I broke down and bought a mini van when my Saab became just too tiny to carry around my daughter and all of her accessories. This was a hard decision as I had vowed in my 20's that I would never drive a mini van.

My first purchase was a Dodge Caravan Sport which I bought when I really wanted the Honda Odyssey but the production of them couldn't keep up with demand. I immediately regretted this decision and got on the waiting list for my Honda which took at that time nearly 6 months to arrive because I chose black. If you have ever experienced the difficulty of keeping a black small sports car clean looking, think of that times 10 and opt for one of the more common Honda exterior colors.

The first thing I noticed about my Honda in comparison with the Dodge is that it is so easy to park. It parks almost as easily as a car. This is a great feature when shopping with screaming kids in the car and you want to quickly park and get out.

I like the simple Volvo-esque interior features of my Honda. The dash is easy to understand and use. The double electric doors are wonderful and once you have them you can never go back to manual ones. It has great pickup for a minivan and I can easily pass anyone in those rare moments when I'm feeling sporty. The seats are roomy and comfortable although a little stiff. The leather is a surprisingly nice quality and hold up really well.

The fold down third seat is really easy to use although it would be nice to have the option of folding down just half of it as is available in some other models.

The second row seats are not adjustable unless you take it in to the dealer and have them do it. This is frustrating if you want to move your children in car seats closer to the interior of the car. Also, the second row seats do not move forward to allow someone to get into the third row. Although I personally have little need for this, it is really a bother when even I want to jump back there to get something or on the rare occasions we have had more people in the car and everyone has to squeeze through the middle aisle.

The middle cupholder table is good in theory but cannot securely hold drinks which will often spill out during turns or quick stops.

The stereo is of a low quality and sounds like my clock radio. It is really disappointing. If you are just listening to Sesame Street and Barney cds then it is tolerable at best. I also really miss the weather band feature which I have had on other cars and found to be a reassuring feature especially in winter. In winter too I find the absence of an outdoor temperature guage really upsetting.

The absolute worst thing about driving this mini van is the noise in the car. I have become accustomed to it after driving the car for over a year but it is REALLY loud. Even with all the windows up my children and I have to shout or talk very loudly to hear one another. If you have a window open it is nearly impossible to have a conversation with someone in the second row seats and get out your walkie talkies to talk to someone in the third row.

I do really like the heating and air conditioning system. It regulates very quickly in even severe weather. The defrost is amazing and is the best I've had in any car.

Overall it is an enjoyable car to drive and I feel like my children and I are very safe in it. I have been able to go anywhere and everywhere I need to go in even our worst PA snow storms.

My kids and I wish that the back windows open. Luckily, on this particular model they do not or it would be like driving around in a giant wind tunnel.

In 2003 when I purchased this car I think it was the best van out there. Now Honda is offering a new model that offers decreased interior road noise features. I believe this will be their most expensive model as if only the wealthiest van drivers deserve to be able to hear their toddler speaking over Barney's voice playing on the clock radio. I'm not sure that Honda is keeping up with what moms really want which is a good safe van with all the very nice features Honda offers without the feeling that one is driving around in a big sturdy nursing shoe. I would think that very few young women are out there thinking, "I can't wait until I can drive a mini van." Car makers could serve themselves well by designing a van that is designed to be sporty, sexy, classic, safe, and filled with excellent and luxurious features at a price that requires no haggling, includes a free gift, and goes on sale a few times a year for a specific percentage off the price. This is how women shop and what they look for. I will look at other models this year and hopefully trade this one in on my dream mini van. Is that an oxymoron? For the price one now has many more and better options in the world of mini vans.
Amount Paid (US$): 32,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: LX