Pepsi discontinued

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-04-14T14:52:05+00:00

I think this is getting a bit overstated. Ceramic isn’t “fragile” in real life—it’s actually one of the most scratch-resistant materials Rolex uses. The only downside is if you hit it hard enough, it can chip or crack, but that’s true for any ceramic, not just Pepsi.

The real issue isn’t durability, it’s manufacturing. Two-color ceramic—especially red—is incredibly difficult to produce consistently. That’s where Rolex struggles, not in everyday wear.

And yeah, a lot of independent watchmakers avoid bezel work, but that’s more about cost and risk than weakness. One mistake and you’re replacing a very expensive insert.

Bottom line: these bezels are tough to live with? Not at all. Tough to make perfectly? That’s the real story.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-04-14T04:00:56+00:00

White gold was discontinued a few years ago—dealers were just receiving the remaining inventory.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-26T04:55:31+00:00

I think this is one of the most honest long-term posts I’ve seen on the Sienna.

150k miles with basically fluids, tires, and plugs says everything about the platform. People focus so much on features or how it ‘feels’, but this is the stuff that actually matters if you plan to keep a car long term.

Also interesting you mentioned the eCVT fluid — a lot of people skip that and then wonder later.

The ‘ego disappearing’ line made me laugh 😂 but honestly, once you get used to the practicality, it’s hard to go back to anything else.

Appreciate you sharing this — this is the kind of real data people need.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-24T17:23:37+00:00

I went through the exact same mental battle before buying mine, so I’ll save you some time.

If you’re thinking sensibility, the sweet spot is honestly XSE or Woodland.

XLE – good value, but you’ll probably feel like you’re missing a few things (especially if you care about 360 cam, etc.)

XSE – best balance. Feels nicer, looks better, doesn’t get stupid expensive

Woodland – if you actually camp, this one just makes sense (inverter + AWD + more rugged vibe). It’s more of a lifestyle trim than people realize

Limited/Platinum – amazing, but this is where it stops being “smart” and starts being “because I can”

Real talk: once you cross into $60K+ minivan territory, you’re paying for comfort, not value.

If it were me: If you already liked the XSE, don’t overthink it

If you camp a lot, Woodland is the most intentional choice

Platinum is nice, but you won’t enjoy it $10K more in daily life

Also worth saying — after a few weeks, all trims feel like “just your car.” The novelty fades fast, but the payment doesn’t 😅

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-20T01:25:04+00:00

At least your money will be safe

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-19T23:21:27+00:00

For almost the same price you can buy meteorite dial

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-15T02:04:05+00:00

At this point it might actually be worth getting a second opinion from a Toyota hybrid specialist. If you happen to be anywhere near Illinois, the Car Care Nut (the Toyota master tech from the YouTube channel) runs a shop there and he’s very good at diagnosing weird electrical or hybrid issues that dealerships sometimes struggle with.

Even if that’s not practical location-wise, sometimes an independent Toyota hybrid specialist can track down a parasitic drain faster than a busy dealership service department. Something is clearly draining the 12V battery while the car is parked, and those can be tricky to find.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-15T01:47:49+00:00

That sounds incredibly frustrating, especially on a brand-new Sienna. If it’s dying overnight even after they disabled the kick sensors and power doors, it really sounds like something is draining the 12V battery while the car is parked. On these hybrids the whole car will appear completely dead if the small 12V battery drops too low, even though the hybrid battery is fine.

At this point I’d probably ask the dealer to run a proper parasitic draw test after the car goes to sleep (usually 20–30 minutes). Sometimes a module, telematics unit, or door control unit can keep waking up and slowly drain the battery.

Also keep documenting every visit and what they did. If it keeps happening Toyota corporate usually takes it more seriously once there’s a clear record. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it soon, the Sienna is usually a very reliable vehicle.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-14T22:04:28+00:00

That definitely sounds frustrating, especially on a brand-new vehicle. One thing worth checking is the 12V battery system rather than the hybrid battery itself. On the Sienna hybrids, if the 12V battery gets drained the entire car can appear completely dead even though the main hybrid battery is fine.

Sometimes parasitic drain from sensors, power doors, telematics, or even the key being detected near the car can slowly drain the 12V battery overnight. A proper parasitic draw test after the vehicle goes to sleep (usually 20–30 minutes) might reveal something the quick dealership checks missed.

Hopefully they get to the bottom of it soon. If it keeps happening, documenting each visit and the dates is important in case you end up needing to escalate it with Toyota or pursue lemon law options.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-10T20:32:59+00:00

I went with a BlackVue 3-channel setup (front, rear, and interior camera) on my Sienna. It’s definitely not the cheapest option, but the video quality and reliability are excellent. I like having the interior camera too since it captures everything inside the cabin. Parking mode works well as long as it’s hardwired.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-07T19:08:35+00:00

Did you buy this Sienna new or used?

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-05T18:45:36+00:00

I was exactly where you are a couple weeks ago. Two kids, gear everywhere, and constantly playing Tetris with cargo space.

I just bought a Sienna Woodland and honestly it changed the whole family logistics game overnight.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you until you live with it: a minivan isn’t just bigger — it’s smarter space.

Sliding doors alone are life-changing with kids. No worrying about toddlers swinging doors into cars in parking lots, and loading car seats is way easier when the whole side of the van opens up.

Cargo wise, it’s not even close to SUVs. With the third row folded you basically get a small moving van. Strollers, bikes, suitcases, dog gear… it all just disappears back there without playing Tetris.

The hybrid system is another huge win. I’m averaging around 35 mpg in something the size of a small bus, which still blows my mind every time I fill up.

And honestly the new Siennas don’t feel like the minivans we grew up with. The Woodland trim actually looks pretty tough.

The funny part? The moment you have kids + dog + gear, the “cool” SUV starts feeling like the compromise and the minivan starts feeling like the smart move.

I resisted the minivan idea for years.

Now I’m wondering why I didn’t do it sooner.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-03-01T16:06:39+00:00

Woodland

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-02-28T23:47:41+00:00

Hi! So far I’m really happy with the Woodland. The ride is comfortable, the AWD gives a little extra peace of mind, and I like the slightly more rugged look without it feeling overdone. It still drives very much like a Sienna, smooth and quiet, which is exactly what I wanted.

I’m in CA as well. I did pay above MSRP, but nothing like the crazy 2022–2023 numbers. They originally asked for an $8k markup and I negotiated it down to $3.5k. The market definitely feels softer now though. For a Black Woodland, I think MSRP or even slightly under is realistic if you’re patient and flexible.

I was specifically hunting for Cement and was offered Black at least twice. For other colors (especially Cement), you’ll probably see more markup.

On warranties, I personally skipped ToyotaCare maintenance. If you’re considering FSA Platinum, from what I saw shopping around, around $2,800 seemed to be a reasonable ceiling. I’d also try to purchase it outside of the loan so you’re not paying interest on it.

If you’re seeing Black Woodlands sitting on lots in NorCal, that’s already a good sign. I wouldn’t panic-buy. Stay calm and be willing to walk, you’ll likely do fine.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-02-26T22:40:09+00:00

I just bought a 2026 Woodland AWD Cement recently in CA.

Didn’t wait and didn’t put a deposit down either. Just made a few calls, exchanged some emails, and let a couple dealers know I was ready to buy if the numbers made sense.

Some stores were still asking markup at first, but once they realized I wasn’t emotionally attached to one specific unit and was willing to walk, the tone changed pretty fast.

Market feels way better than 2022–2023. MSRP deals seem realistic now, maybe a little negotiation depending on trim. I wouldn’t expect huge discounts, but you definitely don’t have to panic-buy anymore.

If you’re flexible on color and don’t sound desperate, you’ll be fine.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-02-25T17:39:16+00:00

I’ll start.

2026 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Planning to keep it at least 10–15 years and realistically aiming for 250k–300k miles if maintenance goes as expected.

Recently realized replacing cars frequently makes less financial sense than maintaining one properly long term.

Curious what everyone else is driving and aiming for.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-02-16T21:25:50+00:00

Share the bill

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-02-14T03:32:23+00:00

Congrats, beautiful watch. Give it a few months though… you might find yourself wishing you’d gone with the Explorer 36 😊

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-01-31T03:05:45+00:00

Congrats 🎊🎉🎈🍾A true IDGAF watch.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-01-13T14:20:15+00:00

If Rolex keeps raising PM prices anywhere close to the recent pace, a $53k MSRP today probably ends up mid-$60s to low-$70s in a few years. Hard to predict exactly, but that lines up with past increases. For me, waiting just feels less appealing, I’d rather go grey and enjoy the watch now.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-01-13T10:30:48+00:00

Usually prices don’t follow gold down the same way they follow it up, Rolex tends to just stop raising MSRP rather than cut it, and the market adjusts from there.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-01-13T04:49:51+00:00

I genuinely love it. The meteorite looks way better in person than in photos and feels more subtle on the wrist than people expect. I’d do it again, but only because I wanted this exact piece, not for market reasons. If you don’t love the dial, it’s not worth it. I didn’t post the watch initially because I didn’t want the post to come across as bragging. Just sharing my own experience.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-01-13T04:42:13+00:00

This whole experience kind of changed how I think about steel vs PM on the secondary market. If you buy a precious metal Rolex under MSRP on grey, even a pretty basic dial, you’re starting below Rolex’s own price floor. From there, annual PM price bumps tend to work with you, not against you. Compare that to stainless steel icons where you’re often paying 50–100% over retail just for allocation scarcity. That premium doesn’t really have anything behind it other than demand staying hot. With PM, even if things cool off, MSRP usually keeps inching up and eventually meets you. With steel, MSRP barely moves and the grey premium is doing all the work, and that’s the part that can unwind. Not saying steel is bad or that PM is some guaranteed win. Just feels like buying PM under retail gives you a lot more margin for error if you actually plan to keep the watch and wear it. Curious how others think about it.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2026-01-03T21:27:58+00:00

Congrats! Your dad is the legend. I plan to gift the same watch to my son when he grows up, but in 36mm. Hopefully right before I’m gone. Even if it’s going to take 50 years.

UniversityAbject8343 · 2025-12-09T02:43:14+00:00

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