Parents bought a new van, cars really have changed.

"RMudkips" (rmudkips)
08/14/2015 at 16:08 • Filed to: None

After 17 years with our beloved 2nd generation Odyssey and the past two years of said Odyssey becoming a little wonky, we’ve decided to do a lease for four years, followed by a buy out for a new Ody EX. The differences between the two vans are crazy to me, as I’m accustomed to the frugal basics of the homely 2nd gen Ody. Below are the surprises I encountered in the van, as if I went straight to 2015 from 1998.

- THERE ARE TWO SCREENS AND ONE OF THEM CHECKS YOUR BLIND SPOTS

- THE POWER SLIDING DOORS EACH HAVE POWER WINDOWS THAT GO UP AND DOWN.

- THE SECOND ROW HAS A COUPE SEAT LEVER THING FOR ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW

- YOU JUST PULL DOWN A STRAP TO FOLD DOWN THE THIRD ROW AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO PULL OUT THE HEADRESTS

- YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR OWN A/C AT THE BACK AND IT BLOWS AIR AT YOUR LEGS

- THE CYLINDERS DEACTIVATE IN NORMAL TRAFFIC

- IT’S KEYLESS AND YOU CAN OPEN THE SLIDING DOORS WITH THE FOB

- THERE IS A DRIVER USB PORT

- I CAN’T FOLD DOWN THE CENTER CONSOLE TABLE BUT AT LEAST THERE’S A LITTLE SPOT TO PUT DOO DADS UNDERNEATH THE TRAY THING

- I CAN’T TURN A KNOB TO TUNE THE RADIO WHY

In short, I’m really flabbergasted by the features in the new Ody.

DISCUSSION (10)

Ash78, voting early and often > RMudkips
08/14/2015 at 16:15

If I could distill our 2015 model into a single concept, it would be Bland & Pointless Exuberance.

Lots of features that are practically worthless, lots of corners cut on materials quality and build quality. But there is lots of space, seats are comfy, power is decent...it’s okay. I don’t hate it, but I wouldn’t recommend it, either. Would definitely not buy again.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > RMudkips
08/14/2015 at 16:15

My mom has a 2009 Odyssey EX, and it’s fantastic. I’m sure your parents will love theirs. Ours is unbelievably practical, and I bet the new one is even more practical. What actually surprised me about this post, though, is actually the amount the 6 year old van and brand new van share in common, despite the similar trim levels. Ours has power sliding doors, the “coupe seat lever thing,” third row pull strap, tri zone climate control, and the sliding doors that can be opened via key fob. Anyway, congratulations on their purchase and I hope they enjoy it!

Rainbow > RMudkips
08/14/2015 at 17:41

Agreed. My parents went from a base 2005 Dodge Caravan to a base 2015 Ford Explorer. Both are base models, but the ten years between them has made such an incredible difference. I still don’t get any luxury stuff in the back, but I have my own AC/heater controls and everything is just designed so much better.

Alex B > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/14/2015 at 17:58

My family has an 08 EX-L! We generally share the same feelings as you.

I personally wanted to get rid of it this summer, but my mom says the practicality to valuable to her. My dad was up for getting rid of it, but oh well! It’s staying.

The Tri-Zone climate control is so great. I’m not sure if the EX’s have the screen for the back climate, but they should. And with the sun shades, seat recline, and middle seat turned into a console it’s almost like you’re being chauffeured around.

The main thing I wish ours had is the power tailgate.

Alex B > RMudkips
08/14/2015 at 18:01

The Odyssey is a pretty classless vehicle, meaning that people of all status drive them.

At least by me, these things share garages with Mercedes GL’s, S-Classes, Land Rovers, all kinds of higher end vehicles.

Nothing can beat the practicality, reliability, and easy ownership experience that these offer .

RMudkips > Ash78, voting early and often
08/14/2015 at 20:30

Yeah, that’s what I’m feeling about the gizmos inside the van. Just more things to break in the long run. But hey, when it’s new might as well just appreciate the control zone A/C!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Alex B
08/14/2015 at 20:35

Awesome! Ours does have the screen for controlling the climate in the back. I do agree about sitting the back. It’s great for long trips. As for the power tailgate, we don’t really care because my family is generally tall.

Speaking of rear seats, I though it was funny when everyone made a big deal about the Pathfinder’s sliding second row even though my mom’s 6 year old minivan has them.

Coincidentally, my parents are looking at the new Pilot and I tried to convince them to trade in our van as well. However, if we do get a Pilot, we’re going to trade in my dad’s TL (my parents prefer a higher seating position so we'd naturally get rid of the sedan). I don't mind; I quite like our van (it'll be my first car and it's the source of my screen name).

RMudkips > Rainbow
08/14/2015 at 21:20

Thank goodness. There wasn’t any base models left on the lot and we didn’t bother to order one from scratch, so we went with the zone A/C and the double screens.

Alex B > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/15/2015 at 11:01

The 3rd row is actually pretty usable as well, although I prefer a second row seat. It’s always been that my little brother and older brother have gotten the second row seats, and I had the third row all to myself. I liked this because of not having to share with anyone. Now that I’m older and taller the 2nd row is preferred, but my little brother refuses to sit back there because he can’t hear the conversation going on up front. Ż\_()_/Ż We are all tall too, it’s just a nice feature to have.

The pathfinder can slide while still having a car seat in the 2 row of seats, which is why it’s a big deal.

My mom wanted the second gen pilot, we got as far as test driving it once. I’m not sure they’re entirely aware of the new one yet. We haven’t owned a sedan in over a decade. They lived near Colorado Springs from 95-00 so they got into the Jeep SUV life. Moving here (Bucks County PA) We had a 93 Grand Cherokee and some kind of leased, loaded Saturn Sedan, which was the weirdest thing. My parents are generally against GM products, and it was leased which they never do either. Once we got rid of the Saturn we got an 04 Liberty, which I quite liked. We had all three cars for a bit (the GC, Liberty and Odyssey) then we gave the Cherokee away and were back down to two. In 2013 the Liberty got totaled in an accident and we got a Leaf.

I think if the Model X was out during that time we would have sold the Odyssey, bought that, and then some kind of gasoline back up vehicle.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Alex B
08/15/2015 at 12:31

I’ve spent entire 12 hour trips in the third row of our Odyssey.

The Odyssey was actually my family’s first car that wasn’t a sedan/hatchback/wagon. In 2009, my dad wanted a more practical vehicle, so he started looking at a Pilot. However, he read a review that said if you’re looking at a Pilot, just get and Odyssey. My mom hated the minivan at first (she wouldn’t even sit in the front seat during a test drive), but she tried it out once and instantly loved it.

Now, my mom refuses to get anything but a minivan or SUV due to the seating position. My dad is getting tired of crouching down into his car, so the TL would have to go if we got a new car.