Info on Highlander

Few things that I dislike my Highlander 2005 is the door is too light and can not be closed eaily. You have to push it harder to close the door otherwise the roof light will be on for whole night. Also , there is no auto lock and auto unlock function while you start to drive and while you stop the car. Besides that , I have no further problems with the highlander besides expensive gas , it costs me 45 dollars to fill up the tank. One thing highlander is superior than other same level SUV is that it is very roomy inside. Henry

You actually _like_ that feature? One of my cars has it, and I find it annoying.

Expensive gas in that it requires premium, or because it gets poor gas mileage? I don't see how spending $45 per tank of gas would be a problem in itself, assuming the car didn't get lousy mileage in addition.

I was a bit taken aback the first time I filled the tank of my #2 car and it cost $55, then I realized that it was the biggest car I'd ever owned and had a fuel tank to match. Once I real- ied that it had gotten 27 miles per gallon on the long drive home, the expensive fill-ups were no longer an issue.

Geoff

First of all, the Highlander does not use prenimum gas, just regular unleaded---states it in the owners manual.

I've had no problems with the doors and the auto lock function would be annonying, so I'm glad it doesn't.

I have a 2003 and can't really say I've found anything wrong. I installed my own hitch and found the OEM wiring harness easy to install.

I have wondered a few times while at the gas pump if I would have been better off getting the 4 cyl model as I have the 6 cyl. As for 4x4, that means more gas and there is a bolt or two underneath on those models that needs to be retorqued from time to time.

Firebird wrote:

Isn't the Highlander a unibody design? And aren't unibody vehicles inappropriate for towing?

Naah, you did the right thing. Always get the big engine. Paying a little more for gas is a small price to pay for having reserve power there when you need it, and it's also better for the car's resale value.

Geoff

Unibody vehicles are not inappropriate for towing, however, they generally do not have the same capacity as a similarly sized body-on-frame configuration.

Actually, my Highlander came with the tow-prep package which I wanted. So, it must be OK for towing but so far all I've towed is a small utility trailer. I'm wondering how it would handle a small sail boat ?

Depends, is the sail set or stowed? LOL

mike

Well, if it was set I'd probably get better gas mileage, LOL. Do you know of anyone who tows a boat with a Highlander ?

Mike Hunter wrote:

I don't know many that own a Highlander, period. Most of the folks I knew own GM and Fords to tow their big boats up the mountains around here. ;)

mike hunt

Mike, you don't sound much like a Toyota person using such foul language as "GM" and "Ford" ! I'll put my Highlander up to them anyday--that is at the gas pump ! LOL

Mike Hunter wrote:

Is the Highlander still being built on the Lexus chassis?..

The chassis is not really a Lexus chassis. The Highlander, RX 350, and RX