New guy checking in from Vermont!

I've seen 2 other Blue Ribbon GenIII's in my area, but most I see are gray, silver, or soft blue GenII's.

 

Glad to hear it!

 

Thought I'd post up a 5k update (5300 actually).

Just had my first service, basically just an oil change. Services for the first 2/24 are free on new Toyota's but that didn't stop the service department from handing me a bill which I handed right back and reminded him that it was free. He seemed genuinely sorry to have made the mistake but I can't understand how a service advisor at the area's biggest (and only) Toyota store wouldn't know this already. Other then that I've always had good success with this place so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt... maybe he's new, I haven't seen him there before.

In the 3 months of having the car we have had snow and freezing temps for pretty much all of them. It's been a slog. But with the snow tires the car has been perfectly adequate despite the weather. No better or worse then any of my other front wheel drive cars were.

Gen2 models had a notoriously invasive Traction Control that seems to have been remedied in the Gen3's. I haven't experienced the "full stop" that the older cars got on steep, slippery hills. I've climbed up many a steep, snow covered street and driveway and the TC works as I'd expect it to.

Ground clearance is the major winter issue. Any ice or debris taller then your fist is a potential noisemaker under the car. I already have 1 crack in my front valance from pushing into my driveway over the berm the street plow leaves. I'm hoping BT products makes their skidplate for the Gen3's at some point, I'd love to protect the belly of the car better next winter. Just have to be more careful with the front lip I guess.

Comfort has been excellent. The car fits us all beautifully even though I'm a fatbastard. Seat comfort is good, even for 4 hour trips, and the amenities are great to have. Things like the smart key and satellite radio that I never thought I wanted I now don't think I can live without. Auto-up & down on all 4 windows, auto climate control, great headlights, and most of the controls on the steering wheel are all nice to have.

The car moves along just fine. It's not a barn burner, but it's stable, easily maintains plus-legal highway speeds, and doesn't keel over in the corners too badly. It's not a sports car by any means, but coming from a tall truck, I don't feel like I'm being cheated either. It's more than fine for daily commuter duty.

I love our dark metallic blue, this color seems popular around here as the Gen3's become more prevalent.

MPG has gone like this...

I'm running about 10% below EPA averages which jibes with everything I've read on these forums regarding how winter weather, winter gas, and winter tires can effect these cars. I've seen warm stints in the 50mpg+ range so I'm reasonably sure that once things warm up I'll be hitting better numbers.

It's a heck of a lot better then 16mpg.

It's certainly serendipitous that I got the car when I did. Gas prices have spiked, and the 0% Hybrid Financing we took advantage of from Toyota is a thing of the past. My 2006 V8 4runner is still sitting on their lot. Can't argue with my timing. The car has cut my fuel costs by more then half, and at the 20k+ miles/year we drive, it really adds up.




This forum has been a HUGE help and "addition" to my ownership of the car. Every question I've had I've found the answer to here. And barring a couple of short-tempered folks here and there--it's one of the most well-mannered and overall friendly car forums I've ever come across.
:cheer2:

 

Just about 10k miles on it, not much to report.

MPG has been steadily improving as the weather warms up and now the snow tires are off. Seeing calculated per-tank average of 45 mpg after a winter of 40mpg or just below. Seems to get better each week, and I've had trips south (where it's flat) that I see 50+ with no trouble. It's just so hilly up here on our regular commute, a lot of which is rural highway.

Took the hubcaps off and it was so filthy behind there. Cleaned the alloys all up, sprang for the center caps from the dealer ($12 each) and really prefer the "naked" look of them. I'll keep the hubcaps to pop back on someday if I ever sell it.

Tried a carpeted dash mat but have taken it off already. 3 reasons...

1. The Wife hates it (and she drives it the most)
2. Needs multiple velcro attachment points to lay flat and I want to protect the dash, not cover it in sticky stuff.
3. See #1

We are pleased as punch with the car. It drives great, is intensely economical, and really suits our commuting needs very well.

 

Finally a hand wash.



Car took a real beating in the big public lot my wife has to park in now.