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http://www.pdclarion.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2- - 003/January/07-2611-news1.txt
Another good article at their site.
http://www.pdclarion.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2- 003/January/16-2675-news2.txt
We now want a van, but can't find something we like. Some look good, but have a look at consumer review magazine to see how bad Ford, GM and Chrysler stand. Its a shame. Mazda is nice, but not much under the hood. Sienna 2003 is a good vehicle, and the price right now is outstanding, but it is UGLY! The interior is plain! Could buy it and I would make a good deal, but getting this new car would provide me with 0 excitement!
This new Sienna 2004 looks great. It is as strong as any V6 SUV out there (including the one I like the most, the Pathfinder), it has most of the utilities copied from other car makers. Interior looks excellent, and price (?) may be decent, although we will have to wait a couple of monthe until demand is lower and offer is higher.
I will keep looking at this board. The information is just great. I will try to do my share...
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5396- &papass=&sort=1&thecat=602
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5413- &papass=&sort=1&thecat=602
We now want a van, but can't find something we like. Some look good, but have a look at consumer review magazine to see how bad Ford, GM and Chrysler stand. Its a shame. Mazda is nice, but not much under the hood. Sienna 2003 is a good vehicle, and the price right now is outstanding, but it is UGLY! The interior is plain! Could buy it and I would make a good deal, but getting this new car would provide me with 0 excitement!
This new Sienna 2004 looks great. It is as strong as any V6 SUV out there (including the one I like the most, the Pathfinder), it has most of the utilities copied from other car makers. Interior looks excellent, and price (?) may be decent, although we will have to wait a couple of monthe until demand is lower and offer is higher.
I will keep looking at this board. The information is just great. I will try to do my share...
*Does anybody know any details on the Sienna's AWD system here?*
Some AWD systems works better than the others. A good AWD systems, such as Audi's torsen, would actually help you during cornering. The car feels more stable. In the snow, the difference is huge.
And there are also countless number of specific circumstances where AWD would get you out of trouble e.g. you won't get stuck in a large snow bank, you won't have difficulty going up an unplowed uphill ramp, you won't get caught in an unexpected early snowstorm before you have a chance to change into winter tires... etc.
Of course, one should always know your limit whatever car you drive. But that's not a reason not to get AWD! It's just like advising people to drive a car with underpowered engine so that you won't go too fast. There are situations which require you to accelerate out of danger.
;-)
ok, this fall (2003) as a 2004 model.
that's what i believe honda plans to do with the ody--release it late this year as an '04.
there. i've said it. i've read it and re-read it twice. this is EXACTLY what i mean to say.
phew.
if honda has decided to delay it a year, that's news to me.
*** disclaimer: i don't really work in honda's north american marketing department, although i may play such a role on tv.
I believe your question re fuel was answered in this discussion several days ago. The answer given was 87 Octane (regular unleaded). Let's hope that answer is correct.
I sure would like to see people get a little more frugal and practical.
So this could be why Toyota didn't use it.
I can live without the controls..no biggy for us as long as it reclines and moves up and down.
I always say: the more options and choices a car manufacturer gives for customers, the more buyers will be. You know, everybody is different, and it's almost impossible to satisfy everybody. So giving options for the customer to choose his own taste is always good. Not to force him to take one kind of wheels in the LE model, for example, and another kind for XLE. Just offer 3 wheel designs, and let everybody choose his favorite design. Get the point?...
I personal think the new Sienna is quite a nice vehicle, but has some weak points in design. It looks similar to the Highlander, why not copy the tail lights? the Highlanders is nice, I like it. And the front single-line-grille is also soooo plain. I love some bolder designs, as Chrysler Town&Country. But I'm not complaining. I'm sure there are many people who loves the new design. And - it's impossible to satisfy everybody!
Thanks.
AWD and 3rd seat:
From what I've read, AWD will come with the folding rear seat. You lose the spare tire.
Evidently, the tires will be the run flat type.
Ken
How about pricing for trim lines and option packages?
If money is no concern, there is always Jesse James and his Monster Garage.
San Jose, CA
Since you have a sequoia (I'm guessing from your screen name). How do you compare the new Sienna to the Sequoia? We had a 98 Sienna and traded it in for a Sequoia in November. I really like the Sequoia. I was wondering if I missed the boat, not waiting for the new Sienna. We really didn't have a choice though, our lease was up. I really didn't want a 03 Sienna because it looked exactly like my 98. I already had two Previas (before the sienna), so I thought I'd switch from another van. Just curious as to your opinion.
Ken
Anyway when I saw the Sequoia I fell in love. It had all I thought I would needed; seating for 8, convenience of truck for work; Toyota quality etc.
Now in hind sight maybe it wasn't so good of a choice after all. Gas mileage is worse than I had expected (13-14 mpg) and a tad to big for my wife to drive. Overall I love it and am still somewhat hesitant to trade it in especially with an upgraded Sequoia coming this fall. But most likely I will get a minivan and probably the Sienna.
The Sienna provides a lot more of family conveniences but less of my work needs. I like the extra storage behind the 3rd row (shopping), convenience of stow 3rd row (work), sliding doors means less nicks in garage and parking lots, DVD entertainment system is the only item I miss from my Olds Silo days. Also remember the Sienna gets better gas mileage too.
With a 2 and 4 year old the minivan just makes more sense for us.
Sounds like you were probably one of the first early-birds to order your Sequoia. Was Toyota asking MSRP at the time you bought? Do you know if (or how long) Toyota typically charges MSRP for their new vehicles?
If the plant can produce 300,000 vehicles a year, it seems to me that production could probably keep up with demand (unlike the Honda Odyssey). . . meaning prices should remain below MSRP.
Anyone agree with this philosophy, or is it just my wishful thinking?!
Anyway, the Highlander was my first choice, but it did not have the third seat. My husbands friend (who runs the dealership we buy at) said that they were going to put a third seat in the Highlander, have you heard this? It will probably take them a while if they do. He told us about three years ago about the new Sienna. We could never get any information on it so we nick named it the phantom van.
I love the Sequoia and my kids and their friends are big, my husband coaches so we are always hauling kids around, so we love the room in the Sequoia, and also love the 8th seat. However, the gas mileage is a bit disappointing.
I have a friend whom just bought a new 4-Runner 6 weeks after its release and got it for $1,000 over invoice at the same dealership; with my help of course.
jraider: I haven't heard anything about 3rd row seating in the Highland. My guess says that it probably won't happen but you never know. I couldn't imagine how tight it would be back there. Check out the Highland board to see if any of those folks have any info. Good luck.
Also, as soon as I get pricing info I'll post it here. I've also contacted a former participant of these boards who is up on Toyota info and asked them to please keep me updated on any info they recieve.
I don't know about the rest of you, but for those of us who will be driving the wife's MV on weekends, it sure would be nice to hit that button and have your seats, radio, mirror, etc. ready for you. . .
We've sat in the center row on the 03 models, and the curvature of the ceiling near the doors subtracts considerably from what little headroom there is. In the drivers seat, the ceiling also is positioned quite a bit lower than I'm accustomed to in my current van, and so feels a bit claustrophobic to me.
Also, does anyone know whether the 2004 model grades (CE, LE, XLE) will be similarly equipped as the earlier models, with similar package uprgrades available? I've looked at the specs on the Toyota "Brains on Board" site, and they seem vague about what is standard equipment on the CE and LE models.
A while back, someone posted a list of 2004 color choices : is it correct that White is not available on the 2004's?
Thanks so much for any info anyone can share. I've been searching all over the web for news about the 2004 Sienna, and this one is by far the most useful site I've hit upon. It sure would be great to have more specific info on 2004 pricing-- those of us on the brink of buying could surely make better decisions. (Obviously, Toyota can sell more of the older models by keeping us in the dark as long as possible, but with the 2004's arriving in March it seems they would have to break their silence soon ...) Does anyone know when this information will be available??
XLE: drop Natural White, add Artic Frost Pearl
Most of these colors already exist on other Toyotas.
There are numerous different packages available, I'm sure Toyota's listing is vague because different regions can order in different configurations.
I doubt much detailed info on pricing being available until a week or so before they arrive in dealerships - March 14th.
Hopefully that info helps and doesn't add to your frustration.
Steve
Thanks
Has the two tone color scheme been phased out (alternate color on the lower body cladding)?
Every time I go to a meeting about order options I take extra asprin.
Colors, still not sure about the CE, if it is monochromatic or has the gray lower cladding.
I know about the colors because I've been lucky enough to sit in on a couple meetings about the Sienna.
I suggest you buy 2004 Sienna at beginning of next year(January 31 is the best day). 2004 come with newer technology and functionality but wait for one more year for quality and price wisely.
Until now nobody knows the new factory in Princeton has top assembly quality or not. This is brand new factory and I don't know these assembly line workers have the best experience. Not like Highlander is 100% made in Japan so the Sienna buyers should be more patience.
On the other hand, price will be dropped(up to 15%) until next year January(factory rebate most likely). The time Honda Odyssey will drop the price far less to compete with Sienna. This is totally demand supply issue.
Beside that, Toyota market channel is different from Honda. Carmax and Fitzmall.com has straight forward fixed price for new car. That means regular Toyota dealer can't mark-up price too much (like Honda dealer) or they will lose sales. Remember, the largest goal for Toyota is getting biggest market share in Mini-van market.
Good luck
And which production week does Toyota usually change model year in the past?
I am as interested in the new Sienna as you are, and I'm not sure about what others think, but I would be very cautious about "pre-ordering" a new Sienna. Take a look back in the posts around the #520s and #530s. There was a discussion about pre-ordering.
My take is, why not put your name on a list, so long as you DON'T give them any money. There's no harm in that, right? It just means you might get bugged by the salesman when the vans start coming in. Or not. But it seems like if you give them money to be first in line, someone else might make the deal sweeter, and there's no guarantee which van off the truck (if any) will be offered to you. Dealers want just one thing: to sell lots of cars.
Maybe if you were ordering one to be built and shipped to the closest dealer for you... But a deposit to get "first dibbs" is just asking for trouble.
I'm sure there will be other posts about this soon. We should listen to what others have to say.
Thanks for your concern about preordering. I live in Florida and in no way would order from a dealer in Calf. I was only indicating that some dealers out there are not hiding from the phantom van that they will not discuss while they try to deal away the remaining 2003s.
I am as patient as they come when making a large purchase such as a $25-30K vehicle and will most likely wait until the end of spring or summer to make my purchase. But the anticipation of "what to expect" is very exciting.
I will visit often to see what others have to say.
Thank you everyone for your added information.
Since the 8 passenger has very similar seats (without armrest) I would imagine they do the same.
See official photos from Toyota here:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_photos.html?ind- ex=fulltext&kw=sienna+2004
See my photos from Detroit here:
http://homepage.mac.com/jbowell/PhotoAlbum19.html
With Toyota's world's most reliable vehicle history, I am sure this one will keep the record. But I hope the same story won't happen to me again. I went to test drove the new Camry, the one I like the design very much. But after stayed on the driver seat for a short drive, it's just a smooth quiet moving machine, no fun at all. I'd rather choose the relatively ugly Accord. At least it feels right.
How much fun can you expect from a minivan? I will ask as much as possible perhaps according to my own bias. Toyota had better pray that my old 190k-mile Civic breaks down before the next Odyssey comes out. Otherwise, I'm not sure my daughter's sake can enforce me to choose my second choice. I have no third choice.
Also it does not list the LE as having dual power sliding doors as an option, yet lists LE has the pinch sensor on power door. Wouldn't you think the LE would have power as an option?
Any thoughts are appreciated.