After a 3000 mile trip, our Sedona is working flawlessly. No rattles,
buzzes or other signs of problems. Power is really really nice. MPG
averaged
on a drive from NYC to North Carolina was 23.1 MPG with 4 people and
luggage. Driving throught heavy rain and high winds at typical speeds
(75-85 MPH), the van never felt unstable. Noise levels are quite low.
So far this continues to be the mini van to beat. The only real issue
is that a loaded one is really not all that cheap anymore...but hey,
that sound system with DVD 7.1 surround sound is one of th best stock
systems on the market. Add Sirius radio and a Garmin C340 GPS and
you'll be all set! BTW, the Garmin is better than ANY factory installed

unit I've tried (Acura RL & Lexus 330) and can be used in more than one
car.
Just for kicks I took the Sedona to 110 MPH and was pleasantly
surprised that it remained glued to the road. With a mini-van you
really want torque on tap and that's where the Toyota really falls
short. Then again, just get into a new Sedona and the Toyota and Honda
feel dated anyway. I've revised my opinion....the Kia Sedona (as other
reviews agree) is now king of the mini vans.
But I'm keeping my STI, which I just drove damn fast through heavy rain
to stock up the boat!


Capt RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com...
After a 3000 mile trip, our Sedona is working flawlessly.

3000 miles round trip from NYC to North Carolina!


No rattles,
buzzes or other signs of problems.

Except for the odometer!

Power is really really nice.

Steering? Locks? Brakes? Seats?

MPG
averaged
on a drive from NYC to North Carolina was 23.1 MPG with 4 people and
luggage.

The Sienna clobbered that. 26 mpg to Jackson Wyoming and 32 mpg driving
around Yellowstone. That's all high altitude, hilly driving. When the
buffalo walked out in front of the car and we hit it all we had to do was
hose off the car - one small scratch and as good as new! The buffalo flew 20
feet into the air.



Driving throught heavy rain and high winds at typical speeds
(75-85 MPH), the van never felt unstable.

That 's what they all say before they roll it.


Noise levels are quite low.
So far this continues to be the mini van to beat.

Beat like a drum.

The only real issue
is that a loaded one is really not all that cheap anymore

And that happened right after you bought yours, right?


....but hey,
that sound system with DVD 7.1 surround sound is one of th best stock
systems on the market. Add Sirius radio and a Garmin C340 GPS and
you'll be all set! BTW, the Garmin is better than ANY factory installed

unit I've tried (Acura RL & Lexus 330) and can be used in more than one
car.

The GPS comes in handy driving at 90 mph in high torrential rains because
you can't see the road or the signs.


Just for kicks I took the Sedona to 110 MPH and was pleasantly
surprised that it remained glued to the road.

Didn't it go 110 mph when you were fleeing the alligator?

With a mini-van you
really want torque on tap and that's where the Toyota really falls
short.

How short is that?

Then again, just get into a new Sedona and the Toyota and Honda
feel dated anyway.

And guess what. When Toyota does the model change the Sedona will be an old
decrepit dinosaur that can't even get out of its way.



I've revised my opinion....the Kia Sedona (as other
reviews agree) is now king of the mini vans.

Great! Just like the NY Mets have a baseball dynasty!

But I'm keeping my STI, which I just drove damn fast through heavy rain
to stock up the boat!

Wouldn't that Tribeca just plow through the rain? What ever happened to that
mistake?



Capt RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ups.com...

Power is really really nice.

Steering? Locks? Brakes? Seats?


Superb, certainly on par with the Honda and better than the Sienna on
all counts. The Honda led the field for comfort until the Sedona.

Comfort counts the most. 1960's Cadillacs were also known for comfort. Old
ladies really like comfort.


The Sienna clobbered that. 26 mpg to Jackson Wyoming and 32 mpg driving
around Yellowstone.


I hope so since the Sienna is so underpowered it lost last year's
shootouts against the Honda in all tests on that count alone. Meanwhile
the Honda continues to have problems all around. Luckily we skipped
both!

If you account for your odometer error, you got about 12 mpg. Makes sense
for driving at 110 mph.

Yes, the Sienna is very underpowered. The speedometer only goes up to 27
mph.


And that happened right after you bought yours, right?

Yep, the cash back incentives ended 2 weeks after we bought ours and
people on Edmunds are reporting over 30K for average price paid for a
loaded EX. Go have a look! We paid 2K less.

You paid over 28K$. Why not just buy from fleet sales with a business check?
It's a lot cheaper that way.


The GPS comes in handy driving at 90 mph in high torrential rains because
you can't see the road or the signs.

GPS can save you gas, time and the Garmin C340 is lots of fun to play
with for pennies!

GPS is a distraction. It doesn't save anything unless you are a lousy
driver. Look at it this way:

You put on 3,000 miles driving from NYC to North Carolina and back. That GPS
does wonders!




How short is that?


Very. The Sienna is terrible for torque and highway driving simply
sucks. I still like the AWD version, but it's even slower.

Slower? The AWD version doesn't come with an engine. It just sits and
doesn't move at all. The AWD has very expensive run flat tires and no spare.



And guess what. When Toyota does the model change the Sedona will be an
old
decrepit dinosaur that can't even get out of its way.

Well, we'll see. The Sedona is the fastest most powerful minivan.

Soon we'll see them running F1 at Monza!

I'd
like to see Toyota and Honda push the envelope even further.

I'd like to see a decent Sedona that is 3 years old - guess what one does
not exist. Plenty of Hondas and Toyotas do.

Meanwhile
more reviews are saying that the Sedona and Entourage are set to
dominate the market. I've driven them all. The Japanese better get to
work and Chrysler should just give up. My uncle in NC owns a new
Caravan and it's awful.

Those Japs are slackers! It's all over for them. KIA might actually have an
acceptable car for once.



Wouldn't that Tribeca just plow through the rain? What ever happened to
that
mistake?

Suzanne drives it to work. It's an AWD tank. There's no one perfect
car...so just own four!

Why do you force your wife to drive an ugly car? Is it because she thinks a
mini van is so "soccer mommish"?



Hahahaha! Ha!

Bwahahahahaha! Bwaaa!

Get that odometer fixed! Or maybe it's the GPS!

Ahahahahahaha!



RB
35s5
NY

Comfort counts the most. 1960's Cadillacs were also known for comfort. Old
ladies really like comfort.

Yep, and so does my 66 year old father.


If you account for your odometer error, you got about 12 mpg. Makes sense
for driving at 110 mph.

We went 455 miles (according to GPS, the trip computer reported 444.5)
before refueling...and with gas to spare. The Sedona has a 21 gallon
tank, perfect for long drives.


Yes, the Sienna is very underpowered. The speedometer only goes up to 27
mph.

Yes, Toyota has done nothing to improve the engine, even after the
buggy Honda beat them in all the tests. Now they're 3rd with the new
Sedona out.

You paid over 28K$.

We paid 27'950, more than 2K less than average! Read my Epinions.com
review.


GPS is a distraction. It doesn't save anything unless you are a lousy
driver.

Only a lousy driver would get distracted by a tiny GPS, but if you
can't stay focused on the road keep the radio off as well. I'm glad you
admitted to this. Don't buy a GPS or Sat. radio for your car.


You put on 3,000 miles driving from NYC to North Carolina and back. That GPS
does wonders!

Yep, we never drove anywhere once we got to NC!!! HAHAHA!


Slower? The AWD version doesn't come with an engine.

That's pretty much how we felt when we test drove the newest one.


I'd like to see a decent Sedona that is 3 years old -

Kinda hard for a van that was introduced 5 months ago. The
Sedona/Enterouge have nothing at all to do with the 2002-2005 Sedona.


Those Japs are slackers! It's all over for them.


The folks at Major Toyota and Toyota of New Rochelle seem to think the
new Sedona is a problem for them. It's taking marketshare fast and the
only thing they can now claim is a larger dealer network and better
resale for now. That's not enough stacked against a far better warranty
and better van.

Why do you force your wife to drive an ugly car?

She likes the Tribeca because it looks different. You like cars that
have no personality and blend in and that's what we consider ugly. If
being conventional makes you happy, that's fine. But you already said
your cars make statements about yourself.


Ahahahahahaha!

Yes.


RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com...


Comfort counts the most. 1960's Cadillacs were also known for comfort.
Old
ladies really like comfort.

Yep, and so does my 66 year old father.

But does he like old ladies?




If you account for your odometer error, you got about 12 mpg. Makes sense
for driving at 110 mph.

We went 455 miles (according to GPS, the trip computer reported 444.5)
before refueling...and with gas to spare. The Sedona has a 21 gallon
tank, perfect for long drives.


You went 3,000 miles in 5 days. 600 a day, if you average 55 mph that's over
10 hours a day in the car driving. If you held a steady 110 mph then it is
only 27 hours. You drove 1/8 of the way around the earth going to NC!



Yes, the Sienna is very underpowered. The speedometer only goes up to 27
mph.

Yes, Toyota has done nothing to improve the engine, even after the
buggy Honda beat them in all the tests. Now they're 3rd with the new
Sedona out.

Toyota has recalled the engines. They want to modify them to make them
worse!



You paid over 28K$.

We paid 27'950, more than 2K less than average! Read my Epinions.com
review.

You paid more than 28K.



GPS is a distraction. It doesn't save anything unless you are a lousy
driver.

Only a lousy driver would get distracted by a tiny GPS, but if you
can't stay focused on the road keep the radio off as well. I'm glad you
admitted to this. Don't buy a GPS or Sat. radio for your car.


GPS, cell phone, radio, nagging wife = distractions and dangers to driving.



You put on 3,000 miles driving from NYC to North Carolina and back. That
GPS
does wonders!

Yep, we never drove anywhere once we got to NC!!! HAHAHA!

1/8th the distance around the earth! In crossing 5 states!




Slower? The AWD version doesn't come with an engine.

That's pretty much how we felt when we test drove the newest one.

You got that right.




I'd like to see a decent Sedona that is 3 years old -

Kinda hard for a van that was introduced 5 months ago. The
Sedona/Enterouge have nothing at all to do with the 2002-2005 Sedona.

Same name, same manufacturer, same engineers, same assembly plant,
commonality in parts,...




Those Japs are slackers! It's all over for them.


The folks at Major Toyota and Toyota of New Rochelle seem to think the
new Sedona is a problem for them. It's taking marketshare fast and the
only thing they can now claim is a larger dealer network and better
resale for now. That's not enough stacked against a far better warranty
and better van.

Right, all they have to do is cut the price and run KIA out.



Why do you force your wife to drive an ugly car?

She likes the Tribeca because it looks different. You like cars that
have no personality and blend in and that's what we consider ugly.

Substance beats form any day.

If
being conventional makes you happy, that's fine. But you already said
your cars make statements about yourself.

And that statement is?




Ahahahahahaha!

Yes.


RB
35s5
NY

You went 3,000 miles in 5 days. 600 a day, if you average 55 mph that's over
10 hours a day in the car driving. If you held a steady 110 mph then it is
only 27 hours. You drove 1/8 of the way around the earth going to NC!


From PA, it's 749 miles to the beach house. But we didn't drive from
PA, we only stopped there to pick up my father. We also stopped off at
a few places in virginia. We were also gone from the 16th - 24th. Is
that five days? Good lord, Bob. Do better, please. BTW, I drove there
in 11 hours at night so Thomas could sleep through the trip. Thank god
for Sirius radio. It's a shame you admitted that such things are too
much for your limited focus. It really makes long drives nicer.


You paid more than 28K.

Well, if you really believe that than I'm even more certain we did
great on the price!


GPS, cell phone, radio, nagging wife = distractions and dangers to driving.

Yes, to poor drivers who can't focus. You should remove everything.


1/8th the distance around the earth! In crossing 5 states!


That sounds like you might have a clue until you realize that two way
is over 2K easily.


That's pretty much how we felt when we test drove the newest one.

You got that right.

Toyota will increase power for 2008.


Same name, same manufacturer, same engineers, same assembly plant,
commonality in parts

Nope...wrong again (and again and again), Bob. The new Sedona shares no
parts with the old Sedona, not even the switches or trim. And the
design team and build is now Hyundai. In fact it's built side by side
with the Entourage from Hyundai. It's the same van. The old Sedona was
Kia's 100%. So if you agree with JD Powers that the Hyundai is the most
improved car line in history, it's no wonder that the Sedona is getting
reviewed as the best minivan ever.


Right, all they have to do is cut the price and run KIA out.

Cutting the price still won't match Kia's better engine, nicer cabin
and more features. That's American car-maker thinking and you can bet
Toyota is smarter than that. The new Sienna will be improved to match
the Sedona.

Toyota is a great company and I expect them to raise the bar yet again
and soon.


RB
35s5
NY

Capt. Rob wrote:
You went 3,000 miles in 5 days. 600 a day, if you average 55 mph that's over
10 hours a day in the car driving. If you held a steady 110 mph then it is
only 27 hours. You drove 1/8 of the way around the earth going to NC!


From PA, it's 749 miles to the beach house. But we didn't drive from
PA, we only stopped there to pick up my father. We also stopped off at
a few places in virginia. We were also gone from the 16th - 24th. Is
that five days? Good lord, Bob. Do better, please. BTW, I drove there
in 11 hours at night so Thomas could sleep through the trip. Thank god
for Sirius radio. It's a shame you admitted that such things are too
much for your limited focus. It really makes long drives nicer.


You paid more than 28K.

Well, if you really believe that than I'm even more certain we did
great on the price!


GPS, cell phone, radio, nagging wife = distractions and dangers to driving.

Yes, to poor drivers who can't focus. You should remove everything.


1/8th the distance around the earth! In crossing 5 states!


That sounds like you might have a clue until you realize that two way
is over 2K easily.


That's pretty much how we felt when we test drove the newest one.

You got that right.

Toyota will increase power for 2008.


Same name, same manufacturer, same engineers, same assembly plant,
commonality in parts

Nope...wrong again (and again and again), Bob. The new Sedona shares no
parts with the old Sedona, not even the switches or trim. And the
design team and build is now Hyundai. In fact it's built side by side
with the Entourage from Hyundai. It's the same van. The old Sedona was
Kia's 100%. So if you agree with JD Powers that the Hyundai is the most
improved car line in history, it's no wonder that the Sedona is getting
reviewed as the best minivan ever.


Right, all they have to do is cut the price and run KIA out.

Cutting the price still won't match Kia's better engine, nicer cabin
and more features. That's American car-maker thinking and you can bet
Toyota is smarter than that. The new Sienna will be improved to match
the Sedona.

Toyota is a great company and I expect them to raise the bar yet again
and soon.


RB
35s5
NY

My old Nissan truck with 300,000 miles has you beat all to hell. It
can go anywhere, speedo is broke so I dont worry about goin fast, it
hauls all my sailin crap and I dont worry about the spilled used oil
from my boats diesel in back. I can go thu the woods on any rutted
path bouncin offa trees and I dont worry about scratches. It hasnt had
AC in 10 years so it helps me get used to the heat here. It has a
simple engine cuz all the pollution crap rusted away and fell off.
You have a stereo in your veeeehicle? My gawd, thats for girls and
wine sippin wimps. You gotta be able to lissen to all the machines
noises to tell what its doing. Who needs a built in movie system? My
kids take turns countin all the stuff on my truck that doesnt work. My
daughter is convinced that when it finally dies (although I believe in
automotive immoratlity) that it will go to Old Truck Paradise on Dog
Island where it'll share stories of its adventures with all the other
old trucks there slowly being covered with vines and drifting dunes.
If that ever happens, I'll rig up a player to a small solar cell and
battery to randomely serenade the old trucks with Neil Young's "Long
May You Run"

On 26 Jun 2006 11:41:25 -0700, wrote:


My old Nissan truck with 300,000 miles has you beat all to hell. It
can go anywhere, speedo is broke so I dont worry about goin fast, it
hauls all my sailin crap and I dont worry about the spilled used oil
from my boats diesel in back. I can go thu the woods on any rutted
path bouncin offa trees and I dont worry about scratches. It hasnt had
AC in 10 years so it helps me get used to the heat here. It has a
simple engine cuz all the pollution crap rusted away and fell off.
You have a stereo in your veeeehicle? My gawd, thats for girls and
wine sippin wimps. You gotta be able to lissen to all the machines
noises to tell what its doing. Who needs a built in movie system? My
kids take turns countin all the stuff on my truck that doesnt work. My
daughter is convinced that when it finally dies (although I believe in
automotive immoratlity) that it will go to Old Truck Paradise on Dog
Island where it'll share stories of its adventures with all the other
old trucks there slowly being covered with vines and drifting dunes.
If that ever happens, I'll rig up a player to a small solar cell and
battery to randomely serenade the old trucks with Neil Young's "Long
May You Run"


Brings a tear to my eye. My 1976 Datsun (that was Nissan before they
figured out it was also a silly looking dog in English) Pickup truck
finally died several years back. I don't know how many miles, speedo
broke, I never fixed it. Never had air. It had an early and feeble
attempt at emission control but I left it all off when I changed a
head gasket and the truck was much more efficient without it. Japs
actually thought that people in the U. S. wanted trucks that could
haul so they geared them very low and it would go anywhere and pull
anything.

Only got rid of it because stuff started rusting off. Minor things
like hood hinge brackets and such. For me it was an excuse to buy a
welding machine, however, better half convinced me the welding machine
was worth more than the truck. Sold it to a kid who roached it out
within six months. I miss it. Wish I had bought that welding
machine.

Steereo. Are you kidding me. There is no sound system in the world
that you would be able to hear when that low geared dude was pitching
about 3.5K RPM just to cruise at 65.

Seems like I paid about $2800 for it brand new. Sold it for $600.
Let's see that would be about eighty bucks a year depreciation
expense.

Frank

If that ever happens, I'll rig up a player to a small solar cell and
battery to randomely serenade the old trucks with Neil Young's "Long
May You Run"


Get the Emmylou Harris version


Frank Boettcher wrote:
Brings a tear to my eye. My 1976 Datsun (that was Nissan before they
figured out it was also a silly looking dog in English) Pickup truck
finally died several years back.

Those were great little trucks


.... It had an early and feeble
attempt at emission control but I left it all off when I changed a
head gasket and the truck was much more efficient without it.

Doubt it very seriously... you probably had a clogged line
or vacuum leak long before you took it all off. Those
systems were actually quite good when working properly. They
were a bit on the fragile side though.



Seems like I paid about $2800 for it brand new. Sold it for $600.
Let's see that would be about eighty bucks a year depreciation
expense.


It works out to be a great deal if you break it down by
ton/miles per $. Those things got pretty good gas mileage too.

DSK

On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 07:44:22 -0400, DSK wrote:




.... It had an early and feeble
attempt at emission control but I left it all off when I changed a
head gasket and the truck was much more efficient without it.

Doubt it very seriously... you probably had a clogged line
or vacuum leak long before you took it all off. Those
systems were actually quite good when working properly. They
were a bit on the fragile side though.


I don't know. It had the pre catcon system that injected air into the
exhaust manifold just south of the exhaust valves, looking for a post
cylinder burn. Had a air pump that was belted off the crank pulley.

That system seemed to rely partially on a retardation or dwell of the
throttle dump. When you took your foot off the pedal it would not
immediately drop but slowly come down. Made it a little tricky to
shift a manual. Additionally, it had a tendency to backfire
excessively on deceleration. All of this from day one. Others
complained of burned exhaust valves

When I took it off (or more accurately didn't put it back on when I
chaged the head gasket and did a valve job), it ran so much smoother.
Immediate throttle dump, no more backfiring and no hesitation. Gas
mileage increased by about 5 percent. So it ran more efficiently as I
stated, but I can't comment on the relative emission effectivity.

They didn't use that system for very long.

Frank