2008 Platinum performance upgrades

[SEXYQUOIA]

My wife just picked up a 2008 Platinum Pyrite Mica with the Red Rock interior. It's a 2wd with just about every option available. We were in the market for something like a used Ranger Rover Supercharged, Mercedes ML500 or Touareg. We were looking at 2007 model cars. We also looked at a new Jeep SRT8 Grand Cherokee and Q56. Just by luck I told her to go look at a new Sequoia (I actually had forgotten that they had been redesigned) and she fell in love with it and it was a done deal.

Here is what we've both come up with. We love the added space the truck has over all the other models listed above, especially the quad seating with super easy access to the third row seats. We sometimes put 5 large adults in the car, and all the other models make for a tight squeeze in the second row seats when sitting 3 across. For the money, the Sequoia really is in a class of its own.

Now the upgrades we've been talking about. Power.....although the truck isn't slow, she came out of a 2005 Excursion with a 6.0 Powerstroke that was chipped. With 4 adults on board the Excursion was actually very fast once it was rolling. Once on the boost it would walk all over a semi loaded Sequoia. I mentioned the upcoming TRD supercharger and she's all for it. That should put the Sequoia in the same league of rolling performance as a AMG ML63 and the Jeep SRT8.

I didn't find anything in the way of larger swaybars for the truck..I wonder if they would be compatible with the adjustable suspension? The truck leans just a little bit too much in slalom type moves. I also feel it needs a slightly wider wheel and tire combo..the truck is so beefy that the tires look kind of skinny to me. I'd stay with the 20" rims size, just a little more wideness to the meat. Not sure I like the looks of the Toyota fender flares I saw in another post. I think they're not curved in enough at the top. I also noticed that TRD might have a big brake kit coming out for it. With the addition of the supercharger, that might be a good compliment.

Ok, so here's the problem areas of the truck we've found so far. Door handles!! They feel so cheap and thin. Ours are the chrome versions and I'm more of a mono chromatic type of guy, but they feel so flimsy. Only complaint that my wife has found on the car so far. I wonder if anyone is going to make any type of billet replacements with a little more heft to them?

I guess what we are trying to achieve is a AMG version of the Sequoia. A little more performance and looks but with the reliability and dealer network of a Toyota.

Let me know what you guys think.

Cheers,
George

[JBK23]

The TRD supercharger is out already I think the big brake kit is too enjoy your new ride !

[SEXYQUOIA]

Thanks. Does anybody know of dealers in Norther California that have installed the super charger on the 5.7 V8??

I don't want to use a dealer thats going to "learn" the install on my truck.

George

[ajaySR5]

SEXYQUOIA,All dealers have at least 1 mechanic to install specialty toyota parts such as TRD parts.if you do not use the dealer to install the TRD supercharger i think your warranty will be voided..so,ask any dealer around your area and they should be able to do it.

I just put a TRD cold air intake kit on my 2008 sequoia and i feel the added HP it added.The dealer told me to feel the full power of the cold air intake i must get the TRD cat back exhaust system when it comes out.

[JBK23]

Originally Posted by ajaySR5

SEXYQUOIA,All dealers have at least 1 mechanic to install specialty toyota parts such as TRD parts.if you do not use the dealer to install the TRD supercharger i think your warranty will be voided..so,ask any dealer around your area and they should be able to do it.

I just put a TRD cold air intake kit on my 2008 sequoia and i feel the added HP it added.The dealer told me to feel the full power of the cold air intake i must get the TRD cat back exhaust system when it comes out.

If you go to the tundra part of the forum and look at the super charger install vid they say if you do it your self you have like a 12,000 mile warranty. Not sure how much warranty but you do get one for getting it installed your self but would perfer the dealer

[SEXYQUOIA]

I agree that doing the dealer install is a must, IIRC doing the dealer install means a 5 year, 60000 mile warranty on the supercharger and install. Hell, you couldn't beat that with any other supercharger install from any other make, period. I'm excited. The biggest factor for us choosing the Toyota over Mercedes, Ranger Rover, etc is the dealer network. With so many dealers you can pick and choose where to take your vehicle for service, upgrades, etc. The closest Mercedes and Range Rover dealer to us is 40 minutes away. Biggest complaints from our friends that own Mercedes is the cars but the crappy and elitist atitude the dealers have when taken in for non scheduled service and problem issues. And what if you don't like that dealer for whatever reason???...then the next dealer is even further away. Can't beat Toyota for dealer network and support.

Cheers,
George

[70454]

You can add a Corsa exhaust system. A simiar set-up added 21hp 30ft/lb to the same 5.7L in the Tundra. Not a bad gain for the money.

[Marazzito]

I want tot see some pictures and video's of your Sequoia when you are done with it, sounds like your going to build one hell of a truck!