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We have an '04 Sienna LE - bought it new 9 years ago next month. It's wonderful on long trips, it's great around town, it hauls people/animals/cargo (kayaks on the roof) just fine. The gas mileage is very good for a vehicle that size and with a 6-cyl. engine. I was in New England last week with it - put about 1300 miles on it, and averaged 25 mpg. And it has been very reliable.
I agree with the minivan advice, over the Explorer as the Odyssey and Sienna are very reliable, overall. Add to that the versatility of third row seating in the vans, plus ease of entry/exit, and it's a much easier vehicle for family transportation. The Sienna has an AWD option, though it's not as easy to find, and carries a price premium, since it was available on the higher-end vans. The Odyssey handles well in snow, being FWD, though for some reason my SIL has issues with hers in more than a couple of inches of unplowed snow, though their driveway has a steep grade, and I think part of it has to do with the run-flats on the Touring model.
Lots of little things can go wrong with an 8+-year old Explorer that can make for annoyances, especially at mileage close to 100k. Making things perfect with the Explorer can add up, such that you may find the price tag comes closer to the van, all things considered. If the comparison was Pilot/Highlander/4Runner vs. the vans, it would be a more difficult decision, but I'd skip an Explorer of that age/mileage as the maintenance/repair cost/frequency will catch up to the price of the van quickly.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
They're both good vehicles... I'd take the Sienna (heck, I'd go for an '05 Odyssey, great vehicles). More reliable, you'll enjoy it more in the long run. Plus, the Odyssey of that year is about the safest thing on the road. More comfortable too. I've ridden in a 2005 or 2006 Odyssey (in 2005, but it was three days before Thanksgiving so it COULD have been an '06... no difference) and your family will love it.
It all goes back to your budget and what you can actually get the Explorer and the Odyssey for. If you only want to spend 5000 get the Explorer. If you are fine with spending 15000 then you have a lot of choices. I might suggest stretching it to 16500 and get a 2011 Town and Country with 30000 miles.
We have a 2007 Odyssey and really like it. However, with the price of new ones and the bargain prices of a new or used Town and Country we have talked about making the switch.
I rented a Traverse this weekend and found that it was easier to drive than a minivan.
The only problem I found was that it sometimes does not move forward/backward automatically when I put the stick to P or R so sometimes I need to step on the gas to get it moving. Has anyone encountered this isue before?
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