Need advice 2007 LC with 240K miles or 2015 Highlander Hybrid with 60k miles?

[Alexalbatross]

I am mostly a "lurker", but I really appreciate the comraderie on here, so I thought "why the hell not" and decided to pose this question.

I know my responses will be somewhat biased to say the least, but I am having a tough time deciding and need some advice. I had a 76 FJ40 when it was just us, but I sold it to buy a new Subaru Outback (which has turned out great and is a keeper). I really wanted to get the Ascend, but it's out of my price range.

While I would love to get into a 2007 LC (my favorite next to the 1999-2001), I have to think about my growing family and their needs. Obviously 3 rows is key. The 3rd row will be mostly for the kids, so legroom is not really an issue. Reliability is not really an issue either as both cars are Toyotas (not sure about battery reliability on the Highlander but it's covered up until 100k mi). Gas is an issue because I get 30mpg on the Highlander vs less than half that on the Cruiser. Safety is not really an issue since both cars scored great and have side curtain airbags. However the LC has been in 2 accidents. No airbag deployment, but it's still a stain on the Carfax. Maintenance has been well recorded as well. Dealer is asking 14k for the LC, which has had 3 owners, decent maintenance record, and 26K for the Highlander which has had 2 owners and no real maintenance record. A big difference price-wise, I know, but I am looking at cost of ownership over a long span of time. Repairs, insurance, maintenance, fuel costs for premium fuel, etc, as well as resaleability if things get tough later down the road. I have seen/test driven both cars and both will need about 1k in cosmetic touch ups. When I purchase, I will be putting down 5k and financing the rest through my bank at the current rate. Any ***objective*** advice would be appreciated : )

 

[hickuptruck]

Highlander no question

 

[suprarx7nut]

Strictly highway? Highlander.
Some Off-road? LC

$12k is a huge chunk of change. It's going to take a LOT of gasoline and a few big ticket repairs to make that up.

 

[Mbchance]

07 LC with 240k miles will need some upkeep if you don't have service records to know for sure what has been done. Even if you do know, you will more than likely have some other maintenance items come up.

Financing is another consideration. Depending on where you finance, you'll likely get a crappy deal on an interest rate due to the age of the LC over the Highlander. IF credit isn't that great, you might not get any financing on the 07.
Highlander is a different story and you wouldn't have a problem getting a good rate or finding a lender.

EDIT: Just noticed you have financing secured through your bank.

In summary:

If you have money to spend to have fun, off-road a bit and enjoy your drive and project.... get the LC.....

If you want lower maintenance, good gas mileage and more modern luxuries, role with the highlander...…

 

[planomateo]

$14k for a 07 w/ 240k and 2 accidents. The value on these is insane.

I should have bought 10 of these and just put them in a storage unit.

Get the Highlander if you need to make a purchase now or you care about mpg, otherwise wait for a better LC.

 

[suprarx7nut]

$14k for a 07 w/ 240k and 2 accidents. The value on these is insane.

I should have bought 10 of these and just put them in a storage unit.

Get the Highlander if you need to make a purchase now or you care about mpg, otherwise wait for a better LC.

Just wait for gas to go up again. I bet values plummet.

Even still, though, $20k for a really clean LX is a lot of bang for the buck in the used market. Not much else around is as comfortable and reliable in that price category.

 

[jLB]

I'm comfortable enough with the 100 series to have two in my driveway, have had a least one in the driveway for the last 21 years, and am always tempted to add another.


Land Cruiser advantages (compared to Highlander above):

They're built to a different standard than just about anything else.​

No hybrid batteries​

Interior room​

AWD/4WD​

View/seating position.​

Land Cruiser disadvantages (compared to the Highlander above ):

Lousy gas mileage.​

Feels like a truck in a parking lot.​

Height for "short people" (then again my kid never had an issue with a lifted 80 series)​

Miles (but LC/LX miles are a little different to me)​

No warranty.​

Some potentially expensive repairs.​

How severe were the 2 recorded accidents?​

If you're financing a $14,000, 12 year old vehicle ($70,000 MSRP new), a relatively minor accident can total it, how upside down would you be?​

 

[Alexalbatross]

Maintenance on the LC has been pretty good. Timing belt has been changed twice, regular oil changes, a few brake jobs, front axle replaced (not sure why). It's out of state so I'd fly out to NC with my family and drive it back to Fl. That part makes me nervous tho just because I haven't had a change to really go through it on a lift with my mech.

The Highlander has service records (I just got them), and they are pretty thorough. Not much has been done to it mechanically. I don't know much about the batteries but they are covered by Toyota. It's also a (relatively) local car. Only 300 miles away. I test drove another one the other day and it runs really nice. Lots of power, lots of torque, lots of towing power.

I don't know. The Highlander is a good car, it just doesn't "excite" me like the LC always has. I suppose what it all boils down to is choosing between practical and bad ass. Also going with the former also means admitting that I'm a grown up... : /

 

[Alexalbatross]

Here are the two.. With an 08 added because I can't get this beauty out of my head. It's driving me nuts. Asking 24k.

 

[Pucker5]

Read through this post and the replies...everyone missed the bigges factor. Wife factor. Highlander hybrid was dead giveaway

1. my wife has only come to appreciate my car now that she drives it more often. She still misses feature comfort of post 2010 vehicle
2. My first two years of ownership I write off as a
Two year baselining period. 15k for my truck, financed, and then another 8k in suspension baseline/overhaul and rust related repair (Ac s*** and fuel). You will not likely have the same problems but lc fixes are expensive at the mechanic. During this time I spent a lot of time in the dog house
3. If you have thick skin or are good sales and can deliver a continuous pitch when your wife bitches about all the money you’re throwing into your “old ass car” get the cruiser, otherwise save the household conflict and get the highlander

alt option. Get a 2014 year highlander gas model for 5k less, recycle some cans and try to find a 6-7k lc that you can put some work into without the pressure of needing it as daily. The multi car discount will keep insurance down and you can go liability only on the 6-7k project.

 

[Pucker5]

Btw that 07 looks purdy. Even with two wrecks. 14k tho!

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Buy the highlander unless you NEED the LC for off roading and such.
LC will likely cost you another 5k in baselining IF it has been well cared. It will hurt your wallet at every fill up and will administer a swift kick to the fleshy behind everytime you need to replace a 12 year old rubber part!
And your brakes will one day die without giving you much warning and will rob you of $2000 when you get them fixed.

 

[FxFormat]

Cheap minivan + 100 series


I was on the Land Rover forum and someone asked about a Highlander and Range Rover and some dude said, "I'd rather drive an unreliable piece of crap and worry about not getting home than drive a Highlander with no soul" lol

 

[LXstalker]

A few thoughts:

1. I don’t finance cars, since typically a depreciating asset. I would buy the least expensive car that meets your needs (taking reliability into consideration).
2. I would only buy an LC if planning to use for its off-road capabilities as there are better on road performers at lower cost.
3. Looked up the Toyota maintenance on LC, I personally would buy not buy for that price. Appears they had Toyota diagnosing other shops mistakes. Not that you have to have all done at dealer, but at least find someone who knows what they are doing.
4. 225k anything can happen and AHC can be pricey to repair.

 

[Zero Emissions]

Highlander hybrid is a taxi in many large cities due to very low loss of efficiency and high mileage using seasoned hybrid technology that is over 20 years old. Prius is also a taxi that gets to 500k miles

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Practicality: highlander.
All opposites: land cruiser.

 

[wvrx]

Life is too short to drive a boring car. I used to own 400+HP turbo AWD cars and somehow ended up in a Landcruiser. I still look back when I’m walking away in the parking lot and can’t wait to add more mods that improve functionality and capability. Can’t say the same for the Prius/Camry/corolla/highlanders that I’ve driven through the years.

If you’re mechanically inclined at all, spend $7-8K for a used, older 100-series and tackle most of the maintenance yourself.You’ll be $8-9k all-in for a baseline’d rig that you know how to fix if anything goes wrong.

 

[Zero Emissions]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/NYC_Hybrid_Taxi_11_2009_8158.JPG/800px-NYC_Hybrid_Taxi_11_2009_8158.JPG

 

[usedname]

We have a Highlander Hybrid and an LX. If this is your family's only car, or the only car that everyone will be in as a family, then I would get a Highlander. Huge difference between 4 gallons/100 miles and ~8 gallons/100 miles. The Highlander is smoother, much better on the highway with far greater overtaking power, a better height for the preschool children, and a single-door cargo hatch is better for stowing strollers etc. I'd save money and get a previous generation Highlander (-2013). Of course an even more practical option (whether you're hauling kids or drywall) would be the Odyssey/Sienna. May as well go full minivan.

 

[nukegoat]

Highlander.