I want a Highlander

[hedgeborn]

Hi.

I am thinking of buying a Highlander.

Yes, I know it's kind of a mom-mobile, but it's just about perfect for my needs.

*disclaimer*
Before you think I am some kind of SUV poseur, I was driving an old school Landcruiser through some of the roughest sections of Oregon wildlands you'd ever want to see--- and long before SUV's became cool.

With that out of the way, I like the fact that the Highlander will outhandle and out accelerate most SUV's out there and get better fuel economy doing it. Since I (and 99% of the world) spend most of my time on the pavement that's a priority. I did not mind a rough ride and sketchy handling before when all I had were trucks, but after driving a sporty car for a while I'm looking for something of a happy medium.

I like the Highlander because it's not trying to be cool/hip like the Acura MDX and BMW SUV's --- it's just pure function.

So.... I realize I might be the only one on here who wants or likes the Highlander, but I'd like to think otherwise.

Does anyone here have one?

[hedgeborn]

[fastgascar]

There a great running SUV we got ours in April '01 with all the options available in the indigo ink blue, which makes it even harder to get. IMO the AWD works great, I did not test drive the 2wd but I would imagine like most FWD vehicles it will have tq steer when accelerating aggressively. I have tried to get the Highlander out of shape on slick surfaces, but the VSC (traction control system) never let's me, so it's doing it's job. Since it does see more street then dirt, I will be putting on some bigger wheels with more of a street thread design(like stock). I have bigger all terrain tires on it now and it just doesn't handle as good as even the stock tires did. It averages 19-21MPG with a combined city/hwy so it's alot better than the full size SUV's.

[hedgeborn]

Cool, cool

I am probably going to get the non-Limited model with a LSD.

I prefer the LSD to electronic systems that pull back the throtte etc just because it is very predictable and very effective at improving traction.

Unfortunately Toyota builds hardly any Highlanders with the limited slip diff, so you've got to special order one. I'm ready to do that though and i'll wait months to get the vehicle I want if need be.

According to the dealer I spoke to he says that you can send a request for a certain configuration to the factory and they will accept or deny it. Has anyone here special ordered a Toyota like that before.

[DieselUV]

If I were to get a Highlander, I'd get the Molly Designs body kit. I think it looks pretty nice.

www.mollydesigns.com

[SteVTEC]

Hmm...this is a little late but oh well.

My fiance and I have a 2002 Highlander AWD Limited and it's sweet. At only 3880lb it's 500-600 lb lighter than a lot of other SUV's so it feels pretty light on its feet for an SUV and the 1MZ-FE VVT-i engine gives plenty of thrust with not much weight to drag around. It's very comfortable on the highway on long trips, ride is very quiet, and mileage is excellent. On a trip from the DC area to Virginia Beach (4 hour trip each way) we averaged about 23-24 mpg. The transmission is also very smooth and knows what gear it ought to be in. And unlike the Pilot, the HL doesn't have to rely in a ridiculously tall Z E R O power overdrive gear to meet fuel mileage targets. At 80 mph it is turning about 3000rpm which keeps it nice and responsive - you rarely need a downshift to 3rd. All that and 23-24 mpg also.

Here's some pics...



The AWD system proved pretty capable for light duty off road stuff, and it even made it all the way out to the water through the deeper sand at the Outer Banks, NC (near that truck in the far-center of the pic on the right). But that was with going through somebody else's tracks. It couldn't cut a path through the deep stuff by itself. I felt it losing traction and probably about to get stuck and quickly steered it back into some previous ruts. All you'd need are some off-road biased tires. The OEM tires are designed to give a good on-road ride and weren't intended for off-roading.

All in all we love it.

[Xenon]

My friend just bought a highlander and took it off-roading and he was very impressed, this is a guy who's driven SUV's all his life, but now since he's married he wanted to settle down and get something more practical than a big SUV..

He's loving it, I took it out for a spin and it drove great, very good handling and not noisy on the highway like many other SUV's...

[SILVERROLLA]

I just got a Highlander V6 FWD months ago. It is an excellent SUV and when accelerated hard, I didnt feel toomuch torque steer. Dam this engine is good. I wonder how the 3.3 is???