The ideal other Toyota for a family of five?

my wife was about the most anti mini van person ever. She has since changed her tune after owning her Sienna and you probably couldn’t convince her otherwise now. No Ragets!

 

2nd Gen Sequoia FTW!! But it ain't my money, so.....

 

2008-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser
https://youtu.be/67DdH-EvjoA

 

If money is a concern, like it is for most of us, then a new Sienna is the smart choice.

https://youtu.be/vbpHUTc4TCs

 

Toyota Matrix

 

Really? No regrets? None? Not one? LOL! great movie

 

I like this guys videos, but I think you could turn this one into a drinking game. Take a shot every time he says “Over built.”

 

Had to switch my vote from GX to current gen Sequoia since there isn’t enough cargo room behind the 3rd row on the GX for a Costco run.

 

I know you seem set on Toyota/Lexus, but as a larger 3 row SUV the new Hyundai Palisade would be a vehicle I’d look at if it was a no go on the practical sienna minivan (long 10year/100k warranty; service maintenance include for first few years). The 2023 Honda Pilot is due out later this year too (reliable and awd -new body style likely to be far less ugly; which I assume is part of your wife’s reluctance on the minivan)
The lexus gx/lx are not only going to get marginal gas mileage, they both require premium…and really aren’t much different than the 4Runner/Sequoia (yes, I’m aware they are actually based on land cruisers-My wife drives a 2020 GX—we have 2 kids).

But to keep it to Toyota, the Sienna makes the most sense for your situation…my wife would tell me I could drive it and she’d take my truck though-so I get the dilemma

 

My wife has 2017 AWD Sienna V6 and it's the most versatile/practical vehicle. I borrowed it from time to time in the past before getting my Tundra. I've car camped in it, load kayak, haul stuffs, snow winter driving, drove with friends to do tuna fishing trips carrying multiple coolers and gears, and drive our family of 6 around. Easy to configure the seats to fit your needs. Gas mileage is decent and is easy to get around tight parking spaces when doing grocery runs. Easy to outfit with racks if you need extra storage and or hauling gears. The ride is very comfortable as well. Good luck on you future purchase. Hope you get the one that best suit your needs.

 

When my wife's Legacy was totaled, we drove a Highlander and a 4Runner back to back. If you're not towing or off-roading, the Highlander has a superior (more car-like) suspension. But the 3rd row seats are small in both.



We would've got another Legacy, but their CVT transmissions are problematic. We ended up with an ES350...

 

Being 29 now, my Mom got a new Land Cruiser in 2003 to tote myself, brother, and everyone inbetween plus all our sports gear to all the games and other ordeals. It has been flawless for her and never had any problems (225K miles) going on road trips. She even has people asking her if she were to sell it, they want it. It does carry everything around nicely. Longer trips with big luggage you just have to stack thing (if the third row is installed). Like others mentioned, external racks/cargo boxes, bike racks might be necessary.

I vote land cruiser. You can great deals on them with low miles too. Just keep an eye out. Good luck with your decision.

 

If your wife really likes the Yukon, the Land Cruiser is probably closest to what she's used to, only with better reliability.

 

It's pretty much down to a new Sienna or an older LC/LX at this point.
A $50k hybrid AWD Sienna woodland (MSRP is $45.5k; I'm assuming OTD would be somewhere near $50k) that realistically gets 31mpg vs a 25k Land Cruiser or Lexus LX that gets 15.

At $4/gallon, I'd be paying 26.67 cents per mile driven for the LX and 12.9 cents per mile driven in the Woodland Sienna.

Thinking I would choose an older LC/LX @ 25k. How long to break even on the more expensive Sienna purchase?

50k + 0.129x = 25k + 0.2667x
25k = 0.1377x
186,985.789 = x

It would take driving 186,985.789 miles before the Sienna purchase would begin to save money at $4/gallon fuel vs an older LC/LX that is less than half as efficient. Of course if fuel just keeps going up ad infinitum, I would make up the difference proportionally more quickly.

I think the most practical from a numbers standpoint would be a 2014-2017 Sienna for half the price of a new one or less that gets low- to mid-20s fuel economy.

 

My wife is still mad at her father for forcing her into a 1994 Cavalier. (It's been gone since 1998) My point is don't push her into a vehicle she does not want.

 

You're looking at a 2007 (or older) Land Cruiser with 200,000+ miles to get under the $25k price. The Lexus LX equivalent would be a 2011 (or older) with equivalent or fewer miles. The LX seems like the better deal based on my quick search.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...r.selectedEntity=d3042#listing=328075133/NONE

 

We just paid to have CarMax ship this to the store by our house. They have more cargo room behind the third seat than a LC imo.

 

When my kids were younger and we needed the convenience and capacity (02), bought a new Honda Odyssey minivan. Loved that thing, even with the $4k transmission replace at about 110k. Drove it forever, roomiest, easy for everyone to get in and out, carried everything, pretty powerful with great mileage. Once I pulled the trigger, I became 'never SUV, you're paying more to get less'. When the kids went off to college, got back into a truck, and that's where I'll stay.

 

Nice, man! That thing will last you FOR-EV-ERRRRRRR (to quote The Sandlot…)

I know a ton of people who drive Odysseys, and I’d be hard pressed to find one that didn’t have to replace the transmission somewhere around 85-120k miles.

 

I’m at around 70k on my 2015 and so far so good. I did a 3x drain and fill around 30k along with a software flash TSB related to tranny overheat and another drain and fill at around 60k. Definitely suspect the tranny is the weak link in the drivetrain so I’m being careful with it. Hoping it lasts as long as we need it.

I’ve got a timing belt change coming up, which is a plus for a Sienna (chain), but my wife wanted the Odyssey.

 

We have a crew of 6. But they are getting older. We have had adults in the back of our ‘21 highlander hybrid. It’s great for 4 people with the back seats folded down 90% of the time. We have second row bucket seats. So everyone is pretty comfy. We have done 5 people, 2 dogs and 3 hockeys bags for a day before using the Thule box on the roof. It works. We traded our ‘20 Yukon XL for this. “No regurts.”

 

I paid CarMax to bring a Toyota FRS to Tulsa a few years back. It showed up with obvious bodywork and fresh paint on the trunk (nothing mentioned in the Carfax) and it smelled like burning oil when you drove it. With all of those issues they still kept the money I paid ($300) to get it shipped when I declined to purchase the vehicle.

 

Good choice, IMO. If you want a family hauler with the versatility of 4A and 4LO, 10" stock ground clearance, reliability, towability, cargo volume with seats folded down, rolldown rear window the Sequoia meets the criteria.

 

I wouldn't be ashamed to drive this. May be even better with a few suspension and visual mods.



https://www.theautochannel.com/news...a-xse-7-passenger-review-by-david-colman.html

 

I think the new Siennas look really good. I'm a bit hesitant about the 4 cylinder. I have one for a rental in July and will find out for myself.

 

Well sadly, you were spot on. Mechanically, it was fine. Cosmetically, definitely not as described. Multiple door dings and marks on both bumpers… some polishing compound or wax all over black plastics, interior screens and plastics looked like they were cleaned by a blind 7 year old…

Not happy since it was described as no marks, dings, or scratches. There were at least a handful. They agreed to try to buff out some of the marks and refund the transfer fee. They make an okay offer on the trade and my wife decides she wants to move forward.

Then the fun begins - approx breakdown for payment was trade for 1/3 of payment, 1/3 down payment via check, 1/3 financed through my bank for which we have been pre approved with the VIN and have a locked in rate. The sales lady at CarMax says they can’t call my loan officer to provide the wire instructions and won’t accept a wire from one of the biggest banks in the country for payment - they suggest the bank mail a check to me - then I bring the check to them - and they’ll only hold the vehicle for a week.

Of course, this is the dumbest thing I’ve encountered while purchasing a vehicle so we walked out and won’t be going back. What exactly does their “processing/documentation fee” cover if they can’t provide wire instructions for a $70k sale?

 

Warning, unsolicited marital advice. Sounds like she already knows what she wants. If you get her a sienna and she hates it, how much have you lost in arguments and cost when you sell it in 2 years? From a strictly marital perspective, get a newer Yukon.

I replaced mine 3 times.

So, functionally minivans are great and in every other way boring as dirt. I know you're not high on the 2nd gen sequoia, but it's the closest Toyota equivalent to what she has now. The LX is awesome, but will she be disappointed with the lack of modern amenities? Also, will she feel like she downgraded?

 

I’d never make her drive something she didn’t like. When it’s time, I’m going to request that she at least test drive a Sienna. She hates how small the Sequioa’s cargo area is for its size, and it doesn’t move the needle on efficiency. I do really like the full time 4wd of the 2nd gen Sequoia, though.

We might try to hold out until the auto market corrects. There are indicators that it may be coming sooner than later, and there will be some deals to be had.

 

I mean it can be ran in 4wd all the time, even on pavement. Just leave the center diff unlocked.

By "full time" I meant "all surfaces". Not the best way to describe it... But it's a fairly unique and extremely useful 4wd setup. 3rd gen Sequoia loses this feature.