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Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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#3508 of 3943 Re: HH Resting Period [pathtomax] by jdkahler Jul 25, 2007 (5:19 pm)
Replying to: pathtomax (Jul 23, 2007 6:14 am) Our 06 base fwd just passed 2 years and 22K - it sat for 10 weeks this winter in the dealer's body shop area while insurance companies argued over repairs after a fool driver made an illegal left in front of my wife ($8,000+ front end damage, no injury whatsoever) and had maybe a total of 10 miles over that time (most I'm guessing to drive it from the body shop to the detail shop down the road). Not a problem starting I was aware of (though the 12v battery had to be disconnected to do part the repairs so the vehicle had to re-learn driving patterns to bring the fuel efficiency back up, took a couple thousand miles).   As you'll see in the Consumer Reports ratings, the HH rates highest (so far) for a number of reasons - including safety, and it proved itself worthy; we suspect that the emergency handling characteristics helped avoid a much more serious accident with a sudden stop needed in wet conditions. Since the repair we've made 2 long trips (Phila to S Carolina to Boston to Phila, and Phila to Upstate New York and back), and by calculating mileage the old fashioned way (gallons pumped and miles on the odometer) we were between 29 and 30 on the trips. Around town we get around 26, and part of the use is 1.2 miles or so one way to work most days (we're getting better at working in other trips or walking!), which is not the best to drive a hybrid for maximum mpg. The HH, even after extensive repair, is solid, comfortable, handles and drives extremely well (part of that SC trip was a 12 hour run - ouch! - that was comfortable and secure). We'd buy the HH again, once this one wears out in hopefully 10 years or so. It's the best vehicle I've ever owned and compares favorably with any I've driven, and sounds like you have a good deal. Enjoy!
#3509 of 3943 Rear Window Down- deafening wind noise by marieze Aug 05, 2007 (7:24 am)
Hi everyone!   I purchased a 2007 hh 4wd in June and love it. However, when the rear window is down while I am driving, it makes a sound that I can only describe as "wind vibration" that is almost deafening. It makes my ears want to pop. I spoke with a friend who says her 2005 highlander does the same thing. Have you experienced this?   thanks! Replies to this message: nomorebenz (Aug 05, 2007 5:39 pm) wwest (Aug 06, 2007 5:34 am) ssachnoff (Mar 21, 2008 12:07 pm) wwest (Mar 21, 2008 7:43 pm)
#3510 of 3943 Re: Rear Window Down- deafening wind noise [marieze] by nomorebenz Aug 05, 2007 (5:39 pm)
Replying to: marieze (Aug 05, 2007 7:24 am) Completely normal. My Mercedes' have done that. Change the size of the opening, open another window etc. You're inside the beer bottle as someone is blowing across the opening.
#3511 of 3943 Re: Rear Window Down- deafening wind noise [marieze] by wwest Aug 06, 2007 (5:34 am)
Replying to: marieze (Aug 05, 2007 7:24 am) Or, think of yourself as being inside a child's whistle with the cubic volume so high that the "whistle" sound is a subsonic PRESSURE wave.   All of our old Ford country squire station wagons would do that unless you lowered the rear tailgate window slightly.   Removing the reverse flow flap valve from the exhauster hidden in the bottom of the driver's side rear quarter panel will help reduce the sound volume.   Adding two more exhausters, like in the bigger Toyota SUVs, will completely alleviate the problem but then the A/C will not adequately cool the interior on a HOT day. Too much pre-conditioned, COOLED, cabin airflow escaping via the larger rear exhauster openings.   Catch 22.
#3512 of 3943 Noisy by montecristo Aug 07, 2007 (9:16 pm)
Hello all. I have '07 HH Limited w/ Nav. Thanks to you all, I knew how to pulse and glide right off the bat. I"m getting about 27 to 28mpg in local suburb terrain/traffic. However, I'm only getting 24mpg on highway driving at around 75 to 80mph. But I do get 27mpg at 60 to 65mph.   The only complaint I have is that the car is noisy. At 75mph, I hear wind whistle on all 4 sidewindows. I'm also hearing a lot road noise. I'm comparing to my '06 4-cyl camry and haven't had opportunity to compare/testdrive other competing SUVs. (i.e. 400h, pilot, etc.)   Any of you had a chance to compare the noise level of HH to any other SUVs? Replies to this message: wwest (Aug 08, 2007 9:49 am) cdptrap (Aug 08, 2007 10:09 am) cdptrap (Aug 08, 2007 1:13 pm)
#3513 of 3943 Re: Noisy [montecristo] by wwest Aug 08, 2007 (9:49 am)
Replying to: montecristo (Aug 07, 2007 9:16 pm) Here are several methods.   For the most comfortable and quiet ride install summer only bridgestone Turanza tires. Don't go overboard with 18" or higher rims, 17" will be perfect, 16" even better, more sidewall flex.   There is a silicon grease, paste, in squeeze tube form that can be purchased at any NAPA store that can be used on the door sealing rubber weather stripping for better sealing and thereby to lessen the wind noise.   But 4 spray cans of undercoating and after a thorough pressure washing use one can each on the fender well liners.   Amazingly, your windshield wipers can be a major contributor to the wind noise level so I buy the new Bosch rubber "wing" shaped ones.
#3514 of 3943 Re: Noisy [montecristo] by cdptrap Aug 08, 2007 (10:09 am)
Replying to: montecristo (Aug 07, 2007 9:16 pm) As Wwest wrote, the tires can be problems.   Our '06 HH cames with Goodyear Integrity, noisy as heck, soft and squishy and jiggled and rocked and made the car lean on curves.   If your HH comes with these tires, do seriously consider changing them. If your HH is 100% on-road, Wwest's suggestion will work well. If you take your HH onto dirt tracks once in a while, check around for other SUV tires. Any good brand is better than the Integrity.   We changed to Goodyear Fortera SA (Silent something...) and it has worked very well. Car is smooth, quiet and rock solid on turns and curves. We drive on dirt tracks often, about 35% of the time and they have held up well.
#3515 of 3943 Re: Noisy [montecristo] by cdptrap Aug 08, 2007 (1:13 pm)
Replying to: montecristo (Aug 07, 2007 9:16 pm) Last note: changing the tires may impact MPG. Heavier tires can bring down the MPG a tad. Not sure by how much. In our 06 HH, with the heavier SUV tires, the best we can do in normal speed limit gentle driving is 27 MPG per tank. If we slow down below speed limit (on city streets), we can get 28-MPG per tank.
#3516 of 3943 Re: Noisy by montecristo Aug 08, 2007 (8:16 pm)
wwest & cdptrap,   Thanks for the advice. My '07 HH came with Michelin Energy tires. I wonder if silicon paste or aerodynamic windshield wipers would make noticeable difference though..   I'm on paved road 100% and I'm very sensitive to noise. HH is dead quiet at below 40mph but becomes very noisy at highway speeds. I've driven '95 Saab 900, '97Acura Integra, '00Lexus ES300, '99Jeep Cherokee, '06BMW 525, and '07 camry at least 20,000miles each and I must say '07 HH is one of the more noisy after acura and cherokee.   I checked Pilot site and it seems Pilot owners think highlanders are quieter. I wonder if Lexus RX400h makes significantly less noise. Someone please tell me no because otherwise I am going to regret for not considering 400h for $4,000 more... Replies to this message: wwest (Oct 08, 2005 7:00 pm) mmccloskey (Aug 09, 2007 3:25 pm) lightminer (Aug 14, 2007 11:16 pm) 2tees (Aug 29, 2007 2:36 pm)
#3517 of 3943 Re: Noisy [montecristo] by wwest Aug 09, 2007 (8:13 am)
Replying to: montecristo (Aug 08, 2007 8:16 pm) The interesting thing is, aspect of quietness, is the quieter the car is the higher the expectations of the quietness becomes. If the window seals in my '92 LS400 start to dry out I notice it IMMEDIATELY.   My '01 911/996 cabin is tight and very quiet so the little bit of wind noise that I get, starts, at about and above 120 MPH is very irritating.   At first I thought it was wind noise as the windows "lifted" from their seals at the higher speeds so I used the silicon paste....even quieter overall but high speed noise, seeming wind "whistle", is still there.   As sort of a last resort I removed the front and rear windshield wipers. Noise GONE.   Turned out it wasn't the rear wiper at all and installing those new EXPENSIVE, $40/pair, Bosch "wing" front wipers eliminated the "noise" altogether.   Haven't yet tested at 120 MPH plus but that was only there to get your attention, noise actually started up at about 40-45 MPH.

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