in along ago post, i suggested that while you do make some positive contributions to this forum, you have the tendency to over stay your welcome and not know when to quit.... methinks you have reached that point.
if your mission is to convert potential sequoia owners from buying "... the only overweight, underpowered, overpriced vehicle of the three...", then you are doing a lousy job of it. i mean, what gives ? how many sequoia owners care about posting to the denali, yukon or yukonxl site here at edmunds ? do any of us care what and why you bought your denali ? nope... do you have a "chip on your shoulders" on your ownership of the denali xl ? maybe...
a word for the wise: you will do well to tone down your comparison datasheet for the gm brethren here on the sequoia forum. many on this forum could care less about the "... underweight, overpowered, and underpriced..." (using the exact opposites to your statement quoted above here) gm vehicles you seem to love so much.
i suspect that you have long habored deep feelings against toyota owners because we seem to flaunt the so-called toyota quality over the domestics in other people's faces. i suggest that it is gm owners that seem to have a "perceived complex against toyota",
how about this: in an October 24th post on another forum (Highlander_versus_GMC Envoy), hsvillage stated this to you:
--------------------------- I would also refer you to www.auto.com/industry/cowger10_20010810, it is an article by Jeffery McCracken of the Detroit Free Press titled TOYOTA GETS GM CREDIT.It quotes Gary L.Cowger GM group VP for manufacturing "The roots of our improvement is the Toyota Production System.We learned from them.We've got to give credit where credid is due." ---------------------------
To date, you have yet to provide a single response to this information. does this not dispprove much of your statements, theories, 'facts', etc.. etc.. about your much vaunted denali, yukon, etc vehicles you seem to throw around here. imo, if you cannot discern the truth as stated publicly by a VP of GM, then you are living in denial, and your words are mere rants designed for the ignorant and the gullible.
let us repeat the statement by Gary L Cowger, Group VP for Manufacturing at GM: he stated this (yet to be retracted anywhere): "The roots of our improvement is the Toyota Production System. We learned from them. We've got to give credit where credid is due."
is this statement fact or fiction ?
if it is fact, how about a response, heatwave3 ??? how 'bout it .... give us your interpretation of this staement. if you cannot, then your credibility will take a big hit. but i am sure you will have something to say about this in your usual facts_versus_opinion statements...
unless, of course, the statement is all FICTION, then you need not bother to respond ...
btaim, i am looking forward to hearing from you shortly !
Looking at the Sequoia and would appreciate real owners input about things I ahve heard on Forums-- 1-Weak A/C--I live in South east Texas and need a quality Air conditioner. 2-The "roar" with a back window open, a big deal or not? 3-240 HP in a giant vehicle-is it underpowered? 4-The VSC--does it really stop the power in less than ideal situations? 5-Considering all the above, is it still a great SUV?
Sequioa LTd. is heavier than the Yukon Denali and the Yukon Denali XL? Since when? That is a load of crap. What data are you looking at? You can fool some of the people some of the time but we here are not buying your lies. See post #4255 The Yukon Denali and the Yukon XL both weigh more than the Sequoia! Where are you getting your misguided info from? It seems to me that what mostly appears to bother you since you feel some need to post here at this forum is that you just can't let it go! If people here want info on G.M. then they will lurk at the G.M. forums. Now go back to that Yukon forum and take the interior door handles falling off, the cold air coming in to the floor area that needed sealing around the main vent box to get sorted out, the Defective engine that had to be replaced before one poster at the Denali forum had his Yukon delivered to him,replaced the rear differential as well, the slipping and locking up of transmissions, the countless headrests that keep comming apart, and let G.M. know that we here love it when we here posts like " Damn I just wish that General Motors had there act together. If Toyota made a Suberban I would buy it" Gotta love that one, Heatwave. Smoke that!
If you are not in any hurry, I would wait until the Spring to see what the new Expedition is like. The Sequoia is vastly superior to the existing Expedition (which is a fine vehicle but hasn't been changed since 1996)but I'm sure the new one will be better. 1. The A/C is not weak. I forget which car magazine did a Death Valley torture test and the Sequoia finished in the top 1/3. You may find the rear defroster a little weak.
2. Roar in back window a non-issue. It's common in other vehicles and cured by opening one or two windows a crack.
3.240 hp. Vehicle is definitely not underpowered. Torque is more important in a large vehicle and Torque is similar to Chevy. Vehicle has lots of jump and engine is silky smooth and quiet. If you're hung up on specs, Sequoia is only slightly behind Yukon in 1/4 mile and that is the Yukon with the optional larger engine. Sequoia smokes the Yukon stock engine. Also Trailer Boats magazine did a comparison vs. Yukon and Expedition. Sequoia won handily, non-towing and towing and beat the Yukon (with larger optional engine)in mountain towing (achieved a higher speed). So be careful of specs- they only tell part of the story.
4. VSC. I had a 2001 now I have a 2002. It seems to me the VSC has been recalibrated to be less obtrusive (although I didn't have a problem with it either). The VSC and ATRAC are great features and not available on Yukon or Expedition. Think of them as a positive not a negative.
5. It's an awesome SUV. I frequently rent an Expedition or Yukon or Yukon XL when on business. It always serves to remind me that I made the right choice.
6. Some people don't like the stereo. Some find the HVAC fan too noisy. The engine can be noisy at startup in cold weather. There don't seem to be any serious major issues at this point. I would stick with a 2002 though. There seem to be subtle engineering changes that i like, but again subtle.
Finally be sure to try them all! One man's meat is another man's poison! See which one appeals to you. It may be how it drives, it may be the features. Isn't it great to have choices!
Also the Sequoia engine is ULEV certified which means it's 40% cleaner than the Expedition engine. I can just hope GM and Ford will follow Toyota's Lead in creating FS SUV's with environmentally friendly engines.
The yukon, yukonXL, and suburban (2000, 2001, and 2002)--GM refuses to fix the problem--have the steering wheel shifted to the right of center with respect to the center of the driver's seat by about an inch or two. The result is you must lean to the right. If you're tall, the left pillar is in your line of vision, due to the left shifted position of the seat. It is an awful feeling when driving.
Heatwave states that the Highlander has a larger payload than the Sequoia. Well, yes and no. If it is the 2 wheel drive model yes, that has a 1500lb payload. However, I like to compare apples with apples. I thought our examples were with the 4 wheel drive models or awd models since I was comparing that to a Sequoia 4 wd. Since we know that the Sequoia 4 wd has a payload of 1,305 the payload for the Highlander awd is 1,105 lbs. Now, If in your comparisons you were using the 2 wd Highlander as your comparison then you negected to state that that 1,500 lb. payload is also greater than Yukon Dinali XL's payload which is listed at Edmund's as 1,380lbs. But that was probably an oversight in your representation of the facts. Also, your assesement that the Denali's don't compare to the Sequoia Ltd.in luxury and ride etc. would be arguably onesided. Each vehicle has very different characteristics. The Sequoia has stability control as well as traction control and curtain airbags for head injuries. Dinali has steering wheel audio controls and memory seating. They both have an array of luxury items for most buyers. So, if horsepower is your thing and your garage is big enough and you wish to tow a cement truck then go for it. Value is measured in many different modes. Quality vs. features are among the trade offs. Toyota quality is legendary. G.M. has learned from them. I have worked for G.M. in the past for some ten years. In fact, I still have some stock in that company. While General Motors has raised its level of quality over the years I am not convinced that they have reached the level of sucsess that Toyota's legendary quality has acheived in the past as well as recent years. I maintain that your comparisons of the Sequoia Ltd.4 wd should only be compared to the Yukon Denali as they also are priced alike but not the XL. That is a 15.4 inch longer vehicle. I repeat: the Sequoia competes with Tahoe,Expedition EB,& Dinali in size, weight and pricing. To compare it to anything other than that is not a direct comparison to what Toyota positioned itself to take from that segement of the SUV market.
Thanks--just what I was looking for from someone who has a Sequoia. Of course my A/C demands in Texas will be a little different than yours. Am going to buy a car this week so can't wait for the 2003 Expedition. I have driven them both & like them both, could enjoy either but am leaning towards the Sequoia even though it will cost more.
I have >15000 miles on a 2001 SR5, and there were some mighty hot days here in Alabama this summer. It took maybe a minute to go from toaster oven to pleasant each time we started up after being parked out in the noonday sun at work. You actually have two independent vent systems. Either will freeze your buns if you so choose. Good luck with your choice. The *only* complaint I currently have is with the stereo. Power, drivability, etc. are superb. Fortunately, the local dealer says he is going to replace the stereo amplifier with a recent part number that fixes the "booming" tendency of the 2001's sound system.
definately get the 2nd AC unit for the back seats. No problem yet on my 2002 SR5 4X4 with less3000 miles on it. Great passing power in the expressway. The stereo sounds great in tne front seats. Bass real tight, not boomy at all. Get the cargo net and floor mats into your deal. Texas toyota has a great internet parts store at wholesale prices.I cannot remember the URL.
I've made a habit of ignoring the GM vs. Sequoia posts. They make no sense, especially when talking about the XL models. You GM owners are getting way to worked up over the Sequoia and it seems you are somehow threatened by the existence of the Sequoia. At the very least, you seem threatened by people who choose the Sequoia.
Some of the Sequoia owners seem equally threatened by the opinion of others.
Why don't we all just calm down. Too many GM fans seem to have taken over this discussion and there seems to be very little actual information being passed along here that can help consumers make informed decisions. I hate seeing this topic go the way of the Tundra topics here at Edmunds. The hosts let that go on for so long that all useful dialog stopped 2 years ago.
For those of you asking about VSC I have posted several messages over the last couple of weeks regarding my discontent for the system. Tomorrow myself and the Midwest Toyota Tech rep are taking out our Sequoia in an effort to duplicate the problems we have had with the governed engine from an overactive VSC system. I will let you know the results.
As it is now, I hate the system. However, we have had NO problems with the system when the Sequoia is in 4WD. Now I just wonder the repurcussions of driving in 4WD all the time - tires, gas mileage, who knows what else.
I have to agree with cliffy, everybody take a deep breath and try to relax. It appears some of the blood pressure is so high you guys can't even read what I've actually written through your blood shot eyes.
First, you'll never see me making personal comments about other posters. I stick to the vehicles, the facts and my views of those vehicles in the discussion. Avoiding the personal attacks would certainly be a welcome change in this forum, particularly since it would go so nicely with the season.
714cut: I absolutely agree with your view that the specs on a vehicle are not the only reason for buying a vehicle, although they are a very important factor. I've also agreed that for many people the Sequoia is not only a good choice, it can also be the better choice. The difference between some of you and myself is that I also believe the same thing about the GM products.
(FYI, if the Avalon choice was my decision I would have gone with the Lexus or MB, however my wife did the shopping and liked the Platinum Edition Avalon and decided thats what she wanted.)
oac3: while I understand you're upset with the sharing of facts when they undermine your view, I suspect some, if not many, of the readers enjoy the facts in addition to the "syrupy" opinions some have of the Sequoia. Facts can never harm a good decision while opinions usually do.
Its interesting how the hormones get cranked up on the remark regarding the Sequoia being "overweight, underpowered, and overpriced" (stated for impact and because its my opinion which is as valid as anyone elses) and yet similar and substantially more derogatory references to Domestic vehicles are routinely made in this forum without even the batting of an eye. Get used to others expressing similar negative views of a vehicle you happen to like. I don't recall anything in the Edmunds "rules of conduct" restricting a forum to only those posters willing to post positive opinions and supportive facts regarding the Sequoia.
I'm not sure what kind of response you're seeking from me regarding the VP from GM. Learning from other company's is not only a good thing but routine for all companies. Any company not learning from others is likely to have a limited existence. Its the only way to achieve World Class standards and all company's are seeking this goal. Its kinda like suggesting somehow Toyota must be inferior to Ford because they learned from Ford about mass production on a factory line.
fanman8: Come on now. Why not go back and read my post again and fess up. You're trying to create a controversy where none exists. My post was perfectly clear that I was comparing the Sequoia to the Yukon and Yukon XL (not the Denali's as you continue to insist). In these comparions, the Sequoia weighs more than a Yukon or Yukon XL, has less HP, lower payload, lower towing capacity, 4 ft larger turning radius than a Yukon and costs more than either one. While I would be glad to engage in a discussion comparing a Sequoia to the Denali's, please try to avoid misquoting me as I have been clear that the comparions were to the regular Yukon and Yukon XL.
714cut states it well: "Finally be sure to try them all! One man's meat is another man's poison! See which one appeals to you. It may be how it drives, it may be the features. Isn't it great to have choices!"
fanman8: Once again take a deep breath. To repeat, the comparions I provided were to the Yukon, Yukon XL, Toyota Sienna and Highlander. Aren't you at all surprised to see the payload of your Sequoia surpassed by a Toyota minivan? What were the engineers thinking?
While you are welcome to compare whatever vehicles you wish, so are others. If you disagree with the comparison, that's your right, just as its the right of others to make those same comparisons. I suspect there are shoppers out there comparing the Sequoia SR5 to the Yukon and Yukon XL, just as there are consumers comparing the Sequoia Limited to the Denali, Denali XL, Escalade, Navigator and Expedition.
bought a fully loaded silver Sequoia(SR5) this Satuday. Was on the way to mall and stopped by a dealership next to mall. Instead of buying presents for others, bought this for wife. Paid $800 over invoice (invoice has $695 dealer holdback). So dealer makes about $1,500. My question is: the Edmunds says the vechicle uses regular unlead gas. Is this accurate? I thought it has to use premium. Appriciate if someone can give a definite answer. Was considering Acura MDX but scared off by their dealer. When I went the dealership(the only one I visited), a jerk said "I don't want to waste my time and my manager's time to negotiate. We sell MDX $2000 over MSRP." For $2000 over MSRP, the MDX we're looking for would be more expensive than a loaded Sequoia. With Sequoia, it seems everything is bigger than MDX except the price.
Just to take the edge off the "bite" here on the Sequoia forum, I thought you all might get a kick out of this Holiday poem!!
Twas The Night Before Ramadan > > Twas the night before Ramadan, and all through the cave > Not a creature was stirring; it felt like a grave. > > The turbans were hung by the fire pit with care, > In hopes that the Air Force would not soon be there. > The soldiers were restless without any beds, > while visions of air strikes flashed in their heads. > > Osama in his burkha and I in my goatskin cap, > Had just settled down for a cold, barren winter's nap, > When out on the ledge there arose such a clatter, > I grabbed my Kalashnikov to see what was the matter. > > Away from the racket I ran like a girl, > Tripped over a goat; into a ball I did curl. > The moon shone down on the new-fallen snow > And lit up the valley with an ominous glow, > When, what to my one good eye should appear, > But a dozen Apaches, and AAVs in the rear, > > And their leader, so fearless, his troops he did push, > I knew in an instant it must be George Bush. > More rapid than eagles his forces they came, > And they whistled, and shouted, and called out our names; > "Now Omar! Osama! Muhammad! Abdul! > We come for you now; we've taken Kabul! > > To the top of the cliffs! To the back of their caves! > When you chose this war, you dug your own graves!" > > As the dry leaves that before the assault choppers fly, > When they meet with an obstacle, light up the sky, > So up to the ledge his forces they flew > With full magazines, and flamethrowers too. > > And then, in a twinkling, I heard with a thud > The explosions of Tomahawks; not one was a dud. > As I chambered my rifle, and was turning around, > Osama was there, disguised in a gown. > > He was dressed all in drag, from his head to his toes, > And he said he would flee while I held off his foes; > A bundle of money he had stuffed in his pack, > He said "I'm going to Baghdad and I'm not looking back!" > > is eyes were all glassy; he trembled with fear; > The American bombs, they rang in his ears. > He saddled his goat, then turned tail and fled, > But a Marine Corps sniper got him in the head. > I watched with cold fear as his body did slump; > The goat threw him off; he fell with a thump. > > And so, there I stood, my plans all destroyed, > About to suffer a fate I could not avoid; > I dropped to my knees; asked Allah for help, > His voice boomed in my ears, > > "You ignorant whelp! I gave you the Bible, the Torah and Koran, > But you were too arrogant to understand, > I told you to honor your neighbors and wives; > Not to enslave them, or degrade their lives! > > You invoke My name to sanction your deeds, > But you are the last thing that this world needs. > And so, I'll send you and bin Laden to Hell." > > The last words I heard, as the bombs fell, > Were from George Bush himself as he mounted the wall, > "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!"
Cliffy is right...the Sequoia actually runs *better* on regular gas. I found this out when I switched, and computed about .5 mpg improvement. Someone earlier had a nice technical explanation of this, but the post was months ago.
Just bought an '01 Ltd. Seq. two and a half weeks ago, which is also 2,250 miles ago! Traded an '01 Volvo XC with 37,500 miles in 13 mos. because no one in my house fit in that little thing. Nice car, wrong, very tall people. Used to drive a Yukon before that- ran it to 92,000 miles, but because it disintegrated completely and very expensively, I did not even test drive that thing again. I'll hit 100,000 in less than three years, so I will be sure to report on reliability to the group.
The Seq. is much more relaxing to me to drive and I feel less worn out from road feel in the wheel after my 72 mile one way commute, as compared to the Yukon. The ride is smooth and like a car almost. I like the side air bags and air curtains for safety. I really like this truck so very much more than the Yukon, the Jeep Cherokee and the FOrd Bronco of my previous vehicles. I am having trouble getting the hang of backing it up, and wonder if I need a round mirror or just more practice with it.
There was a post a long time ago about a rear mat that had cut outs for the third row seats, so that one could put the mat thing in, keep the third row seats, but still protect the carpet against dogs, mustard, pop, junk, and all of the nasty stuff that fills my vehicle, despite my best efforts. Can someone help me find the web site or link for that? I have scoured Whitney's and cannot find that thing with the cut outs. I am very appreciative in advance.
I have been reading this forum for quite awhile, and have to thank the knowledgeable guy on the four wheel drive system (I am not so sure I follow all of it because I have no clue what a differential is, let alone why it locks), but I am riding in 4 wheel almost all of the time and do not seem to have the annoying power drop from the VSC system. I hit some steep washboard that used to cause a power drop, and in 4 wheel it does not- so thanks for the advice.
I have the rear mat you are talking about. It's called a cargo liner and it's made by Husky Liners. You can type in that in Google or any search engine to get their website and a list of distributors. I just checked- it is huskyliners.com Mine won't help you as it is in Canada. It is a solid plastic/rubber liner with curved edges. It covers the entire back and even becomes a floor mat for the people sitting in the 3rd row seating. You can spill to your hearts content without damage. I also have the same liners for front seats and second seats. They aren't as pretty as other floor mats but my carpet underneath is brand new including all the edges etc. Be prepared- they are not cheap but great value (kinda like the Sequoia compared to a Yukon!). Oh, and by the way don't tell Heatwave about your Yukon experience ok--we'll just keep that our little secret:)
Pete, thanks for your usual prompt response, well appreciated !
But you categorize me unfairly, that I am "upset with the sharing of facts...." on this forum. to the contrary, i appreciate the sharing of opinions juxtaposed with some tinge of "facts" here-and-there... on forums such as this, facts take on the semblance of statistics; what they reveal is often interesting but what they hide is vital... (excerpted from another poster on another forum, and paraphrased here)
Your assertion that "...similar and substantially more derogatory references to Domestic vehicles are routinely made in this forum without even the batting of an eye...", is, thankfully, an opinion of yours (which you are free to share) which is not wholly true. in fact (that word again) you have been the one to carry the banner for GM (solely) against Toyota whenever any one dares to suggest he/she finds the Toyota Sequoia a "better vehicle" than their previous domestics...Do you categorize as "derogatory" the personal opinions as expressed by any previous GM owner when he/she compares the experience between owning both types of vehicles ? That, imo, has always been the context that domestics are referred to here. Like others have mentioned repeatedly, they too have owned many GM vehicles in the past, and some even continue to own GM vehicles to date. Do their personal experiences of ownerships not count ? And when these are expressed, should they be so categorized as "derogatory" ?
Like you, everyone is entitled to an opinion. You share yours freely, but tend to attack others when they express theirs. Sure you do not make direct attacks, but your gift for words barely hides this subtlety of your attacks on them. Here on the Sequoia forum, anything goes. A Seq owner has deemed it best to purchase this vehicle, but you try your darnest best to prove to us Seq owners and wanna-be owners that our vehicle is "not all that", but rather your denali is the epitome of luxury, comfort, ride, handling, towing agility, etc... in contrast to the Sequoia. I won't deny that the Denali XL is a great vehicle, but I and many other Seq owners here have chosen to place our money on the Toy. How can that displease you so much ?
Tell me something: how many Seq owners has spent as much time and effort on GM forums with the vigor and tirelessness you have displaced on the Toyota Sequoia forum ? I bet you none ! Why ? I dunno. For me, speaking personally, I would deem it disrespectful if I go into the GM forum and tell other GM owners that their vehicle "is not ll that", and I go ahead and spend weeks researching and rehashing specs ad infinitum to prove my point !
For what ???
One quick point to note is this: Toyota made the Seq as a direct competitor to the Ford Expy and the Chevy Tahoe. That GM makes 2 lines of identical twins in this segment is just fortuitous that the Yukon also competes with the Seq. But NOT the Yukon XL, nor any of the Denali's. The Denalis, like the Suburbans, compete solely with Ford's Excursion, and nothing else. Hope this clarifies this issue...
My final point to you is this: one cannot but appreciate your tireless zeal in defense of your opinion(s), but you carry them way too far, and you sure could use a rest posting on this board. I am not asking you to cease posting here, but make your posts count.... You gain credibility and have much greater value.
As they say, a word is always enough for the wise
Take care, Pete, and have a wonderful holiday season to you and yours
And to everyone else, Merry Xmas and a joyous Yuletide to you all.
love your sport! 714cut is correct that typing in Husky liners in any search engine will give you good results. And, here are some links that may be useful:
Congrats on your purchase. My wife loves hers. We got our mat from Macneil Products at Mats.com. I have them in my Camry, and we now have them for her Sequoia. Great item for keeping the back 40 clean from kids and dogs miscellaneous disasters.
Thanks for all of the conversation and info! I bought the Sky Silver SR5 4wd and love it so far (2 weeks). Previously drove a '00 Chevy Ext Cab Silverado 2wd. That was a great American truck! My first domestic auto since '79 - what a great change. I did drive the Yukon/Tahoe trucks but peronally thought the Seq, all around, worth the few extra bucks.
Anyone trying to decide on a Sequoia or the GM family of SUV's should take a trip over the the Suburban/Yukon XL board. In just 3 pages of posts, I read about door locks that won't, transmissions completely failing after a few thousand miles and new engines burning oil. Wow! I didn't post any comments about the sterling record of the Sequoia over there, but it did cross my mind. There is someone whom we all know too well that is a regular poster on that board.
Thanks for the information of a couple days ago--I went & bought a Sequoia Limited last night. I really enjoyed the 17 miles I have driven it so far. Just for others information It has all Toyota options except a moon roof. Some of the dealer/distributor things on it are -"extra mile", glass etching, floor mats, door guards, cargo nets & cover, Road Hazard assistance and some of those other type things--paid $39,000. I don't think I "stole" it from the dealer by any means but I don't think I will get up in a month thinking I was totally screwed either.
Think I need to go for a ride with my favorite 6 CD's. Ken
Thanks Nighter and Paul on the mats. Ordered the Husky liners last night for front and rear and cargo. Nighter, the
http://www.accessconnect.com/huskylnr.htm site was less expensive than the Urban Jungle for the same brand. I agree that the Husky liners may not be pretty, but neither is the kid [non-permissible content removed] all over my beautiful, new pale grey Limited interior. Perfect advice.
Because I believe that I may be able to keep this ultra fine, gorgeous and so smooth vehicle for more miles than that dumb competitor vehicle lasted me, I am more motivated to keep it clean. (The competitor had a malfunctioning driver's side door, had to have a whole new 4-wheel drive thing put in before 75,000 miles, needed a new puffy thing in front to make the brakes work right again, required a new air conditioner, and couldn't seem keep an alignment for more than a day even if I didn't drive over stuff).
Next question, now that I have found all of these gurus to help me figure out about my new truck. The manual says to be at 62 mph or lower to flip into 4- wheel. Does that mean that I should not exceed, say, 75 or 80 mph in 4-wheel? Can I take it out of 4-wheel at any speed? Am I right that it might be a tiny bit noisier in 4-wheel on the highway? I don't need to worry about driving on the dry pavement in 4 wheel like the Yukon, right?
On the new engine debate- I have exceeded 75 a few times because I am on highways with nothing around me but a deer or turkey most of the time. I have, however, been careful not to exceed 65 for the first 1,000, and never ran the RPMs past 2 or 2500 for the whole 2500 miles. Is that okay enough, and now I can go back to passing on steep hills and things? Or do I need to continue keeping the speed and RPMs lower?
Last question, if you really feel like being kind. What is a differential, and what does it have to do with four wheel drive? Is that the coupler thing that transfers the torque to the rear wheels from the engine? What is different about the Sequoia differential- is there one more than normal? Why?
Thank you very much. The manual was over my head. Merry Christmas and thanks, Hockey Mom.
I am glad I could help and hope your mats make you happy.
I think cliffy and others can answer your 4-wheel drive related questions but I will tell you that I have gone 75 and 80 in my Seq in 4 wheel drive high (push button) with no ill effects (at least that I know of). I have not disengaged at high speed and would be interested to know from cliffy if this is ok. I haven't noticed it being any noisier on the freeway but I tend to play my music loud. Driving in 4wheel drive high is fine on dry pavement but I believe that you should not drive in 4wheel drive low (lever engaged) on dry roads.
As far as differentials and 4 wheel drive workings, the best advice I have is to read cliffy's 2nd post in the "Toyota 4WD systems explained" forum on this site (under SUVs). I think that will answer your questions.
Thanks for the hint, nighter50. We've added a link to the Toyota 4WD systems explained discussion in the Helpful Links box on the left navigation bar (f/k/a Additional Resources). Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I know and I agree with everyone else. It's sad to see the one that won't flush again.
I posted a questions about the difference between the VSC of the 01 and 02 Seq's a while back but did get much response. Have any of the 02 Seq owners experienced momentarily 'loss of power' during hard accelerations like some 01 owners reported.
Have a '02 Seq. Have not had the loss of power described in the '01 even though I tried my best to make it happen. Apparently the '02 computer/software was more forgiving. There is a discussion of this in the Sequoia section of the Tundra solutions board which seems to confim this.
What a light hearted post -- thank you; we get so serious around here!
I'm no smarter than the next guy, but I'll take a shot at your questions:
You can sort through the 4WD systems explained, but I'll have a go at some simple answers.
4WD Speed: Don't worry, you can't hurt it. If you try to engage over 63mph, it will beep and blink at you and then go into 4WD when you slow down, or you can just push the button again which will stop the beeping/blinking. I usually try to turn the 4WD on or off under 40MPH. It just seems to be "easier" on the parts but it's ok to disengage at any speed. Don't worry about the lever on the floor, just leave it in the "H" position. Sequoia 4WD (low or high range) can be used all the time, on any kind of road surface, dry or otherwise and at any speed. (Note that there is a reference in the manual on page 230 that warns against driving over 85mph unless the vehicle has "high speed tires"). Your other vehicle was a "part time" 4wd system and could only be used on slippery surfaces.
Noise: I can't tell any difference between 2WD and 4Wd. There will be a clunk or clicking sound when switching between 2WD and 4WD. If you lift off the gas a bit after you push the 4WD button, the shift is usually faster and smoother.
Good questions about the differential: It is a device with some gears in it that lets wheels on the same axle turn at different speeds (hence the name)at the same time. Wheels turn at different speeds in a turn, for example, because the outside wheel has to travel farther and so turns faster than the other wheel on the inside of the turn. Without a differential, wheels would kind of skid around turns. Some 4WD vehicles, like the Sequoia, have a third (center) differential built into the transfer case (that's the coupler thing that connects the front and rear wheels to the transmission) that lets the front and rear axles turn at different speeds (just like the wheels) and is the reason you can use the Sequoia's 4WD any time and all the time. This is a much more expensive and complex system than a part time 4WD which is the reason that few 4WD vehicles have a center differential. Hope that helped.
New car break-in is a mater of some debate. The first 500 to 1000 miles usually all that is needed to break in most vehicles. Don't do any drag racing yet, but I would say that your Sequoia is able to be driven "normally".
Hi everyone, I have been lurking around the board gathering information on the Sequoia. I'm ready to take the plunge. Does anyone have a dealership that they could suggest in the Fairfield, CA area? I e-mailed a few dealerships and only 2 replied. One in Napa, quoted me $36,600 plus fees for a Sr5 4x4 pretty well loaded. Vacaville quoted me $40000 plus fees for the same vehicle. Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks
It's great to know that the apparent power loss problem with VSC in 2WD is solved with the 02 Seq's. Thanks for the info.
Fred & Vicky,
I've checked with a number of dealers (including Internet & Fleet managers) in N CA. The prices are generally higher than S CA. I think the S CA dealers pay less association/ad fees and there is more competition. Cliffy explained it once but I can't remember the specifics. It's actually a few hundred less even if you have the vehicle shipped to your door. You might want to email several S CA dealers to check their prices.
Cliffy...thanks for all the help, finally traded in the 01 Sport 4Runner last night for a Sequoia. Got the SR5 Thunder Gray (not my first color choice, but dealer had only 2 to pick from). It has every option available for the SR5, except foglamps, which you would think a $43K SUV would be standard fair. Anyways, what a huge difference between the 4Runner and the Sequoia.
Also, has anyone installed a brush guard on their Sequoia? I had one on my 4Runner and I thought it looked great. I am thinking of ordered one for the Sequoia.
Merry X-mas to all! Hopefully we will get some snow soon!
This is the second time the Sequoia has been featured in a magazine, last Spring, Trailer Boats Magazine named the Sequoia their Tow Vehicle of the Year
Just thought I'd provide an update to my October post (3770). The dealer and Toyota have not been able to fix the creaking noise coming from the bottom of the drivers side "A" pillar, after numerous tries and weeks in the shop. Still sounds like a bad weld to me - with no amount of pulling apart/re-assembly of the dash and body parts, by the dealer, resulting in peace and quiet. Toyota seems to be suggesting the dealer do some cutting and re-welding. Not an acceptable solution from my viewpoint. The dealer may end up in the middle. I've pulled Virginia's lemon law info down and depending on Toyota's response, may be going down that road.
In sum: the dealer is working hard (provided a Camry loaner too), jury is out on Toyota, I have no truck- still.
AND for the two postings (4138 and 4214) who had a noise in the dash above the radio - I have/had that too. But is is a different noise completely.
Just for background, the truck has not been in any accidents nor used hard. Other than this apparent structural problem - its been great, and yes I've gone through the brake thing, the noisy VSC, rear window open-resonance, etc.
This has cost Toyota one sale already - my sister decided to take her chances with another SUV make.
Thanks to 2-wheel on what a differential is- I couldn't follow nighter's advice on reading cliffy's description of the system until I knew what a differential is. So, the Seq. has sort of a third differential which is why I can run it in 4 wheel all the time when on dry pavement, unlike my earlier Yukon. And I remember years ago having to back up my old Bronco to get it out of four wheel, which would have been a very old system indeed. The backing up was to unlock the locked differentials, I think. If not, I give up, but like knowing that it can be in 4 wheel all of the time in the winter. The bottom line is that this 4 wheel drive system is very, very sophisticated and I can use it all the time, which is what other posts suggest. Wow. That salesman must be really wondering about the woman who just bought the Limited and didn't even get it about the fancy 4-wheel drive system. Are all 4 wheel systems like that now?
If I am in really bad stuff, then, I shift into neutral and pull back on the low lever to get along on sheet ice or deep mud. To get out of 4-wheel low, I do neutral again, shift the lever back again? I never used low before on the old Yukon because I didn't know how to, but did need it from time to time.
Thank you all for the great input. Maybe by next year, I'll even go (purposely) off road? Paul, I'm glad your wife likes hers, and my husband is thrilled that I like my new truck so much. He is also happy that these smart 4 wheel guys can convey this information to me- I suspect he knew about this differential stuff all along! Thanks again, and I hope that the poor lemon guy gets that worked out right away. I guess any vehicle can be screwed up- no company is perfect. It is painful when they cost so very much to have problems.
The $4000 of wine sounds great!! No question about the 2 dealerships. I was wondering if there might be someone out there that knows of another dealership in the area they were happy with. What kind of a deal did they get.
Last spring, I couldn't find a NorCal dealer willing to go lower than MSRP based on e-mail, visits, and phone calls to "fleet managers". I ended up looking into SoCal dealers and found two that were willing to go low and one had the car I wanted. I got the car for ~$1500 less than a broker or credit union search could get.
Times have changed and NorCal is dealing lower but you could try SoCal--enter a SoCal zip code into a toyota dealer finder (I think Yahoo has one) and hit a couple of those dealers. It cost $300 to transport to my area in the foothill wine country (Eldorado makes wine, Napa makes auto parts). Transpor costs were less to get to Sacramento & Bay Area.
The local dealer has adopted service responsibilities for my Sequoia. When we were shopping, they were resigned to the fact that they couldn't supply a car to all of the potential buyers. I guess that they knew they would lose some sales but they are happy to keep the service department busy.
Congrats on the purchase. It looks like 2heel was able to answer your questions. You might want to spend a little time in the 4WD topic as well. You may learn more than you already do on this system.
Also, as a hockey fan myself, I would love to hear how you came up with your user name.
Comments
in along ago post, i suggested that while you do make some positive contributions to this forum, you have the tendency to over stay your welcome and not know when to quit.... methinks you have reached that point.
if your mission is to convert potential sequoia owners from buying "... the only overweight, underpowered, overpriced vehicle of the three...", then you are doing a lousy job of it. i mean, what gives ? how many sequoia owners care about posting to the denali, yukon or yukonxl site here at edmunds ? do any of us care what and why you bought your denali ? nope... do you have a "chip on your shoulders" on your ownership of the denali xl ? maybe...
a word for the wise: you will do well to tone down your comparison datasheet for the gm brethren here on the sequoia forum. many on this forum could care less about the "... underweight, overpowered, and underpriced..." (using the exact opposites to your statement quoted above here) gm vehicles you seem to love so much.
i suspect that you have long habored deep feelings against toyota owners because we seem to flaunt the so-called toyota quality over the domestics in other people's faces. i suggest that it is gm owners that seem to have a "perceived complex against toyota",
how about this: in an October 24th post on another forum (Highlander_versus_GMC Envoy), hsvillage stated this to you:
---------------------------
I would also refer you to www.auto.com/industry/cowger10_20010810, it is an article by Jeffery McCracken of the Detroit Free Press titled TOYOTA GETS GM CREDIT.It quotes Gary L.Cowger GM group VP for manufacturing "The roots of our improvement is the Toyota Production System.We learned from them.We've got to give credit where credid is due."
---------------------------
To date, you have yet to provide a single response to this information. does this not dispprove much of your statements, theories, 'facts', etc.. etc.. about your much vaunted denali, yukon, etc vehicles you seem to throw around here. imo, if you cannot discern the truth as stated publicly by a VP of GM, then you are living in denial, and your words are mere rants designed for the ignorant and the gullible.
let us repeat the statement by Gary L Cowger, Group VP for Manufacturing at GM: he stated this (yet to be retracted anywhere): "The roots of our improvement is the Toyota Production System. We learned from them. We've got to give credit where credid is due."
is this statement fact or fiction ?
if it is fact, how about a response, heatwave3 ??? how 'bout it .... give us your interpretation of this staement. if you cannot, then your credibility will take a big hit. but i am sure you will have something to say about this in your usual facts_versus_opinion statements...
unless, of course, the statement is all FICTION, then you need not bother to respond ...
btaim, i am looking forward to hearing from you shortly !
1-Weak A/C--I live in South east Texas and need a quality Air conditioner.
2-The "roar" with a back window open, a big deal or not?
3-240 HP in a giant vehicle-is it underpowered?
4-The VSC--does it really stop the power in less than ideal situations?
5-Considering all the above, is it still a great SUV?
6-Have I missed any problems I should expect?
Thanks
Ken
You can fool some of the people some of the time but we here are not buying your lies. See post #4255 The Yukon Denali and the Yukon XL both weigh more than the Sequoia! Where are you getting your misguided info from? It seems to me that what mostly appears to bother you since you feel some need to post here at this forum is that you just can't let it go! If people here want info on G.M. then they will lurk at the G.M. forums. Now go back to that Yukon forum and take the interior door handles falling off, the cold air coming in to the floor area that needed sealing around the main vent box to get sorted out, the Defective engine that had to be replaced before one poster at the Denali forum had his Yukon delivered to him,replaced the rear differential as well, the slipping and locking up of transmissions, the countless headrests that keep comming apart, and let G.M. know that we here love it when we here posts like " Damn I just wish that General Motors had there act together. If Toyota made a Suberban I would buy it" Gotta love that one, Heatwave. Smoke that!
Thanks for your cooperation!
tidester
Host
SUVs
1. The A/C is not weak. I forget which car magazine did a Death Valley torture test and the Sequoia finished in the top 1/3. You may find the rear defroster a little weak.
2. Roar in back window a non-issue. It's common in other vehicles and cured by opening one or two windows a crack.
3.240 hp. Vehicle is definitely not underpowered. Torque is more important in a large vehicle and Torque is similar to Chevy. Vehicle has lots of jump and engine is silky smooth and quiet. If you're hung up on specs, Sequoia is only slightly behind Yukon in 1/4 mile and that is the Yukon with the optional larger engine. Sequoia smokes the Yukon stock engine.
Also Trailer Boats magazine did a comparison vs. Yukon and Expedition. Sequoia won handily, non-towing and towing and beat the Yukon (with larger optional engine)in mountain towing (achieved a higher speed). So be careful of specs- they only tell part of the story.
4. VSC. I had a 2001 now I have a 2002. It seems to me the VSC has been recalibrated to be less obtrusive (although I didn't have a problem with it either). The VSC and ATRAC are great features and not available on Yukon or Expedition. Think of them as a positive not a negative.
5. It's an awesome SUV. I frequently rent an Expedition or Yukon or Yukon XL when on business. It always serves to remind me that I made the right choice.
6. Some people don't like the stereo. Some find the HVAC fan too noisy. The engine can be noisy at startup in cold weather. There don't seem to be any serious major issues at this point. I would stick with a 2002 though. There seem to be subtle engineering changes that i like, but again subtle.
Finally be sure to try them all! One man's meat is another man's poison! See which one appeals to you. It may be how it drives, it may be the features. Isn't it great to have choices!
Thanks
Ken
Good luck with your choice. The *only* complaint I currently have is with the stereo. Power, drivability, etc. are superb. Fortunately, the local dealer says he is going to replace the stereo amplifier with a recent part number that fixes the "booming" tendency of the 2001's sound system.
Some of the Sequoia owners seem equally threatened by the opinion of others.
Why don't we all just calm down. Too many GM fans seem to have taken over this discussion and there seems to be very little actual information being passed along here that can help consumers make informed decisions. I hate seeing this topic go the way of the Tundra topics here at Edmunds. The hosts let that go on for so long that all useful dialog stopped 2 years ago.
Give it a rest.
As it is now, I hate the system. However, we have had NO problems with the system when the Sequoia is in 4WD. Now I just wonder the repurcussions of driving in 4WD all the time - tires, gas mileage, who knows what else.
First, you'll never see me making personal comments about other posters. I stick to the vehicles, the facts and my views of those vehicles in the discussion. Avoiding the personal attacks would certainly be a welcome change in this forum, particularly since it would go so nicely with the season.
714cut: I absolutely agree with your view that the specs on a vehicle are not the only reason for buying a vehicle, although they are a very important factor. I've also agreed that for many people the Sequoia is not only a good choice, it can also be the better choice. The difference between some of you and myself is that I also believe the same thing about the GM products.
(FYI, if the Avalon choice was my decision I would have gone with the Lexus or MB, however my wife did the shopping and liked the Platinum Edition Avalon and decided thats what she wanted.)
oac3: while I understand you're upset with the sharing of facts when they undermine your view, I suspect some, if not many, of the readers enjoy the facts in addition to the "syrupy" opinions some have of the Sequoia. Facts can never harm a good decision while opinions usually do.
Its interesting how the hormones get cranked up on the remark regarding the Sequoia being "overweight, underpowered, and overpriced" (stated for impact and because its my opinion which is as valid as anyone elses) and yet similar and substantially more derogatory references to Domestic vehicles are routinely made in this forum without even the batting of an eye. Get used to others expressing similar negative views of a vehicle you happen to like. I don't recall anything in the Edmunds "rules of conduct" restricting a forum to only those posters willing to post positive opinions and supportive facts regarding the Sequoia.
I'm not sure what kind of response you're seeking from me regarding the VP from GM. Learning from other company's is not only a good thing but routine for all companies. Any company not learning from others is likely to have a limited existence. Its the only way to achieve World Class standards and all company's are seeking this goal. Its kinda like suggesting somehow Toyota must be inferior to Ford because they learned from Ford about mass production on a factory line.
fanman8: Come on now. Why not go back and read my post again and fess up. You're trying to create a controversy where none exists. My post was perfectly clear that I was comparing the Sequoia to the Yukon and Yukon XL (not the Denali's as you continue to insist). In these comparions, the Sequoia weighs more than a Yukon or Yukon XL, has less HP, lower payload, lower towing capacity, 4 ft larger turning radius than a Yukon and costs more than either one. While I would be glad to engage in a discussion comparing a Sequoia to the Denali's, please try to avoid misquoting me as I have been clear that the comparions were to the regular Yukon and Yukon XL.
714cut states it well: "Finally be sure to try them all! One man's meat is another man's poison! See which one appeals to you. It may be how it drives, it may be the features. Isn't it great to have choices!"
fanman8: Once again take a deep breath. To repeat, the comparions I provided were to the Yukon, Yukon XL, Toyota Sienna and Highlander. Aren't you at all surprised to see the payload of your Sequoia surpassed by a Toyota minivan? What were the engineers thinking?
While you are welcome to compare whatever vehicles you wish, so are others. If you disagree with the comparison, that's your right, just as its the right of others to make those same comparisons. I suspect there are shoppers out there comparing the Sequoia SR5 to the Yukon and Yukon XL, just as there are consumers comparing the Sequoia Limited to the Denali, Denali XL, Escalade, Navigator and Expedition.
Twas The Night Before Ramadan
>
> Twas the night before Ramadan, and all through the cave
> Not a creature was stirring; it felt like a grave.
>
> The turbans were hung by the fire pit with care,
> In hopes that the Air Force would not soon be there.
> The soldiers were restless without any beds,
> while visions of air strikes flashed in their heads.
>
> Osama in his burkha and I in my goatskin cap,
> Had just settled down for a cold, barren winter's nap,
> When out on the ledge there arose such a clatter,
> I grabbed my Kalashnikov to see what was the matter.
>
> Away from the racket I ran like a girl,
> Tripped over a goat; into a ball I did curl.
> The moon shone down on the new-fallen snow
> And lit up the valley with an ominous glow,
> When, what to my one good eye should appear,
> But a dozen Apaches, and AAVs in the rear,
>
> And their leader, so fearless, his troops he did push,
> I knew in an instant it must be George Bush.
> More rapid than eagles his forces they came,
> And they whistled, and shouted, and called out our names;
> "Now Omar! Osama! Muhammad! Abdul!
> We come for you now; we've taken Kabul!
>
> To the top of the cliffs! To the back of their caves!
> When you chose this war, you dug your own graves!"
>
> As the dry leaves that before the assault choppers fly,
> When they meet with an obstacle, light up the sky,
> So up to the ledge his forces they flew
> With full magazines, and flamethrowers too.
>
> And then, in a twinkling, I heard with a thud
> The explosions of Tomahawks; not one was a dud.
> As I chambered my rifle, and was turning around,
> Osama was there, disguised in a gown.
>
> He was dressed all in drag, from his head to his toes,
> And he said he would flee while I held off his foes;
> A bundle of money he had stuffed in his pack,
> He said "I'm going to Baghdad and I'm not looking back!"
>
> is eyes were all glassy; he trembled with fear;
> The American bombs, they rang in his ears.
> He saddled his goat, then turned tail and fled,
> But a Marine Corps sniper got him in the head.
> I watched with cold fear as his body did slump;
> The goat threw him off; he fell with a thump.
>
> And so, there I stood, my plans all destroyed,
> About to suffer a fate I could not avoid;
> I dropped to my knees; asked Allah for help,
> His voice boomed in my ears,
>
> "You ignorant whelp! I gave you the Bible, the Torah and Koran,
> But you were too arrogant to understand,
> I told you to honor your neighbors and wives;
> Not to enslave them, or degrade their lives!
>
> You invoke My name to sanction your deeds,
> But you are the last thing that this world needs.
> And so, I'll send you and bin Laden to Hell."
>
> The last words I heard, as the bombs fell,
> Were from George Bush himself as he mounted the wall,
> "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!"
It appears some of the blood pressure is so high you guys can't even read what I've actually written through your blood shot eyes.
First, you'll never see me making personal comments about other posters.
Just bought an '01 Ltd. Seq. two and a half weeks ago, which is also 2,250 miles ago! Traded an '01 Volvo XC with 37,500 miles in 13 mos. because no one in my house fit in that little thing. Nice car, wrong, very tall people. Used to drive a Yukon before that- ran it to 92,000 miles, but because it disintegrated completely and very expensively, I did not even test drive that thing again. I'll hit 100,000 in less than three years, so I will be sure to report on reliability to the group.
The Seq. is much more relaxing to me to drive and I feel less worn out from road feel in the wheel after my 72 mile one way commute, as compared to the Yukon. The ride is smooth and like a car almost. I like the side air bags and air curtains for safety. I really like this truck so very much more than the Yukon, the Jeep Cherokee and the FOrd Bronco of my previous vehicles. I am having trouble getting the hang of backing it up, and wonder if I need a round mirror or just more practice with it.
There was a post a long time ago about a rear mat that had cut outs for the third row seats, so that one could put the mat thing in, keep the third row seats, but still protect the carpet against dogs, mustard, pop, junk, and all of the nasty stuff that fills my vehicle, despite my best efforts. Can someone help me find the web site or link for that? I have scoured Whitney's and cannot find that thing with the cut outs. I am very appreciative in advance.
I have been reading this forum for quite awhile, and have to thank the knowledgeable guy on the four wheel drive system (I am not so sure I follow all of it because I have no clue what a differential is, let alone why it locks), but I am riding in 4 wheel almost all of the time and do not seem to have the annoying power drop from the VSC system. I hit some steep washboard that used to cause a power drop, and in 4 wheel it does not- so thanks for the advice.
Sorry for the long post.
It is a solid plastic/rubber liner with curved edges. It covers the entire back and even becomes a floor mat for the people sitting in the 3rd row seating. You can spill to your hearts content without damage.
I also have the same liners for front seats and second seats. They aren't as pretty as other floor mats but my carpet underneath is brand new including all the edges etc.
Be prepared- they are not cheap but great value (kinda like the Sequoia compared to a Yukon!).
Oh, and by the way don't tell Heatwave about your Yukon experience ok--we'll just keep that our little secret:)
But you categorize me unfairly, that I am "upset with the sharing of facts...." on this forum. to the contrary, i appreciate the sharing of opinions juxtaposed with some tinge of "facts" here-and-there... on forums such as this, facts take on the semblance of statistics; what they reveal is often interesting but what they hide is vital... (excerpted from another poster on another forum, and paraphrased here)
Your assertion that "...similar and substantially more derogatory references to Domestic vehicles are routinely made in this forum without even the batting of an eye...", is, thankfully, an opinion of yours (which you are free to share) which is not wholly true. in fact (that word again) you have been the one to carry the banner for GM (solely) against Toyota whenever any one dares to suggest he/she finds the Toyota Sequoia a "better vehicle" than their previous domestics...Do you categorize as "derogatory" the personal opinions as expressed by any previous GM owner when he/she compares the experience between owning both types of vehicles ? That, imo, has always been the context that domestics are referred to here. Like others have mentioned repeatedly, they too have owned many GM vehicles in the past, and some even continue to own GM vehicles to date. Do their personal experiences of ownerships not count ? And when these are expressed, should they be so categorized as "derogatory" ?
Like you, everyone is entitled to an opinion. You share yours freely, but tend to attack others when they express theirs. Sure you do not make direct attacks, but your gift for words barely hides this subtlety of your attacks on them. Here on the Sequoia forum, anything goes. A Seq owner has deemed it best to purchase this vehicle, but you try your darnest best to prove to us Seq owners and wanna-be owners that our vehicle is "not all that", but rather your denali is the epitome of luxury, comfort, ride, handling, towing agility, etc... in contrast to the Sequoia. I won't deny that the Denali XL is a great vehicle, but I and many other Seq owners here have chosen to place our money on the Toy. How can that displease you so much ?
Tell me something: how many Seq owners has spent as much time and effort on GM forums with the vigor and tirelessness you have displaced on the Toyota Sequoia forum ? I bet you none ! Why ? I dunno. For me, speaking personally, I would deem it disrespectful if I go into the GM forum and tell other GM owners that their vehicle "is not ll that", and I go ahead and spend weeks researching and rehashing specs ad infinitum to prove my point !
For what ???
One quick point to note is this: Toyota made the Seq as a direct competitor to the Ford Expy and the Chevy Tahoe. That GM makes 2 lines of identical twins in this segment is just fortuitous that the Yukon also competes with the Seq. But NOT the Yukon XL, nor any of the Denali's. The Denalis, like the Suburbans, compete solely with Ford's Excursion, and nothing else. Hope this clarifies this issue...
My final point to you is this: one cannot but appreciate your tireless zeal in defense of your opinion(s), but you carry them way too far, and you sure could use a rest posting on this board. I am not asking you to cease posting here, but make your posts count.... You gain credibility and have much greater value.
As they say, a word is always enough for the wise
Take care, Pete, and have a wonderful holiday season to you and yours
And to everyone else, Merry Xmas and a joyous Yuletide to you all.
http://www.accessconnect.com/huskylnr.htm
http://www.urbanjunglesuv.com/interior_urban_jungle.htm
Congrats on your purchase. My wife loves hers. We got our mat from Macneil Products at Mats.com. I have them in my Camry, and we now have them for her Sequoia. Great item for keeping the back 40 clean from kids and dogs miscellaneous disasters.
Happy Holidays
Paul
Again, thanks to all. I'll post with updates.
Think I need to go for a ride with my favorite 6 CD's.
Ken
http://www.accessconnect.com/huskylnr.htm site was less expensive than the Urban Jungle for the same brand. I agree that the Husky liners may not be pretty, but neither is the kid [non-permissible content removed] all over my beautiful, new pale grey Limited interior. Perfect advice.
Because I believe that I may be able to keep this ultra fine, gorgeous and so smooth vehicle for more miles than that dumb competitor vehicle lasted me, I am more motivated to keep it clean. (The competitor had a malfunctioning driver's side door, had to have a whole new 4-wheel drive thing put in before 75,000 miles, needed a new puffy thing in front to make the brakes work right again, required a new air conditioner, and couldn't seem keep an alignment for more than a day even if I didn't drive over stuff).
Next question, now that I have found all of these gurus to help me figure out about my new truck. The manual says to be at 62 mph or lower to flip into 4- wheel. Does that mean that I should not exceed, say, 75 or 80 mph in 4-wheel? Can I take it out of 4-wheel at any speed? Am I right that it might be a tiny bit noisier in 4-wheel on the highway? I don't need to worry about driving on the dry pavement in 4 wheel like the Yukon, right?
On the new engine debate- I have exceeded 75 a few times because I am on highways with nothing around me but a deer or turkey most of the time. I have, however, been careful not to exceed 65 for the first 1,000, and never ran the RPMs past 2 or 2500 for the whole 2500 miles. Is that okay enough, and now I can go back to passing on steep hills and things? Or do I need to continue keeping the speed and RPMs lower?
Last question, if you really feel like being kind. What is a differential, and what does it have to do with four wheel drive? Is that the coupler thing that transfers the torque to the rear wheels from the engine? What is different about the Sequoia differential- is there one more than normal? Why?
Thank you very much. The manual was over my head. Merry Christmas and thanks, Hockey Mom.
I think cliffy and others can answer your 4-wheel drive related questions but I will tell you that I have gone 75 and 80 in my Seq in 4 wheel drive high (push button) with no ill effects (at least that I know of). I have not disengaged at high speed and would be interested to know from cliffy if this is ok. I haven't noticed it being any noisier on the freeway but I tend to play my music loud. Driving in 4wheel drive high is fine on dry pavement but I believe that you should not drive in 4wheel drive low (lever engaged) on dry roads.
As far as differentials and 4 wheel drive workings, the best advice I have is to read cliffy's 2nd post in the "Toyota 4WD systems explained" forum on this site (under SUVs). I think that will answer your questions.
Good luck with your new Sequoia.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
cpintuscon: in the spirit of the season, I promise to let 2heeldrive's "baited hook" drift on by.
To all, enjoy the Holiday's. I take it that the effort at a little humor in post #4279 did not fall on fertile ground based on the responses above?
I posted a questions about the difference between the VSC of the 01 and 02 Seq's a while back but did get much response. Have any of the 02 Seq owners experienced momentarily 'loss of power' during hard accelerations like some 01 owners reported.
Thanks in advance.
There would be no need to flush, if there wasn't some much BS served up.
What a light hearted post -- thank you; we get so serious around here!
I'm no smarter than the next guy, but I'll take a shot at your questions:
You can sort through the 4WD systems explained, but I'll have a go at some simple answers.
4WD Speed: Don't worry, you can't hurt it. If you try to engage over 63mph, it will beep and blink at you and then go into 4WD when you slow down, or you can just push the button again which will stop the beeping/blinking. I usually try to turn the 4WD on or off under 40MPH. It just seems to be "easier" on the parts but it's ok to disengage at any speed. Don't worry about the lever on the floor, just leave it in the "H" position. Sequoia 4WD (low or high range) can be used all the time, on any kind of road surface, dry or otherwise and at any speed. (Note that there is a reference in the manual on page 230 that warns against driving over 85mph unless the vehicle has "high speed tires"). Your other vehicle was a "part time" 4wd system and could only be used on slippery surfaces.
Noise: I can't tell any difference between 2WD and 4Wd. There will be a clunk or clicking sound when switching between 2WD and 4WD. If you lift off the gas a bit after you push the 4WD button, the shift is usually faster and smoother.
Good questions about the differential: It is a device with some gears in it that lets wheels on the same axle turn at different speeds (hence the name)at the same time. Wheels turn at different speeds in a turn, for example, because the outside wheel has to travel farther and so turns faster than the other wheel on the inside of the turn. Without a differential, wheels would kind of skid around turns. Some 4WD vehicles, like the Sequoia, have a third (center) differential built into the transfer case (that's the coupler thing that connects the front and rear wheels to the transmission) that lets the front and rear axles turn at different speeds (just like the wheels) and is the reason you can use the Sequoia's 4WD any time and all the time. This is a much more expensive and complex system than a part time 4WD which is the reason that few 4WD vehicles have a center differential. Hope that helped.
New car break-in is a mater of some debate. The first 500 to 1000 miles usually all that is needed to break in most vehicles. Don't do any drag racing yet, but I would say that your Sequoia is able to be driven "normally".
I hope that you really enjoy your Sequoia.
I e-mailed a few dealerships and only 2 replied. One in Napa, quoted me $36,600 plus fees for a Sr5 4x4 pretty well loaded. Vacaville quoted me $40000 plus fees for the same vehicle. Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks
Napa dealer quotes 36.6K, Vacaville dealer quotes 40K...
GO TO NAPA. Buy a nice truck and $4, 400 worth of wine.
It's great to know that the apparent power loss problem with VSC in 2WD is solved with the 02 Seq's. Thanks for the info.
Fred & Vicky,
I've checked with a number of dealers (including Internet & Fleet managers) in N CA. The prices are generally higher than S CA. I think the S CA dealers pay less association/ad fees and there is more competition. Cliffy explained it once but I can't remember the specifics. It's actually a few hundred less even if you have the vehicle shipped to your door. You might want to email several S CA dealers to check their prices.
Hotair x3,
Merry Christmas! Whish.... (Flushing)!
Also, has anyone installed a brush guard on their Sequoia? I had one on my 4Runner and I thought it looked great. I am thinking of ordered one for the Sequoia.
Merry X-mas to all! Hopefully we will get some snow soon!
See this link: http://www.trailerlife.com/feature/0201sequoia.cfm
This is the second time the Sequoia has been featured in a magazine, last Spring, Trailer Boats Magazine named the Sequoia their Tow Vehicle of the Year
In sum: the dealer is working hard (provided a Camry loaner too), jury is out on Toyota, I have no truck- still.
AND for the two postings (4138 and 4214) who had a noise in the dash above the radio - I have/had that too. But is is a different noise completely.
Just for background, the truck has not been in any accidents nor used hard. Other than this apparent structural problem - its been great, and yes I've gone through the brake thing, the noisy VSC, rear window open-resonance, etc.
This has cost Toyota one sale already - my sister decided to take her chances with another SUV make.
More as it happens!
If I am in really bad stuff, then, I shift into neutral and pull back on the low lever to get along on sheet ice or deep mud. To get out of 4-wheel low, I do neutral again, shift the lever back again? I never used low before on the old Yukon because I didn't know how to, but did need it from time to time.
Thank you all for the great input. Maybe by next year, I'll even go (purposely) off road? Paul, I'm glad your wife likes hers, and my husband is thrilled that I like my new truck so much. He is also happy that these smart 4 wheel guys can convey this information to me- I suspect he knew about this differential stuff all along! Thanks again, and I hope that the poor lemon guy gets that worked out right away. I guess any vehicle can be screwed up- no company is perfect. It is painful when they cost so very much to have problems.
Best regards,
Hockey mom.
Thanks
Happy Holidays!
They guaranteed a price 800.00 over Edmunds invoice and work with local dealers.
One of the dealers here in Tucson charges an extra 197.00 "documentation fee" when selling a car through carsdirect.com.
The auto specialist is trying to locate my 4WD Limited as we speak.
Maybe I'll be a new owner next week.
Times have changed and NorCal is dealing lower but you could try SoCal--enter a SoCal zip code into a toyota dealer finder (I think Yahoo has one) and hit a couple of those dealers. It cost $300 to transport to my area in the foothill wine country (Eldorado makes wine, Napa makes auto parts). Transpor costs were less to get to Sacramento & Bay Area.
The local dealer has adopted service responsibilities for my Sequoia. When we were shopping, they were resigned to the fact that they couldn't supply a car to all of the potential buyers. I guess that they knew they would lose some sales but they are happy to keep the service department busy.
Also, as a hockey fan myself, I would love to hear how you came up with your user name.