Toyota Highlander

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Comments

  • capnkirkcapnkirk Member Posts: 10
    I am a sorta satisfied Highlander owner. I got a gold Limited V-6 back in March. Have almost 7,000 miles in all kinds of weather and road conditions. I average 22-23.5 MPG, depending on the duity. Rain, snow, ice, dirt and mud, I have no complaints about handling, although I am reluctant to take it 4-wheeling in the desert.
    The reason I am only sorta satisfied, is the lack of responsiveness on the part of Toyota USA and the local dealers. I had to travel almost 500 miles to find a dealer who would consider anything below MSRP for the vehicle. I am very satisfied with my treatment by Parker Toyota. I just wish I didn’t have to go so far to find a responsive dealer. But hey, they were $1500 cheaper and threw in complementary ski passes!
    My HL was pre-center console, and I admit that I’m a clutter bug. Those flat floors are great for skidding CDs, wallets and ID badges way under the seats and other places that they are hard to find. I was thrilled to find that Toyota now has consoles available. The two local dealers said they weren’t available, but you’ll find them under part # PT413-69010-(04 for Ivory, 14 for Charcoal). My gripe is $199 for a piece of second rate molded plastic. Steelhorse and a number of others make far superior (closing) consoles for $59-79. Look for models that fit the Jeep Wrangler. The $3 organizer at Wal-Mart is better than the Toyota offering!
    Dealer service on the whistling door, popping interior and rattling glove box is no better. The dealer swears that I am the only buyer who has ever reported these problems (they haven’t attempted a fix yet).
    None of these problems is a fatal flaw in the HL. The pops and rattles aren’t that loud and the whistle only happened once so far. Overall it is still a nice vehicle, fun to drive and comfortable, even for a 6’-3" guy. But for $30K, I expect something better from Toyota USA and those fancy dealers. The local dealers feel no obligation, because I traveled across state to make my purchase. I took them the deal and offered to let them match it… Toyota USA is a joke to try to get anything out of. Try to contact them through their web site.

    Last word for potential buyers- If you don’t have any problems, you’ll love the car. If you need to get it serviced at the dealership- Good luck!
  • rutger3rutger3 Member Posts: 361
    I love the Highlander.It is great looking,well made,of course new,good room,nicely engineered,decent on gas and not overpriced. However,they are a real pain to obtain,at least the way I want it,4 cyl,2wd,quick order pkg,roof rack. And of course you cannot get one with side air bags,and if you do find one,not many dealers want to deal. This is partially Toyotas fault not making enough. Well I also like the Mazda MPV and so does my wife who would be the primary driver. We would also use it for vacations with my 2 kids.
    It is almost the same size as the HL,has that neat disappearing 3rd seat,side bags,and with rebates would be about $2500 less,and is available. We both like the HL and the MPV. I have researched the HL for several months now. Just got interested in the MPV when the HL became hard to find. If we got the MPV would we be disappointed not having the new HL? If we got the HL by ordering,would we miss the 3rd seat and money savings of the MPV? Should we wait for the 2002 models to arrive? Will more HL's be available? Will Mazda put a better engine in the new model? Will I ever get a life? This is frustrating?
  • freinselfreinsel Member Posts: 1
    Just started to shop for the HL. Seems to me that since this thing is a fwd SUV bodied 'Camry' that the 2wd version will work just fine on wet or slick roads. Is there a real justfication for the awd? No one will really take this thing off the road will they? Its not a sports sedan that needs awd for better handling. Does it drive better/worse? Opinions?
  • xcarnutxcarnut Member Posts: 81
    Fellow HL owners, do any of you have the misfotune of getting the DLX ETR CD combo ?
    This is an awfully bad unit for a 30K vehicle. Does anyone out there have upgraded this std 3in 1 combo head unit with another ? If yes, what type did you get, any recommendations ? What about the speakers, ugrade make any difference any help would be appreciated.
    BTW: I have just got the HL 3 days back and love this thing. Except for the wind buffeting with the rear windows down, it is an excellent SUV.
  • gunga64gunga64 Member Posts: 271
    We seem to be in the same boat I too am either going to get a mpv or highlander.

    To me its really tough, the mpv for me is 3500-4000 cheaper and comes with everything I want.

    The highlander is pretty and very good in all catagories I want, the dealers here in florida look like they are begging for buyers but even at lowest cost is over 3500 more then the mpv.

    I was wondering if MPV was still goign to offer the 1500 rebate after july 9th. I wont have all my money ready till the 17th and may miss some of the rebate. Since they have had at least a 1k rebate on it for over a year, I guess it should still be there after the 9th. If they dispose of some of the rebate I would be more inclined to go with the HL.

    I would trust the reliablity of the HL before I would trust the MPV but the 3500-4000 discount takes care of that for the most part. The room in the MPV is very impressive.

    As far as waiting till the 2002 come out I would'nt. We bought an acura and paid 12.5k for it the next year it came out was 17k

    As far as I know both the HL and MPV will be the same in 2002, there is a lot of talk about the MPV getting upgraded but I can't believe the rumors much. 200hp engine and 5 speed auto instead of 4. But the price will rise a lot I would think, that would make a better reason to buy the HL.
  • gunga64gunga64 Member Posts: 271
    Man you guys are nuts to pay 30k for the HL, I'm sorry you cant put enough garbage in this think to make me want to buy it for that much.

    You pay 30k then complain about the noise coming from the windows. You basically have 8k worth of options in a 22k auto.

    Maybe I'm being mean sorry if I sound that way.
  • dshenmdyndshenmdyn Member Posts: 34
    I am on the west coast. It seems most of the dealers at here only have those loaded Highlanders. I agree with previous post that the whole purpose of getting a highlander vs a RX300 is NOT to have those gadgets and get a low price.

    Anyone has ever buy a V6 2WD Highlander with only options like Side Airbag and Convience Package?

    It seems the dealer always order those with either limited package or those high priced Appearance package. Those will jack up the price very quickly to close 30K.
  • tbuchtatbuchta Member Posts: 43
    There are many folks who have bought the HL with awd, v6 and pretty loaded for less than 30k.

    Its not hard to figure if you go about it objectively, your are getting a Lexus/Toyota quality vehicle that has so far pretty much dominated its competitors (ford escape/tribute, new blazer/explorer) in trade magazine reviews. And those reviews really dont take into account the quality materials and engineering that is reflected in the top reliability ratings that Toyota gets from folks like Consumer Reports, JD Power etc.

    Finally, while a perfect record would be great, I would much rather be reading about wind noise being the major problem cited in almost 3000 posts, than the recalls and owner comments involving, steering, fuel leaks, suspension, steering linkage etc that you can read about in the ford/gm posts on their new suvs....
  • chadhburkechadhburke Member Posts: 27
    I, too, am sorry you feel the HL is a $22k car with $8k of options. It sounds like you are probably happy with the stripped down American made sedan you probably purchased. Nothing wrong with that. But we're all here to share our thoughts and experiences with the new HL, so if you are more interested in hauling garbage maybe you should check out the classifieds for a new career.

    If anyone does their homework they will find that a fully loaded HL (which is what I own) has a dealer invoice cost of around $30k. I don't have the actual number in front of me but I'm darn close. Naturally one would be very fortunate to purchase a new, loaded HL for invoice cost. I wasn't that lucky, but maybe gunga64 negotiated his new auto down to dealer cost.

    The $64k question is what your definition of value is. For me, the HL, a midsize SUV, has almost as much if not MORE cargo space than the Grand Cherokee, Blazer, or Explorer. Fully loaded Grand Cherokees and Explorers, at least when I was shopping, were well over $30k. About the only thing the HL lacked was less towing capacity, but hey, 3500 lbs is enough for me. I won't even talk about quality and attention to detail, of which the HL is far superior to any of the other vehicles we looked at.

    Granted the wind noise is a problem that I acknowledge, and based on the mixed feedback on this board it doesn't "sound" like a design flaw. I expect a solution from Toyota soon.

    In most cases, one gets what he pays for. Based on the laws of supply and demand I got a great deal for my HL. I paid dealer invoice for a great vehicle plus a slight premium for the "option" of owning it now.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    gunga64-are you serious? how is the HL a $22K vehicle? its a frekin modified RX Lex.. the way I see it, its paying $30-34K for a $42K vehicle. which SUV do you suggest spending 30 large on?

    Did you read Car and Driver's most recent (July 2001 issue?) It was rated as one of the 5 Best Trucks, and it beat out a new TrailBlazer and Explorer in the May issue.
  • dshenmdyndshenmdyn Member Posts: 34
    If someone wants to spend close to 30K, why not get a Lexus.

    Is it Toyota's idea that Highlander should be something less expensive than a RX300?

    Sure, HL is larger than RX300, but with Lexus, one might get better serive and warranty. I remember someone on this forumn made it very clear from very early on that Highland will be a much more reasonable choice if one buy it without much options.

    Maybe saying HL is 22K vehicle is somewhat overkill, but the base price for V6 2WD is only 25K. Options added from that to 30K will make a HL almost a RX300 in contents.

    Don't get me wrong, I 100% agree that at any price, HL is still a much better choice that anything else available from the big three and Mazda.

    One more thing, it is sad to know paying ~$200 (or maybe included in some package) to get the roof-rack only leads to the wind noise problem. Hope Toyota will fix it soon.
  • xcarnutxcarnut Member Posts: 81
    gungadin you must be joking if you think 30k is too much for a SUV built as well as it is. There is nothing out there in that size, with safety, reliability, and quality. If mine holds up as well as my other Toyotas have, this thing won't make my mechanic rich of me. Don't forget to add in the cost of repairs and towing charges to your mechanic with the domestic models in a comparable SUV. All of my Toyotas have gone past 150K with a respectable resale value to boot. Most other SUVs and cars not only experience major mechanical breakdowns but have lot of little annoying problems like power accessories won't work, etc..
    Then, what value do you place on safety, take a look at both the NHTSA.gov and/or IIHS.org to see how well HL/RX perform in the tests. These things are next best recommendation to ML from Mercedes and BMW X series. Which cost far above 30K and do not have the reliability to boot.
  • ted83ted83 Member Posts: 21
    We bought our AL (V6, 2WD, on-Limited) last Tuesday night and love it so far. We are in the Atlanta area and got $500 over invoice at the Stone Mon dealership. That came to about 27.5K per tax. I was very pleased with that deal. Of course we took less for our trade than I wanted, so they probably made up the difference there.

    It does make the "thumping" air noise that some here have mentioned, if you drive with the back windows down and the fronts up. But I have had other cars that did the same thing.

    Ours came with the fender flares. They are not mentioned on the Toyota web site or the brochure or anywhere else I've seen, but they are a very nice looking option. I think they only come on the on-Limited because they replace the mudguards.

    On other thing, the salesman showed us the dealer invoice (assuming it was legit.) All the invoice prices matched the ones shown here on Edmunds.
  • ted83ted83 Member Posts: 21
    I hit the 'check spelling' button before posting my msg and it goofed some things up.

    'AL' should be 'HL'
    'on-Limited' should be 'non-Limited'
    'Mon' should be 'Mtn'

    Oh well...
  • tdattdat Member Posts: 27
    rflou, the mounting hardware arrived yesterday along with installation instruction. Installation was not too hard although sliding the hitch between the muffler and the frame on the passenger side was tricky. There was a metal flap(?) to protect the underside from the hot muffler that got in the way of tightening one of the screws.

    Overall, I'm happy with the way it looks after the installation.

    FYI, the mounting kit came with two washers for each bolts.
  • rutger3rutger3 Member Posts: 361
    xcarnut, you need to be careful thinking that the HL will do just as well as the RX300. The HL is mechanically similair to RX,but it is styled differently and weighs less. It will probably do well ,but until it is actually tested by NHTSA or IIHS,you cannot be certain. Does anyone know when it will be tested? Also, it is a Toyota and probably will be very reliable,but until real world data comes in,we can't be sure. A thought,will the resale values on the 2001's be lower than other years due to being first year of production? Will toyota ever admit a wind noise problem and fix it,or is this just an isolated batch of bad material? Will they be smart and increase production in 2002,or hold back to create an 'artificial demand'.
  • korolkorol Member Posts: 2
    Any advice from existing owners.

    I am considering purchasing either a Rendezvous or a Toyota Highlander.

    Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am nervous that both my selections are 1st year models and I have always been told to avoid the first year

    Thanks

    Steve
  • gunga64gunga64 Member Posts: 271
    I was mostlly commenting on the whinning I heard on the board about some wind noise in a 30k suv, a very minor problem. The invoice price on the HL 6 cylinder I'm looking at is 23,600 your right unless you get the 4 cylinder its not 22k. I go by invoice, and work my way up not from MSRP and work down. I consider it a good deal in the high 23's or low 24's. I don't care how hot they say these things are, there's always competion and I see a ton of them on the lot.. MSRP on a Sequoia is 31k at some point its worth just getting one of those instead of a HL.

    I own an Acura and a Toyota, not so called american cars, I don't consider them hauling garbage. You are also correct I have gotten one dealer down to 500.00 over invoice for a 4 cylinder HL. But decided to look into a 6.
  • jeffmust2jeffmust2 Member Posts: 811
    Steve,

    Don't mention a first-year product like the Rendezvous with a Highlander. GM has a poor history with first year models, even with the Buick sharing parts and production lines with the infamous Pontiac Aztek, another major GM failure.

    The HL is built in the same Japanese plant (at least the current models) with the Lexus RX300 which has been in production for several years. You might have some minor glitches with the HL, but nothing like the potential nightmare over at GM. They're in the same dismal QC ballpark with Chrysler and Ford.

    On the other hand, you could go for a first-year Hyundai Santa Fe; their owners report just a few blown engines, wheels falling off, pieces of the roof rack constantly flying off in car washes, etc. Even with a long term warranty on the drive train, and the fact that Hyundai is trying harder this time around, its apparent their QC and standards are not quite up to the better products from Japan. Maybe in a few years, eh GT?

    Get the HL if it's in your price range and meets your required feature/benefit matrix.
  • jvkalrajvkalra Member Posts: 98
    I too looked at both, and decided to go for the MPV (expect to get one in late July). Factors that made my decision:
    1. Flexibility of 7 passenger seating
    2. Can get a fully loaded MPV with leather thru Cars Direct for about 24K. Even if I wanted the HL, Toyota loads up vehicles with lots of unnecessary "options", so it's impossible to find one that's sensibly equipped.
    3. Both the MPV and HL are made in Japan, where assembly and quality standards are very high
    4. MPV is supposed to be one of the top 20 selling vehicles in Japan. Japanese consumers won't buy if it's crap
    5. Checked out Consumerreview.com, where most new MPV owners are happy
    6. My understanding is that a 7 passenger HL may not be available till model year 2003, at the earliest (to compete with the Honda Passport)
    7. Only thing going for the HL is SUV/wagon styling, but this is a matter of personal taste/choice.
  • xcarnutxcarnut Member Posts: 81
    rutger3 - HL and RX are not exactly same but they do weigh close to each other about 50 pounds apart, as per Toyota web site, though that difference can be accounted for the types of options each SUV is equipped.
    I was using the assumption the weight is not significantly different and the chassis to be similar then it is safe to say the crash data is probably going to be similar.
    Your point is accurate the testing is not done therefore it is a presumption on my part HL will do just as well.
    I also, checked the data for the Sienna it received good score with the Sienna getting best pick in its class, which has the same basic chassis as the Camry. The HL utilizes the same chassis as well. Those were the consideration I took in to my desicion making process for the safety factor of HL.
  • lmsmedleylmsmedley Member Posts: 3
    We have a friend at Toyota HQ and asked him the same thing. Here's the deal: You are only going to find 4 Cylinders with certain specific options or fully loaded V6's. He searched the entire California system for us -- statewide -- and found NO Highlanders with side air bags or factory sunroofs. Choices are very limited in CA because that's what's rolling off the line. We are in the same boat.
  • toy_landertoy_lander Member Posts: 5
    I can't believe the number of posts regarding wind noise. There is no unusual wind noise I am tired of reading same thing over and over. You are not driving cars anymore; this is SUV type vehicle higher of the ground, bigger size. If you want to hear wind noise go drive the MDX. I have not noticed anything unusual and I drive maybe 15 different vehicles a year while traveling and renting them. Forget about wind noise.

    Bother way, I have non-Limited with side airbags, center console and rest of the options. Bought it upstate NY.
  • stratamarrstratamarr Member Posts: 2
    Thanks go out to all who post with great information. It has been a pleasure to keep updated as I went about selecting and waiting for my HL to arrive. I just took delivery Thursday night on a Bluestone HL 4WD V6 with SR BE TO UQ VD LL EJ LA HD SK CF. My "in" with the salesman was that I was a friend of a friend of the owner and supposedly got the inside price. I don't know about that, because I ended up paying $1,500 over invoice, which is within the range of what HLs are going for here in Massachusetts but possibly not the best price if I had waited until September. Inventory still is not as high as it could be and many loaded HLs (in demand) with the right color (read: not green) are disappearing from the lots. Just as well, I'm happy about the car and it drives like a dream. The only downside: I dont know how I did this, somehow driving it home from the dealer, I drove over a loose screw on the road and it penetrated the front tire. Looks as if someone did it on purpose it was so perfectly drilled in the tread! So I had to take it to the local shop and have it patched. Oh well. Happy driving.

    Greg
  • tfuzztfuzz Member Posts: 93
    toy_lander: Sorry you are tired of reading about the wind noise. A fortunate person are you not to have to deal with it. The wind noise I am referring to is not the normal sound of wind rushing by the vehicle. My HL is very quiet in that regard. The noise is a "reedy" noise that is so loud and irritating it renders the vehicle almost undriveable when the wind conditions are just right--which happens often out here on the Great Plains. I guarantee that if your HL has it (I suspect many others may have it and don't know it yet because they haven't driven in the right wind conditions) you won't be telling anyone to "forget about wind noise"--you'll be down at your dealer demanding it be fixed or your money back.

    My HL is about the 25th vehicle I have owned over the years. Of those, I purchased 18 of them new from the dealer (it is my 5th new Toyota). It is the only one I have ever owned that I would rate "unsatisfactory"--based solely on the wind noise. If I have time and get a windy day before leaving on vacation (we're not taking the HL because of the wind noise) I'll measure the level for you with my decibel meter.

    However, having said all that, once my dealer fixes the problem--hopefully in August--I expect the HL to one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. If he can't fix it properly, though, I want my money back or the vehicle replaced with one without the problem!

    Have a nice day, and enjoy your (quiet) HL!
  • gunga64gunga64 Member Posts: 271
    Going to Toyota dealer again today, says he wants to deal, this salesmen knows I'm only interested in a stripped down v6 (if you consider power windows, power locks, cruise control, abs ) stripped down. He also knows our price range is below 24,000. When I reminded him last night about the price I'm willing to pay he said he would find one. I'm going to be very pissed If I go there and all they have is MSRP of 29k on the lot, and then offer me one at 25k. At some point these options become very annoying. I mean they make it sound like if you don't get side impact bags or abs or alloy wheels your really screwing yourself. But I have owned new cars for 25 years. I could live without the side impact bags, the alloy wheels, the abs. The only real option that matters to me is front air bags. All these other dumb options do nothing but add cost to autos. This of course is not only limited to toyota. The way cars are inflationed now overtakes the cost of living in a huge way. You can tell by the way people seem to flock towards leases to afford these homes on wheels. At some point these manufactors have to see they are pricing themselves out of existence. Soon I expect they will offer dog impact bags as an option, and many people will consider that a necessity.
  • dichelledichelle Member Posts: 25
    I have a little over 1000 miles on my HL, have not experienced the wind noise or the glove compartment latch rattle, so I count myself fortunate there. However, when I drive around 30 to 35 mph, I feel it every time the gear shifts up or down. It's somewhat annoying,there's a perceptible jerk with downshift or a sort of release as it shifts up. Not terribly strong, but I don't think I ought to be able to feel it that much, never did in my old Mercury sedan until it was 10 years old and starting to have transmission problems. Is this normal or could there be something wrong? Anybody else experience it?
  • catimpcatimp Member Posts: 2
    gunga64, i agree with you mostly, *but* from what i've read at edmund's, alloy wheels aren't just cosmetic; they improve handling by reducing weight of the car that lies outside of the suspension, and greater rigidity also helps handling. also, most vehicles $25k and up have abs these days.
  • hlshopperhlshopper Member Posts: 1
    We're in the Boston area and looking for HL with 4WD, 6cyl, preferred package, convenience package, roof rack, front side airbags, and vehicle skid control. We've been to dealers and really like the car. However, based on what we saw at the dealers and what we've seen on the postings here, it seems we have to pay for a Limited Edition in order to get those options (especially the side airbags and VSC). We've also been told by some dealers that the special-ordered vehicles "come as Toyota wants to make them, independent of what was ordered." This makes us skeptical about ordering something that takes 4 months to arrive, only to get bells and whistles we didn't ask for and don't want to pay for. Is it possible these days to get a non-Limited version of a HL that has the options we're looking for? Is it true that special orders come with added features that aren't asked for?
    Does anyone have any tips on dealers around here who have been knowledgeable and have sold HLs at something reasonably below sticker price?
    If shopping for one of these things is as difficult as it seems, we're tempted to just throw some new rubber on the old Caravan and pray.
  • edwardh5edwardh5 Member Posts: 130
    Why is the HL towing only 1500 pounds (4 cyl I think), my 94 Camry is rated by Toy at 2000 pounds?
  • scannerscanner Member Posts: 295
    Do not waste time using Edmunds to "build" your Highlander, as you will go insane trying to figure out the correct combination of option packages.


    Go directly to Toyota's home page to build/configure a Highlander.


    http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/highlander/price/highlander_price.html


    Start with the basic vehicle that you want (4x2, 4x4 with I4 or V6), choose a "Popular Combination" package with the options you want, then add any desired accessories.


    Once you have your total MSRP price, go directly to KBB.com and click on "New Car Pricing" to get the corresponding "invoice price".


    http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.sp?kbb&&678&midsuv3


    You could use Edmunds, but Edmunds doesn't provide pricing for accessories.


    Using this method, it appears steel wheels are available only on a 4x4, a moon roof IS available without the limited package on a V6 4x4, a base V6 4x4 is the only one that comes without privacy glass, etc. Also, it appears that all HL's come equipped with power drivers' seat, keyless entry, tonneau cover, and roof rack. Has anyone "recently" purchased a HL that didn't conform to one of the combinations currently listed on Toyota's homepage? I know Toyota recently changed their HL options page, but I'm almost sure I saw some HL's without roof racks on the lots, perhaps they were early production models.

  • capnkirkcapnkirk Member Posts: 10
    For you that haven’t experienced the wind noise, you are lucky. The first time I heard it, it scared the s**t out of me. I had read about it, but hadn’t’ heard it. Earlier the week we had some high winds and thunder storms. I was traveling at 50mph with a 45 mph cross wind, there it was. It is annoying, but it doesn’t happen that often. -You’ll get used to it!
  • rutger3rutger3 Member Posts: 361
    Okay,is the HL worth $2200 and about $50 more per month than the MPV? The HL I want would be the 4 cylinder,2wd. Also, has anyone dealt with Muller Toyota in Clinton or James Toyota in Flemington for HL pricing. What would be a reasonable price on this HL with quick order pkg,roof rack,and a list of about $25,300? Plus,what is a reasonable price to accept on a trade, Edmunds, Kelly blue book,or do the dealers use their own 'as low as we can get away with' used car guide? Thanks for any opinions.
  • llofgrenllofgren Member Posts: 129
    Cliffy1, I know you must get tired of seeing these same old questions...and I have a pretty good idea that you have answered this before....so I apologize in advance. But here goes: What are the chances of getting a Highlander V6 AWD with very few or NO options. The only option I am remotely interested in is the TO (towing). Is this possible? I live in Minnesota. I don't even want the roof rack!
    Is this even possible? One other somewhat related question: Is the 4 banger available WITH AWD??
    Thanks again.....I have found your responses on this and other forums to be most helpful.
  • lmsmedleylmsmedley Member Posts: 3
    We ran a search throughout all of CA and found no HL's that were stripped of options. We've got an inside connection at Toyota HQ and are ordering ours instead. This is following the most shameless sales tactics I'd ever seen trying to buy a minimally-equipped 4 Cyl. My advice is to stay away from Carson Toyota. Nothing but scumbags.
  • llofgrenllofgren Member Posts: 129
    Imsmedley...may I ask? What did Carson Toyota try to do? I don't have an inside with anyone at Toyota....I am wondering if it is still possible to order exactly what I want. I know the wait can be long.....months....but I am in no particular hurry. I just don't know what the mechanics are (of ordering). I know there are no "stripped" versions in California......I am wondering if that is true everywhere else too.
  • hislanderhislander Member Posts: 67
    I don't know what are you talking about wrt Carson Toyota but I only heard praises for them. It is too bad that Diane was dropped from this forum. Actually, I bought my HL in Houston based on the pricing she gave me.....Either clarify your statement or retract it.
  • gwkisergwkiser Member Posts: 326
    I fully agree with others. Either give the details or quit bashing. The rest of us here have been open and detailed about our experiences. Maybe someone from Carson Toyota can give their view also (assuming that the mods here will allow a defense, haha). In case you're wondering, NO, I don't have any affiliation with Toyota (or Carson Toyota specifically) with the exception that I own a 2wd V6 HL Ltd., which I bought locally here in San Antonio, TX. after waiting about two months. Regarding availability of a HL equipped the way you want it, let us know how long you have been told you'll have to wait. Promises are easy to make but sometimes difficult to keep, especially on new "bare bones" models. Or did your "insider" help you out in that regard also? Just curious, not hostile....
  • mtwallacemtwallace Member Posts: 28
    A friend of mine wants to use priceline.com to bid for an HL in Northern Calif. Can anyone help me advise him what to offer? I have read previous posts from other areas where people have gotten deals at $500 to $700 over invoice. Is this realistic in Northern Calif? Also does anyone have any particularly good experiencees with dealers in that area?

    Thanks for your input.
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    NorCal is in its own world. Tell your friend it costs nothing to try. He may want to consider travelling to SoCal or raising his sights a bit. He's competing with folks who are willing to pay a lot more for the car.

    There are a number of good dealers in the Bay Area who I would recommend, and a few I wouldn't. They've been mentioned in this forum previously.
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    Well, I don't know what your region has ordered, but here in VA, dealers are not getting stripped HL models. The minimum level of equipment we are seeing is the roof rack, tow prep, convenience package and power seat (HE). In theory, one can be factory ordered, but there are some big down sides to this. Many dealerships will not place them, especially if they don't think they could sell it if you back out. By asking for something so far out of the ordinary, you may scare a dealer off from placing the order. In my experience, people loose patience with the order process 2 months into it and compromise color or equipment. The dealer will then be stuck with your ordered vehicle when it arrives 3 months after you've already bought one.
  • dshenmdyndshenmdyn Member Posts: 34
    It seems to me that it is Toyota's tactic to list a fairly low base price for Highlander with reasonable standard list to get people interested in purchasing a highlander.

    Then they (Toyota and/or Regional dealer group and/or dealers) restrict ALL inventories to have many options so NO one can really get the striped model.

    It is kind of "bite-and-switch" tactic to me, in which they can advertise that the Highlander starts from $22,000 (for I-4) and $25,000 (for V-6) and people will go into dealership and realize that in NO way one can really get a Highlander for that price.
  • llofgrenllofgren Member Posts: 129
    Your response was most helpful. It gives me a good idea about what to expect. Do you think it IS possible then to get an AWD, V6, roof rack, convience group, HE and the tow package? Does the same (no stripped models) apply to the 4 banger too?
    I understand completely what you are saying about the dealer's side of an ordered vehicle. Question: would it make any difference if I committed a large (non-refundable) sum to such a transaction? Thanks again!
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    Larry, I have to disagree. I've had rave reviews from Carson's customers.
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    When a manufacturer like Toyota imports a hot selling vehicle with an extensive list of options, how do you think they decide what to send? They make the logical choice and import those models that have the highest demand. This is especially true if there are more than just two or three options for the vehicle.
  • dshenmdyndshenmdyn Member Posts: 34
    I look at the "demand" in a somewhat different way:

    It might also be that customer demands are shaped by manufactuers in which people make their best choices based on what are available. If stripped models are not available, sure those who still want the car will go with the loaded ones.

    Sure I agree this is demand-supply relationship and no one can blame Toyota to come up with a very popular design. Just hope there will be more choices in the coming year or maybe not.
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    It all depends on the region. What I described consititues about 30% of the V6 AWD models we see here, but I have no way of knowing what they are sending to MN. Ask your local dealer to show you the "TVO Book". This is a regional and monthly thing that we are sent that tells us the model and color configurations each month. Based on this book, we select our preferences for our inventory.

    As to the order, it all depends on the dealer. Most stores I have worked for are EXTREMELY reluctant to order very unusual models. They really don't have a way to bind you to it, even with a large deposit.
  • steveb84steveb84 Member Posts: 187
    llofgren, I live in MN and work at a dealership in Wisconsin. So far, there have been virtually no 4WD 4 cylinder He's brought in to this region. I have been, and continue to speak out that we do need that model. I'm always willing to work with someone on a unique build, but usually they aren't willing to wait. I have also have had success trading with another region to get something close to what the customer wants. Hope that helps.
  • fgrethelfgrethel Member Posts: 24
    I have to agree with much of what has been said about Toyota's packaging of options on the "standard" configuration vehicles. I am so bitterly disappointed that I have to add on what I consider as low value options, i.e., power seats for only the driver with no memory. I want a base 6cyl model with out the Limited option (as I do not find the plastic wood very aesthically pleasing). I would prefer the 2WD in a few color options. However, I cannot get this car/truck built this way. If you go to Toyota's web site and enter different zip codes as you "build" a Highlander, you can begin to see how the trucks are pre-packaged in various Toyota regions. California is the worst, with huge numbers of options as the only choice to build the vehicle. This will eventually backfire on Toyota. There is more and more competition in this segment. At least the MDX from Acura has WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) without all of the absurd options packages.
  • scannerscanner Member Posts: 295
    With the Acura MDX, what you see is going to be a brochure, what you get is going to be put on the waiting list, and what you're going to pay is MSRP.


    Relax folks, the HL has only been on sale for about 6 months. Stripped vehicles are sure to follow once supply catches up.


    Check out the production. The HL is already the 11th selling SUV.


    http://www.autosite.com/editoria/asmr/svolsu.asp

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