Topic: Been Spoiled by our Odyssey...

[dave 2]

Doesn't anyone care about resale value

We all know how Chrysler and GM minivans depreciate like heck.

[airbalancer]

Doesn't anyone care about resale value

We all know how Chrysler and GM minivans depreciate like heck.

If you are young with a couple of kids, better to get an inexpensive vehicle and put more of your money into a house.
If you kept the van for 7 years , the Odyssey will be less then 10 gs the Caravan will be less then 5gs.
 which  vehicle  depreciate the most?

[Saywhaat?]

To sum up...your car is better than a car that costs half as much?  I certainly hope it is.

The 2007 Odyssey Touring MSRP is $48,100.  The 2007 Chrysler T&C Limited is $43,795.  The only Odyssey's that I have seen are fully loaded.  I have never seen a base vehicle on any dealers lot, most are fairly well loaded with options.  Btw, the Chrysler is better equipped than the Odyssey, and yes, it probably does have a discount.

Note: Also the Honda has Standard Navi (optional on the Chrysler), sunroof and side curtain airbags. Crazy that side curtain airbags are optional on such an expensive vehicle and (on Chrysler.ca) "non-combineable" w/ the sunroof!
Personally I think that indeed the Oddyssey Touring model in specific is a bit pricey, but the EX-L @ $40000+1505 Freight (+$2XXX for the RES) is a pretty good value (imo).

[1TSX]

To sum up...your car is better than a car that costs half as much?  I certainly hope it is.

The 2007 Odyssey Touring MSRP is $48,100.  The 2007 Chrysler T&C Limited is $43,795.  The only Odyssey's that I have seen are fully loaded.  I have never seen a base vehicle on any dealers lot, most are fairly well loaded with options.  Btw, the Chrysler is better equipped than the Odyssey, and yes, it probably does have a discount.

Note: Also the Honda has Standard Navi (optional on the Chrysler), sunroof and side curtain airbags. Crazy that side curtain airbags are optional on such an expensive vehicle and (on Chrysler.ca) "non-combineable" w/ the sunroof!

+ 3.5 L V6 that produces 244 HP vs. 3.8L that produces 200 HP.

Does the T & C have a 4 speed or 5 speed auto?

[johngenx]

A 3 year old Sienna or Odyssey is probably the best value in a mini-van today.  Even though they're Toyota/Honda products, they depreciate pretty hard.  A three old one has 80+% of its usable life left and typically costs less than 2/3 of a new one.  A 2004 Sienna can easily be found for close to $20K flat, or less.  Personally, I'd rather have a 2004 Toyota than the new Dodge.

That said, I know why people buy the new Dodge.  Better financing rates, a full warranty, and so on.  But for me, I don't really care that much about warranty coverage when buying a high quality product and even if you're financing, the difference is not so much that I wouldn't buy the Toyota.

[PJungnitsch]

Good point. My sister and her husband are looking for a van and the 'lightly used Sienna route' is the way they are going to go. They've had such good luck with their Matrix and have heard so many Caravan horror stories that going for a Dodge wasn't an option, and as mentioned Toyota and Honda minivans depreciate surprisingly quickly.

That said, they are established enough now that financing a used vehicle isn't a problem.

[Snowman]

A 3 year old Sienna or Odyssey is probably the best value in a mini-van today.  Even though they're Toyota/Honda products, they depreciate pretty hard.  A three old one has 80+% of its usable life left and typically costs less than 2/3 of a new one.  A 2004 Sienna can easily be found for close to $20K flat, or less.  Personally, I'd rather have a 2004 Toyota than the new Dodge.

That said, I know why people buy the new Dodge.  Better financing rates, a full warranty, and so on.  But for me, I don't really care that much about warranty coverage when buying a high quality product and even if you're financing, the difference is not so much that I wouldn't buy the Toyota.

That is exactly what my neighbour beside me does; they have a driveway full on new 4 year old Toyotas…..and the daughter’s boyfriend has my ’93 Tercel….all the same color.

[1TSX]

A 3 year old Sienna or Odyssey is probably the best value in a mini-van today.  Even though they're Toyota/Honda products, they depreciate pretty hard.  A three old one has 80+% of its usable life left and typically costs less than 2/3 of a new one.  A 2004 Sienna can easily be found for close to $20K flat, or less.  Personally, I'd rather have a 2004 Toyota than the new Dodge.

That said, I know why people buy the new Dodge.  Better financing rates, a full warranty, and so on.  But for me, I don't really care that much about warranty coverage when buying a high quality product and even if you're financing, the difference is not so much that I wouldn't buy the Toyota.

That is exactly what my neighbour beside me does; they have a driveway full on new 4 year old Toyotas…..and the daughter’s boyfriend has my ’93 Tercel….all the same color.

What color?

My cousin had a 91' Tercel, in a light greeny teal color! It was disgusting. 

[Craig]

Relatives of ours in Ottawa have 3 gold Toyota Corollas of the previous vintage.  A mother and her two daughters.  It's a depressing sight to drive by when they are all parked in one driveway.

[Snowman]

A 3 year old Sienna or Odyssey is probably the best value in a mini-van today.  Even though they're Toyota/Honda products, they depreciate pretty hard.  A three old one has 80+% of its usable life left and typically costs less than 2/3 of a new one.  A 2004 Sienna can easily be found for close to $20K flat, or less.  Personally, I'd rather have a 2004 Toyota than the new Dodge.

That said, I know why people buy the new Dodge.  Better financing rates, a full warranty, and so on.  But for me, I don't really care that much about warranty coverage when buying a high quality product and even if you're financing, the difference is not so much that I wouldn't buy the Toyota.

That is exactly what my neighbour beside me does; they have a driveway full on new 4 year old Toyotas…..and the daughter’s boyfriend has my ’93 Tercel….all the same color.

What color?

My cousin had a 91' Tercel, in a light greeny teal color! It was disgusting. 

Almost as bad...

[carjoe]

In my case, we bought the domestic because it was good value. When we leased, the Odyssey was $150 more a month, the Sienna was $200 more a month. I couldn't get anybody at the Chrysler or Mazda dealership to talk to me, so i can't tell you the difference...

I've got a house and daycare to pay for. My fully loaded Montana does the job just fine. I hate some of it's features but it's my wife's daily driver and if she loves it, then the domestic was the right choice.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the domestic was the van I had to buy, not wanted to buy.

[Trainman]

In my case, we bought the domestic because it was good value. When we leased, the Odyssey was $150 more a month, the Sienna was $200 more a month. I couldn't get anybody at the Chrysler or Mazda dealership to talk to me, so i can't tell you the difference...

I've got a house and daycare to pay for. My fully loaded Montana does the job just fine. I hate some of it's features but it's my wife's daily driver and if she loves it, then the domestic was the right choice.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the domestic was the van I had to buy, not wanted to buy.

Individuals need to make decisions on what works for them.  I see leasing a domestic as a viable option, if leasing is what works.  For us, in our situation, we wanted a vehicle we could keep for 10-15 years without having to worry too much, so leasing was not an option and a higher quality (at an admittedly higher price) vehicle was the answer.  Only time will tell.

That being said however, my wife would like us to explore buying a slightly used vehicle next time as the 3 year old lease return Pathfinder I use for work has been a pretty good deal.  But that won't be happening for a few more years   

[safristi]

when's yer Wife's lease UP....wanna try a new MODEL.... .....

[DockMan]

I wouldn't spend $40K on a vehicle to carry the kids around.  $20K can pay for a lot of activities for the kids.

Amen! Thanks for a little reality.