Does anyone have a Honda Odyssey? What is your opinion of getting it with or without the body side moulding? Some dealers I have looked at seem to add it to most cars and others don't. Thanks!
I have what is almost a 'vintage' honda odyssey.
I LOVE it.
I have NO CLUE if it has body side molding...I suspect it does not. (too old)
I will drive this van until either *I* am buried, OR IT is buried.
True.
LOVE IT.
Best
Body side molding is usually designed to protect the finish of the car. Sometimes it's purely decorative, but the functional purpose is to protect the car door from scratches and dents from people opening the car door next to you - either carelessly, or losing control on a windy day. If you do a lot of parking in lots (shopping centers, highway rest stops, commuter parking at train stations, etc.), it might be worth it to prevent all those dings. If you're the sort of person who parks farther from the store to get more exercise walking to and from the car, it might not matter that much.
The only problem I see with it if the guy next to you has a car of a vastly different height - then their door hits above or below your molding. Same thing if someone is careless with a shopping cart.
It's also something that can be added later, but not always as cheaply or as well installed (depends on where you go) - but of course, if you add it later, it's because a few other drivers have already dinged up your doors!
I have 2008 touring. It has everything they had at the time. No clue what body side modeling is our if I have it. Sorry.
I have an Odyssey, but it's a 2005. The body side moulding must be a new thing. Doesn't sound like an essential to me. I'm assuming they charge more for it? If you're driving your van to a school lot at all, I wouldn't invest much in external features, unless that moulding offers protection from people who open doors into your car? My minivan is completely dinged up from the crazy school lot drivers -- people who open doors hard into the side of mine, grandparents who don't look behind them when backing up and back into my big minivan even though my horn is blaring, etc.
We just bought a Honda Odyssey and I have no idea if it has the molding or not. I looked it up and, honestly, it sounds like a good idea.
