(First posted 8/20/2013) I’ve always been a car guy. From naming everything on the road, going to auto shows, collecting car models and brochures, and retaining every bit of information I read about them, I’m into anything and everything cars. So naturally, the day I finally obtained my driver’s license (and I’m over-stressing the finally, as I went to get it within days of the earliest date the state of Massachusetts would allow me to do so) was one of the greatest days of my life. Although technically carless for the first several months following that proud day in November 2009, my mom promised me a car of my own soon, and I was already referring to her Toyota Highlander as mine.
In March of 2010, that day finally came. Having come to the conclusion that it would be best to pass on the well-running and reliable Highlander to me, my mom made her dream of owning a BMW a reality, and purchased a CPO ’07 BMW X3. Although I would have liked to pick out my own first car, I was more than content with the Highlander. It was the car I had learned to drive in, and it was as familiar to me as the track at my high school.
And what a familiar car it was. My mom purchased her Millennium Silver 2004 Toyota Highlander Limited on December 27, 2003, her birthday, coincidently. Fed up with her problematic ’99 Jeep Grand Cherokee, she returned to the trusted arms of Toyota (she previously owned 2 Camrys). At that point, it was the most expensive car she ever bought. At the time she wouldn’t tell me how much (Mom didn’t like to talk about money when I was a kid), but when I was cleaning it out last fall, I came across the window sticker. Close to $40K (or $50K in today’s money) – that’s a pretty expensive Toyota.
Needless to say, it was “loaded”. Heated leather seats, 10-way power driver’s seat, premium JBL sound system, in-dash 6-disc CD changer, automatic climate control, rear DVD entertainment system, abundance of brushed aluminum and fake (but quite attractive) wood trim, moonroof, rear spoiler, all-wheel drive, and alloy wheels that looked like they came off a Lexus LS.
The Highlander was given a mild facelift for ’04, but the biggest improvements were under the hood. The 3.0L V6 in Limited models was replaced with a larger 3.3L, marginally increasing horsepower and upping torque by a more substantial amount. A new 5-speed automatic was paired with this engine, making fairly quick off the starting line for an SUV. I can attest that I never had a problem beating the car next to me to cruising speed.
Despite being a “mom car”, the Highlander’s styling was tough enough that I never felt like I was driving a hand-me-down minivan. Its family-car image was an appreciated attribute when it came to speeding. Additionally, it was better than most of my friends’ cars and with three rows, could carry many of them. This feature often made me the “designated driver”, in every sense.
The Highlander was also excellent in the snow. So excellent that my mom would still drive it over her Bimmer whenever there were more than a few inches on the ground. As much as BMW would like you to think, their cars aren’t designed for non-Autobahn conditions. Performance tires and a lack of low gears just don’t work in the snow. Having the Highlander was especially comforting in the winter of 2010-2011, when Boston received some 81 inches of powder.
My Toyota Highlander was the definition of “Car of a Lifetime”. I can’t even imagine how many hours of my life were spent riding in and then behind the wheel of this vehicle. I grew up around this car, and it was one of the most stable things in my life for the 9 years it was in my family. It was really like an old friend, always there for me. For a number of reasons, 2011 proved to be the rockiest year of my life. Through it all, my Toyota was there for me, offering up a relieving drive whenever I needed.
But all good things must come to an end. By the summer of 2012, the Highlander was approaching 9 years old, had passed the 100,000 mile mark, and was really showing its wear. There’s no doubt I could’ve kept it for longer, but I was ready for something different, something that I picked out myself. When that opportunity presented itself, I ran with it. In September of 2012, I traded my dependable 1st car in for my current car, a 2010 Acura TSX. The story of my Acura, and the reasons I chose it, is for another day though.
One of the greatest things about Curbside Classic is how it celebrates all cars and the impact they have on people’s lives. Toyota week is a perfect case in point. True, Toyota has become a “beige” brand, but these cars can still mean so much to the people who drive them, and that makes for a great read. The most ordinary car is still extraordinary when you think about it. This write-up also reminds me of my first car–a 1980 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that was bought from an elderly neighbor. Not my dream car, but it was a dream to have a car!
Your Mom is going to want it back, thats a really nice car and it probably wont go wrong if you even lightly service it. The BMW? well I saw one leave home on a flat deck recently the 2 builders who are at the property building a lavish guest accomodation told me that was the 6th time since they’ve been there. I was back there a week later and a new VW convertable and a Audi R8 grace the driveway this time the X5 diesel didnt come back. Shame you sold it that isnt high mileage.
I like the photo with both the Toyota and the BMW that replaced it. The older Toyota is a much better looking rig to my eyes.
People may forget that crossovers were not so commonplace back when the Highlander debuted. Most were still truck based. I remember people comparing it quite favorably to its platform mate RX. Some even preferred the more chisled styling. I think it has stood the test of time quite well, and there are probably many folks, even some self-professed current Toyota haters, who would gladly pick up a low mileage one of these for daily duties.
Interesting juxtaposition of the 2 CUVs (err….CUV and SAV) in the driveway. Does anyone remember a time when a CUV like this was considered mid-sized? The X3 was considered big for ts time, necessitating a larger 2gen X5. I think the compacts now are often bigger than the 1gen Highlander.
I’m dating myself…. but it was a brand new 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible…white with red interior….that belonged to my neighbor….I was a car guy from then on.
A very nice first car indeed! Keep us tuned in on how your mom does with the BMW. My guess is she will be back to Toyota one more time after the Bimmer is through with her.
She actually doesn’t own the Bimmer anymore…
This past winter it began experiencing an unidentified mechanical problem that resulted in sporadic bursts of rumbling from the rear when in drive but braked at a stop light. She did take it to the dealer, where it was traced to the battery, and they replaced it under warranty. Unfortunately she started having similar problems soon. After taking back, they did something else battery related (apparently it required ordering parts from Germany), and she had no similar problems after. By that point the CPO warranty had expired, but they did it for no charge because she first brought it in before that point. So in effect, the BMW never really turned into a money pit. That’s not to say it wouldn’t have if she kept it.
Anyway, she had been planning on buying a new car this year before all that. We were both under impressed with the new X3 (me especially), so she was looking at either the Mercedes GLK (her 1st choice, but pricier) or Audi Q5.
Long story short, the end of this June she traded the Bimmer in for a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 as her retirement gift to herself. She negotiated such a good deal that she didn’t look at anything after. It’s a great SUV; tough-looking, powerful, very luxurious. Not the Mercedes I would have bought for myself, but my mom likes the high driving position of an SUV.
Have you ridden with her in the new Mercedes? I bet you’ll like it as a passenger a lot more than the BMW. It feels way more solid, smooth, and refined. I love Mercedes–they exude class.
I have and very true. Plus it actually has legroom thanks to a console that isn’t enormous.
Well, I don’t think America is the place where someone should say I love Mercedes–they exude class. That’s subversive, and not supporting America!! Don’t ever express any positive opinions about non-American cars again! This is America, and don’t forget it!
The only thing that can have class is who’s behind the wheel, & that’s the rare sort which has nothing to do with wealth or status. Choose your vehicle that serves your needs well, not because it exudes anything besides gases.
We have an ’05 4WD V6 in Western MA with 175k on it and other than basic maintenance it has proven amazing! Not bad for an ebay purchase of an off-lease in ’08 with under 25k on the odo, for $17k. Bought a one-way ticket to Cleveland and drove it home in an afternoon. Has towed the motorboat, survived deer and black ice, winters in the Berserkshires and other than some rocker panel rust it still looks great!
My first car was a beat up but solid 81Toyota tercel sr5. I bought it a few months before my 16th birthday to have ready for the day I got my liscense. Well when the day finally came I went to get an insurance quote and was floored, $2800 for basic liability as a new driver. Dreams dashed I parked the car in the woods out of my tempted view and hit the road on foot of the west coast of Canada and hopefully greener (cheaper insurance rates) pastures. Five days of constant coffee and cigerette fueled hitchiking later id made my festination.. Now to get what I would consider my first real street legal car. It took me about six months of saving every penny but I got a $2800 mazda 626 gt, that thing was an exellent first car and insurance on the other side of Canada was only $500 or so for sixmonths and could be payed in two installments sweet.
Great write up! The varied illnesses of our bought-new ’98 Volvo thrust us in the arms of Toyota when the Highlander came out in 2003. Base model, 4 cyl. It was my wife’s, but I loved beating the hell out of that thing – reving out the quite capable 4 cylinder. The only additional equipment it needed was a sunroof (life is too short not to have one) and a power driver’s seat (I could never get fully comfortable).
Alas once it hit 100k she wanted something newer and nicer. I regret getting rid of it because as I car shopped this last year I was looking for something it’s exact size and reliability. The current Highlander is too big.
I loved the sunroof too… until the motor unfortunately died. Happened sometime around 2010 and I never got it repaired.
“Won’t buy American” + Obama sticker = typical. —Comment deleted? OUCH. Scary. This is America, no?
I knew someone would comment on the Obama sticker. Why do people have to drag politics into everything? This about the car, not his political beliefs.
My feeling exactly. That is why I deleted the earlier comment. No offense to you and your beliefs Doir, this just is not the place.
Well, I don’t think America is the place where someone should say “I’ll never buy American again!” to be honest. But yeah, that’s me, supporting America. She’s free to have her opinion, yet I’m not free to type mine? Again, “typical”.
What’s more typical than making some huffy “pffff Obama” drive-by based on the circumstantial evidence of a bumper sticker and the car-buying preferences of someone’s mother who you know exactly that one thing about?
Considering the timeline given in this story and that it’s a 2012 edition bumper sticker, I would assume it was placed there by this vehicle’s second owner, who clearly holds American cars in high regard based on many CC articles and comments written… so the super sleuthing that led to your arrogantly dismissive bullshit may be faulty, and it’s just downright fucking rude, but that’s only my opinion.
@Sean – um yeah, my comment was “Typical” – it said nothing negative of his mother or Obama. So get over your hypersensitive self. There are 5 visible stickers on this vehicle, yet it’s off limits?! Name any other CC story where 5 bumper stickers are present and no comments are made on any of them! HELLO POLITICAL CORRECTNESS! Funny how you can cuss and swear at me, yet I can’t make the observation “Typical”. Did I say anything bad regarding her or him? No. If you’ll read my comments about his grandparents’ Oldsmobiles in articles past, you’ll notice I have nothing but respect for the author and his family. You and your ilk are disgusting.
FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! Just to bust them off….
DoIr – You have a real knack for making poor assumptions, don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. I didn’t set the guidelines for political comments on here and I’m not trying to enforce them, but everyone knows what the policy is. If you felt your initial comment was harmless and misinterpreted in some way, the sensible thing to do would have been to point that out. “Hey, noticed this comment was deleted ‘xxxxxx’ and I was wondering why? I only meant it as a joke” – something to that effect. You lost me when you started whining about your precious opinions and some imagined right to express them. This isn’t America, and there’s a big difference between an opinion on what country someone prefers buying cars from and shallow political posturing. Plus, as I’ve already pointed out, all this shit you’re having your period over is predicated on the poorly reasoned assumption that there is some “typical” link between being pro-Obama and anti-Detroit that is informing the cold reception you’re getting. Focus on your failed stretch of logic instead of some imagined conspiracy/bias against you and get back to me when you can more clearly identify who me and my ilk are.
Dolr: I hope you realize that your statement “Well, I don’t think America is the place where someone should say ‘I’ll never buy American again!’ to be honest” is of course blatantly anti-American. Didn’t the founders fight for freedoms, that include the right to make statements like that, without idiots like you saying that they shouldn’t be said?
Think about it: You want to defend America, yet you’re saying Americans shouldn’t have the right to state a preference for what car they prefer. You’re obviously not a genuine American, or someone who believes in upholding the rights of Americans.
Your statement is anti-freedom. And political in the lowest and most pathetic sense of the word. You confuse being pro-American with wanting to censure someone; take away their right to free expression.
You opened a political can of worms that has totally backfired. That’s exactly why I recommend staying away from politics, period. Most folks don’t know how to handle the subject matter properly.
And you knew that we don’t do political comments here. That’s not because we’re anti-American or anti-free speech, but because we know that all-too often, political comments are stupid, and you’ve just proved it perfectly.
My first thought was to take down this whole comment thread. But let it stand as testimony to why we discourage political comments, and how folks who make them typically end up with massive egg on their face.
And why are you extolling the virtues of Mercedes just a few comments down?
@Paul — I was told “this wasn’t the place” to make political comments (“Typical” was my comment, heavy I know!) yet the author brought America/n products into the discussion. So I said my part in response to that and being told “this isn’t the place”. I didn’t begin with saying she couldn’t say what she wanted. Follow the comments. I’m sure her father fought for this country (like my family–Did yours?), I never once questioned what she could say/buy, so get over it.
FYI – you’re the one with egg on your face. Summary: I didn’t just randomly say that comment, I said it in response to my freedom of speech shut off here. And I said “I don’t think”–did I say someone couldn’t?! Take a course in reading comprehension.
Dolr: One last time: someone saying “they’ll never consider another American car” is NOT a political statement. Plenty of folks on both sides of the political aisle have expressed that sentiment. Its a statement of consumer preferences. It only becomes political if someone (wrongly) chooses to make it a political issue, like you. So drop it already. End of story.
I reiterate my comment at the bottom that all this is extremely unpleasant for the rest of us… I enjoy reading everyone’s comments at the end of all CC articles, but this sort of thing is not on… It’s unfair on Brendan for writing an interesting and enjoyable COAL and we all get to be left with a sour taste. *getting off soapbox now*
Hey, buddy, this site a site where people tell of their experiences of cars. Your posts are not interesting. Come back when you can be nice.
I always liked the original Highlander, a bit plain but nice overall lines–and glass area! Yours looks especially nice in Limited trim. A lady at the office bought one of these new in about 2001–not a Limited, though. It was slate blue and pretty sharp for a Toyota.
All the Toyota wagons have grown a size or two in the past decade, to the point where a new RAV4 is about the same size as this Highlander. The original RAV4 was tiny–I remember them when they came out. The 2-door was basically Geo Tracker size.
That is a really good looking Highlander. Those wheels are the best ones for them, and the tires you have gave it a nice solid stance, looks like what the Lexus RX should have looked like. Most of the Highlanders look like the wheels are too small and spindly.
On my wife’s base model I grabbed a set of RX300 wheels to replace the steelies. No one makes uglier base steel wheels than Toyota. Well maybe Chevy.
I also found out that although the wheels are the same size and bolt pattern, Lexus used the euro-proven method of lug bolts instead of lug nuts. Just in case you wanted to complicate things.
I LOVE the Obama sticker! 😀
I remember these chiefly for who drove them…my college girlfriend’s father, an engineer, and then my best friend in law school’s dad (a retired math professor), who passed it on to him (my friend is still driving it).
I wonder if there is some correlation between original owners of Highlanders and the math-heavy professions? An engineer and a mathematician…
The most distinctive feature I can recall about the interior of the car at the moment is the fold down, “captain’s chair” armrests. I did like them. Nothing else particularly jars my memory.
There must be a correlation. My mother has her masters in education for math. She was a math teacher when she bought it.
We have an 03, inherited from my engineer dad. Great car, great in snow here in CO.
For reasons that are now obscure and ridiculous, I wanted to dislike the Highlander (and its kind) so badly when it was new. I’ve always considered myself pretty open-minded about new cars and new types of cars, and never had a religious affiliation with any brand in particular… but I have been high on the crankcase ventilation fumes of XJ snobbery since a long ways back. The rapid shift from the dominance of Cherokee-wave “small SUVs” to these early “car-based SUVs” (which evolved into being called CUVs) marked a depressing sea change that I also mistook as threatening: finally, people would get what they wanted out of XJs and S-10 Blazers all along – a Toyota Camry that looks like a little truck.
But after a few years, I finally crossed over to the CUV bandwagon. As much as I loved and still love the old formula, it was an evolutionary dead end… no way it could ever stick around without being at least somewhat compromised (see: Jeep Liberty). No use crying over spilled milk or solid front axles, and there’s more than enough ratty old XJs to go around for quite awhile yet.
The first thing that sold me on the Highlander was it’s looks. IMO, it was the best looking example of its type – the early CUVs that hadn’t yet developed their own, unique design language and were still taking most visual cues from their larger, truckier relatives. It’s only gotten classier looking with age and it’s hard to believe that it’s now been 13 years since its debut (holy shit!)
From 2006-2008, I drove tons of these, just off-lease, at work. There were many other cars I’d rather be driving on nice days with nothing but open road in front of me, but there were few that were more agreeable than these Toyotas while battling the constant dirge of traffic shuffling between shops and dealerships. Very comfortable seats, great seating position, both engines (four and six) were pleasant and willing, you could fit everything you’d ever need to drag around into one, gobbled up potholes quietly and I even remember the stereo being pretty good. I’m a little more willing to look past the typical Toyota softness in suspension and steering feel for a vehicle like this, but all things considered they still handled very well due to their sedan roots. I’m even willing to concede that they’re an infinitely more practical car to own than a Jeep at this point.
I always wanted to take one of the hybrid models (with the separate electric motor driving the rear wheels) off-road and see how it worked, but I never had the balls to risk it. From the few bits and blurbs I’ve read, it was probably for the best since they’re alleged to be catastrophe prone when driven hard. Cool setup, though…
I went to the local Toy dealer when the hybrid came out just to see what the buzz was all about. What I couldn’t understand was why Toyota insisted on using the V6 with the hybrid, considering that the total available HP was much higher than the V6. The salesman couldn’t explain why Toyota didn’t use the 4 instead, which I thought would have provided better gas mileage and still have the combined grunt to handle anything thrown at the 6.
Because the Highlander shares its platform with the Lexus RX, and it was much much more expedient to use the same hybrid system as the RX400h. FWIW, I doubt it would make a whole lot of difference, fuel efficiency-wise.
You know, the sort of carry on in some comments further above makes CC unpleasant for everyone else. It’s unnecessary and disappointing. The old saying “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” could well be heeded by us all…
Anyway, onto something nice now: great write-up Brendan, I enjoyed reading it, thank you!
Although the political commentary was not the most pleasant, I really appreciate the moderators of this site in preventing a flame war. This is one of the reasons that I appreciate CC. There’s a level of civility that’s hard to find elsewhere on the internet.
Really, it was starting to show its age at 9 years and 100K!? Seems really odd for a Toyota just saying, but then again your family has more cash than mine does maybe that has something to do with it. By the way, was there some hidden rust since from personal experience the East Coast is rough on vehicles.
These wer the last of the over engineered Toyotas of the era..They are excellent cars and I am sure its owner will love it. Great cars but not cheap..The new ones are way less money and if you want the nice stuff, you get the Lexus..
We currently own an ’01 Highlander that we’ve owned for 14 years now… 225k miles and still runs like new. Excellent quality of materials used in the build.
Now for my cranky old man rant… In MY day, math teachers didn’t believe in money trees.
A co-worker has a black one of these
We had a 2006 LE, FWD, with the 3.3L V6 that we purchased used with around 80k miles. In the 3 years we owned it, it only needed a set of tires (dry rot moves a little more quickly in the dry Southwest), a timing belt service and a set of front brake pads. It drove, unsurprisingly, much like the two Gen 2 Camry wagons we’d owned over the years. Had we not passed it along to our son and his wife, we’d still be driving it. They’re finding it most useful, especially whilst hauling a couple larger dogs. It was a competent vehicle, with wind noise on the highway being my biggest gripe. The 2015 LE, AWD, with which we replaced it is more refined, but otherwise has the Toyota feel. On a side note, an Acura TSX wagon like Paul’s was on my list, but after owning the 06 Highlander, my wife decided the tall seating position is more to her liking.
Brendon, I’m curious: Does that Highlander have binary throttle response like the 2004 Sienna (same engine & K platform)? There’s like a step function between “You talkin’ to me?” & “Zoom-zoom” modes.
Our Sienna is still going strong at 125K+mi, but now in our son’s hands. He’s probably the only bachelor in town driving a minivan.
From what I recall (it’s been 3.5 years since I’ve had the car), there was a brief hesitation upon pressing on the gas pedal before the car would “shift” into full-throttle response.
And BTW, it’s “Brendan”, not “Brendon” 🙂