[thefactor]

the buick is a cross-over vehicle. more SUV than mini-van.

check out the recent issue of car & driver magazine (november, 2007).

they do a comparison of 5 leading mini-vans. the toyota sienna comes in 2nd behind the honda odyssey.

the article give the toyota high marks for the engine, passing power, tansmission, quiet interior, and 2nd row seats.

the toyota lacks in exterior design and they say it is tough to fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats. it is a good article. check it out at a magazine stand. the article begins on page 58.

[Nachum]

We have friends who love the Odyssey, but there were a couple of items about it that turned me off. The first one were the historical problems with the transmission. I went on an Edmunds blog and looked at the complaints by Odyssey owners and repeatedly, the transmission seemed to need repair/replacing after about 4 years. I was at the supermarket and saw a lady I knew leaving with her kids and I asker her how she liked the car. She raved about it. Then I asked her if she had any problems and she answered "only one, we are having the transmission replaced- but it is under warantee".

Since we have to drive over a hilly canyon road regularly, even my mechanic liked the Sienna for that reason. I would consider the Honda if I thought they had worked that one thing out, but I am sort of afraid of it. If I did buy one, I would for sure only buy the Honda with an extended warantee to forstall any tranny hassles.