Posted: 6/20/2011 7:44:59 PM EDT
Looking to trade my Tacoma in on a Highlander  . Need the room for the family. My older sedan bit the dust.
Just looking at getting FWD in a SE or LTD edition. I still have an older explorer (in the shop getting a new timing chain tensioner) that is off road capable. The Highlander, all wheel drive or not, is not off road capable. Given that, tell me what you think. UPDATE I went make the deal and came home with a 4Runner It had the 3rd row seat my wife wanted and true 4WD capability I wanted. So from a gas mileage perspective I now have an Explorer and a 4Runner. If we aren't at peak oil now we will be when I get done! Thanks for all the advice and the Highlander were nice but .... |
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I think it's our next car. I can't find any downsides. fast, 4wd, roomier than I thought it would be but not obese (pilot I'm looking at you), display/controls aren't cluttered (pilot, I'm looking at you), very very good track record
there was a surface remodel and some package alterations for this year but nothing fundamental changed. I like the looks of last years' better. we need to buy in december and I'm hoping to snag a new model from last year. we'll see.... |
| Please look at the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland; everything that the Highlander is plus more equipment and off road capable; super new engine, I get 19 miles per gallon, regular unleaded gas, lots of room, uses chassis and suspension bits plus front seats from Mercedes. I am coming out of an Audi Q7, which I loved, but I'm happier to be driving American and not feeling that I took a step down in quality. I believe price is comparable. |
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Please look at the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland; everything that the Highlander is plus more equipment and off road capable; super new engine, I get 19 miles per gallon, regular unleaded gas, lots of room, uses chassis and suspension bits plus front seats from Mercedes. I am coming out of an Audi Q7, which I loved, but I'm happier to be driving American and not feeling that I took a step down in quality. I believe price is comparable. price is comparable to the audi, not the highlander. |
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Please look at the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland; everything that the Highlander is plus more equipment and off road capable; super new engine, I get 19 miles per gallon, regular unleaded gas, lots of room, uses chassis and suspension bits plus front seats from Mercedes. I am coming out of an Audi Q7, which I loved, but I'm happier to be driving American and not feeling that I took a step down in quality. I believe price is comparable. price is comparable to the audi, not the highlander. Check your prices Chapper; Highlander Limited, 4x4 is almost exactly the same price as a Grand Cherokee Overland. My last Q7 was $58K; compared to $38K for the Jeep or Highlander. I would say the quality of the Jeep is on par with my Audi, however. |
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Drove a 2011 Ford Explorer. Ford ruined that vehicle. I still have 2002 Explorer. I had 95 Explorer before that.
Despite more gadgets and screens than the space shuttle they took all the room out of the vehicle by putting it on a Taurus frame. I've bought my last Explorer it seems. |
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I worked with a bunch of Toyota Motor Sales corporate guys. They could get any Toyota built to drive. Most of them drove Highlanders or Highlander Hybrids. They said the Hybrid was quicker the the non-hybrid. Not true, just has instant torque which makes it seem faster. Its actually slower. |
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Wife and I have one. It's a 2003 model. We like it. Comfortable and rides nice. I drove it in the snow last winter and it handled it well. I was impressed because when I drive my 4x4 truck in 4x4, the gas mileage drops a lot. When I drive the Highlander in slick conditions, the AWD comes and goes as required. The gas mileage didn't drop much at all vs my truck.
Speaking of mileage, we get about 23-24 mpg on the highway and about 20 average around town. It's a small SUV that rides like a car. It's not very off road capable but would handle mild slick road conditions. I'd buy another one. |
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Please look at the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland; everything that the Highlander is plus more equipment and off road capable; super new engine, I get 19 miles per gallon, regular unleaded gas, lots of room, uses chassis and suspension bits plus front seats from Mercedes. I am coming out of an Audi Q7, which I loved, but I'm happier to be driving American and not feeling that I took a step down in quality. I believe price is comparable. Toyota didn't take bailout money, Chrysler, the maker of Jeep, did take bailout money. It's your conscience. |
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I have one of the first ones sold in my town and the first sold by this dealership, a 2001 model now with 150K on it. To say the car has been dependable doesn't do it justice. Virtually the only thing I have had done to it other than the usual maintenance work was to replace the cap on the brake fluid reservoir (a tiny recall item). Otherwise it has been great and is still comfortable and free of squeaks and rattles which you might expect in a ten year old car.
I agree this is not really an off-road vehicle (at least with the tires I use), but the all-time FWD sure does well in snow. I am shooting for 200K and anything after that is sheer unadulterated gravy. |
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I would stay away from Chrysler products. My mom's Jeep Cherokee was the biggest piece of shit I ever saw. Nearly cost her her job trying to keep it running as a rural mail carrier. They are hard on vehicles. She finally got rid of the Jeep and bought a Highlander. It has been rock solid. |
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I looked at new Highlanders for my wife(kiddo on the way). We loved them, but didnt want to spend the coin on something for a kid to puke and piss all over. So we bought a clean low mileage 2007 Highlander. It was CPO, so it had 12/12 b2b coverage.
We love it so far. Its just like my 2005 Camry(which its based on, so not a big surprise). They are just wonderful vehicles. Ill seriously consider a new one once my Camry hits 150-175k. And the person saying the Jeep was as dependable as his Audi must have been laying the sarcasm on thick. VW's arent exactly known as the most reliable vehicles on the road. As dependable as the average new car has become, vw should be ashamed. |
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My wife and I just bought one last month. SE, 4wd, leather interior and tons of gizmos. Drove it to San Diego the week after we bought it and absolutely love it. We have a 7 month old daughter and it affords alot of comfort inside. Third row flip up seats are nice also. Very smooth ride. As written earlier, it's built on a Camry frame so you won't be crawling over rocks with it but it will handle any foul weather Mother Nature throws at you. I have complete peace of mind knowing my wife and daughter are on the road in it.
ETA: we had originally been looking at a 4 door Jeep Wrangler but for a family vehicle there really was no comparison. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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New.
Same price as the Highlander within a couple if hundred bucks. You lose a bit of luxury and gain a serious 4WD system. I got the SR5 trim level. The ride is stiffer as you might expect. It is one of the few honest to God mid sized SUV's that still exist. I'm pretty happy with it. |
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You lose a bit of luxury and gain a serious 4WD system. I got the SR5 trim level. Im glad you are happy, but there is no such thing as a "serious" four wheel drive system on late model vehicles. Unless you are talking about the Jeep Wran gler Rubicon package. But even that is somewhat weak. The new 4 runner should does look cook though. Better looking that the highlander that is for sure. |
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Looking to trade my Tacoma in on a Highlander . Need the room for the family. My older sedan bit the dust.
Just looking at getting FWD in a SE or LTD edition. I still have an older explorer (in the shop getting a new timing chain tensioner) that is off road capable. The Highlander, all wheel drive or not, is not off road capable. Given that, tell me what you think. UPDATE I went make the deal and came home with a 4Runner It had the 3rd row seat my wife wanted and true 4WD capability I wanted. So from a gas mileage perspective I now have an Explorer and a 4Runner. If we aren't at peak oil now we will be when I get done! Thanks for all the advice and the Highlander were nice but .... Right choice in the end, congrats! 
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You lose a bit of luxury and gain a serious 4WD system. I got the SR5 trim level. Im glad you are happy, but there is no such thing as a "serious" four wheel drive system on late model vehicles. Unless you are talking about the Jeep Wran gler Rubicon package. But even that is somewhat weak. The new 4 runner should does look cook though. Better looking that the highlander that is for sure. True, but if you are comparing it to the other SUV's out there I'll go with the 4Runner. It'll do anything I will ever want to try. |