Thoughts on a 2nd car - Highlander, Camry? 5th Gen?

blaniac22

blaniac22

Member
We have a 1997 Camry and a 2007 4Runner. The Camry has about 160K miles on it and is becoming a little expensive to maintain. The thought is after we pay off the 4R sometime this year we'll get a 2nd car. The original idea is the new car was going to be my wife's car - probably a Highlander (she wanted something a little bigger than a Camry without the truck feel).

We usually go back to California for the holidays. Well, in late November my wife had to go back to California early so we took the 4Runner, baby and two dogs to Cali and I returned to Texas. Bottom line, my wife fell in love with the 4Runner after driving it for a month. So she says she wants it, and I can buy what I want. :biggrin2:

The 5th Gen 4R is growing on me, but I'm not really sure we need two trucks - and if I end up commuting after I retire from the military I will probably need something with better gas mileage. I'm not sure about driving a Highlander everyday, and I really like the Camry SE V6 after renting one recently.

My question is - how many of you have Highlanders or new Camry's or owned them in the past? What are your thoughts and recommendations?
 
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ive got an 08 highlander as a second vec. fulltime 4wd,v6,leather & heated seats,etc. overall, its a great vec. wish it had a 2 speed transfer case, & offroad suspension but its still fairly capable, seems to hold as much if not more stuff, engine is strong, but much louder than the 4r, sound proofing is not that great, it rides more car like since its based on the camry i believe, interior is similar to the 4r but has nicer gauges & layout, very roomy, even tho its about the same size as the 4r it doesnt feel like it when your driving it.much lower step in height, to me, the mpg seem to be about the same as my v8, maybe slightly better, i recommend it if you need a wagon.
 
Second Car


My girlfriend has a 2002 Highlander that she's owned since it was new. Right now, it is on the cusp of 150,000 miles and has never left her waiting on a tow truck. Hers is front-wheel drive (no 4x4) and has the 3.0L DOHC V6.

As you know, the Highlander is a tall Camry - and doesn't have the "trucky" ride like a 4Runner. It is also better on fuel mileage than a 4Runner - since it is a lot lighter and more aerodynamic. The Highlander is/was available with an all-wheel-drive system, but it is more for driving in snow on regular pavement than for going off-road or up the trail. It lacks the "low range" and locking differential that comes on a 4Runner. My g/f has a button on her Highlander with "ECT SNOW" printed on it, and that feature provides some extra traction on slippery roads.

Go with the Highlander - unless you like "trucks" or want a beefier vehicle. If you are dead-set on a car, give the new Camry a shot. They're nice! The V6 SE models with the dual exhaust look very sharp (2007+ body style) - and they are fairly fast as well.
:bigok:

** EDITED FOR CLARITY **
 
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I've often though a V6 Rav might be fun. They are almost as big as the last gen Highlander, they're quick and look pretty good IMHO. I'd never want one in place of the 4Runner but to compliment the 4Runner it'd be on my short list.
 
:iagree:the new ravs are larger, nicer, & faster then the older ones. the venza isnt bad either.
 
i went with the sienna for the wife. i know its a mini-van but the ride is smooth, plenty of room and great for trips. everyone hates a mini-van till they have one.
 
I have a '04 Camry SE V6. It's a good car and I like it. The current Camry's 3.5 V6 has a lot more pep than my 3.3 V6.

Toyota wise, and brand new, I would consider a Venza for more cargo versitility and as alternative to the Highlander.
 
I like my Venza.

I had a buyer for my 4Runner in late 2008/early 2009; at the time, I considered the 2009 Murano, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and the Venza. I didn't need the 3rd row, which was the main advantage of the Highlander over the others. The Hybrid technology was interesting, but expensive.

In the end, the Venza was the best combination of practicality (higher ride height without the huge step up; ample cargo space) and features (Smart Key; HIDs; backup camera; power liftgate; JBL/Bluetooth; leather) for the price. The Murano was also very nice and drove well, but the LE I wanted was about $3K more than the comparably equipped Venza V6 AWD that I bought.

If I had waited to 2010 to buy, my decision would be a lot tougher -- Venza vs. a 5th Gen 4Runner. Not sure what I'd choose... :)
 
Give the 4Runner to your wife and keep the camry. Save up your pennies and buy a new car of your choice when you retire as your retirement present.
 
I never thought I would like a minivan, but I rented one when I went on vacation in San Diego and LA in 2008 and I was very impressed. Power, comfort, and cavernous cargo space...then my brother bought one, then my brother in law bought one....and they are SEXY! OK, well maybe not SEXY, but definitly desirable...:p

EDIT: The Sienna is desirable, not my relatives....
 
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Off topic but spawned by the minivan comments above...

If someone brought us a "real" suv like the 5th gen with sliding rear doors it seems like they'd sell a trillion of them.


The lack of 'cool' in the minivan is so high. The rear doors and access that a minivan provides is awesome! A 5th gen with tracked rear doors would sell like crazy IMHO.
 
CJ3Flyr said:
Off topic but spawned by the minivan comments above...

If someone brought us a "real" suv like the 5th gen with sliding rear doors it seems like they'd sell a trillion of them.


The lack of 'cool' in the minivan is so high. The rear doors and access that a minivan provides is awesome! A 5th gen with tracked rear doors would sell like crazy IMHO.
Click to expand...

you may be onto something...

hurry, and contact someone at Toyota before I do and take the credit :thumb3:
 
Somebody with some skills could retrofit a 3rd gen with some sliding rear doors...or even doors that just open and pull back without sliding. That would be super stinking cool...:guitar3:
 
CJ3Flyr said:
The lack of 'cool' in the minivan is so high. The rear doors and access that a minivan provides is awesome! A 5th gen with tracked rear doors would sell like crazy IMHO.
Click to expand...

:lol: hahhaha, I know of an EXACT fool who bought a Highlander to drive around his in-laws uncomfortably over a minivan because he thinks it's cool not to drive a minivan.

I rather drive a minivan if I had to drive around more than 5 people. I tried the third row seats on the Highlander, LX570, GX460 and Sequoia. The bigger the SUV the slightly better they were, but I would not want to be in the third row for more than 30 minutes. The 5th gen at the autoshow didn't have a third row. IMO, SUV third row seats are for kids or short trips if adults use it.
 
Well, I don't have a Camry or Highlander, but your story sounds a lot like mine. My wife basically took over the 4Runner and I drove an Honda Acoord for awhile and finally broke down and bought another 4Runner. I know gas is getting higher and higher, but we do tend to use our 4Runners a lot.

Moral of the story, don't let your wife use your 4Runner. :biggrin2:
 
CJ3Flyr said:
Off topic but spawned by the minivan comments above...

If someone brought us a "real" suv like the 5th gen with sliding rear doors it seems like they'd sell a trillion of them.


The lack of 'cool' in the minivan is so high. The rear doors and access that a minivan provides is awesome! A 5th gen with tracked rear doors would sell like crazy IMHO.
Click to expand...

I would never buy that, And you should get a 99 4runner "Highlander" 4x4 E-locker, 3.4l Supercharged 5 Speed.
 
My Brother has an 08' Camry Hybrid and absolutely loves it. Its fuel efficient and has quit a lot of power under the pedal. He went from Shreveport Louisiana up to University of South Carolina on a single tank of fuel.:lookout:

Also my stepmom has and 09' Venza V6 AWD and that car is really fun to drive and has a pretty good amount of room.

Those are both very good choices you should look into.
 
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