Tell me about Sequoias (1 Viewer)

[profro]

I am looking to buy my wife a 2004ish Sequoia. We have an 80, a F250, and a Matrix. I daily drive 50+ miles in the F250 which has 285k miles and is 13 years old. I'd like to stop daily driving it so it can serve my pickup needs for years to come. Best case is that I take my wife's Matrix, which gets 35 mpg but that means she needs something else. She doesn't drive all that much so fuel economy isn't super important, but more so she would like a bigger SUV to haul our two boys. Furthermore it would be nice to have a bigger SUV for family trips versus using the 80 as we do now.

I would love a 100, but I want to pay cash and have a vehicle with relatively low maintenance costs. I like the look and price of 2000-2005 Sequoias. However, I know nothing about them. I assume they are typical Toyotas and probably will run forever, but what should I look for when shopping. Any known red flags when looking at these used and when do the miles get high enough to walk away?

Thanks

 

[Thundra]

Get a 2003 or newer. Less tranny issues. 05 and newer have more powerful engines. My 03 has a gremlin in the gas tank and makes it look like its empty when it's not. It comes and goes Overall a great rig. But at some point the rear handle will break. Cheap fix, just annoying. Mileage wise I couldn't tell you. I have 216K on my Tundra. No complaints. I have three kids and I stick em all in the back. Way back. This sucker is huge!

 

[profro]

We found a clean 2004 and drove it. It drove nice and was huge (good thing). However PO had cut out the 3rd row seat belts. WTH? Can't figure that one out. But more importantly there was a leaking AC line under the passenger side of vehicle near middle of frame. I called Toyota dealer and to inquire and he said that vintage had a AC issues that was under warranty and was a huge mess to fix. He said to walk away as that fix would be expensive. Anyone else had such an issue?

 

[wspastorbryan]

I went from an 80 to a Sequoia and love it. I've dealt with the door actuator which wasn't that bad, the ac fan going out, oil pressure gauge broken, gas gauge broken... Overall not that bad. I wanted an 05, but got a deal on a 03. The power is nice. Also, you aren't going to run a wide tire without spacers. The UCA rub is going to be awful. I'm doing a 285 with a lift and a 1/4 inch spacer on the wheel. It wasn't needed, but it was too close for comfort.

 

[BigTree4x4]

I just traded in my H2 on an 07 Sequoia cause we just had a baby and for as huge as the H2 is, there really wasn't that much usable room inside. It was great for my wife, 125lb dog and I but the dog took up all the usable cargo space in the back. And with 37" KM2's on it the rear seat was to high to comfortably put a child seat in the middle. So I searched for about a month and finally found the 07. I read all the things about getting 03 and newer and did my own research. I ended up wanting a 05-07 4x4 Limited (limited for leather for easy cleaning from the baby) There was a lot of 2wd 01-03 available and ended up having to drive from San Diego to L.A. to get everything I wanted. And I'm so glad I did. It's got room for days inside and doesn't feel like it when I'm driving it. It had 129K miles and timing belt replacement sticker at 110K from Toyota in engine compartment and everything was super clean, one owner, it's was a trade in at Toyota dealership I bought it from and they say they checked it over so... I went for it. Im 6'2" and I can sit in any seat (of the 8!!!) and have plenty of leg room. I haven't even made a payment yet and put a Daystar lift kit, spidertrax wheel spacers ( I didn't want new offset wheels cause I love the grey stock wheels), 285/70R17 Goodyear MTR Kevlars and a Baja Rack Megamule. For us its the perfect size rig. It's got all the room in the back for the dog and gear with 3rd row folded forward and when we get wherever we are going and need seating for 8 it's available. The power is good too. Driving on the freeways here it really gets up and goes even with the larger tire. The ride is great and am really happy with it. And the dog really loves the rear sliding window. As far as gas mileage goes the computer says 14-15 but I've never checked it. When I need gas I just fill it up. Overall my wife and I love ours, hope this helps.

 

[Duane]

I'm not certain I understand the seating difference that Bigtree mentions between the years.

We are generally pretty happy with our 03 4x4 that we have had for 2 years now. I looked for good maintenance records and a recently changed timing belt as the 4.7 is an interference engine although wreckers seem to have them as they must run for a long time.
2 recalls I have had it in for was lower ball joints and spraying/coating the frame as it was prone to rusting like the tacos model up to 2004.

Yes my rear air doesn't work and the back hatch seems to be prone to failure although mine has been fine so far.
I think the exhaust manifolds may be prone to cracking and I had to get a heat shield secured as it was rattling.
I've never been impressed with my braking unless the previous owner put some different pads on it from OEM
The plastic headlights are prone to discoloration/clouding and every rock chip seems to be quickly prone to becoming a rust spot.
My 03 has a dipstick to check the tranny fluid where as my 05 Tundra I believe didn't even have one so checking a used vehicle tranny pretty much requires getting a sample from underneath as opposed to pulling a dipstick on older models.
I think they are generally quite reasonably priced as they get older and still have many miles left in them. The 4.7 still doesn't get great mileage but I guess just slowing down will help that a fair amount.. perhaps the 05+ if thats when they got the 5 spd tranny helps with the mileage a bit??
It's quiet, the doors fit nicely and the 03 has side curtain airbags but just for the front seats I believe. Might want to check when/if they were available on the second row seating. I do like that the 03 has shoulder belts for every seat even the 3rd row.
Yes minimal clearance up front to install any larger tires without rubbing.. i have stayed with stock tire sizes. 03 doesn't have the TPS monitoring but i think the 05 does. Just an extra cost if you get a second set of rims for winter tires.