Toyota Sienna 2004+

taxesquire

That does appear to be the case. I did a quick check on the site and both option packages that include the navigation include rear DVD, and while a rear dvd is a standalone option, nav is not.

I guess your options are to get the DVD (one pro would be that a DVD would probably increase resale) or get an aftermarket nav system.

newvanbuyer

I have a fairly new 05 Sienna XLE. I've put just over 1000 miles on it, and I'm not impressed with the gas mileage I'm getting at all. The window sticker says 19 city, but I'm lucky if I'm averaging 15 highway. What kind of mileage is everyone else getting? This is particularly disconcerting in the current gas situation.

hansienna

Be HAPPY with the gas mileage. The Odyssey got 12 MPG according to October Consumer Reports. :sick:
Just what do you consider "highway" driving? Are there any stop signs or traffic jams?
Highway mileage is that driving that has NO Stops, NO Waiting at red lights, and NO traffic jams.

newvanbuyer

Yes, I understand what "highway" means. I'm talking an hour and a half on the interstate at a reasonably steady speed. If there were stops signs or red lights, it wouldn't be highway, now would it?

And I'm not happy with the mileage. I'm not comparing it to the Odyssey, I'm comparing it to what Toyota said I'd get with this van.

My question was what actual mileage other Sienna owners were getting from their Siennas, not what Consumer Reports said the Odyssey gets. I'm not trying to be snippy, but if I wanted to compare the mileage with the Odyssey, I'd have posted my message on the other forum.

If there are any Sienna owners out there who know what kind of mileage you are getting, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks!

hansienna

Based on your most recent posting clarifying the highway driving, I think there is a glitch in your Sienna computer (s) or one or more sensors.
An acquaintance had a VW Bus that delivered only 11 MPG highway until a bad cylinder head temperature sensor was replaced and then the highway mileage jumped to 30 MPG.
I regularly read Sienna forums after I test drove a used 2004 Sienna LE in July and was greatly impressed with the engine power and quick response of the transmission. I also believe that Toyota vehicles have the best long term reliability.

tkaz

Looking for a remote start for a 2005 XLE LTD Sienna. Any recommendations? Would like a unit that has good range so my wife can start her car in the winter before she gets off the train. Her last car spoiled her with this kind of range - 500-800'.
Thanks
Tony

serrano

wwest - I'm not sure I agree with your statement. The torque converter could theoretically lock in any of the gears if you wanted it to because the speeds of the input and output to/from the torque converter are in a narrow range. My Isuzu Trooper will lock the TC in both 3rd and 4th gears. If you are not accelerating and are in a relative steady state, there will be relatively little difference between input and output regardless of the particular gearing (presuming that the TC is somewhat efficient).

Am I misunderstanding you??

Regards,
Tom

paule

That function is still there on the 2006 as well. They tie it into the parking brake so you can't watch it while you are driving (for obvious reasons).

sfuad

I have a 2004 XLE (April 2004). I have put on about 33K miles. Mine is giving pretty decent average. On highways it gives somewhere between 25 to 27 plus based on speed. Usually between 75 to 80 mph it gives me around 26.5. In city it gives me between 18 to 20. Sometimes it goes down to 16 but its when motor is kept running with ac on for 30 mins to an 1 hr. Initailly I used premium gas for few thousand miles, then shifted to regular. Could barely feel any difference between the average.
Probably the terrain also redues the average. I am in Tennessee, where it is not much rolling terrain.

hansienna

Another example of a minivan getting EPA ratings. At 65 MPH, you would easily exceed the EPA highway numbers.
How accurate is the trip computer on your Sienna XLE? Do you use the instant mileage function very often or do you frequently switch functions when you are on a long trip? :confuse:

towner2

I too have a 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE with about 1200 miles on it. Using premium gasoline I am getting about 16-17 miles in 50-50 highway-city driving. I understand it is far below what is said about the mileage expected. A few comments. (1) When i first bought the van I was getting 12 mpg. It has steadily increased now to 16-17 mpg. So don't loose hope and see if any it gets better over the next month or two. (2) The 19/26 mpg declared by Toyota is under optimum conditions. I guess this means conditions that are only possible in Toyota labs not on roads. With all said, I too am not happy about the mileage I am getting.

wiscy

I posted my mileage for my 2005 Sienna XLE FWD w/package #7 when I first got it 3 months ago. Now with 2200 miles on it I still suggest that the EPA indicated mileage should read 14 city and 26 highway.

We always get at least 23 on the highway using regular unleaded even going 75 and with climate control going. So I find the 26 figure to be very credible.

But around town we get 14-16mpg so I wouldn't expect more than that for city driving.

The computer seems to work very accurately at keeping track of average usage. You can reset it by holding simultaneously the left-most and right-most buttons for a couple of seconds when it's displaying the average mileage.

I used to watch the instaneous mileage display during different types of driving (starts, uphill, downhill, with and without climate control) to see what made a difference. Now I just enjoy the van and accept the mileage for what it is.

hansienna

Instanteous mileage display is my most used item on my van trip computer. Because DaimlerChrysler deleted this feature, the Toyota Sienna moved to the top of my "MOST Desired" next minivan. The Sienna also has a much better reputation for long term reliability and when test driven, the Sienna had THE BEST performance. The Sienna transmission just seemed more responsive and quicker than that in the Odyssey and both are better than my 02 Chrysler T&C.

str

Did you know that all Siennas have the Daytime Running Light feature? I just found this out, I'm probably the last person to find out but I am very happy I did, this is one feature I wanted but did not want to have to buy a package to get it.

If you want to know how to activate yours please let me know, it's as simple as sticking a jumper in the right fuse space! I just ran across this info somewhere else and would be glad to share the process with anyone who is interested. I'm hooking mine up tomorrow!

hansienna

I am GLAD that we do not have to have Daytime Running Lights on all Siennas. I do NOT like them and think Toyota is wise to have the Sienna equipped so that they are not on unless a person activates them.

petl

Just curious. Why don't you like them? Is it because you don't want to be seen or you don't like looking at them? (many both?)

wwest

Or maybe hansienna has a death wish.....

rorr

"Or maybe hansienna has a death wish....."

You ARE kidding, right?

Are you aware the least visible color is silver? Would individuals who bought a silver car have a 'death wish'?

petl

Only if they don't come equipped with Daytime Running Lights.

hansienna

I do NOT like Daytime Running Lights. Headlights are supposed to be turned OFF whenever entering a military base. How does a person turn off headlights when they are on all the time?
I also feel that they are of NO value. If a person is not smart enough to see an oncoming vehicle without running lights, they will be just as brain dead whenever daytime running lights are common. :sick:

petl

I won't comment on your first paragraph. You’re DEAD wrong with the second one. Don't assume that all drivers are as smart or sharp as you. I would prefer to be seen with lights on at all times rather than assume that people will see me with them off. Unfortunately, not everyone with a drivers licence has good vision. If it can help avoid an accident, I'll take it. I will agree there will always be stupid drivers. I'm just looking for a little edge. My opinion.

hansienna

Doesn't Canada require Daytime Running Lights?
You have a good reason to prefer them. However, I feel that DRL are an annoyance most of us prefer not to have. If I have any doubt concerning other driver's seeing me, I can very quickly flash my headlights or just turn them on.

rorr

DRL's have also been standard for motorcycles for decades, yet people still hit bikes for 'failure to see' reasons.

Bottom line - lights in and of themselves don't solve the problem. Yes, being MORE visible is theoretically safer. But I go back to my earlier point: silver is one of the least visible (easiest to overlook) colors. Should this color be regulated away? Should all vehicles be painted in bright neon colors as an aid to visibility? Why not? Wouldn't this be 'safer'? Would I have a 'death wish' if my car wasn't painted flourescent orange with big flashing stobe lights on top and a siren running continuously at 120db?

If someone isn't paying attention, they can run into you whether you are running DRL's or not. One thing that HAS happened is that now motorcycles stand out LESS because there are now more lights on and it is now easier for them to be lost in the clutter.

petl

I drove with my low beams on at all times way before it became law (it seemed like pure logic to me). Too may people were driving during the day when sky had darkened before and after a storm, in rain storms, and at dusk/dawn without having their lights on.

I'm fortunate to date, my vision is still pretty good. However, I can see where some would have a difficult time seeing during conditions that I have described. I also wore my seatbelt before that became law. We visit and consequently drive frequently in your beautiful country. I noticed that many vehicles have their lights on during the day compared to just a few years ago. It's just like anything alse, the annoyance goes away once it becomes the norm.

rorr

Please don't misunderstand:

Wearing seatbelts is a good idea. I've always worn my seatbelt since I was a kid in the '60s. When I rode a motorcycle, I always wore a full-face helmet, long pants, and a leather jacket (even during summer in Texas).

Having your lights on when visibility is poor is also a good idea. I agree that lights are NOT just so the driver can see, they are also an aid in BEING seen.

I just have a basic philosophical problem with trying to LEGISLATE 'good ideas'. It sounds fine in the short run, but I believe in the long run it makes people too dependent on the law rather than on common sense. If you've ever wondered why fewer and fewer people seem to have any 'common sense', I believe it is because the government seems to be going out of it's way to make it unnecessary.

DRL's are just an example (IMO) of the government attempting to take the place of 'common sense'.

petl

The only thing I can add to that is, some think they are now invincible with all the safety features that are included in the vehicles being sold today. I believe the NHTSA also recommends DRL's as safety feature. I agree there is no substitute for good driving habits.

taxesquire

My only negative on DRLs is that the DRLs in my Passat often made me think my full lights were on when they weren't. At night it wasn't as big an issue b/c if I couldn't see the dash, I'd put my lights on. But on several occasions during dusk when I'd prefer my full headlight to be on, I thought they were even though it was just the DRLs. Same with rainy days. I thought they were on (when the were, in fact, off) on several occasions and was pulled over once.

For awhile now, I've thought that the full lights should just go on when the engine goes on. Fancy cars can have a delayed off feature, but engine on - lights on. Engine off - lights off.

Don't know how I'd handle the military base issue. And that being said, I realize as I write this that my headlights go off automatically (they don't turn on automatically), so I actually could leave them on all the time, but don't. Hmmm...

cybernut04

As soon as I found out about the "hidden" DRLs on the LEs (I read about it somewhere in the Edmunds Sienna forums several months ago), I immediately made the quick and easy change in the fuses to activate them. Two reasons: (1) I like them - very subjective, but I just feel better knowing that the lights are on (without my having to remember, and without using the headlights), and (2) if they help just one person see my van coming and prevents that person from pulling out when there really isn't enough space to do so safely, then the DRLs are worth the minute and a half it took me to pop the hood, access the fuses, and make the change.

wwest

I have an engineer working on a new DRL design using tightly focussed 3W
Luxeon LEDs. The tight focussing will extend the visible range and the plan
is to have them flash rapidly if the horn is used. The ones going in my
RX300 will be amber, and white ones for my Porsche.

And speaking of legislation, at the moment while it is legal only for
motorcycle headlamps to be continuously modulated at 2 hz we'll be lobbying
to change that.

".....I can quickly flash my headlights or just turn them on."

Your are making inappropriate assumptions that the on-coming driver, the one
that just pulled into your lane to pass, did so far enough away that you
have time to react and flash your lights, and additionally the on-coming
driver has time to then acknowledge your lights and return to their own
travel lane. Or doesn't simply "freeze" in a "deer in headlights" panic.

Speaking of reaction times.

In 1962 we were traveling in southern Missouri when we crested a hill and found an oncoming vehicle coming rapidly toward us in the process of passing another car. My driver, brother-in-law, took to the barrow pit immediately. Problem was so did the oncoming driver. Then, of course, both decided to regain the roadbed. In spite of this time to maneuver we hit each other almost perfectly head on, totalling both vehicles but luckily no injuries.

mcase2

Pet,
I bet in Canada DRLs save lives. Most people in the U.S. are probably not aware how many unpaved and Summer-dusty roads there are in Canada. You do not need a darkened sky just a dry summer day to make oncoming vehicles virtually invisible to each other. DRLs make a big difference under these conditions. I have experienced this enough to sell me on DRLs

petl

Good point. I was trying to look at it from a US driver's point of view. I also think they are beneficial on paved roads during bright sunny days. Not trying to force my believes on anyone. Just an obervation during 37 years of driving experience.

deepan

vehicles manufactured after 90 and sold in Canada will have DRL. Thats the law.

petl

Thanks. I don't think you've been following the conversation. I am fully aware of the law (as are most Americans) and was in complete support of it when it was introduced. It has already been discussed.

wwest

that DRLs have the greatest value on a bright day when the oncoming vehicle is in shadow, roadside trees, hillside, etc.

dcheung

I plan to replace the Run Flat with all season tires for snow traction, I heard we can install spare tire behind driver side third row seat (dealer's option). The question is can I still fold down the third row seat flat after I remove the spare. I will be using Run Flat in summer and don't need to carry the spare.

taxesquire

First and foremost, talk to the dealer and explain that you want to be able to fold the seat down after the spare is removed.

Now, I can't envision a contraption installed on the back of the seat that would allow it to fold down because the "spike" on which the tire would rest would still be sticking out. Guess you could see if they could put the spike on a hinge that swivels left and right so you could turn it to the side when not in use.

An alternative might be to install in on the smaller back seat, so even if that side needs to stay up, the larger side could fold into the floor.

weedshasta

I have AWD and got a regular tire for a spare (found a rim on ebay). Fully inflated, it CANNOT be laid down in the well behind the 3rd row seat (the donut tire does fit). It was at least an inch larger in diameter than the well. Some people put it there standing up, but you have to secure it to the seat so it won't go flying in a quick stop. Another option is to put it on the roof, either in a carrier or not. I took out the right side passenger seat and securily lashed it to the bolts in the floor. Since I rarely carry passengers, and carry a lot of cargo, it works out fine for me. I like to have the rear seats down flat.
Don't assume that when you have the Run Flats on in the summer, you don't need a spare. I had my tires rotated at the dealer's yesterday. They found a large gash on the inside of the tire (could not be seen from the outside). It was deep and about 3" long. It compromised the sidewalls so it could not be repaired. The dealer said it was probably caused by a pothole and could have blown at any time (luckily they had a tire, unluckily it cost $250). I would not have been able to drive on it at all. Others have related tales of objects sticking out of their tires that prevented them from driving on them.

dduffy

We would like to be able to travel with our two dogs loaded in their crates in the back cargo area with the third row down. I have been unable to find something that indicates the width and depth of the rear cargo area when the seats are down.

Thanks,

rorr

As far as cargo width goes, most of the current crop is right around 48" or just a bit more (designed to swallow a 4'x8' sheet). Not sure where you can find depth behind the 2nd row seats.

You best bet is probably to go and look at a few likely candidates with a tape measure in hand. I'll try and remember to measure the area behind the 2nd row in our Ody this weekend. Perhaps a Sienna owner can do the same for you.

tcp2

we leave our dog's crate in the rear of the van all the time. It is a furrari(?) in a large size. You could fit two of them across the back. If either crate is extra large it will not fit. The rear of the crate is against the back of the middle seat row and there is about 12" between the hatch and the kennel door. We usually have the baby stroller on the other side. Not more than 49" for both kennels in width.

hansienna

The dealer just got some new 2006 Siennas so I went to see them after reading about them at the dealer's web site. Now I regret taking a friend with me as he bought the Natural White 2006 Sienna LE - 7 passenger than I would have liked.
However, that will give me an excellent opportunity to more closely examine the Sienna as I was able to compare the 2001 Odd EX with a 2002 GC Sport for over a year.

everest1

Hi,
I am shopping for Sienna LE and I realized some changes in 06 model.
Here is the press release of Sienna 06 (paragraph 4)
http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=20050729a

06 Sienna has 15 LESS horsepowers (3.3L V6, 24 valve, 215@5600hp) than 04 and 05 year models(3.3L V6, 24 valve, 230@5600hp).

06 LE has many more side airbags than previous year.
It has a standard 6-CD audio system, which can play MP3 ! (No cassette).
"AM/FM with 6-disc in-dash CD player, MP3/WMA capability, six speakers and and most antenna" ---- toyota.com

05 LE has $1000 rebate right now, which is not available for 06.

rorr

The difference in horsepower is due entirely to a revised methodology used by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) to rate hp. In essence the SAE 'cleaned' up some language in their procedure which was open to interpretation allowing some manufacturer's to use slightly different test methods. The hp numbers are down a bit across the board for some manufacturers, including Toyota and Honda.

taxesquire

Rorr already mentioned the HP differential. I just want to point out that w/r/t airbags, it's not that the '06s have more airbags, as much as that they've become standard equipment.

Anyway, while you didn't actually ask a question in your psot, I assume you want to know whether you're better off buying an '06 or '05. Well, price your '05 with the airbags and the $1k discount, and then see how much more the '06 will cost. Then it's up to you whether the radio redesign is worth it.

everest1

Thanks Rorr and taesquire. HP is no longer a concern.

With $1000 rebate, 05 LE is about $22,000 in my area.
06 LE is about $24,000 ($1100 off MSRP $25,130).

Those additional airbags are good to have (not a must). We do like the 6-disc
in dash CD player in 06 LE, which can play MP3.

06 LE is priced too high right now, because it's new to the market. I may buy
it around Thanksgiving Holiday to get low APR financing or cash back.

taxesquire

A $2,000 diff before you add the airbags, plus 6 discs & mp3 integration? I think that'd be worth $2k to me, considering it'd probably help with resale down-the-road. IMO, your thinking is on the right track.

newman3423

We just purchased 05 xle with DVD but want navigation and are looking for aftermarket. Anyone have any suggestions plus we miss are 6 disc changer. I know there are several out there but not for sure which ones are good. What will replace current OEM player in the dash.

everest1

I bought Garmin 2610 GPS 6 months ago, which works great.

There are 3 big players in U.S. mobile GPS market: Garmin, Magellan and Tomtom.

Garmin has
2620, 2720, C330, C340 -- preloaded. Works out-of-the-box. Some use micro hard drive to store map data.
2610, C320 ---- use flash memory cards to store map data.

Magellan has
Roadmate 300, 700 and 760

Tomtom Go and Go+ etc.

You can find all GPS discussions at

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?CAT_ID=2

dcmharley

For anyone considering or driving a Sienna equipped with run-flat tires, beware! My '04 AWD LXE Limited needed new tires after 18,500 of moderate driving. Dunlop refused to make any concession. Dealer wanted ~$1,200USD for a new set. Finally offered to swap out run flats for conventional tires (INDICATING THAT THEY DO KNOW THE PROBLEM IS REAL), but said I would need to pay ~$1,200USD for "manufacturer-provided modifications" to allow me to carry a spare.
Dealer Service Manager told me Toyota was planning to give up on run-flats. The ones that come with the Sienna are 'high-performance' run-flats with terrible aspect rations for the weight of the van and the cargo it is designed to carry. Too much sidewall to ensure durability and survivability. What idiot puts high performance tires on a minivan, then leaves the buyer with no real option except to replace them again...and again...?
There really should be a class-action suit to force Toyota to fix this situation.

hop1

Can someone confirm that the '06 LE's do indeed come with a 6 disc changer?

I'm not seeing this on the Canadian website..Any Canadians out there that can comment on this?