I don't think the 04 has thrid row seat. VSC is standard, and NAV and REAR ENT is optional for limited. Side curtain is available. V6 standard version has REAR ENT available, but you have to order moon roof and Sound System upgrade to get that.
With NAV and REAR ENT, that will make limited invoice up to $34000 range. I think you can get a RX330 with same setup for $37,500 invoice.
The 4runner do have 3rd row seat, but you will have to give up a lot of other option to get it, such as the 10 speakers sound system, NAV system and etc. and NAV is now not available for sport and SR5
The 04 HL will definitely have a third row seat that fits two. Second row seatbacks will tilt forward to allow access to the third row. I don't know if the second row seat bottoms slide forward, tumble forward, or remain fixed in place.
It also looks like the second seat MIGHT be a 40-20-40, which might allow the center section to be used for a child seat and slide forward BUT THAT IS TOTAL SPECULATION ON MY PART. I didn't get enough information to know for sure, so your guess is as good as mine.
Last I heard all V6 models except the 2WD non-limited will come standard with the third row seat. Apparently in some markets, all V6 models will have the third row seat for the first few months of production.
In the mail today I received a corrected repair order invoice with the corrected mileage and an explanation of the error. This is what I wanted to begin with, but oh no, the local dealer said it could not be done. So with help from Toyota Inc. the locals saw the light. I believe that if you are right never take no for an answer. One for the consumer.
Yes, I think you are right. Limited has standard 3rd Row. but the regular V6 does not come with it, and it is not a option. So is the size of the vehicle changing?
With 3Rd Row Seating, NAV and DVD Player, now the HL will really be in the RX price range.
I sometimes get what I would describe has a "KICK" in the engine. Could this be unsmoothness as it is shifting gears automatically?
It sometimes happens around 40mph. It also happens at slower speed and at higher speed. I was just on a road trip and was running the AC etc and wondering what causes this "kick" I find when I take my foot of the gas to ease the speed it can happen. I don't know if its the wayI drive or something i should have checked out by the dealer.
I believe what you are experiencing is a transmission upshift when the engine ecu detects "coasting". Many new FWD vehicles, including the RX series have this "feature".
It's designed to prevent loss of control of FWD, or front torque biased AWD, on slippery surfaces due to engine braking, most noticable just before coming to a stop, feels as if being nudged from the rear.
How much does the 3rd row seat affect the carrying capacity in cubic feet?
Multiply the height of the cargo area by its width then multiply that result by the distance between the backs of the 2nd and 3rd row seats. That's how much space you lose. All measurements in feet, of course.
I know how to do it in theory. Measuring the volume requires that you have one to measure. Plus there is no guarantee that I'd measure the space in the same way that Toyota does. I'm sure their design computer does that for them. I was hoping someone with some more details might know the official Toyota number.
Why would I like to know? After five months of searching for a dealer who would special order a Highlander for us and then waiting three months for it to be delivered, it supposedly will arrive next week. Now we are faced with the decision to take this '03 HL or order an '04 instead and start the wait all over again. Unknowns are the new prices, the amount of space the third row decreases the capacity, and how the second row now operates. Benefits of the '04 would be the 3.3 V6, 5 speed auto, side curtain air bags, and possibly the third row. Disadvantages would be waiting even longer, fighting the ordering process again, possibly missing the $1,000 rebate, and other intangible benefits of having the car now.
So we're trying to gather as much information about an almost introduced model as possible. I was hoping the '03 would arrive in mid-September as information about the '04 should be much more available by then. Alas, we have to decide now with as much information as we can get.
Curious if any Highlander owners cross-shopped a Subaru Forester. I was ready to buy a Forester XT when suddenly my wife got bit by the Highlander bug. After limited test drives in both, the Highlander scores on smooth ride and quiet cabin. Forester scores on acceleration and handling - and maybe - front seats.
If it applies, I’d be interested in hearing why you made the decsion to go Highlander vs Forester.
I have 20,000 mi on a 2002 Highlander and just bought an XT for our second car. Based on my experience buy the Highlander for comfort and the XT for fun. We use our Highlander for long trips and both front and rear passengers say it is a very comfortable ride. The XT has an awsome engine. It is very smooth and powerful and handles our mountain roads like a charm. The XT is cheaper to buy and more expensive to run since it uses premium and the mpgs are about the same. I think both are great vehicles and you can't go wrong with either one.
I am considering the purchase of a V6 Highlander (Base Model), and am wondering if anyone has any experience with its towing capacities. Our tent trailer is small and weighs about 1500 pounds. Would I be OK for a 2 wheel drive, or is it necessary to have a 4 wheel drive?
Towing oftentimes adds a disportionate load at the rear, "unloading" the front wheels/tires, can be pretty detrimental, especially on a slippery surface, to a FWD or FWD biased AWD such as the highlander or RX.
I tow quite frequently. I don't tow with a Highlander but can tell you a few things about towing. The HL really isn't intended for heavy duty or frequent towing. This isn't so much because of the FWD issue, but rather the fact that it is based on a car frame, rather than a truck. Having said that, 1500 pounds will not put undue stress on things. 1500 pounds worth of a travel trailer is even easier than 1500 pounds worth of boat because boat towing really needs to have power at the rear when pulling it from the water.
As long as you properly load the thing, I wouldn't worry about a FWD for towing a 1500 pound travel trailer. Just make sure the tongue is level and the weight is properly distributed.
I have a 2002 V6 2WD and tow a PWC occasionally (gross weight with trailer is about 1100 pounds). I can't even tell it is there....effortless towing it...I do have the towing package.....I did tow a large boat over 600 miles that exceeded the recommended max of 3500 pounds...it was a 24 FT. boat at 4200 pounds PLUS the all aluminum trailer at another 300 or so...it did ok, but you needed to plan things like lane changes because of length and acceleration degradation...but it performed like a champ even though the mileage dropped to about 15 mpg at about 60 mph. you won't have a problem at all with that small trailer....
I am new to this forum, so please forgive my arrogance. I don't know either of you, but both of you speak with authority on the '04 Highlander.
I would like to know the confidence level you have in the sources for your info on the 04 HL that you posted here earlier. If you're willing, give your source, or the nature of it. I'm not implying you're wrong, I've simply heard too many dealers promise nothing but the paint chips will change for 04. Of course they do want to sell me 03's.
I really like the HL V6 Ltd AWD, but I found it a little unexciting to drive - especially the 4spd transmission. (Not that I'm a speed junky, I currently have a 01 Rav4 - but at least that's a stick).
Since I plan to hang on to whatever I purchase for a long time, I don't mind waiting a few months, or paying a little extra if it will make me happier. Looking at what the Rx330 gained over the Rx300, I think the 3.3L 5spd is a little more significant than paint chips.
I'm ready to buy (i.e. a need a new car soon) but if the 04 is close, I'll wait. I can get a fully loaded 03 Ltd V6 AWD for $31k @ 1.9%, that's 4.5k of the MSRP, which is tempting if the 04 is little or no different. I'm in Southern CA if that makes any difference.
Please advise, or if you want e-mail me @ nicol@verheem.com
My guess is that the $1000 rebate may go away with the '04 as the purpose of the rebate may be to move to '03s in the face of customer anticipation of the '04s.
I speculate (or at least hope) that the cargo capacity with the third row seat won't decrease much, assuming it folds down flat like the second row seat currently does, but not having had a vehicle with a third row seat, I can't say for sure -- perhaps check out other car-based SUVs with third row seats such as the Honda Pilot to see how they fold down, or perhaps others on this board with more experience with third row seat vehicles care to speculate further...
As far as whether to wait -- only you can answer whether the third row seat would be an asset to you, and unless if you're a power monger the V6 and, for me, even the 4cyl are plenty powerful enough -- drive the '03 3.0 V6 and see if its enough for you.
One bit of personal experience -- I bought my '01 in August, about a month before the '02s came out, figuring there wouldn't be any difference between the two as the '01 was the first year the Highlander was introduced in the U.S. Actually, I wanted to wait as this would have been the smart thing to do except that I had spent so much time researching the Highlander and became so obsessed with the purchase that I couldn't sleep at nights, so I decided to purchase it just to get it over with, which I did. Well, low and behold, the '02 saw a significant change to the interior (in my opinion) as it introduced the center console, and I was kicking myself for not waiting (until I purchased the parts to install a '02 center console in my '01 (about $1000)). Moral? (1.) Don't become obsessed with a Highlander. (2.) It's a gamble -- if you can compromise on available features, wait for that slim window when both '03s and '04s are available on lots at the same time (or at least until Toyota posts some info on the '04s (monitor www.toyota.com and www.pressroom.toyota.com)).
Both Steves work for Toyota dealers (click on their profiles for more) so their info is a bit closer to the source than the rest of us. Stuff does change between the time the reps visit the dealers or promo info sent out, and when the new model goes into production though.
It may vary a little depending on trailers, but the recommended tongue weight for trailers is generally about 10% of the total weight of the trailer, about 150 lbs for your trailer. You can adjust the tongue weight by using different height hitches. This is similar to my pop up tent trailer and I cant detect much difference in the balance of HL when towing.
In addition to Steve's (host) comment, I would like to note that Cliffy not only works for a dealer, but his information in the past has been straight forward, including answering "I don't know" if he indeed does not. As Steve notes, there always can be changes, but I have found Cliffy's information over the past couple of years to be accurate and useful. He just recently "popped back up" here, so some people may not have known he has been around Town Hall for awhile, with a good "track record". /Ron
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think we are going to go with the '03 for a few reasons.
First, the AMAZING TRIALS of custom ordering a HL is probably unparalleled in the industry, sad to say. Toyota is making massive stride towards the industry's best build-to-order system, but until then, it's the absolute worst if you're in the SouthEast. No dealer would help us and we went through four. Finally we contacted the SouthEast Regional Distributor and told our sad story. The regional sales manager placed the order for us through a fifth dealer. We'd hate to go through this again. It took five months to get someone to order the car the way we want it (with side air bags - BIG DEAL!) and another three months of waiting for production delivery.
Second, we tested a lot of other vehicles and were happiest with the HL. The Pilot is too big (but nice). So while the '04 will have more, we were content with the '03 before. We would have bought one back in February if a dealer had the right one.
Third, we don't really need the third seat. We might use it once a year.
Fourth, the $1,000 rebate will be gone on the '04 models.
The only things we'll miss will be the 3.3 V6 and the 5 speed tranny.
Sbell (speaking of Southeast Toyota dealers) pops in now and then too - between the three of them and maybe another one or two I'm forgetting, the "from the source" news usually gets disseminated pretty good around here.
Thanks all for the clarifications. Obviously these guys are more trustworthy than the dealers, who all stand ready to make money of me. In retrospect, I had it coming. Of the 3 dealers I asked about the 04 HL, the closer I came to buying, the later the dealer would put the release date of the '04. I nearly bought one this Saturday after a second test drive, and when I asked the dealer he said Nov/Dec, with only cosmetic changes. Since I bought my Rav4 from him a few years back, with no hassle, I thought I could trust him...
So, my newfound well informed friends, any ideas when John Public will see a 04 @ the dealers ? Please keep us posted !
Steve and I have essentially the same sources, although he also tends to get some more advanced stuff. Two years ago, I moved into the finance office from the sales department (as a result of a boating accident with an anchor... thanks to Host Steve for the reminder ) so I don't get as much insider stuff as he does.
The information I posted is right off Dealer Daily, which is our intranet communication system with Toyota. They have already posted the "spec book" on the '04 and that is what I relayed.
Now, as far as when you will see them, my guess is late September. We have been given the "TVO" book which is the list of the models that are inbound to our region. We get two allocations per month from the TVO book. It was assumed that the allocation cut in Mid-August would have the '04 Highlanders in it but it didn't. That means they will be allocated on September 2. From the time they are allocated until we see them is anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.
ssiu, Yes, we would love the side curtain air bags. However, that is the only thing we'd add to our configuration other than the 3.3 V6 and the 5 speed tranny. The problem is to do that, we'd have to pass on this one (built to our specs), custom order again (kill me now), and wait at least three more months for the '04 HL. It's just hard to think about going through that again. That would make it a full twelve months it us to get one with five months of that consumed with arguing with dealers and tracking down SE Toyota. I guess if we felt like the dealers would accommodate us, we might try it again.
Also, we are giving our car away to some relatives and we'd like to help them sooner than later. This has already taken a long time.
I don't know; we'll see. A lot of it depends on if we can get cooperation from the dealer and SE Toyota. The salesman who was helping us left the dealership and if I hadn't called to checkup on it two weeks ago, it would have arrived and they would have sold it without knowing it was for me. I have so many stories...
There has been mention the 2004 HL will have Nav. Does anyone know if this will be available over the counter, as I would like to retrofit my 2003 AWD ltd.
Since it sounds like that the '04 6 cylinder will have a 5 speed automatic.........is there any word on the '04 4 cylinder getting a 5 speed automatic, also ? We are in the same situation........whether to get the '03 or wait for the '04's !! We did not like the standard Am-Fm-Cd stereo, and really loved the JBL system in the 6 cylinder, but need the economy of the 4 cylinder Highlander........any word on putting a better sounding stereo, like the JBL in the 4 cylinder ?
I think that it is wise to wait for the 04 HL. Many of the problems the the current models have may have been addressed in the 04. Such as the brake pedal problem, outside crosswind noise, engine ticking noise, rear wheel seal noise, inferior tires, a first gear that is geared too low, and hesitates before shifting into second. Also the transmission sometimes shudders when shifting and the engine vibrates when at a stop with the transmission in gear, you can feel the vibration through the steering wheel.
These problems are documented in the Highlander messages and my own personal experiences with my 03 HL V6. I would also suggest you buy the V6 engine. The new V6 with the 5 speed should be awesome, and the mileage should be good. If the price is close to the 03, it should be a no brainer.
01 highlander limited 4wd with 35500 miles Has anyone out there purchased the extended warranty?We did some research on prices and can buy a 6 year 75000 mile platinum 0 deductible warranty for $790.00 or a 6 year 100000 mile warranty for 1030.00. Toyota warrants the power train and transmission for 5 years or 60000 miles so the extended would cover basically bumper to bumper for the extra time or mileage after the 3 year 36000 mile warranty ends. Any thoughts on this? Thanks much! These are toyota factory warranties not third party.
I would definately go with the 6 year 100,000 mile warranty, it is worth the extra $240. Major repairs may be necessary as you get close to 100,000 miles. However you have to spend some time and read the fine print. Be sure that you are really getting bumper to bumper coverage up to 100,000 miles. If it is true I would be interested in this extended warranty. I plan to keep my HL for ten years, I am retired and have no choice. Keep us posted.
Take a look at your average mileage. When I offer these to my customers, I always ask how long they tend to own their cars and how many miles they put on it. If they drive less than 10K per year, the 7/75 is the best option. If they drive more than 16K, the 6/100 works best. For those between 10K to 15K, the 7/100 is the way to go. Try to get one that will let you arrive at the time and the miles at roughly the same time.
Are you afraid your Toyota is going to break down? I drove mine for 17 years and I spent ~$5,000 on maintenance and repairs over all those years, which was about $200 less than the car insurance cost me per my spreadsheet.
Most all of that "repair" expense was spent on oil changes, tune-ups, tires, batteries, brakes, shocks, alignments and other consumables that a warranty wouldn't ordinarily cover anyway. I honestly can't remember a non-consumable item breaking, except a $300 bent axle from a 4 wheel power slide into a curb. Oops ;-).
So check the fine print on coverage.
My '89 Voyager would have cost me money but it had a 7/70 factory drivetrain warranty (3 head gaskets).
Aftermarket warranties are a big profit center for the dealer. These days you're really gambling that your expensive electronics are going to die. Some people sleep better not worrying about repair bills.
And remember that a 7 year warranty really just covers you for the non-factory warranty period (i.e. 2 years/40k for the drivetrain, 4 years/64k for the rest).
That's my anti view (and I'm ahead money-wise on my '99 Nissan w/ 85k and my '97 Subaru w/ 40k). Here's a pro view:
Will the 04 highlander 4 cylinder 4x4 have a third row seat? If it is an option how much more are we guessing? We signed papers in June for an 03 but the dealer could not get the color we wanted and returned our deposit. I love the idea of the third row seat and am trying to figure out if we should wait for the 04.
Now now Steve. Ease up a bit. While I agree that "aftermarket" warranties are rarely worth it, extended factory warranties can work out well for many folks. The dealership I work for did over $3 million in warranty repairs last year. Toyotas are very reliable, but when they are not, they are expensive to repair. I spent $1100 on an AC system and that was at employee prices.
They are not for everybody and not every dealership is willing to sell them at reasonable prices. If a person plans on long term ownership and is concerned about things like climate control systems, CD changers, DVD systems, alternators, ABS sensors and the like, a properly priced factory warranty certainly can be a good idea.
insurance policies...there is extensive data collection on risk assessment and cost. No one would sell them if they weren't making money on them. There is a lot of warrantee and service data on mean time between failure and other quality and reliability information that is used. No guess work here. It is like betting against the house in Las Vegas....they know the odds...and I don't bet against myself or the odds makers....save your money, and play the odds...odds are you will trade it before using it.
I am facing a decision between leather or cloth seat.
I am in Texas. Is the leather seat too hot when parking outside for some time(4-hour or more)? I had the experience with vinyl seat. I had to wait some time, then step in and sit on the seat.
Dealer told me leather is unlike vinyl which could be very hot. Leather can breath. There are many visible small holes in the leather to keep temperature down.
Big difference between leather and vinyl! I too had the same experience with vinyl seats -- on a hot sunny day it feels like you're stepping into a sauna -- and thus had the same concern when I bought my first car with leather (Highlander). Leather, though not quite as cool as cloth, is way closer to cloth than vinyl in terms of temperature on sunny days, so in this particular case the car salesman was actually being truthful -- leather does breath (as it is actually skin, not plastic). (I question though how much of an affect the perforations have, as leather seats without perforations are very common, as in the RX 300, which is the Lexus cousin of the Highlander.)
There are pictures of a 7 person "KlugerV" (which I think is the US Highlander model) on toyota's japanese website . I wonder if this is how the 04 highlander will look.
Unfortunately, I can't figure out the change in cargo volume with the addition of the 3rd row. Anyone here read Japanese?
Comments
With NAV and REAR ENT, that will make limited invoice up to $34000 range. I think you can get a RX330 with same setup for $37,500 invoice.
The 4runner do have 3rd row seat, but you will have to give up a lot of other option to get it, such as the 10 speakers sound system, NAV system and etc. and NAV is now not available for sport and SR5
It also looks like the second seat MIGHT be a 40-20-40, which might allow the center section to be used for a child seat and slide forward BUT THAT IS TOTAL SPECULATION ON MY PART. I didn't get enough information to know for sure, so your guess is as good as mine.
Last I heard all V6 models except the 2WD non-limited will come standard with the third row seat. Apparently in some markets, all V6 models will have the third row seat for the first few months of production.
Will the Nav be available to install on a 2003 Ltd
Thanks
Steve, Host
With 3Rd Row Seating, NAV and DVD Player, now the HL will really be in the RX price range.
It sometimes happens around 40mph. It also happens at slower speed and at higher speed. I was just on a road trip and was running the AC etc and wondering what causes this "kick" I find when I take my foot of the gas to ease the speed it can happen. I don't know if its the wayI drive or something i should have checked out by the dealer.
I apprecite any insight.
Thanks
It's designed to prevent loss of control of FWD, or front torque biased AWD, on slippery surfaces due to engine braking, most noticable just before coming to a stop, feels as if being nudged from the rear.
Multiply the height of the cargo area by its width then multiply that result by the distance between the backs of the 2nd and 3rd row seats. That's how much space you lose. All measurements in feet, of course.
tidester, host
Why would I like to know? After five months of searching for a dealer who would special order a Highlander for us and then waiting three months for it to be delivered, it supposedly will arrive next week. Now we are faced with the decision to take this '03 HL or order an '04 instead and start the wait all over again. Unknowns are the new prices, the amount of space the third row decreases the capacity, and how the second row now operates. Benefits of the '04 would be the 3.3 V6, 5 speed auto, side curtain air bags, and possibly the third row. Disadvantages would be waiting even longer, fighting the ordering process again, possibly missing the $1,000 rebate, and other intangible benefits of having the car now.
So we're trying to gather as much information about an almost introduced model as possible. I was hoping the '03 would arrive in mid-September as information about the '04 should be much more available by then. Alas, we have to decide now with as much information as we can get.
Does anyone have information that will help us?
After limited test drives in both, the Highlander scores on smooth ride and quiet cabin. Forester scores on acceleration and handling - and maybe - front seats.
If it applies, I’d be interested in hearing why you made the decsion to go Highlander vs Forester.
tia!
srp
ps: Just Say No 3rd Row!
You described it well....it is like getting nudged from the back...
So its just something I should become accustomed to and not have to worry about ?!
As long as you properly load the thing, I wouldn't worry about a FWD for towing a 1500 pound travel trailer. Just make sure the tongue is level and the weight is properly distributed.
Putting a 1500lb load ONLY on the rear of a 3500lb vehicle represents a very serious load imbalance IMMHO.
With just a simple ball type hitch just how does one assure a balanced load?
I am new to this forum, so please forgive my arrogance. I don't know either of you, but both of you speak with authority on the '04 Highlander.
I would like to know the confidence level you have in the sources for your info on the 04 HL that you posted here earlier. If you're willing, give your source, or the nature of it. I'm not implying you're wrong, I've simply heard too many dealers promise nothing but the paint chips will change for 04. Of course they do want to sell me 03's.
I really like the HL V6 Ltd AWD, but I found it a little unexciting to drive - especially the 4spd transmission. (Not that I'm a speed junky, I currently have a 01 Rav4 - but at least that's a stick).
Since I plan to hang on to whatever I purchase for a long time, I don't mind waiting a few months, or paying a little extra if it will make me happier. Looking at what the Rx330 gained over the Rx300, I think the 3.3L 5spd is a little more significant than paint chips.
I'm ready to buy (i.e. a need a new car soon) but if the 04 is close, I'll wait. I can get a fully loaded 03 Ltd V6 AWD for $31k @ 1.9%, that's 4.5k of the MSRP, which is tempting if the 04 is little or no different. I'm in Southern CA if that makes any difference.
Please advise, or if you want e-mail me @ nicol@verheem.com
My guess is that the $1000 rebate may go away with the '04 as the purpose of the rebate may be to move to '03s in the face of customer anticipation of the '04s.
I speculate (or at least hope) that the cargo capacity with the third row seat won't decrease much, assuming it folds down flat like the second row seat currently does, but not having had a vehicle with a third row seat, I can't say for sure -- perhaps check out other car-based SUVs with third row seats such as the Honda Pilot to see how they fold down, or perhaps others on this board with more experience with third row seat vehicles care to speculate further...
As far as whether to wait -- only you can answer whether the third row seat would be an asset to you, and unless if you're a power monger the V6 and, for me, even the 4cyl are plenty powerful enough -- drive the '03 3.0 V6 and see if its enough for you.
One bit of personal experience -- I bought my '01 in August, about a month before the '02s came out, figuring there wouldn't be any difference between the two as the '01 was the first year the Highlander was introduced in the U.S. Actually, I wanted to wait as this would have been the smart thing to do except that I had spent so much time researching the Highlander and became so obsessed with the purchase that I couldn't sleep at nights, so I decided to purchase it just to get it over with, which I did. Well, low and behold, the '02 saw a significant change to the interior (in my opinion) as it introduced the center console, and I was kicking myself for not waiting (until I purchased the parts to install a '02 center console in my '01 (about $1000)). Moral? (1.) Don't become obsessed with a Highlander. (2.) It's a gamble -- if you can compromise on available features, wait for that slim window when both '03s and '04s are available on lots at the same time (or at least until Toyota posts some info on the '04s (monitor www.toyota.com and www.pressroom.toyota.com)).
Steve, Host
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think we are going to go with the '03 for a few reasons.
First, the AMAZING TRIALS of custom ordering a HL is probably unparalleled in the industry, sad to say. Toyota is making massive stride towards the industry's best build-to-order system, but until then, it's the absolute worst if you're in the SouthEast. No dealer would help us and we went through four. Finally we contacted the SouthEast Regional Distributor and told our sad story. The regional sales manager placed the order for us through a fifth dealer. We'd hate to go through this again. It took five months to get someone to order the car the way we want it (with side air bags - BIG DEAL!) and another three months of waiting for production delivery.
Second, we tested a lot of other vehicles and were happiest with the HL. The Pilot is too big (but nice). So while the '04 will have more, we were content with the '03 before. We would have bought one back in February if a dealer had the right one.
Third, we don't really need the third seat. We might use it once a year.
Fourth, the $1,000 rebate will be gone on the '04 models.
The only things we'll miss will be the 3.3 V6 and the 5 speed tranny.
Just don't ask Cliffy for anchor advice <g>.
Steve, Host
So, my newfound well informed friends, any ideas when John Public will see a 04 @ the dealers ? Please keep us posted !
Thanks
nlv
The information I posted is right off Dealer Daily, which is our intranet communication system with Toyota. They have already posted the "spec book" on the '04 and that is what I relayed.
Now, as far as when you will see them, my guess is late September. We have been given the "TVO" book which is the list of the models that are inbound to our region. We get two allocations per month from the TVO book. It was assumed that the allocation cut in Mid-August would have the '04 Highlanders in it but it didn't. That means they will be allocated on September 2. From the time they are allocated until we see them is anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.
I hope that helps and welcome to the group.
Yes, we would love the side curtain air bags. However, that is the only thing we'd add to our configuration other than the 3.3 V6 and the 5 speed tranny. The problem is to do that, we'd have to pass on this one (built to our specs), custom order again (kill me now), and wait at least three more months for the '04 HL. It's just hard to think about going through that again. That would make it a full twelve months it us to get one with five months of that consumed with arguing with dealers and tracking down SE Toyota. I guess if we felt like the dealers would accommodate us, we might try it again.
Also, we are giving our car away to some relatives and we'd like to help them sooner than later. This has already taken a long time.
I don't know; we'll see. A lot of it depends on if we can get cooperation from the dealer and SE Toyota. The salesman who was helping us left the dealership and if I hadn't called to checkup on it two weeks ago, it would have arrived and they would have sold it without knowing it was for me. I have so many stories...
Does anyone know if this will be available over the counter, as I would like to retrofit my 2003 AWD ltd.
Thanks
We are in the same situation........whether to get the '03 or wait for the '04's !!
We did not like the standard Am-Fm-Cd stereo, and really loved the JBL system in the 6 cylinder, but need the economy of the 4 cylinder Highlander........any word on putting a better sounding stereo, like the JBL in the 4 cylinder ?
These problems are documented in the Highlander messages and my own personal experiences with my 03 HL V6. I would also suggest you buy the V6 engine. The new V6 with the 5 speed should be awesome, and the mileage should be good. If the price is close to the 03, it should be a no brainer.
Is the ABS standard or optional for Highlander V6 2WD?
Thanks,
tidester, host
Most all of that "repair" expense was spent on oil changes, tune-ups, tires, batteries, brakes, shocks, alignments and other consumables that a warranty wouldn't ordinarily cover anyway. I honestly can't remember a non-consumable item breaking, except a $300 bent axle from a 4 wheel power slide into a curb. Oops ;-).
So check the fine print on coverage.
My '89 Voyager would have cost me money but it had a 7/70 factory drivetrain warranty (3 head gaskets).
Aftermarket warranties are a big profit center for the dealer. These days you're really gambling that your expensive electronics are going to die. Some people sleep better not worrying about repair bills.
And remember that a 7 year warranty really just covers you for the non-factory warranty period (i.e. 2 years/40k for the drivetrain, 4 years/64k for the rest).
That's my anti view (and I'm ahead money-wise on my '99 Nissan w/ 85k and my '97 Subaru w/ 40k). Here's a pro view:
Extended Warranties: Extending The Joys Of Ownership
Take a look at this week's poll and extended warranty links on the main Town Hall page.
And finally, a plug for an upcoming Town Hall Chat:
• 9/17: Chat - Warranties: Are they worth it? Mark your calendars!
Steve, Host
They are not for everybody and not every dealership is willing to sell them at reasonable prices. If a person plans on long term ownership and is concerned about things like climate control systems, CD changers, DVD systems, alternators, ABS sensors and the like, a properly priced factory warranty certainly can be a good idea.
I am in Texas. Is the leather seat too hot when parking outside for some time(4-hour or more)? I had the experience with vinyl seat. I had to wait some time, then step in and sit on the seat.
Dealer told me leather is unlike vinyl which could be very hot. Leather can breath. There are many visible small holes in the leather to keep temperature down.
Is that true? Any experience?
Thanks,
Unfortunately, I can't figure out the change in cargo volume with the addition of the 3rd row. Anyone here read Japanese?
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/klugerv/utilit- y/index2.html
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/klugerv/interi- or/images/int02_xga.jpg
I wonder if this can be retrofitted into a 2003?