Jann is shopping for a new car. When I made the mistake of letting her out of my sight (she went to New Jersey on business) she rented a Hyundai Santa Fe and fell in love with bigness and highness. She is (was) fairly determined to buy one. I don't like 'em so far, no matter how good the warranty is.
Last Saturday I took her to the nearby Toyota dealer to see a RAV-4. That was a mistake. We ain't the compact anything types. The 4 Runner was too big and right out. So she tried the in between Toyota Highlander. Now we're talking.
I see they have a hybrid version. I'm thinking that might be neat to really save on gas. I wonder how hard it is to get one. Then I read Jim Meteja in the Chicago Tribune:
Now at $3 a gallon it changes the numbers a bit. I think this is pilot thriftiness at its best. None of that matters. I'd pay the extra dough. Just don't charge me $5.00 to park it.
Anybody know about the similar-sized offerings from the other makes? I know there's the Lexus RX300 which is the same vehicle + some features + the Lexus tax. I need to check to see what Honda and Nissan have in that league.
I had her sit in a Camry, which is what's under the Highlander. We both thought it was pretty good. I like Bruce's Ford 500. I think, as we are wont to do, she's got her heart set on joining the trend just as it's ending.
Let me know your experiences and recommendations.
Last Saturday I took her to the nearby Toyota dealer to see a RAV-4. That was a mistake. We ain't the compact anything types. The 4 Runner was too big and right out. So she tried the in between Toyota Highlander. Now we're talking.
I see they have a hybrid version. I'm thinking that might be neat to really save on gas. I wonder how hard it is to get one. Then I read Jim Meteja in the Chicago Tribune:
Those dedicated to the cause of relief from reliance on foreign oil have to pay $6,800 more for a base hybrid and $7,700 more for the Limited than if they bought the V-6 Highlander minus the NiMH batteries.
At $2 a gallon, the $6,800 to $7,700 premium would buy 3,400 to 3,850 gallons of gas. If your current vehicle obtains 20 m.p.g., those 3,400 to 3,850 gallons would give you 68,000 to 77,000 miles of motoring.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/class...5298.column?page=2&coll=chi-homepagepromo-utl
Now at $3 a gallon it changes the numbers a bit. I think this is pilot thriftiness at its best. None of that matters. I'd pay the extra dough. Just don't charge me $5.00 to park it.
Anybody know about the similar-sized offerings from the other makes? I know there's the Lexus RX300 which is the same vehicle + some features + the Lexus tax. I need to check to see what Honda and Nissan have in that league.
I had her sit in a Camry, which is what's under the Highlander. We both thought it was pretty good. I like Bruce's Ford 500. I think, as we are wont to do, she's got her heart set on joining the trend just as it's ending.
Let me know your experiences and recommendations.
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