First, I'm so glad to be getting rid of my 1994 Pathfinder. This was my 'dream' vehicle from when I first saw one in 1988. However, the vehicle just didn't live up to the what I had envisioned. Here are the big problems:
- lack of room lack of room lack of room. I cannot fit 2 car seats and 3 people in.
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BIIIG negative.
- lack of cupholders!!! This is more of an issue than it seems. I take this thing all over the southeast and not having cupholders has been a HUGE issue. I use window-based cupholders and end up spilling the contents of my coffee or Slurpee on the carpet about twice a month as I'm raising the window and forget about the d*** thing. The only alternative for this vehicle was (a) a nifty cupholder made by overlandoutfitters(?) which hooked into the ashtry but unfortunately they dropped the mold & broke it about the same time I was going to order it and didn't plan to retool (old vehicle and all) or (b) find a wrecked 95 Pathfinder to swipe the center console lid from (they finally put in a couple of cupholders in the last year they made the hardbody version of this!)
- lack of power (that V6 really chugs on the hills around Nashville even w/ 'power' mode enabled)
- expensive to repair. Everytime this goes into the shop, it seems like I get a bill for $1000.
Ok, that's not to say that I am against SUVs or the Pathfinder; rather its a lesson in buying something 'because you've always wanted it' (ie 'passion') versus doing actual research (this forum & edmunds.com, etc.) on what your needs are and finding the appropriate vehicle. I hope that's what I'm doing this time w/ the Ody.
Do I think the Ody is the panacea for all my woes? No. I just think its a well-made vehicle that should provide safety & durability (not to mention a little flash!) for my family for many years to come.
Lack of sunroof: I don't think this is an issue w/ the Ody. I can tell you I wanted a sunroof BAD so when I got the Pfinder, I got one w/ a sunroof.
Big deal. Hardly noticed it being there. My 1976 Monte Carlo w/ a power sunroof I used when crusing around my high-school parking lot got alot more use. I've come to realize that now since I'm 35 and married, having a sunroof so I can 'impress the chicks' (come on! That's what it was for!) is not a valid enough reason for having one. Sure, it was fun to take off occasionally but I don't think I'll miss it so much on the van.
With the countdown to Ody 2001 approaching, I'm getting more reflective on the whole purchase; reassuring myself this is the right choice and pointing out mistakes I've made in the past.
- lack of room lack of room lack of room. I cannot fit 2 car seats and 3 people in.
- lack of cupholders!!! This is more of an issue than it seems. I take this thing all over the southeast and not having cupholders has been a HUGE issue. I use window-based cupholders and end up spilling the contents of my coffee or Slurpee on the carpet about twice a month as I'm raising the window and forget about the d*** thing. The only alternative for this vehicle was (a) a nifty cupholder made by overlandoutfitters(?) which hooked into the ashtry but unfortunately they dropped the mold & broke it about the same time I was going to order it and didn't plan to retool (old vehicle and all) or (b) find a wrecked 95 Pathfinder to swipe the center console lid from (they finally put in a couple of cupholders in the last year they made the hardbody version of this!)
- lack of power (that V6 really chugs on the hills around Nashville even w/ 'power' mode enabled)
- expensive to repair. Everytime this goes into the shop, it seems like I get a bill for $1000.
Ok, that's not to say that I am against SUVs or the Pathfinder; rather its a lesson in buying something 'because you've always wanted it' (ie 'passion') versus doing actual research (this forum & edmunds.com, etc.) on what your needs are and finding the appropriate vehicle. I hope that's what I'm doing this time w/ the Ody.
Do I think the Ody is the panacea for all my woes? No. I just think its a well-made vehicle that should provide safety & durability (not to mention a little flash!) for my family for many years to come.
Lack of sunroof: I don't think this is an issue w/ the Ody. I can tell you I wanted a sunroof BAD so when I got the Pfinder, I got one w/ a sunroof.
Big deal. Hardly noticed it being there. My 1976 Monte Carlo w/ a power sunroof I used when crusing around my high-school parking lot got alot more use. I've come to realize that now since I'm 35 and married, having a sunroof so I can 'impress the chicks' (come on! That's what it was for!) is not a valid enough reason for having one. Sure, it was fun to take off occasionally but I don't think I'll miss it so much on the van.
With the countdown to Ody 2001 approaching, I'm getting more reflective on the whole purchase; reassuring myself this is the right choice and pointing out mistakes I've made in the past.
