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Message |
Guest
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 Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:59 am Post subject:
SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
I like the Highlander otherwise, right size, looks nice, nice interior,
etc etc....., just wondering if I need to rent one for a weekend to see
if I will get use to it, or if the first experience is bad, it will
always be bad so don't bother? Guessing I might need a station wagon
but Toyota doesn't make any :(
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Ray O
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:18 am Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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<bungalow_steve@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132531159.643730.180050@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
I like the Highlander otherwise, right size, looks nice, nice interior,
etc etc....., just wondering if I need to rent one for a weekend to see
if I will get use to it, or if the first experience is bad, it will
always be bad so don't bother? Guessing I might need a station wagon
but Toyota doesn't make any :(
|
The Highlander is probably the most car-like SUV that Toyota makes,
especially since it is built on a car chassis. I suspect that the higher
seating position in the Highlander makes it seem more truck-like. You may
want to try driving a 4-Runner and Sequoia and then drive the Highlander
again. You may appreciate how un truck-like the Highlander is. Toyota does
make the Matrix/Vibe if it is big enough.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply |
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Huw
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote in message
news:2c0be$43816863$180fead6$25774@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
| Quote: | bungalow_steve@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132531159.643730.180050@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
I like the Highlander otherwise, right size, looks nice, nice interior,
etc etc....., just wondering if I need to rent one for a weekend to see
if I will get use to it, or if the first experience is bad, it will
always be bad so don't bother? Guessing I might need a station wagon
but Toyota doesn't make any :(
The Highlander is probably the most car-like SUV that Toyota makes,
especially since it is built on a car chassis. I suspect that the higher
seating position in the Highlander makes it seem more truck-like. You may
want to try driving a 4-Runner and Sequoia and then drive the Highlander
again. You may appreciate how un truck-like the Highlander is. Toyota
does make the Matrix/Vibe if it is big enough.
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The Rav4 is superb. Very car-like to drive. Some even call it 'sporty'.
Huw
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Coyoteboy
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:53 pm Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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Driven a few 4-runners, a rangerover and a landcruiser. None of them
feel like a car, and if you treat them like one you will roll it. If
you want car handling get a car/estate.
J
bungalow_steve@yahoo.com wrote:
| Quote: | Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
I like the Highlander otherwise, right size, looks nice, nice interior,
etc etc....., just wondering if I need to rent one for a weekend to see
if I will get use to it, or if the first experience is bad, it will
always be bad so don't bother? Guessing I might need a station wagon
but Toyota doesn't make any :( |
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Mark
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:22 pm Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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I replaced my 87 Camry (a superbly reliable and easy to drive car) with
a Matrix in 2002 and have been very pleased. The Matrix interior space
is excellent and the fold-flat seats mean you can carry 8-ft. objects
with the back door closed. I upgraded the rear sway bar and it handles
very well, little or no body lean in corners as you might get with an
SUV. It averages 30mpg with an automatic. |
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Rob B
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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<bungalow_steve@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132531159.643730.180050@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
I like the Highlander otherwise, right size, looks nice, nice interior,
etc etc....., just wondering if I need to rent one for a weekend to see
if I will get use to it, or if the first experience is bad, it will
always be bad so don't bother? Guessing I might need a station wagon
but Toyota doesn't make any :(
if you think highlander drives like a truck try to drive one of the |
competitors or a truck then you will have a better relative comparison
{4runner, pathfinder, VUE, Escape, Explorer Sport trac }
I just took delivery of '06 highlander V6
**I like it** because it blends alot of features i finally realized i
needed and wanted in a new car, larger cargo area, safe crash rating, decent
gas mileage for the size, comfortable, a little higher off ground, quality
name, longevity, price etc.
i wasn't expecting any thing SUV to drive like a car but some SUV drive more
like a car than others
i plan to keep my sporty car for sporty rides and use the highlander for
other stuff
biggest trouble i had was deciding what i really needed vs what i wanted so
i went through gambit of cars when trying to decide e.g. Volvo S60, v70,
v40, xc90, Acura TL, Accord v6, Ford Escape, Toyo Highlander, Honda Pilot,
Saturn VUE, etc...
I do not think you will find a vehicle that does it all, that is gives you
the best of car and SUV/Van world (well maybe the **Cayane**) one of the
cross-over cars may be close
These links show rollover ratings for various cars , the highlander is in
top of list (lower rollover) and compare with some Vans and Cars which have
a higher rollover rating or equal to highlander.
http://www.safercar.gov/
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.bead436724af02e770f6df1020008a0c/
HTH |
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dh
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:45 am Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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<bungalow_steve@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132531159.643730.180050@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
I like the Highlander otherwise, right size, looks nice, nice interior,
etc etc....., just wondering if I need to rent one for a weekend to see
if I will get use to it, or if the first experience is bad, it will
always be bad so don't bother? Guessing I might need a station wagon
but Toyota doesn't make any :(
|
[snip]
Way back when, on a number of occasions, I drove a 1978 K-5 Blazer -
6-cylinder engine, 3-speed stick, hi4/lo4/hi2 ranges, drove like, well, a
truck, drank like W.C.Fields and it was like riding a bucking bronco (tall +
short wheelbase = lots of pitching). It did have good off-road capability.
I liked it OK, it was just a different driving experience than a sedan or
station wagon.
My Rav4s, which do NOT have AWD are good on gas, comfortable, drive like a
car and, because they're small and have a good turning radius, are very easy
to park. Enough power for all practical purposes. I'd call them
"car-like."
I did test-drive an AWD Rav4 on a couple of occasions and they behaved just
like the FWD versions, as near as I could tell.
I did notice that, in spite of the taller profile and short wheelbase, you
don't seem to pitch back and forth all that much. Maybe height/wheelbase
ratio is better than on the K-5 or the suspension makes a difference -
whatever - it's a nice vehicle to drive. |
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dh
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:19 am Post subject:
Re: SUV owners, what was your first experience? |
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<bungalow_steve@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132531159.643730.180050@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
I currently have a Camry that I want to replace because I need
something that can haul stuff around. So I test drove a 2WD Highlander
because everyone says it drives like a car, well, to me it seemed more
like driving a UPS truck,...high up, doesn't like to turn, ready to
make milk deliveries, not too pleasant driving kind of car (truck).
(and this is coming from a boring Camry owner!)
Although I've been in many SUV's this is the first time I drove one, is
this something you just get use too? Or did your first drive in a SUV
seem like, wow, this is greatest thing since sliced bread?
[snip] |
On a number of occasions, I drove a 1978 K-5 Blazer - 6-cylinder engine,
3-speed stick, hi4/lo4/hi2 ranges, drove like, well, a truck, drank like
W.C.Fields and it was like riding a bucking bronco (tall + short wheelbase =
lots of pitching). It did have good off-road capability.
My Rav4s, which do NOT have AWD are good on gas, comfortable, drive like a
car and, because they're small and have a good turning radius, are very easy
to park. Enough power for all practical purposes.
I did test-drive an AWD Rav4 on a couple of occasions and they behaved just
like the FWD versions, as near as I could tell.
I did notice that, in spite of the taller profile and short wheelbase, you
don't seem to pitch back and forth all that much. Maybe height/wheelbase
ratio is better than on the K-5 or the suspension makes a difference -
whatever - it's a nice car to drive. |
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