Drove a 2018 Sienna today, may be old but not bad...my thoughts vs the Pacifica
08-08-18 | 04:55 AM
#16
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Sienna is ancient now, it seems like a good buy if you get big discount...
As to the FCA vehicles, it is always the same story...
08-08-18 | 06:09 AM
#17
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From: Maryland
I remember when you got the Pacifica, I commented and worried about reliability issues. I hope they do finally iron them out.
As a car guy, I'll say this... If you are already test-driving other vehicles, you are doomed. Doing test drives is almost always the beginning of the end for an existing vehicle. ; )
As a car guy, I'll say this... If you are already test-driving other vehicles, you are doomed. Doing test drives is almost always the beginning of the end for an existing vehicle. ; )
08-08-18 | 06:38 AM
#18
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From: PA
I love it when its not frozen! haha. Right, touching the screen does nothing. The screen still moves, and you can use voice commands and steering wheel inputs, but no screen buttons work. Restarting the car works sometimes, but not usually,
They CAN, but Chrysler makes them attempt two other repairs first. They try a software update, then a hard reset, and then a screen replacement. They have a request in to FCA to approve the screen replacement now. After each attempt it worked for a little bit and then went back to freezing again.
No, too far to go back there to buy it, I'm having it serviced at Darcars in Rockville, their service department is the best FCA dealer I've found around here. I do remember haha
All in all I'd rather keep the Pacifica, but they have to get this fixed. My partner hired an attorney when his Grand Cherokee was in the shop for 6 months and even after they finally fixed it they negotiated a $7k settlement from FCA. If this fix doesn't do it that will be my next step.Y
The steering in the Pacifica is much better weighted and better balanced.
Would be a no go with my wife LOL. She insists it has to be a minivan until the kids are older. You should have heard her complaining about the rear doors on the Lexus and driving them around all day LOL
I'd much rather have an SUV too, but when you have young kids you really cant beat a minivan. Adaptable seating, much more interior room, sliding doors...
They CAN, but Chrysler makes them attempt two other repairs first. They try a software update, then a hard reset, and then a screen replacement. They have a request in to FCA to approve the screen replacement now. After each attempt it worked for a little bit and then went back to freezing again.
No, too far to go back there to buy it, I'm having it serviced at Darcars in Rockville, their service department is the best FCA dealer I've found around here. I do remember haha
All in all I'd rather keep the Pacifica, but they have to get this fixed. My partner hired an attorney when his Grand Cherokee was in the shop for 6 months and even after they finally fixed it they negotiated a $7k settlement from FCA. If this fix doesn't do it that will be my next step.Y
The steering in the Pacifica is much better weighted and better balanced.
Would be a no go with my wife LOL. She insists it has to be a minivan until the kids are older. You should have heard her complaining about the rear doors on the Lexus and driving them around all day LOL
I'd much rather have an SUV too, but when you have young kids you really cant beat a minivan. Adaptable seating, much more interior room, sliding doors...
Again, if I could have gotten a Toyota or Hyundai I would have for the trip. The Toyota got really good gas mileage when I got one in 2015 (I actually thought it was a 4 cyl. because I had heard Highlanders could have 4 cyl., but it was a V6).
p..s. the cruise control on the Grand Caravan had a hard time maintaining the exact speed, reminded me of 90's cars...
08-08-18 | 06:42 AM
#19
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No doubt! The utility is off the charts! With that Grand Caravan, I decided I am refusing to google how to use things, if they are not intuitive, so be it! So other than pushing the door switches within reach of the rear passengers, not sure how the doors operate other than the key fob (driver can reach the left, but obviously not the right). Also did not know how to open rear hatch except with key fob. Yet, the stow and go was clearly labeled 1,2,3, and very easy to use.
Again, if I could have gotten a Toyota or Hyundai I would have for the trip. The Toyota got really good gas mileage when I got one in 2015 (I actually thought it was a 4 cyl. because I had heard Highlanders could have 4 cyl., but it was a V6).
p..s. the cruise control on the Grand Caravan had a hard time maintaining the exact speed, reminded me of 90's cars...
Again, if I could have gotten a Toyota or Hyundai I would have for the trip. The Toyota got really good gas mileage when I got one in 2015 (I actually thought it was a 4 cyl. because I had heard Highlanders could have 4 cyl., but it was a V6).
p..s. the cruise control on the Grand Caravan had a hard time maintaining the exact speed, reminded me of 90's cars...
08-08-18 | 07:14 AM
#20
this thread isn't about dodge caravans, buicks, chevys, gm, ford, etc. 
hopefully your pacifica gets fixed quickly now since it sounds like they've tried the software and reset first steps.
hopefully your pacifica gets fixed quickly now since it sounds like they've tried the software and reset first steps.
Last edited by bitkahuna; 08-08-18 at 09:01 AM.
08-08-18 | 08:10 AM
#21
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From: WA
08-08-18 | 08:12 AM
#22
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From: Maryland
Making matters worse, I have to go to Frederick this afternoon (which is like 50 miles each way), and unless I want to drive this POS Patriot I have to meet back up with my wife after she brings the kids home in the Lexus. What a PITA.
08-08-18 | 09:02 AM
#23
good point. fixed my post.
i'd go to the dealer and quietly say you want another (better) loaner or there's gonna be trouble in river city. i expect they'll do it.
08-08-18 | 09:21 AM
#24
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From: Maryland
So, we'll see what happens...still a PITA to have to go over and transfer all the carseats, etc but at least with a Pacifica loaner I can get my car back.
08-08-18 | 10:21 AM
#27
but the powertrain is much smoother and more refined, and the ride is softer despite my tester riding on runflat tires. Steering is VERY light with zero feedback whatsoever. Transmission shifts great, way better than the 9 speed in the Pacifica. One curious thing, the steering wheel doesn't telescope out enough for a comfortable driving position to me....which would be really annoying.
All in all, I see no reason one would select the Sienna over the Odyssey unless you're married to Toyota as a brand. The best claim to fame the Sienna has is that it will always be bulletproof reliable. Clearly...you can't say that about the Pacifica and really you cant say that about the Odyssey either to the same degree as you can about the Pacifica.
I need worry-free proven reliability when we're on long distance road trips carrying lots of crap in the trunk.
I rented a new Town and Country and a Sedona while vacationing. I couldn't wait to get out both of those vans and back into my old sienna , esp. the T+C b/c of the lazy transmission.
My 2011 sienna SE is at 125k and the drivetrains are still smooth as butter. It idles very smooth (can't say that about my NX
).The bad components of the sienna are the front end since it's heavy and the tires/brakes wear out pretty fast.
I agree though the sienna is getting way long in the tooth. I mentioned it before, they are realllllly dragging their feet on the sienna (came out since 2011).
We won't see a new one at least in 2020 since they just refreshed the front end for 2018.
08-08-18 | 01:29 PM
#28
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From: NY
Road noise was noticable bc it came with the crappy run flats.
I have an SE so the steering is a little firmer and it holds better when you're turning. On all the non-SE model, it is lighter.
Yep, this is why we have 5 siennas and previously a previa in our households and extended family. NONE of them have left us stranded, unlike our friends with honda oddys and pilots where they were stranded with kids on the freeway and one time in a desert-not fun waiting for a tow truck
I need worry-free proven reliability when we're on long distance road trips carrying lots of crap in the trunk.
I rented a new Town and Country and a Sedona while vacationing. I couldn't wait to get out both of those vans and back into my old sienna , esp. the T+C b/c of the lazy transmission.
My 2011 sienna SE is at 125k and the drivetrains are still smooth as butter. It idles very smooth (can't say that about my NX).
The bad components of the sienna are the front end since it's heavy and the tires/brakes wear out pretty fast.
I agree though the sienna is getting way long in the tooth. I mentioned it before, they are realllllly dragging their feet on the sienna (came out since 2011).
We won't see a new one at least in 2020 since they just refreshed the front end for 2018.
I have an SE so the steering is a little firmer and it holds better when you're turning. On all the non-SE model, it is lighter.
Yep, this is why we have 5 siennas and previously a previa in our households and extended family. NONE of them have left us stranded, unlike our friends with honda oddys and pilots where they were stranded with kids on the freeway and one time in a desert-not fun waiting for a tow truck
I need worry-free proven reliability when we're on long distance road trips carrying lots of crap in the trunk.
I rented a new Town and Country and a Sedona while vacationing. I couldn't wait to get out both of those vans and back into my old sienna , esp. the T+C b/c of the lazy transmission.
My 2011 sienna SE is at 125k and the drivetrains are still smooth as butter. It idles very smooth (can't say that about my NX
).The bad components of the sienna are the front end since it's heavy and the tires/brakes wear out pretty fast.
I agree though the sienna is getting way long in the tooth. I mentioned it before, they are realllllly dragging their feet on the sienna (came out since 2011).
We won't see a new one at least in 2020 since they just refreshed the front end for 2018.
08-08-18 | 01:56 PM
#29
