That's all true if you are fairly close to a repair shop or tire shop, and can slowly limp to it, on the stiff run-flat sidewalls, at the low speeds and limited range (roughly 50 miles) required. But, have a tire failure with run-flats in the middle of Montana, or parts of West Texas, where even towns can be 100 miles apart, and that could be a different story. Not only that, but with run-flats, you put up with compromises in ride/handling, high replacement prices, (sometimes) a short tire-life, and limited availability in tire shops.

That's why I remarked (and still feel) that Honda could, if it had chosen to, one-upped the Sienna on the new Odyssey if they had offered AWD with conventional tires. But they chose not to. Time will tell if they were correct.

 

He's not disputing that. He's saying that it's a great marketing move, but the actual result is not always as the purchasers have been told.

 

Yes, that part's true, but it shows that people need to know what they are buying.....too may don't. And, no....slick-talking salespeople don't always help either LOL.

 

So ugly inside and out.

But it'll sell like mad b/c it'll be a solid and reliable minivan, and that's what counts.

 

Yeah ugly doesn't bother me. I like the idea that my mom can get into the third row lol

 

Disappointed it'll "only" have 280hp where as the 2017 Sienna will have 296hp.


My only complaint is why Honda can't seem to hide the rear wiper like Toyota.

 

Mom can get in the back. It could have a huge poop as a rear wiper and I'd buy it lol

 

Looks nice for a minivan, I actually miss the space of minivan sometimes growing up with my dad's 2001 Mazda MPV which had those sliding second row seats, which Honda is finally adding, surprised more companies haven't done so!

 

That's my point. I'm not advocating for run flats. You noted that run flats can be a bad "marketing move" for a minivan--becuase you are educated on the pros, and the cons, of run flat tires. Sales people will sway the uneducated minivan buyer into believing that run flats are better by telling them the benefits, and ignoring the detrimiments. And I'd venture to say that a good percentage of those buyers don't know any better--the Honda run flat debacle is a prime example.

People need to know--but most people don't know, and won't research it. It's just a fact of life.

 

enjoy the sweeping statements. must be why FCA sold over 200,000 jeep grand cherokees last year had mine two years, no issues. relative has had a town and country minivan probably 5-6 years in harsh NE winters and driven a TON of miles, and NO issues.

but hey, keep believing CR.

coudn't agree more, and local toyota dealer here does the same nonsense with 'value package' added to every model on the lot for thousands. i almost bought a toyota last go around (highlander) and told them point blank i'm not paying anything for that stuff since i don't want any of it.

 

I take cars apart for a living. What CR says is pretty much in line with what I see in the wild. FCA cars have earned that reputation. Sorry to say. If the newer ones are better, only time will prove that. We'll see. For now, it is what it is.

Sales means nothing. People buy unreliable cars all the time. How do you think the big Euro companies stay afloat? For the first two years, even the most unreliable cars will be trouble-free. As long as they make it thru the lease period, everyone is happy.

Those new Grand Cherokees are nice, tho! Surely helps with sales. The Rams, too. Real nice.

As for this new Odyssey, Honda needs to ease up on the design cues. The cockpit is SO busy and overstyled. The exterior has creases and curves all over. Remove half of them and it should be good. Shame the shifter is gone as well. I question the safety of this system. The screen looks like Best Buy installed it.

The seats look comfy tho! And the front looks good.

It should prove to be very reliable and surely will sell many.

 

CR never said all FCA products would be unreliable.........only that, in general, most of them have a worse-than-average reliability, which is correct compared to many other brands. That's not necessarily a reason not to own one, though, as many satisfied Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger/Challenger, and Chrysler 300 owners can attest to.

 

Sure. I'll believe your anecdotal single point of reference vs. major publications that track reliability like JD Powers and CR. Just saying...

 

Just because 200,000 sheeple purchased GCs last year, CR is wrong? Lots of viewers watch Duck Dynasty--does that make it a great show?

FCA surely puts out a more reliable product than 10 years ago, but c'mon now. You've had a great experience--1 out of hundreds of thousands.