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Greg
Mack
Again, thanks.
It's amazing the widely divergent impressions; size, driving characteristics, styling, comfort. It seems like a mirror to the driving public. There is such a wide variety possible drivers and the vehicle seems to highlight each specific difference.
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#1215 of 1378 Good news for Northern California buyers by nimrod99 Aug 08, 2007 (12:26 pm)
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I have just heard from a confidential source, that starting in September, the next batch of 2008 Highlanders will all have automatic rear AC and tow prep packages. The feed back from the dealers is there is a huge demand from customers asking for these options.
However, don't expect to get a good deal. Its MSRP minus a little
Mack
Wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, as many vehicles act the same way today.
I thought that the entire issue of 1-2 second engine/transaxle delay/hesitation on all Toyota and Lexus FWD and F/AWD vehicle was the result of an attempt to increase the safety factor of these vehicles.
Now some of you are complaining of the transaxle downshifting upon lift-throttle coastdown events. That's EXACTLY the opposite of the symptoms and foundation of/for complaints going back to the '98 RX300 and continuing to this very day with the Toyota Camry model.
"Automatic" downshifting of the transaxle, or even remaining in a lower gear as a result of previous acceleration, in a FWD or F/AWD can be extremely unsafe unless one is certain sure of roadbed conditions at the time.
By any chance has Toyota licensed the Ford Patent and is now using the OAT sensor to determine if the roadbed conditions "warrant" a downshift. Allowing, "using", engine compression braking provided the OAT is well above freezing?
The FWD F/AWD SUV products would certainly be a good place for initial trials of this nature.
NOT!
Engine braking will ALWAYS serve to reduce coasting distances and thereby reduce, not increase, FE.
Toyota itself is on record touting the "willingness" of their automatic transaxles to ALWAYS upshift upon any lift-throttle coastdown event so as to increase FE to the n'th degree.
Personally I have always thought this to be a "cover" story rather than being fully forthright about the real, actual, reasons for these quick and certain upshift techniques. I believe the actual intention of these upshifts is to alleviate any significant level of engine compression braking on a FWD or F/AWD vehicle and thereby improve the vehicle's safety factor, especially north of the "snow" line.
A few weeks ago - they only had 2 package options listed (no TO or QR)
Now they have 10 packages listed (A thru J)
Here is the list for option J (for NorCAL)
It has QR and TO
Rear-seat DVD entertainment system with 9-inch display, rear-seat audio and two wireless headphones [11] (includes 115V power outlet and RCA jacks) [12] (EY)
- 50 state emissions (FE)
- CFC-free rear automatic digital climate control system with integrated multi-function display and air filter [5] (QR)
- Carpet/cargo mat - 3 row seating (CT)
- Color-keyed sport-styled rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop lamp (CHMSL) (RF)
- Exhaust tip by Valor (E5)
- Mudguards (MF)
- Multi-stage heated front seats (HD)
- Power rear door with jam protection (PB)
- Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade (SR)
- Remote engine start (V4)
- Ski/Snowboard attachment with cross bars (3T)
- Towing Prep Package [3]-includes 5000-lb. towing capacity, heavy-duty radiator with engine oil cooler, 200-watt fan coupling, transmission oil cooler with water cooler, 150-amp alternator and prewired harness (TO)
- VIP-glass breakage sensor (V2)
- Voice-activated DVD navigation system[8] with JBL® AM/FM 4-disc in-dash CD changer, satellite radio capability [6], MP3/WMA playback capability, hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® [7] wireless technology and nine speakers including subwoofer in seven locations (NV)
- XM satellite radio (P7)
However in the rolling speeds of 20 mph or so I did notice a slight feeling of 'lugging down' or 'downshifting' or 'engine braking'. It was as if 'No power from the pedal = no pull from the engine'. In driving a Prius for the better part of 6 yrs I do notice that when lifting off the pedal the engine normally turns off or goes to idle depending on the speed so that there is little or no forward pull by the ICE.
This is close to what I felt in the new Highlander at low speeds, i.e. lifting off the pedal seemed to 'turn off the ICE'....but that doesn't happen in the non-hybrid vehicles ( unless they've snuck something by us ).
Fremont Toyota seems to have a good selection.
They musy have taken off QR?
You can see my last post, I cut an pasted the full list.
this is strange.
It doesn't matter anyway. If you want QR, tell the sales guy and they will order it. You will just have to wait a few weeks
It's supposed to be a factory installed option
I don't see how they can do that because there is a video jack on the side passenger panel for auxiliary inputs.
Unless of course you are getting an after market DVD player.
It won't be integrated into the front Audio system like the factory system would be. (Driver can turn off and control the rear DVD player)
I thought the poster was saying that the dealer was putting in the toyota factory option.
They would destroy the car, because in order to get all the features (side auxilary video imput, front audio head stack integration etc) someone would have to rip apart most of the interior panels, cut holes to mount the jacks etc.
If that happened, there would be interior rattles and electrical wiring problems.
Yeah - go ahead an put in an after market DVD player.
You will still trash the interior of the car.
NO ONE will be as careful as the Japanese workers at the factory in Japan.
With an aftermarket install, have a pimple faced inexperience teenager let loose on a brand new car, good luck. You car will never be the same again
110 V power jack, Auxilary video inputs on the rear interior panel (so wires dont hang down from the unit) Front audio unit control of the rear DVD player etc.
And the peace of mind that a trained Japanese worker in a Toyota factory in Japan installed it correctly
And if it was a 59 y.o. consumer electronics specialist installing it???
You are entitled to your own opinion that's why there are so many different options in this world. But after a 1000+ installations I'd feel confident in our aftermarket company as well. To each their own.
I appreciate all the feedback.
Are you sure they are going to install a 110 V jack an AUX video inputs into the rear panel next to the passenger?
What about the front head unit controlling the rear DVD player? Sounds like they need to put a wire harness all the way from the rear to under the front dash.
Thats a lot of stuff to rip up
Most places I see (driving by Best Buy or other places), its usually young people.
Also - with a new vehicle, they may not know how panels are removed and could damage them if removed incorrectly.
Same with wiring, if they don't have the wiring schematics.
Hope they integrate it as well as the factory can do
Something sounds fishy about that.
The rear seat DVD option is factory installed.
The dealer is not capable of installing it (I would not count on them to do it right).
Who would you prefer do it?
a) A factory worker in Japan who installs the option during the assembly process, or
b) Someone who works at a dealership, who does not usually install this option, who will have to dissassemble the head liner, interior side panels, dash, head unit and carpeting, and interior side panels. Then make a hand cut in the plastic panels to add the features to a BRAND new vehicle
If the cost is the same - why not just order the vehicle so that it comes from Japan with it installed?
not for me thanks
I want my Highlander to be factory fresh
The question is whether the buyer's understanding of what he/she is getting is in-sync with the dealer's scope of work. To me: "similar functionality" can mean something far different than "exactly the same thing Toyota installs at the factory."
If the dealer is clear on what's being provided (i.e. size of the screen, integration with the head unit, 110 outlet with switch on the dash, etc.) and the buyer fully understands what he/she is getting and adjusts his/her expectations appropriately, then I don't see the issue.
If the buyer is assuming that a dealer-installed accessory is exactly the same thing as the factory-installed accessory, then we have a problem.
If it were me: DVD players are so year-2000. In 2007, it's video iPods for everyone.
I had no interest in the power moonroof, and little interest in the extra A/V and outlet. (kids won't be able to connect a playstation or anything, which isn't a big deal to me)
However, considering that is part of the Rear DVD Entertainment package and I won't be getting it, I will certainly negotiate on the final price for the Rear DVD unit. All other functionality will exist between the head unit and rear system.
And hopefully I don't get "johnny all thumbs" installing it:)
The reason I am so negative about dealership work, is because I always have had bad luck. Maybe I am a magnet. Every time without fail, the work was done incorrectly the first time, and needed a second trip, or I redid it properly myself.
In Colorado, my Supra timimg belt replacement, they (Toyota dealer) left out several bolts on the timing cover (found it years later when I did the head gasket repair myself). In California, my toyota pickup had a new timing chain and clutch, and they left several bolts loose on the clutch housing.
My Honda Civic had a cracked dash, which was replaced under warranty, they left the radio antenna cable unplugged from the radio because it was pinched behind the dash and it would not reach the head unit, and a head of a bolt they snapped off got lodged behind a vent control flap and the vent would not operate all the way (only would move from floor, to floor / vent).
Had the dealer rotate the tires for "free" and they ended up stripping 7 out of 20 lug nuts. Had to replace the studs on the wheel flanges.
So enough is enough. I never trust them.
With factory installs, the Rear DVD VIDEO will also display on front Navigation screen when in Park & Emergency Brake is applied. This has proven to be an outstanding feature in our Sienna and I expect nothing less in my future Highlander. I've already verified with certainty that this same functionality is part of factory Nav & DVD combinations.
For reference, if DVD Playback doesn't automatically feed through front Nav screen when in Park & Emergency Brake applied, simply press the "DISC-AUX" button and video should immediately feed through front. This is, of course, in addition to feeding through rear DVD screen - although even rear view is optional - as it can be turned off during playback.
While I've heard this is still possible aftermarket, I believe it calls for more splicing through factory rear backup camera feed, etc... For factory, it's done cleanly without extra splicing during build.
My vote is for factory install for this price/class of vehicle - just not worth the $400-500 savings to gut, cut, & splice through my new $40k+ vehicle!!!
Hope this helps.
Can someone who had the factory DVD and Nav in their Highlander check that it shows on the nav screen in park?
Check this out
http://www.toyotaiguide.com/content/08Highlander/iGuide.htm
TOYOTA NAV