Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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I traded in my 12 y.o. 6 cyl., Chevy S-10 Blazer, Eddie Bauer black/gold for new HL 6cyl, 4wd,
no moonroof or fancy stereo. Could not be more thrilled with the car in the 2 plus weeks I've had it. I got it at McGee Toyota in Hanover, Mass., which I have heard from several people since then has a very good service reputation. Steve Hines was a good salesman. If you go there, tell him that Bernice sent you. I got the metallic green and it looks beautiful. My parking space is directly at the back door of my work building and at least 30-40 people have stopped me in the halls or come to my office to tell me that they're crazy about the look of the car. I may get some gold pinstriping on it as well as bumper guards (if I can find right ones to fit).
I tried out 27+ mid-sized SUVs in 2 weeks looking for a car. I am a very hefty woman, with a long body torso. This was one of the few cars I found which was easy for entry and exit as well as having the requisite headroom. A very confortable vehicle. I've been driving SUVs since early '80s when they still called 'em trucks. The suspension feels like heaven after the Chevy.
I did have to wait for the correct seatbelt extension to come from California but it did arrive about a week after my car came.
As for the center console, Steve Hines had said that he could order one for me. However, then I
found him telling me that he was having trouble getting one and that it could be quite some time
until I got one. I needed space for my "stuff" - cell phone, charging cords for that and my radar detector, sun and regular glasses, maps, cupholders for iced coffee which are not on the floor,
where Toyota has them now. Not safe I thought as to replace the cup in the holder requires taking eyes off of the road.
I exactly measured the 3 dimensions in the space between the front seats. I have oak upholstery and a gray inside trim. Looks nice. I found a console which fits perfectly in the space and cost me only $89 at Auto Zone, Washington St. Weymouth MA, which is part of a national chain I think. The console I got is made for a Jeep Cherokee/Wrangler for the years 1997-2001. It comes in only two colors - saddle and gray. I did not like the saddle, which is about the same color as the inside of a Milky Way bar so I asked to have them send me the gray. It is a perfect match for the gray dash and wheel. Looks like it was made for the car. The console is about 1/2 inch less wide side to side on paper than the space but the holders for the seat belt keep it in place just right. The arm rests when lowered come right down to about 1/4 inch above the console (so you do need to lift the arm rest to have access to the console door which opens straight up and has a lock.) There are wells for two cups right up front - no need to take eyes off the road now to reach for a drink. On the back, there is a little "cubby" where you could keep change. Also, this console's length allows you to push it right toward the dash or farther the other way toward the back - your choice.
At 400 miles, I am tolerating the 55 mph break in period. Here in Mass., I have been subject to dirty looks on the highways as I have been driving the "speed limit". But in general I could not be happier with the car. Have not expereinced any road noise as some of you have described.
I am glad I made this choice. Good luck to all HL owners.
Bernice
I test drove a new Highlander this past weekend and loved the truck but when I sat in the back seat it felt like I was sitting on a board. It had gray cloth interior. Anyone else think the seats are not soft or comfortable enough? Also, will the camry supercharger from TRD work in this truck?? Let me know what ya think.
Thanks,
Michael
Best of luck,
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
http://www.toyotaguys.com for about $24 shipped
A good hitch that many of us have purchased is Hidden Hitch #70777. It is a class 3 hitch and is available online from:
http://www.hitch-web.com for about $150 shipped
I realize this may not solve the problem with your dealer installing the hitch, but if you need to tow something before they are able to install it, ask for that money back and you can install the above parts quite easily. For more discussion and info on hitches, and to view photos of actual installations, go to:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/toyotahighlanderclub
Good luck.
How did you install the Center Console? Did you simply wedge it between the seats?
Thanks.
Dan
http://www.autozone.com/
I'm going to stop by and check it out this afternoon. I need a console!!!!
Walt
I asked my district rep about this earlier this week. I pointed out that this was a growing problem. He said he knew but didn't know when we would have an accessory hitch for customers. He said it is being looked at but had no clue as to when it would happen.
-Ret
While Lexus hitches may work, unless your dealer carries both lines, a Toyota dealership can't get Lexus parts. I had not heard that the Lexus hitch worked, but if it does, take it to a Lexus dealer to get it on. It sounds like a good idea to me.
As for the console, they are not put on at the factory. They are done at the port, but until further notice, dealerships can't get them. This is another one that I asked my district rep about and was not given a time frame for this. He did say that we should have those before we see an accessory hitch.
Glad I was able to find a console that works. No, I didn't have to actually "install" it. Because of its dimensions, it just fit in perfectly in the 3 dimensions - side to side, back to front, and top to bottom - between the front seats. True, it is not anchored down, but since the tolerances are less than a 1/4 inch side to side, it is pretty snug; the console doesn't wander and just stays put.
Walt's link to the Autozone site as given is the correct company where I bought the console. It took only two days for them to get one to me. Again, I hope that all of you who need one get one soon and will be "consoled" (ouch...sorry).
Bernice
Bernice
But usually what you want to tell someone is of interest to the rest of us, so posting a public message is encouraged :-)
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
It WAS clearer than mud. Now I've got it. Thanks.
Bernice
http://www.saddlebags.com/minivan_products.htm#anchor113193
http://www.hoosiervan.com/photogal/tsb500.htm
Enjoy!
The bike carrier is manufactured for Nissan by Yakima (must be an exclusive contract).
The carrier comes with both short and long straps which fasten to the existing cargo tie down points, front and rear (i.e. no drilling, etc.), locking the support bar in place (straps pull equally from opposing tie down rings), and holds up to 2 bikes securely by gripping/locking the front fork (skewer type mechanism). A third very long strap laces through the tie down points and then though the frame or rear stays in order to keep the bike from potentially pivoting around the front fork skewer.
I purchased the optional wheel fork so that, once you release the front wheel from your road/mountain bike, you have a convenient place to keep the wheel from becoming damaged or bouncing around inside the cargo area.
I searched the web for best prices.
"With optional wheel forks, this accessory bike rack keeps two bikes secured inside the cabin, safe from low branches, tailgating guppies and anyone with bike envy." (www.nissandriven.com)
But thanks for showing that one to us.
Walt
As it stands, I personally did not purchase a Highlander for the very reason that a $36,100 (CND) non-limited Highlander does not include a centre console, tonneau cover and alloy wheels, let alone a fully equipped $45,700 Limited Highlander without a centre console. These features are standard in other manufacturers SUV's of equal or lesser value.
Hopefully, Toyota Canada will rethink their position and offer these features as standard equipment in the 2002 non-limited Highlander and only then would one get value for one's money.
1. Continue to offer the HL both with and without consoles.
2. Move (or add) cupholders to a more convenient location.
3. Release a console that is superior to the current offering, such as the Japanese version that has been mentioned in other postings that apparently is.
I owned a 98 Honda Accord before our Highlander - a new model year. I had only one issue with it, and it was quickly resolved in admist the 76,000 miles I put on it in about 3 1/2 years. The Highlander is our family-mobile and based on our experiences and the input from others, this is a very well built vehicle and very dependable. My point here is that Honda makes vehicle in the same quality range as Toyota (very high), and my opinion after my experience in the Honda is that Toyota will provide the same experience.
The only issues I have heard is a noice from the roof rack (very fixable) and the glovebox door rattles if it's not filled. One person in the discussion got a lemon. If you can take the hours to read this whole discussion group, do so. 95% of comments you will read will show very happy owners. Personally, I'm glad we made the purchase although we should have shopped around to the the price lower. We have two little ones and feel very safe in the vehicle.
I will recommend the Highlander to anyone in the market for a vehicle in this class. Good luck in your hunting, and if you have any specific questions, look in my profile for my email address.
My dealer said to bring the car in next week and they will take it to a glass shop and have an epoxy injected under the molding to better seal it to the glass. He also said this problem was also an issue on a previous model Toyota car.
I'll have it done next week and then test it out. More to come.
Iam bothered by the wind noise I hear while cruising the highway.
I have tried putting tape along the top windshield molding to eliminate that aa a source of the problem.That did not solve the problem. Is it possible the problem comes from the channel around the glass?
back from a vacation to Branson Mo.
and really liked the way our White
HL handled. We drove almost 2,800
miles and didn't hear the wind noise.
We drove it up and down mountains and
on flat roads. We averaged 24.4 mpg
and thats with city and highway miles
We also spent at least 15 or more hrs
in the HL and didn't have any back
problems, great SUV. Good choice
Leroy...
I'm not sure if the "wind rush" you described is the same or if it is something else.
Good luck.
We are trying to make up our minds as to whether to purchase a HL or not. We found a great V6 4X4, but the dealer had put so many options on it that it went out of our price range.
To bring the price down, I am considering getting the V4 4X4 (instead of the V6 4X4). Would any of the people that have a HL V4 share with us if they feel that the car has enough power?
We are going to be having 4-5 people in the car at all times.
many thanks.
-Ret
Regarding the cargo liner: I purchased one from the dealer. It has a little lip on it and somewhat "grips" items placed on it. But I would purchase the one from Weathertech, if I were you. It has a three inch lip and is of sturdier material than the Toyota liner. I have one that I bought for a car back in 1995 and it's still as good as new. Solid, no cracks, easily cleaned. I think they're still only $80.
Fortunately, I do not drive that fast (over 70 mph) and while I have heard the sound, it has not been a major problem for me.
Otherwise, I am enjoying my V6, 4WD, unlimited w/out the center console. After living with it for 3800 miles, I would not add a console even if it were offered. I find no fault with the cup holders, and quite frankly, I enjoy the added space between the seats. (It gives the illusion of a bigger vehicle with more seat space)
Fit, finish, overall quality, and mileage efficiency are all excellent.
Happy HL'ing to all.
I am a new owner of a Toyota Highlander Limited and have a question about the 6-disc in-dash CD changer that came with it. When the changer is in "random mode" is there a way to make it skip to the next randomly selected track?
Currently, if I hit the forward track/back track buttons the changer skips forward to the very next song on the CD (or back in the case of the back track button). If I use the forward fast button to skip through the song, it too will go to the very next track once it reaches the end of the current song. Most home stereos have a way to skip to the next "randomly selected song" just by hitting a button. Does anyone know how to do this on a Highlander? Thanks in advance for your help!
=-Personna1->
P.S. My Highlander has the rattle in the glove box latch mechanism... I'll be fixing that using one of the recommendations I saw in this forum.
P.P.S. At this time I have not experienced any wind noise around the windshield.
P.P.P.S. My Highlander came with the factory center console. Why can't the Japanese figure out that most Americans have beverage containers that are larger than a Coke can?