Purchase decision: 4runner versus Sequoia

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. While my wife will probably get two votes to my one with this decision, I feel I am leaning towards a slightly used Sequoia. Heck, I will be thrilled to be able to drive our 3rd gen instead of my grand prix as my dd.

Yes, our family of four may turn into five, but the odds are about the same as the Cubs winning the World Series. Regardless, as others have pointed out, when friends or family ride along with the kids the Sequoia's size will be appreciated. Practicality might suggust a minivan but the wife is dead set against one.

I am probably hesitant of the Sequoia's mpg, but if it gets the stated 18 hwy, that is not that much worse than our 3rd gen's 20.5 mpg. We are currently driving the 3rd gen for all family trips.

I have to admit my wife has not had the opportunity to drive the Sequoia, but when I did I felt it handled like a much smaller vehicle than it really is. The turning radius was ridiculously tight.

Anyway, enough rambling. All comments welcome.


I'd personally go for the Sequoia, if you are finding the 3rd gen cramped. Keep in mind that the 4runner's gas mileage is not great - I average around 15-15.5 mpg with 90% city driving.
 
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. While my wife will probably get two votes to my one with this decision, I feel I am leaning towards a slightly used Sequoia. Heck, I will be thrilled to be able to drive our 3rd gen instead of my grand prix as my dd.

Yes, our family of four may turn into five, but the odds are about the same as the Cubs winning the World Series. Regardless, as others have pointed out, when friends or family ride along with the kids the Sequoia's size will be appreciated. Practicality might suggust a minivan but the wife is dead set against one.

I am probably hesitant of the Sequoia's mpg, but if it gets the stated 18 hwy, that is not that much worse than our 3rd gen's 20.5 mpg. We are currently driving the 3rd gen for all family trips.

I have to admit my wife has not had the opportunity to drive the Sequoia, but when I did I felt it handled like a much smaller vehicle than it really is. The turning radius was ridiculously tight.

Anyway, enough rambling. All comments welcome.

Cool. Can't loose either way IMO. Which generation are you going with?
 
Cool. Can't loose either way IMO. Which generation are you going with?

I have been looking at the 5th gen 4runner and the 2nd gen? Sequoia, 2008 or newer.

I agree, they are both a Toyota so either should be a great truck. I wish the Sequoia was built in Japan like the 4runner, but I have heard the Indiana plant that builds the Sequoia has a solid reputation.
 
I have been looking at the 5th gen 4runner and the 2nd gen? Sequoia, 2008 or newer.

I agree, they are both a Toyota so either should be a great truck. I wish the Sequoia was built in Japan like the 4runner, but I have heard the Indiana plant that builds the Sequoia has a solid reputation.

My 2005 Tacoma was made in US plants and was solid as a rock at 107k miles when I traded it. I think it's more the company (and their QC standards) than where it was built.
 
My 2005 Tacoma was made in US plants and was solid as a rock at 107k miles when I traded it. I think it's more the company (and their QC standards) than where it was built.

I agree with the overall QC of Toyota. It pains me to see that the only cars that were affected with the "gas pedal/floor mat/etc." recall were built in North America (with the exception of the Prius).

We have one of them in our family too (07 Camry hybrid).
 
Last month me and my family of 2 kids just bought a 2011 4runner. Its the sr5 model with the upgrade pkg. We absolutely love everything out it. We did sell our loaded minivan which we did love, but we are not having any more then our 2 kids, so we decided we could downsize a little bit. We do have the third row seating and with the full kids carseats it is almost impossible to get into the 3rd row without moving the seats. Also with the 3rd row up you do not have any trunk room. (Maybe 6-8 inches at the bottom to nothing at the top). I would of defenitly needed something bigger if we were having any more kids. If it is not your main vehicle you would be fine, but if you will drive it everywhere, it might be kinda tight. We do love ours, and the 3rd row is so great if you do need it from time to time. We love the sequoia, but the price tag and gas miliage just were not worth it to us. Hope that helps...
 
I agree with the overall QC of Toyota. It pains me to see that the only cars that were affected with the "gas pedal/floor mat/etc." recall were built in North America (with the exception of the Prius).

We have one of them in our family too (07 Camry hybrid).

The "gas pedal/ floor mat/ etc." thing is BS if you ask me. Every vehicle I've ever owned with rubber floor mats has at one time or another caught the floor mat over the gas pedal (two Fords and a Mitsubishi). Most people don't panic and nothing too exciting happens. I think it was all just press-driven hysteria....and maybe a little meddling by our government who also happened to be majority share-holders in one of Toyota's rivals.

These problems are also not exclusive to Toyota:

Toyota Not Alone In Unintended Speed Complaints : The Two-Way : NPR
 
Wasn't there a thread here about that the floor mat issue, and the findings were that it was user error. Nothing was wrong with the design?

I remember reading that somewhere.

I too, almost bought a used 2010 Sequoia (and I love the new body style). But I opted for a new 4runner. We have one kid, so it was way too much car for us. Plus, I kid you not, when I pulled it in the garage I had about 1/2" clearance front and rear. That thing is huge. Too much of a PITA to park every night.
 
Yeah, I must say that I personally see the new Sequoia as an absolute monstrosity... It actually looks like a bear in the front. Not a pleasing body style.

(No offense meant)


- Sent via Tapatalk for Android
 
LOL! Antman you are 100% correct. Problem is, this new ride will be my wife's dd, and she hasn't gotten past the whole minivan thing. In fact, I just read her your reply and I got that same "death stare" she gave me when I sorta kinda forgot about mother's day (that one just snuck up on me). My biggest complaint about the minivan would be lack of true 4wd and ground clearance given our snowy winters. Thanks for the feedback.

My wife had the same fear of minivans. She refused to own one. We tried a 4runner (early 4th gen). That was too tight. We went on to a Highlander with 3rd row. That too was tight once you put in the car seats.
I forced her to try out a minivan and guess what... SHE LOVES IT now. Three years later, she admits that she was wrong about not doing it earlier. Could have saved us a lot of money too. But ask her to get rid of it now. She will bite your head off!
Anyway, now I have a 5th gen and she has her invaluable and practical minivan.
Just get her to try it. Bring the car seats with you to the dealer and try getting the kids in and out of both and see what is easier for her and you....and the kids.
Just my two cents.
 
I have to agree

Gotta tell ya, as hard as it is to admit, you cannot beat our Honda Odyssey when you have kids! Plenty of room for 7 or 8, even with carseats, and all their stuff. Easy access to the third row. Drives like an Accord with more room than the 4Runner or Sequoia. I loaded it to the gills for a trip to VA and got 24mpg running a comfy 80 mph. Test drive one- that sold me! Just gotta get over that Minivan thing... My .02

My wife went from Sequoia to Odyssey when number 3 was born. She swore she wouldn't drive a minivan, but after 30 min test drive she was sold. When all 5 of us travel in the 4Runner it is just a little too cramped. I have the 3rd row, but with baseball gear and figure skates and all the crap that travels with 5 people we rarely use them. I love my Limited, but I'm glad we had the van for trips and such. and it is cheaper than the 4r or Sequoia.
 
My wife had the same fear of minivans. She refused to own one. We tried a 4runner (early 4th gen). That was too tight. We went on to a Highlander with 3rd row. That too was tight once you put in the car seats.
I forced her to try out a minivan and guess what... SHE LOVES IT now. Three years later, she admits that she was wrong about not doing it earlier. Could have saved us a lot of money too. But ask her to get rid of it now. She will bite your head off!
Anyway, now I have a 5th gen and she has her invaluable and practical minivan.
Just get her to try it. Bring the car seats with you to the dealer and try getting the kids in and out of both and see what is easier for her and you....and the kids.
Just my two cents.

If I tried that, my wife would say "Why don't you get a minivan?"
 
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Gotta tell ya, as hard as it is to admit, you cannot beat our Honda Odyssey when you have kids! Plenty of room for 7 or 8, even with carseats, and all their stuff. Easy access to the third row. Drives like an Accord with more room than the 4Runner or Sequoia. I loaded it to the gills for a trip to VA and got 24mpg running a comfy 80 mph. Test drive one- that sold me! Just gotta get over that Minivan thing... My .02

From what I understand, you lose major Man Card points driving kiddie crate.
Nope, not for me. :)
 
I was in a similar situation a couple months ago, except my wife didn't want an oversized SUV (loves the 4Runner though). We had a Rav4, but with baby #2 coming any day now, and two big dogs that go everywhere with us, we needed more space. Test drove a Sienna, awesome, traded the Rav4 in for it the next day, and glad we did. Drives like a car, gets good fuel econ, I can push a button on the key fob and the side doors open so my 2 year old or dogs can just jump in.

A couple days after we bought it, we took a trip up to Flagstaff, AZ and took it down a rough forest service road to get to our campsite. The van handled it no problem (and that's the 2WD model).

Snow might be a concern, but that's why you have the 4Runner, if you really had to get somewhere in a bad snow storm your fam will still fit in there.

So I guess I'll agree with the other that said try to get her into the van and see what she thinks.

-Luke
 
Don't buy more vehicle than you need. Gas prices will be going up. The Sequoia is huge, and parking it in a parking garage is a pain in the rear.

Get something smaller now. If five years from now you need something bigger, then trade in. But don't buy a huge vehicle when you only need its size a couple times a year.
 
From what I understand, you lose major Man Card points driving kiddie crate.
Nope, not for me. :)


I would still feel manly driving a pink Geo Metro convertible.

Confidence, my friend. Confidence. :cool:
( I would not be entirely happy during the drive, just for the record...)
 
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What put my wife over the edge to get the minivan was one of out friends said go drive it then cross it off the list. She drove it and loved it. For the first couple months she would say I love it, but when I walk to it in the parking lot it's still a minivan. Now she still prefers it for taxing kids and trips.


Also make sure to remind your wife she hot enough to make a minivan look good :wink2:
it helps
 

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