That's right I said it a Honda mini van.

What I'm cross shopping is the price for about 34k I can have a 01 LS430 with 46,000 miles ML/NAV or a new 2005 Honda Ody EX-L with Nav and Res?

I have one 5 month old son and another 1 or 2 will follow next year or so. The wife loves her 01 RX and plans on keeping it but I do most of the running around with kid and parents. She works as a Eye Doc I sell real estate and like the idea of having Nav and plenty of room to drive clients around.

I just sold the 01 GS430 and the Tacoma and need a car quickly. Will I regret the buying one over the other? Sure the LS is sweet but I also would have no warranty in 4k miles unless I buy the 7/100k for about 2k extra.

The Ody mini van is really nice and is much improved over the previous generation but I can't decide if the LS will meet my needs a 1 or 2 from now.


Is the 01 LS as trouble free as one might assume?

 

Owning both a 2000 Odyssey and 2002 LS430 I'd say go for the 05 Honda for kids, clients and family trips. Go for the LS for yourself! Considering you have a RX in the family already you won't be Lexless...

 

I agree LS007! Get the mini-van now, you and your wife seem to be making good money so don't live to pay for the LS430. The honda mini-van with nav is upscale enough and reliable. The LS already has miles on it, so you can grow with the car. I have an 2001 LS and it's a nice car. I don't have kids though and you will be constantly trying to keep the kids from messing up the LS, more than you would the Honda van. Just my opinion, ultimately you have to get what you and your wife wan't to pay money for. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

 

You have distinct uses and while you could make either work they don't necessarily overlap. I feel you can use both cars as they hold importance in different areas. Maybe GX or LX instead...suitable as a family car yet still capable as a client-business car if kept clean.

With the kids come spills, stains and aromas. Once it has been broken in, at that point I'd be more conscious whether it can remain a business car. Which comes back to two cars.

In answer to your question, I'd select the Honda.

 

Your all correct about the Honda.

I worked a great deal on the 05 Honda for 1000 over invoice everyone else is getting close to sticker right now.

I found 3 LS430's online Friday and emailed all three dealers with an offer but only one responded which was the least favorite anyone.

This will be my first Honda I hope things go well

 

Going with the minivan is OK - but why the Odyssey? The Sienna is so much more Luxus-like! I had an '02 Odyssey and I know the '05 generation is much improved - BUT if you like the Lexus drive, you will never be completely satisfied with the Honda.

Don't get me wrong, Hondas are great vehicles (I've had many including currently an Acura RL), but they are not in the same class as the Lexus/Toyotas. Besides the fact that the Honda's Navigation system is probably better than the Sienna's, the Sienna wins hands down in all other aspects (IMHO).

You won't go wrong with any of these cars, but a choice would be more appropriate between the Lexus and Sienna; why the Honda?

Good luck!

 

We have a 2004 LS430 and a 2003 Odyssey. We have only one kid so far, and if we had to choose between the two, we'd pick the Odyssey every time because it is so easy to get the kid in and out of the car seat. The only time we take the LS anywhere as a family is for very long highway trips (8+ hours) since it is so much quieter and smoother on the highway. Otherwise, we take the Odyssey. So I agree with the others, the Odyssey is the way to go if you have kids.

 

No minivan will ever be parked in my driveway. Drive by any elementary school at 3:00 PM to see what you will look like. Bunch of clones having a big cluster.
A minivan is just a modern version of a Ford Country Squire station wagon. With the fake woodgrain removed. And taller.
I am looking for a GS, which I guess is the car you just got rid of.

 

Good point about the Sienna I realy like it but the Sienna Nav and Res is not as good as the Ody. Plus the Sienna with similar equipment was 4k more and after all it's a mini van and it's going to be beat up even with good care.

The deal killer with the Sienna besides the Nav was the comfort from the drivers seat. The Ody fit me better in every way. I'm 6'1 225-250 lbs depending on the time of the year and my arm sat better on the door and felt like a car when driving around. The Sienna felt a little mushy and van like.

Both are great cars but it comes down to a few little things here and there.

 

I said the same thing for years but now with the new Ody and Sienna I have changed my mind. I always planned on a Sequoia when the time came but the gas economy and 2.00 a gallon made me rethink my needs. My folks are up there late 70's and the mini van is great to pick them up in vs a SUV. The new Ody gets 20/28 mpg. For a car that tips 4500 lbs that's great.

I guess a new Supra or Vette will be nice a few yrs from now.

 

I would venture to guess that if you had an '04+ Sienna you would use it on 8+ hour drives as well - it is much quiter and smoother than the Odyssey (even the '05 Odyssey from posts I have read in Sienna and Odyssey forums) - close but not as quiet and smooth as the LS430.

 

Sorry viskha, bad guess. I test drove the 2004 Sienna twice before buying the 2003 Odyssey. The Sienna handled so poorly, and had such limited rearward visibility that I would never buy it or stand to drive it for more than 1 minute, even if it was the only minivan available on the market. The Odyssey's handling is vastly superior, in large part due to having an independent rear suspension.

 

put the kids in the rx. what the heck else is it good for? buy the ls 430 and you will be happy every day you own it. well except when youre in anything else.

 

Having both a 2002 Honda Odyssey ( since new) and a 99 LS400 (which i purchased about 6 months ago) I would go with the Honda.

It is sooo much more convenient for hauling the kids around and since it's higher up you don't break your back trying to strap them into their carseats. Plus the extra seating is handy for when the grandparents are over and you all want to go somewhere in one vehicle. Plus the available DVD is invaluable for longer trips.

Don't get me wrong, I love my LS, it's my stress relief for the daily commute to work but it's no substitute for the sheer hauling power (kids and just "stuff") that the van provides.

 

Pull the trigger on the Honda today.

Gave them 1k deposit and order my Ody with little hesitation. I took the van out one last time and loved it. I'm in pratical mode thinking these days and this car meets my needs.

8-12 weeks or sooner if they can dealer trade one.

Thanks all for your responses I still plan on posting here as a RX owner but with less excitement now that the GS is gone snif-snif.