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Buying a Used Sienna

177 messages,  Last post on Mar 31, 2013 at 2:43 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Car Buying, Van

Messages Page 13 of 18

#117 of 177 Re: Looking at 08 LE 8 passengers [workless] by fibber2

Mar 12, 2011 (9:44 pm)

Replying to: workless (Mar 12, 2011 4:08 pm)
I'm no expert on how to price used cars, but this is my recent experience looking in the NY metropolitan area. Each market is different, to adjust accordingly.
 
Last weekend I purchased a 2008 Sienna LE, excellent outward appearance (drives like new) with 20,058 miles on the clock & still under original factory warranty for another few weeks, from a dealer on Long Island (about 90+ miles from home). Original window sticker asking price was $20,980. Selling price was $18,990. Clean CarFax report, Toyota Certified, and I got the service dept to pull the complete history of all warranty work to date. Two tires were slightly under the Toyota Certified requirements of uniform 5/32, and I got them to put on two new tires as well.
 
If you go to the ToyotaCertified.com site, you can view the complete terms of the extended warranty (NOTE: The base warranty got better on March 1 - it was 3 months, and is now 12 months plus 7yr/100k powertrain). You can also do a search query up to 100 miles for all cars available - very handy for comparison shopping. Each listing has multiple photos. You can even get an e-brochure if you don't have access to one so that you can compare contents of packages & features. It's great to be able to do your initial screening on the web.
 
I can tell you that the LE seems to be a pretty good bargain having depreciated a bit faster than the XLE (at least around here). Given that the base XLE went for around $4k more new, we were very surprised to find that they resold for a solid $5 - 6k more. That makes them a great investment, but a bit harder to buy used if on a budget.
 
So what does "Certified" get you? If you buy a van that is over 3yrs/36k miles (outside of the original warr) from a used car dealer, you cannot buy a Toyota extended warranty for it. All you have is the used dealer 1 month or 3 month protection. If you buy a CPO car from Toyota, it already comes with excellent coverage, plus you can buy more - up to 8 years / 125k miles bumper to bumper no matter what the time or mileage is at the time of purchase. BUT - you have to buy it at closing! If you say no at the signing, there's no way to add it later. I was even told that by one of the big warranty sellers here on the web. Go armed with pricing data and push back. Unfortunately you really don't have much leverage if you fall into this crack, but put up a fight anyhow. They'd rather sell it cheaper than not at all!
 
If the van is still under original warranty as mine is, you can buy the Toyota plans from anywhere. True, there is a very slightly different in the roadside asst T&C buying it at 'closing' vs shopping later on the web, but not enough of a delta to warrant overpaying the selling dealer. Yes, it's complicated!!!
 
So in your case - next to no protection on the used lot van, up to 5 years more coverage on the Toyota dealer car for 10-15% more $$$. Plus lower mileage to begin with. To me, it seems an easy choice. A power door repair can be a grand!
 
Do you need 8 passenger? My two kids objected to the lack of arm rests on the 8 seaters, so we screened for 7 seats only.
 
Hope all of this helps!

#118 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [deltheking] by my_last_toyota

Apr 26, 2011 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: deltheking (Jan 06, 2010 8:26 pm)
We've had nothing but problems with our 2006 Sienna XLE. Run-flat tires are a disaster, electrical issues as well. Navigation chews-up map DVDs (three in five years) and the whole navigation system just went out completely (Toyota wants $3500 to replace). Unless you really really need AWD, I'd go with the Honda.

#119 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [my_last_toyota] by ateixeira

Apr 26, 2011 (12:15 pm)

Replying to: my_last_toyota (Apr 26, 2011 12:07 pm)
Ody has the same issues with run-flat tires.
 
Better advice - avoid the run-flats completely, both Honda and Toyota.

#120 of 177 Re: Looking at 08 LE 8 passengers [workless] by loucapri

Apr 27, 2011 (11:22 am)

Replying to: workless (Mar 12, 2011 4:08 pm)
Carfax's +/- market is a joke. You will see some one owner vehicle has -$100.00 or 4 owners vehicle has +$200. There +/- market is all over the map. The worst I have seen was one "accident" "airbag deployed" car has a +.
 
Go figure.
 
My rule for a used car is like this: take 50% off from orginial price (NEW) for every 5 years. If a new 2011 Sienna LE sell for $30K right now, a 2006 LE should be around $15000 (of course you do make adjustment on overall condition, miles and who is selling the car).
 
KBB works for the seller, not the buyer. Don't buy 1 or 2 years old USED car unless you get good deal. If you look around, you will notice a 2009, 2010 Sienna still ask for high number, sometime even close to 2011's pricing.
 
Don't waste time buying from small auto broker (unless you have a small budget), they get cars mainly from auction (meaning no body wants to keep those cars at the beginning).
 
I have good experience picking up used car from Lexus, Toyota and Nissan dealership. 1) most of the cars they got are from trade, 2) if they sell it themself, it means the cars are worth keeping, otherwise, they just send it to auction.

#121 of 177 decided to get a new Sienna instead? by Stever@Edmunds HOST

May 04, 2011 (2:53 pm)

Did you go looking for a used car and find that prices were so high that it made more sense to buy a new car instead? Or found that your trade-in was worth a lot more than you expected?
 
If so, a reporter wants to interview you. Please email predmunds.com no later than 3pm Eastern on Thursday, May 5, 2011 and include your daytime contact information.

#122 of 177 Used 2007 LE or new 2011 LE? by dillydill

May 13, 2011 (7:47 am)

I posted in the RWTIV about a used 2007 LE that I am going to look at this weekend, hopefully.
It seems that used prices of 2007-8's are in the high teens to low 20's.
 
After looking at Zag it appears I can get a new 2011 LE for about 27K plus TTL.
 
Does anyone have any thoughts on comparison between the two?
After searching it seems that more people are preferring their older models over the new one.
 
I think I am now leaning towards a new one.
Interested to hear what others are thinking.
 
Here is the 2007 private sale asking 15K
 
Mileage: 50000
Color: Gray/ Gray cloth
The online listing says Automatic Transmission, ABS, Alloy Wheels, Power seat, Cruise Control, Parking/Backup Sensor
Power Sliding Doors, DVD System with remote and two wireless headsets.
6 CD MP3/CD AM/FM Stereo System, Premium JBL 12 Speaker system. Privacy Glass, Roof Rack, 7 Passenger seating.
  
New Brakes,New Tires, Fully Maintained and Serviced. Moving Must sell.
  
I contacted private seller and he gave me a link to carfax and said he is second owner.
  
http://www.carfax.com/cfm/FSBO.cfm?report=5820ABA22973721618D5193565CD3CDC
 
Thanks

#123 of 177 Re: Used 2007 LE or new 2011 LE? [dillydill] by loucapri

May 13, 2011 (11:03 am)

Replying to: dillydill (May 13, 2011 7:47 am)
You have to ask yourself 1st how much you want to spend, 2nd, how long you plan to keep the car.
 
We had 04 LE AWD and ready to get a 2011 XLE AWD, within our budget and plan to keep for many years but I end up cancelled my order. Reason 1), really don't feel the interior quality on the 2011, 2) didn't have the same excitiment compared to buying our 04 back then (kind of telling me something is not right) 3) see the 04-2011 has better value.
 
So we went back and look for a 2006 Limited Sienna, cost less, better equip (over the 2011 XLE we were looking at). well, at the end, we ended up buying a 2007 Highlander AWD
WHY? We still like to move to the new sienna but not on the 2011, maybe in a year or 2 when they make some improvement (hopefully) and we know the HL will hold the resale better since we only plan to keep it for a year or 2.
 
In your case, if LE is what you are looking for, and money is not a factor, go with 2011, newer and has warranty. Your listing if is LE, not sure you can get factory DVD and JBL 12 speakers? I will see it in person to confirm

#124 of 177 Re: Used 2007 LE or new 2011 LE? [loucapri] by dillydill

May 13, 2011 (3:52 pm)

Replying to: loucapri (May 13, 2011 11:03 am)
Thanks for the post Lou. Honestly, I don't want to spend any money . We usual keep our cars until they are well over 100K miles.
 
We have had our current 99 Sienna XLE for almost 8 years. We bought it used from a family member with about 65K miles and now it has 165K. Little things like the power door not closing properly for the last 5 years has been wearing on the Mrs. Every door handle has had to be replaced including the rear hatch. Currently, the passenger side door handle needs to be fixed. The check engine light says we need a need o2 sensor. A lot of the radio buttons have fallen off, but I got some Mighty Mendit and glued them back on finally.
 
It still runs well. . . but my wife would like to have an mp3 input and Middle windows that go down. Oh, and doors that work.
 
I started looking at 07 and 08 LE's because they should fit the bill. My wife would miss the sunroof of our current van but she will be thrilled with something new to her.
 
A brand new 2011 seems to be only 10K more than these 3- 4 year old used ones. It would be a little bit of a stretch to get the new one, but we would have a warranty and maintenance for 2 years covered.
 
I have yet to see the 2011 interior in person.

#125 of 177 Re: Used 2007 LE or new 2011 LE? [dillydill] by loucapri

May 14, 2011 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: dillydill (May 13, 2011 3:52 pm)
If you haven't seen the 2011 interior yet and want to go that route, my suggestion is NOT to check out too many 2004-2010 Sienna. Jumping from 04-10 to 2011+, you WILL disappointed with the interior quality. The 1 thing good about the 2011+ is the outside, new style. Sounds like you keep your van for long time, again, may as well go with 2011+ LE (it comes with mp3, 2 power doors)

#126 of 177 Re: Used 2007 LE or new 2011 LE? [loucapri] by ateixeira

May 15, 2011 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: loucapri (May 14, 2011 4:57 pm)
CR lowered the score for the new model, so you're not the only one to feel that way.
 
I'd probably look at a CPO 2010 if I were shopping today.
 
Funny thing is CR docked the Odyssey's score also. Both were downgraded.

Messages Page 13 of 18

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