Toyota v. Honda (and new v. used)?

[Lusitan]

Thus far I have kept up the family tradition of buying only used cars and driving them until they die. I have had a decent run with my mid-90s Toyota compact, but now the tally in my growing household stands at 4 (2 adults, 2 little kids) and we're in need of more space. Plus, the Toyota is showing its age as it approaches 200K miles.

So we're looking into minivans, basically narrowed it down to the Honda Odyssey or the Toyota Sienna. Anyone have any experience, good or bad, with either of these?

I haven't found the prices of used vehicles for these models to be very enticing, so for the first time in my life I'm contemplating buying a new car. It feels wrong. Talk me out of it!

(If past habits hold true, we'll probably hang onto this minivan for at least the next 10 years.)

 

[MasterBlaster]

Since the Japanese cars depreciate so slowly, especially Toyotas and Hondas, I could recommend buying them new. The discount for a used model just isn't enough in my opinion.

I would suggest the opposite for a domestic car if you have any interest there. They depreciate so fast that I would recommend buying a late-model used domestic car.

 

[73ss454]

Shop around, buying either one of these 2 cars new is not a bad thing. If buying American you are better off buying a 2 or 3 year old one but with the 2 you are wanting and the length of time you keep them I wouldn't worry, you can't go wrong.

 

[haha]

Either is great. I'd go new also, no one else's cooties to worry about.

Ha

 

[FinanceDude]

I had a couple Chrysler minivans before I got my 2006 Odyssey in 2007. I am a big Honda fan, I think the styling and handling are better than the Sienna, although both seem to have stepped their game up on the 2011s.

You can't go wrong with either one. I will say this, I have driven my neighbor's Sienna a couple times and although it is a little quieter than my Odyssey, the handling is floaty and numb, whereas my Odyssey drives like a CAR, but with the room of a minivan....YMMV.......

 

[W2R]

Either is great. I'd go new also, no one else's cooties to worry about.

Ha

+1

I haven't had any experience with the Sienna or the Oddysey, but Toyota and Honda are both good brands. Go for a test drive or two, and buy whichever appeals to you. Have fun choosing your new minivan!

 

[Gumby]

Either is great. I'd go new also, no one else's cooties to worry about.

Ha

I'm sure people would pay extra for your second-hand cooties, Ha.

 

[ziggy29]

Since the Japanese cars depreciate so slowly, especially Toyotas and Hondas, I could recommend buying them new. The discount for a used model just isn't enough in my opinion.

I would suggest the opposite for a domestic car if you have any interest there. They depreciate so fast that I would recommend buying a late-model used domestic car.

Agreed. The "buy 1-2 years old" strategy still works to some degree for some makes, but Toyotas and Hondas depreciate in so close to a straight line that I'd prefer buying new there.

 

[thefed]

you'll be fine either way. we ended up going with a nissan and have put a ton of miles on it with only brakes and one power window motor gone bad since 05 and 180k ish miles. and its peppy....but i think its ugly

stay away from domestic and you'll be fine imho

 

[Rustic23]

We had a 98 Accord and a 99 Camry. The Accord was a stiffer car. The Camry a much softer ride. Also the Camry's interior did not hold up as well as the Accord. Could be the Camry was parked outside, but the head liner was pulling loose, the visors were wrinkled, and the vinyl was pulling away around the door handles. Both cars were mechanically sound. We now own a Pilot and have had it for 3 years. Nothing but tires and oil change required.

 

[Ronnieboy]

Have a '96 Honda Odyssey. Still going strong. Don't think you can go wrong with either brand, IMO.

 

[wolf]

Luistan:

BE CAREFUL. I own a 2001 Odyssey. Bought new. 2000-2002 bad transmissions. Some owners have gone thru 3 already.

2003 + had recalls on transmissions.

Newer Odyssey's seemed to be Ok,

Check out this website: Very informative.

www.odyclub.com/index.htm

Quality of Honda's and Toyota's not what they used to be.

Friend bought a new Sienna a couple of years ago. Very dissappointed in the, I forget if she said the "sound level of the radio" or if it was the road noise in the van.....

Anyways, be careful of used Honda Odyssey. Handling is good. Major issue with Transmissions. (transmission problem also affected the accurra's for the same years).

Good luck...

 

[GoodSense]

I would go with the Toyota. We had a Honda with transmission problems at 120K. I think it's fairly uncommon but it left a bad taste. On the other hand, our 1999 Lexus is still going strong.

Buying new seems to make sense since both brands depreciate slowly. (This is a case of "do as I say, not as I do," since I have never bought a new car, either.)

 

[FinanceDude]

Toyota is not exactly having a great quality control time these days. In their fast pace to unseat GM, they have had several major recalls in the past couple of years. I think their race to be number one took somewhat of a toll on QC............

 

[F4mandolin]

If you are really planning on holding the vehicle for 10 years, I would go new. I am in the market for a new car this summer....used good cars of the Honda/Toyota/Subaru just aren't much cheaper than new.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

I bought a Honda Accord new in 2006 and haven't had to do much more than standard maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc...) It's been a great car and well worth buying it new - both for the price I paid and the peace of mind.

Instead of limiting yourself just to Hondas and Toyotas, you might want to consider the new Hyundai Sonata:

Hyundai Sonata Review - Edmunds.com

 

[Calgary_Girl]

We test drove both the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey before settling on the 2009 Odyssey (bought new).

The Honda Odyssey had more "pep" than the Sienna and was funner to drive (it is pretty quick for a mini van ). In addition, the Odyssey came with a sunroof (this was not an option on the Sienna; not sure why). Plus, I liked the body style of the Odyssey better than the Sienna.

I don't think you can go wrong with either; we just preferred how the Odyssey handled itself much better than the Sienna.

 

[FinanceDude]

I bought a Honda Accord new in 2006 and haven't had to do much more than standard maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc...) It's been a great car and well worth buying it new - both for the price I paid and the peace of mind.

Instead of limiting yourself just to Hondas and Toyotas, you might want to consider the new Hyundai Sonata:

Hyundai Sonata Review - Edmunds.com

I think OP wants a minivan, maybe an Entourage?

 

[RE2Boys]

Not quite answering your question, but thought I offer an alternative. You could save quite a bit on the purchase price if willing to consider a 2005-2007 Ford Freestar with low miles. Not as up to date as the Toyota/Honda but can be had for a good price. Just did a quick check on cars.com (Boston area )and saw a 2005 Limited version with 36K miles for $14K. May not be as reliable as T/H (hint: change tranny fluid every 30K per owner's manual) but you'd save a bundle up front. I've got two of these vans. Though may have to look at replacing in 5 years or so rather than 10.
Agree with other posters that if I was looking for Sienna/Odyssey I'd buy new. I've been leery of Chrysler QC to consider one of their vans, know too many folks that have had troublesome Chrysler vans.

Good luck on your search.

RE2Boys

 

[2good]

We own a 2005 Toyota Sienna. And it has a sunroof (I don't know why Calgary Girl could not get the Sienna with sunroof).
We had 1 issue so far: the stereo display would act up (not readable). It seems to reset when the car is turned off. This happened a few years ago and seems to be self-correcting? No problems within the last 2 years. Maybe they fixed it at the dealership when I had it there for oil change. I don't remember.

 

[2good]

Not quite answering your question, but thought I offer an alternative. You could save quite a bit on the purchase price if willing to consider a 2005-2007 Ford Freestar with low miles. Not as up to date as the Toyota/Honda but can be had for a good price. Just did a quick check on cars.com (Boston area )and saw a 2005 Limited version with 36K miles for $14K. May not be as reliable as T/H (hint: change tranny fluid every 30K per owner's manual) but you'd save a bundle up front. I've got two of these vans. Though may have to look at replacing in 5 years or so rather than 10.
Agree with other posters that if I was looking for Sienna/Odyssey I'd buy new. I've been leery of Chrysler QC to consider one of their vans, know too many folks that have had troublesome Chrysler vans.

Good luck on your search.

RE2Boys

We had a Ford Windstar (Freestar is basically the Windstar with some cosmetic updates). This Van needed new steering column and tranny repair within the first 50k miles.
It is good that you have two of these vans, one to drive and one for spare parts. (sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[Texas Proud]

Agreed. The "buy 1-2 years old" strategy still works to some degree for some makes, but Toyotas and Hondas depreciate in so close to a straight line that I'd prefer buying new there.

My sister (who had bought used for many years) said that it is not even straight line...

Here example... if a car is good for 150,000 miles... and they have 75,000 on it... they are asking MORE than half of the original price...


She just bought a new Camry... got $6k off sticker...

 

[F4mandolin]

Somewhat on a side note....if you are after enough room to seat 4-5 uite comfortably and still have some room and decent mpg (30+ highway).....Subaru Outback? The new ones are comfy, little short of power on the 2.5 CVT.....but good enough.

 

[Texas Proud]

I would go with the Toyota. We had a Honda with transmission problems at 120K. I think it's fairly uncommon but it left a bad taste. On the other hand, our 1999 Lexus is still going strong.

Buying new seems to make sense since both brands depreciate slowly. (This is a case of "do as I say, not as I do," since I have never bought a new car, either.)

Yes, Honda and Acura was having a lot of problems with their 6 cyl vehicles and 5 speed trannys... it was NOT uncommon... One guy at work had 3 within 100K on his Acura... another had 2 within 30K on his Honda minivan... I bought a 2004 Acura (with manual) and they had a recall on the autos to install a new oil sprayer... I think they finally found and fixed the problem...

 

[Texas Proud]

Motorweek just had a quick review of the new Honda... can not remember much about it, but they said it handled a lot better than any other minivan...

I don't think you can go wrong with either...