edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
OK, update.
I have now passed 12,000 km since I got it, and just got back from a road trip to Vegas, 2,096.8 miles in total. Around 1700mls of hwy, and rest city driving in that hot hell called Vegas.
We left on 05/21 around 06.00am. 5 of us, including our 2.5 month old. That means we are bringing everything but kitchen: cooler, swing for baby, jogging stroller, two full-size suitcases, one mid size, one small, duffle bag for baby, rice cooker (wife is Asian, so don't ask
), bunch of bags with snacks, other stuff. Probably around 650lbs of combined weight between us and cargo.
We were thinking we might be in Vegas that night, but baby wanted to breastfeed like 10 times, so we just crashed in Richfield, UT, after some 530mls. Consumption? Well, until UT I was averaging maybe 15-16mpg (Yakima roofbox at the top). Actually not bad. But once I hit Utah, I was slammed by headwind. At last stretch between gas station and hotel, maybe 130mls, I could not get it better than 11.8mpg. That was wind, but also baby was really pissed, so I was doing like 90mph just to get ASAP there (speed limit is 80).
Going back, things got better mpg-wise. I did not have as strong a tailwind, but where I caught some, I managed to get maybe 15.5 mpg. That is bcs. I was now gaining altitude on the way back. Between Denver and Colorado Springs, I was surprised to average 17.8 mpg. Thinking it is a bit of a tailwind, as from Denver to the Springs it is uphill. The thing is, Sequoia resets average consumption measurement every time you fill up a tank.
But, I calculated manually. Overall average consumption was 14.25mpg. Take into consideration that the vehicle idled like 20 times, probably 10+ times more than 30 minutes during breastfeeding due to the AC being necessary. Also, oil in the engine is Castrol Edge 0W30, so not energy conserving. Will do UOA at 7,500mls on oil. I am left with some 1000mls on it.
So, impressions about the vehicle:
Really good:
Never felt I needed more power. The engine pulls really well all that weight, and going back we hauled more stuff, probably us and cargo, 700+ lbs.
Transmission was always in the right gear, no sweat. AC works excellent in Vegas, where it was between 96 and 104°F.
Good:
Suspension does not have a problem hauling all that weight. No drama. It absorbs all potholes, dips etc confidently and it is very easy to control it. Plenty of space inside, which is really good, baby seat (Graco 360), which you can rotate 360 degrees, is in the middle, and two other kids can sit on the side. No need for one to sit in the third row. That leaves a lot of trunk space. Also, numerous cup holders and the width of the vehicle, meaning, the arm rest between my wife and me allowed us to spread food and eat while driving comfortably, not struggling to position food.
I am not a fan of soft brake pedal feeling (Pagid pads are already waiting in the drawer for these to wear out), but I never felt brakes were inadequate with all this weight. Also, V8 does an excellent job of slowing down the vehicle when downshifting, and I downshift constantly.
OK:
Seats. Seats are OK. Nothing special. Much better than the Siena we had, but not on par with the Atlas we had previously, definitely NOT on par with the BMW X5 35d I had (but that was the best road trip vehicle period, anyway). I would also take seats from my 3 series any day over these.
But, they are not problematic. Not tiring, not too short (they could use an extra inch).
Bad:
Well, goes without saying, consumption!
I must add that Idemitsu ATF I put in some 5k ago still shifts like a butter.
Vegas was really hot, as expected. One of the breastfeeding idling situations:
One of the numerous stops at gas stations, again, baby eating.
Glenwood Springs, CO. El Taco Express. Whenever we visit Glenwood Springs or go through, we stop at this hole-in-the-wall. Amazing Mexican food. If you are there, try it! You won't regret it.
Well, like I said, we did not bring a kitchen with us:
Final tally, 2096.8mls.
I have now passed 12,000 km since I got it, and just got back from a road trip to Vegas, 2,096.8 miles in total. Around 1700mls of hwy, and rest city driving in that hot hell called Vegas.
We left on 05/21 around 06.00am. 5 of us, including our 2.5 month old. That means we are bringing everything but kitchen: cooler, swing for baby, jogging stroller, two full-size suitcases, one mid size, one small, duffle bag for baby, rice cooker (wife is Asian, so don't ask
), bunch of bags with snacks, other stuff. Probably around 650lbs of combined weight between us and cargo.We were thinking we might be in Vegas that night, but baby wanted to breastfeed like 10 times, so we just crashed in Richfield, UT, after some 530mls. Consumption? Well, until UT I was averaging maybe 15-16mpg (Yakima roofbox at the top). Actually not bad. But once I hit Utah, I was slammed by headwind. At last stretch between gas station and hotel, maybe 130mls, I could not get it better than 11.8mpg. That was wind, but also baby was really pissed, so I was doing like 90mph just to get ASAP there (speed limit is 80).
Going back, things got better mpg-wise. I did not have as strong a tailwind, but where I caught some, I managed to get maybe 15.5 mpg. That is bcs. I was now gaining altitude on the way back. Between Denver and Colorado Springs, I was surprised to average 17.8 mpg. Thinking it is a bit of a tailwind, as from Denver to the Springs it is uphill. The thing is, Sequoia resets average consumption measurement every time you fill up a tank.
But, I calculated manually. Overall average consumption was 14.25mpg. Take into consideration that the vehicle idled like 20 times, probably 10+ times more than 30 minutes during breastfeeding due to the AC being necessary. Also, oil in the engine is Castrol Edge 0W30, so not energy conserving. Will do UOA at 7,500mls on oil. I am left with some 1000mls on it.
So, impressions about the vehicle:
Really good:
Never felt I needed more power. The engine pulls really well all that weight, and going back we hauled more stuff, probably us and cargo, 700+ lbs.
Transmission was always in the right gear, no sweat. AC works excellent in Vegas, where it was between 96 and 104°F.
Good:
Suspension does not have a problem hauling all that weight. No drama. It absorbs all potholes, dips etc confidently and it is very easy to control it. Plenty of space inside, which is really good, baby seat (Graco 360), which you can rotate 360 degrees, is in the middle, and two other kids can sit on the side. No need for one to sit in the third row. That leaves a lot of trunk space. Also, numerous cup holders and the width of the vehicle, meaning, the arm rest between my wife and me allowed us to spread food and eat while driving comfortably, not struggling to position food.
I am not a fan of soft brake pedal feeling (Pagid pads are already waiting in the drawer for these to wear out), but I never felt brakes were inadequate with all this weight. Also, V8 does an excellent job of slowing down the vehicle when downshifting, and I downshift constantly.
OK:
Seats. Seats are OK. Nothing special. Much better than the Siena we had, but not on par with the Atlas we had previously, definitely NOT on par with the BMW X5 35d I had (but that was the best road trip vehicle period, anyway). I would also take seats from my 3 series any day over these.
But, they are not problematic. Not tiring, not too short (they could use an extra inch).
Bad:
Well, goes without saying, consumption!
I must add that Idemitsu ATF I put in some 5k ago still shifts like a butter.
Vegas was really hot, as expected. One of the breastfeeding idling situations:
One of the numerous stops at gas stations, again, baby eating.
Glenwood Springs, CO. El Taco Express. Whenever we visit Glenwood Springs or go through, we stop at this hole-in-the-wall. Amazing Mexican food. If you are there, try it! You won't regret it.
Well, like I said, we did not bring a kitchen with us:
Final tally, 2096.8mls.
still good memories though! 