2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Officially On Sale in Canada

Ralphmc · 06-20-2005, 04:15 PM

HiHy u all,

... here in the deep south, we are making some progress. Saturday my wife and I went down to Beaman Toyota (the place I bought my 2004 Prius last April) and checked out the Highlander Hybrid...

They had 4 HIHY there two blue and two golden ones, so we deceided to take a little test drive... (without salesman, but with one of the Customer Service attendens present)...

first off all I personally think the design and looks of the car is pretty nice (as opose to some other people) - but that is my subjective point of view, which has nothing to do with the real thing...

This is soooo cool when you sit your self down in the Leather Luxery, and have to use a "regular" key again, to switch from Off to Acc on through to ON - and nothing happens under the hood, only the dash lights up, and all the controlls come on and it "dings" at you and shows a white sign in the display with the word "READY" in it.

By now the "climat" control has already started to cool the interior down, and still no engine noice.

So we all where saftybelted into our seats, and I pulled the "old fashion" shifter knob on the console into the "R" posistion, and let of the break pedal. Still no noice from the engine compartment, only a smooth slow move backwards as I lightly depressed the accelerator...

I said man this thing quite...

... so I backed up out of the parking spot, and headed out of the parking lot, into the side street, which was still a level road, still no sign of a "gas" eingine...

I accelerated gently up to about 30 MPH, and then merged into trafic, aaaaah there it was the first sign of a gas engine... since we now moved on down hill a little and the light ahead was red, I took the presure of the gas pedal off a little, and bummer the engine sound was gone again....

...being us to the Prius - you could not feel the transistion between the two forces at all, it is so optimized...

Now I took my left turn in to a less trafic occupied area, so I could let the horses go a little for a quick test...

... so, after I had brifly warned everybody, "I going to do a little accelartion now", oh I did not floor it, I did not dare, since it has so much power even in a gentle pressure setting on the gas pedal, I just put it down a "little"...

all I heard was a little wussssssh under the hood, and litterly noticed how the hood would be raised by the almost 300 horses, and of she went. Having driven a 3.8 liter Chevy Impala as our "family" car, I know what good pick-up is, but this bull was clearly smacking a whole in the sound barrier in less then a heartbeat....

I chickened out and let of the gas did not want to get caught going 75 MPH in one block distance from our 30 MPH starting speed.

After I had found a spot to change drivers and let my Wife drive back to the dealership, we learned that this is a very smooth riding, and extreemly well designed piece of technology.

After we have spend almost 5 hours at the dealership after many yes and nos we rolled out of there with the very same care we test drove, went to dinner and then took it home.

Sunday we visited our parents, and took them for a spinn, a little down the road, and the gasmilage on the display kept reising from 20 mpg to now meanwhile 29.4 MPG after we had put a total of 60 milies on the odometer.

I believe this SUV has more then a chance to make a dent in the US-SUV market, I also believe that we can improve gasmilage to bejond then what the sticker rating is, since we have not learned how to adjust to this powerful construction - like we have to the prius which is currently at 55.4 MPG lifetime average over 17000 miles.

Interesting is the KW-meter next to the odometer, it shows you the current power usage of the MG1 - electric motor I have not had it wake up much yet, it stayed pretty much at the lower 10% of the display.

Also noticable is that even if you want to force it to use more electricity for acceleration, you will see it very rarely do so, the ICU has so much power that it will regenerate most of the time even in a harder acceleration.

Still I did not dare to floor it yet, it has so much power, incredibale....

This thing is awsome....

Ralph

**Tideland Prius** · 06-20-2005, 04:43 PM

=S guys, please spell check =P

and yeah it's in CAD. Here, $400k buys you half a house. $800k gets you a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment/condo. It's sad when you see the headlines "BC's new millionaires are homeowners"

It's nuts.

**Tideland Prius** · 06-20-2005, 04:45 PM

http://www.hihychat.com/forums/index.php?a...act=ST&f=3&t=63

Here's my thread on HiHyChat. $8,940 difference between the Limited and base Canadian models. Tell me if you guys think it's worth the price difference.

Frank Hudon · 06-20-2005, 11:57 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"100209)</div>

Quote:

=S guys, please spell check =P

and yeah it's in CAD. Here, $400k buys you half a house. $800k gets you a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment/condo. It's sad when you see the headlines \"BC's new millionaires are homeowners\"

It's nuts.
[/b]

I whole heartedly agree with your statement
It's nuts.

Robert Taylor · 06-21-2005, 02:38 AM

Just to let you guys all know, that condo orginally sold for 52.5K in 1982/83.

As good as that deal sounds, I bought a four unit three bedroom/two full bath building earlier in the year for...

32 US dollars a foot, less than what it sold for brand new in 1984. It is across from the very best elementary school in the city, in the best high school district in the city. (the high school sends kids to Yale every year, great college prep program) The town is full of rocket scientists, two of my next door neighbors are MIT graduates.

Only in the past few months has the market taken off for property here, I was told I could sell this for a quick 90K profit already. (but what would I do with the money, I asked the estate agent)

Rent rates are so low here that privately owned apartments are competitive with the low fees that the government charges for people to live in housing projects.

I am actually going to try to buy a set of 1100 square foot townhouses later this week for 43 per foot. 2bedroom, three bath)one full, two half). Same area of city.

The US Army announced scant weeks ago it is moving thousands of people here over the next three years. I can't hardly go wrong. Made an offer on another condo tonight...

After 15 years of very little appreciation, things are moving up at an incredible clip. Some outfit is actually flying in chartered planeloads of investors and moving them around town in chartered buses to look at property.

You guys ain't gonna believe this, but I bought a residential lot in 1996 for 2,700 dollars, I have a building permit for a four bedroom two bath house for it. Current prices for lots near it are 40K now, and the price continues to go up all the time. This lot is actually 100 feet from the water of a major tributary of the Tennessee River.

And I am not and never have been a realtor, just an investor.

Did I mention taxes? I pay taxes on my just off the country club golf course house of 900 per year, and that includes a 50% increase from last year.

You guys ain't gonna believe this either, but the closing costs (which I paid) on that 4400 square foot building were under 1200 bucks, including all attorney fees, title insurance, mortgage recording fees, document prep fees, deed prep fees, and loan origination costs. The appraisal cost was 75.00 (the bank has an internal appraiser, saves money)

18K a year is a good job here, Costco pays its local people here about a third of the Kirkland, Washington rate. Up until a few short (90's) years ago, factory hands were paid a starting wage of 6.50 an hour. You see the same people at the fast food drive through year after year after year...

I can eat a full blown sit down meal for 5.50, and they just jacked up the price! (meat, three veggies, bread)

Convenience store clerks are not behind glass, they are behind an open counter.

Swearing in public is not done, hardly ever, by anybody at any time. The TV shows have more profanity. I gave my neighbor my house key. I would give any of my neighbors my house key. My kids leave their bikes out, no one steals them. Few have house alarm systems, but nearly everyone has guns. When I asked about eight years ago, the sheriff was issuing about 15,000 concealed carry state pistol permits a year for a county of a total population of 240,000. Excluding the very old and very young, it means that one adult in 12 is heavily armed. Men here meet and show off their carry guns to each other. Ladies keep them in the glove box.

The cops don't shoot people here either, it is very rare for that to happen. Shooting some poor guy for pulling out a wallet like in NYC doesn't happen here. The local cops let me off for a violation last month with just a warning.

I know many of the local pols, local government is responsive and pretty competent in all areas.

People here are polite and hold the door open for each other, and nod your head to a passing stranger and the nod back. This all happens regardless of race, age or sex.

And I am not leaving, this seems like paradise compared to the dysfunctional America that exists most everywhere else. The closest comparison is the city of Vancouver, BC. Nice town, nice harbour, strange coloured beaches(gray sand). Hot tea though, and you get strange looks in the south if you ask for that.

Sadly, someone else got a Salsa Red Prius in my neighborhood. My feeling of total uniqueness is gone. My across the street neighbor has a Geeky Green one.

Robert Taylor · 06-21-2005, 02:46 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"100211)</div>

Quote:

http://www.hihychat.com/forums/index.php?a...act=ST&f=3&t=63

Here's my thread on HiHyChat. $8,940 difference between the Limited and base Canadian models. Tell me if you guys think it's worth the price difference.
[/b]

Well, this shows what a super deal the BC package is, and the NAV system/bluetooth I am hooked on. The Prius is a better deal, at the fully loaded level.

**Tideland Prius** · 06-21-2005, 01:13 PM

You know Robert, that does sound like paradise lol. Something that we've forgotten in big cities many moons ago. Kinda sad. I think you'll have better luck in Edmonton than in Vancouver. At least that's what I found in my one year in Edmonton. The people there are much more polite. I just hope Vancouver doesn't become another Toronto.

And yes, our HiHy Limited doesn't come with Nav! Not even as an option. <sigh> I really think Toyota pushed the envelope with the HiHy and RX in terms of "premium". For comparison, a regular Highlander Limited 4x4 is Cdn$45k. The Prius is really starting to look like a bargain!

06-20-2005, 04:15 PM	#11
Ralphmc Mr Hybrid Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nashville, TN USA Posts: 37 My Car: Other Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Officially On Sale in Cana HiHy u all, ... here in the deep south, we are making some progress. Saturday my wife and I went down to Beaman Toyota (the place I bought my 2004 Prius last April) and checked out the Highlander Hybrid... They had 4 HIHY there two blue and two golden ones, so we deceided to take a little test drive... (without salesman, but with one of the Customer Service attendens present)... first off all I personally think the design and looks of the car is pretty nice (as opose to some other people) - but that is my subjective point of view, which has nothing to do with the real thing... This is soooo cool when you sit your self down in the Leather Luxery, and have to use a "regular" key again, to switch from Off to Acc on through to ON - and nothing happens under the hood, only the dash lights up, and all the controlls come on and it "dings" at you and shows a white sign in the display with the word "READY" in it. By now the "climat" control has already started to cool the interior down, and still no engine noice. So we all where saftybelted into our seats, and I pulled the "old fashion" shifter knob on the console into the "R" posistion, and let of the break pedal. Still no noice from the engine compartment, only a smooth slow move backwards as I lightly depressed the accelerator... I said man this thing quite... ... so I backed up out of the parking spot, and headed out of the parking lot, into the side street, which was still a level road, still no sign of a "gas" eingine... I accelerated gently up to about 30 MPH, and then merged into trafic, aaaaah there it was the first sign of a gas engine... since we now moved on down hill a little and the light ahead was red, I took the presure of the gas pedal off a little, and bummer the engine sound was gone again.... ...being us to the Prius - you could not feel the transistion between the two forces at all, it is so optimized... Now I took my left turn in to a less trafic occupied area, so I could let the horses go a little for a quick test... ... so, after I had brifly warned everybody, "I going to do a little accelartion now", oh I did not floor it, I did not dare, since it has so much power even in a gentle pressure setting on the gas pedal, I just put it down a "little"... all I heard was a little wussssssh under the hood, and litterly noticed how the hood would be raised by the almost 300 horses, and of she went. Having driven a 3.8 liter Chevy Impala as our "family" car, I know what good pick-up is, but this bull was clearly smacking a whole in the sound barrier in less then a heartbeat.... I chickened out and let of the gas did not want to get caught going 75 MPH in one block distance from our 30 MPH starting speed. After I had found a spot to change drivers and let my Wife drive back to the dealership, we learned that this is a very smooth riding, and extreemly well designed piece of technology. After we have spend almost 5 hours at the dealership after many yes and nos we rolled out of there with the very same care we test drove, went to dinner and then took it home. Sunday we visited our parents, and took them for a spinn, a little down the road, and the gasmilage on the display kept reising from 20 mpg to now meanwhile 29.4 MPG after we had put a total of 60 milies on the odometer. I believe this SUV has more then a chance to make a dent in the US-SUV market, I also believe that we can improve gasmilage to bejond then what the sticker rating is, since we have not learned how to adjust to this powerful construction - like we have to the prius which is currently at 55.4 MPG lifetime average over 17000 miles. Interesting is the KW-meter next to the odometer, it shows you the current power usage of the MG1 - electric motor I have not had it wake up much yet, it stayed pretty much at the lower 10% of the display. Also noticable is that even if you want to force it to use more electricity for acceleration, you will see it very rarely do so, the ICU has so much power that it will regenerate most of the time even in a harder acceleration. Still I did not dare to floor it yet, it has so much power, incredibale.... This thing is awsome.... Ralph __________________ Ralph from Nashville 2007 red Camry Hybrid loaded & rear spoiler www.greeniscalling.com

06-21-2005, 02:38 AM	#15
Robert Taylor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rocket City Posts: 451 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Just to let you guys all know, that condo orginally sold for 52.5K in 1982/83. As good as that deal sounds, I bought a four unit three bedroom/two full bath building earlier in the year for... 32 US dollars a foot, less than what it sold for brand new in 1984. It is across from the very best elementary school in the city, in the best high school district in the city. (the high school sends kids to Yale every year, great college prep program) The town is full of rocket scientists, two of my next door neighbors are MIT graduates. Only in the past few months has the market taken off for property here, I was told I could sell this for a quick 90K profit already. (but what would I do with the money, I asked the estate agent) Rent rates are so low here that privately owned apartments are competitive with the low fees that the government charges for people to live in housing projects. I am actually going to try to buy a set of 1100 square foot townhouses later this week for 43 per foot. 2bedroom, three bath)one full, two half). Same area of city. The US Army announced scant weeks ago it is moving thousands of people here over the next three years. I can't hardly go wrong. Made an offer on another condo tonight... After 15 years of very little appreciation, things are moving up at an incredible clip. Some outfit is actually flying in chartered planeloads of investors and moving them around town in chartered buses to look at property. You guys ain't gonna believe this, but I bought a residential lot in 1996 for 2,700 dollars, I have a building permit for a four bedroom two bath house for it. Current prices for lots near it are 40K now, and the price continues to go up all the time. This lot is actually 100 feet from the water of a major tributary of the Tennessee River. And I am not and never have been a realtor, just an investor. Did I mention taxes? I pay taxes on my just off the country club golf course house of 900 per year, and that includes a 50% increase from last year. You guys ain't gonna believe this either, but the closing costs (which I paid) on that 4400 square foot building were under 1200 bucks, including all attorney fees, title insurance, mortgage recording fees, document prep fees, deed prep fees, and loan origination costs. The appraisal cost was 75.00 (the bank has an internal appraiser, saves money) 18K a year is a good job here, Costco pays its local people here about a third of the Kirkland, Washington rate. Up until a few short (90's) years ago, factory hands were paid a starting wage of 6.50 an hour. You see the same people at the fast food drive through year after year after year... I can eat a full blown sit down meal for 5.50, and they just jacked up the price! (meat, three veggies, bread) Convenience store clerks are not behind glass, they are behind an open counter. Swearing in public is not done, hardly ever, by anybody at any time. The TV shows have more profanity. I gave my neighbor my house key. I would give any of my neighbors my house key. My kids leave their bikes out, no one steals them. Few have house alarm systems, but nearly everyone has guns. When I asked about eight years ago, the sheriff was issuing about 15,000 concealed carry state pistol permits a year for a county of a total population of 240,000. Excluding the very old and very young, it means that one adult in 12 is heavily armed. Men here meet and show off their carry guns to each other. Ladies keep them in the glove box. The cops don't shoot people here either, it is very rare for that to happen. Shooting some poor guy for pulling out a wallet like in NYC doesn't happen here. The local cops let me off for a violation last month with just a warning. I know many of the local pols, local government is responsive and pretty competent in all areas. People here are polite and hold the door open for each other, and nod your head to a passing stranger and the nod back. This all happens regardless of race, age or sex. And I am not leaving, this seems like paradise compared to the dysfunctional America that exists most everywhere else. The closest comparison is the city of Vancouver, BC. Nice town, nice harbour, strange coloured beaches(gray sand). Hot tea though, and you get strange looks in the south if you ask for that. Sadly, someone else got a Salsa Red Prius in my neighborhood. My feeling of total uniqueness is gone. My across the street neighbor has a Geeky Green one. __________________ mods: Goodyear Comfortreds, Mobil 1 synthetic oil, Custom Soft Trim elegant full trim interior leather

06-21-2005, 01:13 PM	#17
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	You know Robert, that does sound like paradise lol. Something that we've forgotten in big cities many moons ago. Kinda sad. I think you'll have better luck in Edmonton than in Vancouver. At least that's what I found in my one year in Edmonton. The people there are much more polite. I just hope Vancouver doesn't become another Toronto. And yes, our HiHy Limited doesn't come with Nav! Not even as an option. <sigh> I really think Toyota pushed the envelope with the HiHy and RX in terms of "premium". For comparison, a regular Highlander Limited 4x4 is Cdn$45k. The Prius is really starting to look like a bargain! __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit 2008 Deep Black smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads, LED lighting "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota.

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06-20-2005, 04:43 PM	#12
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	=S guys, please spell check =P and yeah it's in CAD. Here, $400k buys you half a house. $800k gets you a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment/condo. It's sad when you see the headlines "BC's new millionaires are homeowners" It's nuts.

06-20-2005, 04:45 PM	#13
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	http://www.hihychat.com/forums/index.php?a...act=ST&f=3&t=63 Here's my thread on HiHyChat. $8,940 difference between the Limited and base Canadian models. Tell me if you guys think it's worth the price difference.