■ ■
Hondo Odyssey
This minivan is so Honda: Solid,
reliable and roomy. T he Odyssey
doesn t look like a minivan, but more
like an oversized station wagon. It has
four doors, none of which are sliding.
It sits lower than other minivans and
the interior, while roomy, is spartan. If
you want the versatility of a minivan
but not the look, the Odyssey is worth
considering. The 2.2-liter engine spews
140 horsepower, a bit sluggish for fast-
paced traffic. A favorite feature is the
rear seats that fold-down into the floor,
leaving large cargo space, without the
hassle of removing them.
1997 H o n d a O dysscv L X
Minivans
Make model
Avg.
Transaction
Price
Engine
Horse
0-60 (Liter/Cylinders) Power
City
MPG
Doors
Dual
Slide
Volume
Max. cargo
Wheel
base
Length/
Width
ABS
Chevrolet Astro
$17991
10.1
4.3/6
190
16
N
170.4
111.0
189.8/77.5
std..
Chevrolet Venture Regular Length
$18306
9.9
3.4/6
180
18
Y
126.6
112.0
186.9/72.0
std.
Chevrolet Venture Extended Length
$19377
10.9
3.4/6
180
18
Y
155.9
120.0
200.9/72.0
std.
Chrysler Town & Country SX
$24584
NA
3 .3 6
158
17
Y
138.5
113.3
186.4,75.0
std.
Chrysler Town & Country LX
$24776
10.5
3.3/6
158
17
Y
162.9
119.3
199.7/75.0
std.
Dodge Caravan
$15929
10.8
2.4/4
150
20
Y
142.9
113.3
186.3/75.0
opt
Dodge Grand Caravan
$17170
10.5
3.3/6
158
18
Y
168.5
119.3
199.6/75.0
opt
Ford Aerostar XLT
$16550
NA
3.0/6
140
16
N
133.4
118.9
174.9/71.7
std *
Ford Aerostar XLT Extended Length
$19084
10.2
4.0/6
155
16
N
166.8
118.9
190.3/71.7
std.*
1998 Ford Wmdstar 3 0L
$17981
10.3
3.0/6
150
17
N
142.1
120.7
201.2/75.8
std.
GMC Safari
$17368
10.1
4.3/6
190
16
N
170.4
111.0
189.8/77.5
std.
Fionda Odyssey LX
$21365
11.7
2.2/4
140
20
NAT
93.5
111.4
187.2/70.6
std.
1996 Isuzu Oasis
$21957
11.7
2.2/4
140
20
NAT
93.5
1114
187.2/70.6
std.
Mazda MPV LX
$21255
11 8
3.0/6
155
16
NAT
110.4
110 4
183.5/71.9
std
Mercury Villager GS
$18578
12.3
3.0/6
151
17
N
126.0
112.2
190 2/73.8
std.
Nissan Quest XE
$19412
11.4
3.0/6
151
17
N
114.8
112.2
189.9/73.7
opt
Oldsmobile Silhouette Regular Length
$19915
9.9
3.4/6
180
18
N
126.6
112.0
187.4/72.2
std.
Oldsmobile Silhouette Extended Length
$20677
10.9
3.4/6
180
18
Y
1483
120.0
201.4/72.2
std.
Plymouth Voyager Base
$15365
10 8
2.4/4
150
20
Y
142.9
113.3
186.3 75.0
opt
Plymouth Grand Voyager
$16507
10.5
3.3/6
158
18
Y
168.5
119.3
199.675.0
opt
Pontiac Trans Sport SE SWB
$18816
9.9
3.4/6
180
18
N
126.6
112.0
187.3/72.7
std
Pontiac Trans Sport SE E xtended Length
$19697
10 9
3.4/6
180
18
Y
155.9
120.0
201.372.7
std.
1996 Toyota Previa DX S C
$21822
10.6
2.4/4
161
18
N
157.8
112.8
187.0/70.8
opt
Pnces do not include options or destination charge
Data provided by A u to m o b ile M agazine and E dm und's New Car P rice Guide
• rear wheels only
t van has 4 forward-hinged doors
24
AERR AN AMERICANS O N WHEEI s
Compiled by Adam J. Dixon
0
CITY RESIDENTS PREFER
NEW VEHICLES OVER USED
Studies show that new vehicles are preferred by resi
dents of urban areas, while used vehicles sell better in
rural areas. According to market research. New York, De
troit, Washington, D.C. and Houston rank in the top 10 of
new car sales compared to used. However, it appears that
economic status primarily dictates the buying trends. Some
60 percent of all new vehicles are bought by consumers in
the top 40 percent income bracket, and these consumers
live predominantly around major urban areas.
And, used vehicle sales outnumbered new sales by
more than two to one, or 35.5 million to 14.8 million, ac
cording to the Polk Used-vehicle Database. In some com
munities, three of every four sales involved used vehicles.
The popularity of used vehicles has spurred the growth of
auto “super stores" which offer pre-owned vehicles with
low mileage and competitive warranties. Such benefits have
enabled less-than-wealthy consumers to purchase used
vehicles with the same confidence and peace of mind that
new car buyers enjoy.
voices
BLACK RACING
VETS HONORED
Six racing veterans have been inducted into the National
Motorsports Associations (NMA) Hall of Fame. The in
duction ceremony was one o f the first activities of the newly-
formed 100-member organization, based in Oak Park, Mich.
“It is time to honor more African Americans for achieve
ments in racing and automotive engineering,” said Carmen
Carter, founder and president of NMA. Honorees included:
Luther Garner, Paul Davis, Ernest Miller, Lloyd Hill, Mar
tin and Samuel Guriev. Organized by African-American
motorsports professionals, the NMA represents all forms of
motorsports, including professional racing, sports cars, street
rods, motorcycles and vintage cars. For membership infor
mation. call (313) 834-5601 or (313) 837-0078.
When you shop for a vehicle, do you prefer to negotiate or pay a preset price?
Many dealers are beginning to sell all vehicles at preset prices so consumers won't
have to haggle with dealers.
By Genea Luck
“I prefer a preset price.
The whole thing is very
adversarial The dealer is
tryin g to separate you
from your money and you
are trying to hold on to it.
I hate haggling. Most of
the time. I go through a
car buyer's club anyway."
“ I d o n 't b e lie ve in a
preset price, there's no
such thing. Dealers are
not going to be honest
anyway, so I'm going to
haggle them down to my
price. It s my money and
I have to pay an amount
I can afford."
Joseph Fenrick, Jr.
Capitol Heights. Md
Anna Maria Leveaux
Los Angeles. Ca.
"I like to negotiate. I want
to pay the least amount
possible for the vehicle.
I'm the perfect negotiator.
I always do my homework
And. even if I know that a
dealer has no intentions of
going down on the price
of a car. I still negotiate for
the challenge."
Diane Harris
Atlanta. Ga.
"E ve ryon e know s tha t
dealers raise the price of
cars to m ake a pro fit.
Even when they advertise
the preset prices as a
g re a t de al. I alw ays
negotiate."
Robert Anderson
Pittsburgh. Pa.
“I recently bought a car I
negotiated down about
$3200. It on ly too k a
couple of hours. I am
com fortable negotiating
because I used to be a
salesman, so I know all
the techniques. Toynette
leases her vehicle, so
she s happy with a preset
price."
Eric Broyles and Tonyette
Wooldridge
Washington. D C.
AERR AN AMERICANS O N WHEELS
5