Regarding whether you should get another Sequoia or get something else. I have now owned my Sequoia SR-5 for five months and I have had enough disappointments with the vehicle that I would probably not buy one again. I also owned a 1999 Expedition Eddie Bauer and would say that overall I liked it better. It had a much better stereo, bigger wheels and tires, a little more power, and was much cheaper to purchase. I also only had one warranty issue during the year and half that I owned it. The bad thing about Fords is that you will start to see serious vehicle wear and tear after only one year. If you are leasing, however, then this should not be a big issue. With that said, if I had to make a vehicle change, I would probably get the Acura MDX. This vehicle is a good value if you can get by with the smaller size.
I may be a chevy fan-but Tahoe's are selling very well and have had high remarks from trade magazines, they are very solid rigs, that you can get a lot cheaper than a seqouia with a lot more available options and engine options. Drive one see if you like it, I have been really impressed with the power and handling of the tahoe personally. It is a really great rig.
For Dan165 and others of you suffering from poor Sequoia quality, and for any Ford fans lurking out there...consider this: J.D. Power's own quality survey has just named the 2001 Expedition as the highest quality full-size SUV you can buy. Sequoia came in fifth...lots of issues, which is uncharacteristic for Toyota...but perhaps they bit off too much with this launch into a new product segment. Make sure your dealer fixes your Sequoia...don't take "no" for an answer!
Also, the NHTSA website for crash test results (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/), indicates that Expedition is the only SUV that has ever received double five star crash ratings. The new Tahoe scored only three stars for the driver. The Sequoia hasn't been rated yet by NHTSA, but the Tundra on which it is based also scored only three stars...the Sequoia being heavier but with a common front frame design could be worse. I don't know why Ford hasn't used this in their advertising, but I have seen it on the window stickers of new Expeditions.
A test drive of the vehicle that you will purchase is a big plus IMO. I did that for my SR5, and I would not likely buy a vehicle nowadays before I got to drive the one I was purchasing.
I don't know were you get your information, but I think you have been smoking to many Tiajuana Tamales. A Ford over a Toyota come-on. Go back to the back room and keep on smoking.
Has anybody in New York or New Jersey been able to negotiate a deal below MSRP on the Limited? A friend of mine has visited two dealers in the New York City area and neither was willing to discount from MSRP at all! Is it possible to find a deal in the 41k or 42k range?
I looked on the JD Power website and could not find a top 5 list. I did see their list for 2001 vehicles and the top three for initial quality in the F/S SUV were (in order) expedition, suburban, tahoe.
Navigating through the J D Power site appears to have a number of inconsistancies with regard to their reporting. Just recently the Ford F150 pickup failed miserably in crash tests performed by other testing companies yet the similar F150 extended cab pick up which JD Power is listing at their site gives the Driver side frontal crash a 4 star rating and the passenger a 5 star rating. Equally distrubing was the overall star ratings for the Ford Expedition, Chevy Burb, and Tahoe. When compared to the Toyota Sequoia they all had 3 star ratings except for one 4 star rating from mecanical thru style. Is J D Power in bed with Ford? Kinda makes one wonder.
(follow-up from May 21 discussion) I bought the Silver Limited with the airbags and several options for $3400 off MSRP here in St. Louis. Dianne could get it for $3800 off MSRP in California but the transportation quotes ranged from $800 to $1900 and more than offset the difference. I have almost 1000 miles on it and love it. We've already driven it to the farm twice; my son's friend ran into the rear bumper with an ATV on my second day of ownership and caused over $600 in damage. Whew! I've seen the Lexus in the paper for $42000 (from an individual) to $49,500 (from a dealer). At this point I'll probably sell to a dealer if I can get $41-42,000. I'm getting quotes next week. You are right about the Sequoia side airbags - they are only for the front seat passengers.
I was recently in Seattle and saw an ad for the Toyota Sequoia. It featured crash-test dummies installed in all seating positions in the vehicle. Next, the vehicle is set in motion in a sorta frontal crash testing.... BUT, just as the vehicle was to hit the barrier, the ad ended...
Anyone seen this ad anywhere else ? It has not been featured here in So Cal that I am aware of.
Just wondering what Toyota or Madison Av is up to with an ad that involves crash test dummies in the new Seq.
It's not looking like I will get another Sequoia. My dealer wants me to get another (obviously), but I am feeling very uneasy about the quality of the engine after talking to a couple of mechanics. Given the problems I have with my truck, is it only a matter of time before all Sequoias have this clicking sound?
Should have approval by weeks end to get out of the Sequoia lease. I wonder what Toyota will do with my truck. I hope they don't try and sell it to someone else.
I haven't visited this topic in about 4 months, since we decided that this vehicle was not the answer to replace our Expedition lease coming up soon.
I knew this vehicle would have some problems, you know, similar to any other vehicle made here in the US, and didn't think the extra premium to pay for it was worth it. Anyway, I am still surpised at the number of issues you guys are having. Hmmm, the Expedition Problems topic doesn't have near the number of issues you guys are seeing. And considering that the Expy still outsells this Seq about 10 to 1, thats really bad news for Toyota.
I wasn't even going to post, just the satisfaction that I made the right decision to stay away from this vehicle was enough, but I couldn't resist after reading the posts from those of you who are still trying to defend your overpriced purchase. For example TWOSOUR wrote: "I don't know were you get your information, but I think you have been smoking to many Tiajuana Tamales. A Ford over a Toyota come-on. Go back to the back room and keep on smoking"
A few imperfect cars (what, 20 here? Less?) as compared to thousands and thousands that folks are pleased as can be about... mathematically, it's a far cry from the ratio of unhappy Ford SUV owners.
Let's see how you feel about your Expedition when it's time to trade or sell it. 5-grand back of book now and dropping. You'll have to take the new 'Vette there, it's so far back of book.
You are reading way too much into a couple of dissatisfied Sequoia owners. I've had mine since November and have 11,000 miles on it. I couldn't be happier with my decision to buy a Sequoia. In fact I'm thinking of buying another for my wife.
I toyed with the idea of another FORD but that was about it. After experiencing FORDs first hand and seeing the FORD exploder debuckle, my mind was made up--no more FORDs for me. When you lose confidence in a company, as I did with FORD, you may as well stay as far away from their vehicles as possible.
Excuse me if this posts several times, but my first attempt did not seem to appear.
First let me state that I don't own a full size SUV. I own a 95 Explorer with 70K miles on it and I am very satisfied with the vehicle. I have not put a single penny into for repairs. However, when I do purchase a full size SUV, the Sequoia will be at the top of the list. I have always been a fan of Toyota vehicles. I don't really have a strong allegiance to any one manufacturer or import/domestic.
Say what you will about JD Powers. Some put value in their opinions, others don't. But I do find it comical that people tend to love them when the surveys reinforce a personal bias towards a product, and then discard them when they don't like the message from them.
But the fact is that the press release says the top three full size SUV's in initial quality are the Expedition, Suburban, and Tahoe. You can't find anything stating that the Sequoia is number 5? Well it is at best number 4 then, since the top three are listed. Deal with it.
Having said that, initial quality may not mean squat two, three, five years down the road. I am more interested in long term reliability. Hence my interest in the Sequoia.
If you like your Sequoia, who cares what JD Powers says, just enjoy your vehicle.
JD Powers releases their ratings once a year. The Sequoia came out less then a year ago. The Sequoia will not be ranked for initial quality until the new ratings come out. Stop this silly argument until then.
I'm not looking to continue any debate, and I realize you don't work for JD Powers, but if it says initial quality for 2001 vehicles, why wouldn't the Sequoia be included? It is a 2001 vehicle. I assume it started shipping sometime last fall like all other 2001 vehicles.
Zman3 wrote I find it comical that people bias towards a product and then discard them when they don't like the message from them. Consumer Reports which is another reporting agency has a much different view of Ford Expedition, Chewy Suburban, and the Chewy Tahoe. For example, if you look at the 2001 buying guide in the section under Used vehicles to avoid, you will find the Ford Expedition, Chewy Suburban, and the Chewy Tahoe are all three listed there. Granted they pertain to 1999 models and before, however, why the big disparity between the reporting agencies. I base my purchasing efforts on reliable information about all vehicles I am contemplating buying. The differences between the reporting agencies are vast enough to warren skepticism from any potential buyer. It comes down to at some point who are you going to trust!
I know this isn't Sequoia related, however I still feel the need to comment.
fanman8, I couldn't agree more. Similarly, who's crash test results should consumers put the most emphasis on? I personally look at side impact and the NHTSA frontal impact tests. The IIHS offset crash test seems as though it may lead to a different conclusion on vehicle safety. Some vehicles that do well on NHTSA tests do poorly on the IIHS tests (Ford F-150). This is simply my gut feel, but I believe that the NHTSA tests are more relevant. I would think more accidents involve being T-boned in an intersection than having someone cross over a centerline and cause the IIHS offset impact collision. Like CR and JDP, conflicting information like this only makes it harder on the consumer.
The IIHS tests lead to great press coverage, however.
"The bottom line is that full-width tests are especially demanding of restraints but less demanding of structure, while the reverse is true in offsets."
For those that might not know, JD Powers measures INITIAL quality, the owner's first impressions when taking retail delivery of the automobile. Anything broken, any warranty issues within the first 30 days, etc. Consumer Reports analyzes problems/issues over the life of the vehicle. That is why when you look at Consumer Reports history for a particular model, the first year might have all red dots and half circles and earlier models will have more black. It is entirely possible for a vehicle to have a high initial quality rating by JD Powers, but then have a poor reliability rating according to CR. The two are separate ratings. Any manufacturer is perfectly capable of making a vehicle that can hold together for the first six months. It's what happens after that that matters.
Hi all. I've been a lurker for the last several months and I want to thank all of you for your input. I finally took the plunge and bought my new Sequoia. I decided on a 4x4 Limited. I can't wait for winter to make full use of this beast. I do a lot of skiing with the family and I really hope this active trac system works as well as claimed.
For those who are interested, the MSRP on mine was $45272. I shopped at several stores in the LA area and finally found a store that sold it to me for $41272. The funny thing was, I didn't even have to negotiate with them to get it. Every other store I was in gave me all kinds of hassle before providing me with a price. This last dealer just gave me the price by e-mail and didn't change a thing when I went in to complete the purchase. It was a pleasant surprise. I've purchased 8 new cars in my life and never had such a good buying experience.
I had a discussion with the salesman about posting his information here. He was a bit nervous about it. He said they had already taken a good amount of heat for posting their prices on their web site and didn't think it would be a good idea to stir the pot any more right now. He did say I could provide references privately, but to keep his name and dealership off any web sites for awhile. So, if anybody wants the name of a very good dealership and sales person who will sell Sequoias for cheap (relatively speaking of course), shoot me an e-mail at casolero@hotmail.com.
Well, I just got word this morning that Toyota will indeed take be letting me out of my lease. The engine has been determined to be unfixable and rather than put me through a whole engine replacement fiasco they are setting me free. While I appreciate Toyota doing this, I have decided on leasing a GMC Yukon SLE. I will be going in tonight to sign the papers. The Yukon does not have as sophisticated an engine, but it's proven to work and I think that is what I need after months of trouble. I am sad the Sequoia didn't work out and I hope Toyota woks out their problems with it. I guess the bright side of this all is my lease payments will be about $80+tax less a month because of incentives and a lower cost.
I hope you read your purchase agreement a little bit better than you read my last post. (missing various words and phrases might mean you paid a little too much... just joking, I hope).
See, I would NEVER actually BUY an SUV of any kind. They all drop like a rock in value, these days especially. I will only lease them, with the perk of knowing that I get to drop off the keys and get a new one every couple of years.
Also, I don't attach any kind of emotional value to an SUV like some of you do. Its just a truck with an enclosed area to do your hauling for you. They are a necessity for a lot of people these days, but don't confuse that with Driving Pleasure.
Now the Corvette is a whole different deal, but you probably wouldn't understand that unless you actually drive one yourself for an extended period of time.
Say what you want about Ford, but I have owned many trucks in the past, and the Fords have rarely ever given me any kinds of problems. Like I said, I have no emotional value to trucks/SUVs, but I do care about the 'cost value' of them getting me from point A to point B, and right now, Ford still does a better job at that. (ie. $500 lease payments instead of $700 for the same trouble free use). (actually $700 is probably low for a 2 year lease on a Seq anyway...)
"The Expedition topic doesn't have near the number of issues you guys are seeing" Well, thats not quite true. I felt the need to comment on that. Heck, Edmunds has a topic denoted to Ford Expedition Problems ranging from Rear end problems, Transmission problems, audio control problems, oh yes and an engine that caught fire on one with very low mileage on it. If your lurking around here to drum up support for Ford Expeditions go back to that arena and pitch your discontent for the people that are having problems with their Ford Expeditions. That said, now lets get back to discussions on the Sequoia.
Because he asked. Said that I mis read his statement and mentioned that the Ford thing wasn't an issue for him, and in truth, he has one so we're mis communicating somehow, but ... whatever he is interested in here, it ain't sharing positive Sequoia information, or even helpful hints from Heloise.
I suspect that you and I may have had the pleasure of dealing with the same dealer. I also am happy to share my very pleasant experience with others, if they are interested. I liked the price, the respect and now the Sequoia!!
I like it better than the competition and many of my friend who drive the competition, do too. Several of them are considering a Sequoia if they can get a deal like I did....
But, we each have to pick for ourselves..... and thank goodness there are choices. If my experience can help you, contact me at: jroubique@telis.org. I will be happy to share.
PS: It drives great and the mileage is getting better with every new tankful.
Where can I find out more info on the 2002's. I called toyota and the people on the phone didn't have any info. Does someone have a secret source of information?
The posts in this area are laughable. How can anyone truly believe that an Expedition or a Tahoe can compete with a Sequoia, in either design or quality. We've all owned both Ford and GM products and for the most part they are sadly lacking. The only conclusion that anyone reading the messages posted here can conclude is that either we have a lot of people who practice a sour grapes philosophy or we have a lot of GM and Ford salesmen with a lot of unsold vehicles.
The only changes will be the deletion of the brown color and keyless entry will come out of the convenience package on the SR5 and become a stand alone option. The center console arm rest may also get enlarged so it is useable as an arm rest. No other changes are due.
Before my Sequoia, I had a Taurus wagon with several minor problems, a failed air conditioner and a blown transmission in the first 50k miles. Next was a Windstar with 3 or 4 recalls, poor fit and finish and several interior pieces falling off the car during the two-year lease. Then an Expedition with a few recalls of its own, mediocre fit and finish, and both poor acceleration and miserable mileage from the 4.6 engine (a mistake, we should have have gone for the 5.2). Each time we chose the Ford because it offered the best mix of the features we wanted in a vehicle. Those days are now over. We have only had the Sequoia for about 6 months but there is no comparison between the Sequoia and the Expedition. The acceleration is better, the mileage is better, the handling is better, the third-seat is more comfotable and much more useful because it is split and can be folded and left in the car, it has three-point belts at all seating positions, it has headrests at all positions except the center of the third-row and thus far it has presented no problems.
I wouldn't get to high on Toyota products. While no one will deny they have a good record, I know many people that are very happy with their GM/Ford trucks. The Sequoia is not exactly trouble free in case you had not noticed.
Cliffy or anyone else...I was wondering if the 2002 version would give the option for second row captain seats? The Expedition Eddie Bauer has this as an option. In our situation, it would be a nice feature allowing our children easier access to the third row seating, plus the extra comfort of second row captiain seats for trips, ect. This would allow the interior flexability of the mini-van in an SUV frame. (We are at that stage where are family is outgrowing our current vehicle). Also, any word if Toyota has remedied the engine ticking problem for the 2002 edition? As for the drivers' armrest, I would be very happy if they made it more comfortable! I was so uncomfortable/disappointed with it during a recent test drive. And for $40,000 plus, I want comfort! Looking to buy soon.
Comments
Also, the NHTSA website for crash test results (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/), indicates that Expedition is the only SUV that has ever received double five star crash ratings. The new Tahoe scored only three stars for the driver. The Sequoia hasn't been rated yet by NHTSA, but the Tundra on which it is based also scored only three stars...the Sequoia being heavier but with a common front frame design could be worse. I don't know why Ford hasn't used this in their advertising, but I have seen it on the window stickers of new Expeditions.
Thanks
many Tiajuana Tamales. A Ford over a Toyota come-on. Go back to the back room
and keep on smoking.
Link at (look at the press release): http://www.jdpower.com/auto/filter.asp?KeywordValueID=170&CatID=1
BTW...I just picked up my LTD 4x4 last week for 1K over invoice. I'm in the NW-Portland region.
Anyone seen this ad anywhere else ? It has not been featured here in So Cal that I am aware of.
Just wondering what Toyota or Madison Av is up to with an ad that involves crash test dummies in the new Seq.
Should have approval by weeks end to get out of the Sequoia lease. I wonder what Toyota will do with my truck. I hope they don't try and sell it to someone else.
I knew this vehicle would have some problems, you know, similar to any other vehicle made here in the US, and didn't think the extra premium to pay for it was worth it. Anyway, I am still surpised at the number of issues you guys are having. Hmmm, the Expedition Problems topic doesn't have near the number of issues you guys are seeing. And considering that the Expy still outsells this Seq about 10 to 1, thats really bad news for Toyota.
I wasn't even going to post, just the satisfaction that I made the right decision to stay away from this vehicle was enough, but I couldn't resist after reading the posts from those of you who are still trying to defend your overpriced purchase. For example TWOSOUR wrote: "I don't know were you get your information, but I think you have been smoking to
many Tiajuana Tamales. A Ford over a Toyota come-on. Go back to the back room
and keep on smoking"
Ha Ha. Too Funny. Thanks for making my day!
Let's see how you feel about your Expedition when it's time to trade or sell it. 5-grand back of book now and dropping. You'll have to take the new 'Vette there, it's so far back of book.
Steve
Host
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First let me state that I don't own a full size SUV. I own a 95 Explorer with 70K miles on it and I am very satisfied with the vehicle. I have not put a single penny into for repairs. However, when I do purchase a full size SUV, the Sequoia will be at the top of the list. I have always been a fan of Toyota vehicles. I don't really have a strong allegiance to any one manufacturer or import/domestic.
Say what you will about JD Powers. Some put value in their opinions, others don't. But I do find it comical that people tend to love them when the surveys reinforce a personal bias towards a product, and then discard them when they don't like the message from them.
But the fact is that the press release says the top three full size SUV's in initial quality are the Expedition, Suburban, and Tahoe. You can't find anything stating that the Sequoia is number 5? Well it is at best number 4 then, since the top three are listed. Deal with it.
Having said that, initial quality may not mean squat two, three, five years down the road. I am more interested in long term reliability. Hence my interest in the Sequoia.
If you like your Sequoia, who cares what JD Powers says, just enjoy your vehicle.
fanman8, I couldn't agree more. Similarly, who's crash test results should consumers put the most emphasis on? I personally look at side impact and the NHTSA frontal impact tests. The IIHS offset crash test seems as though it may lead to a different conclusion on vehicle safety. Some vehicles that do well on NHTSA tests do poorly on the IIHS tests (Ford F-150). This is simply my gut feel, but I believe that the NHTSA tests are more relevant. I would think more accidents involve being T-boned in an intersection than having someone cross over a centerline and cause the IIHS offset impact collision. Like CR and JDP, conflicting information like this only makes it harder on the consumer.
The IIHS tests lead to great press coverage, however.
From IIHS...
"The bottom line is that full-width tests are especially demanding of restraints but less demanding of structure, while the reverse is true in offsets."
For the full read...
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/offset.htm
For those who are interested, the MSRP on mine was $45272. I shopped at several stores in the LA area and finally found a store that sold it to me for $41272. The funny thing was, I didn't even have to negotiate with them to get it. Every other store I was in gave me all kinds of hassle before providing me with a price. This last dealer just gave me the price by e-mail and didn't change a thing when I went in to complete the purchase. It was a pleasant surprise. I've purchased 8 new cars in my life and never had such a good buying experience.
I had a discussion with the salesman about posting his information here. He was a bit nervous about it. He said they had already taken a good amount of heat for posting their prices on their web site and didn't think it would be a good idea to stir the pot any more right now. He did say I could provide references privately, but to keep his name and dealership off any web sites for awhile. So, if anybody wants the name of a very good dealership and sales person who will sell Sequoias for cheap (relatively speaking of course), shoot me an e-mail at casolero@hotmail.com.
Bob
See, I would NEVER actually BUY an SUV of any kind. They all drop like a rock in value, these days especially. I will only lease them, with the perk of knowing that I get to drop off the keys and get a new one every couple of years.
Also, I don't attach any kind of emotional value to an SUV like some of you do. Its just a truck with an enclosed area to do your hauling for you. They are a necessity for a lot of people these days, but don't confuse that with Driving Pleasure.
Now the Corvette is a whole different deal, but you probably wouldn't understand that unless you actually drive one yourself for an extended period of time.
Say what you want about Ford, but I have owned many trucks in the past, and the Fords have rarely ever given me any kinds of problems. Like I said, I have no emotional value to trucks/SUVs, but I do care about the 'cost value' of them getting me from point A to point B, and right now, Ford still does a better job at that. (ie. $500 lease payments instead of $700 for the same trouble free use). (actually $700 is probably low for a 2 year lease on a Seq anyway...)
-CD
I like it better than the competition and many of my friend who drive the competition, do too. Several of them are considering a Sequoia if they can get a deal like I did....
But, we each have to pick for ourselves..... and thank goodness there are choices. If my experience can help you, contact me at: jroubique@telis.org. I will be happy to share.
PS: It drives great and the mileage is getting better with every new tankful.
What do they mean by unfixable? Did they try to fix something?
In our situation, it would be a nice feature allowing our children easier access to the third row seating, plus the extra comfort of second row captiain seats for trips, ect. This would allow the interior flexability of the mini-van in an SUV frame. (We are at that stage where are family is outgrowing our current vehicle).
Also, any word if Toyota has remedied the engine ticking problem for the 2002 edition?
As for the drivers' armrest, I would be very happy if they made it more comfortable! I was so uncomfortable/disappointed with it during a recent test drive. And for $40,000 plus, I want comfort!
Looking to buy soon.