2001 Honda Odyssey: Possibly The Best $3,000 Car You Can Buy

Updated: 10 Aug 2017

If many gearheads had 3 grand to spend on a car, they might spend it on a Miata or Civic. However, maybe they should check out a used Honda minivan...

Practical But Not Too Big

I think the only practical thing this car can’t do is tow a mountain. I’ve hauled old playground wood, yard clippings and lawn care equipment in it with ease. My family has completed many road trips with it packed to the brim with luggage and people.

One Of The Best Engines Ever Made

The J35 V6 has good pull at all RPM’s and is a delight to redline because of the insane intake noise. Forget the K20, this V6 should be your next engine swap.

Reliability, Because Honda

Aside from a bum transmission that plagued the 2001 year, these minivans will last longer than your dog if you take care of it.

It Can Do Burnouts (Kind Of)

With traction control off and by flooring the accelator whilst cranking the steering wheel, you can get a decent one wheel peel in the dry with a faint skid mark on the road and lingering smells of burnt rubber inside the car.

If you break an engine mount, now your car will shift like a Lamborghini

This has happened in my Honda and it makes the driving experience more interesting but raises concern from non car enthusiasts who ride in it, wondering if your car is about to fall to pieces.

The steering wheel has a ratio of probably 30:1 but that can be kinda fun actually

There’s two kinda of fun steering; direct steering where a flexing of the wrist can turn you around a corner or a steering wheel that requires you to act like your swimming to go into a parking spot. The latter is more forgiving towards beginner drivers.

It’s not super low so you can go muddin’ with your buddies (maybe)

All you stance guys are missing out on driving out in the woods with some school chums and being rebellious yellin’ Yee Yee and shootin’ squirrels with plinking rifles and cookin em up for supper. Ok, I haven’t really done exactly that but it’s nice to have a car that isn’t all about that low life.

It’s not the most desirable car on the planet so no one really cares if you wreck it

I’ve driven the van into a ditch twice and was more concerned about what my parents would think of it than the fact I binned a car. If it gets a scratch, who cares? It’s basically worthless anyway.

Comments

Best sub 3k car? Pretty much any Subaru under that price. Cliche yeah, but they are great cars for the money.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/brilliant-winter-beaters-that-arent-allwheel-drive/

You still have it?

yup

We had 2003 Odyssey before the 2007. They are pretty underrated.

The only reason we sold the 07 is because we didn’t need something that large so we downsized to a used MDX. While the MDX is worlds better, the Odyssey felt more like a sleeper.