Toyota or Honda...

Which do you have? Why did you pick that one? Anything you hate about it? Anything you love?

We are out shopping and looking at all our options. We currently have a honda, it has been a good car, but we can get a better price on a toyota. I thought what better price for minivan info that momsview!

Thanks!

By Debbie on Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 07:16 pm:

Well, if you can get a better price on the Toyota, then I would get it. We have had both. We had our Toyota for 10 years, loved it, and never had a problem with it. We now have a Honda. We have had it for 2 years. I like it just the same. We went with the Honda because for the same options, it was $6,000 less for the Honda. I'm suprised you can get a better deal on the Toyota, they are usually more expensive. I think our Honda has a little more road noise, but other then that, I think they are very comparable. So, if the Toyota is cheaper, I would go with it.

By Sunny on Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 08:52 pm:

We have a Toyota. We chose it initially because the redesign allowed for 8 seats in some models, but since we bought it soon after it came out (and demand was high), we got a 7 passenger model instead! We have had it for nearly 5 years and have had few problems. The one problem we had was the power steering going at 30,000 miles, but it was covered under warranty. Our biggest expense maintenance-wise was new tires this past spring.

I've been very happy with our Sienna and see us driving it for another 5 years (hopefully) at least. But, I really don't think you can go wrong with either choice. I would test drive both and see if you prefer one over the other. One of the things I would look at and compare is the MPG. I just did a quick search and it looks like Toyota might have the edge there, too.

By Kate on Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 09:00 pm:

Wow...around here Siennas have always been much higher priced.

I have a Honda Odyssey purchased in 2006 brand new. I hate it. Seriously. It has great options, lots of features, very attractive and comfortable. However....the road noise is LOUD, ALL four windows squeak when in the up position...somehow the 'glass' squeaks within the rubber gasket. They've been professionally cleaned several times, they have been replaced, and it still happens. This happens in my Honda Civic, too, so it's a common Honda complaint and problem IMO. The alarm system is VERY TRICKY! I can't tell you how many times I manage to set it off!! So embarrassing! The automatic sliding doors take a looong time to close, and the headrests require a great deal of strength to raise up and down (these, too, have been professionally lubricated). Those reasons may sound really dumb, but I don't listen to the radio so the window squeaks and the road noise is a constant bother for me (not to mention the blaring horn when the car thinks I'm trying to burglarize it!!)

My sister has a Sienna. I highly advise that one, especially if you can get it for less money than the Odyssey!!

By Bellajoe on Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 09:17 pm:

We have a Sienna LE. We got it last year, it's a 2007. I still love it. Very roomy, 21 miles to the gallon, which works for me because I usually don't drive it too far, just within a 10 mile radius.

Why did we chose it over the Odessey? Because we like the look better. Not such a big rear end ;-) The rear windows roll down too, which is neat.
We didn't even look at the Odessey, but my sister and my brother both have Odysseys and like them.

Good Luck!

By Tarable on Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 09:39 pm:

I have an odessey and hated the road noise too but then I started hearing that it was the factory tires.. I got a new set of tires and it is SOOOO much quieter.. so when you are looking at the odessey make sure you look at the tires and see what they are. the factory ones are/were michilen and LOUD!!! or at least that was what the problem with road noise was on mine. and mine is a 2005. I like it okay but then again it was a hard switch for me.. i went from a mustang to a minivan... i really want another sports car.. I love cars with power and my van has a lot so that is the only reason that I chose it.. and we didn't look at toyotas when we got ours.

Good Luck car shopping..

By Amecmom on Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 11:06 pm:

Are you looking at other options? I havea Quest and I love it! My friend has a Pacifica which is great. Also, what car maker is giving a promo on gas? GM, maybe? $1.99 a gallon for a year? Something like that ...
Good luck.
Ame

By Tayjar on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 09:57 am:

Did you know the tires that come with new cars are really only considered "temporary" tires and should be replaced around 20,000 miles? My tire guy says it's one way for car makers to save money. He changes his tires as soon as he buys a new car. He won't let his wife take their kids in the car on the tires that come with it because often times they are "reject" tires.

I had never heard of this before but it now explains why I had to chang tires on my last 2 new cars by 20,000 miles. My DH thought it was just my driving habits.

By Karen~admin on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 09:59 am:

Don't own a mini van but wanted to comment on squeaky window noise in Hondas - I have owned a Honda Civic and currently own a Honda Accord; DH is on his 2nd Accord in over 20 years - we haven't noticed any window issues in any of the 4 Hondas we've owned. I DO agree that the headrests in all of our Hondas were hard to move up and down, though I have noticed the 2 we currently own have gotten easier as they have aged (they are both '98 models and we plan to keep driving them for a while!).

By Kate on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 10:10 am:

Karen, have you listened to your windows with no radio on and no conversation and perhaps during a day with moderate temps? Winter is worst because things shrink. Summer is much better because the gasket must swell up and hold the glass tighter. You're in a hot climate so maybe that's why you haven't noticed it. Next time you get a colder day take a listen....I'm curious! It happens on ALL FOUR of my Odyssey windows, but just on the driver's side door of my Civic.

Very interesting about the tires!! I will look into that although I hate to spend money on new tires!

By Kaye on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 11:45 am:

We own both an accord and an odyssey for the moment. I agree with the road noise. I haven't noticed a window squeek, although this isn't the first time I have heard that complaint. I bet warmer temps help us, although we had the van in cinci too. I don't know, I am going to look at toyotas today.

Right now we are just in a buyers market, toyota is doing poorly, so they want to sell cars. Their incentives are much better. On top of that there are several options for good deals, like through our insurance co and my hubby's company. So we are fielding all options. thanks for your input.

By Debbie on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 12:11 pm:

The windows in our Honda don't squeak, and we can get pretty cold here. I haven't had any issues with our alarm system either. I haven't set it off in the 2 yrs. that we have owned it.

By Eve on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 04:01 pm:

I have an Odyssey and love it. I test drove the Toyota as well and really liked how the Honda drove. It had much more pep and great features. I love my interior. It is a little noisier on the highway(over the Toyota), but it's a van and doesn't bother me at all. I really love it and am happy with my choice. My windows don't squeak either.

Best advice is to test drive. I thought I would love the Toyota, but just happened to like the Honda better. Good luck!

By Imamommyx4 on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 05:37 pm:

2007 Toyota Sienna--if I use my cruise control on the long stretches of country roads I get an avg of 23.3 mpg. We looked at the Odyssey and Sienna and some of the other minivans. When we bought ours in April 07, they were running some sort of big sale and we actually got it cheaper than the Odyssey which is what I thought I wanted. But after reading so many neg comments, I'm glad I wound up with the Sienna. Not sure I LOVE it, but am quite happy with it. No major objections or problems.

By Kaye on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 07:42 pm:

In my 200 honda I get 27 mpg when I drive on the highway and use cruise control.

I did go an test drive the sienna's today. I just can't quite find what I want. I do love that the toyota is much smoother in ride, but I did find the road noise to be tire related and not window related. The big kicker for me is you can't get the built in dvd and the sun roof in the toy, but you can in the honda. Also you have to upgrade a low model toyota to get the 8 seats.

I will keep yall posted with what we choose!

By Truestori on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 08:17 pm:

I'm not sure if you have looked into any other vans but I have a 2000 Mazda MPV and I absolutely love it! We intended on buying the Honda but the dealer couldn't get the color options we wanted. Plus in 2000 Mazda was the only van that had the windows that rolled down in the back for the children. It also came with the same folding rear seat in the back. Just thought you might want to know.

By Karen~admin on Monday, July 7, 2008 - 11:33 pm:

Kate-maybe that is why - we don't get much cold weather here at ALL. Road noise - yes, under certain conditions, I've noticed some road noise, but I'd buy another Honda in a heartbeat. We are planning on a few more years with the cars we have - and yes, they are ugly now, and aged, and don't have all the new features in the models since 1998, but with 2 paid off cars, regular maintenance and fluid changes, no problems with either (except for the fact that I would LOVE to be driving a brand new one! LOL), we will keep them a while longer.

OH - the BIGGEST negative I have always found with Hondas is the paint job - I don't think their paint is too highly rated. At least the *metallic* paints - my Civic was a light blueish/green (almost pale aqua) and the paint had some blister. My current Accord is dark metallic green, and believe me, I'm starting to feel like I'm riding a hoopdy ride these days, it really is beginning to look bad - though not bad enough for me to want to jump into a car note yet! LOL