topic Re: NEW CAR HELP in Home

NEW CAR HELP

ScrapHappy — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 18:20:12 GMT

Hoping our minivan can last us the rest of this year, but looking ahead of what type of car to replace it with. Right now it's the Toyota Highlander, preferably a hybrid. If any of you have one (hybrid or non-hybrid) can you tell me its pros and cons? I'm interested in the hybrid because I drive a lot of miles and I'm so tired of filling up at the gas station 2-3 times a week. I'd also like to know if the routine maintenance and if something breaks on the hybrid is more expensive than a non-hybrid Highlander. I've also read that the gas mileage of Toyota Highlander hybrid is not accurate. That in tests drives, it was difficult to get that good gas mileage. Is that true? Thanks everyone.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

RedTop — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:48:41 GMT

I own a 2013 Toyota Highlander and am very pleased with this vehicle. It is not a hybrid. The only maintenance performed on this vehicle has been routine and covered under my 2 year maintenance free coverage, but I did purchase the extended warranty coverage, which would cover major issues with motor and transmission. This vehicle only has 8700 miles on it, as I'm retired and do not go out every day. I usually only buy gas once a month. Nothing about this vehicle has disappointed me. When I purchased this vehicle, Toyota was offering no interest financing for 60 months, which was a definite plus as well. I am a very satisfied Toyota customer, and would definitely buy another Highlander. My nephew just bought a hybrid Subaru, and is a very satisfied customer with that make and model. Good luck finding what meets your needs.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

ID2 — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:16:29 GMT

How about helping our own country and buy an American made vehicle?? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I drove anything other than American made. Just the way I am.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Buck-i-Nana — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:29:46 GMT

On 3/23/2015 ID2 said:
How about helping our own country and buy an American made vehicle?? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I drove anything other than American made. Just the way I am.

Good thing what the OP buys shouldn't affect your sleep at all.

geesh.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

ScrapHappy — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:33:27 GMT

Prior to the Toyota Minivan we own now, we have owned a Chevy, Pontiacs, Ford and Dodge. Nothing but constant problems with every one of them.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Buck-i-Nana — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:38:09 GMT

On 3/23/2015 ScrapHappy said:
Prior to the Toyota Minivan we own now, we have owned a Chevy, Pontiacs, Ford and Dodge. Nothing but constant problems with every one of them.

That's what sent my to my Honda dealer back in 2007.

I supported LOTS of the American economy with my Buick and Jeep and Ford, and it frequently left my budget extremely tight. I haven't had to do anything but routine maintenance with my CR-V and am still loving it like I did on day 1.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

kaydee50 — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:56:04 GMT

A lot of "foreign" cars are manufactured here in the U.S. When the cost for a new car is so significant, I would want the best quality I could afford regardless of the company name.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Nuttmeg — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:56:47 GMT

On 3/23/2015 ID2 said:
How about helping our own country and buy an American made vehicle?? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I drove anything other than American made. Just the way I am.

Most of the cars we buy are made in the USA. You may want to check Consumer Report's April Car issue for the recommended models for 2015.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

oceanbreezy — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:01:23 GMT

On 3/23/2015 Buck-i-Nana said:
On 3/23/2015 ScrapHappy said:
Prior to the Toyota Minivan we own now, we have owned a Chevy, Pontiacs, Ford and Dodge. Nothing but constant problems with every one of them.

That's what sent my to my Honda dealer back in 2007.

I supported LOTS of the American economy with my Buick and Jeep and Ford, and it frequently left my budget extremely tight. I haven't had to do anything but routine maintenance with my CR-V and am still loving it like I did on day 1.

I could not agree with you more. Before my Honda Accord in 2004, I owned Ford and Chevrolet, brand new. Each drove good for awhile, until things started ticking, dripping and then would not start at all. It was one problem after another. The last straw was when the mechanic didn't even figure out how to fix it. My Honda still drive like new. I am interested in buying a CR-V.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Serenity-Now — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:04:07 GMT

We just went through the quandry of buying a new (used) car, too. We considered the Subaru Forrester, then the Murano; but ended up very happy with a Honda Pilot. We found out the Murano was a bit too small for our liking, with a blind spot that was too worrisome. The Forrester was a bit too small for us too, after being used to much bigger vehicles. The Honda Pilot was our Goldilocks car. Good luck with your choice!

Re: NEW CAR HELP

RainyDayGal — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:09:52 GMT

On 3/23/2015 ID2 said:
How about helping our own country and buy an American made vehicle?? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I drove anything other than American made. Just the way I am.

Lots of cars are made right here in the U.S. by American workers even though you may think they are foreign. And even if it is a U.S. brand, how do you know the parts aren't foreign? Do a search on Toyota Manufacturing Plants and you will see there are several states that have plants making these vehicles. Research! Highlander made in Indiana!

Happy now?

"Toyota Motor Corp. has launched production of the 2014 Highlander large crossover in Princeton, Ind.

The popularity of the Highlander led Toyota to invest $430 million in the Princeton plant, creating an additional 600 jobs, the company said in a statement Thursday. In the first 11 months of the year, U.S. Highlander sales are up 6 percent from the same period a year ago, to 115,228 units.

Most of the jobs created at Princeton were new hires, and a spokesman at the plant said that almost all of the positions had been filled.

The company said it will export Highlanders from Indiana for the first time, shipping vehicles to Russia and Australia.

Toyota also will produce hybrid vehicles at the Princeton plant for the first time. The plant has built the gasoline-powered version of the Highlander since 2009 and production of the hybrid version is expected to begin in early 2014.

The Princeton plant is 114 miles west of Louisville, Ky., and employs about 4,500 people. It also makes the Sequoia large SUV and Sienna minivan."

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Baileybut — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:20:36 GMT

Volvo all the way! Owned 5 Volvo in a row have 60 suv.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Tyak — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:28:26 GMT

We have a Toyota hybrid but, it's a Prius. We've been satisfied enough with them that this is our third one. I can't help you with the Highlander but we have heard that the mileage isn't all that much better with the hybrid than the regular model. We were Honda buyers for decades before we tried the Prius and now wouldn't have anything but a Toyota. I don't think you can go wrong with any Toyota that you decide on.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Tyak — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:31:53 GMT

On 3/23/2015 ID2 said:
How about helping our own country and buy an American made vehicle?? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I drove anything other than American made. Just the way I am.

I'd be willing to bet that any Toyota or Honda made in this country qualifies as having more American parts than what you would classify as an American car!

Re: NEW CAR HELP

wismiss — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 11:16:38 GMT

I have a 2004 Toyota Camry. My husband's car is a 2009 Camry hybrid. I can't comment on the Highlander, but I can definitely recommend a Toyota.

The hybrid---it takes some getting used to, as when you sit in traffic for a while, it converts to the battery and the engine is totally silent. Mileage? My husband took a road trip and got 49 miles per gallon. Just routine oil changes, filter changes, and etc. No repairs.

The 2004----65,000 miles. 29 miles per gallon. Routine oil changes, air filters, tires, and a new battery. Those things I just consider maintenance. Repairs for an 11 year old car----$333 just spent last week because there were a couple of oil leaks, so they had to drop the pan to put on a new gasket. You show me an GM, Ford, or Chrysler product that has only $333 spent on repairs over a period of 11 years.

And, my car was made in the USA. Toyota has 11 manufacturing plants in the USA. 1-California; 1 Missouri; 1 Illinois; 1 Texas, 1 Alabama, 1 Arkansas, 1 West Virginia, 1 Tennessee, and 3 Kentucky.

We have had Chevrolets, Fords, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and GMC vehicles. Spent A LOT more for repairs than Toyota. I know in my heart that Detroit has engineers that could produce cars that even surpass the Toyota. But the American motoring companies have had a monopoly until the imports came and by then it was too late. The auto industry and oil industry were in collusion with each other. The powers that be in the auto industry that manufactured American cars built them to be replaced and not "run until the tires fall off", which is what I am doing with my 2004 Toyota. 4 years of no car payments and only $333 for repairs. How can you beat that?

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Kachina624 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:30:03 GMT

Several members of my family have the Nissan Rouge and are very happy with it. I don't think any of them have had to do more than routine maintenance. I'm still driving my 2003 Saturn Vue with 51,000 miles. It always starts.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Lynnj — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 02:17:29 GMT

On 3/23/2015 Buck-i-Nana said:
On 3/23/2015 ID2 said:
How about helping our own country and buy an American made vehicle?? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I drove anything other than American made. Just the way I am.

Good thing what the OP buys shouldn't affect your sleep at all.

geesh.

Lol, this response wins for best of 2015....so far, lol.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Lynnj — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 02:30:53 GMT

If I may suggest, while your in the process of car shopping, take a look at Kia. They have a better warrentee that no other manufacturer can beat, 10 year/100,000 mile. I bought a Kia in 2000, and still have it today working great. However I did keep up with regular maintenance routines Other than that I didn't experience any major problems with it. Maybe I got lucky? But...I just recently went through the car shopping routine. Felt pretty settled with a Jeep Cherokee. I test drove the Jeep, Ford Escape, Edge, and Explorer. None of the Fords drove anything like the Jeep. Then I thought for kicks I would test drive a Kia Sorento. It drove as well as the Jeep, and had many more options for a much better price. I was surprised really to see how far Kia has come since 2000 just in the overall build and ride with their cars. I bought the 2016 Kia Sorento. For the money it came with much more features than the Jeep (both also had many of the same too), then when you account for the warentee, the Kia just far outweighed the Jeep. plus, Kia scores much higher than Jeep on the crash test reports. Good luck with whatever you decide to go with.

Re: NEW CAR HELP

Sunshine Kate — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 02:45:47 GMT

My opinion only:

The Toyota Highlander is a terrific SUV, however; I'm not sold on the hybrid model of any vehicle. The batteries cost roughly $3K to replace. The initial cost of a hybrid is pricey and you end up spending more upfront for the cost of the vehicle than you ever will on fuel savings.

The hybrid/battery portion of the vehicle only "kicks in" driving 25 mph or less (then you run on battery). If a person drives in severe traffic conditions of 25 mph or less for extended periods of time, it may be worth it.

In my opinion, a hybrid is not cost worthy in the long run.

Whatever your decision, enjoy!

Re: NEW CAR HELP

NYwoman — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 07:14:36 GMT

I have a Toyota Rav 4 and am very pleased with it. Some foreign makes are made in the US.

I would research the cost of ownership and the repair history of a model. I loved my Subaru but the repairs killed me and then it died!

The hybrids have the cost of replacing the batteries after a while, which are quite expensive.