Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
HIGHLANDER
September 2007: 8,173
September 2006: 11,697
% change: -27.3
Several things to think about:
Toyota doesn't break out the Highlander from the Highlander Hybrid numbers, so part of the falloff could be people skipping the '07 Hybrid and waiting for the '08 in October.
The 4Runner actually saw a modest increase in unit sales (1.2%) in September, so buyers were still buying a similarly sized truck-based SUV. I'm not sure what the incentives were on the 4Runner, so that may have had something to do with it.
There were almost as many Lexus RX (350 and 400h) SUVs sold in September (7,841 units) as there were Highlanders.
The RAV4 saw a 30% jump in sales in September, going from 11.5K units to 14.4K units. Maybe it absorbed folks who would have bought a 4-cylinder Highlander in the past?
When you think about it, the decrease in sales for the Highlander should be expected (though not sure if that's what Toyota expected ), as you've basically eliminated 33% of the powertrain options and raised the entry price by several thousand dollars.
The 08 HL could be Toyota's first big mistake in awhile.
DIY is good as long as you have a torque wrench. I don't think when you're trailering on your frame that you want those bolts too loose OR too tight.
Anyway your right a torgue wrench should be used. The bolts will break if tightened too much. They are designed to give and take under stress.
Mack
How so? Please elaborate.
Mackabee
In my home state I have personal plates and the front one seems to be forever being lost or stolen so I keep a current "re-order" form, $13, in the car in case I get stopped for no front license plate.
Seems to take almost forever to replace a personal plate, or maybe they just ship it to the wrong address....
Haven't seen any the road...
Oooops wrong board! My bad.
Mackabee
I remember noticing the same thing in 2001 when I bought my Highlander. For the first few months, they were few and far between. It was actually kind of cool driving something that was new and never seen before. By 2002, they were a dime-a-dozen and I didn't feel so special anymore.
Personally I don't like the color choices on the 08 gas Highlanders. Waveline pearl looks purple in the light. I'd rather they had offered cosmic blue.
Ok, this has been discussed before here but in my opinion the new bloated size of the 08 HL is bad timing. With the cost of fuel spiraling up and never going down again(yes,it has been stable for awhile now which is fooling some) a more fuel efficient affordable utility vehicle was more in order. It seems the third row seat is the biggest culprit in this bloating. A seat that is not usable by adults for more than short trips that is used maybe twice a year doesn't make sense to me. Toyota invented this class of crossover non off road utilty vehicle with the RX300 which I gladly owned. The Highlander came out and added 6 inches to the RX platform and was the idea size in my mind. It worked for 7 years. The claim is the gas mileage is similar to the previous model but I'm waiting for real world experience before I believe a larger, heavier vehicle can be the same in the long run. The last issue I see is the higher cost which pushes it into a level of unaffordability for a lot.
I think I'm the only one left here that isn't thrilled with the new model, it seems the earlier critics have left. I'm still interested in what comments are generated here about the vehicle. It seems that most here aren't concerned with cost or size since most of the chatter is concerning color and bells and whistles of the Limited or Sport. I owned a RX300 then moved over to a base HL for the last 7 yrs and never once missed all the extras most here think they need. The 08 HL doesn't appeal to me at all. Only time will tell if this was the right move by Toyota and the cost of gasoline will be the deciding factor I think. I can see the change in vehicle mix on the highway in the last year. Smaller more efficient vehicles are taking over.
So that's it in a nutshell, flame away.
Nobody presses you to buy Limited with all bells and whistles and pay top $$$ for it. Base model sells at modest price and offers enough standard equipment. 6 cyl Camry LE or 6 cyl Base RAV 4 sell for around $22K. Base 2WD HL already being advertised well under $25K and will sell close to $24K soon. I find it to be in line with Toyota pricing.
BTW. 3rd row seat on HL is quite usable. If you want to use it for adults then 2 front rows can be adjusted so more leg room becomes available for the 3rd row.
And what, exactly is your point??
Shouldn't we all expect, therefore, that had Toyota kept the HL's previous size and weight there would instead (rather than just similar) be a significant improvement in FE..??
IMMHO the HL is now TOO big to remain a FWD or F/AWD.
I'm not kidding the tan is almost yellow and the gray is that light gray. Both of which will take up stains like a wet paper towel! What is wrong with Toyota? Same goes for Hyundai. Some of the Hondas have decent darker interior but not that much off from the rest. I even had problems with most of the exterior colors available. Oh the pain of looking at new expensive cars that are ugly. The worst thing is that the 4runner has as nice dark interior. But who wants one of those?
You make some good points, a lot of times it comes to personal decisions... For ME:
On the positive side:
1. The only real good reason for me to get a "SUV" is for tow capacity. Otherwise, I'd by a sedan.
2. 5,000 pounds towing cap is the minimum (small motor boat)
3. I am at a place where I want some luxury (Limited)
4. I am pro Honda/Toyota but would try some of the German models, not so hot for the rest (personal or family/close friend experiences). Honda's don't tow well.
5. Toyota picked a fairly interesting price point for the 08 HL Limited:
a) its not nearly as expensive as the lux-SUVs but rides/feels like one - and much cheaper than the German models
b) offers more luxury than similar/cheaper SUVs
c) tows more than the other lux-SUV models under 40k (that I would consider buying -- see point 4).
The bad:
1. In order to get nav in the N.East, you must accept the DVD entertainment system which I have zero need or desire for. Together they add over $4k to the price. TomTom, for example, is about $300 and is probably better in function.
2. The rear a/c and power liftgate is not an "option" on the Limited in the N.East. You must get them. They should be options.
3. The third row should be an option ADD - not a DELETE. Or it should be physically removable from the vehicle by the owner. I don't need it but maybe 2 days per year and hate the idea of dragging the extra weight around all the time.
4. The fully loaded MSRP should have been $39,999. Pushing over 40k is a no-no for Toyota.
5. I always feel 'optioned to death' with Toyota, but then have to take an Acura style "here's what you get" when I get to the dealership... Why give me the options, then? I always feel like I didn't get exactly what I wanted... With an Acura, I expect that before going to the dealer!!
5. A tow package should include everything except the ballmount and ball -- else, its not really a tow package.
All in all, if your looking for utility, luxury and reliability in a mid-30's SUV, the Limited - or Sport w/ Leather - might be the only real contender (my stated bias for Toyota aside). The mental block of paying around $40k for a Toy will surely deter a lot of buyers - it kept me from getting Nav.
Now back to why we're not seeing that many on the roads, I'll assume at this point it's still early in the game and the supply isn't really there yet. What I find a little odd about this is that I've seen it extensively advertised in print, on the web, and even on TV and you'd think they'd want supply there to meet the demand they are trying to generate. Maybe the demand isn't there? Maybe gas prices and the mortgage crisis are making big dents in demand?
Since I'm looking to buy one by the end of the year I am hoping demand is low and sales are bad as it can only help me!
IMO this is a family car. A very comfortable, practical family car. I believe it handles and performs well. We are getting 23-25 Highway and 13-15 City.
My dealer sold several while I was waiting. They even managed to sell one in no-sale Blue!
I have a Sport - 4WD/Leather/Sunroof in Metallic Grey, which I think looks great with the 19's. Gray interior, which a previous poster called ugly. That is an opinion that I do not share. The interior is tasteful and functional. The only problem is the light shade of gray and the fear of getting it dirty. On the other hand light color interior is cooler and makes the cabin feel more airy, my opinions of course.
:shades:
And the trailer wouldn't be detrimental to FE for EVERY time you drive the HL.
Just what, how much, did it cost you to go from the '01 to the '08 just so you could haul that mulch and timbers?
Mackabee
Also, I've got a 4Runner Sport with the black cloth interior. I don't think the other two 4Runner interior colors -- taupe and stone -- are that much darker than the comparable colors in the Highlander.
I mean come on these things are made for familys. I guess I can always try to put that toyo guard garbage on the fabric. I have 2 full bottles from 2 past toyotas I purchased. hehe imagine they try to sell that to you for 600.00 two bottles of scotch guard.
Regardless of stains the light grey is pretty darn ugly. They even have a fake grey wood panel on the Rav4's it just doesn't look right to me. Maybe Toyota is color blind.
Trailer: Look at ebay, you can get a 1/2 to 3/4 ton capacity trailer for under $500 if you're willing to assemble it. And some fold in half (I tuck mine in the back of the garage stall - it only takes a 4' W x 7' H x 2' D space).
Tow: Has anyone taken delivery of a new HL out of the port with a hitch receiver on it? Was the DH option included on the sticker, or just the TO option?
My Limited arrived at port this week and should be at the dealer early next...
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/2008-Toyota-Highlander/
The HL is not a bad car, it's just not what I expected, personally in terms of styling. There's nothing bad about it, but also nothing to write home about. During our test drive, I thought it was a nice, competent vehicle that I wouldn't mind buying. That's about as excited as I got.
You've correctly described Toyota's niche. Many of us who stay with Toyota do so precisely because they are nice, competent vehicles. Toyotas don't break.
You can go for a more exciting car and have lots of exciting trips to the service department over the life of the car...or be a little "bored" with a well made vehicle that does its job very well. YMMV.
I'm liking my HL very much at the 1,000 mile mark. I have a buddy with an '04 4Runner who is already jealous.
The small car and midsized car segment is less profitable but again there's added depth across the entire industry in these segments.
What's interesting in a lot of the reviews is that the Highlander gets negative marks for not being big enough in relation to the competition, yet on these boards common comments are 'too big' or 'bloated' or 'I liked the size of the last version better'
Toyota recent press release here
All-New 2008 Toyota Highlander And Highlander Hybrid Raises The Bar In Mid-Size SUV Segment – Again