Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Toyota Sienna 2004+
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Seriously, go search the last couple months or so for posts by Terumi and sysadmin1 in "Honda Pilot Owners: Accessories & Modifications" ( terumi1 "Honda Pilot Owners: Accessories & Modifications" Dec 4, 2003 3:16pm ) to find what they are doing with a pretty slick after market dvd system installation. I would think that something similar would work on the Sienna.
One thing that I've noticed is 2004 Sienna comes with 5-spd Automatic ECT-i (also on Lexus). While I did not read about it in the manual yet (who needs manuals ;-)) but on the Lexus this transmission is actually adaptive (http://www.lexus.co.za/t/t01_03_02.html), thus it adapts to your driving style. I know that it takes a while for the vehicle to actually learn the habits.
The other car I have is a 2003 VW Passat with the similar technology. I think it does a pretty good job so far. By default (new), software was made to conserve gas (shifts at a lower speed), rather then more aggresive style.
Also, 2 drivers switch the vehicle often, it takes even longer for it to learn.
If this feature works, then hesitation may disappear after either or both of the following occurs:
1) A driver is used to the car
2) A car is used to the driver
Could anyone comment/verify this? Thanks.
The Sienna's clock is not easy to read, and I wonder why nobody is complaining about that. Toyota always used to have the clock at top of the dashboard, with a separate LCD, not to be mixed up with other stuff, like climate or audio controls, as many other cars do. Unfortunately, the clock in the Sienna is at a very low position, mixed with the climate control LCD. Instead, the audio system is at the top, way tooo high. The vents takes up too much space, and make everything cramped.
I would prefer a design similar to the Camry, or Highlander, with the vent ducts at the 2 sides of the dash, and everything else big and clear.
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/ToyotaCamry/Images/LE-Stack.jp- g
Perhaps this information is stored somewhere in ECU jurisdiction. Since ECU controls pretty much the entire injection/diagnostic system and a lot more, it should be protected from power failures or have it's own power source.
I speculate that the only time the learned info is erased, is when ECU is flushed by the mechanic for the purpose of the software update. Jeep Grand Cherokee owners had to go through some of the similar flushes on many occasions.
I am not a Toyota engineer, so I cannot confirm it. But this does seem like right thing to do.
Thanks in advance.
Are the disc brakes and stability and traction control indispensible for such a large van? Anyone's got good experience with the standard brakes (disc front and drum rear) without traction control?
i wonder what will change for next fall as far as option packages, groupings and pricing that would make 18 months with no changes, so something is due........
However, not being a Sienna owner, I have no manual to read for confirmation. You might want to check yours, though. It is also possible that this is not a "normal" owner responsibility and it might only mention this in the maintenance manuals used by the techs (no mechanics anymore, eh?).
But no, aftermarket dvd players will not void the warranty on your Odyssey, but I don't know about the Sienna.
The real reason they add rear disks is that they work better with the stability control feature (really a glorified ABS system), since they react quicker than drums.
If nothing else, disks look better with alloy wheels, since you see the brake components!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
VSC/Trac is a highly desireable option especially for FWD vehicles.
Having the tires break loose from the roadbed and spin freely isn't very dangerous in a RWD car since you still have front traction for steering/recovery if needed.
In a FWD vehicle once the drive wheels break traction with the roadbed all control is lost until you lift the throttle lightly and the tires regain traction. Also, if you happen to be traveling in a straight line and lose traction with FWD you may not realize what has happened before you lose control completely.
VSC/Trac will instantly prevent driven wheel slippage, front or rear WD, and for FWD will similtaneously/instantly dethrottle the engine.
You can argue all you want about the theoretical inferior dynamics of driving with the same wheels that are steering, but in the real world with real world drivers, there is absolutely no doubt that front wheel drive vehicles are much more forgiving and provide the average driver much more stability and forgiveness.
I would argue that VSC and Traction control are much more necessary for rear wheel drive vehicles than for front wheel drive vehicles. In fact, I would never consider going back to a rear wheel drive only vehicle if it did not have some of these advanced features, as it would be too unstable without them.
I have lost complete control on snow before in a FWD car and survived simply because the opposite traffic was stopped at a red light at the moment of the accident. Still shudder a lot whenever thinking back....
That's strange, because, for example, VW manual screams of it. They even have an 'instructional' video where they mention the 'learning tranny'. I'll have to browse through that manual and see if the learned stuff disappears when the juice is off.
It does seem that the discharged/dead batteries would occur more often in the minivans/SUVs (more power usage, lights devices to forget to turn off, power sliding doors, radio, DVD, etc). It never is fun not to be able to start your car, but when your car doesn't drive as it used to after a battery replacement, it may add another ounce of frustration, IMHO.
Anyway, that's not a big deal to me since I only drive Sienna on occasions, so it won't learn my driving habbits. But it is nice to know that dead battery might = different driving characteristics. I'll just have to warn my wife.
Are there any tools/devices made that allow you to replace the battery and preserve information (other then 9v battery to the power port)?
Thanks for all of the replies and corretions.
Old question, does any one have installed OEM fog lights on LE trim?
If it's a good, even excellent, idea to distribute engine drive torque across all four contact patches then why isn't allocating drive traction to one set of tires and directional control traction to another a much better, and clearly safer idea, that asking a single set of contact patches to handle both drive traction and directional control traction requirements?
What would the argument be if we had FWD cars with rear wheel steering?
We've had this thread with you several times now Willard. No more. Enough. Finished. The end. Capice?
Steve, Host
You put all the engine torque to the rear where you have little traction and the rear end of your vehicle will easily swap ends with the front on slippery roads. When I was a teenager, we did it on purpose, making donuts this way to have fun in empty slippery parking lots. I also did it once, not on purpose, when on a freeway bridge that had iced up before the rest of the road. My rear wheel drive '72 Chevy paid the price at the end of the bridge as I slid into a highway sign sideways. My rear wheel drive right side rear axle, rear fender and rear window and my insurance company paid the price.
Get into a front wheel drive car where you have the weight up front and directional steering control of the applied torque and it is difficult to even get the vehicle to spin out.
I do believe wwest, that you apparently have never experienced a serious amount of winter driving in hazardous conditions, or you would not take the position that front wheel drive cars are somehow more unstable than rear wheel drive cars in slippery winter driving conditions.
Back to Sienna, I will respond no more as I know it is useless to convince wwest otherwise. I just hate to see other people being misled by misinformed postings.
Search for "wwest" if you must have more.
thanks,
Steve, Host
thanks,
Eileen14
I fell better now, so carry on.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
1) The OTD (out the door price) of your van thats inclusive off ALL fees, dealer prep, destination, etc. If a dealer will not give you an OTD price just move on to another dealer who will. If a dealer does not stick to the original OTD price just walk out. It really does not matter if dealer A charges $250 in fees if you get the car there for $1000 less than dealer B.
vechicle cost + ALL fees (taxes, tags, licence should be the same at all dealers in state) = OTD price
Its the only price you should compare.
2) If you have a trade there is a step #2. Get estimates from each of the dealers and figure out which one resuts in the least out-of-pocket for you.
OTD price - trade = what you pay. Just take the lowest one or the closest one with a good price.
Additionally, I suggest you call/e-mail more like 5-10 dealers and pick the best 1 and have 2 as back-ups. If they will not give you phone quotes or want you to come in to "discuss" then just move on. Its really not worth the trouble. There are many dealers that will give you e-mail/phone quotes and even estimates for your trade AND stick to it.
Make sure the OTD includes ALL Taxes, License Fees, and everything else.
Too many dealers advertise very low prices and then the fine print mentions rebates and incentives that most people can not get. Most dealers that advertise they have the lowest prices are usually the most crooked.
Toyota has a couple of captive distributors in the southern tier of states, so it helps to shop out of state if you live down there.
Search SET or Gulf States for more details and don't overlook the Toyota Sienna: Prices Paid & Buying Experience discussion. In any event, focusing on the bottom line keeps you from bogging down on the line items and helps get you the best OTD price.
Steve, Host
PS: I totally disagree with you.
Dealers usually make MUCH more profit on selling used vehicles than selling the new ones.
(yep, you too Buckeyedon).
Steve, Host
I have seen advertising fee, special delivery fees, dealer prep fee, and most are bogus but I really dont care and neither should you. Its the final price AFTER all the fees that I(you) really care about. All you want is an dead final OTD price so you can go in pre-approved and just write them a check and leave with your car or sign the paper work to get your car. Its a littler more tricky with a trade but the same principle applies.
The dealer I got my XLE AWD from gave me an OTD price that included a $90 processing fee and a "fair" price for my trade. Some dealers offered more for my trade but the overall out-of-pocket was more for me because their price or fees were higher. Its why the numbers for each dont matter. Its only the whole that matters.
The same applies for the warranty they will offer you. If you are going to get one then that should also factor into the whole.
The LE with option 7 is a really great package as it gives you all the safety features you should really have.
The primary reason Toyota adds discs to the rear is when the vehicle is equipped with VSC (vehicle stability control). Disc brakes can react much quicker to the inputs the VSC system uses to control the attitude of the vehicle.
As was pointed out, drums can last much longer and generally require much less maintenance. A well designed braking system can use disc/drum or disc/disc and provide more than enough braking power for the uses the vehicle is rated for.
Before belittling others and their real experience, it might be nice if you were speaking from a position of real knowledge. Misleading people with erroneous information is not helpful.
Steve, Host