Suspension, gas mileage, brakes

[Mario Amodeo]

Wound up purchasing a 2002 XLE/6cyl. Fully loaded, 60K. It remained at the Toy dealer for sunroof fix. My loaner for two weeks was a 2004 SE, 4cyl. Anyhow, the suspension on the SE is super. Have the XLE back and unhappy with the soft suspension; the front end takes a dive when I hit the brakes. I put high pressure in the Michelins to sort of compensate. Question: which after market struts most closely resemble the SE setup. Toyota does not sell the SE strut brace. Which one of those is recommended?

Also, asked the service people about the drive by wire nonsense. Was told that the computer constantly readjusts and disconnecting the battery does nothing and there is no computer upgrade. Are they blowing me off?

Gas mileage: Prescott to Phoenix, 100 miles downhill, 35 mpg. Phoenix to Prescott, uphill, 27 mpg. Average 31 mpg. Not bad. This was using cruise as much as possible, 140 miles of it at 80 mph, 30miles at 70mph, 30miles at 40-60mph. I think I drive differently with a trip computer staring at me. All cars should be equipped with instant/avg mpg readouts.

Brakes: the SE had orig pads and it could be scary until you adjust to the required foot pressure. The 2002 at 60K must have different pads because the pedal is firmer and stops well.

I almost bought the 4cyl but I drive many miles on the interstates in Northern AZ and the 6cyl blasts up the hills without all that downshifting going on.

Sorry for the long post but I thought I would include all the separate subjects into one.

Thanks for the info.

[jhbhatia]

welcome to TN. Congrats on your purchase. Its nice to read about noobies writing intresting test-drive writeups. Its fresh and unaltered. Gald you liked your purchase. As far as yoru suspension goes, were you planning on dropping the car or just stiffing up the suspension? cus tokico/eibach are a good combo's for this.

[Mario Amodeo]

Not lowering, just stiffen it up for more precise handling. Thanks.