I agree with Mr. Neihus, Toyota has screwed up the whole cup holder and console issue. My 2000 Nissan Maxima has a really cool way to remove the inserts for the cup holders. This accommodates for larger drinks to fit with out having to rest the drink between your legs.
I ordered my HL March 27 and expect deliver within sixty days from now. If the Center console I order is not there when I pick up the car I will be dissapointed.
I hope I can find a after market console if I can get one to fit.
I previously owned a 93 Lexus SC400 with only one cup holder. Enough people complained and there it was on the 94-two cup holders.
I have been following this board for quite some time and appreciate all the info/experiences that are passed. I hope to tap into someone's experience regarding infant seats.
I am having a difficult time securely fastening the car seat in the center position of the rear seat. It appears that the seat belt receiver in the center position is longer than the two side positions and that is why I can not tightly secure the seat.
Another contributing factor may the the firmness of the rear seats. Difficult to compress when tightening the belt.
Has anyone had similar experiences? Not sure if this makes a difference in seat firmness/belt design, but we have leather interior.
Cornhuskertoy, thanks for that information on the wind noise and the door seal . My KS dealer has been trying without success to find the source of the noise, so I will pass that information along to him. He returned my HL yesterday (unfixed) and said he was going to call Toyota next week.
As far as the console goes, I happen to have one but wish I didn't. For those complaining that they don't, and can't get one, IMHO you are fortunate. I don't much care for the Toytota console in the HL. I personally like the Toyota floor mounted cupholders better (my Sienna has them) and also prefer not to have the console in the way, although storage for CDs, etc. becomes a problem. Some of the aftermarket consoles look like a better deal to me, though I haven't tried any of them. Toyota definitely needs to redesign the factory console.
Someone asked about an add-on adjustable cupholder that can fit in the HLs console. I saw one at Walmart recently, but haven't tried it. It had thumb-screw adjustable wedges on the bottom to fit into a cupholder and clamp tight, but could also be used to clamp on to something. It appeared to be pretty versatile. The top bezel rotated easily to adjust the cupholder size. It even had a little LED light so you could see where to set the cup at night. I am not sure if it will fit into the HL console's fold down cupholders (which are pretty small), but if it does it might be the answer. One problem would be that if you use it I am sure it would cover the second cupholder, so you would only have one available. Has anyone tried one of these?
Hi - I have read many postings here and not found mention of an issue that I have found with my new HL. When first starting the HL, putting it into Drive or REV, and reaching around 5 mph, a pronounced "clap-CLAP" sound comes from underneath the engine, sort of towards the right. You cannot get the HL to do this again until you stop, return to PARK, and switch off the engine. I took it into my dealer, the shop foreman rode with me. Its not the brakes -- a common ailment. We then rode in other 2WD V6 like mine on the lot, and they did it too. The foreman has brought this up to the tech specialists in Jacksonville, and it is under research. Does anyone also have this occur with their HL? Do you know what it is? Thanks..
I got plenty of good info from these postings and now I can give back. I bought mine North Lousiana. I wanted a few frugal items but Gulf States had packages and ala carte ordering virtually impossible. So I waited...doing this and taking in internet printout got me a price several k under MSRP and 1.5k under edmunds TMV.Things I learned: wind noise with roof rack no problem for me however a curious metallic ping with large raindrops security upgrade saved some?? on insurance but you CAN NOT make a copy of factory key at local lock shop as they have an emitter chip in them that "talks" to ignition, PIO console not bad at all but should have a waterproof surface, leather package might...and if you have it installed late request it be decentered 1.5 inches toward the passenger seat as the driver seat has storage slots on its medial side and if console too close they are hard to reach. Check engine light WILL come on if you do not close fuel cap tightly. A/C and CD upgrade are VERY NICE....tonneau cover and floor mats (includes rear deck) were more sophisticated than I originally thought. I drove the 4 cyl and found it spunky enough tho it sounded grammar schoolish at idle. Went with 6 cyl to get 16% less fuel economy but 44% more ponies. I tow a 1400 lb t package with ease and at 70mph can pass nicely. With no boat and mostly highway miles on three checks I have averaged 22+ MPG. I did not compare much with other cars because of Toyota rep and because this time I WAS going to go with a LOCAL dealer. Thanks and good luck to all
read owners manual...be sure you are not hearing the normal adjustment of airbag/brake tensioners descrbed there in. Mine makes a noticible tick tick sound within about 90 seconds of every startup and I believe this to be normal
I got my highlander today, and I'm very satisfied with overall quality of the car. For those who are interested, I got $2,300 off the sticker price for v6 4X4 limited with SR,TO,DJ,WL,SK,GN,CF option. It came with a center console installed which the salesman claimed it's from Toyota.
One problem I have is this somewhat high pitched noise from the front area of the car when the ignition key is inserted without starting the engine. When I turn the key to "ON" position, and turn back to "ACC", the sound stops with a clicking sound. It sounds like it has something to do with the electrical system being activated. The sound will continue as long as I have the key on "ON" position.
Once I start the engine, it's hard to tell whether the noise stop because of the egnine sound. Does anyone know if this is normal?
I have read + and - about the lack or the design of the console. i was at Sam's Club they have for arund 500 a console with tv and DVD player, cup holders and a large bin. get one of those, it's in grey but you get an entertainment system to boot. look at sam's club.
Anybody know of any cargo liners that cover the sides and protect the plastic molding. The only ones that I can find just go up 1-3 inches all the way around. I've got to dogs that love to ride but I don't want their paws scratching up the side panels.
Just finished a 2000 mile trip....eastern Canada and New York State..the HL is awesome!!! Except for that irritable wind whistle which only occurs in strong crosswinds at highway speeds...just like everyone is writing about. I am fairly certain (after 30 hours of driving ) that it is coming from the moon roof (front driver corner), actually the seal. I will be taking my HL into the dealear this week for an oil change and will also check out this problem, I will keep everyone updated.... By the way I have the HL V6 AWD LTD. I hope my theory is correct in that the people complaining about this whistle during cross winds also have moonroofs on their HLs.
As for Canadian pricing (pchiu). I did a lot of research and had to do alot of bargaining but I got the LTD (in Canada this is fully loaded) for
cost - 40 438$ 5% mark up - 2022$ PDI/Frieght - 1000$ Air tax - 100$ Tire tax - 15$ Total - 43 575$ (plus I paid extra for a cargo net, bike rack and hood deflector).
My wife and I purchased a black AL unlimited V6-4WD I/gold pkg and most other options. We bought the unlimited because she did NOT want leather or the spoiler and all the limiteds had both. I wanted leather but you know who won. Now that we have it I like the cloth a lot and I agree with her that SUV's with spoilers on the back look too..... what's the word? We think they look even worse than a van with a spoiler. The big gripe she has with the unlimited version are the vanity mirrors--tiny little mirror with no light.. come on Toyota, lets get real. Add it to the convenience pkg or something. We are VERY happy we did not get the center console installed.. The cup holders are not real good but they work and the wife can put her purse,gloves, etc in the space. She bought a plastic box to put in there for some of her cd's and things. It can slide back out of the way if needed. Also, our dealer just added the wood grain to the dash..interfaced with the gray plastic, it looks sharp.
I'm interested in your theory on the crackling or popping noise seeming to emanate from the roof of the vehicle, because my 2000 LandCruiser makes the same noise. At first, I thought it was the leather, but I believe I have ruled that out. My symptoms are somewhat different -- the noise does not really go away on one trip, but there are stretches of days when it will not make the noise and stretches of days when it will. If your theory is correct, is there any fix?
Jam, a mechanical fix for the popping noises in th Highlander, as far as I know, is not in the works. Toyota has yet to acknowledge that a 'problem' exists. I'm sure as more complaints/inquiries pour in to TMS-they'll take some corrective action.For the noise,there could be other things happening above the headliner with fastening hardware and flex with regard to the headliner itself. However, the fact that the noise seems to be more prevelant on hot, sunny days when cabin heating is intensified seems to support the idea that the gaskets and adhesives are expanding and contracting.For me, the noise seems to occur only on these types of days.I've ruled out the possibility of the noise being a moonroof-drive related fault because I hear the same noise coming from the rear quarter plates-where there are no moving parts. Like General Motors, Toyota loves to standardize parts, materials and assembly techniques across models. So the possibility that your Land Cruiser is susceptible to the same thing plaguing the HL isn't out of the question. I doubt that the seats, leather or cloth, would contribute to any noise unless someone was seated in them(which would be normal). Like yourself, I too can go several days without hearing the noise. However, these days where the noise has been absent have been considerably cooler with some rain. The noise, it seems, doesnt represent any major fault with the truck.Until a Toyota fix can be found, try placing a thin piece of reflective material(much like those shields used on the inside of car windshield to block heat) while parked on top of your moonroof interior cover(Im assuming your LC has one). This should reduce heat gain through the moonroof.At the expense of diminished security, I've also just left the moonroof partially open to vent with good results. Ventilation seems to be the key to correcting the problem-unforuntately, theres not too many ways to do it effectively.
Is there anyone out there that would share their purchase price with me? I'm just shopping but I was at a dealer today that said they wouldn't budge from MSRP. I won't settle for this. I'm looking at a V6 Limited with or without leather.
I think you will discover the price varies all over the country ... supply and demand I suppose. I live in New England, and paid a little short of MSRP, but that was several months ago ... I think the price has fallen some since then. I bought from Autobytel.com and was well satisfied with the arrangement, although another Toyota dealer was closer to home. But he was totally unwilling to deal at all. I suspect a big factor is if the dealer has the vehicle you want in stock. They will make a much better offer on one in stock, rather than find another, arrange a trade, and transport two vehicles. Good luck ... you cannot go wrong. As you read other post, you will see that some have "fretted" about the center console(or lack there of), "popping" sounds, and a high speed, cross wind "buzz." Of the three, the buzz is the only issue I am interested. My V6, 4WD, unlimited does not have a console and I like that just fine. Living in New England, it has yet to become hot, so I have not heard the popping sound. I suspect that is expansion and contraction. Otherwise, I think the HL is a wonderfully engineered and constructed vehicle. I am completely satisfied with Toyota's fit, finish, performance and economy.
I know this dealer isn't in your backyard, but www.jimbarkleytoyota.com in Ashville, N.C. has the prices and a picture of the car on their site. I do not work there or even live very close (FL) but I like the way they show it all. I found their site from the 4 Runner board. Good luck, at least it may give you ideas and an alternative.
I am in Richmond, VA and have had my bluestone limited two weeks. I really took my time negotiating as well as checking on the web for dealers in my general area and region to see what their prices were. I ended up finally getting 9% off the sticker and then my trade, which worked really good. If you look on the web and go to www.toyota.com and then do a dealer search in the state of NC you will find that some of the dealers post their inventory along with prices, which are still negotiable. I really love my HL and enjoying it. Wish you luck and know you can do better than MSRP!! Just do your homework.
Hello, My parents are looking to get a Highlander and we live in Canada. Did you subscribe to any of the services that give the invoice and/or actual dealer prices (CarcostCanada, APA, etc...)? How did you approach it with the salesman?
I recently purchased a 4 cl AL from Burlington Toyota on Guelph Line. I am expecting delivery the second week of June. I went to the three local dealers:Oakville, Burlington, and Upper Hamilton and showed all of them the invoice price which is a hair over $3000.00 less than the MSRP of $31,900 CAN. Without any haggling, I was offered at least a $1500-$1900 discount when I quoted this profit margin. Burlington Toyota got my business because they were courteous and confident in their ability to beat the others. They sent me to the other dealerships first for a test drive and quote and asked me to stop by their dealership last, indicating we'll beat ANY quote you get. Well, they did (by how much, is my business-haven't taken delivery yet!). The salesperson there is Patti McRoberts.
FYI, I got the invoice prices from CarCost Canada and am confident that the $40 cost to get 6 quotes saved me at least 10 times that over the best deal I would have had without the invoice prices (it's cheaper to get fewer quotes). It's amazing what an official printout with the "CarCost Canada" logo and a little homework can do!
Good Luck!
Oh by the way, when I test drove the 2WD 4 cyl HL, I loaded up 830 lbs of people and cases of water, turned the A/C on high, and went up a 6% grade at 130 kp/h on cruise without any sluggishness or the tranny kicking down. I could even accelerate and pass people on the way up while I went up to 140 kp/h (all in the interest of automotive research of course..)This powertrain setup (2WD/4 cyl) is under-rated and more than adequate for urban/suburban driving needs if you can admit to yourself that you're buying an economical, tall station wagon and not a boulder basher 4x4.
Thanks for the update on a potential service bulletin for the wind noise problem. We will anxiously await more information. In the meantime we continue to "whistle" down the road.
I also used CanadaCarCost and was very frank with the salesman. He took it well (was not surprised) and we promptly offered 4% over invoice (which he accepted) or approx $2,200CDN below MSRP for the 6cyl AWD HL. Came to $36,900CDN including GST. Think I got a pretty good deal.
Just email me and I will tell you who I bought mine from and the dealer here in Richmond, and some other interesting things....Could not find your email address in your profile. If you click the marcjay it will tell you my email address.
Thanks to all those who shared their Cdn prices. After a few dealerships I finally purchased my v6 4x4 non limited Highlander for 40 900 Cdn includes 895 Fr&PDI 100 tire tax 400 gas tax (Ontario) GST PST
Probably not the greatest, but a good starting point.
Thanks shafty and others for the Cdn invoice/pricing. We start to deal with invoice and MSRP ! What a big change. Any more Cdn pricing please post. Thanks again,
baboonus according to my quick calculation, yours is approx. Cdn$3,000 less. I'm in Toronto, would you mind to tell us where is your dealer ? I don'y notice that we have to pay $400 for gas tax, what is that ? Thanks
Thanks for all the posts on the passenger side rattle. I too have the rattle and I took apart the glove box liner looking for the rattle somewhere inside that dash and saw nothing that was obviously causing it. I did discover that the glove box light was not working at all and I have scheduled to take to the dealer friday so they can order the part. I will go tonight and examine the latch and cover and see if the rattle is any of those items. If not, I will let the dealer play with it friday.
I am not sure if this is the imfamous glove box rattle that everyone seems to be experiencing but I discovered that I had a slight rattle from that area recently. I found that the plastic piece that the key for the glove box goes into was loose and vibrating. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the glove box door. Seems to have fixed the problem. Hope this helps.
Just for those people interested, I to used CarCostCanada also...worked like a charm...lowballed at 4% and settled for 5% over cost. Make sure they don't add any hidden costs, admin fees, etc. - the only extra fees are: air conditioning tax $100, freight&pdi which varies region to region, and tire tax (at least in prov of N.S.)...Good luck to all!!
Any comments by those people having problems with that annoying wind whistle.. as stated in my previous post, I believe it is coming from the front driver corner of the moon roof. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
I was told by the dealer (and verified by the Ontario Ministry of transporstion) that vechiles are subject to a Gas Tax. How it works is that if your new car is easy on gas then you get a rebate, if your car is heavy on gas, then you get charged an extra gas tax. The Gas Tax on my V6 highlander is 400$. To get the best deal I went out of toun (1 hour drive) where the dealers are more anxious to deal than the ones in the city. I live in Ottawa. I calculated that i only got ~2000 less MSRP but no bogus charges.
I don't believe the wind howl comes from the moonroof on my HL. Does anyone WITHOUT a moonroof get the noise? Do you suppose it is possible that the noise comes from different places on different HLs? Many of the HLs around here have a PIO plastic wind deflector in front of the moonroof (mine doesn't). Does anyone with the wind deflector get the howl?
A Nebraska dealer in a previous post says the noise appears to be from the door seals. We had a strong wind today, so I got the howl constantly coming home from work. Opening the moonroof didn't stop it. Opening any window but the driver's window didn't stop it. Opening the driver's window just a crack changed the pitch but didn't stop it. Opening the driver's window all the way stopped the howl. I concluded that the howl seems to come from the seal at the top of the driver's door. I think I may try lubricating the door seal tomorrow to see if that has any effect.
Participants on this forum have been so helpful to me with HL info, so I thought I'd add my impressions after 1500 miles. Mine is a V6 Ltd with almost all options except the console.
- I love the open space between the seats and probably would not be tempted even by a "serious" center console.
- After breakin period, I took a 400 mile trip which included high-speed interstate (75-80 mph) and about 50 miles of sometimes rough dirt road. Gas mileage (figured both manually and by HL computer) was almost 24 mpg.
- Vehicle feels incredibly stable even at high speed and in very strong cross winds.
- Have not experienced the loud high-speed whistle, even in very strong head and cross winds. Sometimes I do hear a very quiet whistle between about 30-40 mph only. Can only hear it if all windows are closed while on a very quiet street. If the sunroof is open, the whistle is a bit louder.
- The HL ride is outstanding on all surfaces, and the seats are very comfortable even on long trips.
- My son complains that there is not a reading light built into the rear seat area (he likes to read on long car trips) like in the Explorer we traded, but otherwise he gives the accommodations a thumbs up!
- My 80 yr-old parents think getting in and out is easy and that the backseat legroom is wonderful.
- I wish the front map lights masked any other light coming into the cabin, so that if the passenger needs to read a map or directions, etc. the light would not bother the driver
- I wish the window controls were lighted.
- My wife loves driving the HL compared with the Explorer. She says it feels much more controlable and comfortable.
- The most difficult thing is to look at the HL parked in the garage, because it begs to be driven.
I live near Pittsburgh, pa and am looking for a fwd highlander. However, all available units here seem to be coming into the dealerships with fwd only. Is anyone out there from the columbus, oh area. If so, have you seen any front wheel drive models around town. also, is it true that the 6cylinder HL must run on Premium gas only?
Hi chipperrrrr. Regarding the use of Premium gas only, the answer is no. The owner's manual recommends (but doesn't require) an octane of 91, but most everyone here and even most dealerships are using 87. Some have weighed the additional expense of premium gas versus the suggested additional performance and possible gas mileage gain, but to me the HL seems plenty potent running on standard unleaded. Some here have also made the point that when using 87 octane there is no pinging. Others have contended that because of the sophisticated fuel contol system on the HL, any conditions which might produce "pinging" in most other engines are offset by the HL computer manipulating the timing, etc. Just my thoughts...
Regarding the availability of 2wd or 4wd HLs, generally the 2wds are more prevalent in the southern states where weather conditions usually don't warrant the need for a 4wd vehicle.
Am I the first? About a week ago, I got a postcard from Restoration Hardware stating that Toyota was giving me a $75 gift certificate good at any of their stores. Well, it's true. In the mail today, I received the gift certificate along with a cover letter from Toyota and the Summer catalog. Nice touch, eh?
Unless they changed it on the newer models, the glove box light works only when the headlights (not the driving lights) are on. I will verify this tomorrow at work.
PA is in the same region I sell Toyotas in. The 2WD is VERY hard to get. I just sold one that took 3 weeks to get. I have had other inquiries about them but the supply is dwindling very rapidly and I talked them into a 4WD. OH is in a different region and you may have better luck there.
With 6000 miles, a bottle of black touch-up paint, and multiple rock chips on the front 3-4 inches of the hood, I decided to install a hood protector. I think I paid about $81 at the dealer for the hood protector, and it was simple to install.
If anyone is thinking about buying one, I highly recommend it. It also significantly reduces the amount of bug splatter on the windshield at highway speeds. I have not noticed any significant reduction in milage either. Plus, the "smoke" colored plastic looks great on my black HL.
Thanks, I found that out last night while trying to trace and fix the infamous glove box/passenger side rattle which I have struck out trying to solve. I have done about everything others have suggested and when I think I have it licked it comes back. The glove box light threw me because on all my previous cars the switch inside the glove box controls the light not putting on your headlights. It makes me wonder why have the switch in the glove box at all, it doesn't control anything then. For the other folks, I got my gift certificate yesterday from Toyota, purchased my Highlander May 1st.
v6 awd with Bridgestone Dueler H/T 687, notice both front tires wearing on outer and inner edges, scuffing-saw tooth patterns around 1500 miles, dealer checked the alignment and tell me to go see the bridgestone tire dealer, Tire dealer says its an alignment problem go see the toyota dealer and request a printout of the alignment readings, notice another highlander this weekend with the same tire wear problem on the front tires, Anyone else seeing this problem with their highlander?
The 4WDs are scarce as hen's teeth in Southern California, and most 4WDs lately have been Limiteds. It just goes to show you that regions will request and order what they see sells faster and more easily. The key to the orders is what's called a TVO. Toyota Vehicle Order sheet. There's a monthly or every-other-month meeting where certain dealers put their 2 cents worth in about what's coming, how cars are built and what the "travel rate" is. Travel rate is the time of the car's arrival to the dealership to the time it's RDR'ed (reported sold, date-wise)... The travel rate for certain models, ie. 4WDs vs 2WDs vs Limited vs. 4cyl vs. V6 lightly equipped vs. loaded... all of that is an indicator to the dealers bestowed with the decisions of what to order of precisely that: what to order! They have to do this a few months in advance so fine-tuning a model and features takes time at the introduction of a car.
I took my Highlander on a trip last weekend, and again experienced the wind noise. The noise is not your typical whistle that you usually hear. This noise is more like a vibrating humming sound. As soon as I heard it I opened the moonroof, noise continued. I then opened the windows, still got the noise. You will know when you hear this noise because it gets your attention. It only seems to occurr during cross winds and it sounds like it's coming from the top of the windshield. I read the post about the door seals, but I don't understand how the door seals could be the problem, since they are flush and not part of the "A" pillar or top of the roof like on some other models. I have a little over 2200 miles on my HL (Limited V6 4WD) and other than this noise, I have no complaints.
Before the story, thanks to all of you posting info, and especially Dianne Whitmire of Carson Toyota and Cliffy for keeping me better informed than any of the sales reps I've met in person.
We bought a 4WD 6cyl Limited HL on a Saturday with 8 mis on it in the Pacific Northwest. By the time we got it home with 30 mis on it, there was a definite problem with smoke coming in the vents of the passenger compartment, and oil coming out the bottom. Called dealer Sunday, no response. Called Monday, they towed it back. I said, "new, different car please", they said, "no we'll fix it, we never replace". They diagnosed it as a bad filter seal requiring a new cylinder head. (As an aside here, my previous experiences with dealer-based Toyota mechanics have been just awful) The Service (and customer satisfaction rep.) said the GM was the only person who could authorize a replacement. It took a couple of days, but the GM eventually agreed to replace after he confirmed he would not lose any money because the original car could be sold as "new" if a Toyota mechanic replaced the defective part with an original Toyota part. I don't know if the car went back to Toyota (what the GM was trying to orchestrate) or is out on a lot.
The dealer ordered a replacement car, which I didn't wait for because he found a match locally much sooner. Had a new car 10 days later. The dealer then insisted on using the old (now backdated) paperwork. The original deal occured in a previous fiscal quarter, so I see their incentive for a collateral exchange rather than new paper. After getting no, no, no, on requests to not pay (a very minor) financing fee during that 10 day period, the GM relented.
Speaking of financial matters, check your paperwork carefully before you sign... the finance rep. originally presented us with papers with a price more than $2K over what was negotiated.
I learned a few important things along the way. First, I came extremely close to picking up a car outside my region... didn't because of a good trade-in scenario. This problem would have been resolvable with a car shipped to me, but harder. Second, the maxim in cars that if you drive away with a signed contract "it's yours" is not quite right. Under the uniform consumer code, you have a right of rejection if operation is required to make a reasonable inspection. Operation is required with mechanical aspects of cars to "inspect" them. The grey area is how long an immediate "inspection" can last. Third, the timing of turning both of the "no's" to "yes's" coincided with the dealer receiving a complaint number from Toyota of America regarding my inquiry about how to proceed with them. If you have troubles, especially early on, I'd recommend you call Toyota's customer service # and write down your case #. The issue is forwarded immediately to your dealer. The dealers apparently don't like having these unresolved.
My impression is that the dealership (and Toyota) know they're at the bottom of the barrel in customer satisfaction ratings of dealers. Whereas the dealer's instincts are to rely on the cheezeball approaches that earned them that distinction in the first place, I think they are genuinely trying to improve the perception. It's not entirely natural for them yet. It worked to work with them... but I was never sure.
Now a couple weeks later, I'm happy to say I've got a great car with no problems and no regrets.
Have you seen the latest issue of "Car and Driver"? It pits the HL against the Ford Explorer and Chevy Tahoe. Based on terms of overall satisfaction, give the edge to the highlander (chevy 2nd). It was pretty interesting seeing those 3 being compared side by side.
Comments
I ordered my HL March 27 and expect deliver within sixty days from now. If the Center console I order is not there when I pick up the car I will be dissapointed.
I hope I can find a after market console if I can get one to fit.
I previously owned a 93 Lexus SC400 with only one cup holder. Enough people complained and there it was on the 94-two cup holders.
I am having a difficult time securely fastening the car seat in the center position of the rear seat. It appears that the seat belt receiver in the center position is longer than the two side positions and that is why I can not tightly secure the seat.
Another contributing factor may the the firmness of the rear seats. Difficult to compress when tightening the belt.
Has anyone had similar experiences? Not sure if this makes a difference in seat firmness/belt design, but we have leather interior.
As far as the console goes, I happen to have one but wish I didn't. For those complaining that they don't, and can't get one, IMHO you are fortunate. I don't much care for the Toytota console in the HL. I personally like the Toyota floor mounted cupholders better (my Sienna has them) and also prefer not to have the console in the way, although storage for CDs, etc. becomes a problem. Some of the aftermarket consoles look like a better deal to me, though I haven't tried any of them. Toyota definitely needs to redesign the factory console.
Someone asked about an add-on adjustable cupholder that can fit in the HLs console. I saw one at Walmart recently, but haven't tried it. It had thumb-screw adjustable wedges on the bottom to fit into a cupholder and clamp tight, but could also be used to clamp on to something. It appeared to be pretty versatile. The top bezel rotated easily to adjust the cupholder size. It even had a little LED light so you could see where to set the cup at night. I am not sure if it will fit into the HL console's fold down cupholders (which are pretty small), but if it does it might be the answer. One problem would be that if you use it I am sure it would cover the second cupholder, so you would only have one available. Has anyone tried one of these?
It came with a center console installed which the salesman claimed it's from Toyota.
One problem I have is this somewhat high pitched noise from the front area of the car when the ignition key is inserted without starting the engine. When I turn the key to "ON" position, and turn back to "ACC", the sound stops with a clicking sound. It sounds like it has something to do with the electrical system being activated. The sound will continue as long as I have the key on "ON" position.
Once I start the engine, it's hard to tell whether the noise stop because of the egnine sound. Does anyone know if this is normal?
look at sam's club.
http://www.canineauto.com/seatcoverssgc.htm#st
As for Canadian pricing (pchiu). I did a lot of research and had to do alot of bargaining but I got the LTD (in Canada this is fully loaded) for
cost - 40 438$
5% mark up - 2022$
PDI/Frieght - 1000$
Air tax - 100$
Tire tax - 15$
Total - 43 575$ (plus I paid extra for a cargo net, bike rack and hood deflector).
I hope this helps.
John
Any info would be appreciated.
I live in New England, and paid a little short of MSRP, but that was several months ago ... I think the price has fallen some since then.
I bought from Autobytel.com and was well satisfied with the arrangement, although another Toyota dealer was closer to home. But he was totally unwilling to deal at all.
I suspect a big factor is if the dealer has the vehicle you want in stock. They will make a much better offer on one in stock, rather than find another, arrange a trade, and transport two vehicles.
Good luck ... you cannot go wrong.
As you read other post, you will see that some have "fretted" about the center console(or lack there of), "popping" sounds, and a high speed, cross wind "buzz." Of the three, the buzz is the only issue I am interested. My V6, 4WD, unlimited does not have a console and I like that just fine. Living in New England, it has yet to become hot, so I have not heard the popping sound. I suspect that is expansion and contraction. Otherwise, I think the HL is a wonderfully engineered and constructed vehicle. I am completely satisfied with Toyota's fit, finish, performance and economy.
Happy HL'ing to all.
My parents are looking to get a Highlander and we live in Canada. Did you subscribe to any of the services that give the invoice and/or actual dealer prices (CarcostCanada, APA, etc...)? How did you approach it with the salesman?
Thanks,
Lyall
FYI, I got the invoice prices from CarCost Canada and am confident that the $40 cost to get 6 quotes saved me at least 10 times that over the best deal I would have had without the invoice prices (it's cheaper to get fewer quotes). It's amazing what an official printout with the "CarCost Canada" logo and a little homework can do!
Good Luck!
Oh by the way, when I test drove the 2WD 4 cyl HL, I loaded up 830 lbs of people and cases of water, turned the A/C on high, and went up a 6% grade at 130 kp/h on cruise without any sluggishness or the tranny kicking down. I could even accelerate and pass people on the way up while I went up to 140 kp/h (all in the interest of automotive research of course..)This powertrain setup (2WD/4 cyl) is under-rated and more than adequate for urban/suburban driving needs if you can admit to yourself that you're buying an economical, tall station wagon and not a boulder basher 4x4.
includes 895 Fr&PDI
100 tire tax
400 gas tax (Ontario)
GST
PST
Probably not the greatest, but a good starting point.
Thanks again,
TOPIC: Tues., May 29th "Cell phones: are hand-held bans enough?"
Any comments by those people having problems with that annoying wind whistle.. as stated in my previous post, I believe it is coming from the front driver corner of the moon roof. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
To get the best deal I went out of toun (1 hour drive) where the dealers are more anxious to deal than the ones in the city. I live in Ottawa.
I calculated that i only got ~2000 less MSRP but no bogus charges.
A Nebraska dealer in a previous post says the noise appears to be from the door seals. We had a strong wind today, so I got the howl constantly coming home from work. Opening the moonroof didn't stop it. Opening any window but the driver's window didn't stop it. Opening the driver's window just a crack changed the pitch but didn't stop it. Opening the driver's window all the way stopped the howl. I concluded that the howl seems to come from the seal at the top of the driver's door. I think I may try lubricating the door seal tomorrow to see if that has any effect.
- I love the open space between the seats and probably would not be tempted even by a "serious" center console.
- After breakin period, I took a 400 mile trip which included high-speed interstate (75-80 mph) and about 50 miles of sometimes rough dirt road. Gas mileage (figured both manually and by HL computer) was almost 24 mpg.
- Vehicle feels incredibly stable even at high speed and in very strong cross winds.
- Have not experienced the loud high-speed whistle, even in very strong head and cross winds. Sometimes I do hear a very quiet whistle between about 30-40 mph only. Can only hear it if all windows are closed while on a very quiet street. If the sunroof is open, the whistle is a bit louder.
- The HL ride is outstanding on all surfaces, and the seats are very comfortable even on long trips.
- My son complains that there is not a reading light built into the rear seat area (he likes to read on long car trips) like in the Explorer we traded, but otherwise he gives the accommodations a thumbs up!
- My 80 yr-old parents think getting in and out is easy and that the backseat legroom is wonderful.
- I wish the front map lights masked any other light coming into the cabin, so that if the passenger needs to read a map or directions, etc. the light would not bother the driver
- I wish the window controls were lighted.
- My wife loves driving the HL compared with the Explorer. She says it feels much more controlable and comfortable.
- The most difficult thing is to look at the HL parked in the garage, because it begs to be driven.
Regarding the availability of 2wd or 4wd HLs, generally the 2wds are more prevalent in the southern states where weather conditions usually don't warrant the need for a 4wd vehicle.
If anyone is thinking about buying one, I highly recommend it. It also significantly reduces the amount of bug splatter on the windshield at highway speeds. I have not noticed any significant reduction in milage either. Plus, the "smoke" colored plastic looks great on my black HL.
notice both front tires wearing on outer and inner edges, scuffing-saw tooth patterns around 1500 miles, dealer checked the alignment and tell me to go see the bridgestone tire dealer, Tire dealer says its an alignment problem go see the toyota dealer and request a printout of the alignment readings, notice another highlander this weekend with the same tire wear problem on the front tires, Anyone else seeing this problem with their highlander?
The travel rate for certain models, ie. 4WDs vs 2WDs vs Limited vs. 4cyl vs. V6 lightly equipped vs. loaded... all of that is an indicator to the dealers bestowed with the decisions of what to order of precisely that: what to order! They have to do this a few months in advance so fine-tuning a model and features takes time at the introduction of a car.
-Ret
As soon as I heard it I opened the moonroof, noise continued. I then opened the windows, still got the noise. You will know when you hear this noise because it gets your attention. It only seems to occurr during cross winds and it sounds like it's coming from the top of the windshield. I read the post about the door seals, but I don't understand how the door seals could be the problem, since they are flush and not part of the "A" pillar or top of the roof like on some other models. I have a little over 2200 miles on my HL (Limited V6 4WD) and other than this noise, I have no complaints.
We bought a 4WD 6cyl Limited HL on a Saturday with 8 mis on it in the Pacific Northwest. By the time we got it home with 30 mis on it, there was a definite problem with smoke coming in the vents of the passenger compartment, and oil coming out the bottom. Called dealer Sunday, no response. Called Monday, they towed it back. I said, "new, different car please", they said, "no we'll fix it, we never replace". They diagnosed it as a bad filter seal requiring a new cylinder head. (As an aside here, my previous experiences with dealer-based Toyota mechanics have been just awful) The Service (and customer satisfaction rep.) said the GM was the only person who could authorize a replacement. It took a couple of days, but the GM eventually agreed to replace after he confirmed he would not lose any money because the original car could be sold as "new" if a Toyota mechanic replaced the defective part with an original Toyota part. I don't know if the car went back to Toyota (what the GM was trying to orchestrate) or is out on a lot.
The dealer ordered a replacement car, which I didn't wait for because he found a match locally much sooner. Had a new car 10 days later. The dealer then insisted on using the old (now backdated) paperwork. The original deal occured in a previous fiscal quarter, so I see their incentive for a collateral exchange rather than new paper. After getting no, no, no, on requests to not pay (a very minor) financing fee during that 10 day period, the GM relented.
Speaking of financial matters, check your paperwork carefully before you sign... the finance rep. originally presented us with papers with a price more than $2K over what was negotiated.
I learned a few important things along the way. First, I came extremely close to picking up a car outside my region... didn't because of a good trade-in scenario. This problem would have been resolvable with a car shipped to me, but harder. Second, the maxim in cars that if you drive away with a signed contract "it's yours" is not quite right. Under the uniform consumer code, you have a right of rejection if operation is required to make a reasonable inspection. Operation is required with mechanical aspects of cars to "inspect" them. The grey area is how long an immediate "inspection" can last. Third, the timing of turning both of the "no's" to "yes's" coincided with the dealer receiving a complaint number from Toyota of America regarding my inquiry about how to proceed with them. If you have troubles, especially early on, I'd recommend you call Toyota's customer service # and write down your case #. The issue is forwarded immediately to your dealer. The dealers apparently don't like having these unresolved.
My impression is that the dealership (and Toyota) know they're at the bottom of the barrel in customer satisfaction ratings of dealers. Whereas the dealer's instincts are to rely on the cheezeball approaches that earned them that distinction in the first place, I think they are genuinely trying to improve the perception. It's not entirely natural for them yet. It worked to work with them... but I was never sure.
Now a couple weeks later, I'm happy to say I've got a great car with no problems and no regrets.