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Pick the product that meets your needs. If you want or need the room, the towing capacity, V8 power, off road ability, skid control and the rest, the Sequoia may be right for you. If your priority is to get Jonny to soccer practice and the most you will be off road is the dirt driveway to the riding stables, decide if you need a difficult to reach and small 3rd seat and make a decision between the MDX and other car based SUV.
cliffy1 (a dealer) writes:
"The Sequoia can actually tow, it has much more room"
The Sequoia does not have MUCH more room. In fact it has very little more usable room. The MDX can actually tow. The MDX is rated by its manufacturer to tow any 3500# trailer and any 4500# boat trailer.
cliffy1 your last paragraph is so full of dealer hype and seller bias as to be completely worthless. No way a seller can be truly objective in discussing a competetors product, particularly one that has won so many awards involving direct competition against your own product
The Sequoia offers somewhat more off-road capability than MDX, but as everyone knows very few will ever leave the pavement. The overwhelming majority of buyers of both vehicles fall in the category of what I call STREET UTILITY VEHICLE buyers. They want an SUV type vehicle to use as their everyday family "car" and have no intentions of taking it off-road in any sport-utility sense. Thus to this large majority crowd the vehicles are very much comporable in size, function, class, quality, price, features, etc.
Thus it becomes, as always, a matter of personal choice.
My mouse was warmer than my lunch as I read your post.
Well said post. Yes, the difference in feature only becomes important if that feature is useful to the customer.
Sure after seeing both SEQ/MDX some people may decide on MDX (or lincoln Town car or Geo metro or ...) but those people aren't SEQ's target market because those people decided that they REALLY don't want/need a full-size SUV. That's all fine and good and more power to them because it eases the demand on the SEQs.
Toyotas competition is the Expy and Tahoe and by most reviews and honest assesments, Toyota hit a homerun. It would have been a grand slam if their production capability was 300K a year and sold at invoice. If that was the case, the Expy/Tahoe dealers would be mighty lonely.
If I had bought another Tahoe/Expy I knew that every time the thing broke down or grumbled about the ride/interior, I would have also said "If we would only have paid the extra money for the Sequoia....). I decided to take the momentary cash pain now and forget about it rather then spread it out over years to come.
cheers
Now, as to some of the specifics, I still maintain that if you plan on doing a lot of towing, you need a frame. The MDX and the Highlander don't have one. This means that every time you hook up a trailer, the tongue weight and the pulling, directly affects the body of the vehicle. You can get away with this occasionally, but I would avoid it. If you tow often, even within the weight limits, you are better off with a truck frame.
As to room, I'll admit that the definition of "much more room" is subjective. I've seen both and been in both. To me, there is a lot more room in a Sequoia and that could be important to many people. You are free to disagree with this.
Peace man. Relax.
Question: How did they fit the video system in with the sunroof? Who is the maker of the components in the system and is the sound directed through the existing stereo system or does it have its own dedicated speakers? What are the warranties on this nonfactory add on? I've never have seen this video set and the reason for the many questions.
I was informed that the luggage covers for the IQ had a quality problem in production and would not be available for a while. Do you have any information regarding the luggage cover. Are they available and if not when will they be available and what is the dealer cost and retail price of the covers?
Before I purchased my SQ, I checked with several dealers in the Bay Area and no dealer was willing to go below the MSRP. I even checked with a dealership in Southern California, who wouldn't go below the MSRP.
First impressions are that the ride is excellent. Complaints so far are that the heater fan is loud compared to other cars, the controls on the right side of the dash are a long reach. Pretty minor actually.
Does anyone have a good (low price) source for the all weather mats and cargo liners like husky?
Just pointing this out for all perspective buys.
You can read all the juicy details in the "Vile Gossip" column by Jean. Automobile still likes the Seq even though it really isn't that big.
Cheers!
I didn't buy the SQ on interior specs, I judged the interior on how intelligently the designers MADE USE of the interior space. Any sane person who looks at a SQ and its primary competitiors (tahoe/Expedition) will easily come to the conclusion that Toyota makes much better USE of available space that an average family/mother/kids can reconfigure every day with ease.
Re: Height
Are you talking height or clearance and what is
the end result of this measurement change?
I also assume that I have a standard garage with an 80-in high opening. I always thought of the width of the SEQ, but never about the height. I just to be sure that when my Seq comes, I can get it into the garage.
As far as comfort goes - I am 6'4" tall and weigh about 250 pounds. Interior room and comfort were a big consideration for me. I was a little tired of always looking through the tinted portion of the windshield. I can confirm for you that the sequoia is very comfortable to drive both day to day and on long trips. I have taken a couple of 5 + hour trips to the mountains in New Hampshire and was very pleased with the comfort level.
If you decide on the Sequoia you won't be disappointed.
By the way, my Lab/Shepherd loves the fact that the rear windows go all the way down.
It's always best to be specific in emails to me, with color, MODEL and drive line, and features. It's far easier for me to look at a complete email, compute pricing or see what's amiss about a unit requested, reply with or "that's an order build because..." and we go from there.
While getting hundreds of emails on Sequoia, I also have to sell every other product me build, like Camrys, Corolla, Tacoma, and the like. And, chase an average of 20-30 order builds per month thru the system weekly, daily. I wish some of you who are insisting on immediate help could be a fly on the wall in here for one day. One day. I get in here at 8am and there are days I cannot leave til 9 due to workload and getting thru emails and follow up thank-you's and putting cars back on the line that are not picked up, chasing floor mats and then trying to get thru email I didn't have enough info to reply to when they came into my emailbox, so I am scouring my email program to try and piece together a Sequoia someone wants priced that I know I can't get for 2 months anyway.
I apologize to anyone who feels slighted by my haste or lack of time to reply with paragraphs and paragraphs the first eMail out of the gate. I do the best I can and I often leave here bleary eyed and truthfully, for every 20-30 Sequoia requests I get, I sell maybe one. Maybe, if I can even get the cars fast enough.
ANyone out there who's picked their Sequoia or other car up from me, especially if it was a special build order, knows how dedicated I am to making certain their car is absolutely right, and it all comes down to the delivery. It takes time to get 80 cars a month all right. Anyone can kiss your you-know-what on the phone, in emails or thru singing telegram. I don't need to DO that to sell Sequoia or any other product we make. I just make sure the pricing is aggressive for the market, and the cars are right, damage free, and EXACTLY as I said it was equipped and the pricing is SET and doesn't shift when the buyer arrives.
Too many salespeople get amnesia later about promised equipment or promised deals. I can't begin to share with you all of the letters of frustration I get when folks email me after that happens to them at their local dealers and they have either gone ahead and bought the car because they wanted it, committment be damned, or they walked and are venting to me, asking me "what should I do? Should I run back for it?"
That's not going to happen to anyone I took a deposit on, that's for sure. The market might shift, and pricing I may bestow on someone when I was just allocated 15 Limited 2WDs vs. my pricing a month later when I have pre-sold all but 3 might go upwards due to availability, but when I make a commitment and take a deposit, it's DONE. Make sure, across the country, that you are negotiating with someone with those ethics and basic cornerstone of business.
--Dianne
You also write
"The MDX can actually tow. The MDX is rated by its manufacturer to tow any 3500# trailer and any 4500# boat trailer." Only if you buy the transmission cooler.
You then write
"The Sequoia offers somewhat more off-road capability than MDX"
Any publication that has written about the Sequoia has raved about how well it did off-roading esp since it has the most ground clearance in it's class. When they mention the MDX and off-roading they just say it does a good job for a SUV based on a mini van platform.
Don't get me wrong I really liked the MDX but it's not in the same class as the Seq. based on the issues you brought up.
Lets face it we are all busy in what ever we are doing be it working or searching for a car.
My frustration lies in that I have been actively trying to purchase a Sequoia for a month now, and wasted many hours in trying to do so. Ive been to MANY dealerships in my area some more than once. We have also phoned many others who gave us promises of an available car with the features that I want only to find that after driving to their location that we've once again been lied to (Melody Toyota, Putnam Toyota, and Daly City Toyota, Toyota of Palo Alto <-- I post these for everyone's warning).
My husband and I have been joking lately of just taking the $45+K out of the bank in $20's so that maybe someone will take us seriously as we wave this money around in the dealerships lobby!!
Dianne seems to have a reputation of satisfying her customers that is why I contacted her stating that I was looking for a Limited Toyota Sequoia and that I reside in the San Francisco Area. But when I received an email back only stating
"and....?"
I tend to think that this person is not serious either.
Hope this helps. Jim
I'd like to go with an 18x8.5 wheel with a 285/60R-18 tire, but can't get a straight answer from tire stores regarding size. Has anyone modified their SEQ yet or know if there is a web site with pictures of modified SEQs? Are there any sites yet with aftermarket accessories for the SEQUOIA?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Well, this morning I'm letting the dog out around 6:30 am and as he is walking across the drive way, I see the Sequoia tail lights flash with a clicking sound. I check the doors and yep they are locked. I know they were unlocked when I went to bed last night. My theory is that the cold (~10 to 15) air temperature the last 2 nights has somehow triggered the door locks. Anybody else experience this??? Design flaw or does something need to be reset?
One other item is that the rear hatch cylinders were unable to lift the tailgate (again probably due to the cold weather.)
Here are my comparison dilemmas. The minivan world is lower to the ground so less chance of rolling and easier to enter and exit. Also there is easier access to the 3rd row of seats, the driving comfort is a little soother and the fan for heater/a is MUCH quieter.
But the Sequoia is safer in a collision because you ride higher than most other vehicles (above the crash zone) and I believe it is stronger because of the truck/tank-like sturdiness. Also, I like being above other people's headlights because I have night blindness which means that the glare of lights at night is much greater for me than for normal sighted folks. I really don't understand all the pros and cons of the stability factor and the skid control in this suv when you compare it to the minivans. I tried to look up the rollover factor for Sequoias but I couldn't find any facts. Too new?
I just want whatever is safer for city and highway safety (no off-roading for us) and for handling snow, ice, and traveling through mountains. (no towing, either)
Can anyone compare these two worlds of vehicles or point me to a website that can?
Also, do you have any information on when the luggage covers will be available?
Thanks in advance.
I have no information on the cargo covers. Sorry.
After weeks for research, my Sequioa is finally here! My dealer emailed me and let me know it's here. He even send me a picture of it. It has 8 miles on it waiting for me. I have to drive 85 miles to pick it up, but the price i paid, I think it's all worth it. I will defintely be there tommorrow, Sat, 01/27 before the dealership open. I'll let ya know in two weeks if its all worth it. BTW, thanks for all the invaluable information that was submitted here i really learned a lot from fog lights, to engine tapping, to purchasing technique, even learned about the MDX but no thanks. i hope i get some sleep tonight Exsailor
I called Toyota West in Statesville and gave the other dealerships quote and asked htem to match it. They came close with in $150 and said they would get the car in three weeks. I put $1000 non-refundable down. Hope I did alright. I got a 4WD SR5 in Thunder Gray with moonroof, alloy wheel pkg, convenience pkg, preferred pkg (leather, 6-disc, etc),mats, roof rack,dual air cond and side air bags, daytime running lights and 4-raised letter tires. For an MSRP of 42,753. Plus another $1600 (retail) for video system installed. I agreed to pay $40,500. Looks like I saved $3000 off MSRP w/video. I was so worn out from shopping around and that ridiculous experience at Town & Country, I wanted to be done. Plus this was really strange shopping for cars no one has on lot. I guess it was worth it as my first attempts were not much below MSRP - now if the car is as promised, I think I will be pleased.
After weeks for research, my Sequoia is finally here! My dealer mailed me and let me know it's here. He even send me a picture of it. It has 8 miles on it waiting for me. I have to drive 85 miles to pick it up, but the price I paid, I think it's all worth it. I will definitely be there tomorrow, Sat, 01/27 before the dealership open. I'll let ay know in two weeks if its all worth it. BTW, thanks for all the invaluable information that was submitted here I really learned a lot from fog lights, to engine tapping, to purchasing technique, even learned about the MDX but no thanks. I hope i get some sleep tonight Exsailor
I thought I was the only one that felt this Vibration / Tapping Feeling. I even took it to the dealer and they said that there was No Problem or did not feel it. I knew I felt something.
I too love my New Limited Sequoia but this is a bit annoying.
Please if Any One has a solution or has felt the same post your experiences here.
Thank you
I can only find a few support brackets near the first portion of the exhaust assembly that may be the answer, although manually they feel tight. You can bet I'll bring it to the attn. of the dealer at the first 5K checkup. I actually considered placing a 1/4 to 1/2 inch rubber mat under the existing floormat in an attemp to muffle it! I guess that if this is our biggest gripe with the machine we're pretty lucky. Can't tell you how many people have stopped me at random to ask about it!
I am limited to what I have for inventory. When I was buried with 2WD Limiteds and had virtually no SR5's to offer anyone, I didn't hear anyone complain about buying their cars in great colors for $1500-2200 off MSRP. If I don't have product, just a few here and there. of course the market for that particular car is tremendously stronger.
Right now, I have pretty much sold us out of the 4WD Limiteds (mostly to Northern CA folks) and have so many build-ordered SR5 models that it takes me an hour every morning to chase each car thru the system. Mister Kim, sorry if, when you emailed me, I asked for what I felt the market value was on the car you requested. Especially if you requested a special order build car. My market on 4WD SR5's is better these days due to the fact that I earned a lot of them for Feb, so things do not always stay the same with inventory or availability.
Lookslike you found a deal you were pleased with, and that is a good thing. I don't have to sell everyone. Matter of fact, I can't because I don't get enough cars!
-Dianne
-------------------Previa----------Sequoia
Behind
3rd Seat------ 33.1 cu.ft.--- 27.8 cu.ft.
2nd Seat------ 85.3 cu.ft.--- 65.3 cu.ft.
1 seat-------- 158.8 cu.ft.-- 128 cu.ft.
At first when I looking at the truck, I thought that is was larger in size, but the cargo space numbers do not lie. I guess we can adjust to the reduction in cargo space, for the increase in power. The ground clerance is only 1 inch higher that the Previa. However, the Previa weight distribution was 50% Front and 50% Rear. The Sequoia weight ditribution is not know, I guess its ~65% Front and ~35Rear.
I have a 4 kids and cargo space is one factor, the other is reliabilty. I have over 155K miles on the Toyota Previa, without any major problems. Its a bit slow, so I am deciding to tryout a Sequoia. Neither my wife or me has every had a full-time/part-time 4WD before. I just need to hear about the experience going from a Mini Van to a Truck, and was it worth it. I heard that you must never put the truck in part-time 4WD if the ground is not wet. What are the other restrictions with part-time 4WD?
We drove a Sequoia and was impressed. I am a die hard Toyota person, since 1984 with the Supra, then Previa 1992 (family grew).
We are plan on the 4WD version, SR5 first choice.
I will continue to read up more on the new Sequoia and wait until the work out the quirks during the first 6-9 months. I just hope the price does not approuch the LC level.
I enjoy your comments....
As to your measurements, I'm sure you are correct. The Previa was a very large van with the passenger space going nearly to the front of the hood. The seats were a bugger to remove which made cargo hauling a chore though.