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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 9 of 18

#79 of 177 New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! by phillymom

Jan 06, 2010 (4:17 pm)

I currently drive a 03 Town and Country. I am looking to buy a 8 pass Sienna used, but no older then 2008. I am curious how people feel about the 8 pass?
I do childcare and could always use the extra seat but is it really useable?
How about access to the third row?
How long should I expect a Toyota to run without many major issues (my 03 van now with 70K miles is starting to give me issues, so I am unsure looking at a 09 with almost 40K miles)
 
Any thoughts about these prices.
 
09 LE w/39,400 miles for $19,876
09 LE w/34,924 miles for $21,422
08 LE w/44.330 miles for $19,650
08 LE w/ 26,963 miles for $20,975

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

Jan 06, 2010 (8:26 pm)

Replying to: phillymom (Jan 06, 2010 4:17 pm)
Dont worry,the Sienna is the most reliable van out there and they will easily run more than 125k miles with no major problems. Just a few questions:
 
1.Your budget range--max budget??
2.8th seat is usable but small-- Is the 8th seat absolutely necessary? Is it a must have or can you do without it?--b`cos 8 pass Siennas are rare compared to 7 pass.
3. 04-06 Sienna is the redesigned model whereas the 07-09 is the updated version of the 04-06 model.So practically no difference between the 07-09 Siennas.
4. Any specific features you need-like leather/navigation/AWD ? Or is the base LE OK with you as you quoted prices just for the LE model ?
 
I would never buy an 09 or 2010 models with more than 25k miles as these are mostly rentals.So any 07-09 Sienna should be OK and the mileage should be of a bigger concern. Let us know.

#81 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [phillymom] by yatesjo

Jan 07, 2010 (1:04 am)

Replying to: phillymom (Jan 06, 2010 4:17 pm)
The 8 seats are all comfortable enough for adults and we are very pleased with our 8 passenger van. We use the middle 8th seat in the "front and center" position with our youngest so it has even more room and he was in easy reach when he was an infant.
 
Access to the 3rd row is easy... as long as you can leave at least one of the outboard seats without a car seat. Also, if you are using car seats the rear seat has 2 LATCH positions on the third row for a total of 5 LATCH positions- 2 more I recall any other van having.
 
Reliability on the Toyota is generally excellent and I should expect you will get many more than the 70Kmiles you have on your Chrysler. Based on the model, and mileage for age I would guess those are retired rental vans. Some here say they have gotten excellent service out of retired rentals, but my experience leaves me wary. Still, you should get more than the what you seem to have gotten on your Chrysler.

#82 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [phillymom] by madams1

Jan 07, 2010 (8:21 am)

Replying to: phillymom (Jan 06, 2010 4:17 pm)
We were going to get a new 2010, but not that many in our area. Basically, the dealers did not want to deal since most would have to find the vehicle, plus they low balled the trade on the new one. They had a 2008 LE with both sliding doors and homelink on the lot that was previously owned by one of the salesmen. Had 37K miles, kind of high for an 08. We paid 20K and they gave us kbb good for our trade(much more than they would give us towards the new one). Probably could have gotten a better deal if we looked around some more or maybe could have found a 2010, but it was the right time. Our 4 year old granddaughter loves the 'magic' doors(power). If you have kids this is a good feature.
 
Good luck with your search.

#83 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [madams1] by maxwell10

Jan 07, 2010 (11:15 am)

Replying to: madams1 (Jan 07, 2010 8:21 am)
we just traded our 2002 sennia van 123K miles (bullet proof machine) for a used 2008 with 48K miles.
 
It was a rental so I guess I will find out the problems of trading for a rental machine.
However we are on a fixed income, so for $11800 difference we got a vehicle that is 6 years newer with improved features, different body style and lower mileage by 75K.
 
They had to have dr vinyl remove the red wine or blood stain out of the carpet under the back seat, now its at the body shop getting a few scratches repaired on the back bumper.
 
But mama likes it and has been pleased with the repair work so far. We are not sticklers for a perfect looking machine, just as long as I get the quality and reliabiltiy of the Toyota van.
 
Of course mama's first words were "does it have michelin harmony tires", well of course not being a rental, so next it goes to the Michelin store for a set of new tires and then to our local repair shop for a rear bumper hitch install.
 
Guess by then she will be set to go.
 
my son has a top of line 07 limited, so she wanted one that looked as much like his a we could afford.
 
Wish us luck with it as it drives and other than these two items looks great.
Toyota Service manager said getting a rental that has higher mileage, means it was on longer distance drives which is less stressful than a lot of short drives.
Of course thats what I would have said too, just to sell it.

#84 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [maxwell10] by deltheking

Jan 07, 2010 (4:16 pm)

Replying to: maxwell10 (Jan 07, 2010 11:15 am)
Dont worry,You got an absolutely screaming deal..just 11800 difference and your 02 Sienna for the 08 Sienna.That`s an incredible deal..You did great on this one..What dealer was this at?? Even for a rental that`s a good price you got..
Enjoy the 08 Sienna..Lightyears ahead of the 02 Sienna..125 k plus and more trouble free miles !!

#85 of 177 Re: New, considering a used Sienna. Help !! [deltheking] by maxwell10

Jan 07, 2010 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: deltheking (Jan 07, 2010 4:16 pm)
we traded for the 08 model in Murray, KY small Toyota dealership.
 
I had reviewed autotrader and car.com for compairson deals on vans with up to 45K miles in a driving distance of up to 250 miles from our home.
 
This van was within 6 miles of our home, had the 4 captains seats, but it had 48K miles so I said let's go look and give it a shot.
 
I have a very nice looking van for trade, we low balled them and kept working back and forth until we settled at the $11800 figure.
 
So it worked out. They had another buyer looking at it while we were making our deal.

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

Jan 08, 2010 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: phillymom (Jan 06, 2010 4:17 pm)
We love our 8 passenger model, no regrets at all.
 
It is very useable and adult-sized. Even the smaller, middle seat is a full 20" wide. Measure your office chair, I bet it's smaller, and people spend 8 hours a day in those.
 
Access to the 3rd row is good because the outboard seats fold down and then tumble forward. Plenty of space back in the 3rd row. We've taken road trips for several hours with 2 whole families in ours (7-8 people).
 
Those prices are all close, may as well go for the one with the 27k miles, which is exactly what my van has on it now. Sorry, it's not for sale!

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

Jan 08, 2010 (4:50 pm)

Replying to: deltheking (Jan 06, 2010 8:26 pm)
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
I think we are leaning towards the 08 LE with 27,000 miles for $21K.
They are giving me a great deal on my trade.
 
A couple questions I have
 
Should I buy the extended warranty?
Do the 2008 seem to have any ongoing issues? I thought I saw something eariler but cannot recall

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

Jan 08, 2010 (7:56 pm)

Replying to: phillymom (Jan 08, 2010 4:50 pm)
I would always advise --to buy the extended warranty. It is just a tremendous peace of mind..Not that something will go wrong--but rather that dealer diagnostic and labor hourly rates are getting way too expensive.. A single visit can cover up the extended warr.
 
Always buy the Toyota manufacturer ext warr,,not a 3rd party aftermarket warr. A dealer can sell you either of these and typically there is higher profit in the aftermarket warr and so they will tend to push these.
 
You can buy a Toyota 7yr/100k miles extended warr--this is as close to the original bumper to bumper warr- for less than $1200 and it i s a very very wise investment as cars nowadays are very computerized and complex..You can search Toyota forums online on Google that have dealers selling these and also the Edmunds Toyota forums for info on the Toyota Ext warr..
 
Enjoy the Sienna !!

Messages Page 9 of 18

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