CTC Review: 2008 Toyota Highlander

[CD_Editor]

Picture Gallery:  2008 Toyota Highlander

Day 1:

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Perhaps you have seen the commercials recently on TV:  a man parallel parks his SUV everyday at home and has hit the same tree and neighbour's car countless times.  In comes the new SUV -- a 2008 Toyota Highlander -- and he no longer hits the tree or car because of the reverse sensors. More ...

[airbalancer]

"Perhaps you have seen the commercials recently on TV: a man parallel parks his SUV everyday at home and has hit the same tree and neighbour’s car countless times. In comes the new SUV — a 2008 Toyota Highlander — and he no longer hits the tree or car because of the reverse sensors."
This add makes me think only morons drive HL( not you Over 50)
It will be on my list if I get a SUV, but not a base model, loaded only please

[Ben]

Could you comment on the Canadian retail price versus the US price for the Highlander 2008, and explain why there is such a difference, even after taking into account the exchange rate?

[ovr50]

Could you comment on the Canadian retail price versus the US price for the Highlander 2008, and explain why there is such a difference, even after taking into account the exchange rate?

Yada, yada, yada.................ad infinitum......

You expect wing to know why there is a price difference between 2008 Highlanders in the US and Canada?  Have you searched any of this forum? There is only about 8 current threads on this very topic.   

[coldcase]

Still, Ben has a point.  In the newspaper today was in fact an article about the 2008 HL where the journalist asked exactly why was the same equipped HL $12 000 more here even if we are almost at par with the USD ?  He thought Toyota was pushing it...and I agree.

And no, I won't stop talking about it even if there's 100 threads here.   Right now we are being screwed and companies need to know.  Money talks.  Buy from companies that, at least, have less of a gap between US and Canada prices.  I know Toyota can keep it's HL at that price.

And frankly it's the same boring RAV 4 style but bigger....another boring looking Toyota.  They might sell a lot of them because of the reliability and fuel economy but they are not  after car enthusiasts  and certainly not people that like to drive for fun.   I'm not a fan as you can see...

[airbalancer]

Does anyone have any thoughts on a the HL

[quadzilla]

And frankly it's the same boring RAV 4 style but bigger....another boring looking Toyota.  They might sell a lot of them because of the reliability and fuel economy but they are not  after car enthusiasts  and certainly not people that like to drive for fun.   I'm not a fan as you can see...

Sounds like you don't like this SUV much so why do you even care what the price (difference) is...you won't be buying one anyway.

[carcrazy]

The car buyers drive Toyota's high prices in Canada not the exchange rate. If the customers are willing to buy their cars at the asking prices, why not charge them more? Wouldn't you charge more for your product or service if the customers accept it? While not a moral thing, it’s all about business and making money. All car manufactures do the same thing, but Toyota and Honda are the most outrageous.
The only way to make them drop the prices is people to stop buying their cars. Now, why people are buying their cars at any price? Because the majority of the car buyers (not the enthusiasts) want a reliable car with good resale value and the wide perception is that Toyota offers these attributes, not questions asked.
Is this absolutely true? No. Are the CURRENT Toyotas bulletproof? No. If you your research, you will find out the new Rav4 and Camry have quality problems. The resale value is relatively high, but the high initial purchase price significantly cuts or cancels this advantage.
In my opinion, one of the biggest culprits in today’s situation regarding Toyota pricing is the auto press which continues to overrate their cars based on data from the 90’s, therefore give them the opportunity to charge more. They put Toyota on the pedestal they are on today and they seem to continue to do so for different reasons (I suspect business reasons related to advertising money and other similar things).

[airbalancer]

Is that a clock between the 2 centre vents?
Looks weird in that location

[carcrazy]

Do you have the option for a full second row bench? How comfortable is the middle seat on the second row? Usually it's the worst place to sit in any car, but this design seems to be even worst.

[carcrazed]

$41340 for a base model??? Hyundai Santa Fe for me please
AB, the thing between the 2 centre vents is multifunctional display.. with clock, fuel economy, trip computer, etc.  I think it's out of place too.. they should move it between the gauges and add another HVAC vent in its place.
The armrest on the doors look very cheap to me.. at least on picture

[UmroAyyar]

Is that a clock between the 2 centre vents?
Looks weird in that location

Thats the location for the reverse view camera. Since the base model doesn't have it, looks like a digital clock.

[sailor723]

Looks like a great $30-40K CUV to me. Too bad you have to pay an extra 10 grand for the name!

[airbalancer]

saw a pearl white one as I drove by the dealer, looks very nice

[UmroAyyar]

saw a pearl white one as I drove by the dealer, looks very nice

airbalancer, you've been checking out vehicles in this category, I would like to know your assessment of this one as well.

[Blueprint]

Fearless prediction : HL sales will keep going down in Canada.  Why would a Canadian family buy this instead of a cheaper, and much more usefull Sienna ?  You could say "image", but larger SUVs are losing their shine quite fast these days.  It seems the RAV4 doesn't give away much in usefull room for the price diff.

Around Montreal, I was seeing quite a lot of 1st gen Highlanders in base trim (front-drive with the 4 cyl.), and that model was selling in the 32-33k$ range.  These buyers will probably move to the RAV4 at lease end or when trading in.

Over at Honda, the base fwd Pilot ia priced about the same as the EX Odyssey, leaving only the "image" question for the buyer.

[Sir Meow]

Yet another bland SUV from Toyota, It will sell well, be better than anything GM or dodge can put together. Is there any point in review these SUV's any more.

[dave 2]

Saturn Outlook or GMC Acadia looks like the best bet for my new van/suv needs...

[ovr50]

Yet another bland SUV from Toyota, It will sell well, be better than anything GM or dodge can put together. Is there any point in review these SUV's any more.

Yes, Yes. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Fearless prediction : HL sales will keep going down in Canada.  Why would a Canadian family buy this instead of a cheaper, and much more usefull Sienna ?  You could say "image", but larger SUVs are losing their shine quite fast these days.  It seems the RAV4 doesn't give away much in usefull room for the price diff.

Around Montreal, I was seeing quite a lot of 1st gen Highlanders in base trim (front-drive with the 4 cyl.), and that model was selling in the 32-33k$ range.  These buyers will probably move to the RAV4 at lease end or when trading in.

Over at Honda, the base fwd Pilot ia priced about the same as the EX Odyssey, leaving only the "image" question for the buyer.

the price has crept up to beyond what many Canadians will spend.

Santa Fe has it right.