Honda Odyssey

[honda03842]

We have completed our weekend camp out at our 50th anniversary party with my brother arriving from Montana and camping beside us.

The 2004 CRV got better mileage towing than our 2014 Odyssey by about 2 miles per gallon. I believe the CRV with it's manual transmission and neutral option got higher mpgs on downhills, often over 100 mpg when rolling.

The Odyssey definitely gets better mileage than the CRV when not towing.

The Odyssey certainly has more room and more power.

On this weekends trip towing our Scamp 16 the Odyssey got 19.3 MPG on the way out and 19.8 on the way back.

Overall we are very happy with the Odyssey, towing and not towing.

In the previous post 'rooms' should be revs. The Odyssey's engine turns at about 60% of the CRV's engine.

[honda03842]

All the Minivan owners on the site probably realize how comfortable a minivan can be as a people mover, but we did not. We have a slew of people staying with us for our anniversary over the last couple of weeks and have had the occasion to fill the van.

It easily carries 6 or 7 in comfort. Great seats and leg room. Even the young jokers who spouted 'soccer mom' to Ginny recognize the spacious comfort it provides, adjustable seats, arm rests, individual air conditioning controls/vents plus tons of storage even with all the seats up.

I would be shocked if there were not an Odyssey or two added to our family in the next couple of years, presently most of our larger family own CRVs and Accords.

[GMike A]

Let me say this too. I got on ebay and purchased the 6K Daylight SMD LED bulbs for my Honda and wow you would not believe how bright and how much light they throw out for the map reading and in the back flood light compartment area. It was a "kit" with enough bulbs and two spares. A YT video shows how to take the lens off w/o breaking them. I used a plastic knife end. JMO

[MC1]

Mike... sounds interesting. Do you have any more info on the led kit. Wonder if I could get one for our Sienna.

[honda03842]

Mike, What year Odyssey do you have?

[GMike A]

Use this link and put in the information. I have an 08. Not sure what bulbs are in later vehicles. Mine were incandescent.

15x SMD White LED Lights Interior Package Deal for 2005 2010 Honda Odyssey | eBay

[GMike A]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJeJtizKT3o

Honda light installation

[honda03842]

Thanks Mike for the installation link and the Ebay link. They do have them for the 2014 Odyssey. I bought set, $24 with free shipping.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by honda03842

All the Minivan owners on the site probably realize how comfortable a minivan can be as a people mover, but we did not. We have a slew of people staying with us for our anniversary over the last couple of weeks and have had the occasion to fill the van.

It easily carries 6 or 7 in comfort. Great seats and leg room. Even the young jokers who spouted 'soccer mom' to Ginny recognize the spacious comfort it provides, adjustable seats, arm rests, individual air conditioning controls/vents plus tons of storage even with all the seats up.

I would be shocked if there were not an Odyssey or two added to our family in the next couple of years, presently most of our larger family own CRVs and Accords.

You always notice a brand more after you buy one yourself.
But I have never noticed such a number of others on the road
as I have the Odyssey. This area is full of these. I always have
leg room, comfort, etc. as a top priority because of our health
concerns. Practicality sometimes may win over the comfort as
did our Taco did. But we traded it for our Odyssey. Not sorry about
it and after seeing how you beefed yours up, I'm not concerned
about needing another TV if our health improves enough to jump
back in.

Everyone we take in our comments on it's roominess, etc.
Same when we bought our 2012 Scion xB. I bought it for the room
in front and back and mpg. Two great autos in our garage. And
still have my ASTRO van because I've always liked them. And I use
it to tow my utility trailers when needed..............lol

[mrscottyg]

Originally Posted by honda03842

The location for my connector is the same place Honda would mount a 4 pin connector. The 4 pin connector is tucked in behind the plastic covering of the bumper after connection to the 7 pin connector.

Also mounting the hitch requires cutting the bottom of the plastic bumper, not visible from the rear.

When I installed the hitch and wired our 2011 Odyssey, I found the Hopkins Multi-Tow (7 pin + 4 pin) connector fits snugly between the Odyssey connector mounting bracket and the bumper. I was not able to bolt the harness in place, but it is held securely with a zip tie. I think it tucks in there quite nicely.

For those who are considering the OEM Honda hitch with a 7 pin connector, this is a great option.

[honda03842]

I like your choice of connector. Had I seen it first I would have used it though I've never towed a trailer with a 4 pin connector though one never knows....very nice.

Where did you purchase it?
Thank you.

My Odyssey LED bulbs arrived from Ebay today. Took about 15 minutes to install them all. Oops... I see the link to etrailer. Thank you

[mrscottyg]

Norm, I purchased it from e-trailer.com; you can click on Hopkins Multi-Tow in my previous post, and it should take you to the product page on their website.

[MC1]

Scott... look neat and tidy.

[honda03842]

Storage
We like to have a place for things and have been adding to our storage spaces in the Odyssey.

There are two dead spaces in the front of the Odyssey under each seat. The seats move back and forth above these spaces.

I've added a covered plastic container in each space held in place by a bungee cord.

Our CRV had a drawer under Ginny's seat.

[honda03842]

It turns out there are 6 places for plastic containers like this so I bought some more ($1.97 ea) and we now have six 6 quart covered containers in under seat areas. The two under the front seats are held in place by bungee cords.

[honda03842]

This may be the way all new cars are but we've never had headlights like those on the Odyssey.

Now we hardly ever drive at night but were recently. It appears that the Odyssey's lights make a half moon of light in front of the car, and one that's not too tall on low beams.

Is this the modern way?

[carlkeigley]

I don't drive at night either........will have to check this out on the lights.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by honda03842

It turns out there are 6 places for plastic containers like this so I bought some more ($1.97 ea) and we now have six 6 quart covered containers in under seat areas. The two under the front seats are held in place by bungee cords.

That's really good to know.
My wife is always complaining about the clutter I
make with my books and magazines I take along
when I wait in the car while her and daughter are
at a doctor's appointment or just shopping.

[honda03842]

I often will read while Ginny's shopping, mostly because she's a slower shopper. I always have my smartphone with a number of books or simply just read the newspaper or news on line.

We have become dependent on the smart phone for all kinds of functions.

We have assigned two of the 6 plastic containers, one contains CDs and another is a substantial array of first aid items.

[honda03842]

It appears that Ginny's choice of the Odyssey was excellent. It's non-towing highway mileage, over 35 mpg, is the best of any vehicle I have ever driven.

It also tows with ease and gets decent though not CRV miles per gallon, achieving just over 19 mpg on our first camping trip with the Odyssey.

It is like owning a cave, it is a substantially larger volume than our CRV and a more comfortable car, the seating approaches motor home comfortable. It is decidedly quieter than the CRV, partially because the engine speed is about 60% of the CRV.

Today I noticed how well it corners, definitely like a much smaller vehicle.