First let me say that I am TOTALLY happy with our 2004 Ody EXL-RES. We have had it for about 10 months and 12,000 trouble free miles. I love it.
However, it is not my daily driver, it is my wife's. She likes it, but will "never love a mini-van". She really wanted a Toyota Sequoia when we bought the Ody, but with the deal we got on our 2004, the Seq would have been around $15,000 more.
That said, I would really love to get her what she wants. I have a vehicle that I love (Tundra), and she never gives me grief when I go out and get toys for me and the kids (dirt bikes, ATV, etc..).
I really feel, and so does she to some degree that the Ody really meets our needs probably better than any other vehicle, but she wants a Seq.
Anyone made the switch??? If so, what can you say about it...any regrets???
I didn't make the switch, but I can tell you that since we bought our '01 Sequoia in July of this year my wife has become the envy of all the mini-van driving moms she comes in contact with. She has even had total strangers RUN out to catch her in the parking log in order to find out what she is driving.
They really drool over the seating for 8 kids and the leather seats.
I like it because I will be able to do some modest off roading with the kids in Colorado. Don't think you could do that with an Ody. That, and it is a great driving vehicle.
The price was the main reason we went used. We were perfectly happy with he features and options found on an '01. There was no way we could afford a new one.
We haven't found the access to the rear seat being that big of a deal. The way the second row seat flips forward leaves a nice hole to step through on your way to the third row. I've even sat back there myself.
And in case it gets asked...YES we have used all eight seatbelts
we contemplated the same thing, well almost. the mrs. wanted the MDX but we could only afford the sequoia. we didnt want to lease anymore but the dealer had a killer lease deal on the odessey, 2 years @ $260 per mo.
the guy at the honda dealer was honest and put it to us this way " if you dont get the car you really want, you will spend your time felling bad or jealous every time you see somebody else driving down the road in the car you wanted. if you buy the car you want, you wont have a care in the world about what anybody else is driving because your happy".
the odessey is awsome , convienient, and turns on a dime! the sequoia is big, spacious, and affordable. the MDX came with black preforated leather, DVD-player, and viscous AWD 265 horsepower drive train. well, needless to say, we got the MDX. the mrs. has been on cloud nine ever since. only comments on hummvees now.
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We bought a 2003 ody before the twins were born. only has 8k miles on it. It is actually a sweet minivan.
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It is better to remain silent and have people wonder if you are an idiot, rather than to open your mouth and prove to everyone you are an idiot beyond all doubt. ~ Jim Rogers
Just bought a 05 Seq with the lux package which had split 2nd row seats and removable center console. Since we have two car seats rear center console comes out easily and the extra kids we haul once in a while can get in the back 3rd row quite easily without having to remove car seats just to flip seat up. Kids love the entertainment system too, and I love the Navigation system.
Just bought a 05 Seq with the lux package which had split 2nd row seats and removable center console. Since we have two car seats rear center console comes out easily and the extra kids we haul once in a while can get in the back 3rd row quite easily without having to remove car seats just to flip seat up. Kids love the entertainment system too, and I love the Navigation system.
I am in the same boat as far as car seats go. In 2004 Illinois passed a law that all kids under 8, have to be in car seats/boosters. Given this, car seats will be in our lives for a bit longer. I have two kids, and when we take more than our immediate family it usually is senior adults (my parents, or my wife's). So with the van, it is pretty easy for my wife and mom or mother-in-law to get to the third row. Ease of accessing the third row, was always another reason for not getting an SUV.
Now that the Seq has the second row captians chairs, it really becomes a better option for us.
Actually we have both vehicles and are happy with both. the odyssey is obviously more car like and still seats seven. gas mileage is better but I am waiting for the snow to see how it does. We love both vehicles but if I have to choose one it's a no brainer............the Sequoia is more versatile but then again it costs me TWICE as much per month! The Odyssey(EX) had a sticker of around 25k(no leather, DVD) so for $279 a month for three years it was a great deal. Mike
Well we jumped from a Pontiac minivan to the Sequoia and couldn't be happier. Same seating capacity but gobs more space, comfort, up higher, tons more safety features, 4WD for gittin' to the ski hills, and can tow a much bigger trailer than we have now.
The downside is the gas mileage but driving along at the speed limit the gas consumption is pretty close to what the van was. Towing the trailer at the speed limit the difference is even less. In town you can hear it going glug glug glug. But hey, I ride my bike to work eight months of the year!
So for us, it's a much better situation.
Now, if we had bought the Ody back in 2000 like I should have, it would have been a much tougher decision, I'm sure. But hey, when you're hankerin' for a big trailer, a Sequoia is needed first!
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2001 Toyota Sequoia SR-5 4WD
2001 Toyota Rav4
2005 Starcraft Antigua 305QBS travel trailer Our Excellent Camping Adventures!
Back in early '02 we looked hard at the Odyssey. We actually were ready to sign papers and they started B.S'ing us on our Accord trade in so we walked. After another month or so, I finally got the wife to drive the Seq. and we never looked back. I gotta say I am a happy man.
Funny story, while we were at the Honda dealer they had free hot dogs and I was outside getting one and the girl working there was like, 'What's wrong?' and I was like 'Ahh man, I'm getting a minivan' and she just laughed at me. What can I say, I've never been big on minivans.
By the way, there is no need to pay $40k+ for a new Seq. We got a fully loaded SR5(well, without the leather) for $34k and it seems prices have only come down since '02. I think low $30's you can get a nice setup. Still more than a minivan will cost you, but at least not 2x as much. /Mike
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2001 2WD Silver Tundra: 4x4 TRD springs, Daystar 1", Carson AAL, red/blue Bilsteins, 265/75 Revo's, IS kit(minus bumper) and rims(hand polished), RF851X amp, Alpine HU, JL 6.5"XR comps, Qlogic with JL 8W3V2 subs. 185k miles and counting......
2005 Silver Sienna LE with 12" Overhead DVD
I go deer, spring turkey, and fall turkey hunting. After two hunting trips with the Odyssey. I got stuck twice and the front drivers inner (black plastic) fender fell off from mud. I had to go to Honda to get the special fasteners and that cost me around $20.00 USD. Later on we received in the mail the extended warranty for the transmission. ALthough, we had past the warranty mileage - we started to notice some transmission issues. Then our sliding door started to give us problems. Although, my wife loves this van and misses it. We decided to get the Sequoia based on the fact that we had a Toyota in the past that we got 200K miles on without any problems. Furthermore, we needed something more rugged for my hunting trips and to tow our boat with. We like the the eight seats for all our children and their friends. I really like this vehicle! It is super. It was a great choice for us.
We owned an '01 odyssey before we purchased our '04 Sequoia. I had 112k on the Honda, but it was on its third replacement transmission, and I just could not justify keeping it. The Toyota has been a great vehicle, but it will be the last "big car" we own. We wanted to stay with the row, and love the SUV feel, but miss the 22-23 MPG we got in the Honda. My kids were older, and not in car seats anymore. If you have younger ones, I liked the sliding doors,and low back seat heights. Also the Toyota was better equiped with sunroof, and a much better sound system.
I do like the split third row in the Toyota. Gives us more options for cargo.
My Ody had 75K miles and it seemed like the transmission was starting to act funny. We do a lot of towing, so decided to get the Sequoia for a more robust towing rig. I have noticed already that it is a lot quiter and smoother ridingthan the Honda, but a LOT harder on the fuel bill too.
Anyone jump from an Honda Ody to a Sequoia?
That, and it is a great driving vehicle.
odyssey
We traded our 99 Odyssey EX for a 04 Sequoia SR5
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