Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Indydriver
We faced this decision in 2012 and went with Toyota (we have a 2011 Accord in the class action). Now, with 52,000 miles, the Sienna has been flawless. The drivetrain is very well matched and the car drives "light on its feet". Avoid AWD with run-flat tires. Our FWD XLE goes great in the snow anyway. Only downer I can think of is the silly canister type oil filter making changes more involved than need be. 10,000 mile OCI spec'd. Another plus for us is "built in Indiana". Take the plant tour if you're ever in the area. Fascinating.
Why? I am assuming maybe the run flat tires affect ride quality? I looked at one and told the salesman it's easy to be 50 miles from nowhere in Utah (the distance of a "flat" run flat tire). Personally, I would order a spare right away-and buy the needed tools/jack. There is space to carry a spare behind the rear seat on road trips. Then, after I used up the life of the OEM tires I would buy some good all seasons. AWD is a MUST on the street where I live.
The driveshaft to the rear adds weight and eliminates storage space for a spare (hence the RFTs). Driving them back-to-back was like night and day in terms of steering response. FWD gets around fine in deep snow in Indiana but if it's a deal-breaker where you live and you can put up with the compromises Toyota made to offer AWD then, you've got your decision. The point is, AWD is not a free lunch. Compromises are made that change the nature of the vehicle.
Originally Posted By: Indydriver
We faced this decision in 2012 and went with Toyota (we have a 2011 Accord in the class action). Now, with 52,000 miles, the Sienna has been flawless. The drivetrain is very well matched and the car drives "light on its feet". Avoid AWD with run-flat tires. Our FWD XLE goes great in the snow anyway. Only downer I can think of is the silly canister type oil filter making changes more involved than need be. 10,000 mile OCI spec'd. Another plus for us is "built in Indiana". Take the plant tour if you're ever in the area. Fascinating.
Why? I am assuming maybe the run flat tires affect ride quality? I looked at one and told the salesman it's easy to be 50 miles from nowhere in Utah (the distance of a "flat" run flat tire). Personally, I would order a spare right away-and buy the needed tools/jack. There is space to carry a spare behind the rear seat on road trips. Then, after I used up the life of the OEM tires I would buy some good all seasons. AWD is a MUST on the street where I live.
The driveshaft to the rear adds weight and eliminates storage space for a spare (hence the RFTs). Driving them back-to-back was like night and day in terms of steering response. FWD gets around fine in deep snow in Indiana but if it's a deal-breaker where you live and you can put up with the compromises Toyota made to offer AWD then, you've got your decision. The point is, AWD is not a free lunch. Compromises are made that change the nature of the vehicle.
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