"I expect to be buying in the next month and I would prefer the Platinum but I want bench seats and will have to go with the Limited if bench seats are not available in the Platinum. I lose the Red Rock and NAV system if I go with the Limited. "
Why will you lose the Nav by going to the Ltd? The same Nav un it is available in all 3 models of the Sequoia.
I noticed the same thing going on a test drive a few days ago. The empty light was on and the needle was at E. I looked at the odometer and it only read 10 miles so I figured I probably had a couple of gallons in there. They usually ship vehicles with 2 gallons of fuel. I've never run out of gas on a test drive and this night was no exception. I told the customers to wait for me while I went into the showroom to turn the gas pump on. When I filled the vehicle I got almost the same reading. About 22 gallons so the truck had 4.4 gallons in it before refueling. Seemed odd to me too. Mack
The whine you hear is probably your salesperson crying that he didn't make enough on your sale. Just kidding! I'll check it out on our vehicles on the lot and let you know what I found. Mack
Why will you lose the Nav by going to the Ltd? The same Nav un it is available in all 3 models of the Sequoia.
In Canada, NAV is only available with the Platinum model. The configurations are different in Canada. The Limited only comes with one option , a technology option which includes DVD, puddle lamps, memory seats etc. Certain items that are options in the U.S. on the Limited (20 inch wheels) are standard equipment on the Limited in Canada.
I looked at a Black Platinum with Red Rock yesterday and probably would have bought it, if it had bench seats. I found the centre console to be a complete waste of space (for my purpose anyway) and even if the seats are folded the console sticks up, taking space away from loading gear (skis , snowboards, bikes etc.).
It is disappointing that Toyota does not offer the bench option in the Platinum.
"I found the centre console to be a complete waste of space (for my purpose anyway) and even if the seats are folded the console sticks up, taking space away from loading gear (skis , snowboards, bikes etc.)."
Not that it will make much of a difference for your needs, however I thought it was worth pointing out that the center console in the 2nd row folds flat along with the seats. There is a lever on the back of the 2nd row console that allows the console to hinge forward to become level with the 2 fold flat captain's chairs. When the 3rd row seats are folded flat, this results in a flat surface from the rear hatch to the back of the front seats.
The console can be made to fold flat with either 1 seat, 2 seats or no seats folded flat in the second row.
I spoke with a person in the Toyota research area today on this, as I'm signing for a Limited Sequoia tomorrow. I have three small children and the 2nd row bench seat is a must, but I would much rather have a Platinum for the ventilated front seats, color selections, and a few other items.
In any case, this person went off and spoke to some folks in the technical dept. and advised that they are not planning for a Platinum w/ bench 2nd row this year.
If anyone can share the dealer info that's starting this rumor I'd love to talk to them asap...
My local dealer just emailed me to say Toyota is now going to put a bench seat in the Platinum 2nd row...anyone hear of this? I've been debating b/w the Limited with bench and QX and had eliminated the Plat; now I have another choice! Any thoughts from those who bought one over another? Thanks!
Can you share the dealer info that is touting this change? thanks..
I did finally get my cargo cover for my 2008 Limited. It does accomodate being put behind the 2nd row or the 3rd row. That said, I am realizing that I would rather spend the money on something else (e.g. the front skid plate). Feel free to pm me if you want to get one at a discount.
I had an opportunity to test drive a Platinum model today. I currently own a 2001 Limited with significant mileage and am considering purchasing a 2008 model.
Observations in comparing the 2008 with the 2001-07 model.
Appears slighter larger on the outside especially the height of the nose but I was surprised to find the front seat area felt substantially smaller than my current model.
This appeared to be due to: Lower headroom Smaller moonroof Higher and wider console area both in front of dash and between seats. Possibly darker colours. Red Rock versus light gray
Rides very smooth and it was on Sport mode Steering far too light relative to current model More usable space lengthwise from back to front due to folding seats rather than 2nd row tumble seats. Less width in rear area due to wide cup holder area for third row. More cupholders and more storage in console and in rear area. Wider and larger mirrors, although I didn't care for the turn down feature when reversing.
I did like the back up camera and it is probably a good safety measure.
Overall, I liked the vehicle but I guess you get used to the feeling of your current vehicle and the differences (especially the feeling of "cramped" in the front) would simply take time to get used to.
I just noticed on the 08 Sequoia Brochure that the 20-inch optional wheels on the Limited does not have the description of "Diamond-Cut Finish" as the standard 20-inch wheels on the Platinum. Although the design looks the same, the finish is not. I somehow thought they are exactly the same wheels. Anyone notice that?
Also, what kind deals are people getting in the SF Bay Area? Thanks.
We had an 05 Limited and really liked it. But then a friend picked me up in his Lexus 470, one thing led to another and we were out checking out the new 08 Sequoia. Same as most of you we immediately hit a brick wall with the available options for this and not available on that and blah blah blah. We just wanted the Pearl color. For that we were forced into the Platinum but then it was the 2nd row captain's chairs issue. Somewhere along the line I saw the QX56 online. We went and looked at it, drove it and bought it. Funny thing is we settled for the 2nd row captains chairs after all, not that we couldn't have gotten them but we would have had to wait to get one shipped, they're available with Bench seats but we decided it wasn't as big a deal as we'd first thought. Now with that said I really wanted the Sequoia for it's new power train. I personally think it's unbeatable and I loved the 39' turning radius. The QX is a few feet wider in that dept and it's noticeable. The two things that really sealed the deal for us though was the QX has better NAV, and interior appointments are far more luxurious and 2nd, Infiniti is offering way way better financing. Oh and the wheels, I'm vain I guess but I love the chrome 20" wheels on the QX. Can't get em on the Platinum and that bummed me out.
Sounds like some pretty good reasons for getting the QX. I was definitely giving it serious consideration although the power and interior space were too seductive and I went for the Platinum Sequoia. I just picked mine up last night and had a chance to drive it a fair amount today. The interior space is remarkable. I'm 6'4" and I had passengers in the second and thrid rows today and the amount of leg room is unbelievable. sliding second row seats, reclining 2nd and 3rd row seats and lastly folding 3rd and 2nd rows comibed with 381hp and 0-60 performance of 6.1secs.
The first couple years of QX production were also in brand new plant, Canton Mississippi, and that, in my opinion was their biggest hurdle and cause of poor quality. They do appear to have ironed out most of the problems at that new plant.
hdfatboy, thanks for posting your pics. Excellent choice. I just spent the last 2 hrs sitting here reading everyone's posts and compared to the truck forums you guys are way more civil. I hope that everyone will continue to post as more and more get new 08 Sequoias. We really wanted to get the Sequoia, we loved our 05 but because of our specific needs we got the new QX. Even though we bought the QX I still think the Sequoia is fantastic and look forward to hearing how it works for each of you. I'm envious that you got all that extra HP and what will probably prove to be better mileage with the Sequoia.
Great pics hd! The front license plate holder placement is odd. Down here they drill a couple of holes where the dimples on the bumper are and put the plates there. I thing every state should go to the one plate only, it would save money, and the cars would not lose their front look. Looking at the interior a medium dark wood or the honey maple, would look really nice in there. Enjoy and let us know your MPG and driving impressions. Mack :shades:
Thanks for posting the pics of your new Sequoia. I think the Red Rock has a rich look to it. It reminds me of the Porsche and BMW interior color combos. I don't care for the black on the bottom of the seats, wish it was one integrated color. Does the color on the side panel match the seat, in the picture, it looks different. Enjoy it!
The colors are actually closer than they appear in the pics. The surfaces have different levels of glossiness which reflects light differently between the seats and the panels. The panels are very closely matched. The seats appear a duller color only because they are perforated for the ac/heated seats.
We went through some of the very same deliberations on the Sequoia v. QX and ended up making the very same decision (although we waited for a bench seat to get ordered for us). We took delivery a week ago and I'm not doubting our decision in the least- the QX is a great truck. We'll enjoy the extra luxury and features that the QX has waaay more than the little bit of extra grunt that the Sequoia offers. It's flipping SUV after all, not a Porsche!
Another factor that really helped sway us was the fact that we were getting almost double the warranty (4yrs/60K bumper/bumper) and the Infiniti dealership experience compared to the Toyota one. The great financing deals were just the icing on the cake.
Nevertheless, the Sequoia is a very good vehicle and offers an excellent option for many.
"Another factor that really helped sway us was the fact that we were getting almost double the warranty (4yrs/60K bumper/bumper) and the Infiniti dealership experience compared to the Toyota one."
Just as a side note, I'm purchasing the Toyota 7yr/100,000mile/$0 deductible bumper-to-bumper warranty for an additional $990. From what I've read, the same coverage through Infiniti for the QX would have cost 2x what I have from Toyota. So in reality the standard warranty for the QX is actually a disadvantage if you are looking for extended coverage.
Also from my perspective there was only 1 feature on the QX that was of value to me that I could not get on the Plat Seq....the HID headlights. I can add HID aftermarket on the Seq, I can't give the Q any more power or space.
Lastly, its a shame those HIDs were put on the face of such an "odd" front end as the QX. To me the headlight placement gives the Q a "droopy eye" look and the "c" pillar design makes the rear of the vehicle look like it was a last minute add-on. Just my opinion but I find the exterior looks of the new Seq far superior to that of the unusual looking QX which I believe is one of the reasons why the Sequoia is forecasted to outsell the combination of the Armada/QX by either 3x or 4x in 2008.
I went through this procedure after pairing my Motorola RAZR and the RAZR doesn't have a "transfer all" function. Every phone is different though. The best I could do was one number at a time. That didn't help because the car writes over the first number when you try to transfer the second because the car thinks it's the entire list. I just entered them all in manually to make it work.
I recently test drove an 08 Limited with the JBL Synthesis Audio System (no NAV) and 6 CD changer. The radio sounded great, but in full sun you could not see/read the info on the display that shows station, band and RDS info. I located the lighting adjuster on the dash and pushed it full up, the JBL display still was too washed out by the sunlight to see. The salesperson said there was no way to make the display any brighter. Anyone else notice this problem or is the radio in the vehicle I drove defective ? I currently own a Z71 Tahoe and the new Sequoia is better in several ways, especially the secord and third seat setup. The only mechanical item I noticed during the test drive was an engine / exhaust vibration that you could feel in the steering wheel.
Just noticed that the stealer by my house all of the sudden has 10 on the lot (2 SR5's, 7 Limiteds, and 1 Plat). They never had more than 2 on the lot before. I wonder what that means...is Toyota beginning to ramp up factory output, or perhaps production has caught up to the initial demand. Hopefully this means lower dealer prices and shorter waits for factory ordered vehicles.
"Hi there- 20 year landcruiser owner and just bought 08 sequoia and have found an annoying noise and want you to see if you hear it too. I have duplicated it on my vehicle, another on the dealer lot, and another on a different dealer lot so it seems systemic. some have dvd/nav and some do not. The noise is a high pitch whine that comes from the passenger side dashboard speaker. (I know it as engine noise from my multi amp car stereo days) It happens at all speeds between 1800-2000 RPMs and with the radio on/off or the heater on/off. when i listen to the speaker with the radio off, i hear static/hiss in the speaker meaning the speaker is live when it shouldnt be (IMHO). Toyota basically said they hear the noise but can not diagnose/solve because not enough people have complained. Please listen and see if yours does the same. It is really annoying with cruise control on becasue it settles right in at 2000 RPMs and is constant! I have logged it with toyota corporate using the 800 number. Please check and report back!"
Just took delivery on Friday on a Plat Sequoia and I do in fact hear the hissing sound from the right side passenger speaker. My son was watching a dvd (just trying it out) and even with the engine off, radio off, climate control off dvd playing or off...you can hear the hiss. Obviously not amp related as the radio was off. I essentially turned everything off and could still hear the hiss from the drivers seat.
Others might want to listen for this hiss as well. Some wiring appears to need some filtering to take this hiss out of that front passenger speaker.
Quick observations - I really don't understand the headroom issue people are talking about. I am 6'4" with a relatively long torso (37" sleeve) and in my normal memory seat position I have at least 2-3 inches of headroom in a Plat Seq. which includes the moonroof.
Only thing I can think of is that the 12 way seat in the Plat gives a greater range of seat positions vs the LTD or SR-5 drivers seat.
Lastly, has anyone had any success in transferring the phonebook from their phone to the handsfree phone system in a Sequoia with the Nav unit using BT? I've been able to connect the phone thru BT, but can't figure out how to transfer the phone book to the 1000 slot memory in the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.
Here's another observation that others might find helpful as the manual is less than clear on setting up the Homelink on garage doors that have a "rolling code".
Step 1 - Clear Homelink memory by holding the 1st and 3rd memory positions simulataneously until they blink quickly (about 20 secs).
Step 2 - Hold the garage door opener within 1-3 inches from the mirror with the battery end of the remote furthest from the mirror.
Step 3 - Activate the opener and the designated homelink button you want to program at the same time until the homelink light blinks rapidly (upto 20 secs)
Step 4 - Your now done with the hand held garage door opener. You need to now find the "learning button" on on the actual garage door opener motor.
Step 5 - Press the learning button on the opener motor or have someone else do it for you. You now have 30 secs for the next step.
Step 6 - Press and hold for 2 secs the homelink button you just paired with the hand held remote device. Press and hold the homelink button a second time for 2 secs. Your garage door should now open or close from the homelink button you just activated. If it does, then you're done and can program additional homelink buttons using the same process. For some openers you made need to press and hold the homelink button a 3rd time for 2 secs to link the button to the opener, in which case this 3rd press should complete the programming.
Save yourself time and trouble by following these steps as I found the Toyota manual less than clear for openers that have a rollling security code.
The dealer I spoke to yesterday stated that production of the 08 Seqouias is being stepped up and that it will be easier to get more vehicles with more color and option choices.
Much nicer and more intuitive Nav (HDD based) 9GB Hard Drive so you can rip your music right to it HID lights Keyless start There may be more, but those are the 4 that jump to mind right away.
Then there is the much nicer fit/finish, leather/materials quality. There is no comparison btwn the QX and the Sequoia. Unfortunately you can really tell that the Sequoia's interior is based upon a 20K Tundra.
You had to pay for the extra warranty coverage that I got standard. My thought is that I don't need to buy any extra coverage since it already runs through 60K. I'll know if there are going to be issues by then and I can easily trade it in if issues happen to arise.
Plus, I love the Infiniti ownership experience. Free loaners (and they'll come pick it up from me), nice waiting facility w/soda/coffee/fruit/bagels/donuts/etc, the positive attitude that you get from the employees, etc. Those are all things that I won't get from Toyota as I wait in line behind the Yaris/Tercel owner and then go pop quarters for a soda while I wait for my service.
As for the looks, I'll be the first to admit that the QX is not the prettiest face (IMO that honor belongs to the Escalade). I have no issue with the C pillar look- I actually find it interesting and somewhat different from the typical SUV. But the Sequoia is no looker either. It reminds me way to much of the Durango from the sides and a Hyundai from the rear. I do like the front of the Sequoia though.
Besides, I don't spend much time looking at the exterior, but I do spend a helluva lotta time inside of it so we wanted the luxury feel from the QX, compared to the industrial feel of the Sequoia.
"You had to pay for the extra warranty coverage that I got standard. My thought is that I don't need to buy any extra coverage since it already runs through 60K. I'll know if there are going to be issues by then and I can easily trade it in if issues happen to arise."
You might be right. If Toyota had a std 4/60K warranty I might not have even considered an extended warranty. However its likely I'll keep the Sequoia for more than the current warranty and for coverage to 100K it would have cost alot more with the Infiniti.
"Besides, I don't spend much time looking at the exterior, but I do spend a helluva lotta time inside of it so we wanted the luxury feel from the QX, compared to the industrial feel of the Sequoia."
You observation is accurate that generally as an owner you spend more time looking at the interior. The opposite is also true... the vast majority of folks will never see the interior of the QX and will judge its overall "attractiveness" on its exterior. While it may not matter to you, the QX unfortunately is not one of the more attractive vehicles on the road and the world knows it whenever a QX drives by.
While I really like the interior fit & finish of the QX (not the design since the Sequoia has a far better engineered interior for driver and passenger comfort), here's an interesting perspective on the interior of the Sequoia.
I had a number of teenagers out in the vehicle today. There view was that the silver and black interior of the Sequoia looked very modern and less dated than vehicles that have wood trimming. There view was they would never want a vehicle with wood trimming. I wonder if wood trimmed interiors will be viewed as the landau roofs and whitewalls for folks in their 40's, 50's and 60's? Is it possible Toyota was just getting ahead of the interior tastes of a younger generation where wood is perceived as "dated"?
Good counter points (although are you that concerned what others think about what the "attractiveness" your choice of vehicle says to the world???) on all except one thing....you must not be including the dash layout/design when you comment that the Sequoia has a "better engineered interior". There is no way that most people would say that the driver's controls are placed logically and in ergonomically correct positions. I had to lean over to reach the nav/stereo system and the mish-mash of materials/colors just looks goofy.
I'm chuckling at the thought of being "old" now...at least by teenager standards! I just passed over 30 for crying out loud
For those of you having trouble programming Homelink, go to www.homelink.com and look for your year and model vehicle and the brand/type of garage door opener you have, Once you find it you can download step by step instructions on programming. The Bluetooth phone book download works only with certain phones. Go to www.toyota.com/bluetooth.letstalk and look up you phone, click on it and it will tell you all the functions that are compatible with the vehicle system/ :shades:
As I said before, the Sequoia is not intended to compete against the luxury makes as Infinit, Mercedes, etc.. It was designed as the Tundra was to compete with the likes of the Tahoe, Suburban, Expedition, and the Armada. So yes it is based on the Tundra, but so is the QX based on the Armada which is based on the Titan.
"Good counter points (although are you that concerned what others think about what the "attractiveness" your choice of vehicle says to the world???) on all except one thing....you must not be including the dash layout/design when you comment that the Sequoia has a "better engineered interior"."
Agreed...if what others think of your vehicle is of no consequence than the QX might be the ideal choice:) I only have a few days operating the vehicle, however the dash is not as bad as I was expecting based on the many posts. I think however I might be in a more unique situation given the length of my arms. For a short person or someone with short arms, the dash might be a disaster and perhaps even a hazard for someone with really short arms.
"I'm chuckling at the thought of being "old" now...at least by teenager standards! I just passed over 30 for crying out loud"
"You have to use your phone's "beam" feature. On my phone, I go to the contact and then use the menu option to select beam contact."
Unfortunately I have no menu option to "beam" the contacts. My Samsung a990 is a relatively high end phone (or at least it was) and communicated my entire contact list as part of the synch process with my Garmin Zumo handheld gps. Anyone have any ideas?
"Hi there- 20 year landcruiser owner and just bought 08 sequoia and have found an annoying noise and want you to see if you hear it too. I have duplicated it on my vehicle, another on the dealer lot, and another on a different dealer lot so it seems systemic. some have dvd/nav and some do not. The noise is a high pitch whine that comes from the passenger side dashboard speaker. (I know it as engine noise from my multi amp car stereo days) It happens at all speeds between 1800-2000 RPMs and with the radio on/off or the heater on/off. when i listen to the speaker with the radio off, i hear static/hiss in the speaker meaning the speaker is live when it shouldnt be (IMHO). Toyota basically said they hear the noise but can not diagnose/solve because not enough people have complained. Please listen and see if yours does the same. It is really annoying with cruise control on becasue it settles right in at 2000 RPMs and is constant! I have logged it with toyota corporate using the 800 number. Please check and report back!"
After further investigation, I'm not sure if the sound I'm hearing is the same as the one you reference above. I did some further checking and there was no sound coming from the passenger speakers or the driver's speakers. I actually struggled to identifiy where the heck the relatively loud hissing sound is coming from, however I think I figured it out.
As soon as you put your key in the ignition, the DVD player for the GPS map "boots up" and continues running at a high speed. The sound is hard to track however if you open the Nav screen with the engine off (but key in ignition) as if to load a cd, you can very clearly hear what sounds like a hissing noise coming from the "whirring" of the DVD player as it resonates throughout the front center console. I doubt there's anything Toyota can do, given the location of the GPS map dvd player.
With your 37 inch arm length, I'm assuming that you can operate the passenger seat power window switch from the driver's seat!!! Thus, the dash arrangement is not a problem for you. Most of us don't have utility poles for arms though
Mack...do we really need to get into this again? When Toyota prices the Platinum Sequoia at 58K, it IS going to get compared to the luxury makes. Read these boards and prove otherwise.
At least the Armada and QX don't have the same exact dash as the Titan. Big difference there.....I'd be saying the same thing about the QX/Armada if they carried the same dash as the 20K Titan. But, they don't.
HD - Congrats - I will look for you a couple exits up 78 from me. We'll race. On bluetooth. It depends on phone. I have an LG 8300 and can do ten numbers at a time, but it goes quick. I think it took me about 20 minutes to do about 350 numbers. First thing you do is go to "transmitt" on your Seq screen and it will say waiting for numbers.... then you go to phone "settings & tools"; "bluetooth"; "hands-free" then underr options choose "send name card" and it will pull up all your contacts with boxes next to each name and you check rthe box of the contact you want to send. (in my case I could send 10 at a time).
Mack - that is the same place my front plate is in. It looks wierd if it is any higher up. Since my frame wasn't already on when I took delivery , I had a say on where it could go before I put the plate on it and HD's is right where you want it. Also, HD, if you are interested I found a company that makes real chrome plate frames the say "SEQUOIA" on the bottom that look pretty sharp (even with the lovely yellow NJ plate). It took 4 days to receive it. See http://www.autoattire.com/toylicplatfr.html
HD - The grill looks to have potential - I would have to see it installed. I do like the current grill as it has that hammered out on an anvil look to it but I would check this out as well. I was at the Exxon at exit 12 (off 78) this morning and a guy gave me a dollar and asked that I keep in the glovebox ??? He said he is a big Toyota fan and loves my truck and it will bring him good luck if I keep his dollar in the glovebox. I finally took the dollar because it was getting a little creepy. I put it in the glovebox and I am afraid to spend it or I will crash or something. Weird huh ?
Interesting to see everyone discussing the exterior, interior, Nav differences between the two. They were my final two choices as well. Toyota had the nicer exterior but the QX had the nicer interior. I felt the Sequioa handled better and had faster pick up. However the main thing that settled it for me was the Consumer Reports rating on the QX being so bad and also the host of quality complaints on here in the QX forum. Unlike most of todays buyers, I do not lease, but buy my cars and drive them as long as possible. I don't want a car that will start to fall apart after the warany is up and the past records show that Toyota has beaten Infinity (Nissan) regularly when comparing these vehicles.
"HD - The grill looks to have potential - I would have to see it installed. I do like the current grill as it has that hammered out on an anvil look to it but I would check this out as well. I was at the Exxon at exit 12 (off 78) this morning and a guy gave me a dollar and asked that I keep in the glovebox ??? He said he is a big Toyota fan and loves my truck and it will bring him good luck if I keep his dollar in the glovebox. I finally took the dollar because it was getting a little creepy. I put it in the glovebox and I am afraid to spend it or I will crash or something. Weird huh "
Very weird. Never heard anything like that before. Good luck....literary!!
Hi there - same reply to your post on tundresolutions.com:
Hi there....good thought...but mine does not have navigation and neither did the other 2 that i "test drove" so that is NOT the issue. I do not want to detract from those who are experiencing the same problem as me from calling toyota as above.
I removed the passenger dashboard speaker to see if it went away and it was softer but still there....meaning that it is at least the whole right front channel of the audio system. Does anyone have a wiring diagram of the 2008 Sequoia or at least know where the JBL amp/s are?
Comments
Why will you lose the Nav by going to the Ltd? The same Nav un it is available in all 3 models of the Sequoia.
Mack
I'll check it out on our vehicles on the lot and let you know what I found.
Mack
In Canada, NAV is only available with the Platinum model. The configurations are different in Canada. The Limited only comes with one option , a technology option which includes DVD, puddle lamps, memory seats etc. Certain items that are options in the U.S. on the Limited (20 inch wheels) are standard equipment on the Limited in Canada.
I looked at a Black Platinum with Red Rock yesterday and probably would have bought it, if it had bench seats. I found the centre console to be a complete waste of space (for my purpose anyway) and even if the seats are folded the console sticks up, taking space away from loading gear (skis , snowboards, bikes etc.).
It is disappointing that Toyota does not offer the bench option in the Platinum.
Not that it will make much of a difference for your needs, however I thought it was worth pointing out that the center console in the 2nd row folds flat along with the seats. There is a lever on the back of the 2nd row console that allows the console to hinge forward to become level with the 2 fold flat captain's chairs. When the 3rd row seats are folded flat, this results in a flat surface from the rear hatch to the back of the front seats.
The console can be made to fold flat with either 1 seat, 2 seats or no seats folded flat in the second row.
In any case, this person went off and spoke to some folks in the technical dept. and advised that they are not planning for a Platinum w/ bench 2nd row this year.
If anyone can share the dealer info that's starting this rumor I'd love to talk to them asap...
Can you share the dealer info that is touting this change? thanks..
Observations in comparing the 2008 with the 2001-07 model.
Appears slighter larger on the outside especially the height of the nose but I was surprised to find the front seat area felt substantially smaller than my current model.
This appeared to be due to:
Lower headroom
Smaller moonroof
Higher and wider console area both in front of dash and between seats.
Possibly darker colours. Red Rock versus light gray
Rides very smooth and it was on Sport mode
Steering far too light relative to current model
More usable space lengthwise from back to front due to folding seats rather than 2nd row tumble seats.
Less width in rear area due to wide cup holder area for third row.
More cupholders and more storage in console and in rear area.
Wider and larger mirrors, although I didn't care for the turn down feature when reversing.
I did like the back up camera and it is probably a good safety measure.
Overall, I liked the vehicle but I guess you get used to the feeling of your current vehicle and the differences (especially the feeling of "cramped" in the front) would simply take time to get used to.
Also, what kind deals are people getting in the SF Bay Area? Thanks.
0-60 in 6.2 for a 6,000 lb vehicle
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0804_2008_toyota_sequoia/index.html-
Now with that said I really wanted the Sequoia for it's new power train. I personally think it's unbeatable and I loved the 39' turning radius. The QX is a few feet wider in that dept and it's noticeable.
The two things that really sealed the deal for us though was the QX has better NAV, and interior appointments are far more luxurious and 2nd, Infiniti is offering way way better financing. Oh and the wheels, I'm vain I guess but I love the chrome 20" wheels on the QX. Can't get em on the Platinum and that bummed me out.
It really is a great vehicle that Toyota has designed. Sure it could have been better but what a kickoff to a design platform that will only get better over the next 6-10 years. Here's a few pics of my new 08 Platinum Sequoia Black with Red Rock interior:
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/medium/08_Sequoia_e.JPG
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/08_Sequoia_a.JPG
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/medium/08_Sequoia_b.JPG
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/medium/08_Sequoia_d.JPG
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/medium/08_Sequoia_l.JPG
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/medium/08_Sequoia_q.JPG
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/500/medium/08_Sequoia_y.JPG
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Looking at the interior a medium dark wood or the honey maple, would look really nice in there. Enjoy and let us know your MPG and driving impressions.
Mack :shades:
Enjoy it!
We went through some of the very same deliberations on the Sequoia v. QX and ended up making the very same decision (although we waited for a bench seat to get ordered for us). We took delivery a week ago and I'm not doubting our decision in the least- the QX is a great truck. We'll enjoy the extra luxury and features that the QX has waaay more than the little bit of extra grunt that the Sequoia offers. It's flipping SUV after all, not a Porsche!
Another factor that really helped sway us was the fact that we were getting almost double the warranty (4yrs/60K bumper/bumper) and the Infiniti dealership experience compared to the Toyota one. The great financing deals were just the icing on the cake.
Nevertheless, the Sequoia is a very good vehicle and offers an excellent option for many.
Just as a side note, I'm purchasing the Toyota 7yr/100,000mile/$0 deductible bumper-to-bumper warranty for an additional $990. From what I've read, the same coverage through Infiniti for the QX would have cost 2x what I have from Toyota. So in reality the standard warranty for the QX is actually a disadvantage if you are looking for extended coverage.
Also from my perspective there was only 1 feature on the QX that was of value to me that I could not get on the Plat Seq....the HID headlights. I can add HID aftermarket on the Seq, I can't give the Q any more power or space.
Lastly, its a shame those HIDs were put on the face of such an "odd" front end as the QX. To me the headlight placement gives the Q a "droopy eye" look and the "c" pillar design makes the rear of the vehicle look like it was a last minute add-on. Just my opinion but I find the exterior looks of the new Seq far superior to that of the unusual looking QX which I believe is one of the reasons why the Sequoia is forecasted to outsell the combination of the Armada/QX by either 3x or 4x in 2008.
Others can judge for themselves:
Sequoia
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QX (Looks like this black 2008 QX is already for sale on Ebay. Somebody wasn't happy.)
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What features are those if you don't mind me asking.
Mack
I currently own a Z71 Tahoe and the new Sequoia is better in several ways, especially the secord and third seat setup. The only mechanical item I noticed during the test drive was an engine / exhaust vibration that you could feel in the steering wheel.
Just took delivery on Friday on a Plat Sequoia and I do in fact hear the hissing sound from the right side passenger speaker. My son was watching a dvd (just trying it out) and even with the engine off, radio off, climate control off dvd playing or off...you can hear the hiss. Obviously not amp related as the radio was off. I essentially turned everything off and could still hear the hiss from the drivers seat.
Others might want to listen for this hiss as well. Some wiring appears to need some filtering to take this hiss out of that front passenger speaker.
Only thing I can think of is that the 12 way seat in the Plat gives a greater range of seat positions vs the LTD or SR-5 drivers seat.
Lastly, has anyone had any success in transferring the phonebook from their phone to the handsfree phone system in a Sequoia with the Nav unit using BT? I've been able to connect the phone thru BT, but can't figure out how to transfer the phone book to the 1000 slot memory in the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.
Here's another observation that others might find helpful as the manual is less than clear on setting up the Homelink on garage doors that have a "rolling code".
Step 1 - Clear Homelink memory by holding the 1st and 3rd memory positions simulataneously until they blink quickly (about 20 secs).
Step 2 - Hold the garage door opener within 1-3 inches from the mirror with the battery end of the remote furthest from the mirror.
Step 3 - Activate the opener and the designated homelink button you want to program at the same time until the homelink light blinks rapidly (upto 20 secs)
Step 4 - Your now done with the hand held garage door opener. You need to now find the "learning button" on on the actual garage door opener motor.
Step 5 - Press the learning button on the opener motor or have someone else do it for you. You now have 30 secs for the next step.
Step 6 - Press and hold for 2 secs the homelink button you just paired with the hand held remote device. Press and hold the homelink button a second time for 2 secs. Your garage door should now open or close from the homelink button you just activated. If it does, then you're done and can program additional homelink buttons using the same process. For some openers you made need to press and hold the homelink button a 3rd time for 2 secs to link the button to the opener, in which case this 3rd press should complete the programming.
Save yourself time and trouble by following these steps as I found the Toyota manual less than clear for openers that have a rollling security code.
9GB Hard Drive so you can rip your music right to it
HID lights
Keyless start
There may be more, but those are the 4 that jump to mind right away.
Then there is the much nicer fit/finish, leather/materials quality. There is no comparison btwn the QX and the Sequoia. Unfortunately you can really tell that the Sequoia's interior is based upon a 20K Tundra.
Plus, I love the Infiniti ownership experience. Free loaners (and they'll come pick it up from me), nice waiting facility w/soda/coffee/fruit/bagels/donuts/etc, the positive attitude that you get from the employees, etc. Those are all things that I won't get from Toyota as I wait in line behind the Yaris/Tercel owner and then go pop quarters for a soda while I wait for my service.
As for the looks, I'll be the first to admit that the QX is not the prettiest face (IMO that honor belongs to the Escalade). I have no issue with the C pillar look- I actually find it interesting and somewhat different from the typical SUV. But the Sequoia is no looker either. It reminds me way to much of the Durango from the sides and a Hyundai from the rear. I do like the front of the Sequoia though.
Besides, I don't spend much time looking at the exterior, but I do spend a helluva lotta time inside of it so we wanted the luxury feel from the QX, compared to the industrial feel of the Sequoia.
You might be right. If Toyota had a std 4/60K warranty I might not have even considered an extended warranty. However its likely I'll keep the Sequoia for more than the current warranty and for coverage to 100K it would have cost alot more with the Infiniti.
"Besides, I don't spend much time looking at the exterior, but I do spend a helluva lotta time inside of it so we wanted the luxury feel from the QX, compared to the industrial feel of the Sequoia."
You observation is accurate that generally as an owner you spend more time looking at the interior. The opposite is also true... the vast majority of folks will never see the interior of the QX and will judge its overall "attractiveness" on its exterior. While it may not matter to you, the QX unfortunately is not one of the more attractive vehicles on the road and the world knows it whenever a QX drives by.
While I really like the interior fit & finish of the QX (not the design since the Sequoia has a far better engineered interior for driver and passenger comfort), here's an interesting perspective on the interior of the Sequoia.
I had a number of teenagers out in the vehicle today. There view was that the silver and black interior of the Sequoia looked very modern and less dated than vehicles that have wood trimming. There view was they would never want a vehicle with wood trimming. I wonder if wood trimmed interiors will be viewed as the landau roofs and whitewalls for folks in their 40's, 50's and 60's? Is it possible Toyota was just getting ahead of the interior tastes of a younger generation where wood is perceived as "dated"?
I'm chuckling at the thought of being "old" now...at least by teenager standards! I just passed over 30 for crying out loud
The Bluetooth phone book download works only with certain phones. Go to www.toyota.com/bluetooth.letstalk and look up you phone, click on it and it will tell you all the functions that are compatible with the vehicle system/ :shades:
You have to use your phone's "beam" feature. On my phone, I go to the contact and then use the menu option to select beam contact.
Agreed...if what others think of your vehicle is of no consequence than the QX might be the ideal choice:) I only have a few days operating the vehicle, however the dash is not as bad as I was expecting based on the many posts. I think however I might be in a more unique situation given the length of my arms. For a short person or someone with short arms, the dash might be a disaster and perhaps even a hazard for someone with really short arms.
"I'm chuckling at the thought of being "old" now...at least by teenager standards! I just passed over 30 for crying out loud"
Ain't that the truth!
Unfortunately I have no menu option to "beam" the contacts. My Samsung a990 is a relatively high end phone (or at least it was) and communicated my entire contact list as part of the synch process with my Garmin Zumo handheld gps. Anyone have any ideas?
After further investigation, I'm not sure if the sound I'm hearing is the same as the one you reference above. I did some further checking and there was no sound coming from the passenger speakers or the driver's speakers. I actually struggled to identifiy where the heck the relatively loud hissing sound is coming from, however I think I figured it out.
As soon as you put your key in the ignition, the DVD player for the GPS map "boots up" and continues running at a high speed. The sound is hard to track however if you open the Nav screen with the engine off (but key in ignition) as if to load a cd, you can very clearly hear what sounds like a hissing noise coming from the "whirring" of the DVD player as it resonates throughout the front center console. I doubt there's anything Toyota can do, given the location of the GPS map dvd player.
At least the Armada and QX don't have the same exact dash as the Titan. Big difference there.....I'd be saying the same thing about the QX/Armada if they carried the same dash as the 20K Titan. But, they don't.
I'm not a big guy and have no problem reaching the controls on the dash. They are laid out as on other Toyotas so I'm just used to them I guess.
Mack
Also, HD, if you are interested I found a company that makes real chrome plate frames the say "SEQUOIA" on the bottom that look pretty sharp (even with the lovely yellow NJ plate). It took 4 days to receive it. See http://www.autoattire.com/toylicplatfr.html
http://www.shopsar.com/Toyota-Tundra-E-G-CLASSICS-Fine-Mesh-Grille-p/1276-0102-0- 7.htm
Very weird. Never heard anything like that before. Good luck....literary!!
Hi there....good thought...but mine does not have navigation and neither did the other 2 that i "test drove" so that is NOT the issue. I do not want to detract from those who are experiencing the same problem as me from calling toyota as above.
I removed the passenger dashboard speaker to see if it went away and it was softer but still there....meaning that it is at least the whole right front channel of the audio system. Does anyone have a wiring diagram of the 2008 Sequoia or at least know where the JBL amp/s are?
Thanks
i like the new Sequoia's interior, it's just like my uncle's Tundra Limited and it's layout is nice.