Ask the Car People.SM


2011 Toyota Sienna

687 messages,  Last post on Dec 14, 2012 at 3:46 PM

You are in the Toyota Sienna Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Future Vehicle, Van

Messages Page 41 of 69

#399 of 687 2011 vs. my 2007 by ateixeira

May 25, 2010 (10:07 am)

Had an hour to kill while my wife was getting a pedicure, so I checked out another 2011. Hadn't seen it since the Auto Show circuit back in January, and those were probably pre-production anyway.
 
Dislikes:
* even the brochure was cost-cut
* some soft touch materials are gone
* 8th seat is more Ody than 04-10 Sienna
 
Likes:
* backup cam on LE
* express up/down windows on all 4 (!)
* 17"s on LE model
* 3 zone climate control
* low profile wiper blades
 
The paper used for the new brochure is thin, looks disposable. Funny since makes like Subaru have been using higher quality brochures recently, so that stood out. Who cares, I suppose.
 
The dash looks good but feels hard. The upper glove box is just cheap. You see the hollow plastic hinges and can feel and even hear the cheapness.
 
I sat in the 8th seat, and it's really a bridge, like the one in the Ody. A little wider, perhaps, but not a place I'd want to spend more than a short ride in. I saw the cup holders in the base that stays behind even when you remove it, but that would not bother me at all because the seats slide forward and leave a huge opening for 3rd row access. If you have little kids in safety seats that may be a hassle, but by the time you're in booster seats it won't matter any more.
 
So that's the bad. Now the good.
 
Base wheels on the LE are nice 17"s. I didn't drive it but I'm sure that'll do better than the mushy 65 series tires on 16"s on my 2007 LE.
 
All 4 power windows have one-touch up and down, all 4! I expect that on an Audi, perhaps, but certainly not on a Sienna LE. Pleasant surprise.
 
Same for a backup cam while we're at it. And 3 zone climate control.
 
Finally, they went to low-profile wipers. Minor touch, but they look nicely streamlined and probably help reduce noise and drag.
 
All in all, I'd really miss the 8th seat, but other than that, I'd have to say they made more improvements than they had cost-cutting measures.

#400 of 687 Re: 2011 vs. my 2007 [ateixeira] by nobo

May 25, 2010 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (May 25, 2010 10:07 am)
Your assessment of the 2011 Sienna interior is same as those that started complaining when the Venza was introduced. It seems like Toyota is going backward on interior quality appointments.
 
It is not the cup holders that remain after the 8th seat is removed that bother me. It is the seat bases that remain after you remove the second row of seats. (At this time the cup holders come out with one of the two seats) These bases are just plain in the way if you need all the cargo room in the van behind the front seats.

#401 of 687 Re: 2011 vs. my 2007 [nobo] by ateixeira

May 25, 2010 (12:10 pm)

Replying to: nobo (May 25, 2010 12:07 pm)
I briefly looked at a Venza, too. The Venza still has some padded surfaces, the dash material is better for instance.
 
They also had a Camry Hybrid in the showroom, and it had a nicely padded dash, best among the three of them, actually.
 
I wonder if Honda will follow suit, i.e. cost cutting on the materials.
 
At least Toyota added content to offset that.
 
I did not remove the seats completely, so I didn't notice the seat bases.

#402 of 687 11 Sienna is a IIHS Top Safety Pick by szn1

May 27, 2010 (9:39 pm)

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=422

#403 of 687 Re: 11 Sienna is a IIHS Top Safety Pick [szn1] by ateixeira

May 28, 2010 (7:57 am)

Replying to: szn1 (May 27, 2010 9:39 pm)
Saw that yesterday.
 
That's a strong roof! It held more than 4 times the Sienna's weight! And the van is no lightweight.

#404 of 687 Re: 11 Sienna is a IIHS Top Safety Pick [szn1] by nobo

May 28, 2010 (8:31 am)

Replying to: szn1 (May 27, 2010 9:39 pm)
It's good to know that Toyota can build a strong roof. Now they need to get to work making the interior up to previous Sienna quality.

#405 of 687 Re: Question on pricing [nikkib3] by victor23

May 28, 2010 (12:40 pm)

Replying to: nikkib3 (Apr 10, 2010 10:00 pm)
"So if you do the "internet pricing" and they give you a price, is that their final bottom line price or do you haggle over that price too?"
 
Sorry if you don't need the answer any more, but yes, you can haggle, and I saved a couple of grands this month by doing exactly that. Moreover, somewhere I came across a new "dealer's" definition what the "internet price" is: below MSRP but above invoice !?!

#406 of 687 Re: missing compartmen... [samnoe] by victor23

May 28, 2010 (12:47 pm)

Replying to: samnoe (Apr 14, 2010 11:13 am)
"Time for a re-re-design!! 2012 by any chance??"
 
Uh-oh... This forum is NOT about politics...

#407 of 687 Re: 2011 Sienna Limited FWD [DLu] by tyyeh0

May 30, 2010 (8:52 am)

Replying to: DLu (Apr 28, 2010 4:56 am)
Hi DLu,
 
  We are thinking about getting a limited also. Which dealer did you use for your deal? Also, what was the invoice $? How do you like it so far.
 
Tom

#408 of 687 Here is what I think Toyota did wrong with the 2011 by samnoe

May 30, 2010 (1:20 pm)

Here is my list of improvements I would like to see in the next update:
 
- Improve interior quality
- Bring back the comfortable 8th passenger seat
- Move back the interior lamp controls to dash ('04-10), why the heck place it on roof?
- Hidden rear wiper maybe cute, but almost worthless. Bring back the old one.
- Auto dimming exterior mirrors even in lower end models, not just on Limited
- Make power rear liftgate also available on LE/SE
- Illuminate the glove boxes (Camry is very good).
- Bring back storage bins in front doors (below armrest)
- Interior door pull handles similar to highlander, etc.
- Navigation should be Hard-Drive based.
- Built-in MP3 player, with a minimum of 20 gb hard drive.
- Standard Bluetooth is nice, but why limit imports to worthless 20 contacts??
- Add stowage below the middle row seats, like Chrysler's stow'n'go models features.
 
Otherwise, I think it is perfect.
 
Anyone to add to this list?

Messages Page 41 of 69

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement