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Comments
Although I prefer the fake wood trim versus the fake aluminum trim that's becoming more common, I'm definitely not a wood expert. I've sat in some cars with supposedly real wood trim and thought the wood looked really fake.
My wife and I were horrified at the wood in the Limited: it is too bright and too obvious. There's something about the gloss (or lack of, maybe) that makes it look fake. And the color seems to be a bit off.
Maybe it's because there's so much of it in the car. Personally, if the wood isn't real, why bother making a plastic that looks like it? There are so many designs you can do with plastics these days, especially with film-insert molding, I don't see the reason to emulate wood.
Does anyone know the hack to change the DVD player to allow all region playing?
I did, however, like the look of the Sport w/Black interior. The consistent dash (black-on-black) and silver accents really blended quite well. Unfortunately, with little ones & hot summer days, Black interior is not an option for us. Plus, like others have said, I wanted the Smart Key, Puddle lamps, Power Passenger Seat (which, if I remember correctly, was only an option on Ltd), & Chrome Handle & Foot/Step plate accents.
Given the number of complaints (even from numerous professional reviews), there must be something I'm missing. Sat in plenty (haven't received mine yet though) and just can't see the big deal with this wood trim.
Quick question for those who've read this far in message, is it true that there's some type of Blue LED (like Lexus RX models) that brightens the cup holders of Ltd at night - with warm bluish light/tint? Have never sat in one at night to see, but I do see the location of the LED near pop-down mirror overhead...
A TSB is only a direction from the mothership to the satellite facilities on how to do something technically to the vehicle.
Thanks,
Andy
I Googled for 08 Highlander TSB and here's one of the links that came up:
http://www.mycarstats.com/safetystation.asp
http://www.mycarstats.com/safetystation.asp
:shades:
1) Activating the TPMS
2) Reflashing an ECU
3) Installing a pin during PDS
4) Calibrating the Compass during PDS
5) Installing the front license plate bracket during PDS
Link: NHTSA database on TSBs
This is described as "includes upgraded radiator, transmission oil cooler with water cooler, 150-amp alternator and trailer pre-wiring, 5000-lb. towing capacity, engine oil cooler, 200-watt fan coupling and power steering oil cooler." I don't plan on towing a boat or anything else, but was wondering if it might be worth it to have these upgrades for the couple of hundred bucks. Or, on the other hand, is it just wasting money if I'm not going to put the added strain on the system? Any opinions?
My dealer was all apoplectic about me wanting to install a hitch on the HL's unibody frame and made lots of noises about needing to remove the bumper cover, etc. - and quoted me $650 to install. My local hitch guy called BS on that and quoted $216 installed.
The nicest looking hitch I've seen for the HL is on eBay - Hidden Hitch. It appears to include a step above the receiver and is round tube.
Mackabee
I also first considered Sport, but after careful comparison we have: difference in invoice is $2447 only.
If you put leather ($1472), cold weather ($48), antitheft ($176),auto front AC ($300), all standart in Limited, difference is only $497!
And it includes: smart entry, 2 more way to control driver seat, power passenger seat, wheel climate control, autodimming mirror w/compass (>$200), Homelink ($100).
Not expensive at all, so now waiting for the car ordered from Japan factory.
So if you can be patient and wait 8 weeks or so, you're right - you can get a Limited ordered as you like for just a bit more than a Sport. For me, losing HomeLink and the auto-dimming mirror and the frilly little "puddle lamps" (even the name sounds wimpy!) was a small sacrifice for the slightly better handling of the Sport - and not having to look at the hideous fake wood every day. They had a great Sport in the color I wanted (did I mention the Cypress Green is awesome?)...so I snagged it.
I've never had SmartKey so am not missing it. I'm sure once I have it I'll never want to go back...kind of like my affair with nav.
I rode in a very nice Lexus LS460 today with a black interior and it made me remember the Highlander Limited I saw with a black leather interior. I'm beginning to consider black.
Only problem is I'm not sure which exterior colors are available with the black interior (the one I saw was silver, and I don't want that). I've been considering Magnetic Gray, Waveline, and Cypress.
The dealer I am working with on the East Cost say that the limited does not come with a black leather interior. Of course that is what I want.
Personnaly I think the plood is not good but that is the least of what will color my decision.
So I will wait.
"My dealer was all apoplectric...."
Your dealer may know something that has to be kept SUPER-SECRET... as in the tranny NEEDS/REQUIRES the extra cooling of the towing kit even for NORMAL use and actual towing might result in premature failures of the transaxle.
It was a black leather interior on a silver Limited. It also suprirsed me too, as I thought the black interior was strictly for the Sport. I'm in Hawaii, which falls under a different distributor that orders directly with Japan (not under Toyota USA).
I don't know if your worried about front seat space with child seats behind you, but I'm tall, and need my seat all the way back and reclined about 20%. The only two crossover type SUVs that I found that gave me enough front seat room to put them all the way back with child seats were the Acura MDX and the Toyota Highlander. Everything else didn't have enough 2nd row room.
Do Highlander owners get used to the steering? I felt like I was steering a tugboat through whip cream. Totally unresponsive road feel. It was disconcerting.
Thanks for the child seat info. With the rear facing child seat and the toddler seat in the second row, how do you get to the third row? Can children as well as adults get past the seats in the second row to go through the pass through--I'm assuming that's what you do.
Thanks
Try telling that to the many '99 RX300 owners with prematurely failed transaxles or all the owners with sludged up engines prior to the '02 model year.
Or maybe those of us with '01 AWD RX300 who are seeing our ATF blackened and burned at only 40,000 miles and in response the flush and fill interval revised from infinitely to 15,000 miles.
I wish I had know that. I'm about to have to pay for mine to get the harness installed. Why is it that you get free wiring and I have to pay. Toyota sucks on this.
Toyota needs to get it's act together on this. It's been going on for years and I'm sure the dealers are cleaning up though.
I'll wait till dealer stock goes up and I can complain more.
I happened to see my first 08 on the street, actually a parking lot, today.
Even though I have test driven the sport and limited I am not totally sold, especially after seeing the IIHS tests. Maybe it is not as safe as people think.
I have a 2007 Highlander Hybrid with the 4-way adjustable headrests. They allow for height adjustment as well as fore and aft (front & back) tilt. You just pull on the lower portion of the headrest to tilt it forward and push to move it back - they adjust about 2" forward to provide better protection. I have attached a pic for reference. The 2008 Highlander Sport/Limited headrests do the same although they are different in appearance and somewhat thinner.
Hope this helps.
Regards - M. J. McCloskey
1) The Highlander is a high-volume vehicle for Toyota. It's not a question of if supply will catch up with demand, just when.
2) The same way buyers want to pay as little as possible, dealers want to maximize their profit (in legitimate ways for both, of course ). Anyone who complains about the latter shouldn't be doing the former, IMHO. With any new-model launch, there will initially be pent-up demand and lower-than-normal supply. If you can wait a couple of months, things should settle down.
3) Did you actually get pricing from dealers in your area, or are you looking at the TMV here on this site? While the TMV is helpful, keep in mind that it's just a guide. If you use some of the car-buying strategies others have used, you may find a dealer willing to negotiate.