Highlander Owners (Older Models)

[kae006]

So, the wife and I plan to buy a new house next summer and currently we would have to sell our current home in order to do so. I'm hoping to keep our home as a rental and save up the cash for a 20% down payment on the new home. After doing the math, we would need to get out of my truck payment to make it happen. I have about 8k equity in the truck and plan to use that on another vehicle that gets better mileage and no car payment. I'm going to look at an '04 Toyota Highlander today w/ 73k miles. I know it's kind of a grocery getter but was hoping for some opinions from current/previous owners. I don't need a fancy vehicle but I do want something I will be comfortable in and that's reliable. I know I'll be on the hook for the major timing belt service just after purchase (due to age moreso than miles), but no other big concerns with the 3.3L that I've found. I appreciate any info.

[kae006]

Bump

[jlp04c]

Cant exactly speak to the age of that vehicle, but my Wife has a 2010 highlander with 175k miles on it... Super smooth riding car, and there's not much difference between what we can haul in it, vs what i can fit in my truck.

The Highlanders are a Camry chassis with a SUV frame, pretty decent gas mileage etc.
I wouldnt see any reason why you wouldnt get another 100k miles out of it with maintenance etc.

[kae006]

Cant exactly speak to the age of that vehicle, but my Wife has a 2010 highlander with 175k miles on it... Super smooth riding car, and there's not much difference between what we can haul in it, vs what i can fit in my truck.

The Highlanders are a Camry chassis with a SUV frame, pretty decent gas mileage etc.
I wouldnt see any reason why you wouldnt get another 100k miles out of it with maintenance etc.

Thanks! I would prefer the 4Runner as it's on a truck body but those dang things are stupid expensive even with 200k miles. From my research it doesn't seem uncommon for the Highlanders to go 250-300k.

[TCodyAg]

I have some friends with a Highlander in that age-range and all they've had to do is replace the alternator and battery once each. It's served them well. About 3 weeks ago we bought my wife a 2010 Highlander with 36,000 miles on and it and we're happy so far.

2 years ago I was in a similar situation and sold my nice Tundra. I paid cash for an older F-150 with 98,000 miles and it gets me from point A to point B. No regrets.

[FULL DRAW]

They are good vehicles. I drive a 2007 as daily driver. Just took it hunting last weekend. Helps that the back seats fold down and the entire back can be used for ice chests and hunting gear that doesn't get wet if it rains. And the 24 mpg on the highway helps my wallet. I am about to break 200K miles and never had an issue other than a leaky valve cover gasket. My wife just bought a 2013 and that thing is pretty nice. She liked it enough to buy a second one.