Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Comments
feeling.
If you look at the factory receiver hitch, the lateral support member is made from 2" ID material just like the receiver itself, and it's from sort of arch shaped (i.e., lower on the left and right ends where it attaches to the frame).
That just begs for some kind of add-on skid plate / bumper protector that slides in to the 2" L&R ends. Combine that with your receiver bumper bar, and you've got a solid system.
The only hitch (ooh) is that the exhaust pipe (on the right side) terminates in the very space where such a support link would need to slide in.
But where there's a will, maybe there's a way...
By the way, everyone and their dog has tubes of touchup paint for your body color, but try and find some for your contrasting color if you have an SR5 (usually "Warm Silver").
I had to order it from the dealer after he searched for the number for 20 minutes. Hint, the paint code is a 5 character number, not a 3 character number like the rest, and you have to look under the Toyota Sienna to find it (at least until an updated paint code book comes out).
I also had the dealer set the Caster alignment to the new specs as listed in Correction to Pub. No. RM832U1 (vol 1. of the Sequoia service manual). There's a longer discussion in TundtaSolutions.com SequoiaSolutions board, and the correction only applies to 4WD SR5's. So far the vehicle seems a bit more stable at freeway speeds.
If anyone knows of a dog barrier for the Sequoia, please let me know.
The dealer gave me a copy of the new page after the work was done. I had given him the new numbers from the TundraSolutions post, but he called Toyota's "help desk" to get the "official copy" of the update before performing the work.
Another interesting fact -- The service manager informed me that Toyota would not perform alignment work under warranty unless the customer (me) complained of an alignment-related problem, like pulling to the right. So I said it was unstable and pulled both right and left, depending on the wind (which was very true). That seemed to work, and the caster was adjusted to the new spec.
Just for reference, for an SR5 4WD, the old caster spec was 1.95° +/- 0.75 and the new Caster spec is 2.61° +/- .75. Also note that the manuals spec. it in both degrees/minutes and decimal degrees, like 2° 37' +/- .45' (2.61 +/- .75). But don't quote me -- check with the dealer.
http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2001/pr060401.htm
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0108.htm
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
In the mean time the Seqioa is running fine aside from the engine clicking. It's a very nice truck, but Toyota needs to fix this engine problem pronto!!
the crash tests. The F150 is horrible!
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_lgpickup.htm
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_lgpickup.htm
above is a large yellow circle in the top left that says "Compare HIGHEST to LOWEST"
Click on that to see a direct comparison of
best versus worst. You'll be glad you bought the Toyota over Ford thats for sure.
I cant post direct link because its some screwy applet thing. Hope someone else has better luck to figure out how to do directly.
I am interested if the IIHS did a test on the SUB's specifically.
The Wall St. Journal had an article a while back in which it proclaimed the Chewy Suburban to be the "safest passenger vehicle on the road."
First it's unlikely that WSJ had access to very latest safety tests involving Tundra.
Secondly, no matter how much environmentalists want to scream they cannot defy the laws of physics. Physics easily dictates that if two moving cars crash together, the one with heavier mass will be safer IF all other design points are the same. Thats a big IF though.
HOWEVER, if a fast moving car meets a stationary object, then the design of how a car crushes becomes paramount. Which would you rather crash in at 200MPH? a Suburban or an INDY car that weighs 1/4 as much? Therefore it is quite possible that a well designed econobox would be safer then a SUB when hitting a wall.
Therefore, it all depends. I doubt seriously though that the Suburban has the BEST designed saftey cage at the test rated 40MPH.
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I asked about leasing - he came back with $650 for an SR5 and $750 for a Limited (to start). I asked if it's even worth me coming in to negotiate and he said no. This guy knows I am a real buyer as I've bought from him before. I haven't even seen an ad for the Seq's in the paper.
Has anyone leased one? What's a ballpark price around the country? Examples would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks again for the info and if anyone else has other prices/techniques - let me know.
-Ret
http://www.pacificnet.net/~kpond/sequoia/Alpine_files/frame.htm
If it is any consolation, the Mercedes ML is in the same price range and it doesn't have them either.
And, no, it is definitely not too much to ask.