can someone advices me what oil should i buy if i want to bring my own for oil change. is there any particular kind for heavy vehicle like sequoia? sorry about the ignorance if that seems to be common knowledge.
Oil type is in the back of your owners manual. There are basically two ranges depending on the temperature range you will be in. Your dealer will know what type of oil to put in as well. While there may be some oils superior to others and some people like synthetic (it is relatively expensive) almost any oil that meets the certification will be acceptable. I would offer that timely changes may be more important than the brand of oil you choose.
Well I now have 2K on the Sequoia now and have installed piaa driving lights (my $43k suv came without foglight!-same on you toyota) and a Manik full brush guard, which I think really looks sharp on the Sequoia. I really LOVE the truck, but remain very annoyed with the engine bay noise that seems to sound like tick tick tick tick. It only does it when you press the gas pedal, which when driving is about 98% of the time. It will not go away once the engine warms up either! uggghh.
It has been the dealer once, and of course they said "this is normal with toyota's V8's" I really have a hard time believeing this. Has anyone else experienced this? Cliffy1 any suggestions? I appreciated any post here, I am going back to the dealer and would like to be armed with any replies from other owners.
I bought my sequoia on december 2001 and have put in approximately 24,000 miles. The brake lights came on at 18K. After reading the advice on this site I added some brake fluid. The lights went out and its been running well. I had to add some more brake fluid once after this. I think that most of you who changed brakes at 10k etc have been taken for a ride. It might be worth it to take it to an outside person to see how much liner is left.
Both my previous 2001 and my current 2002 are both "tickers". In fact my 2002 is a little worse than the previous one. It is only bad in cold weather and it goes away after 3-5 minutes. I would say you probably have something significant going on there that requires attention. Be persistent and get the problem written down on paper so you have a record. That will help get the result you want and will protect you in the future if you have problems as you can refer back to documentation.
Ticking--I've heard none even at start up at 10 degrees.
Wandering--None at all. This vehicle handles like a sports car even up to speeds that I wouldn't mention here.
Tires--I have the Dunlop Grand Treks. They are excellent, but they are 50 psi tires. I use at least 37 psi.
Booming base--some people put big booming subwoofers in their vehicles and like it. The best approach is to turn down the bass control. It does work, believe it or not.
ABS coming on to prevent wheel spin. In the snow when I really got on it from a stop or near stop this did kick in. The sound of the ABS from the dash was a bit odd but it is very functional. (I wonder if there is a way the this sound could be eliminated or reduced with a different ABS unit). The sound seems to be much less or not at all under normal acceleration in the snow.
Brakes--so far at 10k miles the brakes are in good shape.
vasudevan: Curious how you manage to put on 24 K in 2 months.....you must have meant December 2000 ???
gohabsgo: Thanks for the toyotaguys.com link. Ordered those mats and door sill protectors. Got them in two days ! I have the oak interior in my white Limited.....those mats look way better than the carpet mats. Great link.
posted problems: I have not experienced any of the posted problems (other than the open window thing which is really not a problem). My 2001 was built in July so might have had the '02 modifications with V chip and radio amplifier. Some CD's sound great on that system, others are weak. I too just adjusted the bass way down.
wood trim: Someone asked for a recommendation on this. I installed a 38-piece kit from woodtrim.com last Saturday. Took me 7 hours. Came out flawless and I am very impressed with the quality of the product and accuracy of the cuts. Really dressed up that interior. I ordered the walnut burl with my oak interior.
going in snow: Still waiting for our first Seattle snowfall.......dread driving in snow but am eager to try this baby out !
I'm weighing my options right now on whether to buy the Sequoia or another full size SUV. Still have yet to test drive...I'm tired of Mini-Vans.
How many avg. size adults can you fit comfortably in the 3rd row seat??. The specs on the Toyota say 8 total, but do they mean 5 adults (1st two rows) and 3 kids (rear)?.
Purchased my '01 Silver Sky in June '01 which I have meticulously cared for to date. Yesterday, I noticed a series of 4 key marks on the hood of the vehicle that someone was kind enough to leave. One mark (about 12 inches long) was deep enough that you can see the primer in a few small specks and appears to have left a slight impression on the surface to the touch, but not noticeable from a distance - the others are small scrapes (3-5 inches) that only made it to the clear coat. This is after Toyota buffed the car and gave me their $750 estimate. The delimna is to (1) fix it, which would require a repaint of the hood and blending the fenders or (2) do nothing and just touch up paint and live with the potential consequences of rust, etc. down the road. Just a little uneasy that the dealership may not be able to properly match the silver sky metallic paint and that it may be noticeable and cause me more grief (down the road upon resale) than just living with the scratches and the original paint job. Any thoughts would be appreciated for this troubling delimna.
Eight adults. That rear seat is pretty large. Three adults fit nicely. My understanding is that the Sequoia is larger than a Yukon/Tahoe or Expedition. The odds of it starting in the morning three years from now are better too.
Got chosen for focus group because of Sequoia purchase, primary driver, met minimum (but high)household income, yadda, yadda.
Anyway, got to drive as yet unreleased '03 Expedition back to back with '02 Tahoe, and '02 Sequoia. Driving route was approx. 15 miles with good mixture of city, winding canyon road (Agoura Hills, CA) and freeway.
Expedition had refreshing front-end styling but side and rear looked very similar to existing truck. Interior is really changed with 3.5" chrome trimmed ring'd air vents highlighting pass side. Interior was nice but not great. (My opinion of Seq too.)
Rear seats fold flat with electric rocker switches located in front and in rear lift gate area. Nice touch but tooooo slowwww. 3rd seat access was very good and best of the three for room and comfort - especially legroom.
But... same old unrefined sound of engine at start-up. Engine noise loud during acceleration. OK if right (varoom!) but it wasn't.
I digress. Bottom line is that I went there with an open mind. (Have even thought about Denali as second vehicle.) But... the Sequoia was so much better. Ride comfort in Seq was firm but quietest over bad roads. Least wind noise on the freeway. Least engine noise. Felt screwed together well. Most confidence inspiring in the curvey roads.
Tahoe was nice too. Steering is too light (IMO). Seats are better than Sequoia and ride quality (suspension) is good. More wind noise and slightly more road/tire noise than Seq. Ingree/egress to 3rd row is just stupid.
To the dismay of focus group, I rated the Expedition last. I really tried to be honest.
One part of their eval was ease of loading gym bag through glass in rear and also after raising the hatch. Did this in both the Expedition and Tahoe. Coming to the Seq, I was told that the Seq's back window was fixed so only rear hatch access load/unload was compared. They were surprised when I showed them the switch for the rear glass (no key fobs were available).
Sequoia is really the best overall of the three (IMO) although with some work and reliability improvement the Tahoe/Yukon can be a contender.
The Ford fans will have to wait until 2007 or more I am afraid. Too bad. Good competition improves the breed. Hope I don't offend anyone. Just trying to give some feedback.
nota4re: Your feedback from the evaluation experience was very interesting. It seemed you were fair and balanced in your efforts to provide feedback based on the measurements that you considered important.
I'm interested given your very unique evaluation opportunity to read your feedback on the differences if price was part of the evaluation. Given your assessment which appeared to give the nod to the Sequoia with the Tahoe as a "contender" and the Expedition in third. How would each vehicle have faired in your assessment given the $5K difference between the Sequoia and the other choices? In essence, were the advantages you cited for the Sequoia worth $5-7K more than the Tahoe and Expedition?
I'm likely amoung the worst to make the kind of comparison you ask. I am not as price sensitive as I probably should be. I have more the perspective to shop within relatively wide price ranges to first choose what I want. Then, I work like hell to get the best price possible on my selection. I don't really look back to see how much more/less I could have had something else for. OK, this is admittedly a lttle crazy but it is the way I am wired.
At the end of the focus session, you are right in in that this is EXACTLY the questions they had us answer. If the vehicles were priced at x and y and z, what would be your selection. Then, they changed the price points a couple of more times with the same question. Again, I will say that I wasn't what I believe a representatively good test case for this part of the eval. I rated the Seq as my preference in one case and the Tahoe first in another scenario. In all cases the Expedition was last. For me, the Expdition was the last place finisher... and it should be priced accordingly. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone but this was my subjective opinion.
I came away from the session respecting the Seq more.... although I would still consider a Denali in the future but doubtful that I would look Ford's way in this SUV market.
The brake light, VSC TRAC and VSC OFF lights were all related to low brake fluid. The level was right around the minimum line (not really below). When I added some brake fluid to top off near the max line, all the lights went off and stayed off. Thanks to the folks who posted their experiences with this - saved me a trip to the dealer.
Just bought a new Thunder grey SR5 and could not be happier. This is my third Toyota. I can say that I test drove several vehicles, including the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition. Even though the Nissan Pathfinder and Chevy Trailblazer were not quite in the same class, I also test drove them as another option because of horsepower. As much as I liked the Tahoe, I just could not bring myself to get it. I was also quite impressed with the Chevy Trailblazer's new engine. My experiences with GM were not quite as bad as Ford, but I see the quality has gotten much, much better on both. I could nitpick about a couple of things on the Sequoia, but I just think it's personal more than anything else. JMHO
Wow, I did it, I purchased the SR5 on the 21st. I love the look, the feel, the WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL INSIDE! O yeah! Like some of you pointed pointed out, there are always good pts and bad pts. You know that old Toyota commercial where people are jumping up with their legs kicked up-that's how I feel when I drive this vehicle. I went thru all the local dealers and all the internet buying programs and found the lowest price thru carsdirect.com ask for Martin. I am not Martin. Do your own shopping and compare, try carsdirect last. I actually brought the same vin for less thru carsdirect.com You will send me an email to thank me. Good luck with your shopping. Tony
I took my car to the dealer and they put a deep scratch/dent on my car. They removed the dent o. k. but the paint was a different sorry. I had them do it 3 times and all 3 times it would not match the rest of the car. I have the Thunder Gray. I gave up. I wished that I had left the small dent and scratch that was hardly noticeable. They told me if I had the Silver, it would have been much easier to match but reverse paint is difficult.
I posted a message around beginning of this month regarding the VSC & TRAC lights. One week after I bought my SEQ both lights came on and stayed on. Brought it to dealer (in NJ, not the one I bought the truck from). It turns out s sensor in steering wheel was bad. Dealer replaced it(a whole day work) and it has been fine since. Let me know if you have more question.
To the person who looks for SEQ price info: I paid my SEQ $800 over invoice. But the dealer invoice does have $699 dealer hold back and $500 TDA fee. This is my initial offer. I think I can get the truck for $500 over invoice. Hope this will help.
I am about to move to Maine and was wondering if anyone has experience with the 2WD Sequoia's in the snow. I currently own a 2WD Limited and am wondering if I should go ahead and trade it in on a 4WD. I am afraid the 2WD won't drive too well in the snow. Are my concerns valid?
We love our Sequoia and would only consider replacing it with another Sequoia, but with 4WD. I noticed a few posts out here about comparing the Sequoia to Yukon's or Expedition's. I can honestly say they can keep their 0 financing and thousands of dollars of cash back, I'm sticking with Toyota. Hopefully this will help people in there decision before buying a competitor's vehicle.
When my '91 Camry was new someone ran a stop sign and creamed both right side doors. I figured that Mercedes owners were pretty finicky about repairs and asked the local Mercedes dealership who did their body work. (This was in Cincinnati, OH) They directed me to the body shop they use (Larry Daniels). They had the car about 4 days and when it came out you couldn't tell that it had ever been in an accident. I still have that car and the paint is still perfectly matched.
So check with the local Mercedes or Lexus dealership to see who they recommend.
New Sequoia owner: Has anybody looked into adding a sub-woofer such as a Bazooka brand with a built in amp? JBL system overall is clear with very good mid/upper end response but suffers in the low end. In beneral, using a 6.5inch door mounted driver is not the most ideal. Appreciate any suggestions.
I guess it depends on weather or not you will live out on the "pond road" in Hartland or in town Bar Harbor or Portland. (don't complain folks, I can spell, this is a snow related question) I can tell you that my Sequoia gets put into 4wheel drive each time it snows. I live in WV and have a very steep hill of a driveway (paved) and a steep hill to get out of our subdivision. I must admit that this is the first 4wd I have owned so I can't compare to other brands, but love this Toyota.
I will tell you that the Sequoia gained far better traction after my orig equip tires wore out and I installed Michelin Cross Terrains. (big bucks but worth it) Vehicle grips the pavement now in 4wd even when snow covered. I even use the 4wd on the interstate highway when snow covered, and back to 2wd if only wet.
Back to your question, If you will live and drive in town and they take good care of the roads in the snow, AND you live in a relatively flat part of Maine, you will be ok...
BUT.... you will be far better off with 4wd in general. Personally, I have spent a lot of time in Maine, Rangley to Houlton to Portland and Waterville and can not imagine moving there and not having a 4 wheel drive. Forget the snow, what about Mud Season, or summer when you want to explore the back country and logging roads? Get the 4wd, a tent and fishing rod, thow a canoe on the roof and enjoy.
Good luck. Have fun, enjoy Maine and have a Lobsta' fuh me.
Try Rice Toyota in Greensboro, NC. I drove 400 miles round trip because of price, selection and respectable treatment. I dealt w/ a salesman named Carl. Shopped their site, called to negotiate deal on specific unit, they faxed bill of sale and I drove up 4 days later.
To charlieliu, thanks for the info. Is this price at a dealer in the southeast or Carolinas? If so, who is it? To ducatista, how much over invoice did you have to pay? Did they charge you for any of those @#&$ fees like documentation, advertising or that $600 Toyoguard miracle undercoating that also acts as a supposed sound barrier? (I would love to see the research on that one!)
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with someone making money on a quality product like this car appears to be, but it seems kind of slimey to put all of these different silly fees and overpriced options on the car. Just charge more for it if you need to. And by the way, why do I have to pay for your advertising? My customers would laugh at me if I tacked on an advertising fee to my products!
Sorry for the diatribe. I think its the cold medicine....
My Sequioa with the premium sound system has a problem - the rear speakers are hardly audible when balanced at "0" on the fader. The speakers can not be heard until the fader is turned to at least "R4." The dealer tells me this is "normal." Anyone else experience this or are your speakers well balanced? looking for any input. Thanks.
I'm looking at purchasing a travel trailer. The dry hitch weight is listed at 715 lbs. My dry hitch weight on my 4WD 2002 Sequoia is rated at 650lbs. Correct? When I asked the travel trailer dealer about the dry hitch weight as an issue, he told me that with the anti-sway bars installed it effectively transfers weight from the hitch to the front of the truck. Therefore, the weight on the hitch is reduced to several hundred pounds, well below the 650 lbs. rating of the Sequoia. Is this true or is he trying to make a sale? Thanks.
I haven't noticed your problem but I believe others have. I'm not thrilled with the JBL sound system, but it sure beats the heck out of the stereos in all of the Chevys I owned. Good Luck.
Hmmm.... are you talking about tongue weight? Yes, the tongue weight should be no more than 10% of the trailer weight. "Load levelers" will raise or lower the point of connection at the trailer ball and effectively changes the tongue weight. It doesn't do this by transferring weight to the front of the truck though. It moves the weight back to the trailer axles.
Yes, "tongue weight" is another term I've heard. My literature on the travel trailer calls it "Dry Hitch Weight" but I think we are talking about the samething. So, are you saying that since the max. tongue weight of my 2002 4x4 Sequoia is 650 lbs. my trailer should not weigh more than 6500 lbs. GVWR? Which is more than what my Sequois is rated for at 6200 lbs. anyhow.
Just completed my first tow trip w/ 02 Seq 4wd. I pulled a 28', 4200# camper (plus all the "stuff" a family of 4 "needs" for 11 days) on an 1150 mi round trip. The Seq did a fantastic job - very stable and plenty of power! Avg 8 mpg at 70 mph (mostly hwy driving).
I previously towed with a 2000 Silverado Ext. Cab, 5.3L, 3.73 rear, and tow pkg. (Same drivetrain as Yukon/Burb/Hoe) I can say, through direct experience, the towing permormance of the GM and Toyota are very comparable. No real differences - maybe 1mpg better for the Chevy. This may equal out at more modest speeds.
iglow - my tongue/dry hitch weight is 580# (without the propane tanks filled). When adjusting the hitch height - always take measurements with the "load levelers" in place. They do a fantastic job to reduce the sag on the rear suspension. On my unit, the levers (aka weight distributing hitch) take 3-4" of squat out of the Seq.
Not all of the info posted here is correct. Your travel trailer dealer is actually correct in his very short description of weight-distributing hitches. They effectively "spread out" the weight on the hitch to both axles, enabling you to tow a heavier load (tongue weight) than without weight-distributing hitch. Most if not all boat trailers use regular hitches as the tongue weights of boats tend to be lower, therefore the limiting factor is often the towed weight, not the tongue weight. It's a different story for travel trailers and horse trailers. They tend to be hitch heavy thus the limiting factor is the tongue weight. To get around this you use a weight distributing hitch. You should not exceed the 6200 lb. or whatever it is towing capacity of the Sequoia although it is a very conservative tow rating. Another factor to consider is the frontal area of the trailer. That adds considerable drag and is the equivalent of towing more weight. The dealer should be able to offer more info on this. You may want to check out www.reeseprod.com for more info. I have towed extensively with the Sequoia (5500 lb. boat) and it is an excellent vehicle with ample power and outstanding stability. You should have no problems.
I was at business meetings last week and an acquaintance started talking about vehicles and everyone was saying what they had. He had just received his new Yukon fully loaded with autoride. He was saying how awesome it was (and they are nice). To make a long story short, 5 of us decided to go to a movie that night so we took my Sequoia (nicely equipped SR5, no leather but sunroof) and the Yukon owner sat in the front with me. He seemed really blown away with the Sequoia. He commented how big it felt inside, what a great ride and said many times "this is a really nice vehicle". Then he asked me if my sunroof squeaks and rattles like his? No it doesn't! Made me feel proud of my purchase.
Forgive me for asking but I'm confused...but does your post mean you paid $800 over invoice but feel that you could have gotten the SEQ for $500 over invoice?
I had been wrestling with purchasing either the Yukon XL or the Sequoia for the last month. The problem was that the Yukon was coming in about 5,000 cheaper than the Sequoia {with the 2002 rebate included}. My wife purchased a Highlander last year and couldn't be happier. We have owned four Toyotas without any problems. I chose the Sequoia and just signed the contract for several reasons. 1. Toyota reliability 2.Better Depreciation numbers 3.Interior quality on the Sequoia was much higher 4.All of your great messages assured me my decision was the right one. Thanks for all your help. Can't wait for delivery in early March
Is it possible to tow a 30' trail-lite trailer with a sequoia. Assuming I stay within the weight limits, is this reasonable? The trail lite is typically shorter than most 30' trailers and designed to have a lower center of gravity, as well as enclosed undercarriage to provide for less wind resistence. I am looking into the trail-lite 8300 which has a hitch weight of 380.
Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the club! You won't regret it. While the Sequoia costs more up front you are sure to recoup those costs down the road. It may not be the cheapest but is the best value IMHO!
It's pretty difficult to assess your situation but that sounds like a big trailer and would be difficult to keep under 6000 lbs. For any serious towing like that I would probably stick to a full size heavy duty truck. Don't be fooled by higher towing ratings for Yukon etc.. There still has to be common sense applied and some towing situations require bigger rigs. Only other suggestion is to ask a lot of questions of the trailer seller and get proper honest specs.
Lutz572: actually despite 714cuts recommendations you might want to consider either an Excursion which can be set up to handle an 11,000lb tow package or a 3/4 Suburban or Yukon XL either of which can be setup for 12,000lbs.
Even a 1/2 ton Suburban or Yukon XL can be setup to handle 8500lbs compared to the Sequoia's tow limit of 6200lbs. Given the size of the rig you're looking to tow, if you're looking for an SUV to do the towing, one of these domestics would be a safer setup. Having owned two previous 3/4 ton Subs, I can assure you they can handle the travel trailer you referenced more comfortably and with a wider margin of safety than a Sequoia.
I'm sure there are several travel trailer clubs in your area of which you'll find many that use the Suburban with similar trailer packages to the one you're considering. Good luck, but leave yourself plenty of cushion on the tow limit whatever tow vehicle you end up choosing. You'll never regret having a higher tow capacity than your rig, however you'll always regret it if you go over your tow capacity or leave yourself little room for unexpected extra weight that typically comes when loading up for a vacation.
Heatwave, nice to see you're still lurking... I will concede you are correct about the Excursion and the 3/4 ton Suburban. They obviously would be a better choice and would do the job. As stated in previous post the higher tow rating of a yukon would not overcome common sense. The two vehicles (Sequoia and Yukon) are remarkably similar in performance, size, specs etc. Would you really want to tow something that was that much heavier than a 1/2 ton based vehicle. I sure wouldn't.
714cut: I've towed for many years with various tow vehicles and some pretty heavy trailers. The answer to your question "Would you really want to tow something that was that much heavier than a 1/2 ton based vehicle." is that it depends on the vehicle and its suspension.
While the weight of the tow vehicle matters, its not the only factor and its really not even one of the top two or three factors. As we've covered before, the HP, torque and rear suspension are all more important factors than the weight of the tow vehicle. Some would argue that the chassis design and rear transfer case ratio also matter more than the weight of the vehicle.
If weight mattered more than these other factors that the Excursion @ 7688lbs would have the highest tow capacity and yet it doesn't at 11,000lbs. In fact, a vehicle that is too heavy for its suspension "spends" too much of its CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ie tow vehicle + tow package) on itself rather than on the tow package, as in the case of the Excursion.
BTW, even the heaviest duty 1 ton dualie crew cab pickups weigh about the same as a 3/4 ton sub at 5800lbs and has a tow capacity of 12,000lbs. The advantage of a pickup is that you can place a 5th wheel hitch in the bed of the truck and carry more weight on the tongue than a frame mounted hitch. A pickup has not greater advantage in the total weight of the trailer being towed.
OTOH, a 3/4 ton Suburban weighs 5796lbs and has a tow capacity of 12,000lbs. A 1/2 ton Suburban weighs 5224lbs and has a tow capacity of 8700lbs, while a Tahoe weighs 5133 with a capacity of 8200lbs. The Sequoia by comparison weighs 5295lbs and can tow 6200lbs.
Each tow vehicle's capacity is based on the combination of its rear suspension, engine, chassis and drivetrain setup. The lighter duty rear suspension of the Sequoia combined with its weight actually diminishes its tow capacity. A lighter Sequoia on that same chassis, same engine and same rear suspension would spend less of its capacity "carrying" itself and more on the tow package.
There are of course limits to these calculations however it would serve well for anyone looking to tow with any of these vehicles not to go over the tow capacity and preferably to keep the tow package to less than 85-90% of the max tow rating for safe and comfortable towing.
If your priority is towing large trailers, and you do it often, a 3/4 or 1 ton vehicle is in order. If your priority is quality, comfort and ride, but you occasionally need to tow, the Sequoia may be a better choice. It seems some here get too worked up over one part of the decision. The Sequoia has a lot to offer, including competence at towing up to its stated limits. If your primary use is towing over 6000 pounds, there may be better choices like a 1 ton pickup truck.
Comments
Your dealer will know what type of oil to put in as well.
While there may be some oils superior to others and some people like synthetic (it is relatively expensive) almost any oil that meets the certification will be acceptable.
I would offer that timely changes may be more important than the brand of oil you choose.
It has been the dealer once, and of course they said "this is normal with toyota's V8's" I really have a hard time believeing this. Has anyone else experienced this? Cliffy1 any suggestions? I appreciated any post here, I am going back to the dealer and would like to be armed with any replies from other owners.
"tickers". In fact my 2002 is a little worse than the previous one. It is only bad in cold weather and it goes away after 3-5 minutes. I would say you probably have something significant going on there that requires attention.
Be persistent and get the problem written down on paper so you have a record. That will help get the result you want and will protect you in the future if you have problems as you can refer back to documentation.
Wandering--None at all. This vehicle handles like a sports car even up to speeds that I wouldn't mention here.
Tires--I have the Dunlop Grand Treks. They are excellent, but they are 50 psi tires. I use at least 37 psi.
Booming base--some people put big booming subwoofers in their vehicles and like it. The best approach is to turn down the bass control. It does work, believe it or not.
ABS coming on to prevent wheel spin. In the snow when I really got on it from a stop or near stop this did kick in. The sound of the ABS from the dash was a bit odd but it is very functional. (I wonder if there is a way the this sound could be eliminated or reduced with a different ABS unit). The sound seems to be much less or not at all under normal acceleration in the snow.
Brakes--so far at 10k miles the brakes are in good shape.
gohabsgo: Thanks for the toyotaguys.com link. Ordered those mats and door sill protectors. Got them in two days ! I have the oak interior in my white Limited.....those mats look way better than the carpet mats. Great link.
posted problems: I have not experienced any of the posted problems (other than the open window thing which is really not a problem). My 2001 was built in July so might have had the '02
modifications with V chip and radio amplifier. Some CD's sound great on that system, others are weak. I too just adjusted the bass way down.
wood trim: Someone asked for a recommendation on this. I installed a 38-piece kit from woodtrim.com last Saturday. Took me 7 hours. Came out flawless and I am very impressed with the quality of the product and accuracy of the cuts. Really dressed up that interior. I ordered the walnut burl with my oak interior.
going in snow: Still waiting for our first Seattle snowfall.......dread driving in snow but am eager to try this baby out !
How many avg. size adults can you fit comfortably in the 3rd row seat??. The specs on the Toyota say 8 total, but do they mean 5 adults (1st two rows) and 3 kids (rear)?.
I do a lot of carpooling. Thanks
Anyway, got to drive as yet unreleased '03 Expedition back to back with '02 Tahoe, and '02 Sequoia. Driving route was approx. 15 miles with good mixture of city, winding canyon road (Agoura Hills, CA) and freeway.
Expedition had refreshing front-end styling but side and rear looked very similar to existing truck. Interior is really changed with 3.5" chrome trimmed ring'd air vents highlighting pass side. Interior was nice but not great. (My opinion of Seq too.)
Rear seats fold flat with electric rocker switches located in front and in rear lift gate area. Nice touch but tooooo slowwww. 3rd seat access was very good and best of the three for room and comfort - especially legroom.
But... same old unrefined sound of engine at start-up. Engine noise loud during acceleration. OK if right (varoom!) but it wasn't.
I digress. Bottom line is that I went there with an open mind. (Have even thought about Denali as second vehicle.) But... the Sequoia was so much better. Ride comfort in Seq was firm but quietest over bad roads. Least wind noise on the freeway. Least engine noise. Felt screwed together well. Most confidence inspiring in the curvey roads.
Tahoe was nice too. Steering is too light (IMO). Seats are better than Sequoia and ride quality (suspension) is good. More wind noise and slightly more road/tire noise than Seq. Ingree/egress to 3rd row is just stupid.
To the dismay of focus group, I rated the Expedition last. I really tried to be honest.
One part of their eval was ease of loading gym bag through glass in rear and also after raising the hatch. Did this in both the Expedition and Tahoe. Coming to the Seq, I was told that the Seq's back window was fixed so only rear hatch access load/unload was compared. They were surprised when I showed them the switch for the rear glass (no key fobs were available).
Sequoia is really the best overall of the three (IMO) although with some work and reliability improvement the Tahoe/Yukon can be a contender.
The Ford fans will have to wait until 2007 or more I am afraid. Too bad. Good competition improves the breed. Hope I don't offend anyone. Just trying to give some feedback.
I'm interested given your very unique evaluation opportunity to read your feedback on the differences if price was part of the evaluation. Given your assessment which appeared to give the nod to the Sequoia with the Tahoe as a "contender" and the Expedition in third. How would each vehicle have faired in your assessment given the $5K difference between the Sequoia and the other choices? In essence, were the advantages you cited for the Sequoia worth $5-7K more than the Tahoe and Expedition?
I'm likely amoung the worst to make the kind of comparison you ask. I am not as price sensitive as I probably should be. I have more the perspective to shop within relatively wide price ranges to first choose what I want. Then, I work like hell to get the best price possible on my selection. I don't really look back to see how much more/less I could have had something else for. OK, this is admittedly a lttle crazy but it is the way I am wired.
At the end of the focus session, you are right in in that this is EXACTLY the questions they had us answer. If the vehicles were priced at x and y and z, what would be your selection. Then, they changed the price points a couple of more times with the same question. Again, I will say that I wasn't what I believe a representatively good test case for this part of the eval. I rated the Seq as my preference in one case and the Tahoe first in another scenario. In all cases the Expedition was last. For me, the Expdition was the last place finisher... and it should be priced accordingly. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone but this was my subjective opinion.
I came away from the session respecting the Seq more.... although I would still consider a Denali in the future but doubtful that I would look Ford's way in this SUV market.
Thanks to the folks who posted their experiences with this - saved me a trip to the dealer.
I love the look, the feel, the WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL INSIDE! O yeah!
Like some of you pointed pointed out, there are always good pts and bad pts.
You know that old Toyota commercial where people are jumping up with their legs kicked up-that's how I feel when I drive this vehicle.
I went thru all the local dealers and all the internet buying programs and found the lowest price thru carsdirect.com ask for Martin. I am not Martin. Do your own shopping and compare, try carsdirect last. I actually brought the same vin for less thru carsdirect.com
You will send me an email to thank me.
Good luck with your shopping.
Tony
I am about to move to Maine and was wondering if anyone has experience with the 2WD Sequoia's in the snow. I currently own a 2WD Limited and am wondering if I should go ahead and trade it in on a 4WD. I am afraid the 2WD won't drive too well in the snow. Are my concerns valid?
We love our Sequoia and would only consider replacing it with another Sequoia, but with 4WD. I noticed a few posts out here about comparing the Sequoia to Yukon's or Expedition's. I can honestly say they can keep their 0 financing and thousands of dollars of cash back, I'm sticking with Toyota. Hopefully this will help people in there decision before buying a competitor's vehicle.
Thanks,
John
So check with the local Mercedes or Lexus dealership to see who they recommend.
Thx,
H
Regards
I guess it depends on weather or not you will live out on the "pond road" in Hartland or in town Bar Harbor or Portland. (don't complain folks, I can spell, this is a snow related question) I can tell you that my Sequoia gets put into 4wheel drive each time it snows. I live in WV and have a very steep hill of a driveway (paved) and a steep hill to get out of our subdivision. I must admit that this is the first 4wd I have owned so I can't compare to other brands, but love this Toyota.
I will tell you that the Sequoia gained far better traction after my orig equip tires wore out and I installed Michelin Cross Terrains. (big bucks but worth it) Vehicle grips the pavement now in 4wd even when snow covered. I even use the 4wd on the interstate highway when snow covered, and back to 2wd if only wet.
Back to your question, If you will live and drive in town and they take good care of the roads in the snow, AND you live in a relatively flat part of Maine, you will be ok...
BUT.... you will be far better off with 4wd in general. Personally, I have spent a lot of time in Maine, Rangley to Houlton to Portland and Waterville and can not imagine moving there and not having a 4 wheel drive. Forget the snow, what about Mud Season, or summer when you want to explore the back country and logging roads? Get the 4wd, a tent and fishing rod, thow a canoe on the roof and enjoy.
Good luck. Have fun, enjoy Maine and have a Lobsta' fuh me.
Mark
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with someone making money on a quality product like this car appears to be, but it seems kind of slimey to put all of these different silly fees and overpriced options on the car. Just charge more for it if you need to. And by the way, why do I have to pay for your advertising? My customers would laugh at me if I tacked on an advertising fee to my products!
Sorry for the diatribe. I think its the cold medicine....
I previously towed with a 2000 Silverado Ext. Cab, 5.3L, 3.73 rear, and tow pkg. (Same drivetrain as Yukon/Burb/Hoe) I can say, through direct experience, the towing permormance of the GM and Toyota are very comparable. No real differences - maybe 1mpg better for the Chevy. This may equal out at more modest speeds.
iglow - my tongue/dry hitch weight is 580# (without the propane tanks filled). When adjusting the hitch height - always take measurements with the "load levelers" in place. They do a fantastic job to reduce the sag on the rear suspension. On my unit, the levers (aka weight distributing hitch) take 3-4" of squat out of the Seq.
Most if not all boat trailers use regular hitches as the tongue weights of boats tend to be lower, therefore the limiting factor is often the towed weight, not the tongue weight.
It's a different story for travel trailers and horse trailers. They tend to be hitch heavy thus the limiting factor is the tongue weight. To get around this you use a weight distributing hitch.
You should not exceed the 6200 lb. or whatever it is towing capacity of the Sequoia although it is a very conservative tow rating.
Another factor to consider is the frontal area of the trailer. That adds considerable drag and is the equivalent of towing more weight. The dealer should be able to offer more info on this.
You may want to check out www.reeseprod.com for more info.
I have towed extensively with the Sequoia (5500 lb. boat) and it is an excellent vehicle with ample power and outstanding stability. You should have no problems.
To make a long story short, 5 of us decided to go to a movie that night so we took my Sequoia (nicely equipped SR5, no leather but sunroof) and the Yukon owner sat in the front with me.
He seemed really blown away with the Sequoia. He commented how big it felt inside, what a great ride and said many times "this is a really nice vehicle". Then he asked me if my sunroof squeaks and rattles like his? No it doesn't!
Made me feel proud of my purchase.
For price, see my post #4535.
Happy shopping.
It may not be the cheapest but is the best value IMHO!
For any serious towing like that I would probably stick to a full size heavy duty truck.
Don't be fooled by higher towing ratings for Yukon etc.. There still has to be common sense applied and some towing situations require bigger rigs.
Only other suggestion is to ask a lot of questions of the trailer seller and get proper honest specs.
Even a 1/2 ton Suburban or Yukon XL can be setup to handle 8500lbs compared to the Sequoia's tow limit of 6200lbs. Given the size of the rig you're looking to tow, if you're looking for an SUV to do the towing, one of these domestics would be a safer setup. Having owned two previous 3/4 ton Subs, I can assure you they can handle the travel trailer you referenced more comfortably and with a wider margin of safety than a Sequoia.
I'm sure there are several travel trailer clubs in your area of which you'll find many that use the Suburban with similar trailer packages to the one you're considering. Good luck, but leave yourself plenty of cushion on the tow limit whatever tow vehicle you end up choosing. You'll never regret having a higher tow capacity than your rig, however you'll always regret it if you go over your tow capacity or leave yourself little room for unexpected extra weight that typically comes when loading up for a vacation.
I will concede you are correct about the Excursion and the 3/4 ton Suburban. They obviously would be a better choice and would do the job.
As stated in previous post the higher tow rating of a yukon would not overcome common sense. The two vehicles (Sequoia and Yukon) are remarkably similar in performance, size, specs etc. Would you really want to tow something that was that much heavier than a 1/2 ton based vehicle. I sure wouldn't.
While the weight of the tow vehicle matters, its not the only factor and its really not even one of the top two or three factors. As we've covered before, the HP, torque and rear suspension are all more important factors than the weight of the tow vehicle. Some would argue that the chassis design and rear transfer case ratio also matter more than the weight of the vehicle.
If weight mattered more than these other factors that the Excursion @ 7688lbs would have the highest tow capacity and yet it doesn't at 11,000lbs. In fact, a vehicle that is too heavy for its suspension "spends" too much of its CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ie tow vehicle + tow package) on itself rather than on the tow package, as in the case of the Excursion.
BTW, even the heaviest duty 1 ton dualie crew cab pickups weigh about the same as a 3/4 ton sub at 5800lbs and has a tow capacity of 12,000lbs. The advantage of a pickup is that you can place a 5th wheel hitch in the bed of the truck and carry more weight on the tongue than a frame mounted hitch. A pickup has not greater advantage in the total weight of the trailer being towed.
OTOH, a 3/4 ton Suburban weighs 5796lbs and has a tow capacity of 12,000lbs. A 1/2 ton Suburban weighs 5224lbs and has a tow capacity of 8700lbs, while a Tahoe weighs 5133 with a capacity of 8200lbs. The Sequoia by comparison weighs 5295lbs and can tow 6200lbs.
Each tow vehicle's capacity is based on the combination of its rear suspension, engine, chassis and drivetrain setup. The lighter duty rear suspension of the Sequoia combined with its weight actually diminishes its tow capacity. A lighter Sequoia on that same chassis, same engine and same rear suspension would spend less of its capacity "carrying" itself and more on the tow package.
There are of course limits to these calculations however it would serve well for anyone looking to tow with any of these vehicles not to go over the tow capacity and preferably to keep the tow package to less than 85-90% of the max tow rating for safe and comfortable towing.