Any Sienna owners on TW?

The time has come for the need of a mini van. looking at Sienna's, Odyssey's, and possibly the new Sedona. Just looking for input on any, but I know most on here will probably be biased towards the Sienna. They each have they're points but overall I think I like the Sienna but it's the wife's to decide since she'll be the primary driver of it. Main question is are the Sienna's as good quality as other Toyota's? I have zero experience or knowledge about them other than what I've learned shopping as in features and specs. Just looking for input, good or bad. Thanks in advance.

 

I have a 13 Sienna and love it! Its never given me any problems since I bought it. And I don't think it will with routine maintenance. It has great power and handling and its stylish imo. Get the SE! its a "cool" minivan lol

 

Got a 15 LE today, love it so far! SE was a little out of our range. Love the touchscreen stereo. Not the entente but still has a nice set up. Makes me want one in my Taco.

 

Our family crossed over to the dark side after the third child arrived.

Even though two of the children are now adults, my wife has gotten so used to the van life, we just got a 2020 Sienna as her daily driver.

I joined a few Sienna forums, but after being on this forum for a few years, I guess I am just spoiled by how active TW is in comparison.

Anybody else rocking a Sienna?

 

We have a 2006 Sienna CE, we bought it new. 3.3L V6, nicely equipped but not loaded. My wife drives it, and drives it, and drives it.... Not a single mechanical issue until the pump failed in the transmission.....

…..At 276,000 miles. I looked into having the tranny rebuilt, vs buying a junkyard tranny on-line and having it installed. I found a tranny for $1300, installation was $750, with a 1000 mile warranty. The junkyard tranny supposedly had about 35K miles on it. Rebuilding the original to new spec (including new torque convertor), with a year warranty and unlimited miles, was just shy of $2700.

We now have 388,000 miles on the van, tranny still works fine. Interior fabric looks new, even the driver seat shows little wear from all the getting in and out. Doors still shut solidly with no rattle, side doors slide easily and lock solidly. rear hatch pneumatic supports starting to get weak, but will still push the hatch open once you get halfway. Side doors and hatch are not electric opening/closing. AC has never been recharged, and will freeze you out, you can cook with the heater. The top of the instrument panel has a hairline crack across the edge; it's been that way for 100K and hasn't gotten worse. it was a known failure on the 2006's. You don't notice it without looking for it, so we haven't done anything about it. Paint has held up well, no fading and clearcoat completely intact, but hood could use a repaint due to all the stone chips. It's a dark metallic blue.

We just had a new windshield installed, a small rock chip on the passenger side took 4 years to run halfway up and start across. Wife wants to keep the van a while longer so we got a new windshield. Engine runs smoothly, starts quickly, but uses a quart of oil now, between 5K oil changes. It's on the third timing belt and second set of spark plugs. We get around 22-23 mpg all-around driving, lots better than my 4L Taco does. Power steering is original. Second set of brake shoes in back, third set of rotors and 6th set of pads up front. Headlights need replacing, but I use one of those kits and buff them out clear once every 9 months to a year. Edit: Oh, yeah, CV joint on driver side half-shaft started rattling, the boot was torn, so water probably killed it. Replaced early this year at around 325K. Passenger side still okay.

I hear good things about the Odyssey, not so much about the Kia, but you certainly won't go wrong with the Sienna.

 

I meant to mention that the ride quality of our '06 has not noticeably deteriorated with all the miles we've accumulated, we've never replaced the struts. We raised two daughters who competitively danced throughout their school years, so there were many, many dance competitions and recitals, with all their costumery, hauled in that van, along with a couple of their friends and their gear. It's amazing how much that van will hold. We packed it completely full when our oldest went off to college 800 miles away, and ended up bringing some of it back because it wouldn't all fit in her dorm room. On long trips, it is a great vehicle, the only noise might be how the particular tires sound on the pavement. The 3.3 has adequate power for passing, and will easily cruise at 80.

 

Two good write-ups, thanks.

We had an 05 Honda Odyssey before this, but the 19-20 Honda's had many features we really didn't like- no analog speedo/ tack, no paddle shifter etc.

I read here that Toyota produces boring conservative reliable vehicles, and that suits us just fine.

Also, we liked the all wheel drive option.

Happy wife, happy life, as the expression goes.

 

My wife had the 3.3 in her 05 Solara when she had it. What a great engine that was. So damn smooth and seemed like it would last a lifetime.

 

I had a Sienna for 10 years. Did tons of traveling in it with the family. We only needed regular maintenance done to this vehicle. So far, pry our best, most reliable vehicle.

 

I'm sure the Sienna is a great van, but I don't like them much because I used to know a guy who was a huge racist/sexist/homophobe/general idiot who drove one. He also had a gross neckbeard that looked suspiciously like pubic hair.

I will say that that Sienna tolerated his poor maintenance and general abuse very well, though. He would let oil changes go by thousands of miles and that van just kept going. His mom (who owned it before him) was similarly inept and just beat on the Sienna to no ill effect. The cargo area was cavernous, too. It was a very sturdy, dependable van.

 

Review: Toyota Nailed It With The 2020 Sienna

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christeague/2019/11/25/review-toyota-nailed-it-with-the-2020-sienna/