2009 Highlander Limited w/2200 Miles

[Catman]

Jenn thinks her old Tercel was the best car in the world. We both agree she has no input when it comes to vehicles... unless it's a car for her only.

My wife needs to make sure that whatever we get she looks good in. 

[sandertheshark]

[cough]Acadia[/cough]

[Catman]

[cough]Acadia[/cough]

Already off my list.  Take a look at the roof rack on it.  Thule doesn't even make a rack to fit it.  Form over function.  And, to be honest I am not a fan of the interior materials that GM uses.  It's put together well enough but the materials are a little crappy. But the roof rack, which is important to me was the deal breaker.

C'mon there's nothing for an aftermarket rack to grab on to except that small space in the middle:



It's not just the rack itself though, it's also the roof, it's very narrow side to side and the rack rails are even further inboard so reaching up and over the truck is inconvenient.

Here's the Highlander rack:

[Payman]

Greg, honest question: is the Sequoia still in good condition, and paid for? If so, why not keep it and treat you and the missus to something like this:



**SALE PRICE $39900...2005 BOXSTER S, TIPTRONIC S, SEAL GREY METALLIC, BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR, XENON HEADLAMP PACKAGE, PORSCHE WINDSTOP DEFLECTOR, SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE (W/OUT PCM), PREFERRED PACKAGE, ONLY 40820KMS*SPECIAL IN HOUSE LEASE,Term;48month, Down;$2999.+,Monthly:$746.+taxes*CONTACT VAL @ 416-930-4751 or vmorgado@pfaffleasing.com

[Catman]

Greg, honest question: is the Sequoia still in good condition, and paid for? If so, why not keep it and treat you and the missus to something like this:



**SALE PRICE $39900...2005 BOXSTER S, TIPTRONIC S, SEAL GREY METALLIC, BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR, XENON HEADLAMP PACKAGE, PORSCHE WINDSTOP DEFLECTOR, SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE (W/OUT PCM), PREFERRED PACKAGE, ONLY 40820KMS*SPECIAL IN HOUSE LEASE,Term;48month, Down;$2999.+,Monthly:$746.+taxes*CONTACT VAL @ 416-930-4751 or vmorgado@pfaffleasing.com

Yes to the first couple questions.  Nice idea but you need to consider insurance and excise tax.

[CALL_911]

My wife needs to make sure that whatever we get she looks good in. 

No offense to Catwoman, but is that really gonna happen in these cars?

That isn't to say that they aren't comfortable as anything inside.

[the Teuton]

I agree, your wife will look good in a Boxster.  Fact.

But will anyone really ever look good in a massive SUV besides Ahhhnold?

[Catman]

No offense to Catwoman, but is that really gonna happen in these cars?

That isn't to say that they aren't comfortable as anything inside.

Stop thinking like a man.  Once you learn to do that you will have a successful relationship someday.

[GoCougs]

Now that the Outback is a disaster, I've been thinking rather of an SUV. I remain quite disappointed in the Pilot's drive train - another 30-40 hp and a 6sp AT and I think that would do it for me. Both the Highlander and Venza are good vehicles, but I think I'm to wait for the 2010 4Runner that should debut any day now (V8!).

[Catman]

Now that the Outback is a disaster, I've been thinking rather of an SUV. I remain quite disappointed in the Pilot's drive train - another 30-40 hp and a 6sp AT and I think that would do it for me. Both the Highlander and Venza are good vehicles, but I think I'm to wait for the 2010 4Runner that should debut any day now (V8!).

I'm still waiting for the 2011 Ford Explorer.  No sign of it...

[Payman]

Yes to the first couple questions.  Nice idea but you need to consider insurance and excise tax.

Well, you are pushing 40... sometimes you need to put your sensibilities in check and just do it. If not now, when kind of thing. I have planned to budget around 50k of my military pension to buy toys... an ATV, snowmobile, and either a pre-owned Boxster, Corvette, or new Camaro SS. My dad is 68 now, and he's been saying forever how he wants an RV and a boat. He makes me so mad sometimes I want to slap him.

[68_427]

What about a Tribeca?  I honestly think they don't look bad at all.

[TBR]

What about a Tribeca?  I honestly think they don't look bad at all.

I like them too, but in comparison to the Highlander and Pilot, it has gotten a bit lackluster. Hell, it never was any better than mid-pack,

[68_427]

If at all possible I'd check it out anyways.  It can't hurt.

[AutobahnSHO]

When you're married you have to agree on large purchases.

Thus my TWO slushies sitting in the driveway..  :-(

[Catman]

If at all possible I'd check it out anyways.  It can't hurt.

I agree with TBR on the tribeca.  Checked it out while in NY.

[Lebowski]

Was looking at an 09 Highlander today.  It had 2200 miles on it.  He says the manager was using it.  So I asked how much they were taking off the sticker?  Answer was 10 cents a mile....   Anyway, this particular Highlander had every conceivable option including Nav and DVD system.  Sticker was right about $41K.  Edmunds shows a TMV of $4000 less.  It's an 09 and the 2010's are coming out very soon.  I didn't get into the pricing much since I'm not under the gun right now but I might check back in a week or two.

Anyway, I would think the fact that it's a used vehicle would warrant a bigger price cut?

I've heard anecdotally that dealers are getting much less promotional (I assume due to the production cuts than to any real pickup in demand).  A coworker of mine was looking at an '08 Xterra that was still on the lot, got about the same response you did - very little willingness to come down on price despite the fact that it's a flippin '08 still sitting on the lot!

[Catman]

I am at the dealer now looking at a sport model which I like better.  Waiting on the games to begin. I'm more than willing to drive out with my Sequoia and be happy so I'm not under any pressure.

[GoCougs]

I am at the dealer now looking at a sport model which I like better.  Waiting on the games to begin. I'm more than willing to drive out with my Sequoia and be happy so I'm not under any pressure.

Give 'em hell!

[Catman]

They were low balling me on the trade in and playing games with the msrp, etc.  I told them to call me when the get their numbers straight and went on my way.

[Raza]

VW dealers and those R32s.  They act like they've got a real bonafide supercar there on the lot (sort of like Subaru/Mitsu dealers too).

It wasn't the case before.  And they don't appeal to the crooked hat crowd as much as the Mitsubishi and Subaru do, so I don't see why they're being so stingy with the discounts.

[Raza]

Any dealer that acts like their shit is too nice to touch, unless we're talking about a $50k+ vehicle, should have a reality check.

Anything under 100K shouldn't be locked in a showroom.  Simple as that.  Over 100K, I can understand locking the doors though.  My local Honda dealer locked up their Civic Si and Mugen in the showroom; and this was after I already blasted through miles and miles of great back roads in one on the other side of the state. 

Hell, at my Mercedes dealer, the only cars that have ever been off limits were the Maybachs and SLRs.  AMGs and 600s were all available for you to sit in and test drive. 

[Raza]

What about a Tribeca?  I honestly think they don't look bad at all.

That's what a Tribeca looks like now?  That's not bad.

[the Teuton]

That whole B9 thing Subaru wanted to do was done under the pretenses of a drug-induced haze.

[2o6]

My local Honda dealer locked up their Civic Si and Mugen in the showroom; and this was after I already blasted through miles and miles of great back roads in one on the other side of the state. 

Do you remember those Mugen RR Civics that got stripped from the dealer because they were outside? That's probably why the car is locked inside.

[MX793]

I would definitely attack it as a used vehicle one year old; not only because of the mileage but the 2010s should be just about hitting the lot.

If it were me I'd target a $30k - $32k price, and hold the line on KBB/NADA trade-in value on the Sequoia.

Not to mention that unless the manager was driving it around with dealer plates that whole time, it was previously registered which means you've lost upwards of a year off the factory warranty.

[TBR]

Not to mention that unless the manager was driving it around with dealer plates that whole time, it was previously registered which means you've lost upwards of a year off the factory warranty.

I can't imagine that they would register and title it.

Generally, dealers don't title their personal cars, I don't know why they would handle dealer provided cars for management differently.

[Raza]

Do you remember those Mugen RR Civics that got stripped from the dealer because they were outside? That's probably why the car is locked inside.

No.  And I didn't mean "locked inside", I meant it was locked and inside the dealership showroom.  I should have been more clear. 

But again, I drove a Civic Si Mugen that was sitting outside at a dealership, with the rear bumper scraped up over a curb.  I wonder if they still have it.  30 grand for a Civic in a town where people only spend that much on houses and pickup trucks.  Hm...