General Comments:
I purchased this van based on my previous experience with Kia/Hyundai. My 2002 Kia sedona was wonderful and reliable. I sold it in at 76,000 worry-free miles. My daily driver is a 2001 Hyundai xg300L which has been great too (77,200 miles currently).
The first thing that strikes is how quiet it is. Three of my friends purchased minivans around same time I got mine. We all shopped together and test drove 12 vans including the abominable Mercedes R350. It finally came down to Sienna or Odyssey or Entourage/Sedona. Two of my friends got Odyssey EX-L's and one got a Sienna LE. I paid 27,800 for my limited with ultimate package (trim level comparable to Odyssey touring without navigation or Sienna XLE with package5). Had I chosen Honda or Toyota, I'd have paid $33,500 or roughly $5500 more.
Believe me, the van is quieter than the class leader Sienna and way quieter than the Odyssey (The other two vans have their own pluses!!). Fantastic ambience, interior materials, comfort, power and luxury. Long drives have been relaxing and tireless. For instance, open the hood in Sienna and Entourage. There is a world of difference in how the engine bay looks and all the active noise cancellation systems in place.
Plus Hyundai does not skimp on features!! Open the door and you see luxurious chrome door sill plates. For example, projector headlights (luxury feature and reduce glare dramatically) are standard across the trim levels. Fog lights are standard across Ent SE and above trims ($675 with honda and $850 with sienna unless you buy Ody touring/Sienna XLE or Limited). Chrome accents, body colored heated mirrors are all standard (not standard in Sienna). Entourage trumps every single minivan and consumer car in safety (every personal automobile manufactured in US except the presidential armor plated cadillac/mercedes)
The infinity surround sound system provides great sound quality to my trained ears. I would summarize that Entourage is right there at the top of the heap. There is little to differentiate between Sienna, Odyssey or Entourage. If you are a shrewd shopper, save the extra cash and buy an Entourage, you'll not be disappointed.
17th Jul 2011, 13:27
I am experiencing the same problem my Entourage. It has 66K miles, and this is the first problem I have encountered. Right now I can start it, but cannot get the shifter to move out of park! I am glad to hear that a more local mechanic can fix the problem, undoubtedly at a better price.