I have a Sequoia that gets it's 4WD time (AWD time) in snow and occasional "clearance-testing" roads in the summer. The vehicle works fine in both circumstances. I have also driven a "burb" (~'85) and my Toyota PU at work where we drive over loose rounded cobbles (4' to 10+" diameter). I was impressed with the ability of both vehicles to move on the marble-like paths here. The heavier burb would sink in a little more on startup from stop but never got stuck. The lighter rear end of the Toy would get loose in 2 WD but never got stuck in cobbles (I did bury it to the doors in mud but that was operator error.)
The "burb" did its time with about 15% off road, 50% on dirt/gravel roads and 35% on pavement. The truck portion (drive train) took the beating and kept working but the interior was thrashed. Knobs broke, door-handle springs came off, the glove box latch broke, The seat latches broke (on those seats that folded forward), and the door latches & hinges felt the wear. This vehicle was truly tested...I would say that the interior maintenance need to occur more frequently. The damaged latches, handles and window knobs were design flaws and no maintenance would help.
Overall, the burb was a good vehicle. Based on the experience with that burb, I almost bought a newer burb for home use. I did have a problem getting past the interior problems of the burb and my past interior problems with an El Camino. I also had more happy experiences with Toyota service than any chevy/gm service. About 6 months after my wife and I decided not to buy the burb, we read about the impending Sequoia. We waited, we tried, we bought.
Cliffy said, "Finally, if it has clutches, they will wear out."
I have a '92 Toy 4WD PU with 185k and I'm still on the original clutch. I do ~50/50 freeway and hilly country roads and I down shift plenty to slow down. I am also on the original brakes...5 mm front and 6mm rear at the 180k check. I have a Prius now so the PU only gets out once a week or so...I guess I'll let the kids pay for the new clutch and brakes. The wife drives the Sequoia so I will likely make up for the brake servicing costs by paying for her slightly heavy foot on this very heavy car.
Not that my opinion really matters to anyone but I like the Sequoia. I just happen to think it has some areas for improvement as do all vehicles (even those from GM believe it or not).
714cut: I would hope the Lexus has a slighter higher quality to it as it will likely cost $10K more than the most expensive US SUV (other than the Hummer). BTW, care to make a guess why they put the LSDs in the Lexus design combined with the traction control?
You asked "Also, the Durango does currently have a 5.9L optional engine. What makes you think that the 5.7L hemi won't fit in there?"
You won't find the engine you referred to because Dodge doesn't have a drivetrain to match upt to the power of the engine. Its not just a matter of the engine bay size.
You also asked "What SUV does the GM turbodiesel go into other than the $147000 cdn Hummer?"
You can order the optional 6.6L turbodiesel in any HD truck GM makes, however its not available in their suvs.
"So now let's see all of the advantages you and GM offer to prospective SUV buyer out there over the Toyota Sequoia:
1. Bigger engine 2. Higher torque rating 3. Better AWD versus the useless 4WD in the Seq. 4. Higher payload 5. More choices 6. More standard features 7. Higher value 8. Higher tow rating 9. Higher/comparable resale value 10. ......"
Actually my view would be slightly different 1) More powerful engine 2) more flexible powertrain options to choose from to best meet your intended uses 3) higher payload 4) higher tow capacities 5) more standard features 6) comparable value 7) comparable resale value
This list explains why GM has sold 9.5X the number of F/S SUVs as Toyota. In fact GM sold 95,377 F/S SUVs in the first 2 months of '02 to the 10,192 units from Toyota. Furthermore GM has an 18% growth rate for the same two months when compared to the first two months of 2001. By contrast Toyota has a 7% increase with the Sequoia over the same period last year.
Finally the Chevy Avalanche (which I'll be the first to state I don't fully understand) has nearly 50% greater sales in the first two months of this year than the Sequoia (Aval. 15,003 units vs Sequoia 10,192).
To answer your question "With all of the above, how come the Sequoia is still selling briskly at the expense of Ford and GM trucks ??? Are buyers that stupid ?", I'd have to say that buyers are not stupid and in fact have chosen the vehicle that best matches their needs and wallet. More often than not its a GM product.
You are off-base in your information "Oh, and btw, just from a layman's perspective, isn't it interesting that your Denali's mighty 345Hp only generates ca. 350 Ib ft of torque, whereas the "puny little motor" in the Sequoia's 240HP generates a comparable 320 Ib ft of torque ?"
The Denali XL has 320hp not 345hp, it has 365 ft lbs of torque not 350, the Sequoia does have 240hp but its torque is 315 ft lbs not 320. You point however is a good one that the Sequoia does generate a healthy amount of torque from its displacement.
you conclude with "Whether you like it or not, the Sequoia is here to stay and prosper...."
I happen to like it and also believe it will stay and prosper. Toyota makes way to much on you guys to consider letting it go away:)
espinaldo: that was a good description of the features and benefits between a 'burb and the Seq and why you chose the Seq.
Just once correction you stated "The heavier burb would sink in a little more on startup from stop but never got stuck. The lighter rear end of the Toy would get loose in 2 WD but never got stuck in cobbles (I did bury it to the doors in mud but that was operator error.)"
Actually a 4wd Sequoia weighs more than a 4wd 1500 Suburban or Yukon XL (Seq. 5295lbs vs Sub 5123lbs).
Actually, it isn't so much the VSC that is causing your problems but rather, the traction control and specifically, the rev limiter portion of it. Unfortunately, there is no way to disable this short of placing it in 4WD, and don't think that this is a bad answer. There have been a few folks posting here who claim little to no difference in gas mileage between the 4 and 2 WD modes, plus you should get better emergency handling.
I have also heard (although not confirmed) that there is a way to increase the threshold for wheel slip before the rev limiter kicks in. Talk to your service guys at your next oil change. There may be a TSB on this.
I am close to getting a new sequioa. I asked the dealer what grade gas would be best for the suv he said 89 is fine. Friends of mine have other suv's and they say to put in the middle to high grade. Give me some feedback. Thanks
The owner's manual calls for 87 octane. Strangely, the Land Cruiser calls for 91 but has the same engine. I run 87 in my Tundra and noticed no difference when I used the higher grades.
Cliffy, the specs on the TLC and Sequoia engines are similar, but not identical. The 4.7 in the TLC makes 230hp@4800rpm and 320ft-lbs@3400rpm while the Sequoia's engine makes 240hp@4800rpm and 315ft-lbs@3400.
There must be some sort of manifold/ignition/exhaust/fuel delivery variance to account for these differences.
I only run 87 in my Sequoia. It runs great with 87. I have found that running what the manual says is best with all the vehicles I've owned. Good luck on your purchase. The 4WD system is excellent and the reliability of Toyota is renowned.
"GM has sold 9.5X the number of full size SUV's as Toyota." How many models is that vs one from Toyota? How many years have they been making full size SUV's vs 2 years for Toyota? "Sequoia 5295 lbs vs Sub 5123 lbs", espinoldo was talking about his Toyota PU, BYW you neglected to include the weight of your precious Denali @ 5820 lbs.
I consider the TLC to be more of a large mid size (L/M/S?). Toyota may call it a full size but then Subaru calls the Outback (which I own)and Forester SUVs. :-o
I have driven my 2001 sequoia for a year now and have had only one problem. The rear motor to the rear window went bad and was replaced free of charge.I think back on all the problems I had with my new Ford van the first yearlike ignition componets beining replace , windows jamming constantly .ac seals being replaced, Ibeam realigned.The problems I had with this vehicle multiplied over time and the same problems often had to be fixed again and again.The Sequoia is the best vehicle I have ever owned.I would buy this vehicle again even if I had to pay more to get the vehicle.
norwesterner: In response to my statement "GM has sold 9.5X the number of full size SUV's as Toyota."
you asked "How many models is that vs one from Toyota?"
I would say its three models with different levels of trim to the one model from Toyota with several levels of trim. I would categorize the Yukon, Tahoe, Escalade, Denali as one model with various trim levels. The second model would be made up of the Suburban, Yukon XL and Denali XL. Third model would be the Avalanche.
These three models significantly outsell the Sequoia and in fact most, if not all, of the individual trim levels outsell the Sequoia.
You also asked "How many years have they been making full size SUV's vs 2 years for Toyota?"
While I don't know exactly, I'd be farely accurate in stating about 60 years advantage in GM's favor in building f/s suvs vs Toyota's.
I responded to espinaldo's post with "Sequoia 5295 lbs vs Sub 5123 lbs".
I interpreted his statement to be comparing his Sequoia to the Suburban he owned. Therefore I shared the weight difference between a Suburban and a Sequoia. I certainly see nothing precious about my Denali and saw nothing in his post that would have suggested its weight in his comparison was relevant.
Are not at all the same vehicle. Same chassis and some body panels but otherwise quite different interior and drivetrainwise. You could count the Safari and Astro Vans with the 1500 series pickup if you go by those specs since it is built off the same platform.
This is not an appropriate forum for selling things (technically, it's a violation of Edmund's Terms of Use.)
Check Edmund's ( http://www.edmunds.com ) front page for tools that will help you to sell your vehicle. Your local newspaper is probably the best bet for listing your vehicle for sale.
paisan: I have to disagree and so does every source on the internet. The Denali XL has the exact same sheet metal, chassis and suspension as every Suburban and every Yukon XL. The 6.0L motor is available in the 2500 Suburban. The only mechanically unique aspect of the Denali XL is the AWD. The multiple convenience features on the Denali will soon be available as options on many Subs.
You'll note that Edmunds lists the Denali as a trim "type" for the Yukon XL as does Carpoint, Autosite and every other car info site on the web. In fact, Autosite doesn't even break the Denali XL sales out separately from Yukon XL.
And No I would not categorize a Safari or Astro van with a pickup. Completely different sheet metal, chassis and motor options. Not too mention one can carry a load of dirt in one vehicle while the other can't (at least not without an awfully good shop vac:)
Edmunds shows there are 28 models for GM/Chevrolet whereas Sequoia has 4. I would expect GM to sell more, but given they have been doing it for 60 years as you say I would think the spread would be higher.
norwesterner: I understand the passion to defend the make of one's choosing and even the valid point that GM has significantly more models and trim levels to better suit the needs of more consumers.
I recognize the substantially greater # of years of experience that GM has in building f/s suvs compared to Toyota. The fact that Toyota has sold the number of Sequoia's they have is a testament to their quality and the fact that their selling quite a well designed vehicle.
If I had to guess, the predominant market for Sequoia's is California as they are very rare to see in the East and it seems most of the Sequoia owner's posting here are from the West (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong in my assumption).
What does seem surprising is the fact that GM is selling F/S suvs at nearly 3 times the growth of Toyota which is particularly interesting given their base of nearly ten time the size of Toyota. I would hope you agree that's not too shabby and likely a reflection that GM is getting their "stuff" in one sock" as we used to say in the Navy regarding the quality and design going into their suvs.
Who knows, maybe one day GM will be fortunate enough to build as strong a marketing message around their quality as Toyota has:)
I got such good advice on winter tires here, I figured I'd try for advice on summer tires too. We are thinking of replacing the original tires with some better summer tires when we take off our winter tires this week. Any tires to particularly look for or avoid?
Thanks!
btw, we ended up going with Bridgestone Winter Duelers for winter, and they were great!
I would like to know if anyone has any experience taking the Sequoia off-road (not just a dirt road). What are your opinions?? Is it capable as a Jeep Grand Cherokee of road??
Do you think that GM's 0% financing and rebates had anything to do with the "9.5 X the sales" in the first 2 months? Aesthetically I like the design of the Tahoe just as much as I like the Sequoia but the quality just isn't in that "sock". If the quality were there I would consider purchasing one myself. I think quality is the main reason Toyota buyers return to Toyota. It is that reason I won't purchase a 7 Series. I have two friends that have pumped thousands and thousands of dollars into their BMW's both with miles under 100,000. "Toyota-quality", that's why we're here.
If the Denali has exactly the same sheetmetal, suspension, chassis and same motor is available on Suburban, why does the Denali cost $8-10,000 more Canadian than a Suburban?
Weren't we talking about value and what you get for your $$$ in earlier posts?
I wouldn't exactly hold the JGC as a measure of offroad ability (they need to sawzall it, dent it, and use non-stock tires to pass the rubicon) My guess is that the Sequoia would be as good or better than a JGC off-road, although I have not seen any on the trail yet.
Hmmm so the only difference is the AWD and the interior? I don't buy that but I'll take your word for it. I guess the denali and caddy folks are just getting ripped off!
...checkout post #1760 (note that numbering of the "go to" function at the top of the page doesn't correspond... going to ~#1860 will get you close) . Slickrock took his Sequoia to the annual off-road/jeep safari near Moab, UT, and described his experiences in some detail.
norwesterner: I didn't want to go too far down the road of debating the merits or demerits of GM products but let me address the questions just raised.
On the rebates. I think the attractive financing and rebates have really just sustained the growth that GM was already experiencing. There was a healthy discussion on GM's F/S suv growth in the summer and fall of last year before 9/11, when their rebates and financing went into effect. The growth is pretty much the same as last year and above all other makes of suvs (other than brand new models of course). Therefore its reasonable to conclude that GM is building a solid product meeting more people's needs and definition of value than other products.
BTW, I own a Toyota Avalon and its an excellent vehicle. Its my view that the Denali XL I have is every bit the quality product that the Avalon is. The Avalon was light years ahead of my previous Sub however the Denali XL is of the same level, so far. The Toyota has 75K (in 2+ years) and its been very reliable with little in the way of warranty work needed. The DXL has 18K on it in 15 months and I've had to do nothing more than change the oil.
714cut and paisan: There are actually quite a few differences between the Denali XL and a Yukon XL. The price difference between a fully loaded Yukon XL and a Denali XL based on my shopping of a year ago is about $4500-5500.
For the additional money you get the following: 1) 6.0L engine (320hp and 365 ft lbs of torque) 2) AWD 3) Focussed beam headlights and "Denali" grill and body trim 4) 17" wheels 5) Michelin X-Terrain tires 6) Bose sound system with in-dash 6 CD changer 7) Denali upgraded leather 8) transmission temp guage 9) steering wheel radio controls 10) in-dash fuel and trip computer 11) rear heated seats 12) 14 way driver seats with 2 memory positions
Unfortunately these options are not available in the other models so it comes down to whether or not this list of goodies (above all the other options that are available in the standard Suburburban and included in the DXL) is worth the extra $4-5K. For me it was an easy decision.
Based on what is readily available in our area, we are choosing between:
Kelly Safari Yokohama Geolander HT Bridgestone Dueler H/T
(I've found CR ratings on the Dueler A/T and H/L but not H/T -- is that an inferior tire to the H/L?)
Any preferences among those?
I did post on the "Tires, Tires, Tires" board but when choosing winter tires I found the Toyota Sequoia board to have people and more relevant info than the generic Tires board, which is why I'm trying here again...
heatwave was simply "responding' to questions asked of him wrt GM vehicles.... yeah right !!!
In bringing up his Denali into the Sequoia forum, he had always turned every discussion into a GM-versus-Sequoia debate... But he is very clever, you see... he will lead with defensive statements such as in post #5148...
The Denali is a very nice vehicle, prolly worth every cent of its cost... But the Denali ain't a Sequoia now is it ??? And this remains a Toyota Sequoia forum. There is another forum dedicated to comparing these two vehicles, and therein MANY of heatwave's debate belongs...
But who is listening ? I hope our able moderators can use their discretion to re-post/re-route many of the comparo posts to the appropriate forums so that we can address real Toyota Sequoia issues such as that of robynk and others which are buried in the wave of ad nauseum GM debates...
But it is fun, go right on and have your fun heatwave at all of our expense... We all love you
cliffy and oac3: No I wasn't accusing anyone of anything. I simply responded to reasonable questions asked by those on this forum on a subject I was familiar with. I've tried to stick to the subject of Sequoia's unless someone raises a question or makes a comparison.
I think you'll agree, I try not to start a dialogue that takes the forum off its "beaten path", however I see no reason I shouldn't respond to questions raised and obviously our host agrees that there was no harm in the accurate information provided in response to the question.
What type of terrain or roads will you be driving on? Probably the best tires I have ever owned are the Michelin LTX AT's. Had them on my Ford Explorer and they were outstanding. Tough, great traction, quiet and smooth ride.
I had Michelin LTX M/S and found them to be very good. I got ~74,000 out of them, and had plenty left. I change tires early because of family/safety. I replaced the LTX M/S with Michelin Cross Terrains. The XTerrains are GREAT. They give a much better ride and seem to have much better wet grip. I feel the XTerrains are definitely worth the extra bucks.
I am really interested in purchasing a new 2002 Sequoia Limited with some manufacture installed options. According to Edmunds.com, the invoice price is $39,893, the MSRP is $45,175, and the TMV is $42,071. In northern California, is the TMV a good indication of the price that people are paying? If not, what is? Comment's anyone?
In my experience the TMV is usually pretty close to reality. It rarely is ever the absolute lowest prices going but seem to represent a fair deal for all involved parties. There are examples where they miss (for instance, last year their ECHO price was below invoice minus holdback) but in general, they are a good indicator.
Has anyone found a way to deal with that left rear compartment door that frequently comes off? I have tried expanding the "latches" but they have a good memory. I am considering fitting some firm rubber in them to reduce the likelyhood that the door will make its way loose. All suggestions are helpful, but please don't respond with a GM comparison.
low ball 88. I purchased a Seq Limited in Northern CA last February. I found that some dealers were not willing to move on price but some were. The best combination of price and getting the vehicle I wanted resulted in me paying half way between invoice and asking price. Other things may come into play? Are they willing to give you a good trade-in? Are they willing to "look" for your car and see if anyone else has it on site or on the way and be willing to trade?
Had my snowtires taken off my truck recently. The ride seemed incredibly harsh since and I was thinking that the roads had deteriorated over the winter. Decided to check the tire pressure and it was at 51 psi, which was the maximum pressure on the tire. Sequoia recommended pressure is 32 for my tires. I guess the moral of the story is if something feels different/wrong it probably is! I really didn't think that tire pressure would make that much difference. This may factor into new tire purchases as well as different manufacturers recommend different pressures.
Comments
-mike
The "burb" did its time with about 15% off road, 50% on dirt/gravel roads and 35% on pavement. The truck portion (drive train) took the beating and kept working but the interior was thrashed. Knobs broke, door-handle springs came off, the glove box latch broke, The seat latches broke (on those seats that folded forward), and the door latches & hinges felt the wear. This vehicle was truly tested...I would say that the interior maintenance need to occur more frequently. The damaged latches, handles and window knobs were design flaws and no maintenance would help.
Overall, the burb was a good vehicle. Based on the experience with that burb, I almost bought a newer burb for home use. I did have a problem getting past the interior problems of the burb and my past interior problems with an El Camino. I also had more happy experiences with Toyota service than any chevy/gm service. About 6 months after my wife and I decided not to buy the burb, we read about the impending Sequoia. We waited, we tried, we bought.
Cliffy said, "Finally, if it has clutches, they will wear out."
I have a '92 Toy 4WD PU with 185k and I'm still on the original clutch. I do ~50/50 freeway and hilly country roads and I down shift plenty to slow down. I am also on the original brakes...5 mm front and 6mm rear at the 180k check. I have a Prius now so the PU only gets out once a week or so...I guess I'll let the kids pay for the new clutch and brakes. The wife drives the Sequoia so I will likely make up for the brake servicing costs by paying for her slightly heavy foot on this very heavy car.
714cut: I would hope the Lexus has a slighter higher quality to it as it will likely cost $10K more than the most expensive US SUV (other than the Hummer). BTW, care to make a guess why they put the LSDs in the Lexus design combined with the traction control?
You asked "Also, the Durango does currently have a 5.9L optional engine. What makes you think that the 5.7L hemi won't fit in there?"
You won't find the engine you referred to because Dodge doesn't have a drivetrain to match upt to the power of the engine. Its not just a matter of the engine bay size.
You also asked "What SUV does the GM turbodiesel go into other than the $147000 cdn Hummer?"
You can order the optional 6.6L turbodiesel in any HD truck GM makes, however its not available in their suvs.
"So now let's see all of the advantages you and GM offer to prospective SUV buyer out there over the Toyota Sequoia:
1. Bigger engine
2. Higher torque rating
3. Better AWD versus the useless 4WD in the Seq.
4. Higher payload
5. More choices
6. More standard features
7. Higher value
8. Higher tow rating
9. Higher/comparable resale value
10. ......"
Actually my view would be slightly different
1) More powerful engine
2) more flexible powertrain options to choose from to best meet your intended uses
3) higher payload
4) higher tow capacities
5) more standard features
6) comparable value
7) comparable resale value
This list explains why GM has sold 9.5X the number of F/S SUVs as Toyota. In fact GM sold 95,377 F/S SUVs in the first 2 months of '02 to the 10,192 units from Toyota. Furthermore GM has an 18% growth rate for the same two months when compared to the first two months of 2001. By contrast Toyota has a 7% increase with the Sequoia over the same period last year.
Finally the Chevy Avalanche (which I'll be the first to state I don't fully understand) has nearly 50% greater sales in the first two months of this year than the Sequoia (Aval. 15,003 units vs Sequoia 10,192).
To answer your question "With all of the above, how come the Sequoia is still selling briskly at the expense of Ford and GM trucks ??? Are buyers that stupid ?", I'd have to say that buyers are not stupid and in fact have chosen the vehicle that best matches their needs and wallet. More often than not its a GM product.
You are off-base in your information "Oh, and btw, just from a layman's perspective, isn't it interesting that your Denali's mighty 345Hp only generates ca. 350 Ib ft of torque, whereas the "puny little motor" in the Sequoia's 240HP generates a comparable 320 Ib ft of torque ?"
The Denali XL has 320hp not 345hp, it has 365 ft lbs of torque not 350, the Sequoia does have 240hp but its torque is 315 ft lbs not 320. You point however is a good one that the Sequoia does generate a healthy amount of torque from its displacement.
you conclude with "Whether you like it or not, the Sequoia is here to stay and prosper...."
I happen to like it and also believe it will stay and prosper. Toyota makes way to much on you guys to consider letting it go away:)
Just once correction you stated "The heavier burb would sink in a little more on startup from stop but never got stuck. The lighter rear end of the Toy would get loose in 2 WD but never got stuck in cobbles (I did bury it to the doors in mud but that was operator error.)"
Actually a 4wd Sequoia weighs more than a 4wd 1500 Suburban or Yukon XL (Seq. 5295lbs vs Sub 5123lbs).
I have also heard (although not confirmed) that there is a way to increase the threshold for wheel slip before the rev limiter kicks in. Talk to your service guys at your next oil change. There may be a TSB on this.
There must be some sort of manifold/ignition/exhaust/fuel delivery variance to account for these differences.
5295lbs vs Sub 5123lbs)."
I have lost weight since my burb days so I can safely drive the Sequoia on cobbles.
"Sequoia 5295 lbs vs Sub 5123 lbs", espinoldo was talking about his Toyota PU, BYW you neglected to include the weight of your precious Denali @ 5820 lbs.
-mike
you asked "How many models is that vs one from Toyota?"
I would say its three models with different levels of trim to the one model from Toyota with several levels of trim. I would categorize the Yukon, Tahoe, Escalade, Denali as one model with various trim levels. The second model would be made up of the Suburban, Yukon XL and Denali XL. Third model would be the Avalanche.
These three models significantly outsell the Sequoia and in fact most, if not all, of the individual trim levels outsell the Sequoia.
You also asked "How many years have they been making full size SUV's vs 2 years for Toyota?"
While I don't know exactly, I'd be farely accurate in stating about 60 years advantage in GM's favor in building f/s suvs vs Toyota's.
I responded to espinaldo's post with "Sequoia 5295 lbs vs Sub 5123 lbs".
I interpreted his statement to be comparing his Sequoia to the Suburban he owned. Therefore I shared the weight difference between a Suburban and a Sequoia. I certainly see nothing precious about my Denali and saw nothing in his post that would have suggested its weight in his comparison was relevant.
If anyone wants to buy a Silver Sky Metallic Seq Ltd, mine's for sale...
-mike
Check Edmund's ( http://www.edmunds.com ) front page for tools that will help you to sell your vehicle. Your local newspaper is probably the best bet for listing your vehicle for sale.
tidester
Host
SUVs
You'll note that Edmunds lists the Denali as a trim "type" for the Yukon XL as does Carpoint, Autosite and every other car info site on the web. In fact, Autosite doesn't even break the Denali XL sales out separately from Yukon XL.
And No I would not categorize a Safari or Astro van with a pickup. Completely different sheet metal, chassis and motor options. Not too mention one can carry a load of dirt in one vehicle while the other can't (at least not without an awfully good shop vac:)
I recognize the substantially greater # of years of experience that GM has in building f/s suvs compared to Toyota. The fact that Toyota has sold the number of Sequoia's they have is a testament to their quality and the fact that their selling quite a well designed vehicle.
If I had to guess, the predominant market for Sequoia's is California as they are very rare to see in the East and it seems most of the Sequoia owner's posting here are from the West (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong in my assumption).
What does seem surprising is the fact that GM is selling F/S suvs at nearly 3 times the growth of Toyota which is particularly interesting given their base of nearly ten time the size of Toyota. I would hope you agree that's not too shabby and likely a reflection that GM is getting their "stuff" in one sock" as we used to say in the Navy regarding the quality and design going into their suvs.
Who knows, maybe one day GM will be fortunate enough to build as strong a marketing message around their quality as Toyota has:)
I got such good advice on winter tires here, I figured I'd try for advice on summer tires too. We are thinking of replacing the original tires with some better summer tires when we take off our winter tires this week. Any tires to particularly look for or avoid?
Thanks!
btw, we ended up going with Bridgestone Winter Duelers for winter, and they were great!
Looking forward to your replies....
--RobynK
Weren't we talking about value and what you get for your $$$ in earlier posts?
-mike
-mike
On the rebates. I think the attractive financing and rebates have really just sustained the growth that GM was already experiencing. There was a healthy discussion on GM's F/S suv growth in the summer and fall of last year before 9/11, when their rebates and financing went into effect. The growth is pretty much the same as last year and above all other makes of suvs (other than brand new models of course). Therefore its reasonable to conclude that GM is building a solid product meeting more people's needs and definition of value than other products.
BTW, I own a Toyota Avalon and its an excellent vehicle. Its my view that the Denali XL I have is every bit the quality product that the Avalon is. The Avalon was light years ahead of my previous Sub however the Denali XL is of the same level, so far. The Toyota has 75K (in 2+ years) and its been very reliable with little in the way of warranty work needed. The DXL has 18K on it in 15 months and I've had to do nothing more than change the oil.
714cut and paisan: There are actually quite a few differences between the Denali XL and a Yukon XL. The price difference between a fully loaded Yukon XL and a Denali XL based on my shopping of a year ago is about $4500-5500.
For the additional money you get the following:
1) 6.0L engine (320hp and 365 ft lbs of torque)
2) AWD
3) Focussed beam headlights and "Denali" grill and body trim
4) 17" wheels
5) Michelin X-Terrain tires
6) Bose sound system with in-dash 6 CD changer
7) Denali upgraded leather
8) transmission temp guage
9) steering wheel radio controls
10) in-dash fuel and trip computer
11) rear heated seats
12) 14 way driver seats with 2 memory positions
Unfortunately these options are not available in the other models so it comes down to whether or not this list of goodies (above all the other options that are available in the standard Suburburban and included in the DXL) is worth the extra $4-5K. For me it was an easy decision.
Kelly Safari
Yokohama Geolander HT
Bridgestone Dueler H/T
(I've found CR ratings on the Dueler A/T and H/L but not H/T -- is that an inferior tire to the H/L?)
Any preferences among those?
I did post on the "Tires, Tires, Tires" board but when choosing winter tires I found the Toyota Sequoia board to have people and more relevant info than the generic Tires board, which is why I'm trying here again...
Thanks in advance!
--RobynK
In bringing up his Denali into the Sequoia forum, he had always turned every discussion into a GM-versus-Sequoia debate... But he is very clever, you see... he will lead with defensive statements such as in post #5148...
The Denali is a very nice vehicle, prolly worth every cent of its cost... But the Denali ain't a Sequoia now is it ??? And this remains a Toyota Sequoia forum. There is another forum dedicated to comparing these two vehicles, and therein MANY of heatwave's debate belongs...
But who is listening ? I hope our able moderators can use their discretion to re-post/re-route many of the comparo posts to the appropriate forums so that we can address real Toyota Sequoia issues such as that of robynk and others which are buried in the wave of ad nauseum GM debates...
But it is fun, go right on and have your fun heatwave at all of our expense... We all love you
I think you'll agree, I try not to start a dialogue that takes the forum off its "beaten path", however I see no reason I shouldn't respond to questions raised and obviously our host agrees that there was no harm in the accurate information provided in response to the question.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Now what was it robynk was asking about again ???
1. "interferes with the ability of others to enjoy Town Hall".
2. "disruptive conduct, such as off-topic comments in a topic-oriented discussion, is not allowed".
3. "promote any products or services".
Enough GM is enough.
But, YMMV. Good luck,
Jack
Thanks in advance
Good Luck.
-mike
PS: had to do it couldn't pass up the open door you left
Decided to check the tire pressure and it was at 51 psi, which was the maximum pressure on the tire. Sequoia recommended pressure is 32 for my tires.
I guess the moral of the story is if something feels different/wrong it probably is!
I really didn't think that tire pressure would make that much difference.
This may factor into new tire purchases as well as different manufacturers recommend different pressures.