2008 Highlander

The Toyota site has info on the new Highlander - no prices.

Wife's comment was, "it better have better seats than the one you have now"

I guess that means she wants to sit in it before I buy?

Ron

"Ron" <nobodyhere@nowhere.org> wrote in message
news:nYsyh.52810$QU1.49073@newssvr22.news.prodigy. net...
> The Toyota site has info on the new Highlander - no prices.
>
> Wife's comment was, "it better have better seats than the one you have
> now"
>
> I guess that means she wants to sit in it before I buy?
>
> Ron

To me, it looks like a big Rav4, the wheel arches look like they are from a
Mitsubishi Endeavor. I'm planning on going to the Chicago Auto Show, I'll
have to check it out there. (it is nice to go as a spectator and not stand
around handing out brochures and bags all day)

--

Ray O

Ray O <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
>
> To me, it looks like a big Rav4, the wheel arches look like they are from a
> Mitsubishi Endeavor. I'm planning on going to the Chicago Auto Show, I'll
> have to check it out there. (it is nice to go as a spectator and not stand
> around handing out brochures and bags all day)

What's most interesting to me is Toyota's comment: "The 2008 Highlander
is expected to get better gas mileage than the current model."

Recently I compared fuel economy of the RAV4, Subaru Outback, Escape hybrid,
and Highlander hybrid. The Ford Escape wins, but among models recommended
by Consumer Reports, the RAV4 wins. The RAV4 has a surprising amount of
cargo space, and comfortable seating for four. Considering its high price,
it's easy to reject the Highlander hybrid. City/combined/highway mileage:

17/23/29 RAV4 4
15/22/29 RAV4 V6
14/21/31 Subaru 4
13/19/28 Subaru V6
22/26/29 Escape hybrid
16/22/28 Highlander hybrid

If my Trooper broke down today, I'd get a RAV4 V6 4WD. If my Trooper lasts
until next summer, I'll look at the 2008 Highlander. For a "recreational"
4WD vehicle, highway mileage seems more important than city mileage.

"Ron" <nobodyhere@nowhere.org> wrote in message
news:Tctyh.52811$QU1.7659@newssvr22.news.prodigy.n et...
> Good Ray - she hates the seats in the Highlander but we usually take it on
> trips. The interior looks like our Avalon (05) and she loves the seats in
> it.
>
> I was beside the Mitsu today and yeah, now you mention it are similar. I
> don't know about 19" wheels that they say are standard. Ride?
>

IMO, the trend towards larger wheels is more of a style thing - vehicles
look more substantial with larger wheels and the larger wheels do improve
ground clearance. The larger wheels also add unsprung weight so
theoretically, handling will be worse but in most cases, people never
notice. Wheel size affects ride quality to the extent that the larger
sidewall area provides more cushioning, but the biggest effect on ride
quality is suspension design.
--

Ray O

"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
news:un3ls2h06pvusp35226rn275i85oo7grne@...
> On Wed, 7 Feb 2007 15:06:56 -0800, "Ron" <nobodyhere@nowhere.org>
> wrote:
>
>>The Toyota site has info on the new Highlander - no prices.
>>
>>Wife's comment was, "it better have better seats than the one you have
>>now"
>>
>>I guess that means she wants to sit in it before I buy?
>>
>>Ron
>>
>
> You can take that statement to the bank...LOL
> --
>
> Scott in Florida
>
>

Or he can find out how comfortable the couch is to sleep on!
--

Ray O

"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
news:cp3ls2t0s0s3h75pf0sus8hu96u3fnalpi@...
> On Wed, 7 Feb 2007 17:17:55 -0600, "Ray O"
> <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Ron" <nobodyhere@nowhere.org> wrote in message
>>news:nYsyh.52810$QU1.49073@newssvr22.news.prodig y.net...
>>> The Toyota site has info on the new Highlander - no prices.
>>>
>>> Wife's comment was, "it better have better seats than the one you have
>>> now"
>>>
>>> I guess that means she wants to sit in it before I buy?
>>>
>>> Ron
>>
>>To me, it looks like a big Rav4, the wheel arches look like they are from
>>a
>>Mitsubishi Endeavor. I'm planning on going to the Chicago Auto Show, I'll
>>have to check it out there. (it is nice to go as a spectator and not
>>stand
>>around handing out brochures and bags all day)
>
> Take your camera and send us pictures!!!
> --
>
> Scott in Florida
>
>

Oh yeah, make me look like a Japanese tourist!
--

Ray O

"Bill Tuthill" <ccreekinm> wrote in message
news:45ca9896@news.meer.net...
> Ray O <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
>>
>> To me, it looks like a big Rav4, the wheel arches look like they are from
>> a
>> Mitsubishi Endeavor. I'm planning on going to the Chicago Auto Show,
>> I'll
>> have to check it out there. (it is nice to go as a spectator and not
>> stand
>> around handing out brochures and bags all day)
>
> What's most interesting to me is Toyota's comment: "The 2008 Highlander
> is expected to get better gas mileage than the current model."

The current 4 cylinder Highlander has a 4 speed transmission and the V6 has
a 5 speed transmission. I would imagine that a combination of different
differential and transmission ratios or a 6 speed transmission would improve
fuel economy.

>
> Recently I compared fuel economy of the RAV4, Subaru Outback, Escape
> hybrid,
> and Highlander hybrid. The Ford Escape wins, but among models recommended
> by Consumer Reports, the RAV4 wins. The RAV4 has a surprising amount of
> cargo space, and comfortable seating for four. Considering its high
> price,
> it's easy to reject the Highlander hybrid. City/combined/highway mileage:
>
> 17/23/29 RAV4 4
> 15/22/29 RAV4 V6
> 14/21/31 Subaru 4
> 13/19/28 Subaru V6
> 22/26/29 Escape hybrid
> 16/22/28 Highlander hybrid
>
> If my Trooper broke down today, I'd get a RAV4 V6 4WD. If my Trooper
> lasts
> until next summer, I'll look at the 2008 Highlander. For a "recreational"
> 4WD vehicle, highway mileage seems more important than city mileage.
>

In your comparison, the Highlander is a larger vehicle than the Rav4,
Outback, and Escape so it would be at a fuel economy disadvantage. I would
imagine that the hybrid drivetrain in the Escape is pretty comparable to
Toyota's hybrid drivetrains since it is supplied by Aisin, a Toyota group
company.

A more valid comparison for the Highlander would be the Mitsubishi Endeavor,
Ford Edge, GM's crossovers, and the Kia and Hyundai crossovers.

As I'm sure you're aware, EPA fuel economy numbers tend to be optimistic
when compared to real world figures, and IMO, the smaller the engine, the
more optimistic fuel economy numbers tend to be because a small engine has
to work harder to overcome variables like weight, road incline, and
aerodynamic drag. For example, when we put a roof top carrier on our 4
cylinder 2.4 liter Previa or towed a 1,000 lb trailer with 7 passengers
aboard, our real world high fuel economy dropped from about 21 to 14.
Putting the same roof top carrier on our 4.7 liter V8 Sequoia made no
measurable difference in fuel economy, and towing a larger 3,000 lb trailer
decreased highway fuel economy about 2 MPG to about 14. Our kids are
starting to move out of the house and I don't drive carloads of Boy Scouts
or cheerleaders around every week like I used to. Since we do not need the
passenger or cargo capacity of the Sequoia, after our daughter is off to
college, I'm thinking that a Rav4 or Highlander would be sufficient for our
needs.
--

Ray O

On Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:17:55 -0600, Ray O wrote:

> "Ron" <nobodyhere@nowhere.org> wrote in message
> news:nYsyh.52810$QU1.49073@newssvr22.news.prodigy. net...
>> The Toyota site has info on the new Highlander - no prices.
>>
>> Wife's comment was, "it better have better seats than the one you have
>> now"
>>
>> I guess that means she wants to sit in it before I buy?
>>
>> Ron
>
> To me, it looks like a big Rav4, the wheel arches look like they are from a
> Mitsubishi Endeavor. I'm planning on going to the Chicago Auto Show, I'll
> have to check it out there. (it is nice to go as a spectator and not stand
> around handing out brochures and bags all day)

And speak Japanese, just to throw them off...?

"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
newslcms2l35k1s8h0soim6i4pao9gj5cjrni@...
> On Wed, 7 Feb 2007 23:23:50 -0600, "Ray O"
> <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
>>news:cp3ls2t0s0s3h75pf0sus8hu96u3fnalpi@. ..
>>> On Wed, 7 Feb 2007 17:17:55 -0600, "Ray O"
>>> <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Ron" <nobodyhere@nowhere.org> wrote in message
>>>>news:nYsyh.52810$QU1.49073@newssvr22.news.prod igy.net...
>>>>> The Toyota site has info on the new Highlander - no prices.
>>>>>
>>>>> Wife's comment was, "it better have better seats than the one you have
>>>>> now"
>>>>>
>>>>> I guess that means she wants to sit in it before I buy?
>>>>>
>>>>> Ron
>>>>
>>>>To me, it looks like a big Rav4, the wheel arches look like they are
>>>>from
>>>>a
>>>>Mitsubishi Endeavor. I'm planning on going to the Chicago Auto Show,
>>>>I'll
>>>>have to check it out there. (it is nice to go as a spectator and not
>>>>stand
>>>>around handing out brochures and bags all day)
>>>
>>> Take your camera and send us pictures!!!
>>> --
>>>
>>> Scott in Florida
>>>
>>>
>>
>>Oh yeah, make me look like a Japanese tourist!
>
> Hell, I do....but you look the part a bit more
> than me.
>
> Nothing wrong with that!!!!
>
> --
>
> Scott in Florida
>

Well, instead of charging me $5 for a hot dog, they'll want $10!
--

Ray O

Ray O <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
> In your comparison, the Highlander is a larger vehicle than the Rav4,
> Outback, and Escape so it would be at a fuel economy disadvantage.

I guess it's bigger, but it has .5 cubic foot less cargo space than
the RAV4 or Escape, which both have 38.5 cubic feet according to CR.
Here is the comparison with cargo space included:

cargo CR city/combo/
cu.ft. highway
38.5 17/23/29 RAV4 4
38.5 15/22/29 RAV4 V6
31.0 14/21/31 Subaru 4
31.0 13/19/28 Subaru V6
38.5 22/26/29 Escape hybrid
38.0 16/22/28 Highlander hybrid

> As I'm sure you're aware, EPA fuel economy numbers tend to be optimistic
> when compared to real world figures,

Those fuel economy numbers were from Consumer Reports road testing.
Agreed about EPA numbers.

> ... For example, when we put a roof top carrier on our 4
> cylinder 2.4 liter Previa or towed a 1,000 lb trailer with 7 passengers
> aboard, our real world high fuel economy dropped from about 21 to 14.

That's certainly what happens with the Subaru. With kayaks on top,
we typically experience under 20 MPG from a 6-cylinder Outback.

> Putting the same roof top carrier on our 4.7 liter V8 Sequoia made no
> measurable difference in fuel economy...

Interesting. However my friend with a Chevy Silverado does notice
a drop-off in fuel economy with stuff on the roof. I'm not certain
he has quantified this. Aerodynamics certainly play a role, because
the old Silverado is big and has very poor coefficient of drag.