New Addition: 2008 Sienna 2wd Limited

[Thai]

Hey all,

After much research and comparisons (Chrysler Town & Country vs. Toyota Sienna), I got an '08 (manuf. 10/07, on dealer lot 31 days) Sienna Limited 2wd loaded with all options:

- Package #2 (includes JBL Synthesis AM/FM with 4-disc in-dash CD changer, satellite radio capability, MP3/WMA capability, ten speakers and two in-glass antennas with FM diversity reception, DVD navigation system with backup camera and Bluetooth wireless technology, rear-seat DVD entertainment system with 9-inch display, two 115V outlets and two wireless headphones)
- Power folding/adjustable 60/40 Split & Stow 3rd Row seat
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and Dynamic Laser Cruise Control
- Tow Pkg (3500-lb. towing capacity with heavy-duty radiator [w/ tranny cooler], heavy-duty fan, 150-amp alternator and power-steering oil cooler)

MSRP = $40,125.00

Other minor port add-ons: mud guards, running boards, wheel locks, Vehicle Shield Pkg, Extra Mile Pkg A.

MSRP after add-ons = $41,841.00

Trade-in = 2006 Highlander V6...KBB value of around $16-18k between good and excellent condition...we got $16 (despite 2 accidental/body repairs).

Total driveout price after trade-in = $23,600 (TTL included). Basically, i got the '08 Sienna Ltd at invoice with good trade-in value of my wife's old car (Highlander). I also got 3.9% x 3 years.

I love driving it! It is so roomy, quiet, and smooth riding! Of course, compared to my Mercedes, anything is smooth riding!

Highly recommend it if anyone is looking for a minivan! BTW, Sienna is widely considered the most reliable minivan on the market. Oh yeah, it's also the hot-rod among minivans with it's 3.5L V6 (266 HP).

 

[Thai]

Pics

 

[Thai]

Interior pic

 

[Thai]

Oh yeah, the reason that i got the minivan was because of the birth of my beautiful son (unbias opinion of course!):
Wgt: 8.1 lbs
Length: 19.8 in.

 

[Gromulus]

Congratulations

Thai,

Congratulations on both additions to the family! I expect in a few years we will be seeing pictures of you and your son out there off-roading together.

I think minivans are probably the most useful and efficient vehicle class ever invented. We had one for thirteen years while the kids were small. Can't beat them for vacations, home repair/remodeling runs, etc. Too bad so many people today have this thing against minivans. They are far more practical for most families than SUVs (unless you really do need one for towing, etc.) and ride much more comfortably while getting better gas mileage.

I also like the Sienna as well as the Honda Odyssey. Did you look at the Odyssey as well? I would be interested in your comparison.

Enjoy!

 

[Mark86]

Congratulations on the new car and most importantly your new son. He looks so cute there! How long before your son starts posting here and his first offroading expedition?

 

[Thai]

Re: Congratulations

I also like the Sienna as well as the Honda Odyssey. Did you look at the Odyssey as well? I would be interested in your comparison.

Enjoy!

Thanks Gromulus and Mark...he will definitely join me off-roading in the near future.

I looked at 3 minivans: Sienna, Ody, and '08 T&C.

Ody: good handling and good space, but i distrust it's transmission and reliability is just average. Why buy it (Touring model very overpriced) when i can buy a Town & Country much cheaper and get the same reliability?? For me, handling is waaayyy down on the list of what i look for in a minivan. The rear independent suspension is cool, but it is not needed in a minivan and also takes up a lot of room underneath the 3rd row...thus, no power 3rd row option. I don't trust the cylinder deactivation technology in terms of long term durability (same cylinder bank deactivating every single time...cylinders are cold one minute and hot the next). And fuel economy is NOT better than Sienna (and only a smidgen better than Chrysler T&C) despite having less power...so, what was the point of this technology?! Remember, Mercedes came out with cylinder deactivation in the 1990's but abandoned it...there must be a reason. Ride is firmer (less comfy) than your average minivan (despite full independent susp) and noisier than Sienna. Oh yeah, the Touring's PAX tire system is a joke! It works well in theory, but is hard to find and very expensive to replace.

'08 Chrysler Town & Country: some nice features, including nice 4.0L V6 engine/tranny performance. I kinda like the Swivel & Go feature along with LED night lighting and very quiet ride. Lifetime Powertrain warranty is a major plus along with Lifetime EVERYTHING warranty for only $2-3K. However, general panel fitment is just horrible (misaligned panels galore!), somewhat floaty ride, horrible 3rd row seat space and stupid seat raking design (no way an elderly person can get up from a sitting position in the 3rd row bench), can't reconfigure 2nd row seat to one side (thus, if you have two baby seats in 2nd row, no one can get to the 3rd row), cargo room relativley small, hard plastics everywhere, and no side-chest airbags (which has been shown in other vehicles to be helpful).

After wanting to really buy the '08 Chrysler T&C (lifetime warranties and to be different from brothers who already own 2 Siennas), I chose the '08 Sienna Ltd because:
- Great power while providing an extremely serene and comfy ride...this is much more important than handling IMHO
- Roomy...far roomier than T&C, and is a tiny bit roomier than Ody
- 3rd row power seats are beautiful in design and execution...you can recline the 3rd row with a touch of a button!
- Seats are very comfortable...all 3 rows! Legroom is bountiful, again all 3 rows!
- Fuel economy is right up there with best in class while having the best engine
- NAVI + JBL 5.1 Synthesis Surround with 4-disc CD changer = heaven for me!
- Very good safety features and ratings
- High quality interior
- Of course, Toyota quality...Sienna is the ONLY minivan with a good reliability rating!

So, right now, my Sienna is #3 in the family...my two other brothers have an '05 and '06 Siennas. My 4th brother has an '01 Town & Country. We are BIG minivan fans.

 

[icantsee]

Congratulations on the little guy!!

How come you didn't opt for the AWD?

I've been pitching the idea to my friend to get a van, cuz he has a little one too. Remote sliding doors, hop in, strap in the kid, lots of cargo space & you can use one of the seats as a changing table.

Sometimes...I think I want to trade my 4R for a Sienna.

 

[Thai]

Congratulations on the little guy!!

How come you didn't opt for the AWD?

Thanks. With gas prices going up and with where I live (TX), there is no reason for AWD. I would lose power 3rd row seats and spare tire. Both of these are more important to me. I don't like the idea of runflats...because not all flats are textbook type...on long trips, i prefer to have an actual spare tire, even a tiny one. In the long run, it is also cheaper to repair/replace regular tires as opposed to runflats. This is one reason why i did not even consider the Honda Ody Touring with it's overpriced and expensive PAX system. As for the 3rd row seats, the power option allows my wife to fold or recline 3rd row easily and painlessly.

In addition, with the significantly lower payload capacity of the AWD model vs. FWD, i chose FWD model...again, this is for MY lifestyle and location. If someone lives up north, then i can see why AWD is important.

 

[GatorGreg]

Very nice Thai, looks like a good choice - and congrats on the little one!

 

[Koz]

The infamous 3.5 V6/auto tranny out of the problem plagued Camry! You have selected a vehicle with the biggest issue that has cause Toyota to lose its reliability title! You

 

[Thai]

The infamous 3.5 V6/auto tranny out of the problem plagued Camry! You have selected a vehicle with the biggest issue that has cause Toyota to lose its reliability title! You

 

[Thai]

Clearer pics

 

[Thai]

Pics

 

[hubbabubba]

Sweet! Congrats on the car and the little one.

Looks like you got the JBL stereo now

 

[Thai]

Sweet! Congrats on the car and the little one.

Looks like you got the JBL stereo now

Thanks, but my 10 speakers pale in comparison to your 14 speakers!