General Car Conversation
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,334
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,021
Likes: 496
From: Knoxville, TN
Yep. Timeless. Look how huge the rear door is. Definitely a LWB like most.
The thing about these old Mercedes though is they had awful transmissions until they updated them all to the electronic 5 speed in the mid-late 90s. These were hydraulic (not electronic), and apparently, flooring it and waiting for a downshift that might not even come was the norm. Could you imagine flooring a powerful Mercedes (or whatever) and not getting a downshift??
The thing about these old Mercedes though is they had awful transmissions until they updated them all to the electronic 5 speed in the mid-late 90s. These were hydraulic (not electronic), and apparently, flooring it and waiting for a downshift that might not even come was the norm. Could you imagine flooring a powerful Mercedes (or whatever) and not getting a downshift??
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,343
Likes: 601
From: IL
Audio—9-in. touchscreen, six speakers, Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ *& Amazon Alexa * compatible, one USB media port, * six USB charge ports, * hands-free phone capability and music streaming * via Bluetooth® * wireless technology, SiriusXM® * with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription. * See toyota.com/audio-multimedia for details.
And the midlevel stereo that is standard in the XLE, optional on the LE:
Audio Plus—9-in. touchscreen, eight speakers, Apple CarPlay
® & Android Auto™ *& Amazon Alexa *compatible, one USB media port, * six USB charge ports, * hands-free phone capability and music streaming * via Bluetooth® * wireless technology, SiriusXM® * with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription. * See toyota.com/audio-multimedia for details.
The JBL system you listed is indeed optional on the XLE, and standard on all the uplevel models:
Premium Audio and Dynamic Navigation
with 3-year trial *—9-in. touchscreen, 8 speakers, Apple CarPlay® * & Android Auto™ * & Amazon Alexa * compatible, one USB media port, six USB charge ports, * hands-free phone capability and music streaming * via Bluetooth® * wireless technology, SiriusXM® * with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription. * See toyota.com/audio-multimedia for details.
12 JBL® * speakers including subwoofer and amplifier
12 JBL® * speakers including subwoofer and amplifier
If you look on the main Multimedia page for the Sienna, you'll find this:
Apple CarPlay® CompatibilityWith Apple CarPlay® * compatibility standard, you can plug in your compatible iPhone® * to get directions, listen to your own playlists, make calls and send messages—all while maintaining focus on your drive.
Android Auto™ Compatibility
Bring along a familiar interface. Android Auto™ * compatibility shows your phone’s apps on Sienna’s touchscreen display. Play your favorite songs, tap to get driving directions, tap to send a text and even call your mom—hands free. *
Android Auto™ Compatibility
Bring along a familiar interface. Android Auto™ * compatibility shows your phone’s apps on Sienna’s touchscreen display. Play your favorite songs, tap to get driving directions, tap to send a text and even call your mom—hands free. *
Edit: I don't know why my middle two quotes are splitting, apologies.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
Likes: 3,998
From: Maryland
Although it's definitely smaller inside than a minivan, I'm surprised you would say that, as the Acadia is a pretty nice crossover, although one of GM's more unreliable vehicles. The only really crappy thing on it I'd complain about are the transmission buttons, although on a long trip like that from Florida, you would probably be cruising most of the time and not pushing them.
While I agree I'd rather have the available N/A 3.6L V6 (the same engine, with cylinder-deactivation at cruise, that my former Lacrosse had), that 2.0T four, like most 2.0Ts, is refined and packs a decent punch for its size. It has as much, if not more, torque than the V6.
That primary-instrument cluster, BTW, is also the same one that was in my Lacrosse.....right out of GM's parts-bin.
While I agree I'd rather have the available N/A 3.6L V6 (the same engine, with cylinder-deactivation at cruise, that my former Lacrosse had), that 2.0T four, like most 2.0Ts, is refined and packs a decent punch for its size. It has as much, if not more, torque than the V6.
That primary-instrument cluster, BTW, is also the same one that was in my Lacrosse.....right out of GM's parts-bin.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
Likes: 3,998
From: Maryland
I usually use Avis, but they screwed up my Escalade rental last time and gave my car away and made me take something less than what I paid, pretended to give me a refund and didn't...so I used Hertz this time. I'm President's Circle with Hertz through my Platinum AMEX card. Avis definitely has better equipped cars on average...
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,385
Likes: 358
From: ON/NY
All I can say is, they definitely did not have CarPlay. I plugged my phone in, nothing. No buttons anywhere in the menu system for CarPlay. You can pair phones but only for phone and audio. I've never rented a Sienna but I have rented Camrys, Avalons, etc and as soon as you plug the phone in, it connects to CarPlay, and there are CarPlay buttons right there in the home screen. ..
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,243
Likes: 1,875
From: WA
The only thing I can think of is maybe you had your lighting cable plugged into one of the charging ports rather than the data port. If I recall, there is one USB for data, and 2 or 3 others that are only for charging.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
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From: Maryland
I agree the 2023 says CarPlay is standard…but these two were both 23s and definitely did not have carplay
Last edited by SW17LS; Feb 20, 2023 at 08:21 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,243
Likes: 1,875
From: WA
That's not the way it is on my Tundra. If my phone is plugged in, I get a CarPlay selection in my main nav menu. If the phone is not plugged in, there is no option in the screen for CarPlay (the icon then becomes something like "Phone Projection").
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
there are also some pure charging ports that don’t trigger CarPlay option to show up
Last edited by DaveGS4; Feb 20, 2023 at 08:26 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,385
Likes: 358
From: ON/NY
In mine. If Car Play is OFF. Even if you plug it nothing will show up. It’s like it no longer exists.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
Likes: 3,998
From: Maryland
But what are the odds that CarPlay would have been turned off on both units?
Its possible I missed it but I really don't think so. I've never had any issue getting CarPlay to connect on any other modern Toyota model...
Its possible I missed it but I really don't think so. I've never had any issue getting CarPlay to connect on any other modern Toyota model...