2004 Toyota Highlander **Updated 9/24**

[NFS4]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6416&sid=181&n=157

Those wheels look fuggin' chunky and ugly. Onboard GPS is cool though. Guess we'll have to wait til '06 to see what the fully redesigned model will look like, but the current model has been a HUGE hit for Toyota. Best selling mid-size crossover or whatever you wanna call it.

**Update 9/24**

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=07124897

 

[ElFenix]

i don't like fold down seats. suck up cargo space. its still second fiddle to the exploder in sales.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i don't like fold down seats. suck up cargo space. its still second fiddle to the exploder in sales.

Umm, no...no cargo space is lost on the Highlander They repositioned the fuel cell. I'm still trying to see how you could possibly fit two people back there. My dad has an '02 Highlander and while the cargo hold is generous, only midgets could fit back their.

 

[ElFenix]

cargo space is lost because the seat has to take up space somewhere. if you removed the seat you'd get whatever space it and the mechanism to make it fold down take up.

 

[SuperTool]

There are things Toyota just doesn't get, as evidenced by this car and the RX330, so I'll repeat it again, cus I just know they are reading
Wood is for luxury.
Aluminium is for sport.
Wood AND Aluminium is for fugly.
They need to learn to use some restraint with the interior materials so it doesn't look stupid.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
There are things Toyota just doesn't get, as evidenced by this car and the RX330, so I'll repeat it again, cus I just know they are reading
Wood is for luxury.
Aluminium is for sport.
Wood AND Aluminium is for fugly.
They need to learn to use some restraint with the interior materials so it doesn't look stupid.

how bout diamond plate?

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: SuperTool
There are things Toyota just doesn't get, as evidenced by this car and the RX330, so I'll repeat it again, cus I just know they are reading
Wood is for luxury.
Aluminium is for sport.
Wood AND Aluminium is for fugly.
They need to learn to use some restraint with the interior materials so it doesn't look stupid.

how bout diamond plate?

That and stick a piece of carbon fiber somewhere for good measure

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
cargo space is lost because the seat has to take up space somewhere. if you removed the seat you'd get whatever space it and the mechanism to make it fold down take up.

Have you been in a Highlander? Probably not. There's a LOT of space under the cargo floor to place various items. It's a deep engineering floor. With the repositioning of the fuel tank, there's plenty of room to add a foldable seat complete with mechanism and still have a flat floor w/o losing cargo space.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Have you been in a Highlander? Probably not. There's a LOT of space under the cargo floor to place various items. It's a deep engineering floor. With the repositioning of the fuel tank, there's plenty of room to add a foldable seat complete with mechanism and still have a flat floor w/o losing cargo space.

the seat, when folded, magically has no volume, breaking the laws of physics. that is what you are saying. guess what? if you unbolt everything about that seat, you would have a cavity where the seat would go. THAT is the lost space i am talking about.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NFS4

Have you been in a Highlander? Probably not. There's a LOT of space under the cargo floor to place various items. It's a deep engineering floor. With the repositioning of the fuel tank, there's plenty of room to add a foldable seat complete with mechanism and still have a flat floor w/o losing cargo space.

the seat, when folded, magically has no volume, breaking the laws of physics. that is what you are saying. guess what? if you unbolt everything about that seat, you would have a cavity where the seat would go. THAT is the lost space i am talking about.

Are you LISTENING?? There is already an OPEN area UNDER the floor of the Highlander. With the fuel tank moved, there is even MORE room to stow a folded seat.

 

[RichieZ]

excellent this makes the 2003 i want to buy ever cheaper! I'm going back tomorrow. Funny the guy at the dealership didn't kno jack about the 2004 models cuz they haven't got a sample in and haven't had training on the newer model.

2004 will have ESC rite? I read that other article u posted. O well I'll be missing the ESC and GPS but the dealer already said 5K under MSRP is alrite (would match another dealership) I think I can bargaint it down even more. Now I've got more reason to say sell it to me cheaper!

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Are you LISTENING?? There is already an OPEN area UNDER the floor of the Highlander. With the fuel tank moved, there is even MORE room to stow a folded seat.

i'm not the one who isn't listening. if the seat is there and can't come out you're LOSING a space the size of the seat in comparison to what you would have were you able to remove the seat. the seat is STILL THERE and taking up space regardless of it it is hidden or not, and regardless of if the new highlander has the same or even more cargo space than the previous model.

 

[NFS4]

regardless of if the new highlander has the same or even more cargo space than the previous model.

What's your point? It has the same cargo space. With the seat stowed, you have the same cargo space as a 2001-2003 Highlander

You said:

cargo space is lost because the seat has to take up space somewhere.

That is why I responded the way I did..

Of course there would be less space if the seat is in use. But when it is stowed, you still have full cargo capacity

 

[ElFenix]

my point is the seat occupies a good 8 cubic feet or so (just guestimating on that). folding it does not change the volume of space the seat occupies. if you had the option of folding it in OR removing it completely it might be easier for you to understand the opportunity cost of leaving the seat folded in the vehicle. you're losing, vis-a-vis having the ability to fold OR remove, the volume the seat occupies. granted, you could probably just unbolt the seat and the mechanism, but that isn't as simple as it could be.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
my point is the seat occupies a good 8 cubic feet or so (just guestimating on that). folding it does not change the volume of space the seat occupies. if you had the option of folding it in OR removing it completely it might be easier for you to understand the opportunity cost of leaving the seat folded in the vehicle. you're losing, vis-a-vis having the ability to fold OR remove, the volume the seat occupies. granted, you could probably just unbolt the seat and the mechanism, but that isn't as simple as it could be.

The seat folds flat into a well in the floor. That leaves a flat cargo floor. When the seat is in use, the well is used as a place to put your feet.

So I still don't see the problem

 

[ElFenix]

if i remove the seat i could put something else in the well. i lose that functionality by being unable to remove the seat easily.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
if i remove the seat i could put something else in the well. i lose that functionality by being unable to remove the seat easily.

If you had a 2003 Highlander you wouldn't even have the option

Either way, you're making a fuss over a non-issue

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

If you had a 2003 Highlander you wouldn't even have the option

Either way, you're making a fuss over a non-issue

its an opportunity cost. as an economist i note these things. as a law student i harp on minor details to try to make them bigger than they are.

of course if i got one of these i'd probably unbolt the seat and lose it somewhere

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
my point is the seat occupies a good 8 cubic feet or so (just guestimating on that). folding it does not change the volume of space the seat occupies. if you had the option of folding it in OR removing it completely it might be easier for you to understand the opportunity cost of leaving the seat folded in the vehicle. you're losing, vis-a-vis having the ability to fold OR remove, the volume the seat occupies. granted, you could probably just unbolt the seat and the mechanism, but that isn't as simple as it could be.

Dude you're wasting everyone's time arguing about nothing. The maximum cargo capacity for the Highlander is 81 cubic feet as oposed to the POS Explorer's 82 cubic feet.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever

Dude you're wasting everyone's time arguing about nothing. The maximum cargo capacity for the Highlander is 81 cubic feet as oposed to the POS Explorer's 82 cubic feet.

and your post is any better

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NFS4

If you had a 2003 Highlander you wouldn't even have the option

Either way, you're making a fuss over a non-issue

its an opportunity cost. as an economist i note these things. as a law student i harp on minor details to try to make them bigger than they are.

of course if i got one of these i'd probably unbolt the seat and lose it somewhere

Look, flat floor!!!

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/toyota/highlander/100339434/photos.html?tid=edmunds.n.prices.leftsidenav..12.Toyota*

Max cargo capacity is still 81 cubes

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Look, flat floor!!!

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/toyota/highlander/100339434/photos.html?tid=edmunds.n.prices.leftsidenav..12.Toyota*

i see 8 more cubic feet of miscellaneous trunk stuff that could be hidden from view by a nicely upholstered cover. but instead toyota put a seat there.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I'll just say that... ElFenix is right. Lost space is lost space. But I don't see why anyone would buy a Highlander in the first place.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
I'll just say that... ElFenix is right. Lost space is lost space. But I don't see why anyone would buy a Highlander in the first place.

The space is taken mostly from the fuel tank. 19.1 gallons vs 19.8 gallons. They also reshaped the floor. But 81 cubes is still 81 cubes and most people would rather have the third seat than a measly 8 cubes.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever

Dude you're wasting everyone's time arguing about nothing. The maximum cargo capacity for the Highlander is 81 cubic feet as oposed to the POS Explorer's 82 cubic feet.

and your post is any better

Actually it is.

Car Buyer: "hmm, new 3rd row seat for the 2004 highlander is nice, but it probably has less cargo space then before..."
Toyota: "Hey dude, this car's got the 3rd row and the same amount of space when you fold it down!"
Car Buyer: "Really? Sweet! I didn't think putting the 3rd row in was such a good idea, but since the Highlander has the same cargo space as before, that's great. Plus, it'll come in handy if I have to haul more people than my standard American family of four! Sold!"
Toyota: *cha ching*
ElFenix: "blah blah i'm an expert this idea is stuid blah blah blah explorer has better sales blah blah i don't know what I'm talking about"
Toyota: "What ElFenix? Can't hear you, this cash register is going crazy! *cha ching* *cha ching*
Ford: "I'm going to keep laying off workers because apparantly ridiculous incentives to move more vehicles isn't profitable"