MiniVan Question - Dallas,GA

Here is what Consumer Reports has to say on the Oyssey and Sienna for the years you're looking at:

There are 5 ratings, they they classify as "Better" to "Worst", so my 5 are going to be "Excellent," "Good," "Fair," "Poor," and "Bad"

Honda Odyssey 06: Overall got a "Fair" rating.

Honda Odyssey 07: Overall "Fair"

Toyota Sienna AWD 06: Overall "Fair"

Toyota Sienna FWD 06: Overall "Good"

Toyota Sienna AWD 07: Overall "Poor"

Toyota Sienna FWD 07: Overall "Good"

These ratings take into account recorded data regarding necessary repairs on engine repair, engine cooling repair, transmission repair, drive system, fuel system, electrical, climate system, suspension, brakes, paint/trim, body integrity, body hardware, power equipment, and audio system.

And I'll toss out the Chrysler & Dodge minivan ratings, too, just because they're here.

Town & Country 06: Overall "Bad"

Town & Country 07: Overall "Bad"

Caravan 06: Overall "Bad"

Caravan 07: Overall "Bad"

Nissan Quest 06: Overall "Bad"

Nissan Quest 07: Overall "Poor"

If I knew any other minivans off the top of my head, I'd look them up for you, too!

We have a Honda and love it!

I had a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan...loved EVERYTHING about it - EXCEPT the maintenance.

We now have a Honda Odyssey Touring - I love the reliability of it - but don't like the "function" inside...lack of storage, poor positioning of cup holders, poor positioning of chargers...but those are small potatoes when it comes to the safety and reliability.

We gave my husband's 1994 Honda Prelude to my nephew - it's STILL running strong...my husband has a 2004 CRV - can't complain about Honda.

I'm sorry to hear of your town and country having so many problems. I currently own a town and country for the past 3 years. (my first chrystler) and I love it! I've had zero problems. I feel the same way over never owning a ford taurus again tho.lol If you want to go with a mini van I would definately suggest an Honda Oddysey! My neighbors have one, as well as friends and they absolutely love em. Very highly rated safety wise and very comfortable vans! I tend to see that the Hondas and Mazdas do last longer than our American cars tho. Growing up I knew many friends whos hondas had over 200k miles and still ran like champs! Hope this helps, good luck to you!

Love my Odyssey -- 8 years old and going strong.

I've found that mamapedia members tend to be huge HOnda Oddysey fans!!! It seems like every time there is a question about minivans it is soon followed by 10 posts from people who love, love, love their Honda Odyssey.

We also felt the Odyssey was well out of our price range. We owned a 1999 Pontiac Montana and just last summer purchases a 2006 Montana. I love it! My only teeny, tiny complaint is that it does not have the "stow and go" seats. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking Dodge might be the only ones who have those. I have not heard great things about long term maintenance on the Dodge Caravan, so I've never been interested in buying one.

I agree that the minivan is the way to go. When the kids are little (and especially when there's more than 2 of them), minivan's are great. One thing I didn't even think about before owning one is how great the sliding doors are. My boys are rough and don't think (they're little, of course they don't think) and would have scratched and banged up many, many cars by now if it weren't for those sliding doors. Love them! And any newer minivan will have the buttons. My 1999 Montana did not. Had to close those doors myself. It's really nice dropping my son off for school and not having to climb out or lean over in order to help him out.

We have an 09 VW Routan, but if we had a bigger budget, we'd have gone with a Honda Odyssey

DO NOT BUY A KIA!!! That is really my advice. lol However, I'm an insurance agent so if you narrow it down to a couple choices, get the VIN and then contact your agent or insurance company for a quote. It may be the deciding factor. Good luck!

I have a 2007 Honda Odyssey and love it. Not sure what reviews you are talking about, since we checked reviews before we bought and they were glowing.

We have a 2005 Odyssey and love it! Very reliable, well designed minivan. I'm not sure what would have gone off track in 2006 or 2007? Knock on wood, we've only had a couple of recalls and those were very minor issues (something with a side door lock and I can't remember the other) and otherwise it's just regular maintenance. We're at around 80k miles and are still as happy with it as we were when it was brand new.

We have had a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan for about 2 years, and we LOVE it. I love that it has a ton of power -- it is a V6, but has more 'pick up' than the Sienna that we test drove. I love that the seats fold down, into the floor, so you either have more space without the seats, or you have more storage in the floor. Right now, we leave one of the seats down, as we have 3 kids, and then there is ample room to change diapers, or for the dog to sit when we have to take her somewhere. The only thing I have ever had a problem with is the air vents in the middle row don't seem as strong, but I don't know if that is just me.
Maintenance has been normal -- nothing out of the norm for this age of car. We didn't have the money for a Honda, even though I was in love with my previous Honda car. This was a huge bang for the buck for us ($13,000 for a mini van with only 40K miles). Good luck!!!

We just bought a used 2008 Honda Odyssey and I love it! They were pushing the Town and Country on us but the reviews were overwhelmingly poor. I first talked with the guys who we always brought our car to for oil/tire/general maint. about what cars they see the most in their shop and what cars they would recommend. They were in favor of the Odyssey in general.

I would revisit the town and country idea. I love mine. No crazy repairs needed in the 5 years I've had it. Just my opinion.

We have the fully-loaded 2000 Toyota Sienna. Love everything about it, but wish the back seats could be folded down into the floorboard instead of just removable. I think they changed the newer models. Other than that, I can highly recommend the Sienna. Ours has 150K miles and still going strong.