On the 400h there is reprogramming that needs to be done by the dealer when the 12v battery fails. You will notice a decrease in mpg until this is done. I would check with your dealer.
Nice assessment. Accurate and balanced. I have an ICE High and I sell them as well. I also used to commute from Wayne into NYC for 20 years so your description of this drive is accurate as well.
The Ltd HH is very very nice, but it's still not a Lexus.
Just bought a 2006 HH in California. The Toyota's warranty book mentions the warranty on the battery to be 8 years/100K miles -- same as the nationwide warranty. Does anyone know where is it explicitly stated that some states (CA, MA, etc) comes with the 10 year/150K miles warranty?
In CA, all cars receiving the PZEV, AT-PZEV, ZEV ratings must offer 10 years, 150K miles warranty. SULEV does not have such a requirement as far as I know.
When a manufacturer qualifies a vehicle for SULEV, it must test the car for 150000 miles. If passed, the vehicle will receive SULEV rating and must offer 8 years 100K miles.
PZEV, AT-PZEV, ZEV cars *must* also pass the same SULEV 150,000 miles test before they are eligible for receiving the higer rating.
I do remember reading early in 2005 that the HH was to be certified as AT-PZEV because it is supposed to be completely gas-fume-leak proof. As we all can see, the HH is SULEV :confuse:.
Has anyone had a car remote starter installed on the HH? I been thinking about it. I'll call my Toyota dealer to see what they have to say about it. I stop at a installer Friday and they said they will have to check it out.
There are people who have done it to the 400h with the audiovox sytem. This seems to work, altho im told you lose the option to unlock your doors by remote with this system installed. There are also some who report that they had non dealer installations that left their cars inoperable. Its true your dealer will probably have a second party install the system however you have someone well qualified doing the work.
We are seriously considering purchasing a Toyota HH. There was a 6 mth waiting list last summer, and now they seem available on the spot. What kind of price can we expect to pay for the 4WD model?
Carmax in Laurel MD has all models of HH at almost invoice prices. Some local dealers are willing to bargain, but some are still holding out at MSRP. I think what's contributing to the wide range of prices are (a) the dealer's inventory, and (b) whether the dealer is betting the tax credit (estimated $2200 for HH AWD) and higher gas price (already starting to creep back up) will revive the demand.
If you live in CA, check out Carson Toyota in Southern CA. Their site shows a couple of sales. They were offering $2K off last August when Laurel in MD did same so it is likely that Carson is matching Laurel yet again this time.
Just visited the San Jose auto show, amazing what GM is doing, still pushing the monsters. It is a perfect example of a huge company that finds it hard to change. Not too many hybrids except for Honda, Toyota and Ford.
Business Week reported (Dec. '05) following Hybrid sales figures: • 9,350 in 2000 • 20,287 in 2001 • 35,000 in 2002 • 47,525 in 2003 • 88,000 in 2004 • 187,439 (through November 2005)
99000 Prius sold in 2005, 40000 Honda Hybrids (all models) sold. RX400h holding steady at 2600 cars a month until October when it dropped below 2000. The HH holds steady at 2300 cars a month.
Got our HH from Carson Toyota (Southern CA) last year and checked their site last month for friends and family, Carson is turning over those HH's steadily. I am beginning to see more HH showing up in the SF Bay Area as well. At least in CA, the HH and other Hybrids seem to be selling.
Love it or hate it, looks like hybrids are here to stay.
Big article in morning paper about the newly designed Toyota Camry and its hybrid sister. Supposedly designed to be a bit less family sedan and be a bit more macho. . .
I saw an HH that startled me the other day as there are so few in my town. Even the dealership said they only work on 2 or 3 a month (5000 mile tune-ups is all they've done). This one was black with fancy swoopy painting on the side - kind of like an 80's van. Quite surprised me. . .
I am the proud owner of a new '06 HH Limited w/Nav and rear entertainment DVD. I have been reading here for the past few weeks and have noticed that Bluetooth is not available from the factory. Is is very upsetting since I did pay over $40K for this vehicle. Anyways, is there an aftermarket bluetooth that will work with the Navigation system? Will Toyota make available an addon that will enable people to use their bluetooth phones in their HH? Even the Prius has this option but our HH doesn't? Eventhough this is the only issue that I see with the vehicle, it is a great vehicle.
i dont understand why it isnt in the HH but if it helps i can tell u the bluetooth in the 400h isnt the best feature in the vehicle. yes i am very happy with the car, however a bluetooth headset with your phone is a better combination audio wise and connects faster than thru the nav system.
Did the rear entertainment DVD come from the factory or did you have it installed? I bought mine in September and don't recall this being an option back then.
The rear DVD system was dealer installed. They wanted to put in a 10" screen but the support in the roof is too far apart so it wouldn't be able to hold it. They could install it but it would start to sag down. They are putting in 2 7" screens in the headrests for no extra charge.
As for the bluetooth issue... I already have a bluetooth headset but I don't like to drive with it attached to my ear. I would rather utilize the nav system screen for the phone. Since other manufacturers are installing bluetooth into their vehicles, it makes me wonder why Toyota didn't put it into this vehicle (or even offer it as an option). If anyone knows of an aftermarket that will allow me to utilize the nav system, please let me know.
I believe its a production question and a marketing question. The new Highlander is due out next year. You can expect it to be much different. The Crossover SUV market that Toyota created ( RAV & Rx300 ) has moved light years since the Highlander camr out.
The Highlander needs a major updating in size, features, styling, powertrain, etc. This is the 'lame duck' year for this model.
I've been reading about federal tax credits for 2006 hybrid vehicles. I understand that they may be better, in most cases, than the 2005 credits.
I also understand that the 2006 credits will be phased out after the first 60,000 hybrids sold by each manufacturer. Does anyone know how we are supposed to know whether our particular hybrid is one of the first 60,000 or not? Is Toyota supposed to provide some kind of tax documentation?
I got my HH on January 5, so I suspect I am safe. But I am curious what kind of documentation I might be able to expect.
The Toyota dealers are not taking charge od the Tax credit as they did for 2005. Your accountant should be able to get all of that information for you. It will be different for every customer.
But I am curious what kind of documentation I might be able to expect.
I don't think you'll get any documentation, nor do you need it. the credit gets phased out 1 quarter after the 60,000th hybrid is sold. so getting the credit is a matter of buying before a particular DATE, not the spot on the sales list. Basically if you buy before June 30th, youre DEFINATELY safe- you're probably safe if you buy before Sept 30, and probably not safe if you buy before Dec 31.
Thanks! We played it umpteen times in the office this afternoon and the gang had a great laugh, including a friend who owns a H2!!! He will show it to his H2 club guys.
His H2 gets 11 mpg mixed but he rarely drives it because people will flip him off , this is the SF Bay Area afterall, the bluest of the Blue state . He does take it to annual off-road meet set up by HUMMER dealers. He likes our HH but would not consider one, he thinks the HH lacks panache . Go figure.....
If the H2 were only $25K each, it would be a fantastic off-road vehicle that can really take serious abuse. He took me down a trail in Death Valley 2 years ago and that car can really motor over some real nasty terrain. I could see a H2 on a ranch, all caked with dirt and mud and full of scratches and chips due to real ranch work. Problem is, better bring along a dozen "jelly cans" or have a fuel truck at the trail head. It eats up fuel when off-roading.
I see the potential of an H2 for off-road use, just cannot fathom why people would buy them and park them in suburb garages and driveways.
I have an '06 all wheel, non-limited I bought last November. It came with the VIP alarm system and in the instructions, it says the Highlander cannot be re-programmed (see your dealer). I tried the instructions to change the alarm activation from active to passive and it worked fine. My manual also says that the sunroof will stop mid-way on closing (which I hate) and it does close all the way on it's own. So chime up with other features you have found that do not work as the book/DVD says.
Some questions. The salesman told me the car has tire pressure monitoring but I cannot find any documentation on that. Has anyone tried to change the window buttons to auto like the drivers side is now? In my old 4-Runner, both front windows were auto open and close and I loved it. Finally, has anyone had any success in programming the car to lock the doors after you start to drive?
Love the car, the handling and the ride. Do wish it had MP3 hook-ups but I can dream.
i am trying to get the same info from toyota but am getting nowhere.I have bluetooth on both of my 05 prius cars and miss having it on the highlander.If you use the phone set up on the destination screen,does it work for you?My phone set up on 2/2 on the des. screen does not work,just like the phone on the des.screen in my prius doesant work unless you have that phone no. entered in the bluetooth phone book.Which my HH does not have,i asked toyota if there was a connection and possibly could they hook bluetooth up in my HH Nav and put a switch in the blank by the rear cabin heat switch on the dash.They said no the problem with the phone des function was probably a software issue,Im not so sure,I still think bluetooth is in that nav and it would only be a matter of programing it and putting a switch and a mic in the blank by the rear heat switch on the dash.Just like my phone des.function does not work unless you have that phone no entered in the bluetooth phone book in both prius)s.I think it can be done,you need to educate yourself about these hybrid cars,I know more hhan anyone at my toyota dealership about these cars.It is like the people who are getting 40MPG in there prius cars,they dont take the time to learn about there car,these are extremely innovative machines and require a great deal of time and practice to truely understand them.If i get any positive info i will post it.BY the way I average 62MPG in the summer in my prius,that is nothing compared to some people.There is nothing after market that compares to the factory bluetooth yet i have checked into a lot of them. drive smooth drive safe!
By "des" do you mean Destination? If so, that phone lookup is primarily for POI phone numbers such as businesses that are in the yellow pages. For cars w/ bluetooth, it will also look up address book phone numbers. Look up a POI, note the phone number then try to look up that phone number. It should be there.
I doubt that the Bluetooth functionality is in there but I suppose it's possible.
I agree that it should be a programming issue. I can't see why they would install two different nav systems (one with bluetooth and one without). I'm wondering if they could just program it and put in the switch with the microphone. It would seem logical to me. I know they can cripple certain features on cellphones, I believe they did the same thing here. If anyone finds out more info, please post it. I will continue to search as well.
Which of the following best describes why you own a hybrid?
a) to make a statement
b) for the tax credit and other perks
c) because they’re environmentally friendly
d) to save money at the pump
e) to be the first to own new technology
Please submit a few sentences to support your response no later than Friday, January 27, 2006. Be sure to include your Forums username. Thanks! (wclarke@edmunds.com)
For me, the answer is c, because they are environmentally friendly. A few sentences to support this? Well, trying to keep the environment as clean as we can is important to us. We need a vehicle as large as the Highlander to haul the family around, and we are willing and able to pay a little bit more to get a vehicle that is cleaner than competing models will be. For us there are no thoughts of saving money in the long run on gasoline or tax credits, though of course those things are nice, too. And anybody who drives a Highlander Hybrid to make a statement will be wildly diappointed - nobody notices that it is a hybrid.
I'm going with c, but with a as a close runner up.
The environmental benefits are well documented. Along with the reduction gas consumption is the companion benefit of reduced emissions. I like to breate and personally feel like we should all do our part.
I am also aware of the fact that my single purchase (so far) will not save the world (darn it). Which is why (a) is such a close runner up. Though I enjoy the statement it makes to other passers by (who notice the hybrid better with the "Save the Dinosaurs" plate frame I got at an enthusiast site), I am more interested in making a statement to GM and Toyota.
Every car I owned before the HiHy said GM on it somewhere. I am a conquest for Toyota because they are filling the leadership void left by our domestic automakers (though Ford is now showing promise). To Toyota I say "here is my money because you are being the hybrid leader". I will not buy another gas only vehicle if I have any choice in the matter. I will also jump at the opportunity to own a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). A PHEV for those unfamiliar with the term is much like a modern Prius, HiHy or Ford Escape Hybrid except it can be plugged in at night to charge larger batteries giving it farther electric range (see Plug-In Partners )
A huge thank you to cdptrap, I ended up buying from Carson Toyota and saved over $2k from Bay Area prices. I would have never known about them had it not been for this forum post. THANKS!
($34.6k, HH Limited no nav/no dvd/sonora gold, $150 or something in fees)
I, unfortunately, had someone break my driver's window to steal my belongings from the car. The whole window replacement has been a pain as there has been some changes to how the door panel is attached from the 2005 to 2006 model, so they've broken my armrest and scratched up my door panel. I'm waiting for parts to come in for them to replace them.
In the meantime, I was checking around the area for other damaged areas and noticed that I had a lot of little nicks in the plastic panel by the seatbelt and door. We realized that it was also on the passenger side but not as many and it was due to the seatbelt buckle hitting it. I'm not impressed with how easy it is to nick it. The next time I'm at the dealership, I'm going to bring it to their attention and see what they say. Anyways, just wanted to bring it to your attention if you're as particular about your car as I am.
I noticed the nicks in the plastic panel by the seatbelt and door within a few days of purchasing our HH. The plastic is easily nicked if you let the seatbelt retract quickly on its own as the metal portion bangs into the plastic. The only way that I have found to stop the nicks in the plastic is to not allow it to retract on it's own.
Toyota won me over by delivering a properly powered car with exquisite fit and finish inside and out. This is where domestic falls short. Toyota tries to over-engineer and over-deliver in order to crack into and lead a market. It offered everything we wanted from power to safety to comfort to reliability to build quality.
The domestic always forced me to make irritating compromises. If the engine is what I want, the interior is cheap. When the interior is good, there is no air bag or the engine is loud and harsh. I wish for once, they can do everything right.
Why we Americans cannot compete against Asians and Europeans is beyond me. High cost of insurance cannot be the only reason.
I too was told that there was a tire pressure monitoring system but unable to find reference to it anywhere. Did anyone ever come across it in the car or in the manual?
The HH has *NO* tire pressure monitor , one of the biggest gripes a few of us have!!!
If your HH has the stock Goodyear Integrity tires, please be careful with them. They have lousy sidewall and easily cut and punctured by road hazards. We had one sliced up on a well maintained dirt road. Another owner posted last year that he/she lost 2 Integrity tires due to sidewall cuts. Integrity is not truck or SUV tire, it is a minivan or sedan tire, what a lousy choice for a car like the HH.
After a long stretch on highways and then taking an exit, I noticed that at the stop light the ICE shaked lightly (only lightly)for about 1-2 seconds then it cut out (as it should when the hihy comes to a stop). This has repeated for a third time in the last week. We only have 2100 miles on it so far. We hope it will go away after a longer break-in period. The shakes were so transient that it was really just a disconcerting thought :confuse: , not really bothersome and it only happened after a stretch on highways. Has anyone noticed the same?
There is also a good discussion of the methods and limitations of the EPA FE testing.
Regarding the HH and 'muscle hybrids' I think the comment from the Sierra Club is off base:
Dan Becker, the Sierra Club's director of Global Warming Programs, thinks muscle hybrids exploit hybrid hype without delivering real benefits. "The auto companies [need to] get smart and gear back to more efficient vehicles," he says.
While they would like to do away with all large vehicles optimally it's not feasible in the US. Backhanding the HH does a disservice to everyone who is actually making an effort to save resorces. In fact the HH, if driven properly, will save the same amount of fuel on an annual basis as will the Prius.
In fact the HH, if driven properly, will save the same amount of fuel on an annual basis as will the Prius.
Just to clarify your statement. It will save as much if you were going to buy a non-hybrid Highlander. You can save a whole lot more gas with the Prius than the ICE only Highlander.
I think the Sierra club is trying to promote smaller more efficient cars and Toyota along with the other car makers want to sell bigger more expensive cars, SUVs and trucks.
So far Toyota has disappointed me with promoting the hybrid performance and playing down the mileage on all but the Prius.
Yes to be precise, thank you , in a comparison of the Prius vs a 4c Camry and an HH vs an ICE Highlander both hybrids will save the same amount of fuel annually.
Until the American market eschews the bigger vehicles and we both know this will take some kind of revolution the HH is significantly more fuel efficient than any other V6 out there. The TCH also will be significantly better to drive for FE than other V6's.
I take exception to the Sierra Club and others because if they had their way Toyota would only produce 2 Million 1.3L hybrids for the Yaris all getting 60 mpg minimum. Since only about 150,000 of these would sell, where will the rest go? In the meantime if a buyer like my wife only wants a luxurious V6 who's going to sell it to her? GM? DC?
Giving the V6/SUV/Truck buyer a good capable more fuel efficient vehicle is good for everyone. The Sierra Club's stance has no basic business sense. It's all 'I wish, I hope..' it's not realistic.
Thanks for the Popular Mechanics link, the best, most balanced article yet. Their test results came out almost exactly like our daily results.
I am a Sierra Club member and Dan actually did not claim Sierra Club wants only Yaris. He just does not want a muscle hybrid and that has been the sentiment here as well. Were we not all asking for an I4 version? The club has evolved over the years and it now supports anything that reduces or eliminates emission and has high efficiency.
Please do not clump Sierra Club with a certain "Blue..." organization. That org has blinders on and believe we should all just ride bikes.
Toyota can certainly offer an I4 for the HH but I doubt people will buy it. People who do will complain the first time they have to climb a steep grade with a full load. This 2-ton car needs a V6 option.
I have driven a 155-hp 3500-lb van on mountinous freeway carrying 7 people plus gear. On steep grade, we dropped to 50-MPH in the rightmost lane following big rigs with no power to pass. A 194-HP 3750-lb van did a lot better with the same load but on the same grade, it dropped to 60-MPH. That gave it just barely enough power to pass the big rigs but not by much. The HH on the other hand is in a whole different league. Our HH has not met a steep grade it does not like .
I just want to know where I am supposed to put my 3 teenage kids, their baseball equipment and the team equipment on the way to practices in a prius. The HH is an attempt by people who do care about the environment to do their part. Small cars are great for going to work but just aren't practical when it comes to doing work. Hybrids no matter how much the gas savings are better than their non-hybrid counterparts.
There is no one-size-fits-all fuel efficient vehicle. Rather than backhanding Toyota for providing a more fuel efficient Highlander I'd think the Sierra Club should be lauding them. The statement below still irks me.
Dan Becker, the Sierra Club's director of Global Warming Programs, thinks muscle hybrids exploit hybrid hype without delivering real benefits. "The auto companies [need to] get smart and gear back to more efficient vehicles," he says.
'...without delivering real benefits..'????
Maybe he spoke too quickly or maybe he was taken out of context but it sure looks like the 'Official' position of the Sierra Club. If I was a member of the Club, like cdptrap, I'd sure want an explanation because on the face of it he's saying the HH and FEH are shams that should be done away with... 'geared back'.
Maybe they are approaching that 'Blue...' group after all.
All that being said I think Toyota would likely sell more HH if they were linked to the 2.4L engine. The price would be lower and the FE better... BUT.. big But... would the market go for the new configuration with only 192 HP? I thought that they would but from cdptrap's commentary above that might not be enough power. I'll keep an open mind.
OK then.. next year when the Highlander is redone and likely goes onto the Avalon or Sienna frame with the 3.5L ICE V6... Do they link the HSD to this engine giving it over 300hp or leave it on the 3.3L which is a 'dead' configuration or do they link it to the 2.4L as the 'Base' model?
I do not know Dan personally so this is not about defending Dan. The Sierra Club is very democratic and encourages many dissenting voices so I am not stupidly defending the club.
This is all about how I read the article. Knowing how writers/reporters like to pose supportive arguments, I always naturally separate the writer's interpretations from the actual quotes. Just like reading a scientific paper where one must separate the analysis/interpretation from the facts/quotes.
Dan only had 2 statements quoted in the article, the rest are all written by the writer. The first statement appeard on page 2 under the section titled "The Hybrid Backlash". The second statement appeared on page 5 under the section titled "In Our Opinion".
Taken together, the 2 statements read, "The auto companies [need to] get smart and gear back to more efficient vehicles," "I think it's just hype that GM calls a pickup truck that gets only 17 or 18 mpg a hybrid when you can't run the vehicle on electric alone,"
I cannot find anything excitable in these 2 statements.
The writer/reporter is the one who brought in the words "muscle hybrids" and made an interpretation and then claimed that Dan agreed with the writer's interpretation. Without a direct quote from Dan to that effect, I cannot put much faith into this connection.
Regardless of how you view the Sierra Club, it does not hurt to know where it stands regardin hybrids. Here are 3 quick informative links including Dan Becker voicing support for Ford's hybrid SUV when it first came out:
Comments
The Ltd HH is very very nice, but it's still not a Lexus.
In CA, all cars receiving the PZEV, AT-PZEV, ZEV ratings must offer 10 years, 150K miles warranty. SULEV does not have such a requirement as far as I know.
When a manufacturer qualifies a vehicle for SULEV, it must test the car for 150000 miles. If passed, the vehicle will receive SULEV rating and must offer 8 years 100K miles.
PZEV, AT-PZEV, ZEV cars *must* also pass the same SULEV 150,000 miles test before they are eligible for receiving the higer rating.
I do remember reading early in 2005 that the HH was to be certified as AT-PZEV because it is supposed to be completely gas-fume-leak proof. As we all can see, the HH is SULEV :confuse:.
I been thinking about it. I'll call my Toyota dealer to see what they have to say about it. I stop at a installer Friday and they said they will have to check it out.
Mike
If you live in CA, check out Carson Toyota in Southern CA. Their site shows a couple of sales. They were offering $2K off last August when Laurel in MD did same so it is likely that Carson is matching Laurel yet again this time.
Business Week reported (Dec. '05) following Hybrid sales figures:
• 9,350 in 2000
• 20,287 in 2001
• 35,000 in 2002
• 47,525 in 2003
• 88,000 in 2004
• 187,439 (through November 2005)
99000 Prius sold in 2005, 40000 Honda Hybrids (all models) sold. RX400h holding steady at 2600 cars a month until October when it dropped below 2000. The HH holds steady at 2300 cars a month.
Got our HH from Carson Toyota (Southern CA) last year and checked their site last month for friends and family, Carson is turning over those HH's steadily. I am beginning to see more HH showing up in the SF Bay Area as well. At least in CA, the HH and other Hybrids seem to be selling.
Love it or hate it, looks like hybrids are here to stay.
I saw an HH that startled me the other day as there are so few in my town. Even the dealership said they only work on 2 or 3 a month (5000 mile tune-ups is all they've done). This one was black with fancy swoopy painting on the side - kind of like an 80's van. Quite surprised me. . .
mmreid
Thanks,
JAFO
Greg
As for the bluetooth issue... I already have a bluetooth headset but I don't like to drive with it attached to my ear. I would rather utilize the nav system screen for the phone. Since other manufacturers are installing bluetooth into their vehicles, it makes me wonder why Toyota didn't put it into this vehicle (or even offer it as an option). If anyone knows of an aftermarket that will allow me to utilize the nav system, please let me know.
Thanks for the replies.
JAFO
The Highlander needs a major updating in size, features, styling, powertrain, etc. This is the 'lame duck' year for this model.
I also understand that the 2006 credits will be phased out after the first 60,000 hybrids sold by each manufacturer. Does anyone know how we are supposed to know whether our particular hybrid is one of the first 60,000 or not? Is Toyota supposed to provide some kind of tax documentation?
I got my HH on January 5, so I suspect I am safe.
Thanks!
The Toyota dealers are not taking charge od the Tax credit as they did for 2005. Your accountant should be able to get all of that information for you. It will be different for every customer.
I don't think you'll get any documentation, nor do you need it. the credit gets phased out 1 quarter after the 60,000th hybrid is sold. so getting the credit is a matter of buying before a particular DATE, not the spot on the sales list. Basically if you buy before June 30th, youre DEFINATELY safe- you're probably safe if you buy before Sept 30, and probably not safe if you buy before Dec 31.
http://www.atomfilms.com/contentPlay/shockwave.jsp?id=cant_afford_gas&preplay
His H2 gets 11 mpg mixed but he rarely drives it because people will flip him off
If the H2 were only $25K each, it would be a fantastic off-road vehicle that can really take serious abuse. He took me down a trail in Death Valley 2 years ago and that car can really motor over some real nasty terrain. I could see a H2 on a ranch, all caked with dirt and mud and full of scratches and chips due to real ranch work. Problem is, better bring along a dozen "jelly cans" or have a fuel truck at the trail head. It eats up fuel when off-roading.
I see the potential of an H2 for off-road use, just cannot fathom why people would buy them and park them in suburb garages and driveways.
Some questions. The salesman told me the car has tire pressure monitoring but I cannot find any documentation on that. Has anyone tried to change the window buttons to auto like the drivers side is now? In my old 4-Runner, both front windows were auto open and close and I loved it. Finally, has anyone had any success in programming the car to lock the doors after you start to drive?
Love the car, the handling and the ride. Do wish it had MP3 hook-ups but I can dream.
drive smooth drive safe!
Look up a POI, note the phone number then try to look up that phone number. It should be there.
I doubt that the Bluetooth functionality is in there but I suppose it's possible.
Thanks,
JAFO
a) to make a statement
b) for the tax credit and other perks
c) because they’re environmentally friendly
d) to save money at the pump
e) to be the first to own new technology
Please submit a few sentences to support your response no later than Friday, January 27, 2006. Be sure to include your Forums username. Thanks! (wclarke@edmunds.com)
The environmental benefits are well documented. Along with the reduction gas consumption is the companion benefit of reduced emissions. I like to breate and personally feel like we should all do our part.
I am also aware of the fact that my single purchase (so far) will not save the world (darn it). Which is why (a) is such a close runner up. Though I enjoy the statement it makes to other passers by (who notice the hybrid better with the "Save the Dinosaurs" plate frame I got at an enthusiast site), I am more interested in making a statement to GM and Toyota.
Every car I owned before the HiHy said GM on it somewhere. I am a conquest for Toyota because they are filling the leadership void left by our domestic automakers (though Ford is now showing promise). To Toyota I say "here is my money because you are being the hybrid leader". I will not buy another gas only vehicle if I have any choice in the matter. I will also jump at the opportunity to own a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). A PHEV for those unfamiliar with the term is much like a modern Prius, HiHy or Ford Escape Hybrid except it can be plugged in at night to charge larger batteries giving it farther electric range (see Plug-In Partners )
Good luck with your survey...
($34.6k, HH Limited no nav/no dvd/sonora gold, $150 or something in fees)
In the meantime, I was checking around the area for other damaged areas and noticed that I had a lot of little nicks in the plastic panel by the seatbelt and door. We realized that it was also on the passenger side but not as many and it was due to the seatbelt buckle hitting it. I'm not impressed with how easy it is to nick it. The next time I'm at the dealership, I'm going to bring it to their attention and see what they say. Anyways, just wanted to bring it to your attention if you're as particular about your car as I am.
Toyota won me over by delivering a properly powered car with exquisite fit and finish inside and out. This is where domestic falls short. Toyota tries to over-engineer and over-deliver in order to crack into and lead a market. It offered everything we wanted from power to safety to comfort to reliability to build quality.
The domestic always forced me to make irritating compromises. If the engine is what I want, the interior is cheap. When the interior is good, there is no air bag or the engine is loud and harsh. I wish for once, they can do everything right.
Why we Americans cannot compete against Asians and Europeans is beyond me. High cost of insurance cannot be the only reason.
If your HH has the stock Goodyear Integrity tires, please be careful with them. They have lousy sidewall and easily cut and punctured by road hazards. We had one sliced up on a well maintained dirt road. Another owner posted last year that he/she lost 2 Integrity tires due to sidewall cuts. Integrity is not truck or SUV tire, it is a minivan or sedan tire, what a lousy choice for a car like the HH.
2006_hh, "Toyota Highlander Owners: Accessories & Modifications" #1161, 3 Feb 2006 8:08 pm
that you can play your dvd on the nav screen.
Anyone did this?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars_trucks/2154662.html?page=1&c- =y
There is also a good discussion of the methods and limitations of the EPA FE testing.
Regarding the HH and 'muscle hybrids' I think the comment from the Sierra Club is off base:
Dan Becker, the Sierra Club's director of Global Warming Programs, thinks muscle hybrids exploit hybrid hype without delivering real benefits. "The auto companies [need to] get smart and gear back to more efficient vehicles," he says.
While they would like to do away with all large vehicles optimally it's not feasible in the US. Backhanding the HH does a disservice to everyone who is actually making an effort to save resorces. In fact the HH, if driven properly, will save the same amount of fuel on an annual basis as will the Prius.
Just to clarify your statement. It will save as much if you were going to buy a non-hybrid Highlander. You can save a whole lot more gas with the Prius than the ICE only Highlander.
I think the Sierra club is trying to promote smaller more efficient cars and Toyota along with the other car makers want to sell bigger more expensive cars, SUVs and trucks.
So far Toyota has disappointed me with promoting the hybrid performance and playing down the mileage on all but the Prius.
but we can't compare the HH and prius. Try moving 7 people or cargo in the Prius (or count the number of runs you'd have to do).
but T should've made a 4cyl version, no doubt. but blame american consumers for that.
Until the American market eschews the bigger vehicles and we both know this will take some kind of revolution the HH is significantly more fuel efficient than any other V6 out there. The TCH also will be significantly better to drive for FE than other V6's.
I take exception to the Sierra Club and others because if they had their way Toyota would only produce 2 Million 1.3L hybrids for the Yaris all getting 60 mpg minimum. Since only about 150,000 of these would sell, where will the rest go? In the meantime if a buyer like my wife only wants a luxurious V6 who's going to sell it to her? GM? DC?
Giving the V6/SUV/Truck buyer a good capable more fuel efficient vehicle is good for everyone. The Sierra Club's stance has no basic business sense. It's all 'I wish, I hope..' it's not realistic.
I am a Sierra Club member
Please do not clump Sierra Club with a certain "Blue..." organization. That org has blinders on and believe we should all just ride bikes.
Toyota can certainly offer an I4 for the HH but I doubt people will buy it. People who do will complain the first time they have to climb a steep grade with a full load. This 2-ton car needs a V6 option.
I have driven a 155-hp 3500-lb van on mountinous freeway carrying 7 people plus gear. On steep grade, we dropped to 50-MPH in the rightmost lane following big rigs with no power to pass. A 194-HP 3750-lb van did a lot better with the same load but on the same grade, it dropped to 60-MPH. That gave it just barely enough power to pass the big rigs but not by much. The HH on the other hand is in a whole different league. Our HH has not met a steep grade it does not like
There is no one-size-fits-all fuel efficient vehicle. Rather than backhanding Toyota for providing a more fuel efficient Highlander I'd think the Sierra Club should be lauding them. The statement below still irks me.
Dan Becker, the Sierra Club's director of Global Warming Programs, thinks muscle hybrids exploit hybrid hype without delivering real benefits. "The auto companies [need to] get smart and gear back to more efficient vehicles," he says.
'...without delivering real benefits..'????
Maybe he spoke too quickly or maybe he was taken out of context but it sure looks like the 'Official' position of the Sierra Club. If I was a member of the Club, like cdptrap, I'd sure want an explanation because on the face of it he's saying the HH and FEH are shams that should be done away with... 'geared back'.
Maybe they are approaching that 'Blue...' group after all.
All that being said I think Toyota would likely sell more HH if they were linked to the 2.4L engine. The price would be lower and the FE better... BUT.. big But... would the market go for the new configuration with only 192 HP? I thought that they would but from cdptrap's commentary above that might not be enough power. I'll keep an open mind.
OK then.. next year when the Highlander is redone and likely goes onto the Avalon or Sienna frame with the 3.5L ICE V6... Do they link the HSD to this engine giving it over 300hp or leave it on the 3.3L which is a 'dead' configuration or do they link it to the 2.4L as the 'Base' model?
This is all about how I read the article. Knowing how writers/reporters like to pose supportive arguments, I always naturally separate the writer's interpretations from the actual quotes. Just like reading a scientific paper where one must separate the analysis/interpretation from the facts/quotes.
Dan only had 2 statements quoted in the article, the rest are all written by the writer. The first statement appeard on page 2 under the section titled "The Hybrid Backlash". The second statement appeared on page 5 under the section titled "In Our Opinion".
Taken together, the 2 statements read,
"The auto companies [need to] get smart and gear back to more efficient vehicles,"
"I think it's just hype that GM calls a pickup truck that gets only 17 or 18 mpg a hybrid when you can't run the vehicle on electric alone,"
I cannot find anything excitable in these 2 statements.
The writer/reporter is the one who brought in the words "muscle hybrids" and made an interpretation and then claimed that Dan agreed with the writer's interpretation. Without a direct quote from Dan to that effect, I cannot put much faith into this connection.
Regardless of how you view the Sierra Club, it does not hurt to know where it stands regardin hybrids. Here are 3 quick informative links including Dan Becker voicing support for Ford's hybrid SUV when it first came out:
http://www.sierraclub.org/mercurymariner/becker.asp
http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/
http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/downloads/200505_truckreport.pdf