Toyota Sequoia

clpurnell · August 2003

You still around can you shed any light on changes?

stever · August 2003

Steve hasn't been around for a couple of months. Rumor is that he went to the dark side (new job with *gasp* GM).

Either that or he's on an exceptionally long fishing trip.

Steve, Host

oac3 · August 2003

Is on an exceptionally long fishing trip, lol !!! More like he's found the light and gone a-fishing where the waters are filled with sharks and dolphins alike, hehehehe.....

BTW, rugeti, there is no word yet on changes to the 2004 LC from the Toyota *oracle* lady. Will pass along when/if we hear of it.

rugeti1 · August 2003

janetplanet · August 2003

I was looking at the Honda Pilot, but in wanting that 3rd row of seats, I'm thinking I'm going to be disappointed unless I go to a bigger vehicle. Sequoia seems to be the best choice. Any thoughts on whether I should get a new ('03 or '04) vs. saving the $$ and getting a top of the line '02?

bigorange30 · August 2003

1) Repairs - Doesn't it make sense that repairs will come sooner on the '02 than on the '04? It is a Toyota but its still equipment that will eventually need a few repairs. With the new, you'll have more years are under warranty.

2) Interest - interest rates are lower on new cars than on used.

3) Purchasing Frequency - You will have to buy another car quicker if you buy the '02 than if you buy the '04.

4) Resale value - The resale value will be higher when you go to sell on the '04 than on the '02. Because of this you should also not pay more than 80% for an '03 than you would for and '04 because it is truly worth that much less due to depreciation and resale value later on.

Calculate it all out and divide it across the total # of miles you would drive each. Remember that you will drive the '02 for less miles than you would the '04.

cliffy1 · August 2003

Not a bad guess. Actually, I stopped posting back in June when I took a trip to Tampa for some fishing. When I returned, I just never got back to the TH. Since moving into the finance office 2 years ago, I've found I don't have as much to contribute as I once did. Besides, I took up a new hobby of home gunsmithing so my free time is now shot (so to speak).

In answer to the question of the 2004... I have no answer yet. The 2004 spec. book has not been released. This means we are at least 2 months away from having them.

steveb84 · August 2003

As posted before: no major changes, no nav, no color changes.

bqmd · August 2003

No memory seats either? Can't get over that one. Risk of rollver in the Sequoia? Does anyone have info on that?

jraider · August 2003

Janetplanet,

Just a year ago we were also looking at a Sequoia
vs. a Pilot. We really use the 3rd row seats and the Sequoias have way more room. I can get three car seats across the back. Also my bigger teenage kids have a lot of room back there. We love our Sequoia, we have an '03. It is a good family vehicle. We liked the Pilot too. It just isn't as roomy. If I were you I would get an '04.

gteach26 · August 2003

That would be a shame.. other manufacturer's are producing very interesting and competitive vehicles. I''m hoping Toyota will jump to the forefront with some neat additions to the sequoia soon; it's falling a bit behind. IMO, reliability will always produce a steady stream of customers for this vehicle, but new and exciting innovations that generate good buzz will get even more people excited. Right now if I were in the SUV market I'd be waiting it out 'till a "fresher" Sequoia debuts.

husky92 · August 2003

I'm referring to the 4WD Sequoia driving in 2 vs. 4 wheel drive not mileage between the 2 and 4 wheel drive Sequoias.

Has anybody determined what the difference in gas mileage is between driving in 2WD v. 4WD? I haven't myself but I suspect it will be little to no difference as the Sequoia delivers all power to the rear wheels when in 4WD mode and transfers power to the front when needed correct?

rugeti · August 2003

Thanks, and based on you position I am not going to argue. All I can say is amazing!

Any insight on changes to the 2004 Land Cruiser?

p9ccg1 · August 2003

I just bought an 03 SR5 and was offered the Platinum extended warranty 7yrs, 75K miles for $1450. We will only put about 10K miles/year on the truck so it seems like a good insurance policy against any major problems. I believe the extended warranty has a lot of value, but I am not sure at what price point it makes sense. Any thoughts? What are others paying?

cliffy1 · August 2003

If your Sequoia is a 4WD, the MSRP on the 7/75 Platinum plan with $0 deductible is $1300. I've sold the 7/100 for less than they hit you for the 75K plan.

I'm a fan of the Platinum plan, but only if reasonably priced.

sequoiasoon · August 2003

Send Cliffy1 an e-mail (address is in his profile) and in other Sequoia discussions. He has some excellent info he'll share with you. I researched a lot before deciding on warranty. Toyota told me I could buy it from any dealer (which I did). 4 local dealers had 4 different prices and only 1 was Toyota "factory" warranty, all the rest used 3 different independent companies. The "worst" dealer by me wanted twice what I paid for a 6/60 administered by somebody I had never heard of. I ended up with a 7/100 Toyota Platinum (factory backed $0 deductible) that I bought from KJ Toyota in Springfield, VA. (I live on Long Island in NY 6 hours away!) Phone/internet/e-mail shopping is excellent for getting better deals.

By the way as stated you can buy from any dealer and you can do that anytime during the factory warranty (I.e. 35 months /35,000 miles from now). With all the computer controlled items, costs can add up real quick if there are problems. Did you know your '03 has NO throttle cable? It's just a position sensor! Did you know you don't need "hold" the key in the start position? Just tap it once and will crank for 20 seconds or when it starts whichever happens first. Toyota can also program the door locks through the computer (auto lock when you put in drive, auto lock when you hit 20 mph, or manual mode all your choice) as well as how long the lights stay on before turning off automatically and many other options. If they offered a 15 yr/200,000 option I would probably get that, my '93 Corolla just turned 170K (no problems knock on wood) but not as many computer controlled items either.

stever · August 2003

That sounds like an ad....

Extended warranties average a 70% profit for the retailer.

That means that the dealer (or insurance company) thinks that repairs on your Toyota aren't going to exceed the premium plus whatever interest it earns sitting in the account waiting for a claim.

Besides, Toyotas are reliable right? (mine sure was).

I prefer to keep my money and take my chances on repair costs. Besides, all that computer stuff is just like your PC; if it's going to fail, it'll probably fail in the first 24 hours.

ymmv, or maybe you think you sleep better with insurance. Here's a link with more. (Cheapskate Monthly)

Steve, Host

cliffy1 · August 2003

However... have you ever had a 6 disc CD changer steal one of your discs? Ever had a power seat stop working? Maybe a dead alternator? How about AC systems? You know there are two in the Sequoia right? These are no "reliability" issues but certainly are things that may need repair and can cost a fair amount of money to fix.

Here is a description of a typical conversation with a service writer on an AC problem:

"Well, if we're lucky, it will only be a switch. If that's all it is, you're looking at $140. If that doesn't do it, we have to go in and diagnose it. The diagnosis will run 4 hours of labor. Then, we should know if it is the compressor. If that isn't it, we'll start looking elsewhere. Unfortunately, we wont know until we actually put it back together and start using it."

Its a conversation like that, that makes many folks wish they had the extended warranty and that's only one system.

Warranties are just like insurance. You hope you never need to use it. If you ever do, you're sure glad you bought it. If you can afford to self insure, you're ahead of the game.

One final thought on this. It does depend on which warranty company you get and the price that is offered.

tidester · August 2003

... but certainly are things that may need repair and can cost a fair amount of money to fix.

That's certainly true but, on average, you will pay more for the insurance than you would for the cost of repairs. Otherwise, the insurance companies wouldn't be in business.

tidester, host

cliffy1 · August 2003

"On average" you are right. "On average" that would also be true of my health insurance as a 34 year old male. If I have an accident that causes above average damage to... say and ankle, I'm sure glad I spent the money.

As I said, if you can afford to self insure, do it.

stever · August 2003

Does that ankle let you know when it's going to rain? Or does it just ache when it's time to go fishing again?

For those who don't know the history:

cliffy1 Sep 19, 2001 11:54am

Steve, Host

gedmundsc · August 2003

Well i am heading up to pick up the SR5 2001 after a 45k servicing at the dealer. It is going to run me a measly ~$900. Yep - YIKES!!! But I requested, the diff fluids, transfer case and transmission fluids all be changed, due to my constant towing, add in a wheel alignment which I requested, new front brakes, glass brakage sensor adjusted, new wipers and the standard 45k servicing. If it was just the 45k servicing it would have been $300.

Now - what was that conversation about extended warranties and insurance....

I also stand corrected - the tire pressure is 32psi, and I did adjust the pressure w/the new Toyo's to 32psi.

There have been no major problems. I ran into a family with same year but a Limited, said they were dissappointed when they first got it because of little problems, passenger seat collapsed, things not working correctly, a lot of little annoyances, but the dealer repaired everything under warranty and now they love it. They were at 75k and no other problems.

rugeti · August 2003

Regarding your comment on the changes to the 2004's, I understand that there will be no Nav or color changes, but are you aware of any other changes, even minor ones?

The way I look at it, an '04 will cost me about $800 more, assuming the prices do not increase. If there are some minor changes, it may be worth waiting for the new one as opposed to grabbing a year-end deal. What do you think?

cliffy1 · August 2003

Ankle still swells up when I stand on it for too long... which is usually when I am fishing. I suspect I'll always have that reminder of how NOT to extract an anchor. Thanks for asking.

steveb84 · August 2003

To the best of my knowledge there are zero changes on the 2004 model.

arslan · August 2003

I bought an 03 Sequoia in Desert Sand but was actually looking for one colored either gold or brown. In the Washington DC area, I've seen several of those gold and brown colored Sequoias on the road, albeit rarely. Those colors aren't available in the brochure, and I didn't see any at any dealership. Oh well...

nyhack · August 2003

Just went by the "Yota" dealer and picked up a 2004 brochure. No changes to speak of. Colors
Phantom Gray
Silver Sky
Natural White
Black
Salsa Red Pearl
Desert Sand
Blue Marlin
Imperial Jade

Expected arrival 2-3 weeks per money grabbing sales rep. Offering 2003 Limited loaded except no DVD for $39,300 plus TTL. Is this a fair price??

nomarian · August 2003

Is that price for the 2WD or the 4WD version?

driver57 · August 2003

I am thinking of purchasing an 04 Limited and want to use 275/65/17 tires. I have had Michelin LTX M+S on a few Explorers and my current 01 Limited.(265/70/16)
However it does not appear that Michelin carries that size in the M+S.
I believe the Land Cruiser uses 275/65/17. Does anybody know what brand they use?
Unrelated item. My 01 Limited has about 64K miles and transmission "blew". When dealer opened it up the magnet was full of metal and transmission was ruined, so they installed a new transmission.
Appeared to occur after using 4WD for a short time. Low noise appeared which became worse after a day or two especially when upshifting/downshifting around 25 - 40MPH and around 65 MPH. Finally, going uphill at about 60MPH there was a "sickening" crunch etc and only a rattling sound when in any gear including park.
Vehicle had been well maintained with no off road use and 4wd use from time to to time in snow and rain.
Has anybody experienced anything similar?

nyhack · August 2003

That was an 03 2WD with a MSRP sticker of 46.3K

z71bill · August 2003

Check out tirerack.com - you can search by tire size - it will give you a good idea what is available.

Did Toyota cover the cost of a new tranny?

driver57 · August 2003

Thanks for info re tirerack.com.
Initially dealer said cost of tranny $ 7k cdn plus about $ 1.5 k cdn for installation. Later they said I would have to pay up to 20%.
When vehicle was ready they said no charge. I think the fact that I had all required service work done at the dealer since purchasing vehicle plus I had been at the dealer the week before asking about changes to 04 model may have helped.
They still do not know the cause.

rugeti · August 2003

No real changes for '04.

http://www.toyota.com/about/news/product/2003/08/18-1-pricing.htm- l

durangobuyer · August 2003

Our 2002 Sequoia (29,000 miles) has experienced the following replacements in the past 2 months; Transfer Case replacement, Front and rear differential replacements, wheel bearing replaced. On a 600 mile summer trip the bottom of the vehicle sounded like it was roaring when we hit highway speed. Service dept. could not identify problem but found several defective parts in drive train. We continued on another summer trip and experienced the "ROAR" again,especially when we hit 40-60 mph. Both differentials were replaced and Toyota service dept is still not sure if this is the problem. Is anyone else experiencing this problem(s)? It's actually a subtle noise at first which becomes more noticeable on the highways. We really like this SUV, we are long time SUV users and can't understand if we have purchased a lemon or if this is the beginning of a major recall on the Sequoias. Either way I hope the problems get resolved and we get our Sequoia back soon. Each service visit has kept our vehicle in excess of 3 days to a week. It seems that the parts are never available at the service dept. and they must be ordered and delivered by UPS. Very inconvenient. We were finally given a loaner but it still does not satisfy the inconveniences. So far everything has been covered under the orginal warrantee which came with the SUV. I have heard that when we hit 35,000 miles this may no longer apply. My friend who has had many problems with her Sequoia finally dumped it and bought a used Lexus 470. I will do the same if the problems persist. Our service dept. is also less than desireable.They do not return calls and did not put us on the calender for the repairs requested. They also failed to solve the problems on the first go around. We have had 3 visits to Toyota service since July 2003. Unacceptable.

raddboy41 · August 2003

Does it diminish or go away if you put in 4WD? I did find this on the Tundra Solutions website....

Here you go...directly from Toyota....

"Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We appreciate your interest in the Sequioa and welcome the opportunity to address your inquiry.

We are currently working on a technical countermeasure to address a "drone" in the 2003 Sequoia drive train at speeds greater than 35mph. The sound has been found to be rooted in the differential.

Once that countermeasure has been put into place on the production line, a Technical Service Bulletin will be released to all of our servicing dealers. The Technical Service Bulletin will consist of repair instructions on how to correct the "drone" from the differential as well as a list of VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) ranges for those units affected.

We thank you for your enthusiasm about our products and hope that you will continue to consider Toyota for your driving needs.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

National Customer Relations"

blackdog4 · August 2003

Last month I was 4WDing on the sand on Martha's Vineyard and came across an Explorer, who was stuck in deep sand. He had dug himself in to the rear axle. After surveying the situation and noting his tires were properly deflated, I was looking for a place to attach a tow cable to his front end. At that point an attendant from the reservation we were on came along and after seeing the deep hole the Explorer was in, suggested we wait for one of their tow vehicles to come to the rescue. We decided to give it a try anyway and in 4WD low I pulled him out with what seemed like very little effort. It is a great 4WD system.

durangobuyer · August 2003

Thanks for that great information concerning the Tundra release. "Drone" is a good description for the sounds eminating from beneath my floorboards. The Sequoia is still in the shop (going on 7 days now), my Toyota service dept is stumped. In answer to your question, no 4WD doesn't make it go away. I usually don't drive that fast with it on anyway. My "drone" or "roar" begins at 40 mph and ends at 60mph. I can do anything on up and hear nothing! I am waiting to see if my VIN is on the recall. We'll see. Thanks again for the post.

cliffy1 · August 2003

The Tundra drone probably is not the same thing as the Sequoia problem as described by Durangobuyer. The Tundra problem sounds more like you are driving over rumble strips and only happens when the drive line is cold. It happens between 20 and 50 MPH and goes away when the front differential heats up. How do I know this? Because mine has it. It drives me nuts. The Tundra and Sequoia don't share a 4WD system so it is unlikely the two problems are related.

gkatz1 · August 2003

No one is talking about Tundra's, that is just the name of the site. The "drone" is specific to 2003 Sequoia.

gkatz1 · August 2003

I have a whole set of the standard steel wheels for my Sequoia which I'm planning to use for the winter. I'm thinking about Bridgestone Winter Duelers. They rate very well on tire rack. Anyone use them?

cliffy1 · August 2003

I stand corrected. The posted memo was in relation to the Sequoia. Your impolite quip prompted me to go back and read it. Me error was in reading durangobuyer's post where he stated, "Thanks for that great information concerning the Tundra release." So in fact, somebody was talking about the Tundra, however erroneously.

gkatz1 · August 2003

What do you guys think of this portable DVD mount instead of a permanent system? Definately more flexible but does it bounce around alot?

http://www.mitocorp.com/panasonic_dvd_vehicle_specificat.htm#navi

pschreck · August 2003

Looks good to me. I honestly can't imagine why anybody would shell out $2000 (?) for the factory unit. For half that kind of money you could get a laptop computer w/ DVD. Of course I don't know if this bracket would fit.

snapshot7 · August 2003

Howdy all,

I've been planning on buying a 04 4Runner within the next couple of months.

However I have noticed the lack of head and leg room in the new model. I'm 6'1" tall and approx. 200lbs. I think I'm about average height for this area (maybe a little on the tall/big side) but shouldn't the redesigned 4Runner have more head and leg room?

In order for me to get comfortable I have to lower the seat all the way to the bottom and move the seat all the way back to it's farthest postion. This leaves me about 2 1/2" headroom and no adjustment room for my legs (but the seat is in the spot I current want).

While this does make it easier to remember the settings if they get changed I don't think I want a new vehicle that has no room for adjustments.

What happens during the winter when I have a large, heavy coat on? What about when I wear boots?

All of this has got me thinking about another choice for the replacement of my 1996 Blazer. I want to stay with Toyota for their quality and reliabilty. The only other choice (within my price range) is the Sequoia.

The problem I have is that I already decided against a Chevy Tahoe because it is too big and I want something that is fairly "nibble" in the handling and parking department (I back into parking spots 99% of the time).

I drove a Sequoia today for the first time and it drives alot better that a Tahoe but it isn't small by any means.

The Lexus GX470 has the added headroom I need but it is BUTT ugly and overpriced IMHO.

Can anyone here give me any info on how the Sequoia compares to the 4Runner for everyday driving, handling, and parking?

BTW, this would be my everyday vehicle.

durangobuyer · August 2003

Here's the latest update on the Sequoia Drivetrain Saga. We've now entered week number 2, it's been in the shop since Aug.18. I had to call the service manager to ask the status of the SUV and she said they've been waiting all day to hear back from Toyota to find out if it's a transmission problem or not. Apparently Toyota doesn't answer their phone calls? In conclusion, today we've got a stumped service dept who has replaced everything underneath my Sequoia except the transmission and we are not closer to solving the "Roar" noise than we were two months ago when the problem first appeared. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Hope you all are having better experiences with your Sequoias than me!!!

durangobuyer · August 2003

In case you are wondering, "YES, this service dept is at the TOYOTA dealership where the vehicle was purchased

oac3 · August 2003

count those days at the shop and hope the dealership continues to be stumped. Why do I say this ? I want you to qualify for a new one via a lemon law usage. That way you get a brand spanking new truck without the problem you are currently having. BTW, how many miles are on your truck ? Mine has 44K miles, and is an '01 SR5 2WD.

Good luck and keep us posted.

petro33 · August 2003

How many days do they have to keep it to qualify for the lemon law??

oac3 · August 2003

Here is the link to the statute as applied in the state I live in - California

http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/state_laws/california.htm

Go back one page on that link, and you'd find one applicable to your state.

There is a legalese statement from the lemon law statute that is pertinent to durangobuyer's case:

"Nonconformity" means a nonconformity which substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the new motor vehicle to the buyer or lessee"

Whatever the length of *impaired usage of the vehicle* is may be determined by the arbitrator in the case before a judgement of if it qualifies for a lemon law. I dunno tho' cos I am not a lawyer.

Hope this helps

sequoiasoon · August 2003

After living in Upstate NY and trying different snows my choice is Nokian. You can check etires.com for price and availability. I had friends order from Rouse tire in VT. They shipped to door with cheaper prices than on-line. I've tried Bridgestone Blizzak, Michelin Alpin, Gislaved Frost, Wintermaster, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 1 (studded and non), Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q, Nokian Hakkapeliitta NRW, and Nokian Hakkapeliitta WR. Only catch for all these tires is you really need 4 (best mounted on spare rims)because the traction is that much better and so you don't burn them out in the summer. Only having 2 will give one end of the truck great grip to start but stopping and turning will be same as always. Tirerack and Etires will only sell 4 because of this difference and potential liabilities. Also check Nokiantires.com for some info. I had gone from Nokian Hak 10(worn) to Bridgestone Blizzak and was not impressed went back 2 weeks later and switched to Nokian Hak 1 NICE! Currently using the WR's, they are quieter with still great snow traction as well as dry and wet. For pure snow my choice would probably be the Hak 1's (current version I think is LT). Since most of my drive now is now on just wet and some slush, I opted to try the quieter "all weather" and they do work great. As soon as my son is old enough to ski I'll probably go back to the more aggressive versions. I had to work on President's day this year when everything was shut down. Didn't have the Sequoia yet, used my '93 Corolla. The "stuck and couldn't move from stoplight" SUV's in 4WD were like WHAT THE....? Only issue I had was ground clearance where the plows left 4 foot deep walls.

Toyota Sequoia

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