Minivans. Love them or loathe them, it's pretty hard to argue with their practical magic, be it people-packing, drywall-stacking, and making seats disappear so fast they almost need a lovely assistant smiling next to them in sequins.
While some manufacturers have completely left the Hockey Mom/Dad arena of sliding doors and cup-holders, there are those that have carved enough of a niche to validate continued panel stamping.
The Honda Odyssey is one of those players, and like the Toyota Sienna, and the Nissan Quest, the question that must be continually asked is this: how can we steal some steam from Chrysler, Father of the Magic Wagon?
Enter the vac
As in life, sometimes you just have to suck it up. With the 2014 Odyssey Touring, Honda becomes the only automaker to offer a built-in vacuum cleaner in a minivan.
It's called the HondaVAC and it should be just the thing for cleaning up everything from spilled Chereeos out of even the tiniest of cracks.
"It was interesting how the palm hit everyone's forehead at the same time," said Lennie Sherlinski, who witnessed the 'Why-Didn't-I-Think-Of-That' factor first-hand in The Big Apple, when the 2014 Honda Odyssey was revealed.
Sherlinski is vice president of Shop-Vac Corporation, having been with the family-owned company for 22 years. He's just now starting to wind down from the press onslaught, brought on following the 2013 New York International Auto Show where the HondaVAC system was unveiled.
The Shop-Vac Corporation, based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been cleaning up messes your significant other doesn't know about (in my house, anyway) for half a century.
How'd it start?
"Honda approached Shop-Vac in late 2007," said Sherlinski. "We were flattered that one of the best car companies in the world realized that they needed our expertise to make this thing work."
This collaboration was the first time that Shop-Vac had worked with an automobile manufacturer.
The HondaVAC system is also the first 12-volt DC vacuum that the Shop-Vac Corporation has developed for consumer use. Both companies were venturing into new territory.
Shop-Vac is well-versed in the field of over-engineering. (Just ask the still-working mid-80s model in my Dad's garage, wearing the pounded-out dents inflicted by my '71 Impala.)
"We do extensive internal testing," said Sherlinski. "The auto industry takes it to a whole new level." While it's too soon to reveal the vacuum-geek specs, Sherlinski assures us that the mechanicals within the HondaVAC share much of what makes a standard Shop-Vac work.
Performance of the Honda system was validated in varying weather extremes, in the same manner that other vehicle systems are checked for reliability.
Test, test, test some more
"The [vacuum] motor has been designed to take a lot of abuse," said Sherlinski. "Honda was very diligent about testing everything that you could expect to happen to an onboard vacuum in a vehicle environment."
Honda Canada confirms that the HondaVAC is covered for the duration of the standard bumper-to-bumper warranty period.
Consumers should be aware that the HondaVAC is designed for dry pick-up only. Don't expect a 'Vac Full' indicator on the driver information display. "You still have to be diligent with emptying dirt and debris for optimum performance, just like any other form of vacuum," said Sherlinski.
The QuattroFlex hose, which appears on other Shop-Vac products, has a four-to-one stretch ratio, easily circumnavigating the topography of the Odyssey floorboard.
Tools have been designed to stow easily in the vacuum location, on the driver's side of the rear cargo compartment.
"We're excited that the interest has really taken off," said Sherlinski. But, don't expect to see upright versions, next to Honda lawnmowers and generators.
"It's currently forecast as a built-in product," said Sherlinski. "We hope that they're so successful, that Honda is compelled to put it into everything they sell."
Considering the compact size of the unit, and the fact that dirt and grit doesn't discriminate between vehicle categories, the HondaVAC could be the solution.
Yes: it could be what keeps Loonies and Toonies from exiting our palm, and ending up in the always-useless car wash vacuums that seem to hoover up spare change but leave floor mat dirt where it lies…
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