT

 

[Maugham]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by 02EXLODY:
Don't you agree that the EX-L should come with a few extra's? I notice a lot of the top of the line model mini vans come standard with fog lights, mud guards etc... The one I don't understand is the luggage rack. What's the point if it doesn't come with the cross bars. I'll probably never use mine but I'm getting the cross bars. Everytime I look at the top of my Ody it looks like they forgot something. Oh well. . </font>

There have been some complaints here about the crossbars due to increased wind noise and also their low weight carrying capacity.

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Regards,

Maugham
_ ________________________ _

"I plan to live forever. So far, so good"
'02 RP EX-L
'85 Prelude
'01 Ninja folding aluminum scooter
'00 New Balance Model 658 Shoes w/ Green grass stains and '01 White Laces
Rockport MW351 Brown Boots (for winter) and '00 Brown Laces

 

[FrontierOdy]

I know the leather wrap is relatively inexpensive, so I'm not that worried about it. It just seems that this is the type of thing that should be included in the "leather package". The last 5 vehicles I've purchased had this, and none of them had leather seats!

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"You can call me anything, but never call me late for dinner!"

01 Nissan Frontier SE CC
02 MB EX-L RES (End of March)

 

[02EXLODY]

Originally posted by Maugham:
There have been some complaints here about the crossbars due to increased wind noise and also their low weight carrying capacity.

Thanks Maugham. I don't think I want the wind noise. My friends at Church have the crossbars. I think I'll take it for a drive before I make a purchase. Do you have crossbars?



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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GOV

 

[Stargazer]

I really think it's a matter of economics and Honda trying to maximize profitablilty.

Yes, you can buy an aftermarket leather cover for the steering wheel--that's what Honda hopes people will do--at least they wouldn't have to pay for it the extra assembly line cost (i.e. you can have any colour you want as long as it's black

).

Sure a nice cover is about $40 but I think it's still "cheap" in vehicle that's supposedly leather trimmed.

It's the same with the roof rack. Honda knows that a lot of people don't use the roof rack so they do the cheap thing and don't include the cross bars. What other manufacturer does not include a full roof rack with their top of line trim level?

Save money, maximimze profits--all corporations do that, but let's hope other manufacturers don't start doing what Honda is doing by removing previously "standard" items

.

 

[Ken W]

I agree with frontierody and stargazer. For 15 hundred smackers they should give you at least the leather steering wheel. Fog lights and heated mirrors (Canadian style) should be included too. This is the only vehicle I've ever seen that did not include the wheel and shifter with the leather package. For anyone who thinks it is because they have to use so much leather on the Ody's three rows of seats, you should know that the 3rd row is entirely vinyl, and only the seating surfaces of the other 4 seats are leather.

I truly think that just like the dealers, Honda is just not trying that hard to increase the appeal of their product. The good news is that they don't have to. The engineering/manufacturing side has done such a good job that the marketing side can lazily sit on there buts and count money. They didn't have to give me any extras to get me to pay full price. Now I find myself using the seat heaters even on not-so-cold days just to justify the expense.

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'91 Sentra SE-R
'57 Chevy Belair Sport Coupe.
If at first you don't succeed...so much for skydiving.

 

[Maugham]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by 02EXLODY:
Thanks Maugham. I don't think I want the wind noise. My friends at Church have the crossbars. I think I'll take it for a drive before I make a purchase. Do you have crossbars?</font>

I was going to get some crossbars but decided against it. The clincher was that we were able to easily carry a 9' christmas tree (wrapped in a plastic dropcloth) inside the van with no problem.

It would be hard to tell from driving a van with crossbars just how much they contribute to noise. I think about the only way to know would be to ride the same van with and
without bars.

If it looks like we need to carry something on the roof, I'll look at other manufacturers such as <a href="http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8000110_7.html">Yakima</a> or <a href="http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/carrier_location.asp?dept_id=2&location=1">Thule</a>. I am concerned about carrying bicycles up there out of fear of scratching the paint lifting the bikes up there, so I'll put them inside.

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Regards,

Maugham
_ ________________________ _

"I plan to live forever. So far, so good"
'02 RP EX-L
'85 Prelude
'01 Ninja folding aluminum scooter
'00 New Balance Model 658 Shoes w/ Green grass stains and '01 White Laces
Rockport MW351 Brown Boots (for winter) and '00 Brown Laces

 

[02EXLODY]

Originally posted by Ken W:

For anyone who thinks it is because they have to use so much leather on the Ody's three rows of seats, you should know that the 3rd row is entirely vinyl, and only the seating surfaces of the other 4 seats are leather.

Really. They sure smell like leather to include the 3rd row bench. Where did this info come from? Anyone else have vinyl seat backs and a vinyl 3rd row bench? This is news to me. If it's true I'm taking my Ody back.

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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GOV

 

[02EXLODY]

So where did you get the info on the vinyl? Sounds crazy to me.

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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GOV

 

[moose]

Somewhere I know I read that there is only leather in areas that come you come in contact with in the first two rows. The sides and possibly the outside backs are vinyl. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the third row seat is vinyl. That information sounds correct to me.

 

[02EXLODY]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by moose:
Somewhere I know I read that there is only leather in areas that come you come in contact with in the first two rows. The sides and possibly the outside backs are vinyl. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the third row seat is vinyl. That information sounds correct to me.</font>

Interesting. From what I can tell all seats are leather. Even the side panels are leather. I called the dealer and the guy laughed when I said someone mentioned vinyl. He said all seats to include the side panels are leather.

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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GOV

 

[02EXLODY]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by moose:
Somewhere I know I read that there is only leather in areas that come you come in contact with in the first two rows. The sides and possibly the outside backs are vinyl. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the third row seat is vinyl. That information sounds correct to me.</font>

Moose, This is my first vehicle to have leather. I went out and looked again and it's very possible that the sides and backs are vinyl. The seating surfaces on the third row bench seem to be leather. Is this common on all vehicles with leather. I guess it makes sense. Why would the back of the seat be leather. Anyway, it's all good to me.


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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GOV

 

[Shumdit]

It is common to have the seating areas (where your body actually touches when sitting in the seat) be leather and the back of the seats, trim around the seat bottoms, and in some cases the headrests made of vinyl. I have worked as the Service Manager for an Acura and BMW dealership, and this was common in some of both brand's vehicles. I think the third row seating areas on the Odyssey are leather, and I am sure the back of the seat is vinyl.




[This message has been edited by Shumdit (edited 02-24-2002).]

 

[Stargazer]

I'm pretty sure the Odyssey has leather in the 3rd row and my guess it's just on the seating surfaces because, as mentioned already, it's a common practice.

The MDX is the one that has vinyl in the 3rd row. (I remember reading one reviewer who actually said that this was a "plus"

.)

 

[02EXLODY]

Thanks for education on the leather. I feel like I've learned something new today.

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2002 GG Odyssey EX-L
1988 Ford Escort GT
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GOV

 

[FrontierOdy]

Wow. I was just wondering about the steering wheel. I think I got a lot more information than I bargained for.

Thanks all!

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"You can call me anything, but never call me late for dinner!"

01 Nissan Frontier SE CC
02 MB EX-L RES (End of March)