New Guy Checking in

[bschurr]

Hey All -
Just wanted to say hi & check in. - Looks like a great forum!

I just picked up a 2011 Highlander Limited fully loaded for the wife to haul the kids. Previous 4WD rides and kid haulers included, Jeep Grand Cherokee, a couple of Ford Explorers, a Sequoia and most recently a couple of Volvo XC90s.

So far she loves the Highlander. We got a great deal and she digs all the fun gadgets including XM, Navi, BT & the rear DVD.

I am a serial leaser but like to customize my rides to accommodate my love of automobiles.

Aside from the obvious hitch, cross bars, tint and bulb upgrades what do folks typically do to these trucks?
TIA
-B

[sweeneyp]

Originally Posted by bschurr

Hey All -
Just wanted to say hi & check in. - Looks like a great forum!

I just picked up a 2011 Highlander Limited fully loaded for the wife to haul the kids. Previous 4WD rides and kid haulers included, Jeep Grand Cherokee, a couple of Ford Explorers, a Sequoia and most recently a couple of Volvo XC90s.

So far she loves the Highlander. We got a great deal and she digs all the fun gadgets including XM, Navi, BT & the rear DVD.

I am a serial leaser but like to customize my rides to accommodate my love of automobiles.

Aside from the obvious hitch, cross bars, tint and bulb upgrades what do folks typically do to these trucks?
TIA
-B

Well I've replaced the horn on mine (08 had a high pitch beep horn, I don't know if the 11's do), all HID xenon lights up front, and then I'm never done upgrading the audio There are quiet a few threads on this forum for lights and audio upgrades.
EDIT: Also K&N air filter and Weathertech All-Weather floor mats

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by bschurr

Hey All -
Just wanted to say hi & check in. - Looks like a great forum!

I just picked up a 2011 Highlander Limited fully loaded for the wife to haul the kids. Previous 4WD rides and kid haulers included, Jeep Grand Cherokee, a couple of Ford Explorers, a Sequoia and most recently a couple of Volvo XC90s.

So far she loves the Highlander. We got a great deal and she digs all the fun gadgets including XM, Navi, BT & the rear DVD.

I am a serial leaser but like to customize my rides to accommodate my love of automobiles.

Aside from the obvious hitch, cross bars, tint and bulb upgrades what do folks typically do to these trucks?
TIA
-B

Hey, welcome to Toyota Nation and also to the Highlander forums! In case you haven't checked it out yet a great place to see some of the mods done by members is in the Modifications section of the Maintenance & Modifications sticky thread. I've only done three mods myself, two of them very minor: K&N filter, vapor recovery carbon filter removal, and a 3rd row seat swap with another member. BTW, don't take offense at the Jeep reference in my sig, we're brothers in off-roading...we can get along....

[matt0420]

Welcome to the board!

Congrats on the 2011.

I was just wondering on your opinion of the HL compared to the Volvo XC90.

I've loved the XC90 since it came out, but I always figured it would be slightly out of my price range at this point.


As for mods, there aren't a hell of a lot you can really do other than the usual HID, rims, tint, etc...

My only mods are my led tailights and two weeks ago I had the factory Toyota hitch installed, though I dont know that a hitch would be considered a mod haha.

eBay does seem to have a lot of aftermarket grilles avaliable for the HL tho, might want to take a look at that.

[ROMAFERN]

Welcome to the club!

You are gonna love that Lander. My wife loves hers. I really like the way it does in the MPG department. I only filled up once when we drove it from Augusta, GA to New Orleans, LA. I was doing 75-90 with AC fully on. Great vehicle. If I was to get rid off my Tacoma, I would be getting a Lander.

[bschurr]

I appreciate the welcome!

Yeah - the horn is a big disappointment and delivers absolutely no respect. I gotta source an immediate replacement for that.

@TrailDust my off road Brutha - there is plenty of room for all makes and models on the trail or the track! Looks like a nice forum you run here!

Matt - I had a 2007 XC90 with the 3.2 and a 2008 4.4 V8. Both very competent, capable and super safe kid haulers. Unfortunately current lease incentives don't exist for the 90's only the XC60 and my wife needs the 3rd row. My only complaint about the XC is that they chew through brakes & tires.

Roma - my Volvo was getting about 14mpg around town and could never exceed 20 even at 100% highway driving. Too early to know about the Highlander - it doesn't have 100 miles on it yet but I am confident that it will surpass these Figures...

[becks]

Hi bschurr, and welcome to the Forums. As you will learn here in the forums, modifications are for the most part cosmetic. Family haulers don't warrant much, if anything in the way of performance upgrades from the after market developers. Needless to say it is a great vehicle for the price point, and is a pleasure to own. And Yes ! TrailDust does an awesome job here.

I noticed you own a 74 MGB, I used to have an MGBT. I still have a 69 TR6 in mint condition. Every time I climb in I want to say cheers and call everyone mate..

Happy Motoring !

[bschurr]

Originally Posted by becks

Hi bschurr, and welcome to the Forums. As you will learn here in the forums, modifications are for the most part cosmetic. Family haulers don't warrant much, if anything in the way of performance upgrades from the after market developers. Needless to say it is a great vehicle for the price point, and is a pleasure to own. And Yes ! TrailDust does an awesome job here.

I noticed you own a 74 MGB, I used to have an MGBT. I still have a 69 TR6 in mint condition. Every time I climb in I want to say cheers and call everyone mate..

Happy Motoring !

Tally ho!

I love the Triumphs - post up a pic, I would love to see it!



My MGB is all original and mint as well with only 57k miles in almost 38 years of ownership but it is a total garage queen and only gets occasional exercise.
All the best!
-B

[Thunderchief]

Welcome, I'm sure the HL will be much less eventful than the MG! : )
My first car was a Triumph Spitfire, it used to blow up once a week. My second car, ahh, that was a car that I still miss. See my avatar for a clue. It was a an Austin Healey 3000 MK-III.
My garage queen is now the G-35 coupe. It comes out ONLY in nice weather for a spin around the town.

[bschurr]

Originally Posted by Thunderchief

Welcome, I'm sure the HL will be much less eventful than the MG! : )
My first car was a Triumph Spitfire, it used to blow up once a week. My second car, ahh, that was a car that I still miss. See my avatar for a clue. It was a an Austin Healey 3000 MK-III.
My garage queen is now the G-35 coupe. It comes out ONLY in nice weather for a spin around the town.

AWESOME! My father-in-law has a '64 MK III - red with white coves - beautiful cars indeed!!

I love my G37 Vert too - Any mods to your G?
I have done a bunch of cosmetic mods to mine...