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Comments
On the other hand, it handles 8' 2x4s and the like just fine -- fold back the front passenger seat and you can fit plenty of long narrow stuff up to 8', just not wide stuff like plywood or sheetrock.
Consider a 4Runner if you value a rear window that opens.
Does any know if the navigation system in the Lexus RX and Toyota Highlander is the same, or at least similar enough to exchange discs?
So . . . my wife and I took a road trip vacation and I decided to stop at every Toyota dealer as we headed north in the hope of actually finding a HH. As we pulled into one dealer's lot the exhaust system on our 11 year old Honda Accord began banging against the floorboards and, simultaneously, rain started to pour down. We raced inside and the salesman told us he had just sold the one and only HH (a limited) he would get in June and invited us to sit and chat until the rain let up. We played with some figures and he offered us a white 4-cylinder Highlander, with power driver's seat, for a couple of thousand dollars off the list price and when we ran the totals (including tax and fees) it turned out to be about $13k cheaper than the total would have been for a base HH (with option package). And he offered us a great price for our old Accord, banging exhaust and all.
It seems like a no-brainer. Wait an indefinite amount of time for a HH that costs $13k more to get more power and a little more fuel efficiency, or buy a sweet 4-cylinder that is plenty powerful enough for our use and spend a small part of the interest on that $13k we saved to buy a little extra gas. In a few years, when we will can get the hybrid we want, we will trade our 4-banger Highlander in on a more interesting car and will have that $13k to add to the pot.
I still believe Toyota's hybrid system is the way to go. Now is just not the right time for me. The Highlander 4-cylinder is a really nice car for those you who want economy and can't wait for a HH. Also, didn't have to take rear seats and a moonroof and it is about 500 pounds lighter than the HH. Adios, for now, HH.
Of course, part of me likes the hype. truthfully it's a little exciting getting caught up in it. But at the same time, I don't want to wait ANOTHER year for this car. I feel like I'm waiting at a restaurant that I really have a taste for that day. I stand there for a while and wonder if I should stick with it, or go to another place to eat that I don't like as much. part of me feels like i've been in line this long, I may as well wait- it may be any minute now. Or if I had left, I could have been eating already. ok, I haven't had lunch yet so I'm a little hungry.
I'm sure I remember seeing anchors on the third seat.
It also does appear that Toyota is ONLY making the loaded versions (Limited) and taking short term delivery orders for them.
I would sincerely advise those in the market to think about the final price tag of a Limited HH and compare it to what else that is out there TODAY that they can buy at those prices. The "savings" for the "hybrid" feature are NOTHING compared to what you are paying for it, even if the gas prices double over the next 5-8 years.
For those who want to support "the green concept" save the $10-14k and donate it to a charity that will plant trees for that much money...you will do MUCH better for the environment that way.
Prices are driven by market forces and we CAN help the car-makers get to that realization.
Toyota is trying hard to make sure that the HH (and other overpriced hybrids they make) are the BETAMAX of the auto industry for this decade. We should make sure it goes that way unless the prices are not so jacked up!
:mad:
I just took a look and there are anchors behind the 3rd seat. They're under the little panel where you replace the back lightbulbs. The third seat also has two shoulder harnesses and its own heater controls. The third seat looks really small, but the second seat has loads of leg room and can be slid forward.
Also, the second seat is split so that you could put a child's seat there and still have room for older kids to get to the back.
Thanks for the info. I'm pleasantly surprised!
Sorry you have had such a bad experience with your search for a HH. I found a dealer in my area on Saturday that had one in stock. Partly because of your earlier post(631), I asked the sales rep if I could have them put the car on hold. They took a credit card deposit over the phone for $100 to hold it for the day. My wife and family checked out the car later that same day. We decided it would work for us and completed the sale.
We paid a premium over a similarly equipped Highlander Ltd of about $6000. I don't expect the better mpg to pay the difference off any time soon. I believe in the concept. Toyota is one of the few automakers that is investing in the future of this technology. I seriously doubt if they will pay off their investment in the hybrid technology any time soon. It has been a very long expensive road for Toyota. I don't resent the company for trying to make the best return on their investment in the short term. They simply make more money on the fully equipped HH's rolling of the lot. Toyota is a corporation in business to make money for their investors.
Once hybrids are more the norm, the prices will go down. I for one do not mind paying a premium for being an early adopter.
The e-brochure says 3500 lbs.
---------------gas-------------hybrid
msrp-------35045-----------39000
discount----2800-------------0
residual------54%-----------63%
deprn.-------13300----------14430
the predicted value for the gas seems reasonable given current used car prices. the future resale value of the HH is yet to be seen. But I'm giong to finance and not pay cash, so we have to take interest into account. so if we use the 3 yr lease, we get:
-----------gas------hybrid
MF---.00210---.00235
pmt----$504-----$550
So from this point of view, the difference is $46/month. now the good/bad news is that from a strict financial POV, buyers probably wont make up the difference in gas savings in the first 3 years. but assuming MPG of 20 vs 26 for the gas vs hybrid and gas at $2.20, the monthly difference drops to $13.
ok... I made A LOT of assumptions here from discount, to negotiated deals, mileage, gas price, so your results may vary. I think i made "resonable" assumptions.
Toyota HH V6 3.3 L engine = 208 HP
HH front wheel motors combined= 167 HP
HH 4 WD additional rear motor= 68 HP
TOTAL electric propulsion motors= 235 HP
Question: The HH 4wd version actually has MORE electrical propulsion capacity than the Bio fuel engine...therefore it 'should', 'technically' qualify for the $5000.00
tax credit ???
OK, you got my attention. What $5000 tax credit? And from whom or what?
2005. See this IRS website for cars that qualify for the federal tax deduction:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=104549,00.html
Since the Lexus qualified I would guess the Highlander will be added
to this list.
The situation is a bit confusing, since some states provide a credit equal to the state sales tax, i.e., you don't pay sales taxes on a hybrid.
I'm not sure if the deduction is good for this current calendar year...
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=109876,00.html#electric_2004
Interpretation is up to the individual....
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch12.html#d0e10685
Hybrid gas-electric vehicles are not qualified electric vehicles. However, certain of these vehicles may qualify for clean-fuel vehicles.
Maybe you can use this credit to offset the price of the "hack" that's going aroung the internet where you plug in your prius or similar hybrid into your AC, making electricity the primary fuel source and the gas just "assists."
I rather doubt that this credti would apply to anything other than an electric vehicle developed for sale by a manufacturor, and never for an owner modification. You'd have every quack in the world plugging in a D-Cell battery and claiming the deduction...
I also learned that the MSRP is only the beginning. Toyota's website mentions the extra delivery, processing and handling fee -- $595 here in Florida -- but doesn't say anything about the mandatory Toyoguard that adds another $699 to the price. Finally -- and I think this is important for those of you who haven't bought your Toyota yet -- after you negotiate the price and think you know how much your HH is going to cost, your dealer is going to add another $499 onto the price for "dealer handling" along with taxes and other fees. The $499 will probably be printed on the order form, leading you to believe it is non-negotiable. That is $1793 in extra charges and fees above the "price" of $33,030. Only in the car business. Guess I am naive.
One more thing. The Toyoguard $699 package includes roadside assistance. Hmmm . . . doesn't say "free" roadside assistance. Guess I better check. I am tired of being naive.
Good luck to all of you HH buyers. See if you can get the dealer to knock off that $499 dealer handling fee.
Unfortunately, as long as people are willing to pay a premium price for hybrids
dealers will ask for all the cash!!!!!!
My understanding is that the dealer has little, if any, input. The dealer does forward the list on to Toyota but ultimately takes what the factory delivers and matches 'em up with his list of what people want. Anyone know if I'm off base on that?
I'm not sure how you jumped to that conclusion. I think auto dealers are perfectly capable of coming up with new schemes to make money without any help from organized crime.
It's an old marketing ploy. You get the customer to start believing that the car is his before it really is. Then most customers will make whatever concessions they can to make reality agree with their fantasy. That's why they pay you to take a test drive of some cars. Just imagine that the car is yours and then you're hooked.
If you have the ability to walk out of a dealership and not be disappointed, you've got the upper hand. Otherwise, don't walk in in the first place.
This always happens to me when I buy a new car. Usually my wife keeps me under control but this time she wanted the Highlander even more than I did since it is her car. Maybe I should take a checklist with me next time, making me answer the important questions before I sign anything.
Nimhrod
Yes, we do have our own $7 billion distributorship that has its own warranty, finance and lease company that is respected throuhgout the world as the largest privately owned distributorship which products and warranties are honored nationwide.
Yes, we have different rebates, incentives and rates and products that the rest of the country doesn't have. Sometimes it is better, sometimes it is worse.
Yes, at times we have an unfair advantage over the rest of the country because we sell over 20% of all the Toyotas sold in America out of a 5 state region so our supply of product is greater at times.
If a little ol' store in rural Alabama has 20 Limited Avalons to chose from is a bad thing then living in the southeast may be a curse. Some people enjoy the selection.
I understand that it can be frustrating when you can not get exactly what you want right away and we all have mistrust for what we do not know well but lets try to remember that it is just a car and life goes on. I do apologize if this comes off wrong, my intent is not to offend anyone but to help to you guys understand that it isn't the distributors fault. No, I do not work for SET.
Nice plate! Was considering NIMH ROD as in the type of battery in the Highlander. But am probably going to go for ZZZZZT, as in the noise it will make when you try and monkey with the batteries under the rear seat.
I was just given the VIN# of my' base' NOT Limited Edition) 4wd HH in Sonora Gold Pearl which should be arriving shortly. (ship date was 6-6-2005)
I did order the #1 option because I wanted a venting sunroof. (I smoke cigars from time to time, at least thats the excuse I use)
The dealer, which rhymes with 'lake shore,' is charging MSRP only.
I placed my order in Dec. in late March I was called to 'spec out' the car, the order was entered on the computer while I watched.So far all has been 'above board.'
Good Luck !!!
The written material I received with Toyoguard didn't say anything about roadside assistance. It just went on and on about the limited guarantee on the interior and exterior protection. I would really appreciate knowing more about it.
I hope I didn't mislead you because you are correct that there is a plain Toyoguard (XY4) that doesn't have roadside.
XY7 retails for 699
XY4 retails for 619 (I think)?
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