New or Used: One Dimensional Analysis Edition

Paul writes:

I’m about to shell out $3500K for a Honda Odyssey transmission. A very unexpected turn of events for me, given the Big H’s reputation for quality…or so I thought. Googling shows that transmission problems are endemic. They are across all brands, all styles, all price points, all years. I was pretty surprised.

Your readers have a pretty high collective wisdom and -usually- leave insightful commentary. I wonder what they would say if asked, ”What make and model car has the most trouble-free transmission? The worst transmission?” I’d use the feedback to guide my next car purchase.

Sajeev Answers:

Ah yes, the recent phenomena of bigger bodies, more horsepower and not enough transaxle to keep it on the road. Be it a minivan, crossover or big displacement V6 family sedan, this is a problem for car-based brands with once-flawless reputations. I’m looking at you, Honda and Toyota. But buying a car on autobox alone isn’t the smartest idea: any vehicle with a proven gearbox is probably a less-than-desirable choice. Because the safe bets are famous fleet vehicles: Impalas, Panther Chassis Fords, or full size SUVs. How does that grab ya? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

An automatic transmission/transaxle is a combination of fluid, moving metal bits, friction-y clutch materials and geeky electronics moving in harmony. Or not: even serious gear heads have a tough time understanding the game, comparing a transmission rebuild to a black art. The wiser move is to shop properly, and stick to a service plan. Buy the vehicle you need, install the biggest transmission cooler possible and change the fluid every 30k to 50k miles. If you tow or overload a vehicle in hot climates, annual fluid servicing is mandatory. No exceptions there, especially if you stick with car based platforms that have no business with 240+ horses and 3500+ lb curb weights.

My choice? Replace the minivan with a 1-3 year old Chevy Tahoe or Ford Expedition. Or a Ford Panther Chassis, but that Appreciation Week is over. Fuel mileage be damned, these rigs don’t eat gearboxes and clearly have the laws of Physics on their side when someone decides to run a red light and to crash into your family. Sturdy and safe may seem like the cop out when you consider fuel prices, but how much do you really save on an Odyssey when it commands a hefty price premium when new, eats $3500 transaxles when old and forces you to into a rental car for days, if not weeks?

Steve Answers:

The most trouble free transmission would likely be a 1980’s through early 1990’s Toyota pickup. But somehow I don’t see you attaching three or four child seats to the bed of a truck.

I would ignore the transmission issue entirely. Shopping for any car based on a transmission is like picking a lifelong partner based on the size of their bank account. Yes you will have one less worry. But woe be the poor soul that looks at any important decision through only one dimension.

Let’s just say that ALL manufacturers have issues with automatic transmissions. I won’t give you a history lesson. Life is too short. Instead I’m going to give you a path that won’t require a five figured liposuction procedure for your wallet.

Keep the Odyssey for a while. Put in the Honda tranny. Have them throw in a good transmission cooler so that it doesn’t get stressed (negotiate on the price and ‘responsibility’ for the repair). Change the tranny fluid annually. Replace the radiator every five years. That’s it.

I have a friend of mine who has a very large mini-warehouse business near Athens, Georiga. He uses Chrysler minivans (1991 – 1995 models) that supposedly have among the highest level of transmission issues ever recorded for a modern vehicle. But his don’t break. Why? Because with fresh transmission fluid the temperature is kept low. The use of a tranny cooler and new-ish radiator eliminate all other heat concerns.

Other than shifting from reverse to drive without coming to a complete stop, heat in all it’s forms is the only thing that can kill a modern transmission. Minivans are the most frequent destroyers of automatic transmissions. They carry a lot of weight constantly and don’t benefit from the bulky rear-wheel drive powertrains you can get from certain body-on-frame vehicle such as SUV’s, pickup’s, and old full-sized Fords. But on the road they are the most comfortable and spacious vehicles you can find at a bargain price.

I would definitely consider making the Odyssey a long-term keeper.

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.