Anyone own the toyota minivan? How do you like it? Would you buy it again? Would you recommend it? I am thinking of buying one.
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17 years ago
Anyone own the toyota minivan? How do you like it? Would you buy it again? Would you recommend it? I am thinking of buying one.
Just bought one. Yes on all counts. I'd recommend the package with the disk brakes and stability control, based on my own research about stability control. Package No. 3, for the LE, also includes a power passenger side door. Vehicle is very comfortable, surprisingly good handling, very neutral steering. Very technologically advanced. Honda Odyssey is probably a good choice as well, but I ruled it out early because of a legroom issue. Look for $3k or so discount off MSRP, perhaps a bit more depending on your market and your dealer's inventory.
3K discount on Sienna? How do you arrive at that? I'm waiting to buy and hope for just 2k total in next 60 days or so. Your findings (re. Sienna) are consistent with Consumer Reports.
regards, joe
My MSRP for 2005 XLE AWD with NAV was $42k. I got mine for $35,500.
Siennas are good minivans. Check out
If you need a minivan, this is the Lexus of all minivans. My sister bought one. Since she has a family, it has suited her needs quite nicely. It's roomy, quiet, and reasonably well on acceleration and fuel economy due to its 5-speed automatic. I negotiated the price for her and we purchased it for $500 over dealer cost. She bought an XLE. It's a year old now and the hydraulic dampers for the rear hatch have been replaced.
The discounts in my area (metro Washington DC were running between $3000 and $3200, with Internet-based pricing and at the table at a couple of dealers. My sticker was $27,900 and I paid $23,600, but that included a $1,000 rebate from Toyota that was available during the month of April. I'm only speaking from personal experience. I have no idea what's going on in the rest of the country. Good luck!
Just how well does the ACond. work in the Sienna? Many vans lack adequate AC power to handle the larger interior volume and 100+ deg F outside.
joe
I went with the Odyssey after checking out the Toyota and Sienna. I'm curious about your legroom issue. Where was it short in the Odyssey?
Both are excellent vans. The Odyssey is much cheaper in our market in NC. I agree with Consumer Reports and other reviews in that it handles better than the Sienna but the Sienna is probably more comfortable.
Our 2000 Sienna has the best Air Cond. I've ever had. Of course it also has the rear air, which is rarely ever needed, except for inital cooling on really hot days. We drove our Sienna across the west to Minnesota one year and stopped in Rapid City, turns out as soon as we opened the door it was over 104 outside, yet my kinds were inside wrapped with blankets and my air was at a pretty low setting.
Good to hear. I guess you have the CE with manual settings and without the thermostat? If the AC does not work well then full blast is no problem.
The Odyssey didn't have enough legroom for me in the driver's seat--well, my leg wasn't extended enough as I like. I'm not particularly tall--6'0, so I was a bit puzzled about this.
I have no complaints about Sienna's handling. Done some winding interstates at 75 mph plus with no issues.
I have the LE with manual settings, but this is the previous generation Sienna.
Do you feel that automation is needed or is manual settings provided adequate? (In my case I have had automatic that did not work or unwillingness to install expensive new parts on a constant basis - thanks GM )
Mine has power seat and pedals. I can't imagine anyone not fitting but I am
4 inches shorter than you so who knows.By the way, if someone doesn't need a full size minivan, the Mazda 5 is a very neat vehicle.
I had a 2001 Avalon with auto climate control. It was worse than useless. Others have posted that the Lexus climate control works poorly too. If I was to buy another Toyota, I would buy the manual climate control if I didn't have an opportunity to spend several days with the auto climate control. I've had auto in Fords, Chryslers and Honda's. All were fine except for the Toyota. A friend had a 2000 and it was bad too.
You know I never thought about automatic control. I'm assuming you mean a settable thermostat? I'm just used to adjusting the dial when needed, so I guess I'd say that is more than adequate, but those are things that I'd never pay for unless they just came with the car/package that I wanted.
I'm with you on these 'extras' other than cruise control. I'm getting the CE as soon as factory rebate increase from 1k to 2k or more. Current net on the Coast is $19,900. Looking for $18,800 in the next 60 days or so .
If you were driving around elderly parents you would love the power sliding doors available on most minivans.
I'm sure I would. They are long gone. Cruise control is only for very long trips X-country IMHO. AC and power steering are not luxuries. Not sure I need any other features/complications.
She lives in Florida. She likes things frigid too. She finds the AC more than adequate. It's rarely on high except when it's been in the parked in the sun a while. If it passes her test, it would more than likely pass yours.
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