After long waited months on the waiting list, I finally got my 2000 Odyssey EX last November. My options included hood protector (aka. wind deflector), navigation system, floor mats, and the paint protector.
I was very excited about driving this "best" minivan in the market after extensive research I had done. It seemed powerful (205-210 HP is impressive), spacious (especially with the "folding-in" magic third row seat), and reliable (so-called "legendary Honda reputation"). After driving it over 20k miles in last 9 months or so, I believe I can give a pretty good review on what this vehicle is like, don't you think?

First, I'll start with what I like about the van.
1. It certainly is very spacious. Before I made my purchase, I've looked at Toyota (Sienne), Dodge (Caravan, of course), Chrysler (Town and Country: my 2nd choice), Mazda (MPV), Isuzu (Oasis, aka. old Odyssey), Oldsmobile (Silhouette), Ford (Winstar), & Chevy (Venture). I test drove every single one of them and my entire family (all 8 of us) was pretty happy with the spaciousness of the Odyssey as my 14-month-old niece roamed in the back half of the vehicle.
2. Powerful yet very quiet engine. The van is so quiet. I have a hard time telling if the van is turned on or not! The road noise is not bad. It's not the best but certainly it is on the quieter half.
3. Navigation system is very very impressive. It is not only helpful, it's a great toy to impress your friends and colleagues, hehe. Not only does it find out how to get from one place to another, it also locates restaurants (by category: ie. American, Chinese, Italian, etc.), gas stations, ATMs (yes, for those cash-short moments), etc. It is a software-based device (runs on a DVD-ROM) which means you can update your map information as the new roads get paved. Oh, I forgot to mention, it has a detour function, which means if a road is closed for a construction or whatever, it can redirect you in a different route to get to your destination. Pretty smart!

Well, now that I got you all excited about this minivan, get ready for some shocking dark truth about the very same van that I've been bragging about so far...
1. As I said, I've driven this van for about 9 months, just on highways and local roads covering over 20k miles. I'm beginning to notice a major problem with the paint job for this vehicle. I've gotten the extra paint protection package for extra protection of the van. However, I'm seeing many spots on all sides of the vehicle with chipped paint. A Honda dealer is giving me a very dumb-found explanation about the situation, saying that the paint is not as good as older vehicles because they cannot put lead-based paint on the cars anymore. Now, if you actually believe that this paint-chipping problem has anything to do with the lead content in the paint, you need to stop pretending to be so dumb. And apparently, that extra paint protection that I got does absolutely nothing for what it is designed for. Maybe, just maybe, this van was painted on Friday afternoon before a 3-day holiday weeekend?
2. Power windows, power locks, and power sliding doors would be great, but only if they work. About 6 months after I got the van, the sliding doors stopped sliding. I mean, my passengers in the back were stuck inside of the van because the doors wouldn't open! Well, doors can be opened manually, so we got out. But when something like that doesn't work, it can get pretty frustrating. Also, when a power lock doesn't work on the sliding doors, it's very inconvenient. Trust me! Oh, and how could I not mention the problem I'm having with the power windows that rattle like a really old fridge when it's being rolled up and down.
3. As I've mentioned, I got the van less than a year ago. Believe it or not, both my front and rear brakes had to be replaced, partially at my cost. No matter how I drive the vehicle, new brakes failing within a year is a record yet to be broken. I had to pay for this partial amount because one Honda dealer could not cover for how another Honda dealer had screwed up. The break problem started after I got my 15k mile service at Miami Honda (while I was on vacation down there). Of course, I brought the van in as soon as I got back from my vacation. My dear folks at Honda of Lisle figured that since the problem was not caused by their service, they had to charge me for it. Come on, this van is less than a year old and when I hear a funny noise from the brakes, I have to pay the Honda dealer to have them take a look? Does that sound absurd to you or am I just going crazy?
4. The seats are very Japanese. They will certainly keep you awake at those late hours of driving, but also very uncomfortable. Apparently, Honda's concept of seat is having two pieces of plates together covered in some fabric.
5. This last problem is not directly related to the van itself but to the ones that are supposed to handle the problems (more or less, the frustrations I've been having with Honda dealers: "Honda of Lisle" and "Miami Honda", to be specific). After all, "Honda of Lisle" is the place where I got the infamous "no lead content paint" excuse from, and also been charged for what should be a warranty item. Besides giving me a lame excuse for what seems to be just a bad paint job, they have caused so much grief in my life by refusing to take care of my complaints. I tell you, these folks are up to all customer service related challenges.

Well, there I've said it all. You've been informed from someone who's been driving what is considered Honda's "top of the line" minivan model. Good luck in your automotive pursuit!

...then many more miles got put on the van since the original review was written, and here is a follow-up...

Now my Odyssey is well into its 32,000 mile range. I got my breaks replaced a couple of more times since and I've pretty much given up on the chipping paint since that is "due to the van's aerodynamic design" according to a Honda's very own rep. The situation continues to get worse and hopeless as I just discovered yet another problem. This time, the black sealant that goes around the front windshield is coming off. So far, it's not leaking any water or anything like that, but I cannot approve this happening on a vehicle that I've spent well over $25k. The minivan has not been in any accidents, not even a small fender-bender, and it has been kept in garage. How could this be explained? As much as I've been trying to enjoy the vehicle, it is becoming increasingly difficult as the vehicle continues to disappoint me.

Since so many seems to be happy with this piece of machinery, I must have a real bad luck. And apparently the alternative choices are even less reliable, you may have to try your luck if you really have to have a minivan.

Thanks for reading my review of the minivan that has been praised by so many. I do wish that I could've joined the ranks of many happy Honda owners. But as you can see, I have not been so lucky. Please check back in the future as I will continue to update my review as I get more acquainted with my 2000 Odyssey.