Tell me about your minivan

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Originally Posted by gravitylover

Haha, I'll end up being that asshole with a cargo rack up top because of some of the things we move around so I could just keep the spare up there GOTOS style.

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I approve. Be sure to carry the proper condiments.

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Originally Posted by bodywhomper

Cable motor broke on my sienna passenger slider. Outside of warranty. I removed the cable. Still works ok manually after 4 years.

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I was not going pass up free work.

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Originally Posted by riser4

I approve. Be sure to carry the proper condiments.

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Polish Beer Mustard?

I’d have loved that the cable and mirror would have been replaced under warranty.

I see locals with full sized spares on their roofs of awd’s.

For the hybrid, does putting a spare on a cargo rack not result in a pretty massive hit to MPG? Seems like you might be edging into diminishing returns in comparison to a hybrid Highlander or similar.

I bet it would but I'd also have bikes or a box up there so, meh.

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Originally Posted by gravitylover

I bet it would but I'd also have bikes or a box up there so, meh.

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I feel like there ought to be a swing arm tire carrier available but I haven’t seen one yet, either on the road or the internet

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Originally Posted by doebedoe

How would AWD have prevented an off-the-road-in-a-downgrade-turn scenario?

I have a FWD Sienna. I have no illusions that the AWD is a superior snow vehicle. But at the time budget simply didn't allow the 7-8k markup I was seeing in my local market. (Plus I had just had a rear diff blow up on me on the highway and was pissy about AWDs extra maintenance). It has been an OK snow commuter with snows. I carry chains for emergencies which I haven't put on yet except to practice. I have used my traction boards a couple of times to get out of deep trailheads -- probably unnecessary with the AWD.

The places where the FWD lets you down in my experience of ~150 ski days in it is uphill traction (weight shifts off the front end and grip is lesser) and deep, loose snow. I've driven over Red mtn pass in a good snow storm at night in it comfortably. And road tripped from CO to BC. It isn't confidence inspiring at crappier winter trailheads but it's a road trip machine. With a 3" lift, AT/Snow tires, and a big ass roofbox and awning I've been averaging 22mpg cruising at 75. That goes up a couple mpg if I dial it to 60 but i'm not willing to do it.

I will say, coming from an AWD Astro which is RWD biased until AWD kicks in on slip -- that having your steering and power run through the same wheels gives less confident driving dynamics in snow in general, especially high speed lane changes through snow piles. It's not really a safety thing, but that feeling of your steering wheels slipping with power pushing through them is unsettling until you get used to it.

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Front wheel drive sienna with snows are capable vehicles. I live in snow country with a 300 foot driveway that is a dirt path and once I cleared the drive way I got the car over app gap in snow storms. The biggest problem I had with it in the snow was ground clearance. For a non suv it has pretty good clearance. My model was a gen 2

We got rid of it when it needed a new catalytic converters at 240 k

After my Volvo cx 90 it was the best car I ever owned. If I take driving in severe snow fall out of consideration and living in snow country - it was the best car


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@Brownski -In one of the RR forums I spent time on there was at least one guy making one at home. It was spare tire and 2 bikes. That thing was ghastly heavy but with the air suspension it would level it right out.

Last gen Sienna drives like absolute dog shit. It's like mid 90s Buick soft. Just to warn you. It's why we went with the odyssey (have a '16). It's fine with snows - not as good as high end AWD cars (or Subarus), but it manages just fine.
2007-2016 are all solid years for Odysseys. '18 and '19 have some bum transmissions if it's not the touring (some have the better one, but hard to know).

Yeah I'm looking at like 09-12 for Toyota and Honda and 10-14 for Chrysler/Dodge.

If gen 3 sienna is too soft (personal—I think it’s fine for a minivan) you can always swap in SE struts and springs to firm up the ride.

Not for nothing but the current Chrysler minivans drive pretty good. I took a rental to FL and back a year or so ago and it was a pleasure to drive, except for the couple times I accidentally hit the ECO mode button. Don’t ever hit that button.

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Originally Posted by doebedoe

If gen 3 sienna is too soft (personal—I think it’s fine for a minivan) you can always swap in SE struts and springs to firm up the ride.

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I think he's talking about gen 4?

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Originally Posted by DBdude

Front wheel drive sienna with snows are capable vehicles. I live in snow country with a 300 foot driveway that is a dirt path and once I cleared the drive way I got the car over app gap in snow storms. The biggest problem I had with it in the snow was ground clearance. For a non suv it has pretty good clearance. My model was a gen 2

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My experience is with 3PMSF rated AT tires (Discoverer At4s) and Snows (Michellin X-Ice.) It's capable, but it isn't as confidence-inspiring in my experience as my old AWD Astros. Except for the fact the Astros have about no safety features, shit safety rating, and poor handling.

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Originally Posted by riser4

I think he's talking about gen 4?

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Yeah -- two ways to read "last" -- current gen (4) or previous (3). I haven't driven the 4.

Rented a '22 Pacifica Hybrid for a week. Drove it from SLC to Cody, WY and all through Yellowstone and surrounding areas.

Pros: Decent build quality, the center stack was intuitive, infotainment only failed once, HVAC was great, plenty of storage, large and small, cruised @ 88 while getting around 28-30 MPG.

Cons. The driving experience was shit. In town, the throttle pedal and brakes were either all the way on, or all the way off. It was hard AF to drive smoothly. On the open road, the Pentastar was neutered by the CVT, it took two days to pass someone on the two lane. How FCA managed to take a moderately powered V-6, add an electric assist, and still make it feel slower than the conventional model is beyond me. In addition, the plug in portion of the hybrid took 6-8 hours to recharge from a standard 110 outlet. The driving assist features were hit or miss. The lane keep worked well, but the adaptive cruise control was full Audi. It wouldn't brake until you were right up someone's ass, even on the longest setting. About 50% of the time, the automatic braking would initiate when I tried to pass someone. I almost had to be in the left shoulder to keep it from dragging me to a stop. It was borderline dangerous. If you turned it off, you got a big ass yellow light on the dash... full time. The seats sucked.


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Originally Posted by doebedoe

My experience is with 3PMSF rated AT tires (Discoverer At4s) and Snows (Michellin X-Ice.) It's capable, but it isn't as confidence-inspiring in my experience as my old AWD Astros. Except for the fact the Astros have about no safety features, shit safety rating, and poor handling.



Yeah -- two ways to read "last" -- current gen (4) or previous (3). I haven't driven the 4.

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Yeah, gen 3. If the sweet green Siennas weren't like 50k, I'd honestly consider an upgrade.
As far as racks go - pretty much all major vans support 2 inch hitches and have 3-4k towing capacity, so you're free to use basically whatever racking solution you'd use for trucks or SUVs. I have a northshore 4 bike one for mine, the lowest 2 settings allow the hatch to open without removing the bikes.

Did a 1500 mile roadtrip in the hybrid sienna a couple weeks ago. 2 adults, 2 kids, full of crap in the back and 4 bikes on the hitch rack. Still averaged around 36mpg. That was nice.

Rear suspension is definitely too soft when loaded. And it doesn't seem like anyone's come out with an airbag kit for gen 4 yet. Might see about stiffer springs if airbags continue to be unavailable.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Did a 1500 mile roadtrip in the hybrid sienna a couple weeks ago. 2 adults, 2 kids, full of crap in the back and 4 bikes on the hitch rack. Still averaged around 36mpg. That was nice.

Rear suspension is definitely too soft when loaded. And it doesn't seem like anyone's come out with an airbag kit for gen 4 yet. Might see about stiffer springs if airbags continue to be unavailable.

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I'd honestly contact Airlift. They were responsive when my kit was missing a part. Might just be an oversight/need updating. Airbags do make a nice, simple difference and seem pretty robust.

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Originally Posted by doebedoe

I'd honestly contact Airlift. They were responsive when my kit was missing a part. Might just be an oversight/need updating. Airbags do make a nice, simple difference and seem pretty robust.

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My understanding is that gen 4 has a different suspension design than previous generations that makes it a lot more complicated to add an airbag. There are lengthy discussions about it in the sienna forums.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

My understanding is that gen 4 has a different suspension design than previous generations that makes it a lot more complicated to add an airbag. There are lengthy discussions about it in the sienna forums.

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Sumo Springs

I’ve been considering the sienna hybrid. Concerned about hitch/bike clearance. That journey lift is only ~700.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

My understanding is that gen 4 has a different suspension design than previous generations that makes it a lot more complicated to add an airbag. There are lengthy discussions about it in the sienna forums.

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That makes sense -- especially with the AWD being powered by a separate electric motor in the rear. Springs it is. Few folks on the Sienna AWD FB group have had custom springs wound. I looked into it, pretty reasonable price.

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Originally Posted by klauss

I’ve been considering the sienna hybrid. Concerned about hitch/bike clearance. That journey lift is only ~700.

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Only $575 for 4th gen (e.g. Hybrid). Reasonable price. Nice that they added 2" and 3" versions. It's a way simpler kit since they no longer have to deal with a driveshaft connecting rear to front. Looks like a reasonably adept person could do install at home in a day.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Did a 1500 mile roadtrip in the hybrid sienna a couple weeks ago. 2 adults, 2 kids, full of crap in the back and 4 bikes on the hitch rack. Still averaged around 36mpg. That was nice.

Rear suspension is definitely too soft when loaded. And it doesn't seem like anyone's come out with an airbag kit for gen 4 yet. Might see about stiffer springs if airbags continue to be unavailable.

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We’re debating putting a deposit down on a new Sienna hybrid. Mind answering a few questions?

How were the seats during the trip? We test drove a used 21 and my wife thought the seats in the 2nd/3rd rows were uncomfortable. What trim level do you have? We test drove an LE and are wondering if the seats are better in a XLE or higher.


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