Sienna inputs

I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.

Thank You
A former Chrysler minivan owner

Use the premium fuel and you will get better gas mileage, better performance
and you won' t be disappointed. The thing I don't like about the sienna vs
the honda is sharp fast turns. The sienna feels like a minivan, the honda
feels like a big car. but both are really good. Some people complain about
the Honda's transmission, but I have not heard a problem about the new 2006
models having the same problem. Enjoy the test drives.

"Bentracer and Bentrider" <lowbike1@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1145493861.958099.289650@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
> any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.
>
> Thank You
> A former Chrysler minivan owner
>[/color]

Chrysler must be doing something right, they sell five times as many
minivans as does Honda or Toyota


mike hunt


"Home" <home@home.com> wrote in message
news:SzB1g.1883$cs4.6@southeast.rr.com...[color=blue]
> Use the premium fuel and you will get better gas mileage, better
> performance and you won' t be disappointed. The thing I don't like about
> the sienna vs the honda is sharp fast turns. The sienna feels like a
> minivan, the honda feels like a big car. but both are really good. Some
> people complain about the Honda's transmission, but I have not heard a
> problem about the new 2006 models having the same problem. Enjoy the test
> drives.
>
> "Bentracer and Bentrider" <lowbike1@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:1145493861.958099.289650@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
>> any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.
>>
>> Thank You
>> A former Chrysler minivan owner
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

On 19 Apr 2006 17:44:22 -0700, "Bentracer and Bentrider"
<lowbike1@comcast.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
>any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.
>
> Thank You
> A former Chrysler minivan owner[/color]

You will find the Honda Odyssey to be a bit sportier handling. It
also has a more modern styling. It has slightly more powerful engine
which gives it a slight edge on freeway passing. The downsides are
few. Honda is very picky on maintenance. If you have a warranty
issue, they will verify that you have done all the recommended
service. The sportier handling allows more road noise and impact
intrusion into the cabin. Parts are more expensive, as a whole,
compared to the Toyota. Also, watch out for the "Touring" model as it
requires a special tire. The wheels on it are not measure in inches
like most US cars. They're 460mm. Good luck buying replacement tires
for that at a reasonable price.

The Sienna, by contrast, is softer riding and quieter. It's more
reliable in the long run and has a better warranty. Even with a
slightly smaller and less powerful engine, it feels more powerful
around town due to its better low rpm torque. The downside is that it
doesn't look as good as the Honda inside and out. This tends to sway
younger buyers during the test drives. Also, Toyota dealers don't
seem to fare as well as Honda dealers on new vehicle purchase
satisfaction ratings.

Pay particular attention to the difference in ride comfort and
silence. The Sienna is significantly better in both. This may be a
bad thing if you have loud passengers.

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 21:46:16 -0400, "Mike Hunter"
<mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Chrysler must be doing something right, they sell five times as many
>minivans as does Honda or Toyota
>
>
>mike hunt
>
>[/color]
They also have five times more problems, recalls, and five times more
likely to lose its resale value. They must be doing something wrong.

Viperkiller wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 21:46:16 -0400, "Mike Hunter"
> <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Chrysler must be doing something right, they sell five times as many
>>minivans as does Honda or Toyota
>>
>>
>>mike hunt
>>
>>[/color]
> They also have five times more problems, recalls, and five times more
> likely to lose its resale value. They must be doing something wrong.[/color]

It just goes to show that too many people are suckers for promotions and
misleading advertising.

Viperkiller wrote:[color=blue]
>
>
> You will find the Honda Odyssey to be a bit sportier handling.[/color]

I own a Sienna and have driven the Odyssey on a few occasions. While
the above is true, the Sienna's handling can be improved by replacing
the tires with something decent. Most Toyota cars come with tires that
appear to have been selected on the basis of cost and nothing else
considered.

Both the Sienna and Odyssey are fine minivans, although both tend to
the larger side of mini. Play around with the seats to figure out if
one or the other offers any advantages for the way your family plans to
use the vehicle. Drive both at night to compare. Long test drives are
the only way to be sure you like the car. Try to put a fair sized load
in the vans if that is the way you plan to use it. If more than one
driver plans to use the car be sure both like the seat adjustments and
comfort.

Hard to go wrong with either one of your choices.

NO FWD vehicle, not even a two seat coupe and especially not a van, has
'sporty' handling LOL


mike hunt


<dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1145556069.242664.269250@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Viperkiller wrote:[color=green]
>>
>>
>> You will find the Honda Odyssey to be a bit sportier handling.[/color]
>
> I own a Sienna and have driven the Odyssey on a few occasions. While
> the above is true, the Sienna's handling can be improved by replacing
> the tires with something decent. Most Toyota cars come with tires that
> appear to have been selected on the basis of cost and nothing else
> considered.
>
> Both the Sienna and Odyssey are fine minivans, although both tend to
> the larger side of mini. Play around with the seats to figure out if
> one or the other offers any advantages for the way your family plans to
> use the vehicle. Drive both at night to compare. Long test drives are
> the only way to be sure you like the car. Try to put a fair sized load
> in the vans if that is the way you plan to use it. If more than one
> driver plans to use the car be sure both like the seat adjustments and
> comfort.
>
> Hard to go wrong with either one of your choices.
>[/color]

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:O3edneQNztPvfdrZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> NO FWD vehicle, not even a two seat coupe and especially not a van, has
> 'sporty' handling LOL[/color]

Tried a Mitsubishi FTO? FWD and feels fairly sporty to me, but still not
quite a RWD (or 4WD).

J

"Bentracer and Bentrider" <lowbike1@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1145493861.958099.289650@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
> any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.
>
> Thank You
> A former Chrysler minivan owner
>[/color]

I have a 2005 one. Over all, the mechanics are great. My issue is the
battery drain. Seems a lot of us have this issue with 2004 2005 models. 2006
may have been fixed. I would invest in priority start if you gonna get one.
There are just so many electrical components that you probably should have
two batteries in the van.

I have the 2005 XLE AWD - love the awd!!

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 06:26:41 -0400, High Tech Misfit <me@privacy.net>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Viperkiller wrote:
>[color=green]
>> On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 21:46:16 -0400, "Mike Hunter"
>> <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Chrysler must be doing something right, they sell five times as many
>>>minivans as does Honda or Toyota
>>>
>>>
>>>mike hunt
>>>
>>>[/color]
>> They also have five times more problems, recalls, and five times more
>> likely to lose its resale value. They must be doing something wrong.[/color]
>
>It just goes to show that too many people are suckers for promotions and
>misleading advertising.[/color]


How true.

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:26:40 -0400, "Mike Hunter"
<mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>NO FWD vehicle, not even a two seat coupe and especially not a van, has
>'sporty' handling LOL
>
>
>mike hunt
>
>[/color]
I share the same preference of driving a rear-wheel drive. The
steering feels better and the handling more neutral due to the more
equal weight balance.

Having said that, I would say that the last two body styles of the
Honda Prelude would be the best arguments to the contrary, a losing
argument, but good contentions nonetheless.

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:25:26 -0500, "Dan J.S." <smeski@gmail.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Bentracer and Bentrider" <lowbike1@comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:1145493861.958099.289650@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
>> any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.
>>
>> Thank You
>> A former Chrysler minivan owner
>>[/color]
>
>I have a 2005 one. Over all, the mechanics are great. My issue is the
>battery drain. Seems a lot of us have this issue with 2004 2005 models. 2006
>may have been fixed. I would invest in priority start if you gonna get one.
>There are just so many electrical components that you probably should have
>two batteries in the van.
>
>I have the 2005 XLE AWD - love the awd!!
>[/color]
Do you have any aftermarket accessories installed? I find that
they're the ones that mostly drain the batteries.

AWD has its benefits. Anyone who buys this though should consider
that they will lose the spare tire. Most people probably won't care.

Mike Hunter wrote:[color=blue]
> NO FWD vehicle, not even a two seat coupe and especially not a van, has
> 'sporty' handling LOL
>
>
> mike hunt
>
>[/color]
Never drove an Integra Type R, did you?

see
[url]http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=44340[/url]

here's a paragraph
"Whereas other front-drive sport coupes seem peppy and sporty on the
street but quickly become a wet noodle dynamically when they are pushed
to their limits, the Type R is almost the opposite. It becomes better
the harder you drive it. Proof comes from real racing. In SCCA Pro
Racing's Speedvision World Challenge race series, race-modified Type
R's have won the Touring Car championship every single year since the
car's '97 debut. They dominated the 1998 and 1999 race seasons, taking
the first, second and third slots in the final standings."

Now a minivan isn't a sporty vehicle but the original post did say
sportier not sporty.
And as to your claim that no FWD vehicle is sporty - well you're an
idiot, Mike.

Mike's numbers are off again as usual:

[url]http://www.automotivedigest.com/research/research_results.asp?sigstats_id=478[/url]

In 2003, Chrylser sold twice as many minvans as Honda. I am sure Honda has
significantly increased share now since their new model came out in 2004 and
has been an incredible success.


We bought the Honda after test driving the Toyota, Chrysler, Ford, Honda and
Mazda.

If you want the middle seats that fold into the floor, that is the only
reason to buy the Chrysler. Honda and Toyota definitely beat it otherwise
in all respects. Ford and Mazda trail Chrysler obviously from first
impressions. Mazda is being discontinued or replaced.

Honda has better suspension and handling than Toyota. Toyota seats might be
more comfortable. Comparably equipped, the Honda is a couple of grand
cheaper than the Toyota. In the old days dealers were not discounting the
Honda which wiped out the Honda price advantage but now you can expect to
pay about $500 over invoice or a discount of around $3k.


"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:4n-dnQGmp6F0etvZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> Chrysler must be doing something right, they sell five times as many
> minivans as does Honda or Toyota
>
>
> mike hunt
>
>
> "Home" <home@home.com> wrote in message
> news:SzB1g.1883$cs4.6@southeast.rr.com...[color=green]
>> Use the premium fuel and you will get better gas mileage, better
>> performance and you won' t be disappointed. The thing I don't like about
>> the sienna vs the honda is sharp fast turns. The sienna feels like a
>> minivan, the honda feels like a big car. but both are really good. Some
>> people complain about the Honda's transmission, but I have not heard a
>> problem about the new 2006 models having the same problem. Enjoy the
>> test drives.
>>
>> "Bentracer and Bentrider" <lowbike1@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:1145493861.958099.289650@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>>>I would like your input on the Sienna minivan, the goods and bads,if
>>> any, i am in the market to buy this van or the Honda.
>>>
>>> Thank You
>>> A former Chrysler minivan owner
>>>[/color]
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]