PhoenixRising's 2007 Toyota Highander Hybrid

[PhoenixRising]

So, here's the deal. I go to my local KING TOYOTA Dealership, to get the oil changed in my HyCanry, after it got repaired from the accident it was in. (For Those Who Came In Late: My 2007 Camry Hybrid was rear ended about two weeks ago by someone who had no real contact information; in other words, I ended up paying for it.)

While I am waiting for the oil change, Anthony, my dealer (he has sold me four TOYOTA'S; soon five!), comes over, and asks me what I think of the new Cruiser they have. I tell him, it's nice, but not for me. Now, if you have a Highlander Hybrid, I would love to see that.

And so, he shows me this one...And next thing I know, I'm trading in my '07 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID which only had 9,585 miles on it; he gave me $28,000 for it.

Nice. Now this Highlander is a Hybrid, which runs like my Camry, only not as great mileage (still better then a regular one, by far), and it has 3.3-liter double overhead cam (DOHC), 24-valve VVT-i V6 which gets 208 hp (155 kW) @ 5600 rpm, 212 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm. It's faster then the Camry, which is not the reason I got it, but is nice.

The interior is more like a 'regular' SUV , and this tach like device, which is not a tach, but is designed to look like one. What this gauge shows is your kW as it goes up and down, as the car drives. It moves like a tach...And this vehicle is limited, what ever that means, and has a third row that folds down..

Oh, and when you slow down in this car, it's engineered to sound a little like the Jetsons car, I swear it does...

I have decided to name him Scotty...as in, since Highlander is a soldier in a Scottish Highland regiment, and since he (Scotty) was Scottish..and I love Star Trek...seem like a perfect fit.

Here are two pics, after a stock shot. The one of the inside was taken at night with my (I think), temporarily hook up for my iPod. Hope to integrate it more properly soon.

[AmyJane]

Very snazzy, sir!

[wawalker]

Just can't be w/o the "new car smell" eh? You know they sell that scent now...

Boy, that '05 is getting positively ancient, isn't it? When will you be replacing it?

[Shay]

Nice

soon you will be going at the new car thing like shannon

[JuggBug]

Awesome TJ! I especially like the 'burlwood' center console....very sophisticated! Hubba, hubba!

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by wawalker

Just can't be w/o the "new car smell" eh? You know they sell that scent now...

Boy, that '05 is getting positively ancient, isn't it? When will you be replacing it?

My wife loves the '05 Prius. In fact, we discussed trading that in, but then the Camry got rear ended, and although not much damage, it was able to get a lot more for the trade in. The advantage of paying for the car with cash.

I do love that new car smell. When they repaired the Camry, they 'baked' it, to cure the paint. And in doing so, that brought back the new car smell in there. I wonder if I could 'bake' the Prius? Just to get that smell back.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by JuggBug

Awesome TJ! I especially like the 'burlwood' center console....very sophisticated! Hubba, hubba!

Thanks nice lady!

It is by far, the swankiest vehicle I has owned, yup.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by CyberGreenBaby

Very snazzy, sir!

Thanks!

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

My wife loves the '05 Prius. In fact, we discussed trading that in, but then the Camry got rear ended, and although not much damage, it was able to get a lot more for the trade in. The advantage of paying for the car with cash.

I do love that new car smell. When they repaired the Camry, they 'baked' it, to cure the paint. And in doing so, that brought back the new car smell in there. I wonder if I could 'bake' the Prius? Just to get that smell back.

You are, of course, aware that the "new car smell" is fumes from freshly minted carpets, padding, plastics, etc. and it is probably not that good for you?

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by wawalker

You are, of course, aware that the "new car smell" is fumes from freshly minted carpets, padding, plastics, etc. and it is probably not that good for you?

Bill, I have cancer, diabetes, and horrible, painful arthritis.

I don't think I'll let the new car smell bother me. If that kills me before cancer or diabetes, then more power to it.

[pdoel]

Welcome to the dark side. I remember the days you used to hate SUV drivers.

My SUV will be leaving in the spring, and you just got one.

Mwaahaaahaaaa. Hee hee.

Enjoy the new ride!!!

[FineExampl]

Looks alot like my gal's Rav4.
Just watch out. She likes to drives over curbs with the 4WD cuz she can. She scared some motorists one day. Good thing she's a good driver.

[Breez]

My mom and I went and test drove a hybrid highlander over the summer, she kept thinking the car wasnt turned on lol. With the other hybrids, you could tell it was on, but that highlander was pretty cool. She came pretty close to buying it.

Anyways, we loved it, and I know you will, congratulations.

Maybe you should do your own oil changes, that dealership seems dangerous for you

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by pdoel

Welcome to the dark side. I remember the days you used to hate SUV drivers.

My SUV will be leaving in the spring, and you just got one.

Mwaahaaahaaaa. Hee hee.

Enjoy the new ride!!!

Well, I still am highly annoyed at your typical SUV, which burns way too much fuel, and their drivers, who often ignore people, and think they own the road with their large and in charge vehicles.

FOR THE RECORD: I'm not talking about you Pete.

I am talking about the lady who hit me, driving her SUV, who was talking on her cell phone, smoking, and had two kids with her.
Distracted, she was. I'm positive she did not see me, and thus, that is why she hit my HyCam. So, I must admit, the expression came to mind, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' However, then another expression came to mind, 'Love thy neighbor as yourself', and in that regard, the neighbor here is the planet, and the Highlander Hybrid gets over 29 MPG (Actual, real world MPG, as I just last night filled the tank for the first time), and as a reminder, when I am stopped at lights, or at times when the electric motor is pushing the SUV, I am not polluting.

I might not have kids. But a lot of people do have kids, and we should leave the planet a better place for them, after we have used it, mang.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by FineExampl

Looks alot like my gal's Rav4.
Just watch out. She likes to drives over curbs with the 4WD cuz she can. She scared some motorists one day. Good thing she's a good driver.

No 4WD here. All Front. I did realize I could, however, if I wanted, drive over curbs. The vehicle is higher then a typical car. More ground clearance. Bigger tires. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Look!
Down in South Florida!
It's a Dinosaur!
It's a Large Vehicle!
It's SCOTTY, Loyal Hybrid Highlander!




Okay, that was stupid.

[PhoenixRising]

Yeah, I almost forgot to mention the pointless thing that my SUV has: Seated seats.

Pointless here in the South.

[niki]

"Seated Seats," huh? Where do you get those at?

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by bmxbugzzi

"Seated Seats," huh? Where do you get those at?

Came with the vehicle. My wife loves them, and uses them all the time. I have yet to try them out.

[Breez]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

Came with the vehicle. My wife loves them, and uses them all the time. I have yet to try them out.

My beetle is the first vehicle that I have owned, that does not have heated seats (I call them BUTT warmers)

I didnt realize how much I had really enjoyed them until now

I warmers!

[Lnzbug]

Nice hybred I like the fact that you can see over traffic and it's still enviromentally friendly. Let's see more pics