Proof that Ford can really UNDERMINE a good car... was satisfied with my 2000 ES when brand new and up until 'bout a week ago (60,000mi)... size is IDEAL for one/two crumbmunchers and certainly not ponderous (and not omnipresent) like other minivans... really enjoy the leather, roll-down rear windows, stylish control/dash layout, and sunroof that Odyssey could not give me. Ford factor is beginning to rear its ugly head... my 2.5L six always left me underwhelmed in the hills of rt81 in NYS... now I find that poor design-planning for us northerners leaves the alternator and rear-heat plumbing susceptible to salty winter roadspray. Unfortunately, Ford buries the alternator in a spot also not well-suited for heat dissipation, the replacement requires the removal of the right-front axle which demand 4+ labor hrs (and $743 according to my evil dealer)... Also was warned about Mazda's decision to use steel plumbing to feed rear heater-core (since changed to aluminium)... sure enough, mine's dribbling the green goo behind the rear passenger tire... Overall great packaging though my wife is making me regret not getting the Odyssey as she's deathly afraid of venturing beyond three miles of the homestead. If you're looking at used MPVs... crawl under the passenger side and inspect the lines (they're above the shiny aluminium freon lines for the rear air) and listen for ticking near the pulleys that indicate the alternator bearings are giving-out!