Toyota Sequoia...decent family hauler/tow vehicle?

[Zef]

Originally Posted by kaisen

You should just copy and paste the same post over, and over, and over..... oh, wait - you did (do)

And I will again... Ask me why..?...F*****g GM crap products....nuff time lost.

[VaSteve]

Thanks for all the input guys. Remember, in this equation, it's a people hauler first. It'd be my wife's daily driver, drop the kids off, pick up groceries, go places. I'd use it to tow occasionally, maybe for that long trip to Mid Ohio, WG, VIR. I'm far more worried about something breaking down when my wife is with the kids then when I'm on my way to a track event.

Big 3 American trucks certainly seem competent, but the seem less refined and than the Toyota. But, yeah, the Toyota is rocking a good 90's look inside. Really hesitent on any Nissans. Both me and my wife owned Nissan. Piles of Junk. Yes, that was years ago, but we've all been burned somewhere.

I don't mind turning a wrench, as a hobby, I hate having to mess with the DD on a deadline.

[speeder]

I'm with Kaisen on this one. If I needed a late-model used SUV, it would be a Tahoe or Suburban. They are so cheap, you cannot touch them in terms of vehicle for the dollar.

In my immediate family, we've owned half a dozen Toyota SUVs or trucks plus one new Tahoe, (back in '90s), and 4 or 5 Ford trucks. My only complaint on the Tahoe was that it loosened-up a bit after 70-80k miles. Still a good truck just lost its "newness" too soon. And they are much more refined now than then.

I have friends in Minn. w/ old Suburbans w/ 200k+ miles that are still perfectly dependable w/ occassional repairs. Toyotas w/ high miles need repairs as well.

GM builds good trucks, maybe the best light trucks in the world when you factor in towing. If they built a Suburban 2500 w/ Duramax/Allison, it would be the best SUV on the planet. Hands-down. Don't know why they don't offer it.

I've never known anyone w/ a modern Chevy truck w/ the type of reliability issues that Zef is alluding to. Just the opposite.

For $10k less, I'd take an almost new Tahoe. Toyotas are a waste of $$ They made sense back in the days when they were cheap and got great gas. mileage, now they're the biggest fuel and money pigs around.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

For $10k less, I'd take an almost new Tahoe. Toyotas are a waste of $$ They made sense back in the days when they were cheap and got great gas. mileage, now they're the biggest fuel and money pigs around.

That's all well and good now, but what about when you want to sell? Your Tahoe is worth nothing, where your Toyota still has value. And I'm pretty sure a Tahoe is no better on MPG than a Sequoia.

I'm sure the domestics are all fairly reliable SUVs. Lovely. But until the most recent generation of Tahoe/Yukon, the GM products were absolute crap inside. I haven't been in a new Expedition, but I know that the 2005 that we drove when we were SUV shopping was a joke. Same goes for the Durango. Not just crap to Matt the picky car guy, but bad enough that my wife noticed it. Rattles, cheap hard plastic, mouse-hair fabric and carpet, etc. And where the Toyota and Nissan were smooth and refined, the domestics were floaty and soft. So they'll both get you there, but one more pleasantly than the other.

As a sidebar, my Land Cruiser has 192k. I have records since new, the most expensive record is a fuel pump for under $400 (including labor). The fabric and carpet still look new, everything works, and there are zero rattles. It's in far better shape than my old 2000 Silverado, and the Chevy had 1/2 the miles.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

As a sidebar, my Land Cruiser has 192k.....It's in far better shape than my old 2000 Silverado, and the Chevy had 1/2 the miles.

Wasn't your Silverado a previous salvage vehicle? Thought so.

So apples and oranges. No point made

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Wasn't your Silverado a previous salvage vehicle? Thought so.

So apples and oranges. No point made

Yes. It had the bed replaced, the cab wasn't touched. I'm pretty certain that did not affect the hard plastic, cheap fabric and carpet, and multitude of exposed seams.

C'mon, you can't possibly argue that the tactile and assembly quality of a used Chevy will compare to any import? Like I said, the new generation of GM trucks and SUVs are quite good. The older ones.......not so much.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Yes. It had the bed replaced, the cab wasn't touched. I'm pretty certain that did not affect the hard plastic, cheap fabric and carpet, and multitude of exposed seams.

No, but it would affect the operation and rattles, as you alluded

C'mon, you can't possibly argue that the tactile and assembly quality of a used Chevy will compare to any import?

I think comparing a Landcruiser (by far the most expensive Toyota - they now START at $65K) to a plain-jane GM pickup truck is about as apples to oranges as it gets.

I would certainly expect a vehicle that costs three times as much (new or used, your pick) to have higher quality components, better fit and finish, and nicer materials.

[911boost]

I agree with Dennis, if GM would get off its rear and put the Duramax/Allison combo in a 2500 Suburban, I would be all over that in a heartbeat. Until then, I will keep driving my 2004 Ford Excursion with a 6.0 PowerStroke.

My previous towing vehicle / daily driver during the winter, was a 2001 Tahoe with the 5.3L and three rows of seats. If it would have had a bigger engine in it, I'd still be driving it. I had 102,XXX miles on it, and it only required oil changes and tires. Even with a lot of towing in the mountains, it never needed new brakes. Was the intertior perfect, nope, it was plasitc-y, but it never faded, cracked, etc.

My Excursion is pretty much a sea of plastic, who cares. Its a truck.

On a side note, it gets better mileage than any of the Seqouia's my boss has had (he leases a new one every 2 years).

My wife drives a V8 Volvo XC90...

Bill

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

That's all well and good now, but what about when you want to sell? Your Tahoe is worth nothing, where your Toyota still has value.

I'm sick of this arguement. If you must make it, do it for a NEW one. But not used.
Let's look at a realistic scenario:

$35,000 2006 Toyota Sequoia LTD 4x4 w/ 33K mi (OP value)

$26,000 2006 Ford Expedition LTD w/ 33K mi (or Tahoe LT, Yukon SLT - same $$)

The Toyota has 273hp/314lb-ft, and a 6200lb tow rating vs the Ford's 300hp/365lb-ft, and 8600lb tow rating. Same mpg. Sizes are similar. Features are similar, except the Expedition has an independent rear suspension, air conditioned front seats, and power-folding 60/40 split third row (vs Toyo's solid rear axle and 60-pound-each take-out 50/50 third row, and no a/c seats available)

But you paid $9000 more. You'll get it back right?

Not a chance. In six years with 120K miles when the Expedition is worth $5K do you think the Sequoia will be worth $14K? Not according to any guide I could find. Not according to Edmund's Total Cost of Ownership, which estimates the Toyota to cost $5K more to drive over the next five years (look it up yourself). And that assumed a $27.5K beginning purchase price, not $35K.

In a few years there will be an ample supply of the new-body Sequoias around as used vehicles. They have WAY more power and capabilities, AND get better gas mileage. When you want to sell your '06 Sequoia, you will have to be priced accordingly to compete. Goodbye resale advantage.

The old Sequoia was never best-in-class, neither was the old Tundra on which it was based. The Toyota Kool Aid only goes so far to justify any premium you'd pay for a 2004-2006 Sequoia. But it's your money.

[berettafan]

for heavy towing buy the GM.

for anything else (and i think we can call a porsche race car on an open trailer light duty towing) i'd go toyota. There is an incredible difference in overall quality between the toyota and domestic products. yes the toyota interiors are simple but toyota generally doesn't try to appeal to parrots (oooh, shiny stuff, gimmee gimmee!).

i've driven gm's best effort at a nice light duty pickup (1500) and BUT FOR HEAVY TOWING it simply doesn't compare.

SUV's? well lets say i'm going for a 4hr road trip....if somebody else is driving i'll take a leather seated suburban. if I'M driving, i'll take a Tundra or Sequiooiuaoiuoiua.

[berettafan]

Ok, just did a search on cars.com. The OP's setup is faulty. '06 Sequiouoiuaoiuaouia's can be bought all day long for low to mid 20's. Certified. meaning 6yrs 100k from in service.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by kaisen

No, but it would affect the operation and rattles, as you alluded

BS. Replacing the bed makes the entire interior rattle? It was fairly minor rear-end damage, not a hard roll. And even giving you that one, did replacing the bed also include installing crap fabric, carpet, and hard cheap plastic throughout the interior?

I think comparing a Landcruiser (by far the most expensive Toyota - they now START at $65K) to a plain-jane GM pickup truck is about as apples to oranges as it gets.

My Land Cruiser is a 1991 with nearly 200k. The point is that a Toyota that is NINE years older and has nearly double the miles is in much better condition.

I would certainly expect a vehicle that costs three times as much (new or used, your pick) to have higher quality components, better fit and finish, and nicer materials.

Originally Posted by kaisen

I'm sick of this arguement. If you must make it, do it for a NEW one. But not used.
Let's look at a realistic scenario:

$35,000 2006 Toyota Sequoia LTD 4x4 w/ 33K mi (OP value)

$26,000 2006 Ford Expedition LTD w/ 33K mi (or Tahoe LT, Yukon SLT - same $$)

I give you that the Ford is a cheaper buy used. They depreciate so damn fast, how could you go wrong? I was thinking about new buyers. A $9k difference after three years for vehicles that started at the approximate same price is very significant.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I give you that the Ford is a cheaper buy used. They depreciate so damn fast, how could you go wrong? I was thinking about new buyers. A $9k difference after three years for vehicles that started at the approximate same price is very significant.

Well, since Steve is considering USED Sequoias, then the advice he asked for is about USED Sequoias and everyone blathers on about how great they are and how he should buy one. What you (and I) are saying is buy a NEW one.

But both of us agree that paying $9K more for one USED is NOT the best way to justify that 'oh, what a feeling' Toyota.

BTW my wife's Navigator (05-06) has a much, much nicer interior than the Sequoia. And used they are typically the same price. Although that used '06 he's considering at $35K is top, top, top of the market. $35K WOULD buy him a new bodystyle (07-08) Tahoe/Yukon with the nicer everything....

[berettafan]

again, an '06 sequiouiouasacajawea is a mid 20's vehicle.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by berettafan

again, an '06 sequiouiouasacajawea is a mid 20's vehicle.

Then shouldn't you be telling him NOT to buy a used '06 with 33K for $35K?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Then shouldn't you be telling him NOT to buy a used '06 with 33K for $35K?

Yes. That would probably very nearly buy a new Tahoe, Armada, or Expedition. It's also very close to a NEW Sequoia.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by berettafan

i bought my '06 tundra dcab 4x4 w/ about 39k on the clock for $17k from the dealer. CPO. it was my own lease turn in.

$35k for an 06 sequoia (same truck but with a roof over the bed) is NUTS.

for light duty work there is no better pickup on the planet. comfortable as heck, sporty and fun. great trucks. i'm sure the suv version is similarly nice.

I did.

[VaSteve]

The 35K number was my convenience sample of visiting miller Toyota in manassas va. The 04 was a little too ratty for the price. I have found much better deals online since the original post. Hell carmax has an 06 for mid 20's with 50K.

I'm liking all the input. I looked at a well used tahoe by comparison. Looked plush. I didn't like the 4x captains chairs.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Ok Steve, I had to look. The 2006 for $35k is total rape. With just a quick Autotrader search, I found 4 2008 Sequoias (new bodystyle) for under $35k. There were also a bunch of 2008 and 2009 Armadas, some with less than 10k miles. There's also hundreds (literally) of new bodystyle Tahoes (2007+).

If you're willing to spend $35k, I wouldn't even look at the old body-style Sequoias. The new ones are much, much better. Or you could get a nearly new Tahoe or Sequoia. As much as I'm biased against domestics, the new GM SUVs are really quite nice. I've looked at the SUVs, and driven a friend's new GMC Sierra, both times I've came away impressed. There's plenty of Expeditions out there as well, but frankly I don't think they're nearly as good as the GM products. Durango is also an option, but it's pretty small inside.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I'm liking all the input. I looked at a well used tahoe by comparison. Looked plush. I didn't like the 4x captains chairs.

Was it a 2007+? Make sure you look at a newer one, they're a big improvement.

In regards to the seating, how many kids do you have to haul around? We almost didn't buy our MPV because it has captain's chairs in the middle. After having them, we wouldn't buy anything else. It makes rear seat access SO MUCH EASIER. No more messing with flipping seats forward every time you have to load the 3rd row, and no more crawling through that subsequent little hole to the back. It also makes life much easier when mom has to crawl back there mid-family vacation.

Sure you lose a seatbelt, but lets face it, the middle of the 2nd row is nearly worthless anyway. Especially when you already have two car seats installed (like I do). Speaking of car seats, with captain's chairs you don't have to remove the car-seat in order to flip the 2nd row seat for access. Another bonus if you have little kids.

EDIT: Something that helped us when we wanted to test drive everything - CarMax. If there's one near you, it's a huge help. Even if you don't like their cars or prices (I think they're high), you can still drive very nearly one of everything. That gives you a good sample to help focus your shopping. It beats driving around town to different dealers.