2008 vs. 2011 model, differences in how it drives?

[annie68164]

Hi I'm new here, never have owned a Toyota but loved my test drive of the 2011 Highlander so much I am very seriously considering purchasing it. I found a 2008 model with 35,000 miles on it that has all the options we want and it looks like we could save about $5,000-6,000 going used. I just wanted to know if anyone could tell me if the 08' sport would drive differently than the 11' SE that uses the new EPS steering. I loved how the 11' handled and since most of my driving is highway/interstate how the car handles at high speeds is very important to me. This used one is located far from where we live so before we go on a long adventure to take a look at it I'd love to hear any opinions on the difference between the two years. I've alread read up on the options etc. just wonder how it feels to drive, is the steering tight, road noise quiet, agililty etc. Thanks!

[annie68164]

Also if anyone has recently purchased an 08' Highlander would you mind telling what you paid and how many miles on it, 4x4, options etc.?

[rmd0311]

I just traded our 08 for an 11. The 11 is definitely stiffer. But other than that all the same.

[luckycharm]

Good Day

I have owned 08 Highlander sport 4WD since 08/2010 with 60K miles. I bought it from individual on craigslist I paid $17500, for the same car same milage at Toyota dealer they asked 24K.
Wife and I drove so many SUV such as 09 Pilot and Chevys. but found that toyota drove quieter and nicer on any kind of roads, it felt like driving my Lexus LS430 therefore we bought it.
if you only saving $5000 then I would go with 2011 model, highlander keeps they value high and the new once look nicer. if you are saving 10K or more then go with 08.
the only thing I don't like about the highlander is the space. I wish it was at least a little wider or the trunk longer. third row up will take all the space in the back leaving you with nothing. if you don't care about third row seat then the space in the back almost the size of any sedan's trunk.
Gas milage on 08 highlander not impressing. we drive 70-80% highway in none traffic areas and we still get only between 17.5 to 19 MPG.
compare this to new Chevy suburban that gets 17 MPG.

[05Moose]

Originally Posted by luckycharm

Gas milage on 08 highlander not impressing. we drive 70-80% highway in none traffic areas and we still get only between 17.5 to 19 MPG.
compare this to new Chevy suburban that gets 17 MPG.

That's surprising since we're getting anywhere from 20 - 22 mpg. Took a trip this weekend and got just over 22 mpg. Haven't seen less than 20 mpg regardless of where/how we've driven.

[Yazon]

MPG depends on :
- speed
- how you drive
- where you live/drive
- tire size/thread/condition/inflation
- load (passengers/belongings)
- alignment
- gas quality
- wind conditions
- roof box or lack of

and more....

On our recent trip from CA to AZ I've got 27MPG on a flat highway going about 80mph. in mixed city/highway driving (with highway being about 60%) i get 22mpg on a V6 2WD. Highlander's sweet spot in terms of speed is right at around 60-65mph. So if you drive faster all the time - the mph will drop substantially.

As far as price - when I bought our Base V6, 1 year used with 12K miles - it was exactly 1 year old and we paid 19K before taxes. Which was about $8k difference vs new one. When the car leaves the dealer lot it will loose 3-4K right away, because it's no longer new. So I don't know if saving 5K is actually worth it.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by luckycharm

Gas milage on 08 highlander not impressing. we drive 70-80% highway in none traffic areas and we still get only between 17.5 to 19 MPG.
compare this to new Chevy suburban that gets 17 MPG.

Originally Posted by 05Moose

That's surprising since we're getting anywhere from 20 - 22 mpg. Took a trip this weekend and got just over 22 mpg. Haven't seen less than 20 mpg regardless of where/how we've driven.

I agree with Moose. If that's your mileage at 70-80% highway then there's something wrong IMO. I typically drive 70% city and 30% highway and average 22 MPG. I'd estimate getting 24-25 MPG with your city/highway split.

[becks]

My 08 has 31k on it. Highwayin northeast (that means some hills) I get between 21-22.5mpg. If I stay below 65mph I can squeak 23 out of her. Around suburban town I get 17-18mpg.

[toy08]

Seems like the Limited's get worse gas mileage than the base. Living in Seattle with some slopes and hills, I only get around 12-15 strictly in City. I don't drive aggressive either. Highways I can get around 21-23, but that's usually going over the mountain passes. If I have my snow tires on, it goes down an additional mile.

[lucky777]

Is limited heavier then base? I get 21-22 in mixed driving and 24-25MPG HWY on my 2008 base AWD. I'm loosing about 2MPG when gas stations here switch on winter gas brand.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by lucky777

Is limited heavier then base?

I don't have any figures, but I'd guess they are based on a plethora of electric seat motors, nav equipment and wiring, heated seat wiring, entertainment/DVD equipment and wiring, added soundproofing, etc. I'd take a wild guess at 200 to 300 pounds extra. Don't shoot me, anyone, if those numbers are off....

[05Moose]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

I don't have any figures, but I'd guess they are based on a plethora of electric seat motors, nav equipment and wiring, heated seat wiring, entertainment/DVD equipment and wiring, added soundproofing, etc. I'd take a wild guess at 200 to 300 pounds extra. Don't shoot me, anyone, if those numbers are off....

Good guess. Limited weighs 198 lbs more than base (per Toyota's website). Shouldn't be enough to affect the mileage like that though. Unless the 2008 Limited weighs more than a 2011 Limited?

We're on year-round 10% ethanol fuel, so what we're seeing is based on the lower MPGs for ethanol.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by 05Moose

Good guess. Limited weighs 198 lbs more than base (per Toyota's website). Shouldn't be enough to affect the mileage like that though. Unless the 2008 Limited weighs more than a 2011 Limited?

We're on year-round 10% ethanol fuel, so what we're seeing is based on the lower MPGs for ethanol.

You're right. I noticed a nearly 10% drop on my recent 1,000 mile trip to Monterey. I only got 24.5 MPG highway at a constant 70 MPH. That's bogus! I like to fill up in Nevada whenever I'm near the border....

[Dman1]

Yeah, I would say that you have an issue if your mileage is that bad on the highway. In August, I drove from Moncton, New Brunswick to Elkhart, Indiana to pick up a new travel trailer. In my 2009 3.5L V6 AWD Limited (with the factory hitch and bull bars on the front, which together must add a few hundred pounds), and I got around 10.1 L/100km (23.3MPG), according to the MFD, over 2,303 km. Keep in mind that this included more than 60 minutes sitting in traffic due to construction, and likely averaging 5 to 10MPH over the posted speed limit (i.e. around 70 MPH on average) throughout the trip.

Conversely to this, while hauling a 3600-4000lb parachute, I mean high sided travel trailer, for the same trip coming home, I averaged 22.9 L/100km (10.27 MPG)...and that was babying it at anywhere from 10MPH below the speed limit up to the speed limit, typically traveling in 4th gear. I learned quickly during this trip how much speed affects MPG...it's 10x worse when hauling a high sided travel trailer. When I started home, I was traveling upwards of 75MPH, and my mileage dropped below 9 MPG.

[becks]

I have a 4,000lb boat/trailer...when towing it I get about 15mpg...