2005 Honda Odyssey

Touring Minivan/Van

6 - Cyl.

Automatic

5FNRL38835B090392

Gasoline

My dad bought this wonderful minivan, new off the lot in 2005, for my mother. She wanted a car that was big like an SUV but nimble and easier to park, like a car. She wanted a vehicle that was easy for her to get into and out of: not too low to the ground, and plenty of room to fit her long legs and stiff many-surgeried knees*. She wanted a vehicle that offered good visibility in traffic, giving her a higher vantage point and excellent side/rear visibility without having to rely on a rear-facing camera (which she hated: no depth perception on those little flat screens). She wanted a vehicle that could accommodate a son, daughter-in-law, and three kids (all 3 of us sons are married with 3 kids), so she could pick us up at the airport when we came to visit and drive us all around town together. She wanted something with good gas mileage, good safety rating, and run-flat tires so she would never be stranded with a flat again. She fell in love with this Honda Odyssey. It was everything she wanted in a car, and more. Soft, comfy leather seats. Elegant trim and decor, with thoughtful attention to detail and convenience everywhere. Rear seats that she could fold and stow easily, even at her age. Tinted low-e windows and high-albedo silver exterior keep the interior cool, and the sunroof lets heat out immediately when the Arizona rays have had hours to overpower that passive heat protection. The AC is quiet, powerful, can be adjusted separately for front and rear zones, and quickly makes & keeps the van cool and comfortable (or warm and comfortable, in the winter). The power sliding door made grocery and shopping trips much easier for her. The only hitch that kept her from choosing it immediately was the driver legroom and her difficulty with her unbending knees. Once my father had solved that for her,* it sealed the deal. This was her favorite vehicle for the next four years. Unfortunately, just a couple of years after she bought it, her health began to decline. She drove less and less, and we boys borrowed her van only occasionally when we came to visit her-- often we would simply drive our own families to her, or rent something at the airport, since she was not able to come and meet us there anymore. This explains the very low mileage and the unusual "wear and tear" pattern on this coveted family hauler. Rather than a pristine exterior and a "well-broken-in" interior because of careful watchful moms doing the driving and multiple child passengers of various ages doing everything they do when confined in a minivan, the interior of this van is in pristine, original, near-mint condition, and the exterior has collected a modest assortment of scuffs, scratches, and dings, as my mother's depth perception decreased. Our family took some time to regain some sort of equilibrium after she died. None of us, her sons, feel comfortable driving "mom's" van, and we already had our own vehicles "well broken-in" and comfortable for our own kids. It is time to find the DLF** a new home. # ## ################ ## # *Dad took the Odyssey to a professional shop that modifies vehicles for persons with disabilities. All they needed to do was add about four inches of travel to the drivers' seat travel rails. Now the drivers' seat of THIS Honda Odyssey travels back far enough to accommodate an NBA center, or a tall man with a full-leg cast (on your LEFT leg, I hope, or you shouldn't be driving). It means the rails' ends are now visibly protruding from beneath the back of the drivers' seat, but they are not conspicuous, and they don't get in the way of passengers. See photos. Modification documentation will be provided to the new owner. This disability modification, plus your own genuine permanent disability, will earn this vehicle a DISABLED license plate in most states. No little blue placard to be misplaced or forgotten! **Yes, our mother was a C.S. Lewis fan. "The DLF" was Trumpkin's diminutive nickname, and is now the Odyssey's nickname, to us. See photos that show the current license plate. The van also comes with two other decals on the rear, one that says "No Bad Days" (she was a cheerful optimist to her last day here) and one that says "Let's Move Together" (an Arthritis Foundation walk-a-thon fundraiser). A strong thumbnail, some Q-tips, and a small amount of Goof-Off will easily remove these stickers and any residue. # ## ################ ## # More details you'll want to know: • Never had a smoker as driver or passenger • Touring Edition high-tech run-flat tires: no spare tire needed nor carried • seats 7 passengers comfortably • 33,488 miles • Next regular maintenance due at 60,000 miles • Extended warranty still in effect! Expires at end of April 2012. • Silver exterior, grey leather interior • 7-speaker high quality audio system • 17 cupholders (so many you won't need them all, and in lots of creative places) • 120VAC outlet in 3rd row storage bin, for laptops and other gadgets that run or charge on household current • heated front seats • power sliding doors (both sides) • Original price over $35,000 • Made in U.S.A. (Alabama, to be precise- see photo of manufacture info sticker on doorframe) • Front-wheel drive • 255hp V6 with "Variable Cylinder Management" to cut off fuel to half the cylinders & increase gas mileage when cruising at steady speed • 23.4 mpg (rated at 20mpg city, 28mpg highway) • 118.1" wheelbase (excellent handling) • Van is 77" wide, not including side mirrors, which when folded add approximately 4" per side to total width • Van is 70" tall (less than six feet, so it fits in all public parking garages) • Van is 201" long (make sure it will fit in your garage!) • Kept in a garage when not being driven • No hint of rust or undercarriage damage: it was driven exclusively in Arizona, mostly the upscale town of Scottsdale, not anywhere with salty sea air, high humidity, or rough roads • No sun damage at all, except for some slight fading of the black metal exterior roof trim that runs alongside the luggage rack • No mechanical issues at all! • LOTS MORE PHOTOS, more than 100, particularly of tire wear and the perfect interior vs imperfect exterior, can be found at this website: Lots More Photos of this Honda Odyssey Touring Edition! Even the exterior scratches and dings don't amount to much, I just want to be up front about them: most of them I had not noticed until I carefully inspected the entire van, even inside the wheel wells, the CV boots, and the undercarriage (all of which are fine). I was surprised to find so many little scratches along the outside, as the van looks brand new at arm's length, and I tried to photograph them all in the kind of light that would show them. You'll see some here, the rest of them at the photos link above. The only "issue" with this vehicle is the worn tires. The two rear tires are getting bald on the outside edge. Rotating them will add many miles to their lifespan, but they will need to be replaced soon. The two front tires have good tread right now, and are wearing evenly, but will also need replacing relatively soon: perhaps in 10,000 to 15,000 miles depending on your driving habits and road surfaces. They do look nice and new in the photos but these are NOT new tires.