Home » Nice Sensible People-Movers: 2003 Honda Odyssey vs 1996 Chevy Suburban

Nice Sensible People-Movers: 2003 Honda Odyssey vs 1996 Chevy Suburban

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Welcome back! This week we’re going to take a break from the batshit-crazy choices and look at some nice sensible vehicles. You know, stuff you might actually want to drive. Why, you ask? Well, because last week’s overall winner was the most sensible choice:

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So we’ll just keep that ball rolling for a bit.

The truth is, there are still bargains to be found, even with the used car market all haywire like it is now. $2,500 isn’t a lot to work with, but you can still find something that will get the job done. So today, we’re going to look at two very different ways of moving seven people around, and then you get to decide which one is more suitable for the job. Let’s meet our two contenders:

The Minivan – 2003 Honda Odyssey – $2,500

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Engine/drivetrain: 3.5 liter V6, 5 speed automatic, FWD

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Odometer reading: 250,000 miles

Runs/drives? Very well, according to the seller

The second-generation Honda Odyssey was quite a departure from the earlier model. Larger, built in the U.S., and designed more in line with the conventions established by Chrysler’s class-leading vans, with rear sliding doors in place of the first-generation Odyssey’s standard rear doors. The result was a handsome (for a minivan), pleasant, successful vehicle, unfortunately plagued by transmission problems. This particular Odyssey, with over a quarter-million miles on it, has likely had those problems addressed, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

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Overall it’s in decent shape, though it looks like the right rear quarter window was recently replaced, judging by the tape residue. I guess they don’t have Goo-Gone in Nevada?  But then, the seller isn’t big on cleaning camera lenses either, or maybe they’re trying for a “soft-focus” look, like Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. Here’s squinting through the gunk at you, kid. [Editor’s Note: I don’t know what this last line means. Is it a reference to Casablanca? Or is it a grammatical error that I should delete? I’m going to leave it given my propensity to miss references. -DT]

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What we can see through the blurry mess looks like a nice honest, well-used van. It is said to run and drive without any problems, has working air conditioning (important in the desert, for sure), and is in “hop-in-and-go” condition. Obviously, a pre-purchase inspection would probably turn up something, but it does look like a good starting point. The paint is a little faded and I bet the bolsters in the driver’s seat have seen better days, but if you care about that stuff, you aren’t looking at $2,500 vans.

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The SUV – 1996 Chevrolet Suburban – $2,000

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Engine/drivetrain: 5.7 liter V8, 4 speed automatic, part-time 4WD

Location: Beaverton, OR

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Odometer reading: 228,000 miles

Runs/drives? “Really good and strong,” we’re told

The Chevy Suburban has been around a long time. The model name dates all the way back to 1935, making it the longest-running nameplate ever. And in all that time, the formula hasn’t changed: put a big station-wagon body on a strong truck chassis, and use it to do, well, everything. It’s not the most efficient way to move people and stuff around, but it is a very reliable and certain way. Fuel economy be damned. The Suburban just works.

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This Suburban is based on the GMT400 truck platform, a personal favorite of mine. It’s durable, reliable, and a whole lot more refined than its predecessor, with independent front suspension on the 4WD models instead of a solid axle on leaf springs. There’s no reason for a truck to ride like an ox-cart. This is also a post-facelift model, with a more rounded, car-like dashboard in place of the severe rectangles and sea of tiny buttons the earlier GMT400s had. It also has the “barn doors” on the rear instead of the tailgate/flip-up rear window arrangement. Both were available, but the barn doors make more sense to a lot of people, including me.

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This is a pretty fancy Suburban, too, with leather seats and all the bells and whistles. It’s set up for towing, and it will tow a hell of a lot more than any minivan, if you need that capability. The third-row seat is a little harder to access, a consideration if you need the full seating capacity all the time.

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Mechanically, these things are solid, and this one is in good shape: the old 350 small-block just keeps humming along, and the transmission was rebuilt at 160,000 miles. The shift-on-the-fly 4WD system in these has a low-range transfer case, so you can go off the beaten path. A Suburban is kind of a big vehicle for serious off-roading, but it’s nice to know the capability is there.

And kudos to whoever originally chose the color of this one. It seems sometimes like these were only offered in white or forest green; this dusky pink is a strange choice, but a pleasant one. GM calls it “Red Maple Metallic,” according to the info I found. I like it.

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So there you have it: two nice sensible ways of carrying seven people and their stuff. Which way makes more sense to you?

QuizWiz

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IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
2 years ago

This is a tough one. The Odyssey is the better choice for moving people with its fuel economy and accessible interior. If you want to haul all of the things in any conditions, the Suburban rises to the top. I’ll vote for the Suburban because my family already has a couple of efficient daily drivers. For something that does my weekend garden and home improvement hauling, I really can’t go wrong with a Suburban.

FUCK YOU
FUCK YOU
2 years ago

These are both good choices. Get the Odyssey if you need to get better than 13 mpg (19 mpg still ain’t great, but it’s better enough to make up the $500 price differential pretty quickly) and get the Suburban if you need 4WD and towing capability. Both vehicles can potentially run forever; the Odyssey may break less often, but the ‘Burb will be simpler to fix.

For me personally, I’d prefer the Odyssey as a daily since the mileage won’t make me cry whenever I go to the pump, and it’s going to have a quieter, more refined ride and be easier to maneuver in parking lots and such. I’d prefer the Suburban though for a second or third car that didn’t get used so often, but was there when I needed a big ol’ lump hammer of a vehicle to drag some stuff around with.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago

Honda reliability should do this, but I’ve heard absolute horror stories about those transmissions. No thanks, I’ll take the tank

TXJeepGuy
TXJeepGuy
2 years ago

Suburban all the way for durability and parts availability.

Also, why does this place log me out so often?

Shop-Teacher
Shop-Teacher
2 years ago

Those Hondas have transmissions made of glass. Gimme the Suburban.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Shop-Teacher

Well as someone who up until recently spent $300 a week or more on gasoline. If the vehicle makes you money you buy what suits you best. Or if as people say most people should buy EV because their commute is less than 50 miles. So an EV works but also just keep driving the gas guzzler because you ain’t driving that far.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Shop-Teacher

Yeah given the over 250,000 miles on the van here I’m pretty sure you know nothing about this vehicle.

Jacob Schritz
Jacob Schritz
2 years ago

My vote is the Suburban. I’ve spent some time in variations of both models, and while the Honda is a really comfortable cruiser, you can’t beat the versatility of a Suburban. Tow pig? Check. People Hauler? Check. Unstoppable Winter Beater? Check check check. The 5.7L V8/4L60E is a pretty robust combination, parts are super common and stupid cheap. Its a win-win for a people mover, at least for me.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Jacob Schritz

Yeah I used to believe that before I ran a fleet of 4 of these stalwart vehicles. Turns out the parts differ year to year and the electronics and other settings absolutely destroyed the ability to transfer a different engine or transmission between vehicles.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Jacob Schritz

Yeah these things suck in winter. No weight on the back end but way to much power with no weight. This thing can’t move forward in the snow if you pushed it off a cliff. It would just hang there.

James Mitchell
James Mitchell
2 years ago

The thing that makes these shitboxes is more subtle. The whole reason that you have lots of cheap 01-05 Odysseys and Accords is that the transmission is questionable and the ones in the junkyard were probably put there by a bad transmission, so you can’t trust that you can grab a junkyard part and go.

And the whole reason that you have a bunch of cheap west coast Suburbans is that gas has been punishingly expensive for a long time, so they’re expensive as a daily family hauler.

Of the two, the Suburban is less likely to strand me away from home, but I’m going to wince every time I spend as much as $200 to fill it up.

JohnTaurus
JohnTaurus
2 years ago
Reply to  James Mitchell

This. All day long.

Bryan McIntosh
Bryan McIntosh
2 years ago

If it’s a daily driver for running people around, the Odyssey wins all day every day. If it’s only going to be needed to haul ALL the things around on a weekend, the Suburban is the right choice (but you should probably double-check the tow rating on the Odyssey just to make sure it can’t meet your needs).

JohnTaurus
JohnTaurus
2 years ago
Reply to  Bryan McIntosh

Towing with a FWD transmission already known for being made of glass? I wouldn’t care if it were rated for 10k lbs, I’d be worried about towing a lawnmower with it.

Tom Halter
Tom Halter
2 years ago

Suburban arguably didn’t become a model name at Chevrolet until GM trademarked the name in 1988. Prior to that, Suburban was more of a body style designation (like coupe, sedan, or wagon) that dates back to the 1930’s.

Over the years, Studebaker, Hudson, Willys, DeSoto, Plymouth (and probably others) all have released “Suburban” models. Plymouth used the name as late as 1978 on their Fury Suburban wagon.

See this link for more about the origins of the Suburban bodystyle.
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/u/us_body/us_body.htm

Frodo
Frodo
2 years ago

My first car was a minivan and I’ll always like them, but I voted the suburban even if it isn’t a 3/4 ton. they were awesome to 5 year old me.

Lew Schiller
Lew Schiller
2 years ago

Suburban but as the owner of a barn door Yukon…I love that configuration but that big black view block in the middle is annoying.

CatMan
CatMan
2 years ago

Suburban, love the barn doors. And yes, I purposely left gas prices out of the decision since I won’t be the one buying either of these

Iain Delaney
Iain Delaney
2 years ago

I can’t believe all of the votes for the Suburban. Are people not paying attention to the price of gas these days? Is this the same mentality that makes the F150 (which costs my brother $200 to fill up) the top-selling North American vehicle?

JohnTaurus
JohnTaurus
2 years ago
Reply to  Iain Delaney

Great. Now I want a Suburban and an F-150. Thanks a lot.

Angry Bob
Angry Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Iain Delaney

I have a 2007 Odyssey and a 2000 Suburban and they both get equally shitty gas mileage. The difference is the Suburban feels like it should, while the Odyssey seems like it must have a hole in the gas tank.

I also have a ’97 Chevy K3500 6.5L V8 Diesel 4×4 crew cab long bed truck that gets better mileage than both.

Frodo
Frodo
2 years ago
Reply to  Angry Bob

Does it get good enough mileage to offset the cost difference between gas and diesel? I saw $1.20 difference over the weekend.

Angry Bob
Angry Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Frodo

Suburban: 13
Odyssey: 15
K3500: 16.5

For the early days of this fuel debacle low test gas was the same as diesel, so I drove the truck. I think today that’s not the best choice.

But either way, I’m now on my 43mpg motorcycle in rain, snow, sleet, or hail, unless I have to haul my kids. And it still costs 22 bucks to fill its 4 gallon tank. Insanity.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Iain Delaney

Well as someone who up until recently spent $300 a week or more on gasoline. If the vehicle makes you money you buy what suits you best. Or if as people say most people should buy EV because their commute is less than 50 miles. So an EV works but also just keep driving the gas guzzler because you ain’t driving that far.

Brummbaer
Brummbaer
2 years ago

As a life long Chevy fan who has owned many, I will go for the ‘Burb. I owned a 3/4 T with similar mechanicals and got 350K miles on it before I sold it. I still see it around town to this day. What’s special about 350K? Well, the entire drivetrain was still original except for U-joints and clutch. I am totally sold on the 350!

The Odyssey is a nice vehicle and possibly just as long lived. I wouldn’t kick it out of the driveway for making spots, but the ethos of the big Chevy speaks much louder to me. A couple of years ago I was searching for an Odyssey for a planned long family trip. At that time they were all rather expensive, so I gave up on the search. If this had popped up then, I would have been all over it.

Great choices for today!

Sekim
Sekim
2 years ago

The Odyssey is probably a great vehicle that has another few hundred thousand on it. It’s a great choice for anyone who needs an actual good car for cheap.

But I am going to the Suburban. The Suburban is one of my favorite cars because I remember so many of them when I was a kid around 1990 when my grandparents took me to Yellowstone. They felt like the official car of western highways. They feel like equal parts practical people-mover and workhorse. And this era may be the last great gen of the Suburban, before Chevy decided to make them $100k luxo-barges.

unclesam
unclesam
2 years ago

Bah, there’s nothing sensible about a suburban. Odyssey all day.

V10omous
V10omous
2 years ago

I’m genuinely stunned a Suburban that clean is available at that price. I expect it to be gone quickly; that post 96 GMT400 with the Vortec is really a nice truck.

Tacofan
Tacofan
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Tucker

For a “newer” reference. Moonlighting, the 80’s Bruce Willis starter TV show was also really bad using the hazy filter for Cybil Shepard… I’ve been watching 80’s TV series at lunch and just finished up Moonlighting last month.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Tucker

Or in English it would make the wrinkles dissapear

Tommy Helios
Tommy Helios
2 years ago

Just helped a friend find and buy a 3rd gen Odyssey because he has a longish commute, kids and a business. But my family has always had suburbans starting with an ’89 equipped much the same as this one. We have owned 4 since and none has escaped our grasp with less than 400k and it was always the rust that killed them before anything else. I only have one kid and still find myself wanting suburbans just because they are so damn good at everything (except fuel mileage) and are one of the few take care of it and it will be the last car you need to buy. Suburban all the way.

SerialThriller
SerialThriller
2 years ago
Reply to  Tommy Helios

Besides parts being affordable and available, if you’re so inclined these GM trucks are super easy to work on.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  Tommy Helios

That’s why I picked the Odyssey. There is rust in Oregon but not in the desert. I lived in a Arizona town called Bullhead City. Yes it exists. Cars 50 years old not a speck of rust. But they do have sand storms. Two years in every car gets blasted with sand while driving down the road. But you can drive a stripped to bare metal for 2 years no rust. I also question the ability or desire of most people in the northwest, where I also lived, to take any kind of care of a car.

CravenMoorehead
CravenMoorehead
2 years ago

Agreed. I think towing capabilities is the only real separator between the two

FUCK YOU
FUCK YOU
2 years ago

Those seats look extremely cushy, frankly.

Chris Stevenson
Chris Stevenson
2 years ago

This is the closest Shitbox Showdown for me so far, but I have to go with the Odyssey.

OldJackBurton
OldJackBurton
2 years ago

I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m blown away by the fact David has never heard the classic quote “Here’s looking at you kid.”
Amazing.

Outofstep
Outofstep
2 years ago
Reply to  OldJackBurton

At this point I’m starting to think he’s trolling us. I’ve never seen Casablanca and my parents are spanish speaking immigrants who didn’t watch english TV when I was a child and yet as a child I knew this line. Maybe Blast from the Past is a DT biopic and he lived in a fallout shelter for most of his life.

David Tracy
David Tracy
2 years ago
Reply to  Outofstep

I lived on army bases in Germany. So yeah, basically fallout shelters.

Also I am in too deep in the car scene. Far too deep.

Outofstep
Outofstep
2 years ago
Reply to  David Tracy

Oh yea duh! I knew that but clearly it slipped my mind. Carry on then.

In too deep like Omar Epps? Ah forget it you probably won’t get that one either. Haha. Glad you’re in this deep and are partially responsible for giving us this wonderful website.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago
Reply to  Outofstep

He’s a born-in-Germany Army brat. He didn’t get any of the “normal” American TV brainwashing that the rest of us did. Hell, even any TV he watched was likely from the Armed Forces Network, so he wouldn’t have even had US commercials, just random stuff about OPSEC, COMSEC, and not letting the commies in.

SNL-LOL Jr
SNL-LOL Jr
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

So DT knows more about Fulda Gap than thigh gaps?

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago
Reply to  SNL-LOL Jr

From all he posts, he’s chronically single. That’s likely an accurate statement.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  OldJackBurton

I agree even if he never watched Casablanca there are references in everything from Green Acres, McHale Navy, Hogan’s Heroes, Modern Family frankly any show that lasted 2 years probably has a passing references. Does anyone know if DT owns a TV set?

JohnTaurus
JohnTaurus
2 years ago

I’m assuming you mean independent *front* suspension on the Suburban? They didn’t get IRS until this current generation.

CravenMoorehead
CravenMoorehead
2 years ago

Those GMT 400’s are pretty damn reliable but with fuel costs the way they are now and Honda reliability being on par or better than the GMT – I’m going with the Odyssey.
Plus I imagine the 4speed in the suburban has gotta be an absolute dog

CravenMoorehead
CravenMoorehead
2 years ago

It’s worth noting I have no interest in ever towing anything. If you need a boat/toy hauler along with people hauler capabilities then the choice is more obviously the Suburban

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
2 years ago

Not in my neighborhood. That’s a $264 fill-up. Two years ago I would have merrily picked the Suburban as the fun shitbox, but I don’t have anything to tow, and I’d have to pull out the seats to use the Suburban as anything other than a peoplemover. It’s simply become totally and completely impractical for that purpose. If I wanted to go offroad, I’d want something considerably smaller. If I wanted to haul stuff, I’d want something without 3 rows of leather seats. If I wanted to tow a trailer, I’d consider it. But if I want to move people around in relative comfort and only bleed money out my ears and no other orifices, then the Odyssey gets the vote. I currently have a 2011 Odyssey. It’s fine.

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
2 years ago

About 20 years ago I obtained a 1968 F250 Camper Special with a 360 big block and a lovely old camper on it. Got it from the original owner. He’d taken excellent care of it, and had recently sunk $5K into the transmission and various other bits. Quite a cream puff. He gave it to me for $0 because gasoline had just recently topped $2/gallon for the first time in SoCal and it appeared to be permanent, and he honestly thought he’d never be able to sell that 7 mpg beast for any real money, nor would he ever be able to afford to drive it again. This is like that. That Suburban’s useful days are over.

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