Mackabee, others, can you please chime in here. Its critical that I'm armed with all the facts surrounding the system, before I agree to execute a buyers order.
Think about it. Exactly who benefits from "etching". Not the vehicle owner...only the insurance company and the authorities. If you're vehicle is stolen, you're going to get the same compensation you would have gotten whether you had etching or not. Essentially a depreciated value of your vehicle depending on your policy. Its not like you're going to get the parts back after they've been stripped just because there's etching.
The only beneficiaries of this scam are the dealer's that have a 1000% mark-up, the insurance companies that can pursue another wallet to compensate for their loss and the authorities that can maybe track down some criminals that are selling your parts. You get absolutely no benefit from etching a stock, mass marketed product, but you have the "priviledge" of paying for it. Don't you think if the insurance company's thought it was worth the investment that they would have paid consumers for the etching since they have the most to gain?
Getting your car back after its been stolen has nothing to do with etching. There are enough other discriminators on a complete vehicle that make window etching an absurd concept for the owner and a wonderfully easy profit for a dealer.
It's a relatively simple call IMO. When the dealer asks if you want etching ...just say NO...when they ask a second time ...find another dealer because they've already likely added some other scam to your purchase to lighten your wallet if they're pressing etching on you.
I figured there was no value to it. They never mentioned it, I did not pay for it and it was already on there. It may have even been on there at the original dealers that my dealer got the vehicle from.
As for insurance, they are not lowering anymore, but amazingly enough, the insurance on this new 08 actually lowered my premiums over the 01 SR5 I got rid of as there are many more safety features, so that was great.
Thanks for the responses. This forum is certainly very useful. JD
I'm working on it and getting all the details before I get an answer for you. Can't they get the vehicle from another dealer with the options already in it from the factory or the port? Just curious. I'll get back to you on this one. Mack
1. This is the picture of the actual system in the Sequoia. The picture you posted looks a little different, the overhead lights for example. The player looks like it's the same. 2. The only integration with the nav will be the sound adjustments. Otherwise everything has to be done from the DVD unit itself or with the remote control. 3. The sound can be delivered through the headphones or the vehicle speakers. 4. see number 2. 5.Dealer is correct, these are port installed or dealer installed. The ports of distribution do these install on thousands of vehicles every year so I wouldn't sweat the installation. Dealer installed is also same unit as the port and the techs have all the installation data to do the job right so I wouldn't sweat that either. Aftermarket systems are available but they may void part of your warranty if they create a malfunction on your vehicle. 6. see number 2 again. 7. Go forth and purchase your Sequoia, you will be very happy with it. Mack
>Manual said OK to run 87 octane. Does anyone know if there is any benefits to running 93 octane (or just once in a while) ? >I have remote start but funny thing is that after you start it remotely, it then turns off when you arrive and unlock vehicle. That seems pretty dumb to me but dealer said it is on purpose for safety reasons. Can anyone tell me why it is safer to have to shut off only to then restart ? And does anyone know how to disable that "feature" ? >Does anyone know where I can get good 08 Seq all weather mats that actually cover a lot of the floor (the toyota ones dont really) >NAV disables when driving, does anyone know how to keep it enabled ? Not that I ever attempt quiries while buzzing along at 70 mph, but it would be nice to search for an alternate route while going 5 mph in bumper to bumper traffic. > Finally my 08 Seq can charge my phone while the engine is off !!! It use to bug the sh** outta me that my $40,000 4Runner's car charger went dead when ignition off while the company car's beater Ford Taurus would not.
Don't waste money on 93 octane. It's perfectly ok to run on 87 octane. 93 is "recommended" for better performance according to the owner's manual. All weather mats try the company that advertises in all the car mags especially caranddriver. I don't recall the name off hand but they make them to fit the floor of your vehicle exactly. Remote start was designed that way for safety reasons according to Toyota. Nav will enable when you stop so in heavy traffic just wait for a red light and do your thing. Good on the charger thing. Mack
My 2007 Sequoia FM is not very good. My old 99 Ranger gets better FM reception. The CD player skips a lot on factory CDs. Of course we all know about the NAV in Toyota. If the electronics were as good as the rest of the Sequoia, it would be a great vehicle. I will buy a stripped version if I buy another Toyota product. Then put in decent electronics.
Mack, thanks very much for all the information. The unit I am getting is technically going to fall in the category of "aftermarket", however, the unit is the same one that is very often port installed in the Southeast region. The unit is made by Invision Industries and is called the G10. The upside is that screen, at 10.3", is slightly larger than the factory unit, the downside is that the input jacks are not mounted at the back of the front console like the factory system, but are going to be on the unit itself. So long as the unit is installed at an authorized dealer, the warranty on the unit will match that of the manufacturers warranty on the vehicle. Here is a link to the company.
I was looking for a specific platinum vehicle that is difficult to obtain within a reasonable timeframe. Additionally, I was able to obtain a very aggressive offer. As such, I viewed the DVD unit as a compromise. Fact is I have a 15 month old daughter and this DVD unit will more than suffice for Barney! Unit plays through the factory system (via stereo FM modulation) or through wireless headphones. Spent a lot of time with the parts and service department to make sure I had a clear understanding of what I would be getting in terms of the rear entertainment unit.
Negotiation process was very very trying and spanned over a week, with a lot of pushing, prodding (and cussing), but thanks to info from folks like HD, yourself, cliffy (at Sequoia solutions) and others, along with good information from jim bragg at fightingchance, I was able to get a very competitive offer. Hate to admit, but I did have to play the dealers off of each other to a certain degree, but I know the ultimate offer was one I could live with. I was probably the dealers worst nightmare, but in the end I think we struck a good balance on both sides (I did not reach into their holdback or WFR, but was almost at invoice after the SET mandated Admin fee) I was also very picky in terms of colors, options etc. and hence, I started off at a disadvantage. All in all, things turned out really well.
Thanks again.
PS: Had I not done an extensive amount of homework around pricing, I would have gotten worked, period.
I don't see any shame in "working dealers against each other"....it is a free market and none of them are forced to see you a vehicle at a particular price. It's a shame that it took a week and involved such consternation, but I suppose that some dealers are just not ready to move much off of MSRP. Isn't there like a 6K spread btwn MSRP and invoice? That does not help either since there is so much "room" for play on the price.
Nevertheless, that will likely all be forgotten within a week of delivery. Congrats!
Mack, I strongly disagree with your opinion on the octane. While using 87 octane likely won't hurt the engine even if used over a long period of time, the drop in gas mileage will more than offset the savings in the per gallon fuel cost. Try it, you'll see. The lower octane fuel will cause the knock sensor to tell the engine computer not to advance the ignition timing as much as it would with the proper fuel, and gas mileage will suffer accordingly. Also, your engine will be developing less power.
Mack, what is the source of your information on the entertainment unit? You said that these are regularly POI installed. While I guess they could be, it makes no sense that Toyota would do that on a regular basis, when they can and are regularly installed in Princeton. Why would they assemble a vehicle, and then rip it apart later to install an option that could have been most efficently installed right on the assembly line? While that type of thing is often done for vehicles that are assembled overseas, I work for one of Toyota's software suppliers, and knowing them well, the only time they would do such a thing with a domestic assembly would be if sufficient entertainment units were not available at Princeton. Also, while POI installed options are generally fine quality wise (as the POI guys are installing these all day long), my opinion is that dealer installation is terribly risky. For example, I had Sirius installed in my SLK at the Mercedes dealer, and I watched a very experienced tech take 5 hours to do a job that was suppossed to take less than 2, and I've had repeatedly problems with it ever since. You just can't count on a dealer to be able to do the same things that are done on the assembly line in a very controlled environment. I would avoid dealer installation if at all possible. How long is the dealer telling you it would take to order the exact truck you want from Princeton?
Thanks for the advise shark715. I have contacted 4 dealers in my area, and they are all within $50 of each other on the parts costs for the mirror. The best price I have is about $595 for the mirror, plus labor. These mirrors are unbelievably expensive.
weathertech.com I used them for my 01 sequoia. For my 08, I actually just bought from Walmart, Rubbermaid mats that you can cut to size and they work great. Full channels for catching spills-my wife just spilled some coffee the other day and not a drop went anywhere but on the mat-thankfully!
I was actually looking for a full cargo mat, but they only sell one that covers the back when the seats are UP. We put them down a lot for the dogs and would love one that goes right over the entire back when the 3rd row seats are down, still looking.
I've tried it and my car actually used more gas with the higher octane. It runs fine with the 87. I'm not street racing or anything like that so I don't see the "better performance" benefit for me. Mack
The PPO accessory brochure lists the entertainment system as PIO or DIO. Now take this scenario. I find the platinum Sequoia I want and it's on allocation status meaning it has yet to be built. The sales manager goes into dealer daily and adds the dvd entertaintment system so that it gets installed before the vehicle is delivered to the dealership. Scenario two, the vehicle I want is about two weeks from delivery to the dealership, sales manager gets into dealer daily again and adds the dvd system. Depending on how much leeway and what work they already have scheduled at the port it may or may not get installed. I've have had this happen just recently on an Avalon Limited. It was due to come in with a rear spoiler, satellite radio, and remote engine start. It was due to be built on Jan 28 and D-ETA Feb 8-14 I was working the deal with the customer on the 17th of Jan and we went to dealer daily to delete those options (pio) The car came in with them so it's all a matter of timing.
Since you work for a software supplier how 'bout telling them to get the software right on the six speed Camrys, There's a lot of people complaining about it on these forums but yet I've only had one customer complain about hers and we bought the car back and got her another one, No problem with the new 0ne. Mack
I am considering ordering/purchasing a Platinum Sequoia with PyriteMica exterior and the RedRock interior. My research shows that this combination has not been built. I have seen the PyriteMica exterior in person, however, I have only seen the RedRock interior on the web, Edmunds, TS, etc.
I understand that there is some controversy surrounding the Red Rock interior. This question is aimed towards fans of the red rock interior - what do you folks think about the combination of PyriteMica exterior and Red Rock interior?
A dealer from TS is giving me some caution in doing this. Completely understandable. Mentally I think it work but it would really be disappointing if it turned out to be a bad combination. What do you think?
It's available in our region. Personally I think you should see it first before making a commitment. The Red Rock does not appeal to everyone so that may be a good thing if you like to be different. Mack
My manual (pg. 546 & 592) says use 87 octane or higher. I increased my mpg last weekend by about 3. (up to 16) I quit buying gas that has a little sign on the pump that says "May contain up to 10% ethenol." (Kroger and Walmart was the only place I had purchase gas so far ..... 2840 miles... never again) With the remote start, you have to start your car twice in order to drive it. Once from the outside and once from the inside. How dumb is that? NAV is operational until you reach 5mph. I don't know if it reactivates if you slow down below 5 mph or not! There are 2 phone charger locations in the front. One stays on when the ignition is off and the other does not. I have my radar detector plugged into it. I dislike the garage door opener on the rear view mirror. I have to stretch to reach it and end up messin' up my mirror about twice a week. I pulled out my old clip on to the sun visor garage door opener. It might not be a big deal if I had never driven my wife's 03 LS430. It has the garage door opener on the overhead console. Nice.
I think the Red Rock and Pyrite combo would be great assuming that you like the Red Rock This was my first choice, but my wife could not get over the fact that the Pyrite looks dramatically different when viewed in direct sunlight vs. in the shade. In direct sunlight, the Pyrite takes a more brownish appearance, while, in the shade it develops a more greenish/gray look. The wife loved the appearance in direct sunlight (which is what photographs tend to reflect), but did not like the greenish hue in the shade. I was hoping for more of a bronze-ish appearance like the Infiniti FXs, but this was not the case. We ultimately settled on Arctic Frost Pearl with RR. Additionally, availability of the Pryrite/RR combo was difficult in my region (Southeast).
As far as Red Rock goes -- I like it. What you'll find is folks either really like it or hate it. I haven't heard any comments that fall somewhere in the middle. Photographs are not a good way to judge the color. It is not basketball orange as the photos seem to depict, it does have a more brown tone to it....probably like a football. Additionally, the dark carpets was a huge positive for me. I didn't like the grey interior and the carpeting on the tan interior is just too light. One additional thing I didn't like about the Tan is that the steering wheel and top of the dash are a dark brown color as opposed to black in the RR and Grey interiors. The brown is almost so dark that it looks almost black, but yet its not.
What I don't like about the red rock is that there is a clear mismatch between the seat color and the panels under the dash. It probably has to do with the differences in the materials -- plastic vs. leather. The problem is that in this particular color it seems to stand out much more. I think the red rock interior would look great with the dash being all black. Additionally, the silver trim on the door seems to stand out or clash (depending on which way you look at it) more in the red rock interior.
In the end its a personal choice. Whatever you do, make sure you go see it in the person. To me, despite some of the shortcomings, I ultimately went for the red rock.
Does anyone have issues with distance ? On my previous 4Runners it seemed like I could be at least 200 yards away or more and pop the locks. But with my new Seq, I keep clickin the button like a boob as I walk closer and closer and finally at about 50 feet away it unlocks/starts. Could it be just a weak remote battery ? (I hope) or did they put the sensor too deep in the vehicle for good range ?? As a result I am pretty disappointed with remote start (not to mention the start re-start baloney). My only significant complaint with my new rig. (it was a coin toss for me between laser cruise and the remote start... guess I picked the wrong one)
Sorry Mack, we have nothing to do with the software in the cars themselves. Toyota is a client of ours for manufacturing and materials planning software, and other associated functions. Is your manager telling you can't order a Sequoia and have that installed at the factory versus PIO?
I've been doing this for 10 years. I know more about Toyota than anyone at my dealership including the managers. I worked with a manager a few years back who was the GSM at our store then moved on to a different store. He taught me a lot about ordering and preferencing and FRS changes on vehicles. Bonus cars, model numbers, etc, etc,. \ Mack
Mack, I don't know what kind of car you got higher mileage with lower octane, but if it's a modern car with a computer controlled engine and knock sensors, it's simply not possible if you drove the car the exact same way (same distance, same roads, same speeds, same loads, same engine, vehicle and weather conditions) with both fuel grades. This would be irrespective of whether or not the manufacturer suggests using higher octane fuel. How did you measure the fuel used? Filling the tank back up at the gas station is not accurate as it's unlikely you filled the tank to same point both times. For engines where the manufacturer suggests a higher octane but states that a regular grade won't harm the engine, the higher octane rating allows the engine computer to advance the engine timing further before the knock sensors "tell" the computer that it's gone far enough. The advanced timing allows the engine to do the same work with less fuel, and manufacturers have an obvious incentive to mimimize the fuel usage in their vehicles. An additional benefit is that peak horsepower will be increased, but even if you never drive your vehicle flat out, the fuel saved due to the increased mileage will more than offset the incremental cost of the higher grade fuel. One again, this applies only to engines that have the ability to do something with the extra octane...most don't.
"This question is aimed towards fans of the red rock interior - what do you folks think about the combination of PyriteMica exterior and Red Rock interior?"
You might check the inventory of some of the dealers near you to see if they have a Red Rock interior on a Pyrite Tundra CMax (the CM is the only model available with the RR interior).
At least you could see the 2 colors together. I went with the RR interior with a black exterior. I've had a variety of different color vehicles and haven't had a black vehicle for about 15 years. Figured it was time to go full circle back to black. More work to keep clean but the car wash is right around the corner.
"With the remote start, you have to start your car twice in order to drive it. Once from the outside and once from the inside. How dumb is that?"
I would have avoided the dealer's remote start from beginning. Its not installed from the factory and I assume it had to meet the lawyers approval for killing the engine and restarting it before you can put it into drive. None of the aftermarket remote starts require the engine to be killed.
With the aftermarket units you can remotely start the engine, put the key in the ignition when you're in the driver's seat and you can drive off (if you hit the throttle or brake pedal before putting the key in the ignition and the engine will automatically die to prevent someone without the key from driving away with your vehicle). The aftermarket units are also about half the price of what the dealer's are asking to install their unit.
well i am stuck with this one now. I was just wondering if anyone knew how to disable the auto shut off. I am sure the dealer will run scared if I ask them to do it.
Sorry I couldn't be more help on the remote start. Only thing I can think of is to see if there's a local auto electronics shop that might take a look at the system to determine what options are available short of replacing the entire system.
Let's put it this way. Using 87 octane will not harm the engine and you'll save money. The gains in performance or fuel economy are minimal to warrant the extra expense. At 3+ dollars for premium and getting higher I'll stay with 87 octane. Mack
That's not the same system that came in my platinum from the factory, but that's not necessarily bad. Most dealers install these all the time. They are stand alone systems so there's no a lot of expertise to doing it. THeir techs are trained on it so you should be fine.
For mine, No integration with the nav or front unit other than FM modulation the system can use wireless headsets or fm modulation. No control from the front unless you use fm modulation then volume only is controlled up front. Dealers can install a DVD setup in almost any car they sell. My delaer offered it on any of their sequoias in stock. They just had to order the DVD setup and install it.
I'm looking at getting an 08 Sequoia. I've taken a few test drives and I'm a little concerned about how close my head is to the ceiling (I'm just over 6'1"). Does anyone who has an 08 have this issue? I'm wondering if getting an 08 without the moonroof would offer more head room - anyone know (Mack)? And is it even possible to get a Limited without a moonroof?
"At 3+ dollars for premium and getting higher I'll stay with 87 octane."
Definitely agree with Mack on this one. It makes absolutely no sense to run higher octane in the new Sequoia when its compression and fuel mapping have been ideally designed (power and fuel economy) for running on 87 octane. You can run higher octane however the benefits are nominal and might only make the slimmest of sense when towing in mountainous areas.
Overall the design of the 5.7 i-force was optimized for 87. See the data below comparing the performance of the LX570 on Premium vs the same engine in the Sequoia with Regular. I consider this to be a significant benefit as almost all of the other luxury SUVs with power in this range recommend the use of Premium. Good design decision on Toyota's part IMO and an advantage that goes to the Sequoia over the other models, particularly since they get the best fuel economy for a gas engine in this class (marginally).
LX570 - Premium 5.7L 383hp/403 ft lbs 12/18 mpg (not sure why the LX570 is tested by the gov. with premium fuel since the engine is the same as the Sequoia with only 2 more hp and ft lbs than the Sequoia. This should give you a general sense that you're not likely to get much more power out of premium fuel in this engine given its design and you'll give up some fuel economy to get those couple of additional ponies)
Lincoln Navigator 4wd- Regular 5.4L 300hp/365 ft lbs N/A yet however the 2wd gets 12/18mpg
Besides it actually INCREASING your overall fuel cost, I would never use advocate using 87 on a long term basis. While, in theory, your engine's knock sensors will prevent any short term damage, they cause the ignition timing to be retarded when they detect a knock, and any knock (pinging) other then something very light to the point that you can't hear it is not good for your engine, especially if it goes on continuously over tens of thousands of miles. Will using 87 cause your engine to destroy itself in 30 to 50 thousand miles? It should not if your knock sensor and engine computer are working properly. But it definitely could make the difference between your engine lasting 200k miles versus 100k miles. Also, I wouldn't want the decreased horsepower when I need to pull out fast into heavy traffic. It just makes no sense not to use the fuel the manufacturer recommends.
You mentioned that "its compression and fuel mapping have been ideally designed (power and fuel economy) for running on 87 octane." Just curious where you obtained this information.
I suspect Brad is correct on this issue. Over on the Pathfinder forum we had a similar discussion, and several members tested 93 versus 87 while carefully metering the fuel use. Obviously it's not totally scientific as no one drives their vehicle exactly the same way twice, but the difference in fuel mileage observed was significant. Someone mentioned the cost of premium fuel has been increasing, but didn't mention that the cost of regular fuel has increased about the same. In my area the typical difference in fuel cost is about 20 cents per gallon, or only about 6.4%. If your overall mileage decreases by just two miles per gallon (for example 16 mpg to 14 mpg) you are now using 12.5% more gallons! It's actually less expensive to buy the correct fuel.
Hdfatboy, sorry to hear about your negative experience with a DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORY...precisely the reason why I strongly suggested trying to avoid them. I take that back, perhaps it's safe to let them install wheel locks...if you trust them not to strip the wheel lugs :-)
Yeah, when you take the time to put the math to it, the answer is pretty obvious. What's interesting is that the % difference in the cost of 87 versus 93 has narrowed as the price of gas has increased in general. The same plus or minus 20 cents differential between 87 and 93 was there about a year ago when gas was $1.00 less expensive.
I tried doing exactly what you guys are talking about on my 5.7 Limited. My fuel mileage for a full tank of 93 was 15.3, and it dropped to 12.7 with a full tank of 87. I drove more or less the same on both tanks as most of my driving is a long commute to work. I also noticed the engine seemed to have less power, not dramatically less, but noticeable, expecially where I have to climb a good sized hill to get to my home. Thanks for giving us the correct information on this Brad!
If all that you say is valid for the 08 Seq 5.7 then why does the owners manual recommend 87 ? To your point as well.... "It just makes no sense not to use the fuel the manufacturer recommends " I
"You mentioned that "its compression and fuel mapping have been ideally designed (power and fuel economy) for running on 87 octane." Just curious where you obtained this information."
My wife's an engineer in the oil refining industry and deal's with the auto industry. Engine's are designed with a specific octane built into the specs for compression, componentry, efi fuel mapping, timing, valving and exhaust flow to maximize power while balancing it against fuel economy (and their design budget).
Any mass produced vehicle will have its engine specifically designed to operate on the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. If a luxury vehicle can maximize power while meeting the fuel economy and the budget goals they've set, than a higher octane will not have a significant benefit to this engine.
The evidence is in the results. The LX570 uses the same engine but runs on Premium but gets only a 2hp advantage and loses fuel economy when compared with the same engine operating in a heavier vehicle (Sequoia). My guess is they needed to be able to have the marketing claim that Toyota's most expensive SUV has the highest HP and Torque ratings. Even if it's only a 2hp advantage the marketing folks will run with it. Toyota has a tendency to overplay their hand when it comes to marketing minor technical advantages.
The engine in the LX is identical to the engine in the Sequoia. Same parts with maybe a slightly different fuel mapping to accomodate the Premium fuel. Even with the fuel mapping modified there is no real improvement in power and a loss in fuel economy when using Premium (and the fuel economy went down in a vehicle that weighs less).
Putting premium in a vehicle designed for regular fuel is a waste of money. It takes no more evidence than reading the power and fuel economy specs for the LX vs the Sequoia to come to this conclusion.
"Hdfatboy, sorry to hear about your negative experience with a DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORY...precisely the reason why I strongly suggested trying to avoid them. I take that back, perhaps it's safe to let them install wheel locks...if you trust them not to strip the wheel lugs "
I think you meant this for another poster as I've not had any issues with dealer installed accessories.
I am not quite 6'1 and with the driver seat all the way down I dont have any problem (and I have a moonroof). You have to make sure it is down as far as it will go. The seat raises surprisingly high I guess to accomadate the spunky 5 footer females that love a big ride (oops watch the double meaning there).
I'm 6'3". I am a large guy. Imagine a NFL offensive lineman and you got a picture of my frame. LOL
I fit perfectly and very comfortably in the 08 Sequoia. As a side not, I can easily sit in the 3rd row seats too. I just have to lean them back just a tad for comfort and can ride there with no issues.
I have the platinum so the moonroof is there. I think you will be fine with or without it.
If all that you say is valid for the 08 Seq 5.7 then why does the owners manual recommend 87 ? To your point as well.... "It just makes no sense not to use the fuel the manufacturer recommends "
Bingo!
If the manufacturer recommends 87 octane then what that means is the engine is optomized to run using 87 octane without the fear of pre-ignition/detonation. It does NOT mean that the engine is reliant on the knock sensors to determine the first sign of engine knock and then retard ignition timing. On the other hand, if the manufacturer recommends using premium then that engine is likely optomized and designed (compression ratio etc.) to run on 93 (or 91 octane, depending) and that the knock sensors would only come into play in the event that one is forced to use an octane rating below what is recommended and there is a sign of engine knock (eg. under heavy load). There is also a subtle difference between an Octane rating that is "Required" vs. "Recommended". I view "Required" as telling you use the suggested Octane all the time unless in an emergency. I view "Recommended" to mean that you will see some performance benefit if using the suggested octane rating, but you could use the lower grade in exchange for weaker performance.
In the case of the Sequoia, the recommended Octane rating is 87, so I'm very skeptical that one would see a meaningful performance gain (or mpg gain) by going to a higher octane fuel. Also claiming that one has experienced a significant difference in mpg between the two grades is stretching at best. There are just too many variables in determing mpg including traffic, speed, heck, even wind resistance when talking about such a large vehicle.
Bottomline, Octane content in gasoline is designed to lower its preignition point. In an engine with a higher state of tune (and therefore more power output), the higher octane serves to prevent preignition while operating in this more optimized state. In an engine which is designed to run consistently at a lower octane rating, the use of a higher octane is akin to holding a couple of dollars bills in your hand and taking a flame to them.
The only scenario where one might need to switch to a higher octane fuel than recommended by the manufacturer is if the engine has very high mileage that has resulted in carbon deposits forming in the combustion chambers which results in an increase in the compression ratio of the motor.
I called Superior Wood dash yesterday (they make the dash kit for the Sequoia for Toyota) to obtain some details on the kit including pricing. The lady there told me that the kit is not available directly from them, but must be purchased from a Toyota dealer. The price on the Toyota website is $350. My dealer was attempting to charge me $778 for the kit when I negotiated my deal. I told him to take the wood kit off, knowing that I could be a whole lot better myself.
The kit comes in only one color (burlwood) from superior dash. The part no. for a Platinum 4x4 is 000160C810. It is a six piece kit. The dash has two pieces. The first goes around the gauge cluster and the second around the gear shifter that extends up to the first piece to create a uniform look. The remaining 4 pieces are for the doors.
Superior dash strongly recommends the use of 3M prep solvent 70 to clean the mounting surfaces (as opposed to alcohol) prior to mounting the kit.
I saw the wood dash on a tan Sequoia and I liked it. I, however, opted for the red rock interior and hence, i want to see how the wood looks on the red rock before I take the plunge. First order of business will be to replace the RR dash panels with black ones from the tundra.
Comments
The only beneficiaries of this scam are the dealer's that have a 1000% mark-up, the insurance companies that can pursue another wallet to compensate for their loss and the authorities that can maybe track down some criminals that are selling your parts. You get absolutely no benefit from etching a stock, mass marketed product, but you have the "priviledge" of paying for it. Don't you think if the insurance company's thought it was worth the investment that they would have paid consumers for the etching since they have the most to gain?
Getting your car back after its been stolen has nothing to do with etching. There are enough other discriminators on a complete vehicle that make window etching an absurd concept for the owner and a wonderfully easy profit for a dealer.
It's a relatively simple call IMO. When the dealer asks if you want etching ...just say NO...when they ask a second time ...find another dealer because they've already likely added some other scam to your purchase to lighten your wallet if they're pressing etching on you.
As for insurance, they are not lowering anymore, but amazingly enough, the insurance on this new 08 actually lowered my premiums over the 01 SR5 I got rid of as there are many more safety features, so that was great.
Thanks for the responses. This forum is certainly very useful. JD
Mack
1. This is the picture of the actual system in the Sequoia. The picture you posted looks a little different, the overhead lights for example. The player looks like it's the same.
2. The only integration with the nav will be the sound adjustments. Otherwise everything has to be done from the DVD unit itself or with the remote control.
3. The sound can be delivered through the headphones or the vehicle speakers.
4. see number 2.
5.Dealer is correct, these are port installed or dealer installed. The ports of distribution do these install on thousands of vehicles every year so I wouldn't sweat the installation. Dealer installed is also same unit as the port and the techs have all the installation data to do the job right so I wouldn't sweat that either. Aftermarket systems are available but they may void part of your warranty if they create a malfunction on your vehicle.
6. see number 2 again.
7. Go forth and purchase your Sequoia, you will be very happy with it.
Mack
>I have remote start but funny thing is that after you start it remotely, it then turns off when you arrive and unlock vehicle. That seems pretty dumb to me but dealer said it is on purpose for safety reasons. Can anyone tell me why it is safer to have to shut off only to then restart ? And does anyone know how to disable that "feature" ?
>Does anyone know where I can get good 08 Seq all weather mats that actually cover a lot of the floor (the toyota ones dont really)
>NAV disables when driving, does anyone know how to keep it enabled ? Not that I ever attempt quiries while buzzing along at 70 mph, but it would be nice to search for an alternate route while going 5 mph in bumper to bumper traffic.
> Finally my 08 Seq can charge my phone while the engine is off !!! It use to bug the sh** outta me that my $40,000 4Runner's car charger went dead when ignition off while the company car's beater Ford Taurus would not.
All weather mats try the company that advertises in all the car mags especially caranddriver. I don't recall the name off hand but they make them to fit the floor of your vehicle exactly.
Remote start was designed that way for safety reasons according to Toyota.
Nav will enable when you stop so in heavy traffic just wait for a red light and do your thing.
Good on the charger thing.
Mack
Invision Industries
I was looking for a specific platinum vehicle that is difficult to obtain within a reasonable timeframe. Additionally, I was able to obtain a very aggressive offer. As such, I viewed the DVD unit as a compromise. Fact is I have a 15 month old daughter and this DVD unit will more than suffice for Barney! Unit plays through the factory system (via stereo FM modulation) or through wireless headphones. Spent a lot of time with the parts and service department to make sure I had a clear understanding of what I would be getting in terms of the rear entertainment unit.
Negotiation process was very very trying and spanned over a week, with a lot of pushing, prodding (and cussing), but thanks to info from folks like HD, yourself, cliffy (at Sequoia solutions) and others, along with good information from jim bragg at fightingchance, I was able to get a very competitive offer. Hate to admit, but I did have to play the dealers off of each other to a certain degree, but I know the ultimate offer was one I could live with. I was probably the dealers worst nightmare, but in the end I think we struck a good balance on both sides (I did not reach into their holdback or WFR, but was almost at invoice after the SET mandated Admin fee) I was also very picky in terms of colors, options etc. and hence, I started off at a disadvantage. All in all, things turned out really well.
Thanks again.
PS: Had I not done an extensive amount of homework around pricing, I would have gotten worked, period.
Nevertheless, that will likely all be forgotten within a week of delivery. Congrats!
I was actually looking for a full cargo mat, but they only sell one that covers the back when the seats are UP. We put them down a lot for the dogs and would love one that goes right over the entire back when the 3rd row seats are down, still looking.
Mack
Mack
Now take this scenario. I find the platinum Sequoia I want and it's on allocation status meaning it has yet to be built. The sales manager goes into dealer daily and adds the dvd entertaintment system so that it gets installed before the vehicle is delivered to the dealership. Scenario two, the vehicle I want is about two weeks from delivery to the dealership, sales manager gets into dealer daily again and adds the dvd system. Depending on how much leeway and what work they already have scheduled at the port it may or may not get installed. I've have had this happen just recently on an Avalon Limited. It was due to come in with a rear spoiler, satellite radio, and remote engine start. It was due to be built on Jan 28 and D-ETA Feb 8-14 I was working the deal with the customer on the 17th of Jan and we went to dealer daily to delete those options (pio) The car came in with them so it's all a matter of timing.
Since you work for a software supplier how 'bout telling them to get the software right on the six speed Camrys,
Mack
I understand that there is some controversy surrounding the Red Rock interior. This question is aimed towards fans of the red rock interior - what do you folks think about the combination of PyriteMica exterior and Red Rock interior?
A dealer from TS is giving me some caution in doing this. Completely understandable. Mentally I think it work but it would really be disappointing if it turned out to be a bad combination. What do you think?
Mack
With the remote start, you have to start your car twice in order to drive it. Once from the outside and once from the inside. How dumb is that?
NAV is operational until you reach 5mph. I don't know if it reactivates if you slow down below 5 mph or not!
There are 2 phone charger locations in the front. One stays on when the ignition is off and the other does not. I have my radar detector plugged into it.
I dislike the garage door opener on the rear view mirror. I have to stretch to reach it and end up messin' up my mirror about twice a week. I pulled out my old clip on to the sun visor garage door opener. It might not be a big deal if I had never driven my wife's 03 LS430. It has the garage door opener on the overhead console. Nice.
As far as Red Rock goes -- I like it. What you'll find is folks either really like it or hate it. I haven't heard any comments that fall somewhere in the middle. Photographs are not a good way to judge the color. It is not basketball orange as the photos seem to depict, it does have a more brown tone to it....probably like a football. Additionally, the dark carpets was a huge positive for me. I didn't like the grey interior and the carpeting on the tan interior is just too light. One additional thing I didn't like about the Tan is that the steering wheel and top of the dash are a dark brown color as opposed to black in the RR and Grey interiors. The brown is almost so dark that it looks almost black, but yet its not.
What I don't like about the red rock is that there is a clear mismatch between the seat color and the panels under the dash. It probably has to do with the differences in the materials -- plastic vs. leather. The problem is that in this particular color it seems to stand out much more. I think the red rock interior would look great with the dash being all black. Additionally, the silver trim on the door seems to stand out or clash (depending on which way you look at it) more in the red rock interior.
In the end its a personal choice. Whatever you do, make sure you go see it in the person. To me, despite some of the shortcomings, I ultimately went for the red rock.
Hope this helps
\ Mack
:shades:
You might check the inventory of some of the dealers near you to see if they have a Red Rock interior on a Pyrite Tundra CMax (the CM is the only model available with the RR interior).
At least you could see the 2 colors together. I went with the RR interior with a black exterior. I've had a variety of different color vehicles and haven't had a black vehicle for about 15 years. Figured it was time to go full circle back to black. More work to keep clean but the car wash is right around the corner.
Better for wear, cleaner ?
I would have avoided the dealer's remote start from beginning. Its not installed from the factory and I assume it had to meet the lawyers approval for killing the engine and restarting it before you can put it into drive. None of the aftermarket remote starts require the engine to be killed.
With the aftermarket units you can remotely start the engine, put the key in the ignition when you're in the driver's seat and you can drive off (if you hit the throttle or brake pedal before putting the key in the ignition and the engine will automatically die to prevent someone without the key from driving away with your vehicle). The aftermarket units are also about half the price of what the dealer's are asking to install their unit.
Mack
That's not the same system that came in my platinum from the factory, but that's not necessarily bad. Most dealers install these all the time. They are stand alone systems so there's no a lot of expertise to doing it. THeir techs are trained on it so you should be fine.
For mine,
No integration with the nav or front unit other than FM modulation
the system can use wireless headsets or fm modulation.
No control from the front unless you use fm modulation then volume only is controlled up front.
Dealers can install a DVD setup in almost any car they sell. My delaer offered it on any of their sequoias in stock. They just had to order the DVD setup and install it.
Thanks for any input.
Definitely agree with Mack on this one. It makes absolutely no sense to run higher octane in the new Sequoia when its compression and fuel mapping have been ideally designed (power and fuel economy) for running on 87 octane. You can run higher octane however the benefits are nominal and might only make the slimmest of sense when towing in mountainous areas.
Overall the design of the 5.7 i-force was optimized for 87. See the data below comparing the performance of the LX570 on Premium vs the same engine in the Sequoia with Regular. I consider this to be a significant benefit as almost all of the other luxury SUVs with power in this range recommend the use of Premium. Good design decision on Toyota's part IMO and an advantage that goes to the Sequoia over the other models, particularly since they get the best fuel economy for a gas engine in this class (marginally).
Sequoia 4wd- Regular Premium 5.7L 381hp/401ft lbs 13/18mpg
Escalade AWD - Premium 6.2L 403hp/417 ft lbs 12/18mpg
Denali AWD - Premium 6.2L 380hp/417 ft lbs 12/18mpg
MB GL 450 & 550 - Premium 4.6L 335hp/339 ft lbs 13/18mpg (GL550 5.5L 382hp/391ftlbs 13/17mpg)
QX56 4wd - Premium 5.6L 320hp/393 ft lbs 12/17mpg
LX570 - Premium 5.7L 383hp/403 ft lbs 12/18 mpg (not sure why the LX570 is tested by the gov. with premium fuel since the engine is the same as the Sequoia with only 2 more hp and ft lbs than the Sequoia. This should give you a general sense that you're not likely to get much more power out of premium fuel in this engine given its design and you'll give up some fuel economy to get those couple of additional ponies)
Lincoln Navigator 4wd- Regular 5.4L 300hp/365 ft lbs N/A yet however the 2wd gets 12/18mpg
This gov. website uses the grade fuel for MPG testing as recommended by the manufacturer. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/bymakemodelNF.shtml
I
My wife's an engineer in the oil refining industry and deal's with the auto industry. Engine's are designed with a specific octane built into the specs for compression, componentry, efi fuel mapping, timing, valving and exhaust flow to maximize power while balancing it against fuel economy (and their design budget).
Any mass produced vehicle will have its engine specifically designed to operate on the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. If a luxury vehicle can maximize power while meeting the fuel economy and the budget goals they've set, than a higher octane will not have a significant benefit to this engine.
The evidence is in the results. The LX570 uses the same engine but runs on Premium but gets only a 2hp advantage and loses fuel economy when compared with the same engine operating in a heavier vehicle (Sequoia). My guess is they needed to be able to have the marketing claim that Toyota's most expensive SUV has the highest HP and Torque ratings. Even if it's only a 2hp advantage the marketing folks will run with it. Toyota has a tendency to overplay their hand when it comes to marketing minor technical advantages.
The engine in the LX is identical to the engine in the Sequoia. Same parts with maybe a slightly different fuel mapping to accomodate the Premium fuel. Even with the fuel mapping modified there is no real improvement in power and a loss in fuel economy when using Premium (and the fuel economy went down in a vehicle that weighs less).
Putting premium in a vehicle designed for regular fuel is a waste of money. It takes no more evidence than reading the power and fuel economy specs for the LX vs the Sequoia to come to this conclusion.
I think you meant this for another poster as I've not had any issues with dealer installed accessories.
I fit perfectly and very comfortably in the 08 Sequoia. As a side not, I can easily sit in the 3rd row seats too. I just have to lean them back just a tad for comfort and can ride there with no issues.
I have the platinum so the moonroof is there. I think you will be fine with or without it.
Bingo!
If the manufacturer recommends 87 octane then what that means is the engine is optomized to run using 87 octane without the fear of pre-ignition/detonation. It does NOT mean that the engine is reliant on the knock sensors to determine the first sign of engine knock and then retard ignition timing. On the other hand, if the manufacturer recommends using premium then that engine is likely optomized and designed (compression ratio etc.) to run on 93 (or 91 octane, depending) and that the knock sensors would only come into play in the event that one is forced to use an octane rating below what is recommended and there is a sign of engine knock (eg. under heavy load). There is also a subtle difference between an Octane rating that is "Required" vs. "Recommended". I view "Required" as telling you use the suggested Octane all the time unless in an emergency. I view "Recommended" to mean that you will see some performance benefit if using the suggested octane rating, but you could use the lower grade in exchange for weaker performance.
In the case of the Sequoia, the recommended Octane rating is 87, so I'm very skeptical that one would see a meaningful performance gain (or mpg gain) by going to a higher octane fuel. Also claiming that one has experienced a significant difference in mpg between the two grades is stretching at best. There are just too many variables in determing mpg including traffic, speed, heck, even wind resistance when talking about such a large vehicle.
Bottomline, Octane content in gasoline is designed to lower its preignition point. In an engine with a higher state of tune (and therefore more power output), the higher octane serves to prevent preignition while operating in this more optimized state. In an engine which is designed to run consistently at a lower octane rating, the use of a higher octane is akin to holding a couple of dollars bills in your hand and taking a flame to them.
The only scenario where one might need to switch to a higher octane fuel than recommended by the manufacturer is if the engine has very high mileage that has resulted in carbon deposits forming in the combustion chambers which results in an increase in the compression ratio of the motor.
The kit comes in only one color (burlwood) from superior dash. The part no. for a Platinum 4x4 is 000160C810. It is a six piece kit. The dash has two pieces. The first goes around the gauge cluster and the second around the gear shifter that extends up to the first piece to create a uniform look. The remaining 4 pieces are for the doors.
Superior dash strongly recommends the use of 3M prep solvent 70 to clean the mounting surfaces (as opposed to alcohol) prior to mounting the kit.
I saw the wood dash on a tan Sequoia and I liked it. I, however, opted for the red rock interior and hence, i want to see how the wood looks on the red rock before I take the plunge. First order of business will be to replace the RR dash panels with black ones from the tundra.