Newbie: Can someone tell me if this is the coveted Highlander edition?

[ric]

Right on.

Why do people even use the term Highlander? Window sticker and a single magazine advertisement...whoop-de-do. Let's just ignore the fact that the sales brochures year after year called them a SR5 with Sport Package...even in 1999. The use of "Highlander" is for people that need to attempt to brag.

for a few years, the "highlander" was an option, then was disc. and called the "sport" then they came out with the toyota highlander, the smaller vehicle.
I had a 99 4runner SR5 with the Highlander package, came with the hoodscoop, rear air, and the E-locker from my understanding the E-locker was a dealer option..

 

[Stick Figure]

, A '99 Limited has better features like AWD/4x4 which the '99 Highlander doesn't have, and they both came with optional rear lockers (so did the SR5s too). I would rather have the AWD feature than a faux hood scoop.

Thats a big matter of opinion.... i looked very hard for a highlander/sport just to stay away from the AWD crap. and since the Highlander is basically a well optioned SR5 with the scoop to identify it, it makes it much easier to tell what you are getting (or should be) from use car ads before going to look at the vehicle in person.

more info on the Highlander options: Toyota 4Runner Highlander Information

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

as most have stated it is a Highlander edition

 

[brian2sun]

Thats a big matter of opinion.... i looked very hard for a highlander/sport just to stay away from the AWD crap. and since the Highlander is basically a well optioned SR5 with the scoop to identify it, it makes it much easier to tell what you are getting (or should be) from use car ads before going to look at the vehicle in person.

It's definitely a matter of opinion, but I don't think the AWD is crap. If it was AWD only it would be crap, but the '99 Limiteds (as well as the '00 limiteds and all 4x4 '01s and 02s) have normal 4hi and 4lo too, not just AWD. So it's an added feature, not one that replaces something else. If you lived in a snowy are you'd appreciate it because it's great for black ice. If you have traction say 90% of the time, your 4hi will be wearing and binding a lot especially if it's a curvy road. AWD lets the axles slip but still gives you more traction than 2wd would on those icy patches. It's great for slick wet roads too.

As much as I like the '99 Highlander (and all 96-02s), the '99 Limited is my personal favorite - and this is coming from a guy who loves his '97 (even though the poor little thing only has 4x4 :moping. Hood scoops look cool I admit, but they're not gonna make it drive any better.

 

[Fireball]

Hood scoops look cool I admit, but they're not gonna make it drive any better.

As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with you. Every time I'm driving and look out the windshield at my hood scoop I smile and get a little distracted. This does indeed make my driving a little worse.

The model you're looking at is indeed a highlander, and JAs website (as two people have previously linked to) contains all the information you'll ever need on all the 3rd gen models.

Looks like that vehicle is in pretty good shape, price might be a touch high for the miles, but perhaps you can talk them down. Good luck!

 

[TheDurk]

No. The "real wood" option I believe is all stick on. I have the fake wood grain and it's just painted on

I have the real wood and it is real wood (veneer). One of mine (driver door piece) delaminated after getting rained on and the clear plastic overpiece came off hallfway. I carefully separated it the rest of the way. Then I sanded the wood, restained and polyurethaned it by hand. Matches nicely although it is actually better looking than the other pieces. I've thought about pulling the others and throwing them in a bucket to delaminate them on purpose and refinish the same way. Some day...(I learned to do this on an aging BMW 735i courtesy of the e23 bimmerboard forum).

But they are not stick-on, they are substitute pieces.

 

[Stick Figure]

It's definitely a matter of opinion, but I don't think the AWD is crap. If it was AWD only it would be crap, but the '99 Limiteds (as well as the '00 limiteds and all 4x4 '01s and 02s) have normal 4hi and 4lo too, not just AWD. So it's an added feature, not one that replaces something else. If you lived in a snowy are you'd appreciate it because it's great for black ice. If you have traction say 90% of the time, your 4hi will be wearing and binding a lot especially if it's a curvy road. AWD lets the axles slip but still gives you more traction than 2wd would on those icy patches. It's great for slick wet roads too.

As much as I like the '99 Highlander (and all 96-02s), the '99 Limited is my personal favorite - and this is coming from a guy who loves his '97 (even though the poor little thing only has 4x4 :moping. Hood scoops look cool I admit, but they're not gonna make it drive any better.

You're talking to the wrong person about snow, and black ice. I grew up in Nebraska, and drove RWD sports cars most of the time i was there. Snow or ice doesn't scare me, you learn how to drive w/ it. the AWD tends to give people a false sense of security, which is more scary than any weather condition. AWD might be for some people but my 4 vehicles are all RWD, and only the 4runner has the option of even 4WD. Just the way I like it!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Learn to use AWD and you can become an even better driver and on a frozen hard surface AWD with a compentant driver will eat up a vehicle with traditional 4wd.

 

[SkidPalace]

I have the real wood and it is real wood (veneer). One of mine (driver door piece) delaminated after getting rained on and the clear plastic overpiece came off hallfway. I carefully separated it the rest of the way. Then I sanded the wood, restained and polyurethaned it by hand. Matches nicely although it is actually better looking than the other pieces. I've thought about pulling the others and throwing them in a bucket to delaminate them on purpose and refinish the same way. Some day...(I learned to do this on an aging BMW 735i courtesy of the e23 bimmerboard forum).

But they are not stick-on, they are substitute pieces.[/QUOTE

You are right about the real wood, but they are still stick-on. You will only find true wood dashes on extremely expensive vehicles. I know this as one of mine was annoyingly applied slightly crooked from the factory. The option is called "Genuine Wood Dash Applique". Some of mine are starting to de-lam and I might look into your refinishing process.