Hi I just got my first Odyssey Van, in June. Watch for a tent sale. Like you I don't always go for all of the fancy things in a car. However I wouldn't go with the LX, simply because when I looked I told him I didn't need a lot of buttons, and was on a tight budget. Anyway the price difference for me was $3000 between the LX and the bottom EX. Now there is another EX that is fancier and of course costs more. I have gone from having all the buttons I could want in a Ford Explorer Limited to an EX Oddy, and would never trade. I even asked if they had program cars, or year olds, and they said no once they leave the lot they don't come back. That was a huge selling point for me. Also depends on what you need the van for. I have found the little seat in the second row to be sooo helpful. Great place for the dog to ride when we have extra passengers, but also (and more important) perfect place for our daughters toy bag, and still leaves enough room for the other passenger in the same row. I am a fairly husky person and rode in my step -in-laws Dodge Caravan this summer, the seats are much smaller in it than the Oddy, and the oddy rides better as far as I am concerned. Even the in-laws remarked how they liked the set up on the oddy better. The oddy just has more room hands down. We looked at a Mazda also and they are small. I sometimes wish I had the storage of the Dodge, but with the fold down seats, and the lazy susan, and three glove compartments, and more I can't complain too much. Another thing that sold us was the 2nd row passenger windows coming down like a regular car. Much more air can get through, also the shades being in the doors, was an automatic plus. The drive on this thing is phenomenal. It can handle a load, and stopping with no problems. Second day we had it, we had to pick up sod, yes it took two more trips than we planned, but didn't know how it would handle. First trip home with the sod a deer ran out in front of me. I stopped almost on "a Dime" LOL, and no swerving, or brake noise needed. My biggest problem right now is remembering to turn the engine off. I can't hear the darn thing running, and usually can't feel it. It gets great gas mileage, handles beautifully, and even though I didn't want to be a mini van mom, and I am sold now. Okay I will stop I can not give you anything bad. Well except the price. But the only other vehicle I would take besides this one is the Dodge, and there is not comparison there. Do like I did, they offered me one price, and my daughter(3 yr old), and I got up to leave. I got over book value for my "96 explorer, and even got 100,000 mile warranty. Look for a tent sale. You don't get a great option on colors, but prices help.