Our '04 Sienna radiator is being recalled

[jsherm]

This post should be read as a continuation to my July 31st post about the '04 Sienna radiator defect.

The dealer called us today and said we need to get the replacement radiator replaced. Nice of them to call us this time instead of waiting for the car to break down like they did in July.

My wife is driving it to the dealer as I write. They promised her a loaner, and she's going to demand an MR2. It would be in their best interest to do as she requests.

(Update: The dealer only got in 10 replacement radiators, from the same manufacturer of the original and the first replacement, so it was important for us to get there right away. My wife asked the dealer whether she could have a Japanese-built one, and one of the guys behind the counter muttered that this radiator has been a big mistake. Now that's what pisses me off, that the American manufacturer couldn't get this right the first time or the second.)

On a more positive note: We've put this '04 Sienna through its paces, and aside from the radiator problem (and an issue with the run flat tires), it's performed very well.

Last winter we carried two teenage boys and all our ski equipment inside the van (as opposed to putting the boys on the roof) from CT up to VT several times. This summer we loaded it with the boys and our luggage for a trip from CT to VT to ME. Several times I've driven my sons, a few of their friends and a load of fishing gear on day fishing trips and on a couple of weekend camping trips. Frankly, I like the van. It's responsive, comfortable to drive, it's been averaging about 21 mpg, and it's good-looking.

As for the tires: We live at the end of a long dirt driveway on a dirt road in a hilly area of west central CT, and the run flat all-season radials wouldn't have been good in our winters, so I bought a separate set of snows with their own rims and a small donut.