I bought a new 2005 Toyota Highlander Hybrid tonight

Well, sort of. I put a deposit on one for delivery early next year. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is one of three upcoming Hybrid technology SUVs. The Ford Escape Hybrid will out this summer. The Lexus RX330 Hybrid will be out in November. The Highlander Hybrid is expected in Q1 2005.

I have a friend on a 7 month waiting list for a 2004 Toyota Prius so I decided I get in line early for the Highlander Hybrid.

The dealer told me that there are 36,000 Prius' manufactured for the U.S. per year and that there are nearly 100,000 orders waiting for them. This is great for dealers, it guarantees that people have to pay full price/retail for the cars and allows the dealers to tack on a $2,000 AMV (After Market Value) fee. If I cared for the welfare of car dealers, I might appreciate this more.

Perhaps if GM saw the premiums Toyota dealers are making off these Hybrids, they'd do more to develop Hybrid markets.

I currently own a 2002 Toyota Prius which is a great car. There are several reasons I want to buy a Hybrid again:

1) It's a SULEV (super low emissions) vehicle meaning that it produces very low pollution levels locally.

2) It gets great gas mileage so that it uses less gas, and therefore less pollutants are produced globally refining gas for it over the life of the vehicle.

3) I want to prime the pump for auto manufacturers to increase their MPG ratings on their cars and produce more clean vehicles and hybrids.

4) I want to disincent manufactures from producing more gas guzzling SUVs.

Learn more about the Highlander here.

Comments

[jeff hale]

I have a 2002 Seqouia and I love it-- But i will trade to a Hybrid in 2005 when they come out with the highlander-- The Prius is too small for me to drag my stuff around-- let me know when you get yours and what you think of it and the price range jeff hale of Va.

[Dave Chapman]

How can I get the best deal on a Toyota Highlander Hybrid? I'm looking for invoice price + $300. What is the gas mileage for this vehicle? What is expected for a deposit? Is it refundable is I change my mind?

Thanks,
Dave Chapman
Cell: 206-755-1697

[Kevin D.]

You are dreaming if you want a Highlander Hybrid at $300 over invoice. Have you ever heard of supply and demand??

[Sara]

The only way to get a Toyota at $300 over invoice is employee price (I'm not one but my cousin is. ). $200 over invoice is employee price in Vegas. Don't know if they'll do the price for hybrids though. If you have a friend that works at a dealership, you could see what smoozing does?

[Seth]

I TOOK DELIVERY of my Highlander Hybrid tonight - supposedly the first retail delivery in California. It's all that it was supposed to be. I've been on the waiting list since last July, though, and only got this because the person who ordered it had left the state and I was next in line with the identical equipment order. MSRP of the limited edition with GPS system is $41,300. Most dealers here plan to charge a premium over MSRP.

[Brady]

I don't understand how 21MPG Highway turns into 27MPG Highway. Just because it's a Hybrid. Does the battery always give extra power to the electric motors? No, it can't. I submit to you the fact that city driving has better MPG because the motor shuts off a lot. Highway driving should actually be worse on the Hybrid because of the extra weight. The battery can't be charged all the time. How far do they drive it for the Highway test? I'm sure just far enough to look good. I cancelled my order, I will keep my 20 MPG Highway truck and save 40K.

[Michael Stein]

A better URL to learn about the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is:

http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/hhybrid/

--Michael

[Car Dealer Finder]

I see people tempted to buy hybrid cars but i don stand how they can get easily with it as they are still considered unconventional