Honda Odyssey or Nissan Quest buying used?

[cancer_survivor_06]

I currently drive a nissan altima but since dd4 will be getting her wheel chair w/in the next two weeks it is time to upgrade. The only vehicles I have ever owned have been nissans so naturally I have been looking at the quest but I like the fact that the third row seat in the honda's that I have been looking at have a 20/80 type split bench so I wouldn't have to fold down the whole seat. My budget is to not spend more than 15,000 w/ which I can get the nissan model and all the features that I want w/ around 50,000 miles or the honda w/ most of the features I want and over 100,000 miles. So I am just curious if the honda is worth it or should I just stick to the nissan.

 

[rheffelf]

We have a 2006 Honda Odyssey LX- base model without the fluff. Love it. Love it. I can honestly say as a dad I like driving this van. Drives like a car- very smooth. Never had a Nissan. Only did American until this purchase. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Nissan minivans when we went looking seemed smaller on the inside and I didn't like how the seats folded in the back. Didn't like the instrument panel either. I do like the Odyssey's split 3rd row seats in the back. Usually keep one up and the other down- stroller fits nice this way.

 

[Adi12982]

We are a Nissan family - my family (mom) has a 15 year old quest that has never had a major breakdown (knock on wood). My brother is in a wheelchair and or many years that was the van to transport him. I think you should focus on trunk space, as she grows so will the chair. Good luck!

 

[Suz D]

We are a Nissan family - my family (mom) has a 15 year old quest that has never had a major breakdown (knock on wood). My brother is in a wheelchair and or many years that was the van to transport him. I think you should focus on trunk space, as she grows so will the chair. Good luck!

We had a Quest and had a major problem happen two times. Some manifold bolt broke. The first time it was over $1000 because they had to pull the whole engine out. The second time we ended up trading it for a Sienna which we LOVED. Because of the bolt problem we got much less for the Quest on the trade in. According to the mechanic that fixed it the first time, that bolt thing was a chronic problem with the Quest. I did some research (not alot) and found that to be true. Ours was an older Quest (it was about a 1995-ish model) so that may have been fixed now, but it did prevent us from buying another Quest. Other than that problem, we really loved it so I'll be interested in this thread. I wouldn't mind getting another one if that issue has been fixed.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I have a 2004 Nissan Quest and I can not wait to get rid of it. I have had nothing but problems with this car. I usually buy a car and drive it forever. My previous car was a Dodge Caravan with 250000 miles on it. I thought I could keep this Quest forever, but no such luck. I am taking it in for an oil change this morning and I am already dreading the fact that they will give me some other items that need fixed. Maybe I just have a bad one, because I know other people love the vehicle. My next one will be a Toyota Sienna.

 

[Luv2trav]

I have a friend who has had problem with their Quest. They have had it for 3 years and finally traded it in. We have a Sienna and LOVE it....

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

I.

 

[lisabarr]

I also had a child in a wheelchair. I traded in a small SUV for a Toyota Sienna. My back just couldn't take the lifting of his wc into the SUV. I have been very happy with the Sienna.

 

[majimikate]

I am currently driving my 3rd Odyssey and love it!! I would highly recommend them for reliability as well as space, interior cabin, and trunk especially. Mine is an 8 passenger that we have stuffed with kids, sports equipment and luggage and always have been able to fit what we needed. I would think that a wheelchair would fit very well into the trunk space as it could easily go in standing up and there would still be space for other things as well. Good luck with your decision!

 

[KelNottAt]

I love love love my Odyssey.

But, it's an '02 and that's the year of the bad transmissions. Knock on wood, mine hasn't crapped out yet, but I'm prepared for it. If/when that happens, I plan to make the repair and keep on driving it at least until it's 10 yo. Love it that much. ETA: I'm at 100K miles.

I have no experience with Quests, so can't comment on those.

 

[momof5boys]

Well I've had both. Actually I've owned a Dodge Cavaran, hated it the thing was always having problems, traded it in for a Nissan Quest, ok but too small only had it a year,I couldn't fit all the kids and their stuff in it! Traded that in for a Chevy Venture extended wheelbase,loved that one but it too started falling apart around 125,000 miles so.... I got a used Odyesea(sp?) I love my new van ,fits all the kids their bowling balls and martial arts gear bags(that's alot of stuff!) I'm hoping my Honda lasts for along time because I don't want to deal with car payments again!

 

[jrasmom]

I just traded a 2007 Odyssey for a Grand Caravan. I couldn't stand the Odyssey. It was truly the worst van I've ever had. The gas mileage was horrible. Never better than 14 mpg mostly around 13.9. I'd check very carefully if I were you. Also the older Odysseys are prone to transmission problems.

WOW, really?

We have a 2005 Odyssey and our gas milage is at least double what you were getting.

We LOVE our Odyssey!! And even if you don't fold down the back seat there is ALOT of room behind that seat to put stuff.

 

[luv2mickey]

I love my '04 Odyssey It has 90,000 miles on it and never a problem with it. I don't even want a new car for fear I won't love it as much. My two previous minivans were Chrysler Grand Voyagers I had never had any major problems just constant little annoying problems. The Hondas hold their resale value better then any other auto maker even if you don't plan on selling it if you were to be invoved in an accident you would be less likely to lose alot of money.

 

[Robinrs]

I have a Nissan Quest and have NEVER (knock on wood) had a problem with it. I loooove it!

 

[srgibbs]

First of All we are a Honda Family and have NEVER had to take any of our honda's in for mechanical problems. Just oil changes and routine work b/c it was time to change belts ect. My husband is driving my 2000 accord with about 90,000 and it runs great. I got a 94 Honda Odyssey brand new with all the features I wanted. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE my van. I have not ever had any issues with it and we love being able to fold seats down in both rows. It has 56,000 miles on it and I plan to drive it for many years to come. Honda's are usually the best rated or close to the best rated cars in all area's. I have not read many good things about Nissans in general. From a dependability standpoint Honda's just cannot be beat.

 

[Mcqueen Fans]

I love my Honda. We bought it used and we have had some tranmission problems but it has 180,000 miles and it just keeps going. I love all the room it has in it. We will buy another one when this ones decides to die. Which I hope it gives me another year!!

 

[Local_Girl]

Another Honda family here...I have a 2000 Odyssey with about 150,000 miles on it. We bought it used in '04 with about 97,000 miles on it...DH said it was "just getting broken in". DH drives a '95 Accord wagon with over 250,000 miles on it. Both vehicles have been terrific...some maintenance, to be expected with so many miles, but never a catastrophic problem...Between us, we'd owned 3 Hondas prior to these...love them!

 

[Mkaz]

We own a 1997 Nissan Quest and love it. We bought it in 2000. The only issues that we have had are: There was a recall on the valve for the gas tank, which was taken care of easily. Paid for by Nissan. The speedometer sensor went. Another easy fix. The hose for the EGR valve had to be replaced. It wasn't very expensive at all.

Dh takes very good care of our vehicles (both Nissans). He has over 200,000 miles on his 1993 pickup. He is in the process of truck shopping now, only because it is really starting to rust. We plan on using the Quest for as long as we can. It is 11 years old and has 99,000 miles on it. I am sure we will have it for a long time.

 

[kfeuer]

We just got rid of our 98 Nissan Quest last month. It had almost 120,000 miles and it never gave us a moment's trouble.

However, with all three rows of seats in the trunk space was almost non-existent. It wasn't easy to reconfigure, either.

If I were going to buy another minivan, I'd go for the Honda. Between my parents and myself we're on our 6th Honda and every one of them has been extremely reliable.

 

[Dashzap]

WOW, really?

We have a 2005 Odyssey and our gas milage is at least double what you were getting.

Gas mileage really varies year to year.

My FIL has a Buick Park Avenue that is 10 years old and gets 31 mpg on the highway.

The new Buick sedans don't get anywhere near that great mileage, and they are smaller!

I think different years having higher mileage has greater priority than other years. Varies with the market and price of oil no doubt.