The minivan that was launched from Toyota’s stable to replace its popular, Previa, the Toyota Sienna soon acquired great popularity with its built-in safety features and high output variable valve timing units, saw the second wave of popularity as it took on its new avatar as the Toyota Sienna XL 20 in 2003. Its designer took his family on a road trip across the length and breadth of the United States to identify all possible design and engineering flaws. The result was the upgrade Toyota Sienna XL 20 which featured an upgraded five speed transmission V6.
A major change from the previous generation of Toyota Sienna models was the inclusion of fold-flat third row seats that offered users the option of stocking and transporting even large pieces of equipment or materials. The overall car volume was increased by 45% while the volume of cargo space increasing by 39 %. The XLE Limited Model came to be known as just ‘Limited’ and new features included memory function for driver’s power seat, power folding side view mirrors and a power folding third row seat.
Other features that were made pretty much standard across all models of the Toyota Sienna in this generation included a remote keyless entry, high solar energy absorbing glass on the front windshield and all windows, tilt and telescopic steering wheel and a towing capacity of up to 3500 pounds. Another feature in this generation of the Toyota Sienna was the all-wheel drive. A variety of other upgrade options were available on the higher trim models including parking sensors, a convex rear view mirror, voice activated navigation system with a backup camera and DVD entertainment system for rear seat users.
The Toyota Sienna XL20 scored well on the NHTSA crash test ratings. Apart from the front mounted side torso airbags, all models in this generation of the Toyota Sienna came fitted with side curtain airbags for all the three rows. Subsequent models in the generation came with a standard vehicle stability control feature. The models per se didn’t under go any major design or engineering re-vamps until 2010, its final model year.
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Best train tours in the country
Read moreSeveral regions in the country boast charming landscapes, watercourses, and landmarks. Train tours are among the best ways to enjoy these sights while traveling. There are many such tours that offer scenic routes along with great amenities. You can either take a tour in a single state or take a trip that goes across multiple states. Either way, train tours will give you a wonderful showcase of the country’s best views. Here are the best train tours in the country:
Great Smoky Mountains
Traveling through the mountains in a train is something that most people may have seen in a movie. While there are many other ways to enjoy the scenery of this exact area, train tours are most probably the best one. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad passes through the enchanting Great Smoky Mountains range situated in North Carolina. This famous tour starts in Bryson City and then goes on to take the scenic route of the quaint mountain range to give the passengers an extraordinary view. You can also gaze upon the magnificent views of Nantahala Gorge and the Tuckasegee River. This tour offers a combined experience of wildlife and mesmerizing sights. This is why it is one of the most awe-inspiring tours in the country.Coastal Route
Train tours on the coastal route span between the cities of Los Angeles and Seattle. While many people just opt for specific portions of the tour, the entire tour is a truly remarkable experience. A tour on the coastal route offers a memorable experience by taking you through national parks and along oceanfront cliffs. It also takes you through important cities like Santa Barbara and San Francisco. The total time taken to go from one end to another is approximately 36 hours. The amenities provided on the tour are lounges, cafes, dining cars, and sleeping cars.Grand Canyon
When it comes to natural landmarks, there are hardly any other places that can beat the Grand Canyon in its grandeur. Tours through the Grand Canyon give you a closer look at the geological marvel. It involves following a two-hour route that starts from Williams, Arizona, and goes all the way to the South Rim of the Canyon. This route began operating in the year 1901 and still transports people from all over the world through the landmark. The complete tour takes a little over 8 hours for a complete round trip and includes a four-hour stopover.Denali Star
Tours along this route travel a total of 350 miles in a matter of 12 hours. The complete trip covers bewitching sights between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The view from the train allows you to gaze upon Hurricane Gulch, Nenana River Gorge, and Mt. Denali.Arkansas and Missouri Railroad
You get a chance to experience the charming beauty of the Midwest region through tours running on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad. You can get an up-close experience of the majestic Ozark Mountains. These tours offer a great visual combination of rugged terrain and colorful forests. This day-long round-trip is a great way to experience natural beauty.Southwest Chief
Tours on the Southwest Chief allow you to travel through eight states including Arizona and New Mexico. Across these eight states, you will get to see the rugged landscapes of the Southwest region of the country. The view gets even better as most trains on this route have large windows. These train tours have top-notch dining and sleeping accommodations. The crowning jewel of the trip is the desert and mountain views. This is the reason why these tours enjoy immense popularity. As a result of the long distance to be covered, these train tours take a little over 40 hours to travel one-way.California Zephyr
Tours on the California Zephyr route start from Chicago, Illinois, and go all the way to California. However, many travelers join the tour at Denver, among other stops on the way. Train tours on this route give you a breathtaking view of Midwest sights like the Rocky Mountains and rivers, along with cities like San Francisco. Zephyr is also the name of the train. It is an extremely comfortable train that has sleeping accommodations, multiple dining options, and double-decker cars. These tours are the perfect option if you want to have a cross-country experience. One-way distance of the tour takes around 51 hours to complete and offers a great blend of comfort and adventure. -
What you need to know about DIRECTV packages
Read moreDIRECTV is one of the best satellite tv providers in the industry. With some of the best bundled services, they combine your telephone line and internet bills together to make paying bills easier. They are partnered with AT&T which means that their internet services are very reliable.
However, for first time users, it can be a little hard to know what to expect in terms of what DIRECTV has to offer. If you don’t know a thing about directv packages and what they offer, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Here are a couple of things you need to know regarding their satellite tv services and the basis of their directv package prices.
No Overages: When you bundle your AT&T Unlimited Plus with DIRECTV, you can stream unlimited shows and movies and not worry about paying any overage charges. They offer wireless plans and unlimited speed. However, there’s a data cap of 22GB. When you cross that,your speed may be less. On the bright side however, you don’t have to pay extra and can keep streaming for as long as you like without worrying about any extra charges. You also get a $25 monthly credit for the first three months with bundled plans.
No Contracts: The best part about DIRECTV services is that you don’t have to commit to any contracts. You can stick with them as long as you like and can cancel anytime you desire. You can stream live TV shows and get access to 10,000+ on-demand titles. Additionally, there’s no equipment needed for the setup and you don’t have to worry about paying equipment fees.
Available Add-Ons: Premium content is the stellar side of DIRECTV packages. Whether you love music, news, sports, kids channels, entertainment, infotainment, or international content, various add ons are available. You can customize your subscription and pick the channels you like. Every package comes with different channels and if you don’t like or want certain channels, you can remove them from your subscription and lower your monthly bill.
There are also premium movie channels available alongside local channels. You can get access to local news and sports, plus enjoy the benefits of watching HD movies whenever you like. There’s no end to entertainment and customization for binge watchers where DIRECTV is concerned.
Recording Features: DIRECTV’s Genie HD DVR which comes bundled with their services can record up to 200 hours of premium content, movies, and TV shows. You no longer have to worry about missing another show ever again. You can also record live streaming shows.
2-Year Combined Guarantee
When you combine your AT&T subscription with your DIRECTV or DIRECTV NOW plans, your bill is combined for two years. You will pay the same directv package prices for bundled services. This can be convenient for new users.
Opting for DIRECTV can be quite advantageous. Be sure to check it out this year.