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Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driving Tips & Tricks

428 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 6:44 PM

You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV


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#392 of 428
Re: Feathering Re: techniques explained [pnrjr] by cdptrap
Mar 28, 2007 (12:43 pm)
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Replying to: pnrjr (Mar 27, 2007 4:41 pm)

Hi! pnrjr, very glad you found that useful. Gosh, that was a long time ago.
 
Proper credit must go to "Gazguzler" who first posted the "needle in the stripes region" technique here. The word "Feather" was coined by Khdspyder who posted the technique here too.
 
I simply took all that and put them into an organized note. Should have given them due credit in that note.
#393 of 428
New Highlander Hybrid Owners by inndriver
Mar 29, 2007 (11:07 am)
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Hello fellow HH owners:
 
We are about to pick up a new Highlander Hybrid LImited 4wd-i vehicle. We've browes the various CarSpace forums for hints on how to drive/maintain the vehicle.
 
Does anyone out there have some do's and don'ts for the first few hundred miles? If so, you might want to reply directly to our e-mail address to get info to us ASAP:
mallardcoveearthlink.net.
 
Thanks in advance. We are excited about this car!
 
Don and Linda
#394 of 428
Performance in mountain conditions by lucy10
Jun 12, 2007 (7:30 pm)
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We currently have a Subaru Outback and use it for skiing and snow conditions. We are looking at purchasing a toyota highland hybid and need to know if anyone has experienced how the car handles in bad weather, snow and ice conditions. And especially how it compares to the superior handling of the Subaru.
#395 of 428
Re: Performance in mountain conditions [lucy10] by stevegold
Jun 12, 2007 (7:45 pm)
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Replying to: lucy10 (Jun 12, 2007 7:30 pm)

We just traded a 2002 3.0 LL Bean Outback for a 2007 Hybrid Highlander Ltd. Both are fine. I preferred the Outback, my wife prefers the HH. I'm not sure but I think the Outback got better mileage and I think the HH is too big. My car is a 2004 Prius but when the snow falls, we us one of the 4WDs.
#396 of 428
Re: Performance in mountain conditions [lucy10] by cdptrap
Jun 12, 2007 (8:37 pm)
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Replying to: lucy10 (Jun 12, 2007 7:30 pm)

Canadian Driver put snow tires on a 2006 Highlander Hybrid and drove it in their Traction Test. The following link leads to article.
 
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/traction2006.htm
 
Popular Mechanics did an emergency avoidance test and published the video but I cannot find the link anymore. Anyway, the HH handled amazlingly well in the slalom.
 
When we researched a new car in 2005, the final choices were indeed the Outback against the HH. My wife wanted the HH and that was that. So far though, no regrets. On plowed road, on 4-6 inch snow, with real snow tires, the HH has been wonderful. I have not encountered iced-over condition as Canadian Driver did so no experience there.
 
Note Toyota says to NOT put chains on the HH. if you look under the rear wheel well, at least in the 2006 version, the coil spring has extremely tight clearance with the tire. So chains will not work in the rear tires. We opted for four snow tires in the winter and that has worked very well. There are chains (Sppike SPyder) that attach only to the outside half of the tires but they cost an arm and a leg. We bought a set just in case. Have not really had to use it yet.
 
The HH is also competent on dry dirt road conditions *EXCEPT* when conditions warrant a real-life 4x4. I will not repeat our dirt road experience here.
 
If you decide to go for the HH, make sure the tires are truck tires or tougher SUV tires. Our 2006 came with cheap Goodyear minivan tires, horribly squishy and soft and even Goodyear rated it as mediocre in snow condition. Couldn't believe Toyota would go so cheap.
 
A four season tire worth considering is the Nokian SUV WR which has the snow-flake designation. I believe it is the only 4-season that has the snow-flake badging.
 
Good luck!
#397 of 428
Re: Performance in mountain conditions [cdptrap] by kullenberg
Jun 13, 2007 (3:36 pm)
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Replying to: cdptrap (Jun 12, 2007 8:37 pm)

Could not agree more - I put the Nokians on before delivery, and they have been outstanding. I live in the mtns of western NC, and they have never let me down, plus I've put 20k in less than a year with negligible wear. Good choice!!
#398 of 428
Re: Performance in mountain conditions [lucy10] by linten
Jun 20, 2007 (1:23 pm)
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Replying to: lucy10 (Jun 12, 2007 7:30 pm)

Last December I traded in my '97 Outback with 120,000 miles for a 4WD Toyota HH (I need the extra room to haul stuff). I love both cars but these are the differences: I get better mileage in the HiHy (25 vs 22)although the Subaru was 10 years old. The HiHy has kick-ass power. My little 4 cyl Subaru would work really hard when fully loaded to make it quickly to highway speed. The HiHy--no problem.
 
BUT, I think the Subaru is better in the snow and ice. There something about having the rear wheels driven by an electric motor that just can't compare to a regular drive train working them. Plus the Toyota has the VSC which prevents the wheels from spinning by shutting the motor off when it detects it. One time last winter during an ice storm I attempted to go up my driveway (it has an incline) and when the wheels started to spin a little, it just shut the motor off and there I was, slowly sliding backwards. I backed up and gunned it and made it into the garage but it did weird me out a little. By the way, I haven't used snow tires, just the Firestones that came with it, you may do better with different tires. But all in all, I thought the HiHy was OK in the snow.
#399 of 428
Re: Gas Brands Impact on Mileage [discussion1] by badluckbuyer
Aug 08, 2007 (8:50 pm)
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Replying to: discussion1 (Mar 23, 2006 2:35 pm)

sorry to bother. I am new and found this message. However, I don't know where the referenced message #2658 is found. I would greatly appreciate a link or directions to find this and/or other great summaries about driving tips.
 
thanks!
#400 of 428
Long term hybrid owners by pf_flyer HOST
Aug 21, 2007 (4:07 am)
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If you are a long-term hybrid owner, our Senior Editor, John O'Dell, would love to hear from you! A short email with your maintenance experiences and concerns would be great. Please send to John at jodelledmunds.com by close of business Wednesday, August 22, 2007. Be sure and include your Forums username.
#401 of 428
I waited... by wvgasguy
Nov 18, 2008 (6:47 am)
Reply
and did not buy the HH for business in 2007, ended up with a 4Runner. However, I did purchase a HH 4wd last night and after reading the latest comments feel it will serve me perfectly well for my personal use in mild winter weather country.

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