Talk about confusion!! Was ready to get the '01 Black Seq Ltd yesterday for 5.5k under MSRP (which would of been 39.8k) when a friend showed me an ad for one listed at 36.5k with 5k miles on it. Went to look at it and it's in great (like new) condition. Dealer got it at auction in Canada, hence the better deal. Noticed it was built in 5/01 in Indiana. Did a vin ck via Toyota US and nothing came up. They suggested I call Toyota Canada which I did and the vin did ck out. Also know the dealer in Canada that registered the vehicle so I can ck on maintenance history. According to US Toyota, warranty is valid but the issue is if this car can be registered here in the US without major work. Any thoughts?
87path2 - you just went through this scenario buying a Seq here in the US that was a Canada vehicle. Did you have to do anything extra to get it registered in the US (emissions standards, glass requirements and so on). If so, did the dealer pay for it or did you and how much. Anything else you can add. I live in NY so I guess should call Dept of Transportation to find out about specifics.
714cut - you're from Canada and just purchased an '02 model and you suggested I go with the '02. Now with this '01 Canada car at almost 4.5k less than an '02, seems like a great deal, don't you think. Also, yes my poor "habs" are reeling but I have hope they will get it together. Originally from Montreal so a diahard fan.
Thanks to all as usual for your responses. Can't wait to finally say I'M AN OWNER...
I just let my '01 go to a broker who has a buyer in the States. I would still go with the '02. Remember everything is about tradeoffs. If you get the new one you will have been the only driver and will know how it was driven. The '01 will be a year older and command less money at trade in. Lastly, I'm sure you have to declare it's a Canadian vehicle when reselling. The lower price is because of the uncertainty and even you are uncertain. That's why the price is lower. If you are driven (no pun intended!)solely by price go for the Canadian model. If price isn't everything, go for the peace of mind of the '02. By the way mine was 11 months old, only 10400 kms (about 6000 miles or so)and I got enough for my truck to actually lower my payment on the new one. Mine was pristine and someone got a great truck. Basically it was a straight across trade and the '02 came with fog lamps and a sunroof that my 01 didn't have. I think selling to the U.S. is pretty lucrative with the currency exchange.
P.S. Try doing that with a Yukon-good luck! (sorry heatwave I couldn't resist)
714cut: If I couldn't take a good-humored jab once in a while that would be a pity, so no apologizes necessary. BTW, Once you get to Sr Management in sales you're probably driven more by numbers than the finance guys. Remember those sales numbers at the end of the year have a pretty substantial impact on incentive comp for most sales personnel.
In general, I just also happen to be more fond of data than opinions (unless of course its my own:)
714cut: While I know its not this simple, it would appear that Toyota has made a sizeable dent in the Ford franchise based on the sales data above. Although its hard to interpret given Ford's woes with Firestone. GM seems to have the recipe down best at this point with such significant growth over 2000. Toyota has had a good start with the Sequoia but will need a strong follow-up to give GM a real race.
Right now it would appear that the GM Marketing Managers must be feeling they put the right design mix and pricing into their Subs, Tahoes and Yukons as at least here in the NE they are the f/s SUV of choice. It is rare to see a Sequoia although they are an attractive vehicle on the road when you do see them.
Ford would appear to have a serious problem on their hands that would seem to provide a great opportunity for Toyota to pickup former Ford suv owners, but I guess time will only tell.
It's time we just let the "heat" go "cold"... and let folks on the bulletin board answer real concerns about the Sequoia product and not get sucked into posting that are very irrelevant.
Thanks again, Nighter50, for helping me out with info on leasing. Buying a car seems so much simpler than leasing, but I'm determined to get a good deal. May I ask if most of you are going outside of the dealer to lease through other banks or lenders? Has anyone actually used the Lease Compare service or is this just a tool to use to get the dealer to do better on leasing terms?
Now, for a comparison from my viewpoint (and my husband's) of the GMC Yukon versus the Sequoia. Let me start by saying that we are very big Toyota fans. I drove an '82 Corolla and a '78 Celica in highschool and college and we've had three Camrys since 1992.
We test-drove a Yukon SLT with leather and a SR5 Sequoia with cloth seating. I liked both vehicles pretty equally. I did feel that the Sequoia did not seem quite as big to drive which was a plus. Also, I really liked how the Seq. third row seats rolled forward and gave more cargo room in the back. I also liked the Yukon...was surprised at the lack of legroom in the back but it was okay for me at 5'5" and my kids are 4 and 7 so it is fine for them and their friends. If I had to decide between the two vehicles, it would really come down to which one could we get the best lease deal on. I do think the Yukon felt bigger inside...it is definitely wider. My hubby liked the Yukon better but he thinks this may be mainly because of the leather seating in the Yukon being more luxurious. We didn't have the chance to drive a Sequoia with leather. Well, I guess we could have drove a Limited but we're not considering the Limited. It just seems like Toyota salespeople are not willing to deal, especially on a popular model. I emailed several in my area for price quotes and not one wrote me back. At least 3 of 5 GMC dealers did email me back. I do find it irritating that you have to add so many packages and options on to the Sequoia to get running boards, keyless entry, side and head airbags.....keyless entry is an option on a $35,00 vehicle?!! Also, I thought the dashboard and center console were not as nice as the Yukon's. Anyway, that is my 2 cents. We still have 3 months to decide......maybe dealers will be even more willing to deal on these models in Feb...
Heatwave: I think you have a valid point about the Expedition sales, although the Firestone incidents may be a huge factor. I am not a huge Expedition fan but as I posted earlier there is an all new model due in the spring. First ground up redesign since inception in 1996. I'm sure it will be much improved and there will be more comparisons (even here) with the Expedition. Have seen some spy shots and it looks similar to Explorer- no surprise there I guess.
Happy Thanksgiving Sequoia dudes and dudettes ! I have checked out the Aftermarket discussion on wood trim kits in the archives, and I recall seeing some discussion on this board a while back. Anyone know those message #'s without my having to hunt for it ? Thanks. I'm on the verge of ordering from woodtrim.com.
gohabsgo: if it's the money cost, better buy the '01 Canadian vehicle and be done with it. OTOH, like 714cut had argued quite well, the '02 is quite an attractive vehicle with the small changes versus the '01. Whichever you go with is a good choice. And the Habs ain't going to get it together, at least not this season. Maybe next year. Go Leafs' Originally from Toronto, as you can tell ...
of course, I am still smarting from your innocent post regarding the comparison of the MDX to the Seq which led to the unceasing posts on TOWING. It's all your fault
heatwave3: on f/s suv sales. In 2000, Toyota announced that they would only be making 60,000 Sequoia for North America. Seems like they sold every one of them, from the numbers. How many f/s suv's did GM and Ford produce in the same period versus how many were actually sold ? Let us not forget the 0% rates on these vehicles, which Toyota did not offer on the Sequoia.
and finally, imo, one notable difference between the Sequoia owners and GM owners is that we Sequoia owners DO NOT bother to correct erroneous posts on the GM board, posted by GM owners, about their GM vehicles, whereas you and a few other GM owners make it a crusade to correct our "sometimes inflated views" on our vehicle, posted on this forum. I am still at a loss why you and other GM owners bother to post here, really. Although, truthfully, some of your posts have been brilliant and quite helpful. Methinks that if you can resist the temptation to respond to every "contradictory view" to yours, we would be les inclined to antagonise you, cos too many posts on a single topic tends to dilute your message and makes it sound shrill. Please see this as a suggestion, not a condemnation...
oac3: thanks for the feedback. It was taken in the positive tone it was made. I happen to get a kick out of alot of the forums at Edmunds. Lot's of good (and sometimes bad) engagement. I try to stick only to subjects that I am familiar with or have a new interest in based on creative thought generated by others.
The strong opinions and facts shared in this forum make for a better than average debate about the merits of different vehicles. The passion here makes the dialogue that much more interesting:)
FYI, the GM 0% rates didn't go into effect until well into October which has had little impact on the sales numbers I shared earlier on GM's growth (although it should continue the growth trend while going into a strong economic headwind).
Toyota was probably wise in setting the Sequoia limit to 60,000 units in order to better sense an entirely new market. Next year will certainly provide a solid view of whether the sales strength for this new model continues to build momentum. In the interim, the GM models appear to have hit their mark while the Ford models will have to await the new Expedition to find a new recipe for growth.
It's sad to see this popular Seq Froum being hijacked by the someone who pride himself on irritating others with bogus statements and twisted ideas. Taking a few lines or numbers from Magazines & the web does not make him an expert. Please ignore the heatwave. It's just hot air. Please come back to this forum. I'd like to learn more about Sequoia.
I took my seq on its first extended trip pulling my 22 foot trailer. We left Sacramento and drove up I5 to the Oregon coast. We had to go over some steep grades (6%+)and I had no complaints. On the steepest grades I was down to 45mph at 3K RPMs. I could have gone faster but the RPMs and the speed seemed appropriate. The vehicle handled much better than my old '93 Ford Van. One thing was surprising. The first tank of gas I got 7-8 MPG. On the next tank I got 9-10. There was virtually no grade I was going up during this time. I wonder if it takes a while for the engine computer to "learn" the driving conditions, and then adjust itself accordingly.
There were a few times where I know I was going too fast on some turns. Not fast enough to loose control but as fast as I wanted to go. At this time the vehicle took over, bells went off, engine would not accelerate, and brake applied gently. Interesting. The weather on the way home was terrible, 60MPH winds and driving rain. The Seq had no trouble staying on the road and keeping things under control.
In that cold coast weather it was nice to have those seat warmers, they work great. My biggest problem was getting the defroster to work right. I can get the front to work good but the back does not seem to work as good as I think it should.
All things considered I am very happy with the vehicle on this trip. This was the first long trip with the trailer.
Okay here's my version of our Thanksgiving trip and no I didn't tow anything. Left NYC and headed for Western PA. Just broke in the truck with 1100 miles. Reasonable quiet on the trip. Managed to cruise at the high side of 75-80 and a high of 95. Got about 18MPG despite the speed, and handles pretty well.
Since it was just broken in I got to play a little more agressively. Love the engine-shifts at redline and is quiet at high RPMs just like my X5. I got to try out the traction control in 2WD mode by punching the gas in the corner. I even managed to bring the tail out a little bit in a wet corner. No complaints of the traction control. I've read some people with '01 Seqs having a too aggressive traction control when accelerating resulting with what seems like a 2 sec. delay and a feeling that the engine suddenly lost power. I tried duplicating it and could not. Maybe the '02 had been reprogrammed?
Nitpicks: The front dome light should go on when the doors open. The seats should have a memory system. I don't like power antennas. They should move the middle seat forward an inch to give the third row more legroom(you already get way too much in the middle)-I haul people more than cargo. The stereo seems to get more bass when you turn on the engine. The third seat area should have speakers for the stereo. All in all I love it.
What is the "true" average gas mileage for both the 4x2 and 4x4 Sequoia's? I have a 1999 Ford Expedition 4x4 (POS) and am looking at purchasing the Toyota Sequoia but hope that they would produce better than the 13 MPG (mostly highway driving) that I am getting in my Ford.
I get 14-15 on the highway, and 11-12 in the city. My wife drives the car to work about a 35-40 minute drive each way so it gets a chance to warm up and run efficiently.
I am located in San Diego, CA and none of the dealers around here get the SR5 models with the Preferred Package (leather interior & six disc changer). Where do I have to shop to find this option on the SR5 model?
In 4WD mode, I'm getting 19-20 mpg hgy at optimum 65-70 speeds without many accelerations/ traffic jams and when fairly flat. Other factors (mountains, starts/stops bring it down).
Keep on posting man! It's nice to see some other viewpoints represented here (even if was a little tedious to slog through all those towing posts). Your point on Expedition sales is interesting. I believe that the Sequoia was designed to target the Expedition more than the Yukon and Burban and it looks like that's the vehicle that's suffering the most since Sequoia entered the large SUV market. My guess is that if Ford is smart (questionable) there will be a lot of Sequoia like improvements to the new Expy.
There is a chestnut brown Sequoia Limited which appears to have been sitting on my local dealer's lot for awhile. I understand that the chestnut brown is not a real popular color and is, in fact, being discontinued for next year. What are my chances of getting a great deal on this vehicle? I heard that the two week period before Christmas is a great time to buy because not many people are car-shopping then. Any thoughts?
Maybe I'm referring to the wrong color name. There is a Sequoia Limited on an Ohio dealer's lot which is a brown/taupe color....it is darker than the Desert Sand so it is definitely not that color because there is a Desert Sand on the lot next to it. Also, it is not Thunder Gray...it is definitely brown/taupe. What color would this be?
Either it is not a Limited or it is one that was purchased from Canada. There are many dealers buying these things and the Canadian specifications vary just a bit from the US bound models. Are you positive it is a Limited and not an SR5 with leather? If it is a Limited, it is Canadian and therefore used.
Hi again...well, I was just driving by when I saw this vehicle so I did not look at it up close but it had the spoiler which made me assume that it was a Limited. Never assume, right? Anyway, the interesting thing is that I have seen this very same color of Sequoia in the parking lot of my son's school for several months and that particular vehicle IS a Limited. So you think it is Canadian and used? Was there another taupe color which the Limited came in besides Desert Sand? How can I find out if it is a Canadian vehicle and, if it is, what would be the disadvantage and what type of price would I expect on a used vehicle? Thank you.
To determine the price to pay for a used vehicle, Edmunds does now have this information available for the 01 Seq. Just get the miles and whatever options there are and you'll get a ball park figure.
If it's a Canadian vehicle, don't worry about it. I'm going through that now and will be a proud owner on Thurs of a 01 Black Limited with 5k miles for 36k. Try getting that price anywhere else, you won't. Here's what I did to get my piece of mind on purchasing a Canadian vehicle.
1. Get the VIN number and call US Toyota, then Canada Toyota. They will confirm the vehicle has not been stolen and/or scrapped. Also they will confirm that the warranty period is valid. They can also let you know what dealer in Canada owned the vehicle.
2. With this information, I called the dealer in Quebec and confirmed that it was a demo, got the maintenance records and also the mileage.
3. As for emissions standards and safety requirements, no sweat. The US dealer could not of brought the car to the US without having these requirements met. Just ck under the hood, it should say "50 State Emissions" or "Meets CA Standards". Also, Toyota Canada can send you a letter confirming it meets all requirements. Besides, the dealer will have paper work from customs. Also the dealer will register the car for you and make sure the title is a US title. They also get the mileage set to miles as opposed to kilometers.
4. You can also call your state DMV office to confirm #3.
5. Take it for a long test drive and go through every single option of the vehicle. Note on the door jam when the car was built and where. You'll notice it will say Indiana just like the US Sequoias. The one I'm buying is "identical" to a US version and I mean "identical". Even the manual. The top gauge is in mph with the secondary in km.
6. Absolutely no reason why you should not go for the Canadian Seq. Warranty is good at any US dealer and there really is no other difference, except for price. This US dealers go overthere and get these demo's at auction and with the exchange rate, they can offer incredible deals when they get the vehicle back to the US so GO FOR IT.
I live in Albany, NY and there's a local Toyota dealer here who was selling an 01 Seq Lmt with 400 miles for 40k, another 01 Seq Lmt with 5k miles for 40k (yeah, right). Another dealer offered me an 02 Seq Lmt for $500 over invoice which came out to $41,200. After taxes, it was still 5.5k more than the Canadian 01 which as I stated sold for 36k. I figured once you buy the 02 and drive it off the lot, it will of depreciated by about 2k right from the get go.
Hope this helps and if you need more specifics or want the contact info for the dealers above selling the other 01's or 02's, feel free to contact me on Ricky_san@yahoo.com. Hey, I just went through this entire scenario and hope this information helps some of you.
ps, good to get this forum back on track. I'm sure you all noticed there were 3 days of silence due to all of us being sick and tired of irrelevant posts by our good GM friend. Yeah, some of it is relevant but boy, does it ever drag the discussions along and turns people away...
Thanks for info on purchasing a Canadian vehicle...I am going to look at this particular vehicle tomorrow. You said that on the door jamb, it will state that the vehicle was built in Indiana. Will the dealer willingly tell me if this vehicle came from Canada? Also, do I really need to go through the entire process of calling Toyota Canada and the Canadian dealer to check on the status of the vehicle's warranty? If I'm buying through a local dealer, the warranty would be stated on the contract, would it not? Thank you very much for all of the info and congratulations on your purchase. P.S. Were you also looking at a Yukon? What made you decide to go with Toyota?
Great post about the Canadian Seq and congrats for such a good deal. I have a couple of questions also.
1. What do you think of the resale value? Personally, I don't think that the buyer might care if he/she cannot tell any difference between a US Vs Canadian vehicle, as long as the Seq looks and runs good by the time you sell it.
2. Why do the US dealers buy the Canadian Demos? Do they have to call them demo because they are not US Seq?
I'm sorry if these questions were answered. I didn't read the forum for a while because I was so upset that the forum was dominated by the Wave Hijacker.
A belated response from an earlier post re: an SR5 with leather. Yes, it IS possible, but not easy to find one. The answer I FINALLY got from the District Toyota Customer Service Director is that inventories are currently so low because of Tundra's favorable ratings. He says they are selling so many Tundra's that they are building more of them at Sequoia's expense. Hummmmm........
My buying experience gave me a Toyota feeling, but it was all negative. I did stick with it, and now have an SR5 w/leather and moonroof. After a week I like the car, but it's not perfect. It's hard for the person in the third seat to tumble the second seat forward to get out. An upper, more easily reachable handle could have easily changed that. With three kids, our third row seat is used daily and was one of the reasons for wanting the car. I also had to compromise on a black instead of white exterior.
Back to finding the car. At my local Toyota dealer, which has a reputation for "old school" selling style, the sales rep told me to get leather I had to buy a Limited. I suggested that they could order me one if they didn't stock them. He replied in a very sarcastic tone, "what do you think, you just CALL Toyota and order a car?" Well, since it's in the brochure, sure. They also have a $10,000 "buyers premium" tacked onto the bottom line MSRP. Never mind.
I put out an Internet search and found a dealership not too far away. Told him exactly what I wanted, we agreed on a reasonable price (I knew and agreed to his profit margin). They found one in the "build stage," due to arrive at another dealership in two weeks. The dealers agreed on a trade and I sent a deposit. I sold my minivan with the delivery date in mind. Then that car was "inadvertantly" sold at the trading dealer(not my dealer)after arrival. My dealer found two more trades to make, but they were "inadvertenly" sold, too. Talked several times to Toyota Custmer Service at all kinds of levels. They were polite when reached, but not responsive (eg. saying they'll look into it and will call back within 2 hours. Still no call back in 24 hours.) Basically, they said "We sell to dealers and we don't care what they do." The District Director's only suggestion was for me to order a car, which if all goes well, should arrive in 90 days. (But, of couse, I sold my current car 4 weeks ago based on their other delivery date.)
In the end, the dealer made a trade for a black one which went through and, being deperate to call pool again, I took. I have never heard back from the District Customer Service Director. He seems to have no authority, just a title, so he may be he is as frustrated as I am.
Hope others have a better experience.
PS For all the Marketing people, remember the 3 to 11 rule? The one that says that if someone has a good experience statically they will tell 3 people, and with a bad experience, they statically tell 11 people? Well, I feel a little better.
Basballmom94: If the dealer doesn't tell you the vehicle came from Canada, then buyer beware. If he's dishonest about that, then he may not be telling the truth about other things. It's not a hassle at all calling Toyota Canada (1.888.869.6828). They're very helpful, just be sure to have the VIN number. You can get it from the dealer or right from the dashboard on the driver side windshield. As for warranty, it is valid anywhere in North America, no need to verify. As for other SUV's I looked at, I researched this purchase for at least 5 mths. I previously owned a 92 Explorer XLT for 5 years (no problems), then a 97 Mountaineer for another 5 years (again, no problems). I test drove and did deep analysis on the MDX (great car, emphasis on car here), Exp and Nav (no way, too boxy), X5 (best riding but too small), Yukon (it's a GM, did ride nice but even the demo rattled). More on the Yukon, have friends here who own them and they can't wait to get rid of it and get a Seq. Best advice is for you to drive them all, decide what your needs are (space, ride, safety, towing, etc..). As for the Canadian Seq, make a good offer and rest assured after you've done your homework that you made the right choice.
luvsuv: resale value will not suffer at all for the reason you state. This vehicle is identical to the US. As a matter of fact, it comes off the exact assembly line as the US vehicle but can have different specs for Canada (nothing major though). Reason for US dealers buying Canadian demos is they usually get the best deals on these and the only reason they call them demo's is because that's exactly what they were at the Canadian dealer. My advice is get the VIN, call Toyota Canada, get the Canadian delear's number and call them directly for specifics.
In order for the warranty to be valid, the importing dealer must enter the VIN into the US Toyota system. This is not a big deal but needs done.
The other thing to remember is that you MIGHT have an issue if you ever sell it. The Canadian vehicles are built with kilometer based odometers and they must be changed at the border. The selling dealer will always tell you that the true mileage is known. I'm not sure I agree with this policy, but that is what is done. When you sell it, you will have to do a "gut check" before you certify the miles to be exactly correct. It is a felony to falsify an odometer statement so you better be certain you can legally state the miles are correct.
The final thing to consider is that the cars are titled when they cross the border. They are technically used cars. No big deal really since most banks consider current model year vehicles to be "new" even if they are titles. In no circumstance will Toyota Motor Credit finance these though. Toyota tries to discourage these gray market sales and forbids TMCC from financing them.
Yes, they can be a good deal. Just be aware of the above facts.
Cliffy, thanks for the information on the 2WD and slippery ramps. My current tow vehicle is a 2WD '89 pickup. For the most part it has been great as a tow vehicle, but the ramps, especially the steep wet ones, have been a problem.
I'd like to have the 4WD but the cost just pushes it up too much for my budget. If I go to 4WD I'd have to go with a Tacoma. It looks like with the Sequoia 2WD I'll be able to move up to more space.
I just want to make one more comment on this. If your 89 truck has a limited slip rear end and you are still having problems, the 2WD Sequoia may not do too much better. If the 89 is an open rear differential, you will see a distinct improvement.
One other thing you may want to look at is a 4WD 4Runner. Price should be pretty much the same as a 2WD Sequoia but you obviously would not have the size nor power. It would keep you in an SUV rather than a pick-up though. The 4Runner has the same 4WD system as the Sequoia.
Well, I looked at the brownish/taupe Sequoia today which Cliffy said was probably from Canada based on the color. The window sticker stated that it is a 2002 model listed at $45,000. So much for the good deal on the Canadian model, although I did not go so far as to test-drive it or ask anyone if it is a Canadian model. Cliffy, did the Limited come in any other taupe color other than the Desert Sand? I'm still a little confused by this. Gohabsgo, (interesting screen-name, by the way!) thanks for your comparison of the different models you test-drove. I am still interested in the Yukon since we are planning to lease it and are not concerned about long-term reliability. I would like the Sequoia because there are not as many on the road and it is a nice looking vehicle.
rruck1: thanks for the feedback. It appears the only time a statement is considered "bogus and twisted" on this forum as luvsuv put it, is when the sharing of facts and their source contradict the opinions of some. Its a last resort effort when you have no facts to refute someone's view, that you attempt to denigrate their comments by labeling them bogus and twisted. Unfortunately, the "compliments" only validate the original information as on target.
minuteman26: Unfortunately the other half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people that believe any fact or opinion that doesn't support their view of the world must be bogus and twisted. -heatwave3
"Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important." - George Eliot
Since you haven’t gotten the hint by now, there’s probably nothing constructive that can be said to you about the tone and content of the bulk of your posts. However, being ever hopeful, I will try:
Picture this – a fine restaurant, one of those where you go in town to get a really great steak with cost not really the object. The patrons are at their tables, either looking at the menus or enjoying their New York Strips, or Filets, or whatever. Here comes a guy who walks from one table to the other, looking at the people eating, and says, “You really don’t know what you’re doing. You can easily get more calories per dollar with hamburger”. Eyebrows start to rise. A few of the diners start talking back, politely at first. After all, this is a nice restaurant. Guy puts his hand on one of the tables, leans over, and says, “You really need a lot of steak sauce on that”. Nervous sarcasm erupts. Maitre’d looks on, makes a comment about trolling, does nothing. After all, the guy has done nothing really wrong, just weird. After a little bit, people all stop eating and start staring. Guy goes around the corner. Relieved, the people start eating again. Conversation resumes. And then – he’s baaaack! [gentle reader can furnish his or her own ending].
There was no such a thing as a chestnut brown Limited. In fact in Canada you could not get the chestnut brown period. You also (for 2001) not get Desert Sand or Thunder Grey. For 2002 they have introduced the Thunder Grey. Sounds like your vehicle is definitely not Canadian. If it's two tone it is not a Limited. Could be someone messing around with badging i.e. really an sr5 with limited on the sides? Scary thought.
The guy isn't really coming to our table, since this is a public place. Instead, its sort of like he's sitting over their at his table talking loudly about how much larger the steaks are at this other restaurant and wouldn't it be nice if they also served mashed potatoes like they do at restaurant X.
I test drove a Sequoia last night and the Oil Pressure gauge never reached half way--most of the time it was 1/4 of the way up and it seemed very slow to respond to the engine being reved up. Of course the salesman said that was the way it was suspose to be. I ask to see the Owners Manual and according to it the Normal Operating Range is from 1/4 to 3/4 with less than 1/4 being considered low. It would really bug me to buy one and have to look at a Low Oil Pressure reading for 100,000 miles. Can someone help me feel better about this--where does your gauge operate?
I have an '02 with 5,000 miles on the clock. With the engine at normal operating temp, oil pressure at idle, in gear, is at the first mark (1/4) and at speed (highway) the pressure is just a hair under the third mark (3/4). The pressure gauge is slow to respond by design -- that way the needle doesn't bounce around and gives more of an average reading. I am running a 10W-30 synthetic blend. Hope this helps.
gpm5: no need to apologize, but here's a different interpretation on the restaraunt analogy above.
Several restaraunt patrons enjoyed a NY Strip or Filet dinner, finished their delightful dinner, have paid the bill and are enjoying a leisurerly walk home on the public streets. While enjoying their walk, they loudly tell each other and everyone walking by how they just had the most incredible dinner.
It included a 6oz steak that was the best they ever had and it only cost $100. They congratulated each other for selecting the restaraunt because there couldn't possibly be a better restaraunt in town. How could there be a better restaraunt in town because they're so sophisticated that they would have only spent their hard-earned money on the best tasting, most valued dinner in town.
Another patron from a different restaraunt is also walking on the same public street having just completed his own wonderful dinner and after hearing the first patrons boast, responded that he also just completed a wonderful dinner at a different restaraunt in town.
He had a 12oz midwestern beef Porterhouse, that was the best he ever had. The dinner was $50, included dessert and the first drink on the house. In fact, the restaraunt had been offering the best steak in town for many years and that's why 10x as many folks went to the second restaraunt as the first.
The first patrons continued on their way screaming at the top of their lungs that the dinner at the second restaraunt couldn't possibly taste better or cost less and that the second patron must be a liar and a cheat for sharing his view of the wonderful dinner that cost less because it was eaten at a different restaraunt:)
In my 2002 with about 2800 miles on it, at idle in gear it's on the 1/4 line. It goes to the 1/2 line at around 50mph. Smooth is the word for this engine.
to clarify what I said about oil pressure. Mine does exactly what was expected as described in the owners manual. Driving around town with low revs. it is only at the halfway line. Idling at a stop sign, its at the 1/4 line. It is only at the 3/4 line at highway speeds and then only before it goes into overdrive, then it drops back between half and threequarters. This is not like my old ford van that went to the 3/4 line and stayed there for five years....
And to finish Heatwaves story, the guy that had the 12oz midwestern beef Porterhouse went home and puked his guts out because the beef was half rotten. But that's not the end of it because he insists that he got a good deal because his meal was cheaper and it satisfied his hunger for a little while.
Comments
87path2 - you just went through this scenario buying a Seq here in the US that was a Canada vehicle. Did you have to do anything extra to get it registered in the US (emissions standards, glass requirements and so on). If so, did the dealer pay for it or did you and how much. Anything else you can add. I live in NY so I guess should call Dept of Transportation to find out about specifics.
714cut - you're from Canada and just purchased an '02 model and you suggested I go with the '02. Now with this '01 Canada car at almost 4.5k less than an '02, seems like a great deal, don't you think. Also, yes my poor "habs" are reeling but I have hope they will get it together. Originally from Montreal so a diahard fan.
Thanks to all as usual for your responses. Can't wait to finally say I'M AN OWNER...
By the way mine was 11 months old, only 10400 kms (about 6000 miles or so)and I got enough for my truck to actually lower my payment on the new one. Mine was pristine and someone got a great truck.
Basically it was a straight across trade and the '02 came with fog lamps and a sunroof that my 01 didn't have. I think selling to the U.S. is pretty lucrative with the currency exchange.
P.S. Try doing that with a Yukon-good luck!
(sorry heatwave I couldn't resist)
In general, I just also happen to be more fond of data than opinions (unless of course its my own:)
Right now it would appear that the GM Marketing Managers must be feeling they put the right design mix and pricing into their Subs, Tahoes and Yukons as at least here in the NE they are the f/s SUV of choice. It is rare to see a Sequoia although they are an attractive vehicle on the road when you do see them.
Ford would appear to have a serious problem on their hands that would seem to provide a great opportunity for Toyota to pickup former Ford suv owners, but I guess time will only tell.
Now, for a comparison from my viewpoint (and my husband's) of the GMC Yukon versus the Sequoia. Let me start by saying that we are very big Toyota fans. I drove an '82 Corolla and a '78 Celica in highschool and college and we've had three Camrys since 1992.
We test-drove a Yukon SLT with leather and a SR5 Sequoia with cloth seating. I liked both vehicles pretty equally. I did feel that the Sequoia did not seem quite as big to drive which was a plus. Also, I really liked how the Seq. third row seats rolled forward and gave more cargo room in the back. I also liked the Yukon...was surprised at the lack of legroom in the back but it was okay for me at 5'5" and my kids are 4 and 7 so it is fine for them and their friends. If I had to decide between the two vehicles, it would really come down to which one could we get the best lease deal on. I do think the Yukon felt bigger inside...it is definitely wider. My hubby liked the Yukon better but he thinks this may be mainly because of the leather seating in the Yukon being more luxurious. We didn't have the chance to drive a Sequoia with leather. Well, I guess we could have drove a Limited but we're not considering the Limited. It just seems like Toyota salespeople are not willing to deal, especially on a popular model. I emailed several in my area for price quotes and not one wrote me back. At least 3 of 5 GMC dealers did email me back. I do find it irritating that you have to add so many packages and options on to the Sequoia to get running boards, keyless entry, side and head airbags.....keyless entry is an option on a $35,00 vehicle?!! Also, I thought the dashboard and center console were not as nice as the Yukon's. Anyway, that is my 2 cents. We still have 3 months to decide......maybe dealers will be even more willing to deal on these models in Feb...
of course, I am still smarting from your innocent post regarding the comparison of the MDX to the Seq which led to the unceasing posts on TOWING. It's all your fault
heatwave3: on f/s suv sales. In 2000, Toyota announced that they would only be making 60,000 Sequoia for North America. Seems like they sold every one of them, from the numbers. How many f/s suv's did GM and Ford produce in the same period versus how many were actually sold ? Let us not forget the 0% rates on these vehicles, which Toyota did not offer on the Sequoia.
and finally, imo, one notable difference between the Sequoia owners and GM owners is that we Sequoia owners DO NOT bother to correct erroneous posts on the GM board, posted by GM owners, about their GM vehicles, whereas you and a few other GM owners make it a crusade to correct our "sometimes inflated views" on our vehicle, posted on this forum. I am still at a loss why you and other GM owners bother to post here, really. Although, truthfully, some of your posts have been brilliant and quite helpful. Methinks that if you can resist the temptation to respond to every "contradictory view" to yours, we would be les inclined to antagonise you, cos too many posts on a single topic tends to dilute your message and makes it sound shrill. Please see this as a suggestion, not a condemnation...
Wishing you and everyone Happy Thanksgiving !
The strong opinions and facts shared in this forum make for a better than average debate about the merits of different vehicles. The passion here makes the dialogue that much more interesting:)
FYI, the GM 0% rates didn't go into effect until well into October which has had little impact on the sales numbers I shared earlier on GM's growth (although it should continue the growth trend while going into a strong economic headwind).
Toyota was probably wise in setting the Sequoia limit to 60,000 units in order to better sense an entirely new market. Next year will certainly provide a solid view of whether the sales strength for this new model continues to build momentum. In the interim, the GM models appear to have hit their mark while the Ford models will have to await the new Expedition to find a new recipe for growth.
"Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important."
- George Eliot
There were a few times where I know I was going too fast on some turns. Not fast enough to loose control but as fast as I wanted to go. At this time the vehicle took over, bells went off, engine would not accelerate, and brake applied gently. Interesting. The weather on the way home was terrible, 60MPH winds and driving rain. The Seq had no trouble staying on the road and keeping things under control.
In that cold coast weather it was nice to have those seat warmers, they work great. My biggest problem was getting the defroster to work right. I can get the front to work good but the back does not seem to work as good as I think it should.
All things considered I am very happy with the vehicle on this trip. This was the first long trip with the trailer.
Since it was just broken in I got to play a little more agressively. Love the engine-shifts at redline and is quiet at high RPMs just like my X5. I got to try out the traction control in 2WD mode by punching the gas in the corner. I even managed to bring the tail out a little bit in a wet corner. No complaints of the traction control. I've read some people with '01 Seqs having a too aggressive traction control when accelerating resulting with what seems like a 2 sec. delay and a feeling that the engine suddenly lost power. I tried duplicating it and could not. Maybe the '02 had been reprogrammed?
Nitpicks: The front dome light should go on when the doors open. The seats should have a memory system. I don't like power antennas. They should move the middle seat forward an inch to give the third row more legroom(you already get way too much in the middle)-I haul people more than cargo. The stereo seems to get more bass when you turn on the engine. The third seat area should have speakers for the stereo. All in all I love it.
Your point on Expedition sales is interesting. I believe that the Sequoia was designed to target the Expedition more than the Yukon and Burban and it looks like that's the vehicle that's suffering the most since Sequoia entered the large SUV market. My guess is that if Ford is smart (questionable) there will be a lot of Sequoia like improvements to the new Expy.
If it's a Canadian vehicle, don't worry about it. I'm going through that now and will be a proud owner on Thurs of a 01 Black Limited with 5k miles for 36k. Try getting that price anywhere else, you won't. Here's what I did to get my piece of mind on purchasing a Canadian vehicle.
1. Get the VIN number and call US Toyota, then Canada Toyota. They will confirm the vehicle has not been stolen and/or scrapped. Also they will confirm that the warranty period is valid. They can also let you know what dealer in Canada owned the vehicle.
2. With this information, I called the dealer in Quebec and confirmed that it was a demo, got the maintenance records and also the mileage.
3. As for emissions standards and safety requirements, no sweat. The US dealer could not of brought the car to the US without having these requirements met. Just ck under the hood, it should say "50 State Emissions" or "Meets CA Standards". Also, Toyota Canada can send you a letter confirming it meets all requirements. Besides, the dealer will have paper work from customs. Also the dealer will register the car for you and make sure the title is a US title. They also get the mileage set to miles as opposed to kilometers.
4. You can also call your state DMV office to confirm #3.
5. Take it for a long test drive and go through every single option of the vehicle. Note on the door jam when the car was built and where. You'll notice it will say Indiana just like the US Sequoias. The one I'm buying is "identical" to a US version and I mean "identical". Even the manual. The top gauge is in mph with the secondary in km.
6. Absolutely no reason why you should not go for the Canadian Seq. Warranty is good at any US dealer and there really is no other difference, except for price. This US dealers go overthere and get these demo's at auction and with the exchange rate, they can offer incredible deals when they get the vehicle back to the US so GO FOR IT.
I live in Albany, NY and there's a local Toyota dealer here who was selling an 01 Seq Lmt with 400 miles for 40k, another 01 Seq Lmt with 5k miles for 40k (yeah, right). Another dealer offered me an 02 Seq Lmt for $500 over invoice which came out to $41,200. After taxes, it was still 5.5k more than the Canadian 01 which as I stated sold for 36k. I figured once you buy the 02 and drive it off the lot, it will of depreciated by about 2k right from the get go.
Hope this helps and if you need more specifics or want the contact info for the dealers above selling the other 01's or 02's, feel free to contact me on Ricky_san@yahoo.com. Hey, I just went through this entire scenario and hope this information helps some of you.
ps, good to get this forum back on track. I'm sure you all noticed there were 3 days of silence due to all of us being sick and tired of irrelevant posts by our good GM friend. Yeah, some of it is relevant but boy, does it ever drag the discussions along and turns people away...
P.S. Were you also looking at a Yukon? What made you decide to go with Toyota?
1. What do you think of the resale value? Personally, I don't think that the buyer might care if he/she cannot tell any difference between a US Vs Canadian vehicle, as long as the Seq looks and runs good by the time you sell it.
2. Why do the US dealers buy the Canadian Demos? Do they have to call them demo because they are not US Seq?
I'm sorry if these questions were answered. I didn't read the forum for a while because I was so upset that the forum was dominated by the Wave Hijacker.
My buying experience gave me a Toyota feeling, but it was all negative. I did stick with it, and now have an SR5 w/leather and moonroof. After a week I like the car, but it's not perfect. It's hard for the person in the third seat to tumble the second seat forward to get out. An upper, more easily reachable handle could have easily changed that. With three kids, our third row seat is used daily and was one of the reasons for wanting the car. I also had to compromise on a black instead of white exterior.
Back to finding the car. At my local Toyota dealer, which has a reputation for "old school" selling style, the sales rep told me to get leather I had to buy a Limited. I suggested that they could order me one if they didn't stock them. He replied in a very sarcastic tone, "what do you think, you just CALL Toyota and order a car?" Well, since it's in the brochure, sure. They also have a $10,000 "buyers premium" tacked onto the bottom line MSRP. Never mind.
I put out an Internet search and found a dealership not too far away. Told him exactly what I wanted, we agreed on a reasonable price (I knew and agreed to his profit margin). They found one in the "build stage," due to arrive at another dealership in two weeks. The dealers agreed on a trade and I sent a deposit. I sold my minivan with the delivery date in mind. Then that car was "inadvertantly" sold at the trading dealer(not my dealer)after arrival. My dealer found two more trades to make, but they were "inadvertenly" sold, too. Talked several times to Toyota Custmer Service at all kinds of levels. They were polite when reached, but not responsive (eg. saying they'll look into it and will call back within 2 hours. Still no call back in 24 hours.) Basically, they said "We sell to dealers and we don't care what they do." The District Director's only suggestion was for me to order a car, which if all goes well, should arrive in 90 days. (But, of couse, I sold my current car 4 weeks ago based on their other delivery date.)
In the end, the dealer made a trade for a black one which went through and, being deperate to call pool again, I took. I have never heard back from the District Customer Service Director. He seems to have no authority, just a title, so he may be he is as frustrated as I am.
Hope others have a better experience.
PS For all the Marketing people, remember the 3 to 11 rule? The one that says that if someone has a good experience statically they will tell 3 people, and with a bad experience, they statically tell 11 people? Well, I feel a little better.
luvsuv: resale value will not suffer at all for the reason you state. This vehicle is identical to the US. As a matter of fact, it comes off the exact assembly line as the US vehicle but can have different specs for Canada (nothing major though). Reason for US dealers buying Canadian demos is they usually get the best deals on these and the only reason they call them demo's is because that's exactly what they were at the Canadian dealer. My advice is get the VIN, call Toyota Canada, get the Canadian delear's number and call them directly for specifics.
The other thing to remember is that you MIGHT have an issue if you ever sell it. The Canadian vehicles are built with kilometer based odometers and they must be changed at the border. The selling dealer will always tell you that the true mileage is known. I'm not sure I agree with this policy, but that is what is done. When you sell it, you will have to do a "gut check" before you certify the miles to be exactly correct. It is a felony to falsify an odometer statement so you better be certain you can legally state the miles are correct.
The final thing to consider is that the cars are titled when they cross the border. They are technically used cars. No big deal really since most banks consider current model year vehicles to be "new" even if they are titles. In no circumstance will Toyota Motor Credit finance these though. Toyota tries to discourage these gray market sales and forbids TMCC from financing them.
Yes, they can be a good deal. Just be aware of the above facts.
I'd like to have the 4WD but the cost just pushes it up too much for my budget. If I go to 4WD I'd have to go with a Tacoma. It looks like with the Sequoia 2WD I'll be able to move up to more space.
One other thing you may want to look at is a 4WD 4Runner. Price should be pretty much the same as a 2WD Sequoia but you obviously would not have the size nor power. It would keep you in an SUV rather than a pick-up though. The 4Runner has the same 4WD system as the Sequoia.
minuteman26: Unfortunately the other half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people that believe any fact or opinion that doesn't support their view of the world must be bogus and twisted.
-heatwave3
"Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important."
- George Eliot
Picture this – a fine restaurant, one of those where you go in town to get a really great steak with cost not really the object. The patrons are at their tables, either looking at the menus or enjoying their New York Strips, or Filets, or whatever. Here comes a guy who walks from one table to the other, looking at the people eating, and says, “You really don’t know what you’re doing. You can easily get more calories per dollar with hamburger”. Eyebrows start to rise. A few of the diners start talking back, politely at first. After all, this is a nice restaurant. Guy puts his hand on one of the tables, leans over, and says, “You really need a lot of steak sauce on that”. Nervous sarcasm erupts. Maitre’d looks on, makes a comment about trolling, does nothing. After all, the guy has done nothing really wrong, just weird. After a little bit, people all stop eating and start staring. Guy goes around the corner. Relieved, the people start eating again. Conversation resumes. And then – he’s baaaack! [gentle reader can furnish his or her own ending].
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SUVs
If it's two tone it is not a Limited. Could be someone messing around with badging i.e. really an sr5 with limited on the sides? Scary thought.
Sorry heatwave, couldn't resist elaborating further.
2HD.
Several restaraunt patrons enjoyed a NY Strip or Filet dinner, finished their delightful dinner, have paid the bill and are enjoying a leisurerly walk home on the public streets. While enjoying their walk, they loudly tell each other and everyone walking by how they just had the most incredible dinner.
It included a 6oz steak that was the best they ever had and it only cost $100. They congratulated each other for selecting the restaraunt because there couldn't possibly be a better restaraunt in town. How could there be a better restaraunt in town because they're so sophisticated that they would have only spent their hard-earned money on the best tasting, most valued dinner in town.
Another patron from a different restaraunt is also walking on the same public street having just completed his own wonderful dinner and after hearing the first patrons boast, responded that he also just completed a wonderful dinner at a different restaraunt in town.
He had a 12oz midwestern beef Porterhouse, that was the best he ever had. The dinner was $50, included dessert and the first drink on the house. In fact, the restaraunt had been offering the best steak in town for many years and that's why 10x as many folks went to the second restaraunt as the first.
The first patrons continued on their way screaming at the top of their lungs that the dinner at the second restaraunt couldn't possibly taste better or cost less and that the second patron must be a liar and a cheat for sharing his view of the wonderful dinner that cost less because it was eaten at a different restaraunt:)
Go figure!
It goes to the 1/2 line at around 50mph. Smooth is the word for this engine.